MAB

First thing to do is cut out/remove all that silicone and filler 'bodge up' in the gap above the window frame......then see how deep it is or if it goes right through to the inside wall, then take some more photos inside and out and post the photos here for further help/comment on what to do to rectify the problem.

A neighbour was advised by the company that fitted his Composite Front Door not to have a dark colour as the front of the house gets full sun for most of the morning....due to fading of colour and heat expansion. However he chose to ignore the advice at his own risk....the door does stick in the frame during high temperatures and after 4 or 5 years the dark grey colour (almost black) is beginning to fade a little. From memory I think the door make was:- Door-Stop International. A friend had an Endurance composite door fiited as the brochure/website spec seemed to suggest it was less likely to warp than the similar Solidor composite door due to the different method of construction. It has not warped out of tolerance so far but the outer shell cracked after 2 years for no reason, the company that installed it had gone out of business but Endurance did eventually agree to replace it under their warranty.

Heat Pumps: What They Really Mean For You - BBC1 - 01/08/2023 - 8pm https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fzltvd "How we heat our homes is set to radically change as the government phases out gas boilers. But can changing the technology we use every day help us reduce greenhouse gases and stop climate change? BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, presenter Michelle Ackerley and environment scientist Dr Tara Shine investigate if it’s possible to heat our homes by replacing oil and gas boilers with new green alternatives, whether the country is ready to build an entirely low-carbon electricity network, and if we can do it all before the government’s net zero target of 2050. Justin heads to Salford to explore a futuristic house used to test new home heating technologies in extreme conditions. From minus 12 degrees to the comfort of central heating, he gets to grips with heat pumps, a technology the government is betting on. In the loft, Justin clambers around to see how well our homes need to be insulated. Michelle gets an insight into how heat pumps are installed and what it means for a family in Reading. She questions the installation costs and if the government grant is enough to help families transition from gas boilers to heat pumps. With a government target of 2035 for all the UK’s electricity to be generated from renewable and low carbon sources, Michelle meets a community centre near Bristol who have built the UK’s largest wind turbine. Then, she heads underground to find out how the electricity grid needs transforming to deliver enough power for the UK’s homes and businesses. Tara meets the gas company promoting hydrogen as a solution to home heating, and visits residents in Whitby in Ellesmere Port, who were going to be part of a hydrogen trial but have big concerns about costs and safety. She investigates how oil companies are planning to produce hydrogen and if it’s a feasible option. Tara explores cracks in the core of Heysham Nuclear Power station in Lancashire to understand what it means for the lifespan of the plant, visits Hinkley Point C to understand the complexities of building new nuclear power stations, and asks if technology from nuclear submarines could be a solution."

Article linked below is about an energy company's unsolicited email offering a £5,000 rebate towards a new heat pump for a Victorian terraced house on the borders of Chelsea in West London. What no one tells you about heat pumps till you try to get one:- https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-12346053/What-no-one-tells-heat-pumps-till-try-one-SUE-REID-reveals-youll-stick-vast-noisy-box-garden.html

This website below is what I used to do prepare my own Planning & Building Reg drawings for a 'wrap around' 2-storey rear extension /single storey side extension. Along with lots of research online and it also helped me being a Mechanical Engineer able to use AutoCAD..... The website below is also recommended by my local authority Building Control:- Is there any software to help me prepare plans for Building Control? Yes. One which we like is from a company called Building Regs 4 Plans. The website is: www.buildingregs4plans.co.uk

"Homes given poor energy ratings on the basis of faulty modelling. There are several flaws in the energy performance certificate system, says University College London study. Homes could be given poor energy efficiency ratings on the basis of flawed modelling, a new study has suggested. Houses in the lowest bands G and F were found to use 48 per cent less energy in the real world than estimated by the modelling used to rate them, University College London found." https://electricityinfo.org/news/energy-efficiency-733/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/31/homes-poor-energy-ratings-faulty-modelling-ucl/

