concrete

Hello, I have knocked out a fireplace (with great help from this group). It will only be decorative. The builders opening will all be boarded and skimmed. I would like to tile the old hearth (removing it is not an option, and neither is keeping it- drill holes). What would be the best way to...

Hi all, I have a basement that I want to use for storage. I’ve put down sub base and sand and visqueen DPM. Plan was to pour concrete slab but no concrete companies round here will pump 1m3 as they all have 2-4m3 minimum orders. I don’t have anywhere to mix up that much concrete myself so...

Hi Will get it professionally fitted, but wondered if one is better than the other on concrete - is one better than the other over anything? Any particular underlay recommended, also same for the flooring itself.

I have a concrete slab floor and I need to raise it by 2-3inches what would be the best way of doing this? Originally I was going to pour some concrete, however I have recently seen some self-levelling compounds which can pour to a depth of 2inches is this a viable option of are there negatives...

Hi Guys/ Girls, Looking for some advice I’ve recently had a concrete slab poured for a garage to be put on. It was poured about 7 days ago so I stopped watering it 2 days ago and now as it’s drying out it’s almost like there was a layer on the top after it had been floated.. Will this...

Hi All, I hope you are well. I have about 90 years old house. I was trying to asses if the concrete has a membrane but I reckon I would need to drill to find out. I have taken pictures of the ducting hole, I see some plastic sticking out but not sure if you can consider this a moisture barrier...

I am building a summer house in my garden spanning 7m x 4.6m which should give me internal floor space of 30msq and be as per the permitted development and building regulations. I am taking this task as a challenge of DIY, and would appreciate some advice. I have currently prepared a sub base...

Hi everyone, So I'm working on my own house and the plan is to install water based underfloor heating for the downstairs. Currently I have a suspended timber floor which appears to be in good condition (if not 100% level), I was wondering cost-wise if I'm prepared to do most of the work myself...

We decided to cover our concrete slab side walkway with some reclaimed riven buff patio slab. I know these slab usually directly on compacted soil but on my case it would go on solid 100mm concrete slab. I guess sand and cement would be fine to lay them. I know it may sound stupid but would I...

Hi everyone, I'm trying to get hold of x20 140mm dense hollow concrete blocks (7N/mm²) but I'm struggling to find any in my local area. I'm on the Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey border. There are some showing on buildingmaterials.co.uk website but when I ordered them they came back and send they...

Hi All, I am doing a kitchen extension. 3m X 6m, and like to install wet ufh. need help to decide the best way to prepare my concrete subfloor for wet ufh. option 1: mot + sand blinding + dpm + kingspan + dpm+ concrete + ufh boards (18mm) + ufh pipes + screed + tiles option 2: mot + sand...

Hi, I'm coming to the point where I will actually need to get some concrete in. I like the idea of volumetric concrete so that I pay for what I use. I need about 1.2 cubic metres of concrete and will have to barrow it. Having phoned a few people up there seems to be a big difference in price...

I am replacing a traditional toilet with a Grohe frame and I need to replace the existing waste connection (see pic below) with the one that comes with the Grohe frame. The connector goes down into the concrete floor and I have no visibility of where it goes/ how it connects. If I just yank it...

Does anybody have a definitive guide to the different strengths of concrete, and the ratios of how to mix? Online searches are confusing to say the least.... C20, C30 etc... M20, M35 etc... Gen 1...?? For what it's worth, I am after a mix for C35 for a cast in-situ padstone.

Hey guys, I have a chunk of slate comming for my hearth, 30mm thick, I'm setting it above the laminate so I created a concrete bed around 2cm, so the boards will slide under to create a nice finish. But I'm not sure what to use to stick it down, I want about 5mm, I was thinking flexible tile...

Hi All, looking for a bit of advice, I’m planning an extension on the rear of my property and I’ve been advised to port the existing air bricks through which seems sensible. Due to the slant of the ground around the property if I bury the porting pipe work in the substrate (mot type 1) I’ll...

Hi Everyone, After giving up on completely make up to my driveway with layer of resin bond due of cost not affordable at moment, I was thinking to make most of it with what I have. During the years due of new pipes the concrete has been cut and patched and the top cement layer still visible...

I want to put a cat flap in an Easyform Type 2 cast-in-situ concrete cavity wall. are there likely to be any problems?

Hi guys. I'm building a shed measuring 13ft x 8ft (I know 12ft would be better for timber sizes but I am building as big as I can in the space the missus has allocated). Today I've dug down 150mm ish to the depth I want my concrete. See pictures. The corner of the shed will be in front of the...

After a leak in the shower and horrible mould, I stripped everything back to the suspended timber floor and found that the adjoining room, the kitchen, has a concrete floor. It appears there's no DPM under the concrete floor and the soil/sand under the concrete floor feels wet, though less wet...