foundation

Hi all, We’d like a toilet downstairs, but there are some isues. Our drains are at the back and feed into the main sewer at the back of our garden, so the existing soil stack (and the new pipe) MUST be at the back (WC goes under the stairs). Unfortunately, our foundation is solid concrete all...

Hi, please see attached photo showing rear wall of a 1960's semi-house. The rain-pipe and sink pipe waste run into this gutter. The green hilight shows where the new proposed 60cm wide strip foundation will run for the rear kitchen extension (about 1m deep). What is the solution for this...

Hi, I am building a block wall and need about 1m^3 of concrete. I know there is a number of ways to do this is buying ready mix concrete and hiring a pump the best way? How much would It likely cost? cheers, Ed

I'm wanting to build a bit of an awkward shed and have had a lot of conflicting answers and trouble figuring out what foundations I need exactly The shed in question will be a traditional style 4x3m half timbered frame made from structural Oak then the panels infilled with single skin brick...

Hello, I would like to build a porch on the front of my house and while I'm comfortable enough with the walls and roof, I'm not sure what foundations I should be building on. At the moment there is an old concrete slab around the front of the house, this has got a large crack near to a...

Hi Guys, I will be filling my cavity as per title over the weekend prior to backfilling and compacting the ground. I know i need to use 8 part balast to 1 part cement gfor the mix...but i have read conflicting messages about the consistency of the mix....should it be wet or dry? Also i have...

Hi Guys, going to be building up to DPC for my project this week. There will be 2 bridges for water and electric supplies to run under the blocks... what size/rating lintel will i need (assumng i need 4 lintels also)? Thanks

what is the general consensus on applying a waterproof render on the foundation of a (victorian terraced) house? Background: frontroom is damp (water pooling on the bare ground below floor level, plaster in walls close the the water pool is blown). We are in the process of digging away clay-ish...

Hello, I am hoping to build a summer house/shed combo at the bottom of the garden. I am hoping to build it myself as I won't be able to find something off the shelf that will meet my requirements. It is going to be one big building with part of it serving as a shed and the other part a summer...

Hi all, I'm shortly going to embark on my rear extension project. Did my own designs and drawings and full plans approval granted by building control which I'm pretty chuffed about, but I'm by no means an expert!! The plan was, after digging a test hole before submitting plans and speaking...

Hi all I’m hoping somone can give me a little more info we recently bought a new house where the garden is very sloped and in need of raising. we are hoping to put a small retaining wall in front of the rear fence concrete blocks laid flat approximately 0.5m high and back fill to this to bring...

Hi I’m building a rear extension on my 2 bed bungalow. The existing foundation is a strip foundation, and it’s a fair way below ground level, I’d say 900mm. Because the ground is clay, we have a spec of a 600mm x 1000mm trench fill foundation. My question is, can this new foundation rise above...

I’m building a rear extension on my end of terrace bungalow, my Architect has specified a 600mm x 1000mm concrete foundation. At the adjoining boundary to next door we have a concrete post fence, the 150mm “toe” of foundation on that side of the 300mm cavity wall will need to go slightly past...

Hi all, My first time posting on here so thanks in advance for any help! I am planning (and have permission for) a single storey, 4 metre depth extension on my end of terrace 1930s house. Our neighbours already have a 3 metre single storey extension and we have dug a trial pit to discover...

Hello All, I have started to build my outbuilding/workshop as of last week. Cleared and plotted the ground out then called the BCO. There is a hawthorn 1.5m away from the foundation of the building so had to dig 2.5m down which I found takes a certain knack to dig. As I am coming away from the...

I'm putting up an aluminium lamp post next month 2.15 metres tall. On the base of it are 3 10mm holes to allow it to be bolted to the ground. My plan is to dig an 18" deep hole in the ground twice the width of the post, fill with 1:4 cement/sharp sand, allow to set for 2 weeks and then bolt...

Hi I am doing an extension and had a trial hole dug for the foundations which was to 1.4m (deep due to trying to find good ground - point 1 below). The water table was oily/contaminated and ground is obviously made up ground. My council building inspector came out and inspected the hole and...

Hello everyone, Im currently in the process of purchasing my first home.. So i had the Homebuyers survey carried out today and it has picked up that the front right hand side corner of the house has maybe sank? I have attached photos as they speak 1000 words... Is it bad? Should i pull out of...

Hi I have been using a building company to clear the site where my extension is going and they have been good at what they have been doing, although I think they may be taking advantage a bit now so a little advice here would be great. They came and dug a trial hole to about 1.5m last week...

Hi everyone, I am having a bit of a nightmare removing all dust from my concrete floor surface because the floor is bumpy I can't hoover. Below is pictures, I need to patch up the holes first before applying the self levelling compound. Please could anyone help me regarding the following...