concrete

There was a big crack and hole in the plaster of our chimney breast so my wife started hacking at it and things escalated haha - My main concern is the archway section. It seems to be concreted up, is this usually to support the archway itself or maybe its just an aesthetic patch to square off...

Hi Guys I am trying to think of the best (easiest) way to do this. Basically I have a raised patio that I want to build a set of steps up/in to. the steps themselves will be almost a semi-circle. I want to use brick for the risers and then slabs on top. Question is, do I make forms and pour...

Hello, Is there a maximum depth below floor level a ground beam can be cast? The reason for asking is there need to be waste pipes which would pass right through the ground beam, obviously weakening the beam and probably causing the waste pipe problems in the future. If i install the beam...

My parents have a path around their house made of semi decorative concrete 18inch slabs. Due to the nature of the otherwise gravel driveway these get drive on repeated and are not standing the pace. They need re-laying on a firmer footing but they are not sure what to spec. Most of the path...

Hello, I’m just about to fit some steels on my self build extension extension and I have the following questions- Do I need to use any kind of dry pack mortar or can I bolt straight down onto the pad foundation I have laid. It’s pretty flat as I levelled and smoothed it of after pouring...

Hi all, Hope someone can advise! I have recently purchased a 1900s terrace house and the living/dining room have been knocked through into one open plan room. Upon taking the (many) layers of old wallpaper off, we've discovered two cracks, approx 1-2mm running up each end of the concrete...

Hi all, Recently been aware that there is some asbestos in our artex ceiling that is going to be removed. Since then i have been trying to go through old photos of work that i've done to the house to see if anything could have potentially contained asbestos. So far i've posted about textured...

Hi all, We're installing a plywood floor in our 1800's home. At the moment the room in question has a concrete floor (which at some point was put down to replace an original floating wood floor) with a pathway in the middle that is original hallway tiles (the rooms either side of the hall were...

This is my first post...take it easy on me. We are about 30% into our build and up to ground floor level above basement. There has been discussion between Architect, Builder and Structural Engineer over the concrete beams that have been used which are 220mm as opposed to 150mm initially...

Hello, I wondered if anyone knows where I can easily get hold of some kind of concrete plasticizer, or anything that will improve flow at low water quantities? Mortor plasticizers are readily available but I read that they shouldn't be used with concrete as their air entraining qualities weaken...

Not sure how to handle this and its the first thing I need to decide on before doing anything else! I have recently acquired a 1960 Derby based house from my parents and understand that is has an issue with sulphate based hardcore / ground floor. Underfoot the floor feels obviously un-even with...

I'm trying to slot in some new fence panels but having taken one panel out - it was very tight and was bowed because it was so tight I now find I can not get the new panel in - the panel seems close to being a whole cm too wide to go in the gap between the fence posts and as it is a newer and of...

Hi all Hope to obtain some advice on the following: In our first floor flat the kitchen floor is quite uneven and has a slope. The height difference between one end and the other is 2". The surface is concrete and has some cracks in the middle. We've investigated by removing some concrete and...

Before undertaking the tiling in the main bathroom I thought I'd try to get some practice by retiling around the sink in the downstairs wc. Having removed the tiles I'm unsure of what layers I've removed (in addition to grout) and how to prepare the walls for retiling. It seems like the tiles...

I've got this 12ft diameter x 80cm in height, outdoor metal framed swimming pool. The only possible location is on this 12ft x 12ft slabbed patio. (I say 12ft - when i got it out i measured it as 10ft but the box says 12ft, so that's confusing - unless these things expand?). Anyway, it slopes...

Hi all, Any information or help with this would be really appreciated. My wife and I just bought an old council flat, 50s construction, on an upper storey. The floor is a concrete slab, there's another flat beneath it. Neighbour says that flats used to be floored with tiles throughout, is...

Hi I have a standard 6 x 6 fence using 8ft concrete posts with 1ft concrete gravel boards I was looking to remove the 6x5 panels and slot/stack five 1ft gravel boards on top of the existing gravel boards.... 1) How hard will it be to lift them above 6ft and slot them in, 3 man job? 2) Is...

Hi guys, please help me what to choose. I live in Quebec, my neighbors are using asphalte lévis for their entrée de garage(entry garage). I think pavage asphalte need maintenance that much than concrete. Guys working pavage quebec is great here though ++++++++++++++++ Moderator's note: What...

My fence blew down in recent storms and I'm replacing it with stronger close boarding, I have dug out the old posts & Spurs which are in great condition but have a large concrete ball at the end. Can I reuse these Spurs by digging a bigger hole and dropping them in securing it with more...

I am in the process of restoring the doorstep on my Victorian terraced house. It has been tiled over at some point, which is not to my taste. I have stripped back some of the tiles, which took quite a long time as they were well and truly stuck down! Anyway, when the tiles were added the height...