Dusty

Hi all I have an old cottage and have removed a false plaster board ceiling to the hallway exposing the original beams which I would like to keep . Unfortunately, when the house was modernised much of the cabling was hidden behind the false ceiling and are now exposed. I want to re route the cables and box in along the top of one of the walls. Do the Twin & Earth cables need to be fully separated with clips to ensure they don't overheat or can they be grouped together at all please? Cables to run: 1 x 6mm T&E (cooker) 2 x 2.5mm T&E 3 x 4mm T&E 2 x 6mm single core cables Many thanks

Would buying a Window Indemnity Insurance policy be a way to get around all of this 'red tape'?

Many houses in the CA have replaced with UPVC ( without PP) and one or two have been granted PP along with a new build using Residence 7 UPVC. The council may allow me to fit UPVC if convinced the widows are sympathetic to the building but I suspect it is a lottery depending who I talk to. To be honest I was just thinking of putting them in but don't want a problem if I sell the house in the future. Refurbishing the old windows is not an option as they are rotten. Besides that I am sick of having to paint the frames every few years.

I am looking to replace my old draughty wooden window frames with some Heritage UPVC ones very sympathetic to the originals. I don't really want trickle vents as they look wrong, and have read that this may not be a problem since some old buildings don't have to fully comply with the latest building regulations? I am concerned that I will need a FENSA certificate or pay for building regulations (£700) should I wish to sell the property in the future. I was hoping to fit the windows myself t save money but not sure I will bearing this in mind. Is there any way of getting around this? A simple job is getting very complicated so any advice would be very much appreciated.

Hi I am considering buying these and fitting myself to save some money. Has anyone on here fitted them? From what the local approved installers have said it cant be that difficult.

Hi all During the very cold days over winter, condensation has been forming on my 1st floor bedroom gable end walls. The construction is gypsum plaster over a solid brick and lime mortar gable wall which was cement pebble dash rendered in the 1960's. The cottage is approximately 200 years old. I am hoping to insulate internally and have looked at PIR boards. I am limited on space so max board depth is 50-60mm. I am a complete novice and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all of the advice, very much appreciated.

OK thanks John. Anything will be more energy efficient than the draughty ones I currently have. You are right , however I don't require planning permission so will not discuss options with the conservation team. Many houses have had replacement UPVC windows in the area and the local council has not insisted they should be replaced with wooden ones.

Hi all I am looking to replace my rotten timber frames with more energy efficient maintenance free UPVC ones. They are for a cottage in a conservation area so the aesthetics are very important. Other than the 'Residence Collection' windows which seem to be very popular, has anyone had a good experience with any other manufacturer? I know 'Rehau' also manufacture these type of windows - are they any good? Many thanks

Nothing. I have since discovered some condensation on the 1st floor internal wall which might be part of the problem?

Damp patch on inside wall.

I will just try to dry out the inside wall now the render has been patched up. Hopefully no more water ingress.

Thanks jayc89. Yes that's what I thought . Trapping the moisture in is my worry. Cant really replace the external render so I will try and dry the room out from the inside over summer. I will remove the internal plaster so the bricks can breathe.

This has appeared over the last couple of months on a North facing gable internal wall. I have found a small area of damage to the cement render on the external wall so assume this is where the moisture is coming in from. The wall is solid brick with gypsum plaster internally. Should I repair the render now to prevent a further ingress of water or will that seal the existing moisture in? I am worried with all the rain we have been experiencing that if I don't do something soon the problem may get worse. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the heads-up. There is internal lime plaster on one side of the building, however there is cement external render. Would this keep the wall airtight? I don't care about meeting any targets or building regs. I just want a warmer home and I am sure any future purchaser would be happy there is some insulation in such an old property. It will be me fitting the wall insulation, I just want to make sure I achieve a decent improvement and it not be a waste of money.