Lime rendering in november, problem with contractor

[markwm]

Having my house lime rendered at the moment, after years of saving up. Project was due to take 3-4 weeks, 6 weeks worse case scenario.

Started beginning of september so should have been completed 2 weeks ago but they've half the render two put on still as I type this. I've moaned and shouted but progress is still frustratingly slow, my main worry is that they're putting on the render(NHL 3.5 onto brick) too close to the winter and the frost will damage it. I'd estimate it will be completed by the middle of november.

The problem is there's not enough men on site and the men that are, work slow, half the time are on the way home before the middle of the afternoon. I've asked the boss to put more labour on the job and for whatever reason he wouldn't/couldn't so I arranged some myself !

I'm also paying the scaffolding which was only booked for 6 weeks. Weather has been good up to now so it's not like the weather has made progress slow but now the weather is getting worse and will only get worse. It's so frustrating, had they told me initially that it would take best part of 3 months with only 2 men on the job I wouldn't have taken them on but half way into now.

There's still a large chunk of money owing, due on completion. Due to the them putting on the render so close to the winter, if the frost gets hold of it and damages it, chances are they'll come back next year and do spot repairs. Problem with that is, I'm not going to be happy with a patchwork quilt of a job.

Company came well recommend, I don't have any problems with the standard of work, just so disappointed that there's a chance the job could be spoilt due to them being so slow.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, good grief! That sounds stressful beyond words - I'd be spitting! after so much saving up too.
Can anything be done experts? Can the building be wrapped in plastic or another kind of sheeting to protect it a bit?

 

[Pford75]

Which part of the country are you in? You might just be okay if it's wrapped in hessian.

I would always either specify a duration on major works with penalties (our electricians had a 1,000/week penalty for overruns) and you can probably see now why it's best to leave all equipment to the main contractor.

I would suggest that you start thinking now about how much you intend to hold back (if that's what you want to do) so that you can check the job is okay. Communicate this to the builder in advance....don't leave until the end of the job

 

[skier-hughes]

Depends on which half is done, but if it's two walls with two walls to go, maybe you should consider calling a halt to the works and restarting next year, and payment to be made upon completion? Not much use if the bottom half is done!

 

[Penners]

I would suggest that you start thinking now about how much you intend to hold back (if that's what you want to do) so that you can check the job is okay.

I quite agree. If the job is complete well before the first frosts, you should be OK, but I think it would be a good plan to tell the builder now that if it's not complete and properly 'gone off' before the frost hits it, you'll withhold a reasonable sum against the possibility of repairs having to be done next year. With a bit of luck, that might persuade him to get his finger out.

 

[markwm]

There's 2 walls done with 2 to go (south and west facing). We are in west yorks, we've already had one or two night frosts in the last couple weeks.

I'm going to speak with the contractor next week and try and sort something out. In the meantime I will speak with the supplier of the lime for their advice regarding the frost and protection. Seems to me it will be quite difficult to protect it with hessian.

It's looking like mid november by the time it will be finished, that's assuming the weather is ok in the next couple weeks, november weather seems to be rather unpredictable.

 

[robgil]

Watch they dont use cement to hold it together and speed things up.

 

[middi]

Ironically Autumn is the best time to apply lime render .Usually it is mild, mostly overcast and not too hot, ideal to avoid fast drying which leads to cracking. The newly apllied lime render, in this time of the year, takes longer to " cure" indicating that water will remain within the render for longer periods and if this water does get frozen the render will fail.

Extreme care has to be taken if lime render is applied externally from this time of the year on. The applicator( ie, your builder) has to decide to what extend he/she is prepaired to go to guard the work from adverse weather and especially frost.

Work certainly does not stop from autumn to spring when " lime" properties need restoration or repairs. It is up to the builder to keep an eagle eye on the weather forecast and provide thermal blankets, if necessary, if they ( builders) want to press on with the job.

Just make it clear with the builder that on no account you will accept patch repairs. In writing, if you need to.

Middi

 

[Schoolmarm]

Who is the contractor?

 

[skier-hughes]

Look back at Jon Maine's pictures of his house wrapped in hessian!
http://www.merchants-house.co.uk/

 

[andrew gayton]

If it were a traditional lime render then september should be the latest it is applied to allow for carbonation. as it is an hydraulic render then it will set pretty much the same as opc. remember that the grade of NHL is only the entry level grade; it mat indeed become stronger than is specified. If the brickwork substrate is relatively soft, there may be a long term risk of cracking.