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  • Does my house have subsidence?

    Victorian terraced property with a two storey outrigger to the rear has cracks along interior walls where outrigger joins. The outrigger floor slopes down to the end and original ground floor doorway to the outrigger was replaced with an arch ten years ago. Cracks have worsened in the last few months with tiles in bathroom getting further from the outrigger wall. What can we do?

    Asked by Claire on 17th Feb 2025
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    No completion date

    We started our project in Jan25, adding a single storey, flatroof rear extension with new kitchen/utility, alterations to the existing rooms including a new bathroom & en-suite. Groundwork/structural happened quickly & smoothly. But in the last 2mths things have really slowed up. We were originally told it would take 5-6 months. Now early July and we are so far from completion; the rooflights aren’t even in so we’ve had several leaks where the roof is not watertight. We did not have a completion date written into the agreement, our mistake in hindsight. And now, the builder won’t say when we can expect completion. He even said he would need to leave our project to work on something else he has lined up, & then come back. We have always paid the builder promptly when requested, but we now feel the need to hold the rest of the money back until he completes the job. Is it unreasonable for us to expect that his priority is finishing our project & giving us some idea on completion?

    Asked by Candice on 7th Jul 2025
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    Knock Down An Internal Wall

    How much to knock down an internal wall and install a RSJ and make good

    Asked by Ally on 10th Oct 2019
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    Damaged concrete lintel replacement

    The concrete lintel above a ground floor door/window is cracked and starting to look dangerous, how much would this cost to get replaced?The opening the lintel covers is 6ft or 183cm, a window and door together, its visible from the outside if that makes a difference as i've seen some that are hidden by bricks, this one is not.

    Asked by Daniel on 5th Dec 2023
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    Insulation in cavity wall

    My wife has been in contact with a company about replacing cavity wall insulation, through a government scheme its all went through but they didn't turn up and when she phoned they said it had been marked done as done and now have arranged to come out another day, its an ex council house 2 bedroom, to me am unsure now after that call she made, does anyone know about this is it worth doing or is it going to cause problems down the line

    Asked by Jack on 5th Aug 2025
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    How to engage a general builder - pls read

    Just bought a house which I expect to complete on in 8-12 weeks. Want to find and have a general builder start work on full renovations day 1 of completion while the property can remain empty. However, I’m unable to access the property. I have detailed measurements and a few videos, and the narrative here is it is literally a start again from scratch job, ie full rewire, new heating system, kitchen, reskim, etc. Can I reasonably engage builders with a scope of works, floor plan, and pics and get sensible ballparks to start shortlisting and awarding work with some understandable caveats? Or will they all say they need to see it first? Thanks

    Asked by Tom on 25th Jun 2024
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    Creating off road parking

    I want to strip out two levels of my front garden to create off-road parking, so lots of soil removal and shoring up a very high stone wall on one side, plus utility relocation (mains water, maybe some electrical cables). Plus remove four small-ish fir trees in the same area and a wall bordering the road (made of stones I'd like to keep to help repair other matching walls in the garden). Do I need an architect to design this, or a landscaper, or can builders do the whole job? Do I need a project manager? Is there an average price per square foot for such work? I know I need to involve the Council because of shoring up the high wall and taking parking spaces from the road. They have agreed in principle a few years ago. Since then nearly all my neighbours have done the same. Where do I start with such a project? What are the classic pitfalls I need to be aware of? Should I pay part or all cash? Many thanks for any advice.

    Asked by Lindsay on 15th May 2023
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    Small Extension (3mx2m) Quotes

    How much on average for a 3m x 2m extension on back of a terrace house, with a toilet. I was quoted £55k approx in the SE, but for a 3mx2m with a toilet at the back of a terrace house seems quite high, especially when I have to provide the tiles for the flooring and toilet and basin. Thoughts?

    Asked by Vanessa on 15th Jan 2024
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    load bearing walls

    how would you know where the load bearing walls are on a bungalow are they in the middle of the property and how far do the steel beams need to go into the brickwork on either end to create an opening and does it need to be supported vertically too

    Asked by Saj on 12th Sep 2025
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    Relocate Kitchen

    What ball -part estimate in time & money, would it be to relocate the kitchen from the back of the house into the current living room at the front of the house. Plumbing for a sink, washing machine & dishwasher are required. Electric sockets, electric cooker socket & installed +new lighting. The carcasses of the cupboards that are salvageable can be re-used but require new worktops & cupboard doors. A radiator needs removing & tiles for the wall space between the worktop & top cupboards would be needed. Obviously I know it'd be an estimate without exact measurements for pricing, it's roughly a 10×12 room + bay window. It's a 3bed semi-detached house. There are no walls to knock down, it's not a listed building. There is a manhole out the front of the house. Thank you.

    Asked by Louise on 19th Sep 2024
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