Building regs re new structures

[troubleinstore]

Can anyone tell me what the building regs say about the closeness of new building to each other, i.e. houses.

On a building site close to where I live, I was amazed to see two houses side by side and at the eaves, the gap between each house was approximately 9 inches.

I would have thought this a little too close. In the summer months, if anyone wanted to clean the gutters out, they would have to climb onto the roof at the end and walk along the roof one foot on one building whilst the other foot was on the other. \ / Apologies for the drawing but it explains I think what

\ / I mean \ / \ / |\ 9" /| | | | |

- troubleinstore

[G&M]

Don't think the building regs worry - it's more a planning issue and as TwoJags wants more houses per acre this sort of nonsense will happen. Of course sensible thing would have been to fill the 9" with insulating foam and seal at both ends but semis don't sell as well as detached, do they.

[Ian Stirling]

Would there be any be reason why two neighbours couldn't do this?

[Stuart]

buildings can be very close together, see "Semi Detached" or "Terraced" believe it or not people live in such structures!

[The Natural Philosopher]

Curiuous thought. I believe you are allowed to build up to the party line...so in theory filling the gap is just about that isn;t it?

[BillV]

....and they continually complain about neighbour's noise, much worse in new properties I believe. Any gap has got to be far better than being attached to another dwelling.

[N. Thornton]

Its also going to make repointing impossible, so it doesnt seem like the smartest move.

Regards, NT

[G&M]

Not necessarily. As with heat, there are materials with better resistance to sound transmission than open air. Why they don't use them in modern flats and terraces is one of those great mysteries of life best left to architects to explain.

[Ian Stirling]

Accountants.

[G&M]

I would have thought it cheaper. The walls could be single skinned and use cheaper bricks.

[BigWallop]

And what do accountants use as a contraceptive ?

Their personalities. :-))

[Andy Hall]

What's an actuary?

Somebody who found accountancy too exciting....

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

[BillV]

Air is good at stopping structural borne sound, which is very difficult to get rid of. Given the choice who would not live in a detached property no matter how well the sound insulation was in attched properties. Thats why there is a jump in price from semi-detached to detached houses, all other things being equal.

[Gel]

Story in D Mail last week where the neighboring houses extension, had guttering that was in fact over the neighbours roof!

[spam]

What materials are they?