Protecting the airtight membrane

just do it

So we're wrapping the slab in airtight membrane but there will be a long pause until we move to the next stage of the build. Because of this the membrane will be exposed to the elements probably for 1 year. Any suggestions on how to protect it? Wrap a dpc around it?

hexosan

I think your mental mine was exposed for a few months and got ripped to shreads in places. It was a pain to repair and I used a ton of tape.
If it's been exposed for that long I'd recommend getting the block layer back after the slabs to run two rows minimum on top of the slabs and then wire mesh it back to the blocks. If even go as far as having it plastered as well

just do it

hexosan wrote: »

I think your mental mine was exposed for a few months and got ripped to shreads in places. It was a pain to repair and I used a ton of tape.
If it's been exposed for that long I'd recommend getting the block layer back after the slabs to run two rows minimum on top of the slabs and then wire mesh it back to the blocks. If even go as far as having it plastered as well

We're looking at something like that alright. My main concern though is for the membrane that's left exposed inside the cavity.

hexosan

When you pull it from the bottom over the slab and nail it back they shouldn't be a problem. Only issue I'd see would be uv exposure for the year. What width is the cavity.

sydthebeat

Come up a couple of block courses over the slab and close the cavity with a block closer until your ready to go again.
Batten fix the membrane to the block with both over and under the slab, don't use tapes until you are ready to complete.

hexosan

You cold run DPC from inside to outside leaf and tack it down but there's a risk it'd get ripped off in wind over the winter

BarneyMc

Your DPC around windows can also take a hammering. Don't leave any of it loose or it will flap in the wind and eventually tear.

just do it

250mm cavity on exposed site. Some good suggestions here and I've seen first hand the issue of a poorly installed window dpc so will most likely board up the windows.