How-To & DIY
151 sources in the library on how-to & diy, 25 on this page cited in a published note. Each one says what the document covers and what it is good for. Name a source to see which document it is and where to read it. One at a time. Page 1 of 4.
- very strong RN-5338K3 cited
GOV.UK
The government's own recommendation tool, and the neutral link a DIY insulation note should offer instead of a comparison site. It gives personalised home improvement recommendations for property owners in England and Wales, and for each suggestion shows an estimated cost of making the improvement and how much could be saved on bills. It cross-refers to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Warm Home Discount Scheme and the Winter Fuel Payment. A telephone helpline is available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm except bank holidays, and Saturday 9am to 12pm. The page itself carries no eligibility criteria or scheme figures, so a note quoting grant values must cite the individual scheme pages rather than this one.
Cited in Fan Assisted Radiators Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide, How to Insulate a Loft (DIY), Insulation Grants 2026: ECO4, GBIS & What You Can Get, Loft Insulation Guide: Types, Costs & Recommended Depth and 4 more.
- very strong RN-6P05B1 cited
GOV.UK
The official statement of when a skip needs a council permit, and the practical companion to Highways Act 1980 section 139. You or the skip hire company need a skip licence or permit to put a skip on a public road, and the same applies to hippobags and other skip bags. You do not need a skip licence if you are putting the skip entirely on private land, which is the reason a driveway skip avoids the fee. You contact your local council for the licence, and if you do not put up the required safety lights and markings you could be fined up to 1,000 pounds.
Cited in Skip Hire Costs & Sizes.
- very strong RN-2IWEP7 cited
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's guidance note behind every slip-resistance figure a flooring or paving note quotes, and the source that separates the two tests people conflate. Table 1 classifies slip potential from pendulum test values (PTV): 0 to 24 high, 25 to 35 moderate, 36 and above low. Table 2 gives the parallel Rz microroughness classification. It describes the HSL/UKSRG ramp CoF test, then deals with the German ramp tests separately: DIN 51097 uses barefoot operators with a soap solution and DIN 51130 uses heavily cleated EN ISO 20345 safety boots with motor oil, and HSE states it has reservations about both because neither uses contaminants representative of real workplaces and the way results are reported is a cause for concern. Table 3 sets the DIN 51130 R scale by slip angle: R9 6 to 10 degrees, R10 10 to 19, R11 19 to 27, R12 27 to 35, R13 above 35. It warns that R9 and sometimes R10 surfaces will be slippery when wet and that a single class covers a wide CoF range, R10 alone spanning 0.18 to 0.34, so an R number is not a substitute for a PTV. Note that BS 7976-2, the pendulum method, was withdrawn in February 2022, which makes this HSE page the right citation for the thresholds.
Cited in Bathroom Tiles: Types, Cost & Layout, Best Flooring for Kitchens, Bathrooms & Living Rooms, Patio Cost & Materials: Paving, Porcelain & Stone, Resin Floor Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide and 1 more.
- very strong RN-P72KJ9 cited
Health and Safety Executive
The HSE starting point for the pre-2000 rule that every renovation note should carry as a warning. Asbestos was used in many industries and buildings until it was banned in 1999, and HSE states that buildings constructed after 2000 are unlikely to contain asbestos, so the risk sits with anything built or refurbished before that date. Around 5,000 people die every year from asbestos-related diseases, making it the leading cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. The danger comes from disturbing the material through drilling, refurbishment, demolition and installation work rather than from its presence alone. Compliance is governed by the Control of Asbestos Regulations and the Approved Code of Practice, Managing and working with asbestos, and a separate HSE section sets out when a licensed contractor must do the work.
Cited in Average Loft Conversion Cost: Real 2026 Breakdown by Type.
- very strong RN-21AA4H cited
Health and Safety Executive
The HSE rules a DIY note should quote whenever a job involves a ladder, in HSE's own words. For a leaning ladder, use the 1 in 4 rule: the ladder should be one space or unit of measurement out for every four spaces or units up, which is a 75 degree angle. Do not work off the top three rungs, and make sure the ladder extends at least 1 metre or three rungs above the point where you are working. Maintain three points of contact when climbing and wherever possible at the work position. Secure the ladder, for example by tying it, to prevent it slipping outwards or sideways. Only carry light materials and tools. For stepladders, do not stand and work on the top three steps, including a step forming the very top of the stepladder, unless there is a suitable handhold, and maintain three points of contact at the working position, meaning two feet and one hand. HSE frames ladders as suitable for low-risk, short-duration tasks only, which is the test to apply before recommending one for a whole-roof or whole-wall job.
Cited in The Complete UK Roofing Guide (2026).
