saveasteading

Why? I thought this was just aesthetics. Such products must be used with great care. The house is old and has kept the rain out for a long time. It is unlikely to benefit (and could be harmed) from a coat of silicon. Looking again at the photo, is it only the black streaks below the windows that concern you? I expect this is a damper area of wall where water is running off the window sill, attracting either dirt or mould. The problem is probably the sills, as water should drip off the fronts, not run off the ends.

That is scientific method. Keep ruling out things that are not proven. I thought your arguments were intended to be anti-science but it appears not. Is anything ever proven? Do you really exist or is it all computer generated. At some stage something is clearly proven beyond all reasonable doubt. I don't understand gravity but I believe in it. Likewise all reasonable evidence leads to man-made climate change. The sociologist's can then take over and predict what the poor people in new deserts or flooded lands will do. I would predict famines, wars and mass migration. Oh and an end to heat pump grants as first mentioned 12 pages ago,

Yes, beware. A brick is not normally the same all the way through. If you remove the surface you will likely find a different colour underneath and it may not be so water resistant. I remember that on British Rail projects (a lot of soot around) they specified a particular product for cleaning old walls such as railway arches. Unusually, nobody ever suggested anything as an alternative, so it must have been ok. I think it was an acid gel. I think a web search is called for. It will be a messy and tiring job, with full PPE and scaffold, so expensive. A pressure wash will clean the bricks but might damage the mortar. I think I would grow to like the sooty look.

Yes it is, but you should still tell your insurer first and ask for their advice/instruction. 1. if you don't, then the garage basically becomes uninsured in my opinion. 2. they might pay for it all, and if it is easy enough simply permit you to do it and give you the money for it and your own work. Also they might pick up some other issues that can be fixed at the same time. 3. when you sell the house, the garage will be properly constructed. The next surveyor might notice that it has been altered and create an issue,

This is worth a read. I will start now, but suspect the deniers will be too busy to do the same.https://opr.ca.gov/facts/common-denier-arguments.html here is the first extract I clicked on “Scientists are out for personal gain, publishing alarmist studies to capture research grants.” There is no evidence to support this argument. Scientists who participate in the IPCC climate assessments are not paid, nor are those who participate in panels for the National Academy of Sciences. Career advancement in the sciences is not based on holding popular views, but on publishing original research. By contrast, many deniers have received funding from entities with a financial stake in fossil fuel-based energy system.

Believers: Do remember on your self-build to put in bigger gutters, drains and soakaways, as now necessary (and required by the Building Regulations) to deal with increased storm-water. Non-believers, do as you please: doesn't affect me. It is interesting to note that the rainfall risk applies much more to England and Southern Scotland, than northern lands. I only recently noted that Inverness has the same rainfall as Tunbridge Wells, but spread over more days, and thence without the flash floods that have recently stricken TW.

Pulling together all the good advice above....we would expect that the walls are buckling out most at the middle of the walls as the roof is restrained at the corner by the hip, and the walls there are restrained by the corner of the blockwork. The cracks and movement being at the top suggest that it is only the roof and that the founds are ok. I agree with the suggestions. more photos first, then jack up with a couple of acrow props under the ridge. Buy second hand if it will be for more than a few weeks. Best put a timber bearer on the floor if it is the same builder. The NHBC warranty isn't often much help, the surveyor will have get-out clauses, the building inspector doesn't check everything, the builder probably doesn't have insurance worth anything to you. But try. But do tell your insurer promptly or they will also say you took too long. They may pick the claim up and chase these others. they will then allow you to get repairs done, and might even pay for an Engineer.

We can all see weather happening. Perhaps more effort is needed to observe and acknowledge the greater changes. I think it is clear to anyone who cares to pay attention. And there I also drop our of this discussion. Not beaten, but disheartened that there are deniers, which perhaps is the intention.

Restoring the context: arguing that climate change is a conspiracy and/or does not exist, is beyond my understanding. Ok other than anarchy. So I am interested to hear any reasons. I remember an ex friend about 15 years ago, arguing very loudly that he defied anyone who could see the snow falling currently outside, to still say there is such a thing as global warming. And a lot of stuff about "those expletive Scientists" making money out of it. Of course I did say it, but the difference between today's weather and climate change was beyond him. It was an eyeopener about the hopelessness of arguing with some people. Mostly because 'The Sun' was his source of information. Now he shouts about the dangers of climate change so presumably The Sun now accepts it. I don't recall any interim stage.

a pack of 500 of the proper long screws will set you back £10. Something not to worry about.

