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Clay bricks have been in use for many years. In Britain, bricks were first used by the Roman Empire in the 1st century. Nowadays, bricks are prevalent across the built environment and continue to be a fundamental ingredient in modern architecture. So, why after 2000 years are we still debating how…
For new dwellings and extensions, a popular method of providing ventilation has been to follow the principles of intermittent extract and background ventilation, known as ‘system 1’ in Approved Document F England or Wales. Although installation should be undertaken in accordance with the approved…
Walls usually crack because of movement in buildings. Allowing for these subtle movements during construction can prevent problems later. If you don’t, you risk bowing or cracking because the walls aren’t free to expand or contract.
Ensure movement joints or expansion joints are built in. The…
Making your home more energy efficient will cut costs in the long run and make it a warmer, more comfortable place to live in the cold winter months and cooler on hot summer days. By reducing your energy usage, you'll cut your carbon emissions and do your bit for the environment too.…
Understanding lead code requirements for particular work, installation detailing and length of laps are common issues that our building control teams get involved with.
Now there’s a quick and easy way to get the answers to all of your questions with a really clever mobile phone app from the…
Any walls that are not part of a house or extension are unlikely to be controlled by building regulations unless these provide support to the foundations of another building.
Many local councils will have restrictions on the height of walls and fences and you should check with your local…
Article updated on 31 January 2024When there are significant changes in level on a building plot or, if the profile of a decent load-bearing strata slopes, it can be difficult to work out how to keep costs down when digging out foundations.If you're cutting into the slope then it can result in very…
Getting the design of a level threshold right can be tricky. Convenience and accessibility are the main focus, but this can cause water penetration or damp.
The external landing should be large and level enough for easy wheelchair access, but there’s a risk of standing water or surface water…
Incorrect use of cavity wall ties is one of the common problems found on site by our building control surveyors. The wrong choice of cavity wall tie, not enough ties, and wrong detailing around openings are frequently spotted.
The image above shows how not to do it; hooking wall ties together,…
LABC's Head of Engagement Anna Thompson gave a Jewson Toolkit Talk recently and we recommend the video for anyone involved in construction. Homeowners will also find much of the information to be of interest.
Watch if you're interested in knowing a bit about the history of…