- very strong RN-KS3PJK cited
Health and Safety Executive
The specific HSE sheet a floor sanding or joinery note should cite instead of a generic dust warning. WIS23 Revision 3 states that all wood dust is a substance hazardous to health because it can cause serious non-reversible problems including asthma, dermatitis and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, and that hardwood dust can also cause a rare type of nasal cancer. It identifies fine dust as the biggest risk because it is breathed deep into the lungs and travels furthest from the process, so ledges and surfaces need regular cleaning. Wood dust is also flammable and can cause fire or explosion, with premises severely damaged or destroyed every year by wood dust fires that usually start in dust extraction equipment. The activities named as producing high exposures are machining, particularly sawing, routing and turning; sanding by machine and by hand-held powered sanders; using compressed airlines to blow dust off work, which is to be avoided; bagging dust from extraction systems; and housekeeping, especially dry sweeping. Wood dust is covered by COSHH.
- very strong RN-NPO8FJ cited
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The statutory figures behind a damp diagnosis, and the numbers to quote when a note explains why ground levels or a bridged damp proof course cause rising damp. Paragraph 5.2 requires that in an external wall the damp-proof course should be at least 150mm above the level of the adjoining ground (Diagram 8) unless part of the building protects the wall, and that in an external cavity wall the cavity should be taken down at least 225mm below the level of the lowest damp-proof course, or a damp-proof tray provided (Diagram 9a). For suspended timber ground floors it requires a ventilated air space of at least 75mm from the ground covering to the underside of any wall-plates and at least 150mm to the underside of the suspended timber floor or insulation, with ventilation openings on two opposing external walls of not less than 1,500mm2 per metre run of external wall or 500mm2 per square metre of floor area, whichever is greater; for suspended concrete floors the clear ventilated space is at least 150mm with the same opening sizes. Section 2.39 onwards covers radon, referring to BRE Report BR 211 for protective measures. The 2013 edition was published on 3 September 2013 with changes in effect from 1 October 2013.
Cited in Barge Boards, Fascias & Soffits: Cost & Replacement, Breathable Membranes for Roofs & Walls, Brick Slips & Brick Cladding Systems, Build Basement Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide and 35 more.
- very strong RN-QD1SFF cited
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Table 1.1 sets minimum intermittent extract rates: kitchen with a cooker hood extracting outside 30 l/s, kitchen without one 60 l/s, utility room 30 l/s, bathroom 15 l/s, sanitary accommodation 6 l/s. Extract terminals and fans other than cooker hoods should be as high as practicable and no more than 400mm below the ceiling; a cooker hood should sit between 650mm and 750mm above the hob if the manufacturer gives no figure. Table 1.7 requires background ventilators of at least 8000mm2 equivalent area in habitable rooms and kitchens for a dwelling, 10,000mm2 for a single-storey dwelling. Background ventilators should be at least 1700mm above floor level and at least 500mm from a fan in the same room. On replacement windows, paragraph 3.14 says new windows must carry background ventilators no smaller than the originals, and paragraph 3.15 gives the fallback minimums where the old size is unknown: 8000mm2 habitable rooms, 8000mm2 kitchen, 4000mm2 bathroom. Paragraph 3.32 confirms that replacing an extractor fan or cooker hood on existing cabling is not notifiable.
Cited in Adding an Ensuite: Cost, Layout & Plumbing, Annexe & Granny Flat: Cost, Planning & Rules, Basement & Cellar Conversions: Cost, Bathroom Remodel Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide and 44 more.
- very strong RN-XH6E39 cited
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The standard that decides whether a loft ladder is legal and when a raised deck needs a balustrade. Published 3 January 2013, it covers protection from falling, collision and impact including stairs, ladders, ramps, guarding and vehicle barriers. Paragraph 1.31 states that retractable ladders must not be used as a means of escape. Paragraph 1.32 permits a fixed ladder, with fixed handrails on both sides, only for access in a loft conversion containing one habitable room, and only where there is not enough space without altering the existing space for a compliant stair, which is the rule that catches most loft ladder installations. Paragraph 1.29 restricts alternating tread stairs to loft conversions. For a private stair the maximum pitch is 42 degrees (Table 1.1 note 1), the normal relationship between rise and going is twice the rise plus the going between 550mm and 700mm, and for dwellings external tapered steps forming part of the building need a going of at least 280mm. Paragraph 3.1 requires guarding wherever it is reasonably necessary for safety at the edge of a floor, gallery, balcony, roof, light well, basement or similar sunken area. Paragraph 3.2 requires guarding to be at least the height in Diagram 3.1, allows any wall, parapet or balustrade to serve as guarding, and requires it to resist the loads in BS EN 1991-1-1 with its UK National Annex and PD 6688-1-1, with BS 6180 for barrier and infill panel design. Handrails should be positioned 900mm to 1000mm from the pitch line or floor.
