Q&As

The bedroom of the ground-floor flat I am renovating has sash windows facing the street. I want to retain the windows’ authenticity and would also like to leave them open from time to time when I’m not in the room. However, I am concerned that the room is easily accessible to intruders. Are there any […]

What is the smallest size of timber stud I could use to build a fullheight utility cupboard in the Victorian flat I’m renovating? The floor-to-ceiling height is 3m, and I need the total wall thickness to be as thin as possible.

I want to install a ground source heat pump from the company Ice Energy. I am currently on solid fuel, which is good but time-consuming, messy and not practical for us. The pump would be required to heat cast-iron radiators in my five-bedroom farmhouse – is this possible? I have considered oil and LPG but […]

Although we have accepted a quotation from a builder for a large extension to our house, we are a bit concerned. This firm has carried out a lot of work in our area and has a reputation for fair prices and good workmanship. But he is also renowned for going missing for a couple of […]

I am selling my house, but have been told I need to have the timbers in the roof space and the floor treated to eradicate beetle and fungus infestation. What should it cost?

I need to have a garden plot surveyed to check the suitability of the land for building, and find out what foundations would be appropriate. The land is in Marple in Cheshire. Can you suggest a surveying firm that might be able to take on the job?

My builder has been saying that we need to use a power float machine for the floor. Can you explain what one is and how it works?

We have been offered a plot that is ideal for our purposes, but there is a drawback in that the property would be 300m away from mains drainage. The pipe would be laid across our land, but how much would it cost to lay? Would it be cheaper to install a septic tank?