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It is now a requirement to limit air leakage from the inside of buildings – one main area where this situation can be improved is to effectively seal the gaps around floor joists where they bear into the external walls. This can be done in two ways:
Joist hangers
Only proprietary joist…
Retaining walls can be tricky to build as they need to be strong enough to resist horizontal soil pressure where there are differing ground levels.
One of the things you must get right is the thickness of the wall. It should be at least 215mm thick and bonded or made of two separate brick skins…
If you’re building an extension or adding a conservatory onto an existing property the room it connects to often becomes an inner room. Any ventilation provided through the former external wall is compromised and unless it’s opened out into the new extension will be made worse.
Lack of air…
Cold bridging is a common problem, often arising where a gap occurs in the insulation of a building.
Whenever there is a break in the continuity of a property’s outer envelope, there is a risk of a cold bridge appearing. Such an area will often be colder than the main areas surrounding it and…
Take extra care when excavating foundations in clay soils, especially if there are trees nearby. Clay soils are made up of 40% water, but trees can change this amount differently throughout the year - causing the soil to shrink or swell with enough force to affect the foundations of a building and…
It’s now 20 years since the Party Wall etc. Act came into force on 1 July 1997. It applies throughout England and Wales and provides a framework for preventing or resolving disputes in relation to party walls, party structures, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
Anyone…
It can be difficult to determine when the renovation of a thermal element triggers the need for a building regulation application. Here we look at why the Regulation was introduced and how you can calculate when you need to submit an application.
Background
Homes in the UK contribute 27% of…
When a property is up for sale and building work has been carried out on it, the seller will need a form of certification to say that the works have been inspected and that they comply with the building regulations.
At least, that seems to be the current view of many engaged in the conveyancing…
Today, LABC released independent research that, amongst other things, looks at the number of interventions local authority building control teams are making in the pre-commencement plan assessment stage of construction. The research, carried out by Lychgate Projects Ltd, involved 42 local…
Here at LABC, we offer a range of accredited qualifications from levels 3 to 6 for Local Authority Building Control teams. Whether you want to top up your professional knowledge or learn something new, you can enrol onto one of our enriching qualifications and progress your career in building…