Cited in All You Need To Know About Double Glazing Repairs, Basement & Cellar Conversions: Cost, Bifold Doors: Cost, Sizes & Alternatives, Blown Window Repair Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide and 41 more.
- very strong RN-L0FCJX cited
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The in-force U-value tables a DIY insulation or door note must quote, with the exact numbers. Table 4.2, limiting U-values for new fabric elements in existing dwellings, sets roof 0.15, wall 0.18, floor 0.18, swimming pool basin 0.25, window 1.4 or Window Energy Rating Band B minimum, rooflight 2.2, doors with more than 60 per cent of the internal face glazed 1.4 or Doorset Energy Rating Band C minimum, and other doors 1.4 or Doorset Energy Rating Band B minimum. Table 4.3, for existing elements, gives a roof threshold of 0.35 and an improved value of 0.16, which is the figure a loft insulation note needs: paragraph 4.12 says a retained element whose U-value is higher than the column (a) threshold, for example through a loft or garage conversion, should be upgraded to the column (b) value. Paragraph 4.13 allows a lesser upgrade only where the improved value is not technically or functionally feasible or would not achieve a simple payback of 15 years or less. Paragraph 4.8 requires a replacement element to be no worse than the one it replaces as well as meeting Table 4.2. Paragraph 4.10 gives the heritage exception: where character must be maintained, a centre pane U-value of no more than 1.2 or low-emissivity secondary glazing. Note 9 records that the timber window concession of 1.6 or Band C ended on 14 June 2023. The 2021 edition came into force on 15 June 2022; a 2026 edition exists at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c122a6cfa346b9d4704a55/ADL1_2026.pdf.
Cited in Adding an Ensuite: Cost, Layout & Plumbing, Adding Porch, All You Need To Know About Double Glazing Repairs, Annexe & Granny Flat: Cost, Planning & Rules and 136 more.
- very strong RN-JYJ3I5 cited
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The document that decides what electrical work a homeowner may legally do themselves, and the exact list of notifiable jobs. Regulation 12(6A), reproduced at paragraph 2.5, makes only three things notifiable: the installation of a new circuit, the replacement of a consumer unit, and any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location. Regulation 12(9) defines special location as, in a room containing a bath or shower, the zone extending vertically from finished floor level to 2.25 metres (or the shower head position if higher) and horizontally 600mm from the edge of the bath tub or shower tray. Paragraph 2.7 states that all other electrical installation work is not notifiable, namely additions and alterations to existing installations outside special locations, and replacements, repairs and maintenance anywhere. Paragraph 2.8 gives worked examples: a built-in cooker is not notifiable unless a new cooker circuit is needed, and connecting an electric gate or garage door to an existing isolator is not notifiable but running a new circuit from the consumer unit to that isolator is. Paragraph 2.2 confirms Part P reaches outdoor work including fixed garden lighting, pond pumps and outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and domestic greenhouses. Notifiable work must be certified by self-certification by a registered competent person, third-party certification, or a building control body (paragraph 3.1), with the compliance certificate issued within 30 days (paragraph 3.4). Note that Approved Document P is a source of guidance rather than a ban: non-notifiable work still has to comply with BS 7671.
Cited in Adding an Ensuite: Cost, Layout & Plumbing, Adding Plug Socket Room Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide, Annexe & Granny Flat: Cost, Planning & Rules, Bathroom Layouts & Planning and 76 more.
- very strong RN-EACS2V cited
Planning Portal
The three-part permitted development test for decking and raised platforms, and the source for the 30cm figure that decides whether a deck needs an application. Decking is permitted development providing the decking is no more than 30cm above the ground, that together with other extensions and outbuildings the decking or platforms cover no more than 50 per cent of the garden area, and that no part of the decking or platform is on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation. Additional restrictions apply in protected areas and within the curtilage of a listed building. Note that the 30cm limit is a separate test from the raised platform exclusion in GPDO Class E paragraph E.1(h), which bars any verandah, balcony or raised platform from the outbuildings class entirely.
Cited in Azek Decking Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide.
- very strong RN-JXUGP4 cited
The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk)
The source for why a skip on the road needs a council permit while a skip on your own driveway does not. Section 139 makes it unlawful to deposit a builder's skip on a highway without the permission of the highway authority, and that permission names the highway and may attach conditions on the siting of the skip, its dimensions, the painting of the skip for visibility, the care and disposal of its contents, its lighting and guarding, and its removal at the end of the period. The owner must keep the skip properly lighted during the hours of darkness, clearly and indelibly marked with the owner's name and telephone number or address, and remove it as soon as practicable after it has been filled. Breach carries a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, with a defence where the breach was due to the act or default of another person and the owner took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence. A builder's skip is defined as a container designed to be carried on a road vehicle for storing materials or disposing of rubble and waste.
Cited in Skip Hire Costs & Sizes.
