Project restore old damp garage.
I moved house just over 18mnths ago, and I now have my first home with a garage.  Yeah!
However there's some issues, or rather an issue, dampness and water ingress.
The garage is fairly old and possibly as old as the house (built 1932).
It appears to be built on top of a concrete base, is single brick (big soft old boys) and has a slate roof.
It's been built into the lie of the land (moderately steep slope) and unfortunately has been filled in.
So I have a damp issue, and when it rains heavy I get pools of water here and there inside the garage.
I've had a roofer check the roof, and a builder look at the general structure.  Both are generally sound.  The garage is in character with the house and a good size, so I wanna save it.
After thinking about it for a long time, I've decided to start digging it out - must be the first part of the solution - eh?
Meanwhile I'm scratching my head, talking to folks and reading stuff on the internet.
So any builders, architects, structural experts etc on the forum?
I'm currently thinking of one of two solutions.
1.  Dig a drainage channel down just below the bottom of the concrete base round the garage, install drainage pipework, connect up to drains at the front of the garage.  Tank the garage walls and back fill with suitable gravel.  Maybe slab on top.  Job done.

2.  Or, create an air gap ie by digging out right round the garage.  Dig down to bottom of concrete base and fill the bottom of my trench with concrete.  Brick up my trench right round.
My worries;
1.  If solution 1 develops a problem, I'll have to dig it out.  I never want to dig this out again - not even if it's just gravel - never ever again!
2.  Am I creating a safety hazard?  A bricked up trench 1 to 1 and a 1/2 feet.  But surely if I bring the brick wall 2 or 3 feet above the ground level I've nothing to worry about.  I know I'll have to clean it out now and again.
Anyway any advice from those that ken will be very much appreciated.
See if I can get some photos up so you can see what I'm on about.

.....rain.....rain.....rain.....rain.....

must be perfect condition - by which i mean flawless!

i rather stupidly scratched mine. i could paint it but don't have any other painting projects on right now, so if there's none offered i'll live with it scratched until i am commissioned to paint some thing(s) next.

Hi all,
just thought you may need to know the previous French government introduced a new law stating that all powered transport save scooters have to carry at least one unused breathalyser (or ethylotest in french) from 1st July. This includes motorbikes, and tractors which is really peeing a lot of French people off!!
Although you will not get fined until November its worthwhile getting one for your bikes to appease the gendarmes, at least we don't need to carry spare lamps and warning triangles yet. BUT they do have future plans to introduce hi vis over suits and ban bikes over 7 yrs old from large city centres!!!!

PS anyone traveling through France via the Cantal region is more than welcome to pop in for a cuppa

hi can anyone tell me if the givi e360 cases have a rubber gasket seal on the lip edge

thanks
david

I've noticed recently that my bike has been what i can only describe as 'jittery' between 2000-2500rpm.


Once i go over 2500rpm it's fine, picks up well, with no other issues or flat spots.


The more i think about it, it's probably been doing it for a while but as it's been gradual i've not taken too much notice of it, but now it's quite obvious.


It feels almost like i'm in the wrong gear, but i've tried different things and it's still there between those rev. ranges.


Any ideas? I'm sure it's not a difficult one if it rings a bell to anyone, but it's not something i've personally encountered before?

Cant seem to find it in the search function, can anyone help me out with the contact details for christian.

Today my computer has started to highlight certain words, if i hover to mouse over the highlighted word an advert comes up on screen. Any ideas how i can stop it and what i did to get it???


Cheers in advance.    Mickey

Evening folks

Due to the rage i feel at being forced to pay extortionate amounts to letting peeps (and don't get me started on their demanding illegal fees, I'm a lawman y'know) combined with bills i am being convinced from all quarters that a mortgage is the way to go as it will work out cheaper every month.

"Piffle" I say. "Surely thou hast no idea how dastardly cheap it is to live right in the very middle of the city of the township of the weege, beating cardiovessel of the shire."

Well it's got me stinking about it so i went on to a few property sites to get a rough idea of pricing dep on size, condition, location etc.

Well bugger me, aren't there just some mighty fine properties oot there ripe for the taking given the honking state of affairs with the supposed economy?

Cumbernauld - 3 Bedroom flat with Garage (One requires a workshop in his castle) good size, walk in condition D/G, GCC, the lot.
55 grand or somewhereabouts.
Cumbernauld isn't ideal for work etc but it was a crackin place in a quiet area (from the looks of it, behind cumbernauld theatre - Davie, Neilly.......looks ok up there eh?

Or alternatively Hillington. Similar deal. Or Milton of Campsie (Again, transport to work an issue should bikes be out of action for any reason) both great inside and relatively quiet areas, with garages and ready to walk in, no work. All for under 60 g's.

Now, i pay 400 all in for my flat (except food and booze obviously, in a small 2 bed w/ liv room, tiny kitchen, tiny bedrooms) which i share with a friend and to be honest, i've always preferred living alone with space, much as i like where i am for what it is. Also having somewhere that ISN'T on the main path for the fire station up the road responding to UFAS and false calls in the city (the fucking irony, also, my brother is a watch gaffer there so i think he toots knowing it'll wind me up).

Well, enough catharsis, what's the script with the mortgages?

First time buyer
No deposit as yet (But likely will have, %age uncertain at the minute)
Salary circa £20k in fairly secure position as well as reasonably stable and oft in-demand sector of industry
Want to go no higher than 70 grand all in, hoping this will cover all fees and back up/maintenance/furniture/appliances for moving in.
I also don't want to be paying anymore than over 20 years cos i want to be in India getting high and laying in the sun by that time but i accept this will be unlikely.

I've just extended my lease by 6 months and if required will stay as long as required so this is a long term plan and if i can get a 20% deposit sorted by the time i move out i'll be laughing, but the reality is, i have no idea what happens with them and how they work. Had a peek at the fairinvesment.co.uk website and its given a basic guide as to what teh script is but how does it work in practice?

I know they are all cowboys and thieves but sometimes you just need to get into bed with the manky old whore and i'll be investigating much deeper into it to see how the process goes.

Any sage advice foccers?


MTIA

If you use a restore function to return the OS to the factory settings of the day it was delivered would there still be hidden old data stored on the hdd?

Asking because I was thinking of taking it down the charity shop.