Help. Our eaves sheets got wet :(

thisisme · #1 05-09-2010, 02:33 PM

We were told that painting the eave sheets on the ground (before they are linstalled) makes things a lot easier. So we were going to paint them today ... BUT they had moisture marks on the outter edges. We had left them in an un-locked up house for a few days. It has been raining a lot and there are some puddles near where they were sitting. We placed large wooden pieces underneath them so they weren't lying directly on the ground. Appearently they should be completely dry before being painted or else the paint will peel

I am so devastated

God knows how long it will take them to dry completelly

in this stupid weather.

Should we wrap them in plastic in order to prevent them absorbing any more moisture? How do we get them to dry asap? Is it ok to paint them if they are a tiny bit moist? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Julie-Ann · #2 05-09-2010, 02:38 PM

Oh no

. I saw on the news you were having lots of rain- whilst it is so dry here.
First don't paint them until they are dry- you will only have to sand them if they start to peel.
Don't wrap them in plastic- that will hold the moisture in.
Did they get so wet that they are buckling at all?
You need to get them to a dry place and I would suggest turn an electric fan on them to help dry them out. You will have to wait until they are dry.
Are you going to use Sealer on them before painting?

a-m · #3 05-09-2010, 02:48 PM

I agree with J-A, don't wrap them in plastic and yes they will have to be as dry as possible before painting. Sorry that this has happened

Building is character building isn't it. Grit teeth and forge on! A-M xx

thisisme · #4 05-09-2010, 02:51 PM

We don't want them to peel because they are going on the upper storey and getting scaffolding just to sand and repaint the eaves will cost us a fortune

No no, they didn't get too wet, no buckling at all. It's just that they are slightly discoloured at the sides which I am assuming is moisture, because there is a water puddle near them...
There are 30 sheets and they are very heavy. Do you think it is worth transporting them to the place we are currently living, turn on the heating in order to dry them?
We are going to use Duraguard (http://www.solverpaints.com.au/do***...20warranty.pdf). They say primer isn't needed with this paint. Should we still prime them?

Julie-Ann · #5 05-09-2010, 02:55 PM

Yes the discolouring would most likely to be from moisture. 30 sheets are going to be very difficult to move. When is the rain predicted to stop?
If the paint company says primer is not necessary then follow their directions. Solver is a good brand.
Love your comment about character building A-M- the classic understatement

thisisme · #6 05-09-2010, 03:03 PM

Thank you a-m and Julie-Ann

The rain isn't likely to stop any time soon, unfortuantelly

Julie-Ann · #7 05-09-2010, 03:06 PM

And here I am praying for rain so much I suggested to DH we may need to do a naked rain dance in the street

.
Then I think if you can move them to somewhere dry, it is a very good idea. And if you can get a fan on to them that will help. Watch your back lifting all those sheets

.

mjm · #8 05-09-2010, 03:12 PM

they usually use cement fibre sheeting for the eaves, its quite hardy stuff and will take getting wet much better than a gyprock sheet would. I agree with the other guys to wait until its dry before you paint it, I wouldn't bother transferring it to another location, but could you spread the sheets apart a little bit where they are wet so they aren't pressed up against each other at the wet part? maybe put some sort of wedge in between each sheet?

oh ok just read its not going to stop raining anytime soon... even so, how big are these sheets? will it be an easy move?

ps, hubby says perhaps standing them up leaning against a wall but sitting on blocks? he also reckons cement fibre sheeting is flexible and should bend back into position if it does warp a little

thisisme · #9 05-09-2010, 03:27 PM

Thanks mjm.

Unfortuantelly, the house is still not air tight, there are lots of gaps downstairs where rain gets in

The sheets are currently it the driest area of the house, but it still isn't dry enough

Julie-Ann · #10 05-09-2010, 03:34 PM

A few years ago I was project managing the building of this huge house on the river in Perth. The rain was so extreme the river was very high. This house had a lift in it so there was a pit for the lift. This was right in the middle of the house and no where near any openings. One day I noticed the pit had quite a bit of water in it. We were really worried that the water table under ground had risen so high it was now coming through the lift pit. One day when it was absolutely pouring with rain I went to the site and stood near the lift pit. Amazingly the rain was blowing right into the centre of the house

. Thank goodness it wasn't the water table though.
So if you can't get these sheets dry you need to protect them from the rain. I think you either have to move them or find a way to stop the rain from getting to them. Is that possible?