Owning your own home

The ad says there is electricity on site.

Not reassuring when that is a key selling feature.

There are some stunning places for cheap in the Nordic countries.

I’ve got no idea? Is there?

Sounds like the perfect time to open the trendy coffee shop/vape emporium/artisanal massage parlour that could turn the area around?

Really struggling to get a builder round to offer any insight which will help me make a possible insurance claim on my building. Cut out a section of the ceiling so hopefully the next person I get round might be able to diagnose the damp.

Rained in Bristol yesterday and there's evidence on that on the section of plasterboard I've cut out

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More plasterboard fell away. Insurer can't do anything until a credible company states exactly what caused it. If it's a gradual thing that has happened for a long time, rather than related to a one off event, won't be covered I don't think

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Would a report from damp specialist surveyor be suitable?

Ive had a report from a member of the Property Care Association which was pretty exhaustive.

interesting that there's recent timber up there - suggests the original could have rotted away?

it does look like the whole area is going to need to be exposed and put back right.

What is above there? Another floor/flat roof/pitched roof?

recent timber up there

indeed, about 18 months old, from when the bathroom and kitchen studwork was redone (the 2x4 size ish bit anyway)

it does look like the whole area is going to need to be exposed and put back right

agree

2 flats above me, both with dry walls on that elevation with neither of them reporting issues

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might try a surveyor I know and have used before. cheers

Are we talking about above the window just to the right of your extractor fan cowl?
If so, there would appear to be a vertical(ish) repaired crack above the window.
If that's the case I'd probably make that the starting point of my investigation.

that's it yeah. That is repair to cracks I have had done in the render 2-3 months ago as an emergency repair by a handyman I use. Before and afters here.
Nb this work isn't perfect but he was able to do it within a few days of the worst of the water, and it has helped a bit. Basically a plaster

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I'd be tempted have a proper old dig of that repair, before injecting a generous amount of silicone sealant, topping it off with some mortar - if needs be.

Even with a hole in the wall above I'd not expect a localised amount of water like that (even on the assumption it's not a cavity wall).
Is the water apparent only when it's raining, and with a particular wind direction?
Or is the water apparent even when it hasn't been raining? Which would suggest a leaking radiator or water supply above?

Actually, what’s going on here:

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If that gutter stops well shy of the wall (like it appears to) there may be a load of water spouting vaguely in the direction of the header of your window.

But not if it’s happening when there’s no rain… (I mention this as I’ve had customers telling me their roof is leaking, only for me to point out that it hadn’t rained in two weeks…)

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Is the water apparent only when it's raining, and with a particular wind direction?

That wall get some serious weather. I've only noticed it when its been bad enough to go through the plasterboard ceiling/wall, which has been when it has been torrential and windy

Or is the water apparent even when it hasn't been raining?

Not 100% on this one, and will now monitor it, but I believe it is when it has been raining only. In the past, there was a leak from above though and they have some pipes there (an old boiler, washing machine). Can't see their pipes from the bit I have cut out

If that gutter stops well shy of the wall (like it appears to) there may be a load of water spouting vaguely in the direction of the header of your window.

This is a good shout, cheers. Suspect that might be contributing. There are probably some hairline cracks in the render up there too. Reckon it needs flashing on my wall and a longer gutter for the neighbour then?

I am planning to monitor it a lot now the ceiling is out a bit and going to a few more trades round

It might be ok, hard to tell from the pic. But 100% of the substantial amount of water that comes down the vertical wall adjacent to the roof needs to be going in that gutter - either directly or via some leadwork.
So it definitely needs a proper look!

But my money is still on leaky plumbing in the flat above...

Won't help with your worries, but you sure have the best floor in that building. Belle étage and all that.

Will get next person to look at that.

Re leaky plumbing, I keep coming back to the correlation with inclement weather. Can't see anything obvious this morning

I'm getting quotes in to fix up a wall at the front of our driveway and want to know whether they sound reasonable as I've no idea. This is outside London (Gloucestershire) and will be using reclaimed cropped Cotswold stone to match the original.

The pics show the areas that need sorting. On the main wall it's building it back up to it's original height and capping. The other wall requires replacing the area within red.

So far we've had just one quote for £1850 (4 days labour @ £1400 and £450 materials, but will be getting more in.

Does that seem reasonable?

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350 a day is alright for a proper bricky* Whether its a 4 day job ive no idea. I guess get other quotes and see if they are consistent.

*although id want it cheaper but that's just how i am