- strong RN-PSAEIM cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT. The live edition is BS 3621:2017+A1:2024, published 26 September 2024, superseding BS 3621:2017, BS 3621:2007+A2:2012, BS 3621:2004, BS 3621:1998 and BS 3621:1980. It specifies performance requirements and test methods for a thief resistant, mechanically operated single point lock assembly (including locking plates, fixing screws, fitting instructions, cylinders and protective furniture) incorporating a lock conforming to BS EN 12209:2016, lockable from both sides by key so that only key egress is possible, for doors, window doors and entrance doors. It explicitly excludes keyless egress assemblies, which are covered by BS 8621, and secure no egress modes, covered by BS 10621. Notes that quote BS 3621 as the insurance benchmark for a front door lock should cite the 2017+A1:2024 edition, not the 2007 one. The BSI catalogue page confirms number, title, date, status and scope; the full requirements are paywalled.
- strong RN-U9PCSG cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT, with no withdrawal date shown despite the 1980 date. BS 4787-1:1980 was published 30 June 1980 and specifies the metric sizes for dimensionally coordinated internal and external wood doorsets, door leaves and frames, that is the work sizes for the doorset as an assembly of fixed frame plus movable leaf with its hardware, with information on glazed openings and ancillary provisions in Appendix A, and it is written to coordinate doors with windows. This is the origin of the standard UK metric door sizes (762 x 1981 mm and its relatives) that a note quotes when telling a reader whether a replacement leaf will fit an existing lining. Note that performance, as distinct from dimensions, comes from other standards: BS EN 14351-1 for external pedestrian doorsets and BS 8214 for timber fire door assemblies. Catalogue page confirms number, title, date, status and scope; the size tables are paywalled.
Cited in How Much Paint Do I Need?.
- strong RN-R926HN cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: WITHDRAWN on 5 November 2024, a recent change that matters because decorating notes still quote BS 4800 colour references. BS 4800:2011 (the SET) was published 31 May 2011, ISBN 978 0 580 74345 0, ICS 87.040, committee STI/14, and was the schedule of paint colours for building purposes: the framework behind references such as 00 E 53 or 18 B 25 used in specifications and by trade paint manufacturers. Its predecessor BS 4800:1981 (published 1 January 1982, ISBN 0 580 12336 7) was itself withdrawn on 30 June 1989, so both editions the notes might mean are dead. A note telling a reader to specify a colour to BS 4800 should say the standard has been withdrawn and point to the manufacturer's own colour system or to BS 5252, and reviewers should treat any BS 4800 colour reference as legacy. Catalogue pages confirm numbers, titles, publication dates, withdrawal dates and classification.
- strong RN-2F1BXP cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
The current British code of practice for laying a tiled floor, published 31 May 2024. It is the third of what is now a four-part BS 5385 series: Parts 1 and 2 cover internal and external wall tiling, Part 4 covers tiling in special conditions such as wet areas and swimming pools, and Part 3 now covers all rigid flooring. The 2024 revision consolidates and replaces both BS 5385-3:2014 on ceramic and mosaic floor tiling and BS 5385-5:2009 on terrazzo, natural stone and agglomerated stone flooring, so a specification that still cites BS 5385-5 is out of date. Its scope is recommendations for the design, installation and maintenance of floor tiling using ceramic tiles, mosaics, terrazzo tile and slab, natural stone internal and external floorings, and engineered stone for internal flooring. BSI states the revision was driven by ceramic floor tiles becoming thicker and larger, which has made the installation methods for ceramic and stone converge. Covers bedding onto concrete, cement and sand and calcium sulfate screeds, heated screeds, timber and existing hard finishes, plus movement joints and tolerances.
Cited in Floor Levelling & Subfloor Prep.
- strong RN-C3NSSX cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
The code of practice behind every balustrade, balcony, landing and decking guard rail, and the standard Approved Document K points to for barrier loadings. Paywalled, so only the BSI catalogue page is public; it confirms the current edition is BS 6180:2011, published 31 March 2011, status Current but Under Review, from BSI committee B/208 and ICS 91.060.99. The catalogue page confirms it is a full revision of the 1999 edition and that the two substantive changes were the inclusion of Table 2, minimum horizontal imposed loads for parapets, barriers and balustrades, and changed rules on deflection at clause 6.4.1, so a note needing barrier load figures should cite Table 2 by name. It covers design, structure, height and strength of barriers in aluminium and copper alloys, concrete, plastic, steel, stone, wood and glass, temporary and permanent, including protective, crash and crush barriers and those imposing a speed limit up to 16 km/h. It expressly does NOT apply to spectator sports areas or buildings, construction sites, or barriers protecting children younger than 24 months.
Cited in Newel Posts, Spindles & Balustrades.
