Recent content by chamoisfive

Required for bracing. Usually for light framed structures such as garages/sheds. Remove them at your peril

One must be nuts not to put a vapour barrier down. You only get one chance to do it, so do it 'cos it's relatively cheap. Your contractor argument on the steel doesnt wash. I demolished a 45yr old concrete pad this week that had steel in it. Not a segment was rusted & it was as clean as the day...

I'm looking to do this too, on my 20x20' block garage. Had a civil engineer friend come to have a look at the project and was not keen on me adding "a couple more rows of blocks on top." Mutterings of creating a 'hinged wall' along with stringent earthquake strengthening requirements here, were...

Quite a simple fix really, as already stated and can be made to look almost invisible with sharp tools & care, but it might be an opportunity to beef up the strength of the lock plate by putting in one of those longer strengthening plates available for the jamb. Similar to this idea...

Ditto. You'll never get the missed time back with your kids. The projects will always be there.

From the angle in the photos you've provided, it looks like you might be onto a hiding for nothing by trying to just mortar over the very bony concrete. Are you in a position to create a false wall in front of the concrete one? That way you can run & hide your utilities like normal. A 2x4 wall...

Around here the door would be stopping on closing about 40mm lower than your photo here indicates.To simply fix this, if the contractor refuses to sort it, would be to grind out an appropriate section of the floor to allow the door to sit lower. I've done a few of these in the past and it's easy...

I have a nosy nieghbour that love to snoop & tell what he sees. . . . . . When I'm pottering around in the evening i prefer not to have the two-level houses nearby peering in. My business is my business, just that and I value my privacy

Companionship. So the tools don't get lonely in the shed, garage, rack or whatever, and; One for you to use, and one for the helper to use at the same time. Wife once asked why do I need more than one hunting rifle. One for me, and one for my visiting hunting partner. Simple, same principle:)

Forget the ladder option in this instance. Choose the scaffolding or bucket truck as mentioned

Not one comment about your insurer being okay with motor vehicles being inside the house/living areas? When I looked at doing this a couple of years ago, my insurer wasn't happy & proposed putting up the premium for "increased risk from fire". Conveniently overlooking the fact of a 'flimsy' but...

You could look into the possibility of a flitch beam to suit your needs. That may be a cost effective solution instead of a complete steel beam as has been suggested

I'd go for metal roofing a everytime, but then it's arguably the most common roofing material in this country. Shingles like you have, not so much. Your climatic conditions have a lot to do with that though. In my job experience, steel roofing is a lot less labour & materials intensive than...

Drywall sheets are available with one edge tapered, and one edge square, thereby eliminating the roll-under you mention, and the thinking builder would plan ahead for this. Sheets also come in wider than four feet if you look around the catalogue, but are probably special order for some areas. I...

I guess you mean the thickness required, therefore you need to check with your local authority to see if they have a particular thickness required. It will depend on your winter conditions of course. The minimum here in temperate NZ a few years ago was a miserable 30mm, now it is mandated 50mm...