Render Blown

[Lady_Mari]

The back (North) wall of my cottage had a large area of blown cement render. We have removed this & uncovered some very wet oak beams, much of the wattle & daub was crumbly & fell out. The render had been attached to expanded metal but this has either rusted or eaten away.
After a few weeks of exposure the oaks have dried out & all but two are pretty sound.
We have taken advice for repairs & have two different methods suggested, we need advice as to which option we take.
First man said will use traditional method & remove remaining concrete render, replace rotton oak studs, fix oak laths & lime render onto these. Sounds great but expensive - between �5 - 7k.

Second chap is currently renovating cottage next door & says will also remove remaining render but attach battens to existing oaks to create cavity with air vents top & bottom, dry line & fix expanded metal & apply modern render & will be much cheaper. He says this is how all modern timber framed houses are done these days.

Cost is a serious issue for us & this wall is the only one left that has timbers, the other walls are either rendered blockwork or painted brick.
Can anyone here offer some advice please.

[jake-the-peg]

Talk to Spab (society for the protection of historic buildings)

http://www.spab.org.uk/html/advice/?PHPSESSID= d231aa24590f9f61d0e71a35115a059c

They have a technical enquiries help line on this page