stephanh

Thanks - I did look at the logic of it and come to that conclusion, but when everything you (me) seem to touch at the moment turns to rats, confidence seems to sink somewhat. I shall lay length wise across the trench and bond accordingly, and continue throughout the length of trench as required. I know it will take a little time, which if I had had a better day with the pour would not be necessary, but .........

OK - I have concrete in the trench and appears to be not as evil as it may have been. I have gone deeper than necessary (not deliberate) and therefore about 250mm over depth with concrete fill. One end of the trench has a good level finish, while at the other end (10M away) is where it is thrown out of level. I have a distance of 745mm between dpc on existing building and top of concrete in new foundation. As 675mm is 3 course of block, I am 70mm deeper and needing to make that up, therefore thinking cut down the concrete blocks to required thickness. I do, however, have an enormous stack of concrete paviors (pavers?) which would get me to the height needed without cutting loads of blocks. I would use one course of paviors to lift me to correct depth, filling the whole width of the trench and for whole length required. Only thing is, I am not sure as to whether or not these are suitable to use coming off of concrete foundations and supporting concrete blocks above. Has anyone used these things in such fashion, or can advise with regard to suitability??

This is our wall (hurrah!) to maintain. Hopefully it will remain intact until I finish the extension, then I will apply myself a little more to it. BUT ........ Today I had conc pour into trench for extension founds .............. all was well until the second lorry parked too close to the trench, collapse of trench commence! Managed to get vehicle away from the trench side before it slid into hole, but conc pour was all over the place. Now left with sorting that piece of trench and debris along with the erratic levels of the drying concrete. I cannot begin to explain the grief this place has given me.

Setting a new wall back from the existing wall is the only way I can think of that would negate the planning issue. As you say prodave, there would be no interference with existing wall, it remains as is. At least I would be able to provide something rather more structurally secure. I can then deal with the existing wall when it eventually fails.

The boundary wall between our bungalow and the listed building forms part of the curtilage of that listed building. Our bungalow is approx 6M away from the failing wall with a garden level approx 600mm higher than the garden of the listed building. The LB itself is approx 8M from the boundary wall and when standing in front of the centre of the failing part, sits at the 10 o'clock position with the nearest part being approx 15M away from that central point (I suppose a photo may be prefered, but cannot get it to load!). Whilst I cannot see that this is necessarily a planning issue, I can understand that the court of appeal decision requires a planning decision. It is the court of appeal that has dropped the matter into the lap of LPA, but it is my bank account that would appear to be the suffering one. Now that really ticks me off.

It would seem that there are a number of people that have a question mark over the planning issue in this matter. I have to say that I am somewhat confused over it as well. The way the planners have spoken about it is that the wall is within the 'setting' of a listed building. It would seem that the court of appeal has (in 2018) issued a decision with regard to how a listed building is physically experienced and therefore it is this that 'setting' is considered. Just my luck, as is the fact that I now have 31 metres of open trench without being able to get a conc pour until Tuesday. I am now spraying a water mist over the sides of trench (clay) with all fingers crossed that I can keep them intact. The past week has not been without its trials .....

Gabions - they had never entered my feeble mind. Like the idea, but the 'look' may be rather too modern for planning. No harm in trying though! Other than that, I have mused about concrete post sunk in concrete founds with concrete gravel boards with a face of 7.3nm conc blocks. It may seem a little fanciful to believe planning would agree to that type of facing, but half of that particular wall is actually conc block work. Had not been aware of that until now. Whatever I end up doing, I only want to do it once!

Have been advised (by LPA) planning required. No listed building consent, we are just in the setting of a listed building. No party wall and no structural engineer. It is only me, and my (very) depleted bank account. Have had another look at wall and my original post was fanciful thinking. Need to be rather more pragmatic in the ideas area. Not too sure how helpful photo is

The day before I started extension a retaining wall partly fell. It has lost 5 brick course plus capping from top, with the rest of the wall leaning over but seemingly not about to topple(I hope). I have a listed building as the neighbouring property and have, apparently, to apply for planning to replace the wall(?) I have thought that if I dig down behind existing wall, pour concrete foundation, build concrete block wall to reinforce existing I might then be able to to 'drag' back the leaning wall and secure to the reinforcement somehow. Is this thinking total fantasy?

Thanks for replies. Have made decision - Beads into the cavity, no further additions (insulation), reason being this is the original part of the dwelling and will be bedrooms, bathroom and utility. The actual living area will be the extension and therefore up to current spec.

I am starting the renovation of a late '60's bungalow, cavity walls, brick outer with (what looks like) cinder block inner leaf, 50mm cavity (empty) So far I have changed my mind numerous times with regard to method of insulating the cavity walls, until yesterday it was going to be blow in EPS beads, today it may be kooltherm k118 screwed to 50x25mm battens backed with dpc. Has anyone here knowledge (has actually used) this kooltherm board? When reading IWI matters, the vapour barrier issue appears to be somewhat manic, so when reading about the kooltherm application it seems simplistic in comparison. Can someone shine a light into my darkness on this?????

Interesting ........... I am in similar situation with regard to ownership of a cavity walled bungalow, in my case a late 1960's one. No cavity fill and really cold inside. Standing beside some of the exterior walls is not comfortable. I am at start of IWI of external walls and have the intention of 50 x 25 battens to the wall, CLS studs with 50mm PIR between, covered with 18mm OSB and 12.5mm placo Some years ago I did same to late 19th century house with 300mm solid walls. The heating system was oil fired with mulifuel burners in sitting and dining rooms. The dining room burner was hardly ever used - not really needed. That house was the most comfortable one I have lived in (heat wise) and I have lived in a number of different places. I shall install multifuel burner as per last one along with new oil fired boiler. Your comment with not having a blank cheque is ditto here. I am able to cover costs with savings (although I am expecting material costs to rise in new year thanks to last budget) and I have no intention to seek to finance in any other manner - too old for that game now. Soooo ..... as I see it, the ability to improve the property is limited to finance available and the trade off to the returns delivered. Am I wittering on???

it certainly appeared to live, an amount of water leaked into excavation, not too bad but bad enough to shut down washing machine etc. I resolved that small problem with a length of Osma but lost daylight as I was finishing. Have now to go out and see if that piece of pipe has worked or if I have a hole full of smelly stuff.

Evening all - digging a hole to drop in a new Matrix STP when the sound of breaking pipe calls out. There should be any drainage pipe in that location, but that is indeed what it was. Dropping into said hole to inspect (and long story short) I found the out flow pipe for the old septic tank! This pipe was made up of old land drain pipe, each section about 450mm long, and wrapped in sheet plastic, presumably for leakage. Talk about make it up as you go along. Problem solved for now, but has anyone else come across similar?

you see, that is why I love these forums. Give yourself a duct and that will provide access now/later for other solutions. That one thing never even entered my brain cell. I have given such a lot of time to thinking about the various aspects of the build but simple, expedient actions have obviously failed me. I am putting this down to getting old, because I have included such things in previous builds, so why have I failed in the current one? Oh, and I have gone with 2.5mm cable.