Whether you are building a house from scratch, renovating an older house, or extending your existing home, understanding the various stages of the project is absolutely key to its smooth running – and this is something that becomes even more important if you plan on living on-site.
While getting to grips with the schedule of your project is always important, when it comes to carrying out building work during the wetter, colder months, it is more crucial than ever that you know what to expect – and ensuring your property is going to be protected from the elements when bad weather hits should be a priority.
During my own home renovation project I was a little confused by exactly what the builders meant when they threw around the terms watertight and weatherproof – had I have understood the meaning of the two better I might have been far better prepared for what winter in our project would have been like. Here, we explain the differences between the two so that you know what to expect and aim for in your own project.
What is the difference between 'watertight' and 'weatherproof'?
While the two terms might, on the surface, sound like the same thing, there are actually some important factors that set the two apart, something that Scott Young, co-founder of K&S Bespoke Builds, is keen to point out.
"Watertight and weatherproof do mean different things. Weatherproof means the structure is closed – roof, walls, windows, external doors all sealed against wind and rain. Watertight just means the structure won't let water in, including from the ground up, so that includes the foundations and damp proof course."
That said, Michael Birch, director of J&A Phillips Builders Merchants, highlights the importance of speaking to your build team to ascertain exactly what they view as protected from the elements rather than relying on terminology alone.
"In everyday building conversations, watertight generally means the enclosed building keeps rain out. Weatherproof is a broader description of protection against the elements, including wind and rain. However, the terms often overlap, so homeowners should ask exactly what their builder means.
"A building might keep out a steady shower but still have vulnerable details exposed by rain being driven sideways in strong winds," continues Michael. "Ask whether the roof, flashing, windows, doors and their junctions are complete, or whether temporary coverings are still being relied on to provide protection."
David Garvey, operations manager at Crown Services Organisations, agrees that having frank conversations with your builder about where the project is, before winter hits, is vital.
"The terms get thrown around, so don’t take either as proof that everything’s finished. Having the roof on doesn’t mean the gaps around windows or where the roof meets the wall are sealed properly. Ask your builder to walk you through what’s finished, what’s temporarily protected and where water could still get in."
Scott Young is the co-founder of K&S Bespoke Builds, a construction company in Reading, UK, specialising in conservatories and extensions.
Michael Birch is a Director of J&A Phillips Builders Merchants and has jointly led the business with his wife Christine for 24 years. Based in Newport, South Wales, J&A Phillips supplies building materials to tradespeople and homeowners, with a range that includes timber, roofing, insulation, drainage and landscaping products. The team helps customers choose materials for projects ranging from small repairs and garden improvements to home extensions and new builds. Michael brings a practical builders merchant’s perspective to material selection and the questions customers face when planning a project.
David has 12 years in the property and construction industry. He is a qualified Building Surveyor and property management professional at Crown Services Organisation, with recognised memberships in RICS and IRPM, and certification in health and safety. David has experience in several roles, having built houses and light industrial units, overseen refurbishment projects, and managed contracts for maintenance.
Should you aim for watertight or weatherproof by winter?
My own renovation and extension project ended up taking almost five years in total – largely because we carried out most of the work ourselves while living on-site. However, it was the periods where the house was exposed to the elements that were particularly stressful – with rain pouring into the temporary kitchen as I attempted to make the children's packed lunches being a particularly low point.
Our rather chaotic approach to the build schedule was mainly to blame, and we should have better got to grips with how we could have planned the project to ensure that winter in the house wasn't so awful. Michael Birch suggests thinking ahead to how you can protect the house before bad weather sets in.
"Aim for a secure shell that can cope with the weather expected at your location, with rainwater carried safely away from the building. And, do not judge readiness by the roof covering alone. The connections around rooflights, windows and where an extension joins the existing house all matter. Guttering and downpipes also need to take water somewhere suitable, rather than discharge it beside unfinished work."
"I'd aim for weathertight by the end of October, as all the work after closing in the structure can then be done regardless of the weather," says Scott Young. "Things like electrics, plumbing, insulation, plastering, decorating, and so on."
How is a project made weatherproof?
It seems that weatherproof is what you really need to be aiming for then – protection from all kinds of elements rather than water alone. But what needs to happen in order for you to get to this stage and what should you be doing to prepare your home for winter?
"You want the building to keep out wind and rain before winter hits," picks up David Garvey. "Pay particular attention to where windows meet walls and walls meet the roof, because those connections must work as well as the materials themselves. Getting through a light shower without a leak doesn’t tell you how it’ll cope when it's raining sideways. Get those details checked before internal finishes cover them up and make any leaks harder to trace."
In short, your project will be weatherproof once its shell is totally closed off to any external elements. This will typically be once the roof is finished and all external walls, windows, and external doors are in place. It is at this stage that first fix can begin – things like wiring, plumbing and even plastering walls and ceilings.
What should you do if your project won't be weatherproof by winter?
I would say that, for me, the lunchbox incident was the point at which I realised we were going to have to put better protection in place before winter really took hold if we were going to remain living in the house, and protect what we had carried out internally from damage. Obviously if you are self-building you probably won't be living in the house but it will still need protecting.
If you feel you are hurtling towards winter and that your project just isn't ready for it, don't panic. There are steps you can take, temporarily, to protect it from the elements, as Scott Young explains.
"If the project won't be weathertight before winter then just get to a sensible stopping point, like getting the roof structure on with felt and batten. You could also add interim weather protection such as a temporary roof over the structure, and seal window and door openings with plywood. Also, make sure that any materials on-site are stored somewhere they won't be ruined by rain or snow. They need to be off the ground and fully covered."
Michael Birch suggests getting ahead of the game and having an honest talk with your builder about what will happen if the project isn't going to be where you hoped by the time the weather turns nasty. "With British weather, waiting for the forecast to turn bad can leave you very little time. Ask your builder for a winter protection plan while conditions are still manageable.
"The most useful questions are: 'What is permanently complete? What is temporarily protected, and what happens if a storm arrives this weekend?' A clear answer is worth much more than a vague promise that everything will be watertight.
"That plan should explain how unfinished roofs and openings will be protected, how temporary coverings will be secured against wind, where rainwater will go and who will check the site after a storm," continues Michael. "A covering that survives a calm, wet afternoon may not cope with strong gusts overnight. Temporary protection needs to be suitable, properly secured and checked throughout the period it is being used.
"Finally, if adequate protection cannot be maintained, the work programme may need to change," adds Michael. "Delaying vulnerable internal finishes can be better than installing them only to have them damaged by the next spell of bad weather."
FAQs
Are there home improvement jobs you should avoid during winter?
It is important to be aware that even if you reach the weatherproof stage by the time winter rolls around, you need to be careful when it comes to carrying out certain internal jobs during colder weather too.
Everything from plastering to painting walls will be affected by colder temperatures and damp conditions (trust me on this one, I know) and laying flooring before it has had a chance to properly acclimatise to indoor temperatures can be a disaster too.
"Keeping fresh rain out does not mean the building is dry," points out Michael Birch. "Timber, masonry and other materials may already contain moisture, while activities such as plastering introduce more. Suitable drying conditions and ventilation still matter once the shell is enclosed."
If the thought of facing a winter without adequate protection feels too much, staggering an extension project can be a good way to manage living on site a little better, allowing you to move around the house as work is carried out and save money on renting.
