Search
This is a photo looking down at the floor to a patio door opening and is a relatively common detail where the concrete carries over the internal blockwork to close the cavity.
Using damp proof membranes correctly
The damp proof membrane (DPM) has been cut too short to extend across the cavity…
A photo sent in recently by one of our building control surveyors highlighted a common problem found when the right drainage pipe fittings aren’t to hand on site and deadlines need the work doing right away:
In this instance, it’s surface water drainage from a house and detached garage that…
Whilst correct design, specification and detailing of cavity wall ties is important; correct and quality installation is just as critical to ensure performance of a wall throughout the life of a building.
This is particularly important as the need to construct masonry walls with wide cavities is…
Roofing is a high-risk activity. Working at height, sometimes with fragile materials, means roofers make up nearly a quarter of all workers killed in falls from height at work. Some of these accidents occur because of sub-standard roof battens.
In a bid to improve safety, a requirement to grade…
With an increase in people working from home, it seems a useful time to revisit the topic of building regulations and small detached buildings, especially those that are to be constructed in domestic settings as home offices, workshops and other uses.As a rule, the construction of any new building…
Severe driving rain is a common occurrence in the UK and these days even sheltered locations may be subject to high levels of deluge. Flashings and cavity trays offer a way around this problem, but should they be provided to canopy roofs?
Site-formed canopies
Where a site-formed canopy is…
The drive towards more energy efficient buildings continues to bring innovative products onto the market, such as insulated roof panels. These are an easy-to-fit, quick-to-install, low-maintenance roofing option that also offers thermal performance. Long length panels also reduce the number of end…
(Updated 1 May 2020)
Timber staircases are an integral part of many homes across the UK. While the design and manufacture of a staircase is key to its integrity and effectiveness, it’s just as important to install it right.
Poor installation can cause the stability of the stair to be reduced…
An informative guide that aims to promote good workmanship by helping you identify and rectify the most common energy efficiency-related problems in construction has launched.
It is hoped the Zero Carbon Hub’s Builder's Book, produced alongside CITB, PTE Architects and LABC, will help close the…
This image shows an external cavity with the insulation removed because of damp penetration through the wall. If you look closely, the wall ties fall backwards to the internal leaf - allowing water to track across the cavity. This is because the mortar bed to the brick skin is too thick, resulting…