Building Q & A
Garden office with box bay window(s)
Q: I have a small patio space and plan to build a standalone garden office instead of moving. Could I add box bay windows on it, using the 78 cm garden retaining wall (66cm from base timber) as a base to make the space feel larger?
A: Hi, a garden office is a great use of garden space but from what your saying I believe you are looking at using your retaining wall as one of the walls of your room then building off this to complete the structure. If this is what you mean I would advise against it as a retaining wall holding back the soil to the outside of it is also holding back water that will come through the wall to the inside of your new room. Now there is ways round this such as installing tanking and such but in the vast majority of cases this is a much more expensive option then just building your structure slightly a way from the retaining wall and installing a linear drain to the face of it(if one isn’t already installed. I hope this helps, if you need any more information or advice don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
What toilet to get?
Q: My toilet is outdated and old. It’s an old style toilet with the pipe at the back exposed. I’m not sure what toilet I’m supposed to get. I’m looking for a modern toilet.
A: Hi, it’s sounds like you have what’s called a close coupled toilet, as if you can see the pipe work it’s unlikely to be a back to wall or concealed cistern style toilet, So the best thing to do would be type into google ‘close coupled toilets’ and take a look. If you a looking for a modern style a back to wall close coupled toilet could be the way to go, this could be fitted with minimal works if the right one is selected. If you are still unsure don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
Replacing wood on sides of garage flat roof
Q: We have moved to a house with a garage that has a reasonably ok flat roof. However on two sides the wood is the original from 1969 and is rotting. Can these be replaced without redoing the roof and if so what is entailed. Thank you Gary
A: Hi Gary, I believe the rotting wood bordering the roof would be your fascia and soffit. To answer your question no you would not need to redo your roof to replace this. What is quite common is for cap-it board to be placed over the timber to hide the old wood, however although a budget friendly option for some my personal recommendation on a job where the timber is too far gone would be to fully remove the the timber (and guttering if there is guttering on this side) and any nails screws or debris without damaging the over hanging roof covering. And the the option for replacing would be replacing again with timber and protecting with and appropriate paint, or what is more common now days is to replace with Plastic fascia and soffit boards fixed with poly pins to the rafter tails.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
Exposed Brick look, in a bedroom.
Q: I am wanting one wall in my bedroom, (the wall behind my bed), to have an exposed reclaimed red brick look, as I have ordered some industrial style bedroom furniture. I've had a look at the different websites online, but am still not sure what would give the best result/look. Is there anyone who has done any work of this type, that can give me any help/suggestions or advice? (I don't want a wall paper). My bedroom is currently painted a 'buttermilk' colour on top of lining paper, but I'm wanting the other walls in the room painted white, along with the ceiling. Any help or suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks.
A: Hi Sue a very good way of achieving this look is by using ‘brick slips’ these are thin cuts of bricks with just the brick face that can be installed by a competent tiler or bricklayer that installs brick slips then pointed If you type it into google your see examples of how it look online.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
Plastering & Rendering
Q: Can you put coving up after you plastered the ceiling & walls same day
A:Hi, it’s not good practice to install coving while the plaster is drying. The reasons for this are -it can damage the plaster as your installing the coving -if adhesive is being used the adhesive will not stick correctly to wet plaster -moisture can be trapped behind the coving and cause the walls and ceiling to not dry out evenly. In an absolute worst case scenario where it had to be done although as I said it is bad practice and can cause the issues mentioned, timber coving could theoretically be mechanically fixed and fitted. Although this is something we would never recommend and would be a result of bad planning where both had to be done on the same day. If you need any more information or advice don’t hesitate to get in touch
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
Render removal
Q: Is it possible to remove this type of sprayed on render, its over the brickwork, electrical cables, timber. Is it some sort of cork render.
A: Hi, I wish I had some good news but unfortunately spray cork render is very difficult to remove especially off brickwork, normally a specialist professional team may be needed, but the brickwork will not be brought back to original condition so a new rendered finish will needed to be applied once the surface is professionally prepared and ready to except the new render e.g. silicone render. If you need any more information or advice don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
2nd opinion wanted on tiling victorian footpath
Q: Hello, I'm undecided as to the best way to spruce up my footpath and crumbling steps to my front door and was hoping to get a professional opinion here please. I have a long footpath that's very tired looking and on different levels leading up to limestone steps which are wearing away. I could either go for victorian tiles for the steps and pathway which would have the wow factor but draw a lot of attention to my house and cost a small fortune or just replace the steps with limestone and a bog standard flagged pathway (the only downside is the flagstones discolour very quickly and look grubby compared to tiles or sett stones etc).
A: Hi, Looking at your options you could go with a number of different ideas for your walkway such as non slip porcelain tiles (could be typed into google to get some ideas) Which always looks very smart, or a similarly cheaper option would be natural sandstone slabs, or even just a decorative gravel or shingle bordered pathway (keep in mind wheelchair/buggy with this option) another option is block paving. What ever you choose the step can be matched with one of these options creating the step out of the same material (other then the gravel path obviously) There’s some options for you, my favourite at the moment is Indian sandstone pathways as they look nice and aren’t the most expensive option I wish you luck with your project and hope this helped.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.
Covering a door
Q: Hi I live in an old townhouse which has a fire door that allows you to enter into your neighbours property. I have spoken to London Fire brigade and they seemed shocked by this as I wanted to ensure the safety of my home. But I wanted to find out how would I go about blocking/covering this door up as it is very intrusive. Thanks.
A: Hi Obviously first things first speak to your neighbour, if you haven’t opened the door it might already be blocked up on the other side of the party wall, we have come across this twice before, if so the door and frame could come out be blocked up with concrete blocks hardwalled, and skimmed, If not and it’s still a door on both sides, you’d have to do the same on both sides obviously with your neighbours permission.
Lee Moore, Harris and Moore Bespoke.