- strong RN-BBWVOC cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT, and it is the standard that replaced most of the old BS 7533 parts. BS 7533-102:2025 was published 31 March 2025 and gives the code of practice for installing modular paving units of clay, concrete and natural stone, covering bound and unbound surface constructions for paved areas under pedestrian and vehicular loading, all layers from formation upwards (sub base, base, bedding and surface), and recommendations for maintenance and reinstatement. It excludes aircraft pavements, port areas and heavy industrial settings. Its companion BS 7533-101:2021 covers structural design. Because the series was restructured into the 101/102 numbering in 2021 and 2025, a note citing BS 7533-3, -4, -7 or -9 for laying block paving or flags is almost certainly citing a withdrawn part. Catalogue page confirms number, title, date, status and scope.
Cited in How to Lay a Patio.
- strong RN-OPTOJC cited
BSI (British Standards Institution)
STATUS: CURRENT. BS EN 12600:2002 was published 9 January 2003 and is the pendulum impact test that classifies flat glass products into three principal classes by performance under impact and by mode of breakage, the classification that Approved Document K uses for critical locations in glazing. The class code is a three part designation of the form Class 1(B)1 or 2(B)2, where the first figure is the drop height passed, the letter the mode of breakage and the last figure the highest class achieved. The stated purpose is increasing personal safety by reducing cutting and piercing injuries and by assessing containment. It does not cover application requirements or durability, and it superseded the old British test BS 6206:1981, which used classes A, B and C, so a note quoting BS 6206 class A glass is quoting a superseded classification. Catalogue page confirms number, title, date, status and scope; the test detail is paywalled.
Cited in Rooflights & Skylights: Materials & Types, Sliding Patio Doors vs Bifolds, Windows and Doors: The Complete UK Guide (2026).
- strong RN-1J5VD4 cited
FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme)
The competent person scheme that certifies replacement glazing without a building control application, and the certificate a conveyancer will ask for. FENSA covers the replacement of external windows, doors, roof windows and roof lights in the home against the relevant Building Regulations. The certificate confirms compliance with building regulations, shows the installation is energy efficient, ensures the work is registered with the local council, and verifies that the installer's guarantee is insured. It is described as essential when selling the property, which is the practical reason a note should tell readers to keep it. Homeowners who cannot find the original paperwork are directed to contact FENSA. Note the scope limit: FENSA is for replacement work in existing openings, so a new opening or a structural alteration still needs building control.
Cited in Replacing Misted Double Glazing Units Cost: 2026 UK Price Guide.
- supplier figure RN-VJKBDP cited
Dulux Trade (AkzoNobel)
Manufacturer specifier guide with the numbers behind a how-much-paint calculation. Coverage is quoted at 18 m2 per litre for Diamond Matt, 17 m2 per litre for Vinyl Matt, and 16 m2 per litre for the other two grades in the comparison table, so a 5 litre tin covers roughly 85 m2 in one coat and a two coat job on a 40 m2 room needs about 5 litres. Scrub resistance is Scrub Class 5 on the top grade against Scrub Class 2 on Vinyl Matt, both Class 1 to ISO 11998 and Type C to BS 7719. Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt is stated to be 99.9 per cent VOC free based on in-can VOC content measured to ISO 11890-2:2013, and the guide shows measured VOC emissions in mg/m3 against the BREEAM TVOC threshold of less than or equal to 1.0 mg/m3. For airless spraying the guide specifies a 515 or 517 tip at 1300-1700 psi (89-117 bar). The manufacturer notes coverage is a guideline only and varies with equipment, substrate and application.
Cited in How Much Paint Do I Need?.
- supplier figure RN-VIHRZS cited
Soudal
Manufacturer technical data for a hybrid polymer adhesive sealant. Skin formation at 23C and 50 per cent relative humidity is about 10 minutes and curing speed is 2 to 3 mm per 24 hours, so a 10mm deep joint takes several days to cure through. Hardness is 40 plus or minus 5 Shore A with elongation at break of 750 per cent. The joint design rules are minimum 2 mm and maximum 10 mm width for bonding, and for joints minimum 5 mm and maximum 30 mm width with a minimum 5 mm depth. It can be painted with water based systems and is EC1+ certified for very low emission. Shelf life is 15 months in unopened packaging stored cool between +5C and +25C. Soudal warns that a total absence of UV can cause a colour change in the sealant, and that where different reactive sealants meet, the first must be completely hardened before the next is applied.
Cited in Grab Adhesive & Construction Adhesives.
