re: breathable "exterior" paint for lime rendered cottage?

[chippy1]

Hi ALL,

Thank you for all your replies, have been really helpful to this newie to old properties!

Started painting the exterior and have noticed that this 300 year old house doesnt have fascia or soffit across the back of the house. The gutters are attached by metal arms directly to the eaves. This does mean there is good airflow into the roof area so joists/eaves etc can breath but does mean alot of heat is lost in the winter. My roof overhangs the exterior wall so no rain gets in but in between the joists/eves I have a gap of around 10cm across the back of the house. Would anyone put up fascia/soffits (with the ok from CO) or maybe keep as it is but use alittle expanding form or extra insulation over the gaps in the loft just to help keep heat in?


Thanks again

 

[Abi Cott]

Your attic is not supposed to be hot. The loft insulation keeps the heat in the house and the ventilation keeps the timbers dry and safe from bugs that like to eat wood.

Increasing the depth of your loft insulation, draught proofing the loft hatch and insulating the back of the loft hatch would be better moves in my opinion.

 

[Cubist]

Hi Chippy1,

Abi is right about the loft space needing to be well aired and hence it will always be colder than the rest of the house - except in high summer. Insulating the loft is the best approach if your first concern is heat loss. Also, its best to avoid the use of expanding foam whenever possible and particularly near to external timbers as it can contribute to or even induce rot by trapping moisture from whatever source.

It may be an idea to get some photos of the rear section of the roof line, and perhaps others of the front of the house for comparison purposes, and shares these with us in the forum. These would help to get some ideas circulating on alternative and best approaches for agreement, if needed, with your local CO.

Cheers,
Cubist

 

[chippy1]

Thanks Abi, Cubist....

The front of the property has either fascia/soffit or has been rendered right upto the eaves so no gaps. Its looks like its been that way for a VERY long time...it seems to be only the back of the property that had been left "open". The cottages around me that have had work done, have all had fascia/soffits fitted, some at the request of the CO which I was surprised at, as this was not how the properties were originally built. This is what has confused me as the other properties of the same age on the road have all had fascias/soffit fitted and couldnt understand why this is the case if the eaves/joists are meant to be able to breath?

thanks again

 

[Cubist]

Happy to have been of help Chippy. My experience of COs is that its all a matter of personal/professional opinion - and sometimes which side of the bed they got out of.

Fascia/Soffit boards by themselves would not have a detrimental impact unless they completely prevented air circulation in the loft space - so I would favour installing them in your case.