You’ve found the perfect porch for your home, and Oak Porches UK are on the way to make your home renovation dreams a reality. But it’s high summer in the UK and that means one thing- you can’t predict what the weather will do at any given moment! If you’re worried about the rain- or anything else- throwing a spoke in your plans, we’ve got some tips to help you plan and ease your mind.
Mind the Weather
Of course, the UK can be anything but predictable when it comes to summer storms. However, it’s always a good idea to check the weather for the week of your planned installation. If you notice a strong prediction for bad conditions, this empowers you to reach out to your team ahead of time and make a backup plan. This goes double if you’re going the DIY oak porch installation route. Check the weather forecast the morning you plan to get to work, so you’ll at least know your chances of getting a fine day.
Have Covers on Hand
Luckily, oak is a robust and kind construction material that can stand up to the fickle UK climate effectively. It’s still not the best idea to let everything get soaked through, however. So if your porch pieces have been dropped off in advance of the installation date, use a tarpaulin or similar waterproof cover to keep the materials dry, or store them under a roof. These are cheap to pick up at any hardware store, and can always be reused on future projects, too. While oak is pretty forgiving when it comes to moisture exposure, you want to reduce the chances of warping (especially in the support beams) as much as possible.
Likewise, if it’s just a shower or two, you can use a tarpaulin to cover the footers and site prep you’ve already done. While you won’t be able to work efficiently during the storm, this means a lot less moisture in the site itself, allowing you to get right back to it when the rain eases. If you’re installing a concrete plinth or footers for your porch, ask the tradespeople for a proper timeline for curing and drying in wet weather. This way, you can build sufficient drying time into your plans, and not get waylaid by a little wet weather. You don’t want to push ahead until you’re confident the footers are ready for the weight of the supports and roof, or you could find yourself with a leaky, unsafe installation.
However, it’s not a smart idea to press ahead with an installation if it’s bucketing outside- mostly for safety reasons. The heaviest and most complicated part of an oak porch installation is lifting and securing the roof into place. Having this critical part of the installation get soaking wet and slippery is asking for accidents. Nor is it smart to be up a ladder if thunderstorms start!
If you’re using a pro team for the installation, they will be able to advise you what weather they can work through, and when they’ll need to take a break for it to pass. Remember, they have the benefit of years of experience (and insurance) to cover them, so don’t assume you can work in the same conditions they can. If you’re doing a DIY installation, always err on the side of caution, and break off the project if it starts to get wet. You can toss a tarp over the roof and tie it down so you can get back to work asap.
Luckily, there’s very little in a standard oak porch installation that intrudes into your home. At most, you’re fastening the porch to the front facade of your home, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to live with the risk of leaks or internal damage from an open site while it’s on hold. Just another reason to consider a smart oak porch installation for your home upgrade! If you are doing any other renovation work, such as a door swap, during the installation, work in small areas, so you can easily seal them off if there’s a precipitation-inspired pause in the work.
Installing the Bells and Whistles
Bad weather is likely to delay your finishing touches more than the oak porch installation itself. If you’re opting for a stain or cure to change the appearance of the oak timbers, take some time and look up how long (and what conditions) it needs to dry properly, and plan around your anticipated weather conditions. While replacing some grouting, or even having a bit of stain runoff in the rain, isn’t impossible to rectify, it’s much better to plan ahead so you don’t have these niggling little hassles.
We do advise only starting any electrical work for your porch after the porch itself is raised. This will ensure the wiring and access points stay dry and safe at all times. Your new oak porch will be fully usable, even if not convenient, without the lighting. If you have to pre-install something, such as a connection from the home into the porch area, before the porch is in place, make absolutely certain it’s safely sealed against bad weather until the final connections can be done. Glazing will typically not be an issue, as your porch will already offer all the protection you need.
Bad weather is a fact of life in the UK, and luckily an oak porch installation is such a quick, simple process you can still work around it in most aspects. With a tight eye on the weather forecast, and some tarps ready to roll if you get caught short, your oak porch will soon be up and ready to become part of your home, no matter what the weather throws at it. If you’re still worried about the weather, why not check out Oak Porches UK’s helpful guide to the best times of year to install an oak porch? You’re sure to find some helpful hints.