- supplier figure RN-WM8MP8 cited
Soudal
Manufacturer technical data for a high initial grab hybrid polymer adhesive. Skin formation at 23C and 50 per cent relative humidity is about 5 minutes, half that of the flexible grade, and curing speed is 3 mm per 24 hours. Hardness is 65 plus or minus 5 Shore A with elongation at break of 400 per cent, so it is markedly harder and less elastic than the flexible grade, which is the trade-off between an adhesive and a movement joint sealant. Joint design is minimum 2 mm and maximum 10 mm width for bonding, and minimum 5 mm to maximum 30 mm width with 5 mm minimum depth for joints. It is impervious to mould and can be painted with water based systems. Shelf life is 15 months unopened between +5C and +25C. Soudal notes it can only be used on the bottom of natural stone tiles and not as a joint sealant on that surface.
Cited in Grab Adhesive & Construction Adhesives.
- supplier figure RN-G68MSX cited
Welsh Slate Ltd
Welsh Slate batten gauge, batten quantity and holing gauge by slate length. At 50mm headlap: 600mm slate, batten gauge 275mm, 3.64 lin m batten per m2, holing gauge 335mm; 550mm slate 250mm gauge, 4.00 lin m/m2, holing 310mm; 500mm 225mm gauge, 4.44 lin m/m2, holing 285mm; 455mm 202mm gauge, 4.95 lin m/m2, holing 262mm; 400mm 175mm gauge, 5.71 lin m/m2, holing 235mm; 350mm 150mm gauge, 6.67 lin m/m2, holing 210mm; 300mm 125mm gauge, 8.00 lin m/m2, holing 185mm. At 80mm headlap the gauges tighten: 600mm slate 260mm gauge and 3.85 lin m/m2 (holing 350mm), 500mm 210mm gauge and 4.76 lin m/m2 (holing 300mm), 400mm 160mm gauge and 6.25 lin m/m2 (holing 250mm), 300mm 110mm gauge and 9.09 lin m/m2 (holing 200mm).
- very strong RN-I7L136
Defra and Environment Agency (GOV.UK)
The statutory code that turns the section 34 duty of care into practical steps, published 11 March 2016 and last updated 26 November 2018, running to 20 pages as a PDF and also available as an accessible HTML version. It applies to anyone who produces, carries, keeps, disposes of, treats, imports or has control of waste in England and Wales, and requires waste to be kept safe, dealt with responsibly and passed only to businesses authorised to take it. Scotland and Northern Ireland are covered by their own equivalents rather than this code. It is the document behind the advice that a homeowner should check a builder's or garden clearance firm's waste carrier registration and keep the transfer note, because the householder can be held liable if their waste is fly-tipped.
- very strong RN-8VS2HG
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (GOV.UK)
The change to household collections that determines how garden waste is dealt with from 2026, published 27 March 2025 and last updated 13 May 2025, applying to England. From 31 March 2026, waste collectors must by default collect four streams separately from all households including flats: food and garden waste; paper and card; all other dry recyclable materials meaning glass, metal and plastic including cartons; and residual waste sent for energy recovery or to landfill. Plastic film packaging and plastic bags must be collected with plastic recycling from 31 March 2027. Paper and card may be co-collected with other dry recyclables where local circumstances allow. The materials that must be collected are listed in Schedule 1 of the Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024, which also lists materials that need not be collected: for glass this excludes non-packaging glass such as flat and window glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, Pyrex, light bulbs and ceramics, and for metal it excludes kitchenware, kettles, irons, pipes and packaging that held white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreeze. The food and garden waste stream is the one a garden clearance note should reference.
- very strong RN-XALOC2
Environment Agency (GOV.UK)
The registration a builder or garden clearance firm must hold before taking waste away, with the current fees a note can quote. A business must register if it transports waste as a carrier, buys, sells or disposes of waste as a dealer, or arranges for someone else to do so as a broker, and an unlimited fine applies for not registering. Registration is usually free if you only transport waste you produce yourself; otherwise it costs £191.02. Registrations are upper tier or lower tier: an upper tier registration must be renewed every 3 years at £130.25, while a lower tier registration does not need renewing. Changing what the organisation does costs £49.62, and the Environment Agency must be told within 28 days if contact details change, management changes, someone in management is convicted of an environmental offence, or the organisation changes what it does. Registered details appear in the public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers, so a homeowner can check. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have a different process.
- very strong RN-AE0RHQ
Health and Safety Executive
The sheet every other asbestos essentials task sheet tells you to read first, and the right citation for a DIY note that touches pre-2000 fabric. It states that large amounts of asbestos were used in new and refurbished buildings before 2000, that blue (crocidolite) and brown (amosite) asbestos were banned by law in 1985 and manufacture and supply of all asbestos was banned by the end of 1999, and that existing asbestos articles may stay in use until the end of their service life. It names the diseases as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, with a latency of 15 to 60 years, incurable and often fatal. It divides the work: higher-risk work with sprayed coatings, loose asbestos, lagging, insulation and asbestos insulating board, apart from some very limited-duration AIB work, requires an HSE-licensed contractor, while the task sheets cover non-licensed work only if done exactly as described. The trades listed as most likely to disturb asbestos include electricians, joiners, plumbers, gas fitters, roofers, plasterers, painters and decorators, which is precisely the DIY work a how-to note describes.
