The details on the external facades matter – from an aesthetic and functional point of view.
The soffit boards neatly incorporate the ventilation to the rear of the timber cladding below, whilst also discretely accommodating the ventilation terminals for the MVHR system (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery), more about that in a later post. The cast metal rainwater goods are robustly supported upon individual timber plates.
A big part of this project has been the joy of working with real craftsmen. The old wooden hoods above the original windows had zinc panels affording a measure of protection; they were broken, brittle and in a generally rotten state. Originally they’d have been fashioned in lead. The new hoods have been traditionally and simply clad in lead, flashed-up behind the larch cladding, seams welded and screws covered with melted lead. The workmanship is lovely and its such a shame craft skills like this are getting harder to find. These will keep the water out!
Leigh Hill Progress 