As of 02/01/00. Assessment of Repairs Needed on the Club Hut. I have had a look at the state of the Club Hut and unfortunately a lot of work needs to be done. I have listed below the things I have noticed that need to be repaired.

If we follow the plan above, you can see that most of the repairs are on the sides that the weather hits. SIDE A Interior. 1. The wooden beam at the base of the panel-containing window 1 & 2 has gone rotten due to moisture running under the bottom edge of the panel near the main Beam (next to the veranda). 2. There are some panels near window 2 which need replacing. Exterior. 1. The guttering needs checking, as the water is not draining properly (even when the pipe is clear of leaves.) 2. The veranda needs all the side supports replacing as they have all gone rotten. 3. Need to check the main beam, which supports the side A wall.

SIDE B Interior. 1. The window frame (No. 3) has partially gone rotten. 2. Between one half and two thirds of the panels have gone rotten. They have all gone near the bottom lip overhang. The water has gone under the bottom lip of one piece and then rotted the top lip of the panel below. 3. The roof panel is OK! Exterior. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Looking from the outside, the window frame looks as if it has gone completely. The guttering needs sorting out. The fascia on the roof has gone rotten. The main beams need the ends protecting from the rain as they are soaking it up like a sponge. 5. The paint has flaked off and so the panels are partially exposed to the elements. SIDE C. Interior. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Window frame 4 needs some attention as it has started to go rotten. Window frame 5 is slightly worse than no.4. Window frame 6 needs replacing. The bottom beam on the main panel needs replacing (same problem as the side A, it has no protection from the weather.) 5. Between a quarter to one third of the panels need replacing. 6. Cannot assess the damage behind the locker for obvious reasons! Exterior.

1. The front of the beam could do with some protection from the elements. 2. Most of the panels look as if they could do with replacing. They are all looking a bit worse for wear (they have gone at the bottom lip in the same manner as the ones on side B). 3. Need to check the guttering to see if it drains properly. A lot of work is needed on this side! SIDE D Good news! This side is fine. ROOF. 1. The roof needs re-felting. 2. Need to check the panels underneath to see if they have started to go rotten.

VERANDA. 1. David Irwin has already carried out a lot of repairs, but the sides still need replacing.

Ideas to stop further problems that might arise. •

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The roof should be felted in hot sunny weather. This allows the felt to become supple and easier to lay. It should be sealed to the roof using a roofing felt adhesive (you paint it on, leave it for 30 minutes to become dry and tacky, and then you lay the felt on top. This should stop the felt bubbling and cracking like the last lot has done). Tanalised wood should be used wherever possible. This should reduce the amount of panels going rotten. We could replace the tongue and groove panels with solid sheets of OSB treated with wood preserver. This should be cheaper than tongue and groove and also requires a lot less maintenance. If the park requires we could always put tongue and groove over the OSB and then paint it the required colour. In this way it may cost more in the short term but the hut will remain waterproof and as the tongue and groove is laid onto flat preserved timber, it should stop the water from driving itself under the lips of the panels by creating a tighter seal. This would also give us the added bonus of insulation from the cold! If we use OSB sheets for the sides, we could extend them slightly to protect the main supporting beams. They would still be able to breathe, but wouldn’t be open to so much torture from the elements. We could consider planting some trees or bushes to try to protect the most exposed corner from the rain. We have managed to grow one ash tree to the rear of the hut so it can’t be impossible to grow some plants, even if we did fail before!

The above ideas should ensure that the club hut remains in good condition for a long time in the future. It would probably be best if we carried out the renovations in the summer. That way we could have one big blitz and do everything in one go and in decent weather for once. (Its always easier to get helpers in nice weather!) If there is anything I have missed, please tell me as we shall need to get it addressed.