ᐅ Building a House in Winter: Is It a Problem? Your Experiences
Created on: 30 Jan 2018 09:29
V
V3ctra
Hello everyone,
our construction started at the end of October 2017. Work continued until November 30, 2017, and the basement was completed, including the sewage system and so on. On December 1, 2017, we received a letter from our general contractor stating that due to weather conditions, no masonry or concrete work could be carried out. Since then, there has been no activity on the site. Over the past two weeks, nighttime temperatures have been above 5°C (41°F), so I thought work would continue, but unfortunately that has not been the case. According to the construction manager, the temperature must remain above 10°C (50°F) for a whole week before masonry work on the basement ceiling can proceed! If that’s really the case, nothing will move forward before April, which I find hard to believe... In my opinion, the structural builder has laid off all their masons and currently has no staff available, but I cannot prove this. Have you had similar experiences?
Best regards
our construction started at the end of October 2017. Work continued until November 30, 2017, and the basement was completed, including the sewage system and so on. On December 1, 2017, we received a letter from our general contractor stating that due to weather conditions, no masonry or concrete work could be carried out. Since then, there has been no activity on the site. Over the past two weeks, nighttime temperatures have been above 5°C (41°F), so I thought work would continue, but unfortunately that has not been the case. According to the construction manager, the temperature must remain above 10°C (50°F) for a whole week before masonry work on the basement ceiling can proceed! If that’s really the case, nothing will move forward before April, which I find hard to believe... In my opinion, the structural builder has laid off all their masons and currently has no staff available, but I cannot prove this. Have you had similar experiences?
Best regards
B
Baumfachmann30 Jan 2018 19:34At temperatures around 5°C (41°F), the strength of the mortar is significantly reduced, and the adhesion bond is compromised. The use of antifreeze additives in the mortar is not permitted.
Of course, there will always be someone who proceeds with masonry work in cold conditions if the client insists. In such cases, the warranty becomes void, and inspectors are likely to receive even more assignments.
Of course, there will always be someone who proceeds with masonry work in cold conditions if the client insists. In such cases, the warranty becomes void, and inspectors are likely to receive even more assignments.
H
HilfeHilfe30 Jan 2018 19:41Bieber0815 schrieb:
Winter is not bad weather, however (of course, I don’t know your contract, but I have seen such wording before...). Oh, winter has come again quite unexpectedly 😉
K
Knallkörper30 Jan 2018 21:58Hello,
even if it bothers you that construction is not continuing right now: in the end, it is better this way. If you allow moisture from plaster and screed into the house in this weather, combined with 99% humidity at 25°C (77°F) room temperature, mold is almost inevitable. Even a vapor retarder with an Sd value of 100 m (328 feet) won’t help against that.
even if it bothers you that construction is not continuing right now: in the end, it is better this way. If you allow moisture from plaster and screed into the house in this weather, combined with 99% humidity at 25°C (77°F) room temperature, mold is almost inevitable. Even a vapor retarder with an Sd value of 100 m (328 feet) won’t help against that.
Knallkörper schrieb:
Hello,
even if it bothers you that construction isn’t progressing, it’s ultimately better this way. If moisture from plaster and screed gets into the house in this weather, with 99% humidity at 25°C (77°F) indoor temperature, mold is just around the corner. Not even a vapor barrier with an Sd value of 100 meters (330 feet) will help against that.You’re probably right.
Quality over quantity.
Thanks for your responses. [emoji1303]
B
baumann4231 Jan 2018 09:43Once the concrete ceiling has been poured, you cannot continue working immediately because concrete naturally takes longer to cure at colder temperatures than in summer weather; that should be obvious! When bricks are bonded with adhesive, masonry work should not be done below 5°C (41°F). With standard masonry mortar, it is possible to work down to around -1 to -2°C (30 to 28°F).
M
Matthew0331 Jan 2018 11:44I was, and still am, unsure about this myself... The concrete slab was poured at the beginning of November, when temperatures were still relatively mild, including at the start of the masonry work. Then, about 10 days shortly before Christmas, the temperature was roughly between 1-3°C (34-37°F), but the shell of the building was completed anyway. Work was only paused on two days when temperatures were around -2 to 0°C (28-32°F)... The general contractor, who is a trained bricklayer himself, said it was no problem.
Poroton bricks were used.
I hope his statement is correct?! But now it’s too late anyway 😉
Poroton bricks were used.
I hope his statement is correct?! But now it’s too late anyway 😉
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