Send in your questions to Steve. . .

Q I've a small shore in a back porch where access is needed. At present there is lino on the floor, which can be lifted up, but I would like tiles or a wooden floor. Would either of these coverings be feasible or should I just buy new lino?

Ann McEwan

I presume when you say a shore you mean a manhole. If you wish to put tiles or lino into the porch I would suggest that you fit a double-sealed recessed manhole cover. This is a cover that has space for you to insert the floor covering of your choice. The cover is sealed in such a way that the smell from the drains would not enter the room. When you have the lid of the cover tiled it will blend in with the floor and will be hardly noticeable.

Q I had a wall which separated two rooms removed. A support girder was put in place and plastered. My problem is that when I paint this area the paint becomes corroded within a short time. I have tried various primer/ sealers to no avail. Can you offer any advice please?

Alan I have knocked two rooms into one many times and this has never happened. I can only guess that whoever carried out the work for you did not case the girder properly. It should have had timber battens fitted around the beam and then have insulated plasterboard fitted to the timbers and then plastered. I think the contractor must have plastered directly onto the steel girder which would cause the corrosion you are talking about. I would suggest that you remove the plaster from the girder and have it plastered correctly.

Q My family is getting bigger and my house seems smaller. We can't afford to move and adding on is not an option as it would leave us with virtually no garden at all. I was hoping to convert our garage, which is attached to the side of the house. Do I need planning permission for this? Also, do I need to find a builder who specialises in garage conversions?

R Collins

You are in a situation that many people find themselves in; the family getting too big for the house. You don't need planning permission for the garage conversion as long as the floor area is less than 40sq m. These garage conversions work really well. You also don't need to find a builder who specialises in garage conversions but as always, you do need to find a competent builder to undertake the work. I undertook a garage conversion recently as part of a bigger project which included the addition of a sunroom as well as a revamp of the main bathroom. You will be amazed the transformation will make to your garage and to your space problem.

Here are a few pointers to watch out for. Try to have the floor levels the same. Insulate the floor. Provide a heat source - either radiators off the existing system or an independent supply. The walls are either a cavity-block construction (6" or 9" thick) or are two 4" blocks with a cavity in between. You should insulate the cavity by drilling and then pumping insulating material into the cavity, or if the walls are cavity-block constructed then dry line the walls. If you have the space and the drainage sewerage system is not too much of a problem, why not add an electric shower and toilet to the room? These will really make a difference to your situation. Remember to employ a qualified electrician to advise you on the electric-shower situation.

Good luck with whatever you decide. You can also "nd a good supply of tradesmen on my website. Why not 'Post a Job' and we will send your requirements to all the relevant tradesmen? Go to www. tradesmenireland. com where you will find the easy-tofollow instructions.