Breather membrane anxiety…

[G and J]

Our timber frame house is resplendently silver in its shiny new membrane. Well, sort of.  Downstairs is covered in grungy old blockwork, which is good news for the breather membrane protected within.

 

Upstairs will be timber clad, eventually.

 

Turns out there’s a 4 to 5 (yes, four to five!) month lead time for our chosen cladding.  Thats if we ordered it today which we can’t because the legals haven’t completed on our house sale.  Turns out one can grrrr and sigh simultaneously.  
 

But the question is…..     will our breather membrane need replacing if it’s left naked in the cold for months on end?  (Meaning, say, 5 months from now on?)

 

Just how worried should I be?

[-rick-]

The manufacturer will have a spec for this. Look up the product you are using. I think the silver ones tend to last longer but bog standard ones are about 6 months exposure.

[G and J]

We have looked up the spec. 4 month for stuff on the gables facing east and west......king of hoping there is some latitude, but keen to hear the thought of others..

[Iceverge]

It'll be fine if it doesn't tear. I had some Protect VP400 exposed for about a year on my garage wall. 

[G and J]

22 hours ago, Iceverge said:

It'll be fine if it doesn't tear. I had some Protect VP400 exposed for about a year on my garage wall. 

Thank you, that is both helpful and comforting.

[Nickfromwales]

For the sun-baked sides you could cover with visqueen.

[gavztheouch]

Exposure time is usually rated for mid summer ie worst case you should be ok over winter. Make sure you have as many battens on as possible. I’m just putting my battens on now. Membrane has been on for 8 months already. It’s a black uv resistant version, even so I want it covered as soon as possible.