Interesting website linked below on some good results upgrading 'cold walls' in older properties with 'Wallrock Thermal Liner' :- https://www.chrismarner.uk/

Normally the Planning drawings are used as a basis to create the more detailed Building Reg drawings which the builder will follow and means if you use the same architect to produce them there is a saving on the total fee. This is a good website in link below for showing the kind of Building Reg drawing details and notes that are needed for various kinds of extension:- https://www.buildingregs4plans.co.uk/index.php

I have a study which is an inner room and had to have a suitable escape window opening as detailed below. However my escape window exits into the rear garden....I assume you can't have a new window in the LH side wall? An inner room can be acceptable where: the inner room is a kitchen, laundry or utility room the inner room is a dressing room the inner room is a bathroom, shower room or WC, or any room on the basement, ground or first floor, which has an openable window or external door suitable for escape or rescue. To be suitable for escape purposes, windows should conform to the following dimensions: It should have an unobstructed opening area of 0.33 sq.m and have a minimum dimension of 450 mm in either direction. The bottom of the opening should be no more than 1100mm above the floor. Note: a window 450 mm x 450 mm will not meet the 0.33 sq.m criteria. In practice, the minimum clear openable area is 450mm x 734mm. Escape from the window should be to a place of safety free from the effects of fire. Where this is to an enclosed back garden or yard, its length should be at least equivalent to the height of the dwelling. https://www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/media/1809/building-control-guidance-notes-means_of_escape.pdf

Luton man left shocked as his house is ‘stolen’ :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-59069662 Property fraud is where fraudsters try to “steal” a property, most commonly by stealing the homeowner’s identity and selling or mortgaging the property without their knowledge. They then disappear with the money leaving the true owner to deal with the consequences. The Property Alert service below helps people to detect fraudulent activity on their property by sending them email alerts when there is certain activity on the property being monitored, such as a mortgage being taken out against it. The recipient can then decide whether they think the activity is suspicious and act quickly if so. The alert email tells them who to contact should they be concerned. HM Land Registry Property Alert is a free property monitoring service for anyone who feels a registered property could be at risk from fraud:- You can sign up to get email alerts when certain activity occurs on your monitored properties, so you can take action if needed. The property you want to monitor must be situated in England or Wales and registered with HM Land Registry You must create a Property Alert account to use the service You will receive a HM Land Registry email (please check spam inbox) to enable you to verify your email details You must then sign in to your account to add a property Email alerts are sent when official searches and applications are received against a monitored property If you receive an alert about activity that seems suspicious you should take swift action. The alert email will signpost you to who to contact. You don't have to own a property to set up an alert The same property can be monitored by different people. Property, especially flats/apartments, can be registered with two titles. Blocks of flats are often owned by companies (Freehold), and the person owning the individual flat (Leasehold). When registering for this service please choose Leasehold title for individual flats/apartments. https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/ Advice on registering your property or properties against possible fraud was highlighted this week on the ITV Martin Lewis Money Show:- https://www.itv.com/hub/the-martin-lewis-money-show-live/2a1827a0127

My brother has two areas of land outlined on his Title Deeds. One is outlined in red being the original curtilage of the property and one area approx 1/2 acre adjoining it outlined in blue which he purchased at a later date. He wants to erect a Garden Office outbuilding under Permitted Development in the later blue outlined area and he wonders if this would be allowed under PD? He does not want to check it out with the local planning dept yet as he does not want to bring it to their attention at this time. The land is not overlooked and he has the full support of his distant neighbours who will not be affected in any way. Any thoughts on what might be allowed would be appreciated.

Not sure I would want to glue down floors everywhere, at least in an older house like mine where I have needed to access pipework and cables in the void below on many occasions for maintenance or improvement works.....

I see they have removed their chimney breast, they consist of a lot of mass and bricks in 1930's semis and if not removed carefully can increase sound passing through a party wall. Just a thought, also is your fireplace open or bricked up?