I did some reading on climate change denial, because it was beyond my understanding. It was thought that it is linked to other denials and to conspiracy theories. The reason most people are into it is that 1. They do not want to believe that we cannot control climate, war, poverty etc so it is easier to assume that some conspiracy is going on, that perhaps could be thwarted. 2. Do not want to think about it or change their behaviour. The latter is understandable to some extent. For people struggling to get through the day or week there are other priorities. But for people who want to actively campaign against climate change, well I just really don't understand, and would be interested to hear. I also have to remind myself that most (?) people don't understand "Science" and many think it is some sort of organisation.

A wind-up I hope.

If you go back to basics.....You do not have to remove Japanese knotweed from your land, but you could be prosecuted or given a community protection notice for causing a nuisance if you allow it to spread onto anyone else’s property. So it is quite simple: do what you can to keep it in check. In my book that means that you spray your side, the neighbour sprays (or whatever) theirs. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading

Agreed. This would be seen as reasonable in any future argument so the planners would be unwise to pursue it. You could make it even less combative by suggesting that you have the right to submit a formal planning application for the same matter, but you don't wish to be awkward and appreciate that it would not not help their workload.

Can you clarify the current status please? It appears that he originally said that dot and dab was the only way, but now has taken the plasterboard down? I would almost certainly have kept the old ceiling in place because of the mess it would cause in removing it. Then screwing up plasterboard to the joists would tidy it all up and secure it. Then a plaster skim would sort out the undulations. You are still in a position to do this. If the 'builder' speaks to a mate with the slightest knowledge, he will be told that he must use screws. The advice above is good. To summarise: Make a list of the points you want to make. You can cut and paste from here and quote 'expert advice' because that is what you have had. Have a witness, just a friend will do, and no tech knowledge required. Ask if he is able and willing to continue the work by screwing the board. If he is not then sadly you must part ways and you wish him well, but it will now cost you more to get someone else in, and so there is no payment...at all. There will follow a whine about making a living, and at least some payment for his time /so he can pay the lads etc. But really he is not entitled and should not be claiming to be an expert. Male /female doesn't matter. In fact a male with knowledge might wind him up more. but a witness will make a huge difference to your confidence and his choice of response.. then write some notes on what happened and email it to your mate, or put it on here, and it is recorded. If he says, no problem, I have made a mistake and will now do it properly.....are you happy to continue with him? NO upfront money or that may be the last you see of him. * I reckon there are 3 ways to find the joists from underneath. Joist finder machine (£30), tapping, or drilling. Probably a combination of these. He should know this. So just ask him how he knows where the joists are and one or more of these should be the response.. And good luck. Once this is resolved you will be so much happier. Never forget...you are in the right here.

I asked my wife if she knew hiw to find joist positions. She did. This is not just a bodge but dangerous. Screws into oists essential to revert to just a bodge. Really it should be removed along with the dots and start again. No payment!

That would be messy, I agree. My queries remain. Does the inverter do anything other than allow a steady start? Do heat pumps run at other than 100%, and how?

The skim adds extra weight so the dot and dab is holding even more up. what is the ceiling made of? the new ceiling is pulling against whatever is on the surface. Paint/wallpaper/ the outer skin of paper of a previous board. Is he joking? If not then he either has knowledge issues or is taking you for a pushover. Finding joists is easy, and was even easier before he put the new boards up. Joists are in straight lines at regular centres. find one and the others are easy. Ask if you need t know any more. What is above the ceiling? What else is he doing for you?

Thanks, that matters as would be really annoying, and might trip fuses. Might a slower running fan work better anyway, especially in cold weather? Just a hunch and have not troubled myself with the physics.

Much worse than that. A bandage on a bandage may be sensible first aid. A falling ceiling might hurt or kill someone. Now when the screws are added it will pull tight when near a dot of plaster , but have a bridge behind where between dots . May be a tricky job, but he deserves it. If screwed up in the first place, then every screw would have pulled the pbd up tight to the original ceiling. There will be visible screws. If you were already going to skim then not a problem (except for the extra weight) . If not then he now has to fill over each screw...which is maybe what he was trying to avoid.

I refer you to my previous response.

yours is 192mm so looks ok but very precise work in lining up your wall hole. How precisely are the joists laid? a few mm +/- may give you issues. Is there any concern that your pipe could vibrate and transfer noise to the joists and then room?

So it will fall off at some stage, maybe next week or next decade. If it is well stuck then it may also rip off some of the previous surface, making a huge mess and maybe landing on the family. Must have screws into the timber (and they may be quite long as has 2 layers to go through). It will be screwed in is, I think, your next instruction. How close together will be according to the manual.

If you can spare time to expand a little, I would be very interested. 1. Variable speed works better because....? 2. How is the optimum speed decided and set? Is there a +/- set on a master thermostat to avoid cycling? 3. If an inverter changes DC to AC, and we start with AC anyway, what is happening and how does this control the fan?

Good to know. I couldn't see 200 on Starrett. The reviews are good which explains why this is £50. But for 2 holes, perhaps not .... jigsaw.