concrete

  1. M

    Epoxy colour pigment concrete countertop advice, how long to wait before applying epoxy

    Hi Guys, I have made an 85cm x 75cm concrete formed countertop (40mm (4cm) thickness). Currently, this is the third day, I removed the concrete from the melamine form and its perfect. I have covered it with sheeting and kept it wet thoroughly since day 1 every day, I will continue to do this...
  2. J

    is this ballast or Gravel concrete mix? I had to dig a trench and now need to fill back

    As per attached photos. Do you reckon this is a mix of Gravel 20mm or just ballast? I would need to match the mix to back fill a trench. Thanks
  3. G

    Trench Fill or Strip Foundation?

    Hi all, I'm shortly going to embark on my rear extension project. Did my own designs and drawings and full plans approval granted by building control which I'm pretty chuffed about, but I'm by no means an expert!! The plan was, after digging a test hole before submitting plans and speaking...
  4. R

    Kids climbing frame fixings

    Hi I have removed my shed and looking to put up a jungle gym kids climbing frame. Should I leave the slabs or remove? Looking at the guide neither fixings will work with the slabs. Has anyone fitted securely onto slabs before? The area will be covered with playbark also...
  5. S

    Doorstep render repairs

    Hi folks - seeking some advice. Project is to spruce up the doorstep of a victorian terrace house (ignoring the tiles, for now). Appears to my (untrained) eye to be layers of mortar and paint over cement, with the obligatory rusted-to-hell coal hole cover. As per the photos (see attached!)...
  6. W

    Concrete in a saucepan problem, please help

    I’m trying to make diy weight plates(all gym equipment has sold out here) by setting cement in a saucepan like so: https://imgur.com/x8RCTLg I left it set for over 12 hours just to be safe even though the bag says it sets in 2 hours. Still, the result is less than satisfactory...
  7. J

    1930s Floor issue. Seems very soft. How to make it stronger and lasting

    Hi, Just removed my old T&G plank and at the beginning I though that below I had a very strong Concrete flooring but this is not the case. I made few trial hole and the drill bits goes in like a soft cream and what come out is a black soil. the all flooring does not sound very strong and my...
  8. Ouch77

    Large shed base on sodden ground

    I'm having second thoughts on a base for a new shed. I'm planning on putting a large shed 3.5x8m (26x11.5ft in old money) at the top of my garden. The ground is mostly quite flat, but I've recently had to remove/grind out a large tree stump that would have been in the way. The ground in that...
  9. S

    Concrete floor lifting Laminate - No Damp that I can see

    Hi guys Need some advice please. We had a new Kitchen built about 4 years ago. We had Laminate flooring laid throughout but in the last few months when it was warmer, we noticed a bit of a hard lump in a section of the flooring. Over the months this has seemingly pushed up the laminate...
  10. T

    Block and beam into existing wall??

    I’m building a rear extension on my bungalow. The block and beam floor has been designed so that the beams run parallel with the rear facing wall. So i understand that usually if they were running perpendicular, the beams would key into the existing wall and be supported by the load bearing...
  11. T

    Cavity tray required below a bifold door?

    Is a cavity required below a bifold door? My architect has sent me drawings and it’s showing a cavity tray with weep holes below the bifold, I’m presuming it may be there to send any water that goes through the frame/sill to the outside (he’s currently away) here’s the part of the drawing...
  12. T

    Trench foundation at boundary? Cavity wall position

    I’m building a rear extension on my end of terrace bungalow, my Architect has specified a 600mm x 1000mm concrete foundation. At the adjoining boundary to next door we have a concrete post fence, the 150mm “toe” of foundation on that side of the 300mm cavity wall will need to go slightly past...
  13. V

    Chestnut posts and concrete...?

    We're re-placing a garden pergola made of wood which has seen better days. We were advised to use Chestnut poles for the vertical posts as they last longer than other types of wood - so have bought a set of these together with the appropriate number of bags of PostCrete. However, we've now been...
  14. S

    Advice for installing concrete lintel for chimney breast removal

    Hi, we're making our chimney hole bigger to insert a cupboard inside. We're keeping the adjacent support walls and installing a lintel to lift the arch higher (see picture attached). I've had to also fill in the gaps between lintel and bricks with slates (as gap was too wide). I'm told this...
  15. L

    Fill material for retaining wall

    HI All, Somewhat of a random question so don't shoot me for asking! I am building a retaining wall to form a driveway next to my house (its about 6m from the house). The height being retained is about 1m in existing made up ground forming a bank to the field next door which is about 1m lower...
  16. C

    Ideas for converting a concrete 'garden' into usable space

    Hello! My boyfriend and I have just bought a house which is gorgeous, but we had to compromise on the garden. The rear garden has had concrete poured and has been used for parking several cars/vans. The double garage is accessed here also. But my bf and I love gardening, and the dog loves her...
  17. D

    Decking batten pedestals - used internally, price etc

    I'm converting a car port which has a concrete base; the base isn't exactly flat, am thinking of putting engineered click over 3/4" structural ply, on batten/decking pedestals. I thought that pedestals would take the faff out of getting it level. There will be a damp course. I thought that...
  18. D

    What size hole for 6x100 Easydrive concrete screws?

    Easydrive seem to be a bit shy of providing hole spec.. The 6x100 have 6mm thread diameter, slightly unsurprisingly (with 4.8mm shank). They're going in to a concrete blockwork wall. Is there a general rule for hole sizes? Thank you Dain
  19. S

    Suspended concrete garage floor

    After being let down by several structural engineers wondering if anyone on here will be able to help me. I purchased a new house 4 months ago and the garage is my next project. Water has been getting in for several years and it has rotted the existing suspended floor rendering it useless...
  20. A

    Bad damp smell in cellar

    Hello. My cellar still got a bit of nasty humid smell. I already installed porcelain tiles, but the walls are drywall. I painted drywall with primer, which did not help at all. I heard that mould is not growing on concrete but it will in plasterboard, so would be clever to remove plasterboard...
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