- very strong RN-NPG9NW
Health and Safety Executive
The exact task sheet a note about taking down an old asbestos cement garage or shed roof should cite, because it is the document that defines when the job stays non-licensed. It covers small-scale removal of AC sheets, gutters, drains and ridge caps and dismantling a small structure such as a shed or garage, but only while the AC stays intact: if it starts to break up and creates significant dust the work becomes notifiable non-licensed work under sheet a0. It does not apply to large-scale work or mechanical demolition, which need a full risk assessment and plan of work, and it does not apply where lagging, limpet or insulating board are present, which need an HSE-licensed contractor. It lists the equipment as 500 and 1000 gauge polythene sheeting and duct tape, warning tape and notices, bolt cutter, webbing straps and rope, a garden-type sprayer with wetting agent, a bucket of water and rags, asbestos waste bags, clear polythene bags, a lockable skip for larger quantities and asbestos warning stickers. Two cautions matter for a DIY reader: AC roofs are always fragile and cannot bear weight, and it is dangerous to seal over exhaust vents from gas-fired equipment.
- very strong RN-WM597A
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's fit testing guidance, INDG479 in its October 2025 revision, and the source for the point that a dust mask only works if it seals to that particular face. It explains that the performance of a tight-fitting facepiece depends on good contact between the wearer's skin and the face seal, and that because faces vary the fit must be tested for the individual. It sets out that the Approved Codes of Practice supporting COSHH, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations, the Control of Asbestos Regulations, the Confined Spaces Regulations and the Ionising Radiations Regulations all stipulate that tight-fitting RPE should be fit tested as part of selection. Fit testing must be done by a competent person, and competence can be shown by accreditation under the Fit2Fit RPE Fit Test Providers Accreditation Scheme run by the British Safety Industry Federation and supported by HSE, though the scheme is not compulsory. General RPE selection is covered by HSG53. Useful for any sanding, cutting or plaster-mixing note that recommends a mask.
- very strong RN-FBCMNI
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's brief guide to COSHH, INDG136(rev5) revised 10/12, and the regulation a DIY note is implicitly relying on whenever it says to ventilate or wear gloves. It explains how to control substances hazardous to health so they do not cause ill health, under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 as amended. It states that every year thousands of workers are made ill by hazardous substances, contracting lung disease such as asthma, cancer, and skin disease such as dermatitis, at a cost of many millions of pounds a year to industry in replacing trained workers, to society in disability allowances and medicines, and to individuals who may lose their jobs. It names the categories of harm directly relevant to renovation: dusty or fume-laden air causing lung disease in welders, quarry workers and woodworkers, and metalworking fluids growing bacteria and fungi that cause dermatitis and asthma. It also tackles the myth that a method is safe because it has always been done that way, pointing out that some diseases take years to develop.
- very strong RN-40KX6P
Health and Safety Executive
The source for the lifting weights a DIY note should quote instead of inventing a limit. HSE stresses that the Manual Handling Operations Regulations do not set specific weight limits, so the figures in the risk filter are guidelines, not safe limits. Figure 1, the lifting and lowering risk filter, assumes the load is easily grasped with both hands in reasonable conditions and a stable body position, and gives, close to the body, for men 10kg at shoulder height, 20kg at elbow height, 25kg at knuckle height, 20kg at mid lower leg and 10kg at floor level; for women the equivalents are 7kg, 13kg, 16kg, 13kg and 7kg. Holding the load at arm's length roughly halves each value (for men 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 10kg and 5kg). Where the hands pass through more than one zone, the smallest weight applies. This is why a 25kg bag of ballast or a paving slab handled at arm's length or below knuckle height is already outside the guidelines for one person.
- very strong RN-VTHK6G
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's guide to hand-arm vibration, INDG175(rev3) published 11/12, and the reference for why a DIY or garden note should limit trigger time on a hired breaker, sander or scarifier. It defines hand-arm vibration as vibration transmitted into the hands and arms from hand-held power tools such as grinders or road breakers, hand-guided equipment such as powered lawnmowers or pedestrian controlled floor saws, or holding materials against hand-fed machines such as pedestal grinders. Regular and frequent exposure can cause two forms of permanent ill health, hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). HAVS symptoms are tingling and numbness in the fingers that prevents fine work, loss of strength in the hands, and fingers blanching white then turning red and painful on recovery, which reduces the ability to work in cold or damp conditions outdoors. Symptoms may come and go but with continued exposure become prolonged or permanent, causing pain, distress and sleep disturbance, and this can happen after only a few months though usually over a few years. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require risks to be controlled and information, instruction and training to be given.
