foundations

Hi, We had a big flash flood and a hole has opened up in the floor at the edge of the house -outside (see photos). Luckily no water entered the house. Two of our block paving bricks seem to have disappeared down the hole (house was built in 1987) Any thoughts on how I should repair? Should I be...

Hi, One of my projects for this year is a Garden Office and Recording Studio. With the 2.5m height restriction, I'm thinking about digging down say 1m to gain some extra headroom. The walls will be post and beam. Is this likely to throw up any problems? Also, possibly as a future addition. I'm...

Hello everyone! We've had a garden office put in and are unsure if what the guys have done will last or not. There are already several cracks in the concrete and bits that are over hanging. I'm no expert at this but it doesn't feel like it's been done properly so would be great to get someone...

Interested to know your recommendations on the following scenario: I have planning permission to build an oak frame garage which will be built on a brick plinth which would go onto a strip foundations. Garage dimensions: 7m x 5.5m ridge height: 4.3m I’ve just been figuring out where existing...

Hi, I am in the process of doing a garage conversion. There is a gas meter on the inner side wall of the garage with the gas pipe going straight down into the ground. The pipe must lead out of the garage but don't know where. It is likely it goes straight out either under the side wall or...

Hi All Cellar of Midterrace Victorian (likely 1905 ish), not used for anything at all (currently empty) other than hosting the electric board and meter. We're having the front repointed, should we seize the opportunity to repoint the cellar too? One guy said he could render + put insulation, I...

Hi everyone, Completed the dig on a 3m single-storey extension today and came across a drain that runs a way we weren’t expecting. Seems to serve as a rainwater waste but not too sure if that’s all it is as there’s another clay pipe behind it that seems to run down (done my best to draw it in...

I was always fixed on laying beams along the 5.8m length.. however, that just seems like trouble. The supplier says they're about 250kg each, and will be awkward to get in. So two options. Which is easier???? 1. Lay them the other way, at 3.8 metre lengths, and cut pocket holes into the...

I'm making a blockwork building at the back of the garden (12.5m2). I have a rectangular trench fill foundation (c20). It will hold a cavity wall of dense and light blocks. Unfortunately, I wasn't accurate and a part of my foundation narrows. I figured it would be simple to dig out this...

Hi I am hoping you can help me with some independent advice regarding footings that have been dug for a single-story extension at my sons property. Due to a neighbouring tree roots, we have been advised by the council to dig extra deep footings for the foundations, I'm afraid I don’t have the...

I'm building a 5x3m 2.5m high single skin concrete outbuilding. It will act as a gym. I'm looking for advise with the foundations. Based on Structure: Approved Document A the width of the footing is advised to a be a minimum width of 250mm and depth of the excavation 450mm based on my wall and...

Hi, I'm coming to the point where I will actually need to get some concrete in. I like the idea of volumetric concrete so that I pay for what I use. I need about 1.2 cubic metres of concrete and will have to barrow it. Having phoned a few people up there seems to be a big difference in price...

Hi Everyone – first post here. Been looking at your forum for a while now and its given me lots of really useful advice. The specific advice I am after here is around the footings and oversite element of the proposed build below. Situation I’ve gained planning permission to build a 8m...

Is it acceptable to build ext. wall on upturned blocks like this to get them up to the right height? They are laid on the foundations. Dont want structural problems down the line.

I am planning on building a couple of garden buildings, one 30sqm, and another smaller 'practice shed' that is around 9sqm. Both are on a hill, the smaller building on a steeper bit of land than the larger one (which is flat-ish mostly). Due to the location, materials have to be transported by...

We’re planning an extension and have trees nearby. The species have been identified and distances calculated, so we just need to know the VCP/PI of the ground (medium would put us at around 1.7m, high would be 2.5m+/engineered). I’ve looked into getting the professionals in, and have a few...

Hi all, long time guest user but first post here. We are currently having a single storey extension built. There are various private and public sewers that run under the extension with a man hole having been removed. The next obstacle is bridging this pipework for the foundations, because of...

I want to lay gravel over a section of my garden, but need to add an edge to stop the gravel travelling. I’ve laid some wooden battens into mortar (with a gravel bed underneath for drainage) and use screws about 1 inch proud in the under side of the wood to make them more secure in the concrete...

Hi. I have just purchased a terraced house. Built circa 1890. It's in a row of 24 houses built on a relatively steep hill. The houses are built in pairs. Each pair is lower than the pair before as they step down the hill. I'm near the bottom. I'm situated so that, looking at the house, the house...

Hi all, I hope you are well. I'll try to keep this short. I am building an outbuilding (hopefully to use as an office / gym). The size is approx. 7m by 4m. It is being built on the boundary so within 1m. I plan to build it all of the light breeze blocks (except two rows of bricks at the...