DIY Builds
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Do I need permission to put a driveway in?

You will need Planning Permission if: You are laying a traditional, impermeable driveway that does not provide for the water to run to a permeable area where the surface to be covered is more than five square metres.

Can 2 cars fit in a 18 foot garage?
Can 2 cars fit in a 18 foot garage?

Typically, two car garages are 18 feet wide by 20 feet deep. This is just enough to fit two cars in your garage. There are several other common...

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Do compost toilets stink?
Do compost toilets stink?

Does composting toilets smell bad? When people consider the new idea of compost toilets, they assume the toilet would stink up the house. They...

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Problems with Patios and Driveway

In 2007 serious floods struck the UK. This resulted in loss of life, disruption of peoples lives and caused damage estimated at about £3bn. In many cases the flooding happened because drains could not cope with the amount of rain water flowing to them. The effects of climate change mean that this kind of heavy rainfall event and subsequent flooding may occur more often in the future. The drains in most urban areas were built many years ago and were not designed to copewith increased rainfall. Paving front gardens further adds to the problem. Although paving over one or two gardens may not seem to make a difference, the combined effect of lots ofpeople in a street or area doing this can increase the risk of flooding. The harm caused by paving gardens is not limited to just flooding. Hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt collect pollution (oil, petrol, brake dust etc) that is washed off in to the drains. Many drains carry rainwater directly to streams or rivers where the pollution damages wildlife and the wider environment. In older areas the rainwater may go into the foul water sewer which normally takes household waste from bathrooms and kitchens to the sewage treatment works. These overflow into streams and rivers in heavy rainfall. As more water runs into foul sewers from paved areas there are more frequent overflows, passing untreated sewage into watercourses. Replacing grass and plant beds with concrete and asphalt surfaces means that water does not soak into the ground. This reduces the amount that reaches our natural underground aquifers. Some water that soaks into the ground will evaporate back into the air, causing acooling effect around the house. This is lost if the garden is covered with hard impermeable surfaces and can cause local temperatures to rise often referred to as the urban heat island effect.

Why should you sleep with your feet uncovered?
Why should you sleep with your feet uncovered?

According to a spokesperson for the National Sleep Foundation, when you stick your foot out, the arteriovenous anastomoses allows more heat to...

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How do I protect my wood shed from water?
How do I protect my wood shed from water?

Use Waterproof Paint for Wood All the wood on the shed needs to be protected from water. Coating trim and wood siding in waterproof paint or stain...

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Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

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How do I keep water out of my metal building?

How to avoid water seepage in your metal building Recommended slab size. For standard steel buildings, below 30' wide, we recommend to add 1” extra (. ... Emseal and concrete sealant. Concrete sealant packages are an optional accessory that are not provided by every contractor. ... Elevated concrete slab.

How to avoid water seepage in your metal building Short answer: A common question we hear is on how to avoid water seepage in your metal building. Water seepage beneath your base rails is a very pesky issue. Some options you have include a slope edge offset, an elevated slab, a concrete sealant package, and more. The construction of your steel building includes a base rail that lies directly above ground. Therefore, water can seep beneath the base rail and enter your new steel building. Wondering how to avoid water seepage in your metal building? This problem may be seen as unavoidable, but you can actually directly prevent this in many ways. For instance, you can adjust your concrete slab and you can also use a concrete sealant. However, we recommend you speak with your contractor for recommendations specific to your building!

Slope edge offset

The slope edge offset is the option we most recommend for your concrete detail. The slab size is equal to the building frame dimensions plus 1″ (.5″ all the way around). The .5″ are done with a 1/4″ slope away from your metal building. This detail will ensure that water coming from your roofline will flow away from the inside of your building. Click here for more information on concrete slab recommendations.

Do you need a gap between roof and insulation?
Do you need a gap between roof and insulation?

A minimum 2-inch air space is then provided as an “over-roof” to carry away any moisture that escapes up through joints in the insulation. The...

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Can I use a shed as a house?
Can I use a shed as a house?

The short answer to this first question is “yes.” Plenty of people have already built their tiny houses out of sheds. Keep reading to see some...

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What size shed is 160 square feet?
What size shed is 160 square feet?

10x16 Sheds 10x16 Sheds Square footage: 160 sq. ft.

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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How do hotels soundproof their rooms?
How do hotels soundproof their rooms?

Hotel Soundproofing Materials & Methods Absorption: Adding insulating materials like fiberglass or mineral wool to absorb the sound and prevent it...

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