Search found 22 matches

by D-Mac
Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:49 am
Forum: Lofts and Loft Conversions Forum
Topic: Reinforcing Floor Joists For Loft Conversion
Replies: 0
Views: 8210

Reinforcing Floor Joists For Loft Conversion

Hello all, I'm wanting to convert the loft space within a garage and the existing ceiling joists are 220x47mm at 400mm centres. The span across the garage is 5.4m making the floor joists about one metre too long according to the standard span tables. Can anybody tell me what the normal method of imp...
by D-Mac
Sat May 22, 2010 2:39 pm
Forum: Decorating Forum
Topic: Can I paint an adjoining neighbour's wall?
Replies: 5
Views: 20025

The wall does not belong to you, therefore you have no legal entitlement to do anything to it. You would need to seek permission from the owner of the wall but I can't see that they would agree. If you went ahead and painted it anyway without permission, the owner has the legal right to force you to...
by D-Mac
Sat May 22, 2010 2:33 pm
Forum: Decorating Forum
Topic: New environmentally friendly paint from Dulux
Replies: 2
Views: 3865

Thanks for the info Ginnie. Worth looking at as I'm always keen to use and specify eco-friendly products. However, Stoneyboy does make a very good point. These watered down, zero (and low) solvent products do not cover as well as the old stuff did. I was talking to a auto paint sprayer recently who ...
by D-Mac
Sat May 22, 2010 9:42 am
Forum: Decorating Forum
Topic: Tudor Bricks gone white
Replies: 1
Views: 2838

It is salt that is being leeched from the bricks and as it comes to the surface, it becomes visible as a white staining. This effect is called "efflorescence" and if you do a google search, you will find plenty of information on it, including how to remove it (the top page on the google se...
by D-Mac
Fri May 21, 2010 12:15 pm
Forum: Decorating Forum
Topic: Best way to polish gloss paint to a smooth finish?
Replies: 2
Views: 18032

Best way to polish gloss paint to a smooth finish?

Hello all, I have just painted some kitchen units for my camper van in gloss paint. The finish is currently a slight orange peel effect (I used a foam roller) but what I would prefer is a smooth as glass finish. Can anybody recommend how I can achieve this? I'm initally thinking of using varying gra...
by D-Mac
Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:41 pm
Forum: Carpentry and Joinery Forum
Topic: How can I achieve a perfectly straight jigsaw cut?
Replies: 2
Views: 6759

How can I achieve a perfectly straight jigsaw cut?

Hello all, I have been cutting some mdf sheets using a jigsaw. I've been marking nice straight pen lines for me to follow, and I can follow these perfectly so that I am getting a nice straight cut on the top face. However, when I turn the cut panel over, I find that the jigsaw blade has not followed...
by D-Mac
Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:00 pm
Forum: Barn Conversions Forum
Topic: Triiso Super 10
Replies: 12
Views: 34918

I used Tri Iso Super 9 (the previous version to the Super 10) in the restoration of my medieval house. It was the only product that I could find that would enable me to insulate the pitched roof and allow the rafters to be exposed. Having been working in the property for quite some time before the i...
by D-Mac
Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:46 pm
Forum: Damp and Damp Proofing Forum
Topic: DPM/DPC fitting query
Replies: 1
Views: 11327

DPM/DPC fitting query

I have just started building an exterior wall and have laid an internal concrete slab. I am placing the DPM over the slab and under the insulation and a screed. I understand that the DPC on the outer wall leaf needs to be a minimum of 150mm above ground level and this can be achieved no problem. How...
by D-Mac
Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:35 am
Forum: Concreting, Drives, Paths and Patios Forum
Topic: Can I shave a hump in a concrete floor slab?
Replies: 3
Views: 6819

Thanks. I found the floor grinder on the HSS Hire website. You're not kidding about the cost - £70ish! But it has to be done. I can't think of any other way of sorting out this problem (I'm not going down the bolster route).
by D-Mac
Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:04 am
Forum: Concreting, Drives, Paths and Patios Forum
Topic: Can I shave a hump in a concrete floor slab?
Replies: 3
Views: 6819

Can I shave a hump in a concrete floor slab?

Hello, I've just laid a floor slab but have found that there is a large hump in one area that is about 20mm above the level that it should be. As I am laying insulation and screed over the top and the screed will have to match the level in an adjacent room, I need to remove the hump to ensure that I...
by D-Mac
Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:52 pm
Forum: Brickwork and Blockwork Forum
Topic: Blocking up a hole in a cavity wall below ground
Replies: 1
Views: 3205

Blocking up a hole in a cavity wall below ground

Hello, I have created a hole in a cavity wall just below the level of the internal floor slab and exterior ground level. The hole naturally has lintels over it and a couple of pipes have been inserted through it. Can I simply fill this hole in with a lean mix of concrete (as I might do if I were fil...
by D-Mac
Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:17 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Electric cables underneath garden
Replies: 3
Views: 4311

Great. Thanks for your advice. I guess that the larger the duct the easier it will be to insert additional cables in future if they are required.

Thanks Eric.
by D-Mac
Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:20 pm
Forum: Electrics Forum
Topic: Electric cables underneath garden
Replies: 3
Views: 4311

Electric cables underneath garden

Hello, I would like to route a couple of electric cables through the garden below ground. The cables will run in plastic conduit and will be buried to a good depth with concrete protection over the top. Is there a limit to how many cables can be fed through one piece of conduit? I understand that te...
by D-Mac
Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:13 pm
Forum: Plumbing Forum
Topic: Piping hot and cold water to detached outbuilding
Replies: 0
Views: 3478

Piping hot and cold water to detached outbuilding

Hello, I am wanting to supply hot and cold water to a detached outbuilding that is 15 feet from the house. As the hot water will possibly be used everyday but in small quantities in this building it seems pointless installing a separate boiler in the outbuilding for it (I can just rely on the boiler...
by D-Mac
Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:22 pm
Forum: Brickwork and Blockwork Forum
Topic: Covering large holes for drains in wall base
Replies: 3
Views: 3446

I can see what you're saying, thanks. Internally the drain will have a concrete surround intergrated into the floor slab so mixing the concrete between the slab and the cavity is not a problem I guess. All of my design reference books have always referred to a rigid cover sheet being applied to eith...
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