building control

Hi Experts, I have recently purchased a semi-detached 1930s house. As a part of the internal renovation, I want to change the turning of the staircase by making it straight from bend at bottom part. The problem is that currently staircase at 1/2 steps might not have 2m headroom at the bend...

Hi all, Looking for some advice, please. I'm in the process of buying a house whilst going through the checks I noticed a pending building application from 2016. Long story short, the sellers had an internal supporting wall taken out to open up the cellar and create a large kitchen area. The...

Hi, I had the structural visit and the proposed designs and calculation but couldn't make sense the part where they're telling 1000mm x1000mm x 800mm pad footing for a steel column. Existing wall spans about 3 meters (with 1.2 meter doorway starting from left on the below drawing. Two questions...

Hi I wanted to install an inline fan for the bathroom in the loft and was planning to do the electrical connection until learning while researching that this may not be allowed due to the involvement of the bathroom. I'm looking for guidance about the rules if I DIY, as it's not clear to me if...

Chimney breast/loft conversion We have a 1930s semi in London, UK and are looking to do a loft conversion. If possible we want to remove the chimney breast in the loft space to provide greater width to the new master bedroom. We have received these plans from the structural engineer...

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 there, I'm looking for some advice on what my options might be for improving the side space by my home. I'm keen to know what options are, but also failing that, who I can actually ask to ascertain what is possible and / or permitted? The side space is currently a mish mash of 3 sections, -...

Searched a lot on the internet, but the regs don't see overly detailed in explaining the answers to my queries. I have a 1960s built 3 bed house which is on a generous corner plot, the hillside is wrapped around the house making the front a two storey home and the back more like a single storey...

Hi all, My partner and I are planning a side extension, and were going to get building control done through the local council. However, one of the builders we're gathering quotes from advised against this; apparently in his experience the council will require several visits to the site and will...

Our design company is doing building regs full plans drawings. Once approved by BC how closely to these plans does the builder need to stick? Can materials or the build be altered at build time (presumably with approval of the approved inspector) - or is this something that the inspectors would...

I email the building control company prior to doing some work, giving them bullet points of what I'm going to do and for them to give me a heads up if they're going to want to see something in particular, and whether I'm doing it correctly. But they refuse to be helpful in any way. All they...

I’d like something clarifying if anyone can help. If your architect submits plans to your building control control company, and they approve the plans. Are building control then allowed to question elements and request deviations from the plans they already approved? Or is their job to...

I have had my planning permission for two story side extension approved. I am finding my self very confused now on what to do before the work can start. I called my local council today and they advice me that there are two ways to go about it. 1. Building Notice - simpler and work can begin...

I have an existing stud wall as part of a historic loft conversion. The plan is to move it back to increase the room space, insulate and turn it into cupboards rather than loft space. As far as I can tell this wouldn’t require planning or building control. Is this the case?

I have had Puro Construction on site doing the repointing on this 1920s building, it does not look right, can someone please advise we are in a dire situation with them at the moment

Hi all, I found out from a builder that my Building Control company had lost their licence and were due to cease trading so rang up for a partial completion certificate. No other company will touch it now and say it must go through the local council. I spoke to the council and they said make...

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Hi, so we are converting our garage (linked to the 1960's house) into a habitable room. The walls are double leaf brick without cavity. I will therefore need Celotex Insulated internal plasterboard sheets - do you know if 75mm cellotex is the minimum acceptable thickness? Can I simply bond it to...

Hello all, We're in the middle of planning for extension which is likely to happen next year. As part of the works I plan to do the internal reworks this year (mostly just moving a stud wall to create a corridor upstairs to the new bedroom) and then have the extension built next year and knock...

Hello all, I need some help and advice: A building control officer has recommended a builder to use 6" high timber frame joists to be used with 100mm insulation inside the frame as the proposed suspended timber frame joist of 4" high isn't strong enough for the underfloor heating, because of...