The sealing/tanking info in this thread below was also useful when I did my walk in shower a few years back (and it has never leaked!) I also used cement backer board to the wet tiling areas but as some have said it is a real pain to cut and work with so takes more time to install than pb, which might not be so much of an issue if you are diy.

Green campaigner lectures GMB viewers on damage that conservatories are doing to the planet - while sitting in her conservatory.....? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10421987/Green-campaigner-lectures-GMB-viewers-damage-conservatories-sitting-hers.html

"Regulation being brought in from June to apply to conservatories in new-builds. Policy is part of measures to future-proof homes against predicted 40C summers. The new rules, which also aim to improve domestic ventilation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent, will limit window sizes according to which direction they face and whether the home is likely to overheat. Conservatories that are unheated and separated from the house with exterior walls and doors may be exempt. But others will face complex and expensive modelling to show they will not become too hot in the summer – limiting the use of trendy floor-to-ceiling glass." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10416599/New-climate-change-rules-outlaw-new-build-conservatories-create-unwanted-solar-gain.html

My recent experience of ply boards used in a building project..... Expensive sheets of graded marine ply from a dedicated Timber yard = no problems with mould, even with the scrap off-cuts left outside! Cheaper sheets of ply from a Builders merchants = mildrew and fungal mould appeared at the slightest sign of cold or damp in the air.

Heat pump case study video by Grant UK that may be of interest:- "This semi-detached property that initially had three bedrooms, underwent a large extension and much of the interior was also updated, transforming the house into the four-bedroom home that the homeowners wanted. A core part of the project, included the removal of the old heating system and upgrading it to a greener, more efficient alternative. A Grant Aerona 13kW R32 air source heat pump replaced the gas boiler that was previously heating the property and all the old radiators were also removed, being replaced by a combination of underfloor heating and Afinia aluminium radiators. "

£70,000 in grants for a heat pump - but it still saved us NOTHING... and it's so chilly our daughter keeps her coat on indoors. The Roche family now question their decision to have the heating system installed in their detached four-bedroom home, situated in the village of North Luffenham in Rutland:- https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-10147319/We-claimed-70-000-grants-heat-pump-saved-NOTHING.html

It is important that the mortar mix is correct and not too strong or it can cause cracks. There is a golden rule in the building industry that states ‘mortar should never be stronger than the material it is joining’. Some good advice here:- https://skill-builder.uk/aircrete-blocks These Fischer Duopower wall plugs work well:- https://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-duopower-wall-plugs-6mm-100-pack/1030P?tc=KT1&ds_kid=92700048793290424&ds_rl=1249413&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3oXXyb6R7AIV0-ntCh10cQq9EAQYASABEgIxmPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Some info in this earlier BuildHub thread below may also help:-

I agree Resin Fix and stainless steel threaded studs....Screwfix have everything you need:- https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/resin-fixings/cat840022 If you break through into a hole just squirt in more resin, you should have plenty for hanging a gate, once it has set as said above you could hang an elephant of them next day.

Went 'slightly' over original budget as usual but I don't remember any mention as to where the extra cash (£100k +) needed came from...? ? Episode 1 "George Clarke meets the people breathing new life into our unused and unloved buildings, transforming local landmarks into unique family homes that celebrate their past. After Richard and Sarah's local high street bank shut, they decided to buy it and transform it into a unique family home, while retaining its grand Victorian Grade II listed architectural pedigree." https://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-remarkable-renovations/on-demand/68219-001

"Plumbers and electricians will be the most sought after, followed by decorators, builders, and plasterers. On average, homeowners are planning to spend £13,958 on their makeovers – adding up to a total bill of £135 billion across the UK, with one in five budgeting over £20,000. A new kitchen is in highest demand, followed by a re-landscaped garden, bathroom renovation, and redecoration in the bedroom or living room." https://phpionline.co.uk/news/plumbers-to-be-most-in-demand-trade-with-homeowners-set-to-spend-135bn-on-makeovers/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jul-29-2021

