SilverShadow

Hey again - another day, another question for you gurus please 😁 We're moving into our new home next week, and one of the 1st tings we want to do is sort out the hot & cold water tanks in the loft. The surveyor noted the lids were missing from them and recommended a full cleaning of them. This is something i think he estimated £300 for doing 🫣 While we're happy to pay for a professional to do this, money is always tight when moving in. So i was wondering if this was something you think could be easily done by us? It seems fairly straightforward (drain tank, scrub clean, remove sediment, refill with chlorine dilute and leave for an hour, before draining once again and refill for use) Is this as simple as i'm thinking, or should we really leave this to the pros (plumber, for example)? Many thanks for your time & consideration Shadow

Thanks guys - we may go for an indemnity to be on the safe side Yeah, the original front doorway (now a upvc door) is still intact, so definitely not deemed a hallway extension The vendor worked in the building trade, so I assumed he'd have got it done to a decent spec. 10 years standing & looks rock solid, so I don't think any worries there. Eventually (in the distant future) we may build above it to extend upstairs and make a bigger bedroom, so chances are we'd knock down & restart from scratch with PP/regs anyways Thanks as always for your sound advice Shadow

Hi there, I guess this one question probably pre-dates the oldest rocks on earth 😜 So apologies for asking again.... The house we're looking to purchase has a single story front porch extension, built in Sept 2014. We've obtained the docs for PP, but since discovered they never submitted for building regs approval. A little about the porch: Approx 5-6m2 floor area single story, sloping tile roof (definitely under 3m high) Brick built (double skin brick from what i can tell), with upvc windows and door Has electrics within the porch (light, not sure if anything else) The web seems slightly conflicting about allowed size (think it means PP, not build regs), so we're a little cautious about the implications of this without build regs approval. I think we can just get an indemnity to cover this, as far as i know? It does also bring up questions: Is there a time limit with which the council could insist on it's removal? Seems odd the council allowed PP, but never insisted on building regs? Presumably an indemnity would protect anyone doing repairs in future? Afaik, indemnity can transfer from owner to owner? If we ever modified the porch, then i guess this would also run the same risk/need building regs approval up front? Apologies for the basic Q's, but these are just dropping out the noggin as i type.... Many thanks for your time & help 😁 Mark

Excellent work as always, guys - many thanks 😁 Closer the time I'll probably pop back for advice on converting it. There seems to be several different ways ways folks do PIR insulation (batons, dot n dab, moisture proofing, etc), so be glad to get plenty of advice before I start 👍 Thanks again Shadow

Addition to the above: Afaik, no PP or building regs apply here (looking at govt website). But I just wanted your thoughts/opinions, or advice on how I can check this with the necessary governing bodies

Hey again - hopefully just a basic quick question, for all you guys in the know 😁 The house we're hoping to buy has a detached outbuilding at the bottom of the garden, measuring 6 x 3m, with 2.5 sloping metal roof. It's >1m from property boundaries & generally non combustible (singke skin breezeblock walls, concrete floor, metal roof, upvc door & windows). It's a workshop, with electrical power & own consumer board, plus small log burner/ metal chimney I was looking to convert into an office (non sleeping accom) myself, by just adding PIR boards and adjusting electrical sockets over this. Would this incur building regs, and if so is there a portal / consultation service I can use for clarification & sign off?

brilliant stuff - very grateful for all the advice 😁 Certainly won't be rushing into doing much - we'll be skint for a while after buying the property! 😂 However, this sort of advice is still amazing to have. Even at this early stage, so we can appreciate what factors might affects us if we go ahead later down the line Many thanks

Ps, does the adjoining brick garage count in house footprint calcs?

