Expert Panel Ask George Clarke

Comments

1. I thoroughly enjoyed your show and this is the first time I've watched it whilst recuperating from swine flu. You're a fantastic architect and how I wish I have the money to improve our house. Just watched another of your show on the net! Thank you!

   Posted by Wendy meynell on 08/10/2009 19:25:53

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2. i have a large hallway & would like to replace the old carpet not with hardwood flooring because there are 8 doors and staircase leading off it.It would be a little over the top if we have a wood floor. I would like marble or tiles flooring would that be too cold ? I know underfloor heating would help but is that very costly to install? Please advise. Jenny

   Posted by jenny on 02/10/2009 10:12:39

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3. We have a 1738 cottage which once was the village bakery, we'd really like advice on how to remove/refurbish the large (11 x 11) bread oven. It would make a lovely snug or dining room but we've no idea where to begin!! If you have any advice for us we'd be very grateful as we've reached a dead end in all our enquiries! Many thanks, Debra & Peter Byrne

   Posted by Debra Byrne on 14/09/2009 21:01:37

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4. Hi, if there was a simple to use pointing aid for slabs and paving at a very low cost and perfect for DIY'ers, would you consider including it in your How To section. Please visit www.pointrite.co.uk. Many Thanks

   Posted by Alan Welsh on 09/08/2009 16:25:41

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5. Please help! I have a major problem with leaks. For the past few months I have had the ceilings pulled down in 2 rooms to try and locate the source of the leaks and even have had a few builders round but even they could not figure it out as there is nothing clearly visible. The leaking rooms are below a fibre-glass flat roof. Sometimes it can rain quite heavily and nothing will happen but sometimes there will be a downpour both outside and inside the house. I just get on with the daily chores with the addition of an umbrella. I also have basement which also leaks nopw and again. Can you please advise? From a very depressed house-owner.

   Posted by S.Hussain on 29/07/2009 15:40:09

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6. Whats happened George? You look twice the man you used to be...? :o)

   Posted by Curious on 03/07/2009 11:33:44

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7. Hi George In your Biggin Hill show, you knocked down an internal wall and installed an RSJ support. I'm thinking of doing a similar project and wondered if you had any advice for me on how to determine if it is a supporting wall, the costs involved, and how to find a reputable person for the job if I need an RSJ fitted? Thanks Sandra

   Posted by Sandra on 17/06/2009 14:17:46

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8. Hi George, I have a property at Royal Earlswood Park, Redhill, Surrey in Edward House and I wished to extend in to the loft. My issue is that as a grade two listed building the conservation officer originally agreed to some modest conservation windows and then declined them a week later which means no natural light in the loft. I requested a small meeting and has now stopped replying to my emails. This was pre submission feedback. During the development the chimney's were removed and the roof is not original, simply modern slate which is why I find it very frustrating. Can you advise if in your experience conservation windows have ben appropriate in such circumstances as I think the officer if being a little restrictive as there are no structural changes involved. Regards Anthony Old

   Posted by Anthony Old on 08/06/2009 01:02:33

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9. Hi George, I have a property at Royal Earlswood Park, Redhill, Surrey in Edward House and I wished to extend in to the loft. My issue is that as a grade two listed building the conservation officer originally agreed to some modest conservation windows and then declined them a week later which means no natural light in the loft. I requested a small meeting and has now stopped replying to my emails. This was pre submission feedback. During the development the chimney's were removed and the roof is not original, simply modern slate which is why I find it very frustrating. Can you advise if in your experience conservation windows have ben appropriate in such circumstances as I think the officer if being a little restrictive as there are no structural changes involved. Regards Anthony Old

   Posted by Anthony Old on 08/06/2009 01:02:31

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10. We have a 3 bedroom detached bungalow and are currently thinking of converting our loft, to make a master suite, bathroom and lounge area. Unfortunately the roof is fink truss style. Is it possible to go ahead with the conversion and are there any companies which are experienced in this type of conversion? Many thanks

    Posted by T Shaw on 06/06/2009 17:06:22

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11. Hi George Would you be interested in being involved professionally with our proposed building project in the Portuguese Algarve in 2010? It would involve the design, construction of a 250m2 traditional style single storey with up to 250m2 basement area. In addition there is the design and installation of a 50m2 pool plus landscaping of our 10,000m2 plot. We are particularly keen to be as Eco friendly in the design as possible and would welcome your ideas and suggestions. We plan to move there permanently to enjoy our retirement. We currently have our 17th Century farmhouse 25 acres on the market having extended and restored it during 2006/7, and project managed it ourselves. Portugal represents a different sort of challenge for us both - are you up for it? We look forward to receiving your comments and advice. Kind regards Terry & Jo Thompson

    Posted by Mr & Mrs T G Thompson on 05/06/2009 16:19:26

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12. My front door opens directly into a hall with only a foot or two before the stairs and because of the way the door opens it leaves a narrow gap to walk down the hall into the kitchen - it doesn't flow well at all. It is very awkward when you let people in or out as you have to perform a little dance to get out of their way! We have thought of various solution such as a door opening out but have been advised against this, also to hang the door the other way but this would block an entrance into another room. We think the only solution left is to move the door further out into the yard by building some kind of porch that would create space in the entrance. I have been looking at porches but some of them are just so ugly and look cheap, it also has to fit with the look of our 1930s house which has two bay windows either side of the door. I don't know where to look. I have googled porches but have only managed to find glass ones that look like mini conservatories which won't work for us. Do you have any suggestions?

