ᐅ Building a Basement – Is Installing Exterior Insulation in January Advisable?
Created on: 10 Oct 2022 14:44
D
darksun
Hello,
we are building with a prefab house company, and their plan is to set up the house in mid-March 2023.
This means that excavation and foundation wall construction are scheduled—or have to take place—in mid-January 2023.
The prefab company also informed us that the (basement) insulation cannot be applied at the factory but must be installed on site.
When I asked our architect whether installing insulation under such weather conditions (estimated 0 to 8°C (32 to 46°F), rain/snow, etc.) is feasible, he replied:
“It could work, but it might not.”
My own judgment tells me this is not a good season to “stick” (attach) insulation to the basement walls.
What is the situation regarding the buyer’s or client’s rights—can you request to postpone the house assembly (and thus the start of foundation work/insulation) by about six weeks?
(In our case, foundation work was no longer possible this year because the final go-ahead from the prefab company only came two weeks ago, and it is very difficult to find an excavation contractor on such short notice.)
we are building with a prefab house company, and their plan is to set up the house in mid-March 2023.
This means that excavation and foundation wall construction are scheduled—or have to take place—in mid-January 2023.
The prefab company also informed us that the (basement) insulation cannot be applied at the factory but must be installed on site.
When I asked our architect whether installing insulation under such weather conditions (estimated 0 to 8°C (32 to 46°F), rain/snow, etc.) is feasible, he replied:
“It could work, but it might not.”
My own judgment tells me this is not a good season to “stick” (attach) insulation to the basement walls.
What is the situation regarding the buyer’s or client’s rights—can you request to postpone the house assembly (and thus the start of foundation work/insulation) by about six weeks?
(In our case, foundation work was no longer possible this year because the final go-ahead from the prefab company only came two weeks ago, and it is very difficult to find an excavation contractor on such short notice.)
It is definitely possible to successfully install insulation in December/January (this was done in our case, for example), but it depends on the temperatures and weather conditions.
However, what may cause even bigger challenges is your in-situ concrete foundation slab – it will certainly be poured as in-situ concrete, and I strongly assume that your precast walls and ceilings will also need to be filled with in-situ concrete. This is all possible in winter as well, but it must be carefully monitored and protected to ensure proper execution.
By the way, the insulation does not have to be installed immediately – it is quite feasible, for example, to complete the foundation slab, walls, and ceilings in January, and then install the insulation and backfilling at the end of February or beginning of March. Depending on the wall surface area, installation team, and coordination with the civil engineer, this can be completed within 2-3 days.
However, what may cause even bigger challenges is your in-situ concrete foundation slab – it will certainly be poured as in-situ concrete, and I strongly assume that your precast walls and ceilings will also need to be filled with in-situ concrete. This is all possible in winter as well, but it must be carefully monitored and protected to ensure proper execution.
By the way, the insulation does not have to be installed immediately – it is quite feasible, for example, to complete the foundation slab, walls, and ceilings in January, and then install the insulation and backfilling at the end of February or beginning of March. Depending on the wall surface area, installation team, and coordination with the civil engineer, this can be completed within 2-3 days.
Explanation:
We need to contract out the excavation work, and the prefab house company hires a basement builder who installs the basement into the “hole.”
Of course, it is possible to properly insulate and seal everything in January, but any professional will confirm that if the temperature is around -2° Celsius (28°F) with sleet on the day of the work, these are not ideal conditions to apply a durable insulation.
Installing the insulation later (within 4 weeks, hoping for better weather) could be an option, but it would likely involve additional costs in the four-digit range.
We need to contract out the excavation work, and the prefab house company hires a basement builder who installs the basement into the “hole.”
Of course, it is possible to properly insulate and seal everything in January, but any professional will confirm that if the temperature is around -2° Celsius (28°F) with sleet on the day of the work, these are not ideal conditions to apply a durable insulation.
Installing the insulation later (within 4 weeks, hoping for better weather) could be an option, but it would likely involve additional costs in the four-digit range.
S
SaniererNRW12310 Oct 2022 17:28darksun schrieb:
Of course, it is possible to properly insulate and seal everything in January, but any professional will confirm that if the temperature is -2°C (28°F) with sleet, these are not ideal conditions to apply insulation that will hold well.
Installing the insulation later (within 4 weeks, hoping for better weather) might be an option, but it would likely involve additional costs in the four-digit range...However, this is not your problem. It is the problem of the construction company, which owes you properly installed insulation. If the weather is bad and, for example, the adhesive is not approved for such conditions, the contractor must wait until conditions improve.Coordinate this with your expert and stay relaxed. Do not make the construction company’s problem your problem.
SaniererNRW123 schrieb:
But that’s not your problem. It’s the builder’s responsibility to provide properly installed insulation. And if the weather is bad and, for example, the adhesive is not approved for those conditions, then the builder must wait until the conditions are suitable.
Attend with your expert and relax. Don’t turn the builder’s problem into your problem. From experience, I can say that construction companies tend to build so it holds (at least initially); they want to avoid any issues during the 5-year warranty period.
In our case, problems appeared with the first house after 7 years; before that, everything was “sweet-talked” (“built according to current standards,” “nothing will happen …”).
Conclusion: we paid 40,000 euros for the renovation. But that is another topic, and that’s why I’m cautious about statements like “That’s the builder’s problem” (If necessary, the builder might go bankrupt after 2 years, and then I’m left without warranty or construction legal protection…)
S
SaniererNRW12310 Oct 2022 17:39darksun schrieb:
Regarding a statement like "That’s the contractor’s problem" (in an emergency, they go bankrupt after 2 years, and then I have no warranty or construction legal protection anymore…) But that has nothing to do with your initial question. Because it is possible to build in January too. And defects can (and probably will) occur at any time, even when installing insulation in the sunny spring. Poor workmanship is not due to the season.
darksun schrieb:
From experience, I can say that construction companies build in a way that it (initially) holds; they want to avoid issues during the 5-year warranty period. With our first house, problems only appeared after 7 years; before that, everything was “talked up” (“built according to the state of the art,” “nothing will happen …”). That can and will happen from time to time. But for me, “talking things up” means that problems arose already during construction or upon moving in/at the start. You need to address those immediately and not be put off. But that is actually another matter.
Your basement won’t be able to be assembled “in one go” anyway. The foundation slab also needs time to gain sufficient strength, as do the walls and ceiling panels (especially in winter). There will be at least a few days between each step.
Furthermore, the ceiling supports can only be removed after a certain period (for us, it took almost 1 month), meaning they will have to come back later regardless.
Furthermore, the ceiling supports can only be removed after a certain period (for us, it took almost 1 month), meaning they will have to come back later regardless.
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