Gable Wall Restraint Straps

[dt00dmb]

Hello,
First post to DIYnot, looking forward to learning as I refurbish my first property, a 1970's end of terrace.

Before purchasing the property last year I had a survey carried out separate to the HomeBuyers standard survey for my piece of mind. One of the points made was,

"The gable wall should be retrofitted with restraint straps, these should be fitted with softwood noggins between the rafters and ceiling joists, and timber wedges between the wall and first rafter/joist. The straps should be 30x5 ms taken over a min. 3 rafters/joists and be at 1.2m centres."

From my limited experience and from speaking to my surveyor I understand that this isn't a major job, but my question is does anyone have an idea as to the ballpark figure I should expect to pay to have this work completed, before I approach potential builders? Also, would this be likely a builder or specialist roofer job?

Thanks very much,

 

[noseall]

Anyone who has ever built a modern roof should be able to do it.

More likely a chippy. However it is a pants job to do whilst you are building the roof let alone retrospectively up through a loft hatch!

I would expect a days pay for all the faffing about up the stairs and into the loft, though it should only take three hours or so. Materials should be no more than a few quid.

Call it £150.00 cash.

However, if parking is a pain, there is furniture in the way, the loft hatch is barely accessible and is only 18" square and there are suitcases, christmas trees and summer dresses to fight with, then call it a monkey!

 

[^woody^]

I'd be wary as to whether the property actually needs these or not

Numpty surveyors are quick to suggest things which are not there, or were not required when built but are now done on modern properties. But they are less able to state exactly why such things are necessary 40 years after the property was built.

He's given you a text book quote on the specification straps in in a new build . It looks good

Is there a problem wit the wall? Or is the surveyor covering his arse?

You risk damaging ceiling plaster finishes too

What the surveyor does not seem to have mentioned (or taken into account) is the practicalities of doing this work. After knocking through the wall, the straps may not give any real restraint - especially at the top where all the inner leaf may be loose anyway. These should always be built in when the gable is constructed

But as nose says cost wise if you have it done