    Posted by Elin Gwynedd on 06/03/2009 16:54:34

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13. Dear George. We extended our house 3 years ago and got it dreadfully wrong as the spaces we have created don't work.The roof of the single story extended kitchen/family room obliterates our prized view of the garden from the bedroom windows. The main bedroom is a bitter dissapointment as the windows are small and all we can see is the ridge and rooftiles of the gardenroom and the garden next door - luckily it's very well kept!The garden room roof had to be redrawn at the last minute as the builders just wanted to build it their way - I was exhusted during the build - they wore me down.The garden room is an 'L' shaped open plan space with vaulted ceilings with 5 velux roof lights and 3 pairs of large patio sliding doors.The room contains the old kitchen (in it's original location)a dining area and TV/sofa area.From the hall you walk into the original kitchen then thro to the open plan dining/TV sitting area.The location of the original kitchen may be the problem as entering this room you immediately focus on the sink area and bin.Also the natural walkway thro to the open space means walking past the oven. The plan was to heat this open space with a woodburner but the design didn't allow for this, so we had electric under floor heating put in the screed which is expensive to run so consequently doesn't go on, which makes the room cold and uninviting in the winter so it becomes 'dead space'.Upstairs a bedroom was sacrificed to gain access to our main bedroom which has incorporated the original bathroom(which was tiny but that works well). The remaining part of this lost bedroom is now the family bathroom which again looks out over the gardenroom ridge and rooftiles.I feel very guilty for spending a huge amount of money and getting it wrong which I have to look at every day.However, we are in the process of looking to refit the kitchen introduce some more vibrant decoration into the spaces.Ideally I would want to make the gardenroom 2 story and put stairs in to create my dream bedroom with a view of the garden which backs onto woodland, but I don't know if I can persude my husband to pour more money into this house. Any help and advice would be most welcome and comforting.

    Posted by Sharon Wood on 02/03/2009 09:12:44

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14. Hi George. Love the show by the way! I have just exchanged on a wonderful victorian property in Huddersfield which sits in a conservation area opposite a beautiful park, in a clearly most acceptable market ..for us at least, after a three year chase! It's a painfully long and ardous tale of hope, persistence and uncompromise u will have heard, and it was all worth it. My husband was primarily against the idea from the very beginning, not wanting to take on the burden of a renovation project but consequently when the sale of the property fell twice on the market, he gave in and i won.The property needs completely refurbishing however and this is where I need your most valuable advice and guidance on my ideas for its overhaul. I trained as a Graphic Designer in London and relocated here after marriage. I have always been into property design and interiors which comes from my dad who sadly passed away in November last year from a long term illness. I am passionate about the house and as we are currently living with family and things are tight with space to say the least, we need to move quickly on the work so that we can be out by late spring /early summer. I would appreciate some advice on project managing this as i will only have one shot at it and our budget is tight considering we want to include an extension of the kitchen while we are doing all the work up front. I may be over ambitious but i believe it can be done. I just hope i havent bitten off more than I can chew. My final look will be all white with maybe accents of colour on a single wall or just in upholstery etc. I Love natural woods and pale muted colours as well as simple stone. I want to preserve as much of the natural architectural features as i can like the beautiful stair banister which is the first thing that sold the house to me! I know you will love this house as much as i do. Please help.

    Posted by Umber on 28/02/2009 22:27:21

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15. We live in a 1930s semi with a tiny kitchen and are planning to put a single storey extension on the back of the house. We can't decide whether to go with a slightly smaller extension (2.8 m) with a sloping roof or to go for a flat roof which means that the extension can be larger (3.6m). Are there any major pros and cons between the two roof styles and which would be more in keeping with the 1930s style?

    Posted by Abi on 28/02/2009 18:35:41

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16. We are about to start the renovation of some old barns and are currently at the building regs stage. We do not under any circumstances want insulated stud walls with plasterboard, we really want to plaster the stone walls - this presents problems in terms of insulation regulations and attainable thermal values. Are there alternatives to stud work and insulation that are acceptable and that will allow us to keep the stone walls? We have been looking online at insulating paints and plasters - are these truly effective, are they a viable alternative? What else can we do?

    Posted by Lynne Rowland on 26/02/2009 14:43:41

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17. Hi George, we are huge fans of your show. If ever you want to film a special in Australia, we have a home in the city of Melbourne that we would love you to work on!! We are a family of 5; two adults and three children and we know you would have some amazing ideas on how we could best utilise our space. Congratulations on a terrific show and we hope that you consider what a great special it would be to feature a renovation of an Australian home!

    Posted by Celia on 25/02/2009 10:46:29

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18. We have a 1970s bungalow that has been extended above the attached gargage to provide 2 small bedrooms and a shower room. The rest of the space is on the ground floor. I would like to add a whole new floor upstairs and a complete rehall downstairs so I end up with 3/4 bedrooms, 2/3 bathrooms upstairs and a large kitchen diner, sitting room and a bathroom downstairs. Can an Architect work from such little information? Also, how do you know which Archtects have 'flair' and what would a typical cost be for their service? Thank you.

    Posted by Trey on 24/02/2009 18:27:04

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19. We are trying to decide between wood and aluminium for our doors/windows/conservatory in a new house build we're doing with lots of glass.Do any companies do bi-fold external doors with wood interior and aluminium exterior? So far we've only found ones which do sliding doors. If we choose white powder coated aluminium will they look similar to painted white wood? Thank you

    Posted by Melissa Messervy on 23/02/2009 20:32:39

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