Why You Haven't Seen Much From My Narrow Rebuild Lately

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Agreed - I also dont think they should be used below DPC on any leaf

Lightweight blocks and thin joint bed systems for inner leafs on cavity walls are the worst combo I have seen for cracking

Ditto to that

[Norman Verona]

Now I have a question.

We have used solid concrete block to build the lower walls of the porch. They are 50 cm long and 15 cm wide. can't remember the height and I'm not going to measure them now. These are on a 100 mm thick concrete base which is turn is on a hardcore base of broken bricks and pebbles. The timber frame is going to sit on top.

I said we needed a damp course. Jacob said we didn't. I found a roll of damp course and have laid it on top of the concrete blocks and then put the timber on top.

Question: Did I do right or wasn't this needed?

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I said we needed a damp course. Jacob said we didn't. I found a roll of damp course and have laid it on top of the concrete blocks and then put the timber on top.

Question: Did I do right or wasn't this needed?

you did right, with any sort of brck or block there will be a degree of mositure abosorbed either from the ground through rising damp or from rain etc. the dpc will ensure that this water is kept away from the timber frame, ensuring it lasts longer and doesn't rot. About the only time you don't need a dpc is with engineering bricks and even then only if no additives are used in the mortar mix, i would still use one myself though.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

In the days before DPC was invented houses like mine had a course of slate that acted as a damp proof course.

[Norman Verona]

I was managing a refurb of a Victorian double fronted house just of the city centre of Sheffield.

Turned out the house had been built on the "drain" from a water resovoir which is now the playing fields of Hallam Uni.

The house had sunk on the right hand front and the left hand rear.

I had both corners underpinned with tons of concrete The interior walls were re-plastered, in the right hand front room the top was 4" of plaster going down to a skim!

We then fited new windows at the front and "lost" the lean by clever arrangement of the window lintels.

[Norman Verona]

Thanks Mark, so my observation skills haven't been a waste of time.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Thanks Mark, so my observation skills haven't been a waste of time.

No you were spot on there

[Mark (smokey mow)]

So back on topic and first job for day 4 was to shingle the drains and connect to new water main with a tee to the existing run.

Whist that was going on my good friend the buiding inspector turned up, so we had a bit of a chat for a while, caught up the latest gossip, then thumbs up to carry on and get it filled in.

The rest of the day was spent backfilling the shingle and levelling the garden back over everything to return the garden back to normal.

That then just left friday morning to make good the concrete and lay some turf.

[Norman Verona]

I have a very close friend in the Peak District who's an architect. He saw the pyramid shaped stone that supported the oak pillars that supported the first floor joists in our barn. He was so impressed he had some made for a barn conversion he was doing in the park.

I asked him what the purpose was and he explained about capillary action where water rises.

Another simple lesson learnt.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

So for the final instalment....

With the worst of it now out of the way and after a couple of weeks break and a change of job we're on the home straight and back to the inside again.

With the tiling completed, the basin waste was routed.

And then firted to the pan connector.

Basin then installed and all the water feeds connected

[Mark (smokey mow)]

And finally the finished article, all done, but for a bit of gloss on the door frame

So from this...

To this... In 5 months

I just need to get the Building Inspector back out again when i've next got a day off to sign it all off.

[KugaWestie]

Good job Mark, well done mate

[Tyson]

That looks good.

I know who to get to do my tiling now

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Thanks chaps i wont be giving up the day job anytime soon to become a tiler

Now i seem to remember i had a narrow bodied westfield around here somewhere that needs finishing best get that dug out again from it's summer hibernation to keep me busy over the winter.

[Norman Verona]

Fancy finishing a porch?

Looks really good.