- very strong RN-72DM44
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's short guide to electrical risk, INDG231(rev1) published 04/12, and a better citation than a wiring blog for the reason a DIY note tells the reader to isolate first. It states that normal mains voltage of 230 volts AC can kill by contact with live parts causing shock and burns, that faults can cause fire, and that electricity can be an ignition source in a flammable or explosive atmosphere. Most fatal incidents at work are caused by contact with overhead power lines, and non-fatal shocks cause severe permanent injury, including falls from ladders, scaffolds and other work platforms after a shock from faulty equipment. It identifies the conditions where risk is greatest: wet surroundings, where unsuitable equipment can easily become live and make its surroundings live; outdoors, where equipment gets wet and is more likely to be damaged; and cramped spaces with a lot of earthed metalwork. Extension leads are singled out as particularly liable to damage. The outdoor and wet points make this directly usable in a garden lighting or shed supply note.
- very strong RN-WD0NBM
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's leaflet on portable hand-held petrol chainsaws, INDG317(rev2) published 01/13, aimed at employers, the self-employed and anyone controlling the use of work equipment. It sets out that controlling chainsaw risk starts with a legally required risk assessment focused on real risks rather than paperwork, and that manufacturers' instructions and data sheets should be checked for the hazards. It flags groups needing particular attention, including new and young workers, migrant workers, new or expectant mothers, people with disabilities, temporary workers, contractors, homeworkers and lone workers. Use it to support the point that a tree or hedge contractor working on a domestic garden is doing work at work, so chainsaw certification and PPE are legal duties, not a firm's own policy.
- very strong RN-WPTQQO
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's first aid leaflet, INDG347 published 2017, ISBN 978 0 7176 6668 3 and sold as a pack of 20 for £10.00, offered free as a web-friendly download and explicitly not a substitute for effective training. Its emergency priorities are to assess the situation without putting yourself in danger, make the area safe, assess all casualties and attend first to any who are unconscious, and send for help without delay. It gives the ABC sequence: check for a response by gently shaking the shoulders and asking loudly, open the airway by tilting the head back with a hand on the forehead and lifting the chin with two fingertips, then look, listen and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. If breathing normally, use the recovery position; if not, get help, call for an AED if available and start chest compressions, pressing down on the centre of the breastbone by 5 to 6 cm, with compressions and rescue breaths in a ratio of 30:2 until qualified help takes over. This is the citable reference for the first aid line in a DIY note rather than an unsourced tip.
- very strong RN-QZ6BMY
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's brief guide to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, INDG362(rev2) published 11/12, and the reference for the hearing protection line in a DIY or garden machinery note. It states that noise at work can cause permanent and disabling hearing damage, either gradually from exposure over time or suddenly from extremely loud noise, and that the damage stops people understanding speech, keeping up with conversations or using the telephone. It also identifies tinnitus, described as ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears, as a distressing condition that can lead to disturbed sleep, and notes the safety consequences: noise interferes with communication, makes warnings harder to hear and reduces awareness of surroundings, creating a risk of injury or death. The Regulations require employers to eliminate or reduce noise risks, to take action to reduce exposure and provide personal hearing protection depending on the level of risk, to keep within the legal exposure limits, to maintain and ensure the use of noise control equipment, to provide information, instruction and training, and to carry out health surveillance by monitoring workers' hearing.
- very strong RN-OMDTWZ
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's brief guide to the Work at Height Regulations 2005, INDG401(rev2) published 01/14, and the document that gives a DIY note its hierarchy of control. It defines work at height as work in any place where, without precautions, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, giving as examples working on a ladder or a flat roof, being able to fall through a fragile surface, or falling into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground. It states that falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries, with falls from ladders and through fragile roofs the common causes. The required sequence is: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; where it cannot be avoided, prevent falls using an existing safe place of work or the right equipment; and minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk cannot be eliminated. It also states directly that the belief ladders and stepladders are banned is a misconception, and adds practical rules such as doing as much work as possible from the ground, ensuring safe access to and from the work, keeping equipment suitable, stable, strong enough, maintained and checked, and not overloading or overreaching.
- very strong RN-17XJK7
Health and Safety Executive
HSE's own overview, updated 5 June 2024, and the correct answer to the persistent claim that ladders are banned. It states plainly that ladders and stepladders are not banned under health and safety law, that the law calls for a sensible and proportionate approach to managing risk, and that ladders can be a sensible and practical option for low-risk, short-duration tasks, while adding that they should not automatically be the first choice. It directs the reader to use the right type of ladder and know how to use it safely, and names the supporting documents a note can cite alongside it: the brief guide LA455 on safe use of ladders and stepladders, INDG401 Working at height safely, and HSG33 Health and safety in roof work. Use it to correct DIY myths and to justify recommending a tower or platform for longer jobs such as gutter or fascia work.