Got it! Thanks buddy 😁 So allowable extension = (land plot size - house footprint) / 2 Presumably that's single story, & anything exceeding it or double story would go thru PP

Very true I'm a complete novice, so asking basic generalistic questions, as thoughts occur. Thought 1: ask the pro's on here 😁 Altho we could build a bigger extension in theory, the house has a really bad layout. We'd only need a small extension above the porch to make 3rd bed much better I thought it'd be easier & cheaper to build above the porch. But I hadn't reckoned on the foundations not being up to it, nor the extra rigmarole of extra planning headaches of altering the front elevation 🙃 Gives me plenty to consider, whatever we do, or don't

Many thanks for that. Wow, this is a whole new area to understand! From what I can tell: detached outhouse + porch extension is circa 50% of the house floor plan (curtilage). There is an adjoining 7m× 3m garage to the house, built at the same time. From what I gather garages do not class as part of the floorplan curtilage allowance, so we couldn't assume another 10.5m2 from that I guess future extensions would still be possible, but would need full PP. Not unless we reduced the size of the outhouse, or demolished completely Sounds like our conveyancer will know the score

Sorry guys, thought of 1 last thing to ask, please..... On the property (towards the back of the rear garden), there is a standalone breezeblock workshop, about 10 meters from the house (afaik, it passes all building regs as regards size/height/proximity to boundary, but that is a separate matter). About 6m long x 3m wide x 2m high If we decide to build an extension at the side or rear of the property, then does this outhouse floorspace limit the size of floorspace we can extend without planning permission? I seem to recall something about permitted floor area, and wasn't sure if this outhouse counted towards this in any way..... Many thanks again for all your sound advice Mark

thanks guys - plenty for us to consider

Thanks Stu & Conor 👍 A little more context might help explain my thought process.... The existing porch had concrete foundations >1m deep, so we'd assumed good enough to build on Our biggest desire: to make the upstairs room a little larger (ground floor generally ok) So we thought rather than pay for 2 floor extension to just build above the existing porch Seller (worked in the building trade) mentioned about a huge 'u shaped' concrete piece of the structure, to hold it rigid with the house (if that makes any sense) For the record, it's quite probable we'd do a rear extension. But wondered whether the porch would be an option (if cheaper than 2 floor extension and wasn't going to be a total nightmare for PP, etc) Sounds like the small front extension is a no-goer

Hey guys - move this to this forum, as my question seems trickier than i first realised 🤔 I'm just here to gather a few thoughts and opinions from anyone with some prior knowledge in these kinda things..... We're looking to purchase a house, and with a front porch extension (which is approx 5m2 and had PP granted). The house itself is a 1960's detached 2 story building, with 'pyramid' shaped pitched roof, set back 8m from front boundary, with 2 story houses either side and ample space between each property A few basics: Existing porch is 2 x 2.5m (looks to have been built in last 20 years) Porch has a concrete floor from what i can see Porch materials are brick, with sloping tiled roof Porch exterior is mostly glass (door and 4 x windows), with brick corners (1ft by 1ft) and a brick wall over 0.5m high for walls under windows Due to the house layout, we were wondering if it'd be feasible for us to build a 2nd 2 x 2.5m floor above the porch (in the same style of brick/roof, etc)? We realise front elevation changes need planning permission, so any thoughts from you guys as to advice is most welcome My 1st mistake: assuming build above a porch to same height/style as rest of the house would be relatively straightforward PP, if it has been granted in the past & no change to footprint 🙃 Huge thanks for your time Shadow

Thanks guys - obviously come to the right place 😁 That was my first mistake - i thought the front-elevation encroachment bit related to changing the footprint. I'd assumed (wrongly) that because were just building upwards 1 floor (to the same height as the rest of the house), and with the same footprint profile that we'd be ok (ie: covered by the previous PP to build the porch) Sounds like this would be trickier than we 1st thought then 🫠

Thanks for the reply 😁 A little more info I've since gleaned. The vendor confirmed the original porch (we"re considering to build above) did indeed receive PP My theory is (if anyone can verify): We're building over an existing extension that was previously PP. So my assumption was a 2nd floor extension of 2 x 2.5m above the porch would not need PP, as the house footprint remains unchanged & it won't encroach forwards of the front elevation The porch foundations are deep: >1m depth of concrete was poured,apparently Obviously all responses are not binding in any way, & we'd conduct further due diligence. Just initial thoughts & opinions we're after 👍

