thomas

What is the best way to install a bifold foor in a solid wall with 200mm of external wall insulation? I want to minimise thermal bridging (though the bifold door is a massive bridge) and install the door in the insulation, this may mean I get get away with standard size cills. But what's the best way to do this? Do you think some eps 300 would be strong enough to hold the door if I make a frame up with it? Or should I use timber or steel hidden in the insulation?

Gypsum is used to break down heavy clay soils, if you throw it in the cement mixer with a couple of bricks it'll powder up, then just line the bottom of your skip with it or bag it as sell it :D

Could you forgo the external leaf and do an effect with render on the outside? Seems a bit mad to me to just build a wall to have it covered in cladding. Or 300mm eps and then battens the extra thickness should counteract any thermal bridging from fixings.

Can you polish screeds? I thought they were too soft.

I am going for the traditional block and beam, so normal infill blocks then insulation over the top. It actually works out cheaper to do it this way than to go for an insulated infill block. As I had specced to do insulated infill, then 100mm reinforced (a142) concrete over the top, I have in my head a power floated finish. Beam manufacturers have specced 65mm screed which is normal however could I do 75mm concrete, a power float mix so c25/30 and should I put mesh in it?

It's this system Link here It's ceresit system which is well known, their thin coats have some good feedback from plasterers. I lied for 150mm grey or 200mm white it was 16.88/m2. You will be paying much more than £16 for labour this is material only.

Has anyone approached any of the big EWI/render manufactures from a self build point of view? The likes of Jub, Stro, Alumac etc There are some quite cheap systems on ebay, for example 1m2 of 150mm graphite eps with a complete render system for £16. So surly there must be some good deals from suppliers.

What's the minimum foundation size when building a sleeper wall on existing foundations? I only have around 100mm on the existing foundation, I don't really want to have to cut into the existing wall to take the end bearing.