ᐅ Starting construction in winter? Or wait until next spring due to moisture concerns?
Created on: 24 Apr 2015 16:58
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AntiHe´r0A
AntiHe´r024 Apr 2015 16:58Hello,
I’m Christoph from Bavaria and new here!
My question hasn’t always received a clear answer, and I will also consult a building biologist, but I want to ask you first—maybe you can help us.
We planned to build this year, so everything with the bank and the plot was sorted out, all good and approved. Then back to the builder, a well-known local company but unfortunately very busy.
They can only start from October (shell construction, roof & windows), then leave it standing over winter and continue in spring. My concern is moisture and possible mold growth. It is a detached house with 130m² (1400 sq ft) of living space, with wooden windows and no basement.
Should we start now in October or play it safe and begin in spring?
What do you think? I would really appreciate your opinion!
Thanks!
I’m Christoph from Bavaria and new here!
My question hasn’t always received a clear answer, and I will also consult a building biologist, but I want to ask you first—maybe you can help us.
We planned to build this year, so everything with the bank and the plot was sorted out, all good and approved. Then back to the builder, a well-known local company but unfortunately very busy.
They can only start from October (shell construction, roof & windows), then leave it standing over winter and continue in spring. My concern is moisture and possible mold growth. It is a detached house with 130m² (1400 sq ft) of living space, with wooden windows and no basement.
Should we start now in October or play it safe and begin in spring?
What do you think? I would really appreciate your opinion!
Thanks!
In the past, houses were always left to dry out over the winter, so this is more of a positive than a negative.
In my opinion, the most important thing is that the roof is in place. Whether this can be achieved depends partly on the weather, but also on the speed of the construction company.
Once the house is enclosed, work can even continue during mild temperatures over the winter, or the craftsmen sometimes bring portable heaters with them. For example, we heated the living room with a heater in January and painted the boards for the roof overhangs with edge lacquer. Electricians and plumbers were also active during this time. For us, the general contractor reported only 14 days of construction downtime during the entire winter. However, the winter of 2013/2014 was also very mild.
In my opinion, the most important thing is that the roof is in place. Whether this can be achieved depends partly on the weather, but also on the speed of the construction company.
Once the house is enclosed, work can even continue during mild temperatures over the winter, or the craftsmen sometimes bring portable heaters with them. For example, we heated the living room with a heater in January and painted the boards for the roof overhangs with edge lacquer. Electricians and plumbers were also active during this time. For us, the general contractor reported only 14 days of construction downtime during the entire winter. However, the winter of 2013/2014 was also very mild.
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AntiHe´r024 Apr 2015 21:00Okay, thanks. Yes, the roof should be on top and there should be windows inside!
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toxicmolotof24 Apr 2015 22:03We started in mid-September 2014 and managed to complete the cabin in NRW just before the frost and snow arrived... depending on the location, this can be quite tight. If you can, I would recommend starting earlier to have some buffer time. Trying to bribe the weather god will be difficult.
EveundGerd24 Apr 2015 22:47We started the excavation on November 18, 2014.
By December 22, 2014, the vapor barrier was installed, and the house stood through the Christmas holidays covered with the barrier and a little snow cap.
At the beginning of January, the roof was covered, and the windows were installed in early February.
There were no problems at all.
Our masons were working on the site even during light snowfall.
The house dried out very well once the roof was on, even though the windows were still missing. With windows installed, you just have to ventilate consistently!
However, depending on the location in Bavaria, there might already be quite a bit of snow at this time.
Where exactly is the plot located?
By December 22, 2014, the vapor barrier was installed, and the house stood through the Christmas holidays covered with the barrier and a little snow cap.
At the beginning of January, the roof was covered, and the windows were installed in early February.
There were no problems at all.
Our masons were working on the site even during light snowfall.
The house dried out very well once the roof was on, even though the windows were still missing. With windows installed, you just have to ventilate consistently!
However, depending on the location in Bavaria, there might already be quite a bit of snow at this time.
Where exactly is the plot located?
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AntiHe´r024 Apr 2015 23:02Thank you for your answers. This is already very helpful.
@EveundGerd: The plot is located in Passau, so not directly in the Bavarian Forest. This past winter, we only had snow in the spring. Once the windows are installed, should we use a portable heater as well, or just ventilate?
@EveundGerd: The plot is located in Passau, so not directly in the Bavarian Forest. This past winter, we only had snow in the spring. Once the windows are installed, should we use a portable heater as well, or just ventilate?
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