Hey there, Thanks for all your help with my previous queries. I have a new one for all you budding builders....😁 This one regards building above a front porchway (for a property we're looking to buy). I only have scant details i'm afraid, but we were wondering if it'd be possible to extend above the porch to make another room of the 1st floor? A few basics: Existing porch is 2 x 2.5m (looks to have been built in last 20 years) Porch has a concrete floor from what i can see Porch materials are brick, with sloping tiled roof Porch exterior is mostly glass (door and 4 x windows), with brick corners (1ft by 1ft) and a brick wall over 0.5m high for walls under windows Apologies if these are daft questions, but i wondered if: Anyone had experience of building over porches & things to consider (eg: foundation depths)? Presumably we'd need concrete or steel lintels to support above the door & windows, to build the upper floor with? Presumably this would not need planning permission? But it would need to meet building regs/been signed off? We'd prefer a pitched roof above it, to join to the existing roof Any yardstick idea of cost/m2? (i've read around £2-3k/m2 when extending both stories, so possibly up to £2k/m2 maybe) Many thanks for your time and help Shadow

Thanks guy - looks like I'll get some of those 👍

Ps - thanks for the dust removal tips 👍

Thanks Stu - that was my original concern. I had wondered whether Coach screws would be a feasible alternative to studs 🤔 Apologies for so many daft questions - I'm just exploring whether its possible to use coach screws, to be able to insert/remove later once the resin had set around the rawplug

Thanks again guys 😀 My plan is to clean the new deeper holes of dust, then put some resin in 1st (half fill the drill holes), then push in the raw plugs & let it set, before adding the screws later This way I can screw in afterwards, and check the mountings are aligned and level, then finish off with more resin once I'm happy the radiator fits back on correctly Does this seem sensible? If not then will I be able to remove the screws later (if added at the time of applying the resin) and adjust/rescrew if needed? 🤔

Thanks again guys 😁 I'll look at getting some 80 or 100mm screws & drill the existing holes deeper. The wall is indeed solid brick with 20mm plaster I have these 50mm × 10mm Rawlplugs, & was wondering if they will do the job nicely if pushed down to brick level? Combined with using resin it should hopefully be enough. Or should I try those mesh rawlplugs down to 80 or 100mm as required? Thanks for all your expertise 👍 Shadow

Many thanks guys just to clarify if I may. I presume the resin solution comes as a kit with rawplugs & screws, so no need to use my existing replacement rawpligs, or old screws? For fitting, I assume I'd fit the raw plug, fill with resin, cut down the screwed rod to say 60 or 70mm then insert, then add more resin to fill the last 20mm wider hole almost back to wall surface? Then leave to dry of course Many thanks again 👍 Shadow

Hey all, Back once again to pick to pick your builders brains and gather sage suggestions Over time the factory provided screws & rawplugs have worn loose, to the point i had to remove the radiator for fear of it falling! The screws provided were 60mm long and solid enough for the job. But the old brickwork/plasterwork is incredibly crumbly and left me with huge holes (see pic below) - i could literally pull them out the wall in the end. the radiator is 46kg weight (i'd assume empty), and has 4 mountings with 2 screws in each - that leave the holes in the pic for each mounting So my conundrum is what to do next. I already have some 10mm wide/60ml long sturdy rawplug replacements, but i can see the 1st 20mm into the hole is just dust & wont hold up Would you guys consider any of the following: Buy 80mm (or longer) screws & drill deeper Fill the 1st 20mm with standard masonry filler (add some sort of rock hard adhesive perhaps?). Any brands/suggestions? Use rawplug resin filler & add the original screws/rawplug replacements into the wall, then cake up around it the 20mm layer with resin when it situ? Use rawplug filler pads that line the hole & bond to that? Make fresh holes 10cm along? Something else? Apologies if it's been asked a dozen times before - i couldn't find it on the forum Many thanks for your time Shadow