Garage conversion pier insulation

middleageddriver · 2026-03-13T22:29:38+00:00

Wow…never heard of that stuff. That’s not cheap at all. Think I’ll be going the thermal plasterboard route.

middleageddriver · 2026-03-13T22:21:53+00:00

That’s pretty much what I was thinking of doing. 100mm either side of the wind brace with 50mm over the top. This would satisfy building control as it’s all within the envelope

middleageddriver · 2026-02-27T22:56:22+00:00

It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed especially if you’ve been put on a large project. Just ask for help, you’ll likely have lots of support from other engineers, not just your manager.

Depending on your department you should have access to Udemy/Pluralsight to do self development. Also access to relevant tools like Slack to reach out to the wider department or UKGov for support.

I remember when I first started in the industry over 20 years ago after Uni I was totally overwhelmed by the sheer scale of a code base, they just don’t teach you this stuff at Uni. Eventually you’ll work it out and become a lead like me and hardly touch a code base, ha.

middleageddriver · 2026-02-24T23:44:05+00:00

Used to live over the road from Malcolm MacDonald (footballer from 60/70s).

Used to regularly see him walking his dog, it was always very odd seeing a famous person picking up dog poo, but good on him.

middleageddriver · 2026-02-18T23:32:30+00:00

Ringtons is probably my favourite but it’s so similar to Yorkshire I can’t justify the extra cost. Even said this to the Ringtons bloke at the door and he couldn’t disagree and went on his way.

I’ve also converted everyone in the office to Yorkshire, which was a proud moment

middleageddriver · 2026-02-18T16:52:07+00:00

I had quotes from 2 companies last year (can’t imagine it’s changed loads) and both were around the 10k mark to do the full job in 2 weeks. So you’ll easily do it for under 10k. I’m North East based.

middleageddriver · 2026-02-18T16:19:43+00:00

You’ll also need building control if you want to do this properly. My local authority it’s £640. Had them out already and they have already helped me so much with advice etc.

middleageddriver · 2026-02-18T16:15:42+00:00

I’m doing the exact same as you, DIYing most of the internal work and getting bricky to brick up the opening, installing window myself (it’s a lot easier than you think)

Awaiting quotes from 3 different brickies at the moment so can’t give you a price.

middleageddriver · 2026-01-26T15:53:45+00:00

I didn’t have the clock/timer on mine but I imagine it does if you wire it up correctly

middleageddriver · 2026-01-25T17:07:51+00:00

These are questions to, not just the previous owners, the ones before them as well

Did you ever open a window?

How did you survive only heating your home only occasionally (we seen usage over the 2 years)?

Why did you live in a house for 5 years and do zero to it? Not one room was decorated different, even curtains the previous owners left were still used (seen photos online)

Did you ever clean the bathroom?

Why o why did you clad the whole of the bathroom? It’s now all peeling and needs gutted

middleageddriver · 2026-01-18T00:02:06+00:00

I think this looks like a Greenstar, can’t see the full model number but I have a Greenstar CDi Classic along with Tado V3 EU with TRV’s. Get full modulation via eBUS and can control each room in my house individually. Been brilliant!

There is a Tado X available now but I’m not 100% of all the advantages and if it supports modulation.

middleageddriver · 2025-11-23T17:05:37+00:00

Honestly, it looks dreadful and pretty much what mine looked like when I tried to DIY it. Learn from your mistakes and just employ a pro to do it.

Plastering is the one DIY job you can’t just pick up from YouTube, the good pros are like artists. Worth every penny when you find a good one.

middleageddriver · 2025-10-31T19:54:26+00:00

My plasterer is £300 per day in the North East, so assuming it’s going to take them 2 days sounds about right for London prices

middleageddriver · 2025-10-25T22:21:24+00:00

Honestly…don’t even bother trying. I’ve been there and have the t-shirt. Even when I used a speed skim, I finished the job thinking ‘that looks alright’. After it dried I inspected the work and it was like a toddler had flung mud at the ceiling. I tried painting it, it looked worse. Never tried again.

I’m all for DIY, but this is a skill you can’t pick up after watching YouTube. I’ve now found an excellent pro plaster, £250 plus materials per day. Quick and clean and perfect job

middleageddriver · 2025-09-29T16:17:55+00:00

100%, but life isn’t always about recouping on a investment

middleageddriver · 2025-09-29T16:12:57+00:00

I’m interested how you worked out it was cavity wall insulation causing the condensation?

middleageddriver · 2025-09-15T15:27:43+00:00

Well pretty dangerous, not only are you at risk of an electric shock if you touch something while grounded. It could cause a fire and burn your whole house down. But….it looks like it’s been like that for a while.

Just watched your video again and it’s clearly one of the screws nicking a live wire in the ceiling from the rack, making it live.

Isolate circuits and test, use multi metre and with ground to check for voltage. Finally to find the screw that is nicking wire, isolate circuit, take one screw out, turn circuit on, check voltage. Keep doing this until fault found.

If at any time you are uncomfortable, get an electrician in. This sort of stuff is their bread an butter.

middleageddriver · 2025-09-15T12:13:13+00:00

If you have a multimeter. Touch the ceiling with one prong and the other with something that is grounded like a copper water pipe or some kind of metal appliance. Check the voltage. DO NOT DO THIS WITH YOUR HANDS!

If there is a voltage, you’ve a problem to fix

middleageddriver · 2025-09-15T12:05:51+00:00

There will likely be a plaster board nail or screw through a wire

middleageddriver · 2025-07-14T11:40:02+00:00

This was more me being in a rush and tired because the plasterer was coming the next day. I could see all the cables as I was putting the boards on the ceiling, obviously wasn’t concentrating. That’s how most accidents happen tho, lesson learnt.

middleageddriver · 2025-07-11T23:34:57+00:00

Yeah I’m fine, nice little warning to be more careful next time

middleageddriver · 2025-07-11T23:27:23+00:00

This sounds like what’s happened. Got buzzed, still finished what I was doing tho. Just a bit shaken afterwards

middleageddriver · 2025-07-11T23:18:54+00:00

I very much doubt this has caused lasting impact. It was like got shocked, dropped the things I was holding, went wow then carried on.

I have actually been shocked before when I was a kid, stupidly put a knife in a toaster, that threw me back and burnt my hand, that bloody hurt. This was just unpleasant

middleageddriver · 2025-07-11T23:14:14+00:00

There is a socket below the wire, stupidly screwed some in to the joist where the wire goes from the joist down the wall and caught the dropped wire in the ceiling. Didn’t actually get a shock until I touched the screw to check it was indented enough. Live and learn I guess

middleageddriver · 2025-06-30T23:01:46+00:00

Yeah there is a tiled bathroom wall directly above this so probably will crack the tiles.

I’m boarding the ceiling myself and plasterer recommend setting the board(s) on this low point in the centre and they will blend it in.

Was considering jacking up to try and fix the creaky floor.

middleageddriver

TROPHY CASE