One of the big issues with spray foam insulation is when you come to sell a property..... "Whilst contractors may push the benefits of spray foam, lenders will often insist that surveyors take a different view. Surveyors and valuers will often have to discount the value of a property or request a specialist report, because it has SPF insulation. It may even make a property unmortgageable in the eyes of a lender." https://sdlsurveying.co.uk/news/surveyors-blog-valuation-considerations-of-spray-foam-in-roofspaces/

"A semi-detached show-home on the outskirts of Gateshead may seem an unlikely location for a technology revolution. But when this outwardly unremarkable looking building opens its doors in the coming weeks, it will mark a key moment in the UK’s accelerating transition to a zero-carbon economy. When the programme began, it was as much about ruling out hydrogen as an option as anything else, but as the project team worked its way through key questions on everything from the feasibility of hydrogen appliances to public acceptance, the case for putting the gas at the heart of the UK’s energy transition grew stronger. “As the programme’s progressed we’ve discovered everything is feasible and found a way over various hurdles.” “Everyone’s beginning to realise this really could be a very real possibility.” One of the keys to this has been the input from some of the biggest names in domestic heating, including the UK’s market leading boiler manufacturer Worcester Bosch, which has developed a prototype hydrogen-ready boiler that’s about to be put through its paces in a series of major trials. Worcester Bosch CEO Carl Arntzen told The Engineer that when the company began seriously looking into hydrogen around five years ago, it set out to answer two key questions: can it be safely burned in a domestic boiler, and is it possible to make a hydrogen boiler that’s the same size as an existing system? Artntzen’s team began by looking at what the differences between hydrogen and natural gas might mean in terms of engineering fundamentals. An early win was the realisation that hydrogen and natural gas have a broadly similar Wobbe index. This is a measure of the amount of heat energy within a given volume of gas. Artnzen explained that whilst hydrogen has a lower calorific value than natural gas, its density is much greater, meaning the same volumes of hydrogen and natural gas will give roughly the same heat energy. This provided early confidence that not only could a hydrogen boiler be physically the same size (and therefore wouldn’t require future customers to reconfigure their homes) but that it would also be compatible with the existing gas network. “The size of the existing gas network is roughly OK and supplies the same amount of energy whether you supply 100 percent natural gas or 100 per cent hydrogen,” he said. Nevertheless, the properties of hydrogen did present a number of engineering challenges. For instance, it has a much faster flame speed when compared to natural gas which, said Arntzen, created some initial challenges around how to control the combustion process. The team also encountered some early problems with “flashback”, a result of both the flame speed and shorter flame height of hydrogen. “The ignition was lighting the fuel upstream of the burner so we were getting a backfire,” he explained. “It was perfectly safe but of course your boiler going bang every few minutes is not really desirable!” Both of these findings prompted a redesign of the burner face to more effectively manage the flow of the gas within the appliance. Another key challenge was around monitoring and controlling the flame. Whilst existing domestic boilers sense the presence of a flame by detecting the electric current generated by carbon molecules within the gas, the absence of carbon molecules in hydrogen meant they had to look at different solutions for flame detection. At this point, said Arntzen, it became clear that it wouldn’t be possible to simply convert existing gas boilers to run on hydrogen, and the concept of a hydrogen-ready boiler was born, a system that would initially run on natural gas but which could be switched over to hydrogen with a minimum of fuss. “It goes into your house and burns natural gas, then, four or five years after you have it installed when you get notified that your area is going to be converted to hydrogen we come back in, quickly change a few components, and that boiler’s ready to burn hydrogen.” The Full Article can be read here:- https://www.theengineer.co.uk/low-carbon-engineering-hydrogen-home/ (The posted readers comments after the 'Engineer magazine' article are not quite so positive....)