Covering up

[KayW]

We are currently having some of our external wall sole plates replaced and plinth walls consolidated and this will include removing some brick infills/lath and cement render on external walls at a low level. We are planning to remove the rest of the render and insulate on the outside but this will not happen until early spring as we do not feel there is enough time left this summer with our current list of works (starting with the roof/garage/log cabin this summer and getting building regs in place).

Please can anyone advise how to make our house weatherproof and secure. I assume this will include fixing up some boarding or weatherproof material? What is the best method and where can I buy the necessary materials? Can the fixings be attached to the render as I dont want to put holes in the timbers?

We are not living in the house (renting nearby) and there is nothing in the house but I still want it to be secure and not tempting to any local thieves. I also want to make sure that the timbers are protected as much as possible from the weather especially as it will need to stay in place over the winter. The house is fairly exposed in an area of open countryside in West Midlands in a valley with fairly strong winds a lot of the time.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[Penners]

It's difficult to offer any definitive answer without seeing the house, the extent of the frame exposure and so on. But here's a thought for what it's worth.

Modern plastic tarpaulins (do they call them polytarps?) are pretty tough and inexpensive. Perhaps you could buy some that are high enough to clad the exterior walls from the bottom up to sufficient height that the eaves prevent rain from trickling down behind the tarp. Fix the top edge to the render by driving screws through a board, through the eyes of the tarp and into plugs driven into holes in the render. The board will then squeeze the top of the tarp against the rendering. If you are still concerned that rain will make its way down behind the tarp, then you could run a fillet of frame sealant along the top. It'll probably be a b*gger to get the sealant off the rendering afterwards, but you say that you're hacking it off anyway.

Attach the bottom to the brick plinth in the same way, making sure that your fixing screws go into the mortar rather than the bricks (. Then, when you remove the screws, you only have to plug the holes with mortar. You don't need sealant at the bottom, of course.

The only thing I would recommend is that you make sure the house isn't "hermetically sealed" in plastic for the winter. Make sure it's well ventilated.

As regards security, this rather depends on where and how large the potential entry points are. Can you just board them up underneath the tarp (or inside the house)?

One final point - I imagine there's a good reason for attending to the garage and the log cabin before you make the house weathertight? It does sound an unusual list of priorities!

 

[KayW]

Thank you Penners for the advice will give it ago.

Honest govenor we are not doing our house a disservice this is just the order things need to be done in. We are currently digging down our floors to allow for limecrete and lowering outside ground level. The sole plates need replacing along with some other timber bracing so the house is structually stable to enable us to do this and continue with our repairs. The lower render and infills need to come out for this to be done.

Once completed we are starting at the top and working down - i.e the roof first with those sprockets you suggested and replacing fake slate and breathable roof felt. Then onto insulating outside and rendering in lime.- cant see this happening until next spring.

We are currently awaiting our architect to catch up and get floor plan finalised and building regs application in. While this is happening the sole plate repairs are being completed as these dont require regs.

Log cabin and garage being completed while we wait for the above and during the winter months when render not possible. We are also trying to get these in early in case we get spot listed!!! (sorry any CO's out there) They are very in keeping!!!!

 

[Penners]

the roof first with those sprockets you suggested

I trust you're not basing your whole roof modification design on the suggestion of one amateur in an internet forum. :shock: If you're using an architect, I'd like to think that he/she has been involved too!

As regards the other stuff, no criticism intended. It's none of my business, really. It was just the way your first post read that gave the slight impression that priority was being given to the outbuildings!!

 

[KayW]

No problem Penners - reply was tongue in cheek - thank you for the advice, much appreciated.

K