Is it possible to build a house in winter from Mila's blog

Traditionally, the winter period is considered not the best time to build a country house. Therefore, it is not surprising that they try to carry out the main work before the first frosts and snowfalls. However, is it really necessary to get everything done before the end of autumn? Or is it possible to postpone construction activities and full home remodeling to the cold season? Let's figure out what the features of building a house in winter are and what difficulties you may encounter.

Increasingly, customers do not stop work in the winter so as not to wait for the new season and get their suburban housing by spring/summer. In addition, for many it is much more pleasant to spend warm time in nature rather than at a construction site, so it is not surprising that cottages can be built in winter. This construction option has several objective advantages:

• - Cost reduction. Many materials are cheaper during the off-season, and sometimes they are easier to find. For example, in summer it is almost impossible to buy high-quality dried wood, while in winter it is easier than ever. The demand for many materials is significantly reduced, which makes them available for purchase.

• - Easy delivery. At the same time as costs are reduced, the time required to deliver goods is reduced. There are significantly fewer traffic jams on the roads (especially when it comes to highways towards country and country villages). It is also easier to drive on dirt roads as they become more passable.

• - Ease of working with wood. In frost, the moisture content in wood decreases to minimum values. This reduces the likelihood of fungal infection and increases the life of the building.

• - No shrinkage. Building a house in winter allows you to begin finishing and various interior work in the summer. Thanks to this, by the end of the season you will be able to move into a new home.

• - Reduced prices for work. For many construction companies, the number of orders during the cold season is reduced, making the cost of services lower than in the summer. This is another way to save money and reduce the costs of building a cottage.

Despite the large number of advantages, for many, construction in winter becomes a forced decision. This is due to the existing disadvantages and dangers of such construction. These include:

• - Long time to complete the work. Daylight hours are much shorter, so installation operations require more time. Additional preparation of materials is also necessary, which complicates the process.

• - Application temperature restrictions. For many building and finishing materials there are a number of temperature restrictions. Therefore, when using them in winter, you will need to consider heating the construction area. And these are additional design solutions and costs for their implementation.

• - Increased electricity costs. This includes the use of a heat gun and constant heating of the site. As a result, electricity costs increase several times.

• - Increased complexity of work. Some installation and construction activities will require special care and attention. Difficulties can arise even when working with wood and installing the roof.

Many difficulties arise when constructing buildings made of wood. Therefore, when answering the question of whether wooden houses are built in winter, many experts give a negative answer. However, with the right approach, it is quite acceptable to carry out installation work using natural wood. You only need to take into account the temperature regime and monitor the storage conditions of the material.

Of course, in the cold season, the processes associated with pouring concrete become more complicated. In most cases, the use of special anti-freeze “additives” will be required. But the main difficulty is the inability to predict weather conditions. Only the weather for the next couple of days can be accurately predicted. Therefore, it is impossible to understand what winter will be like: cold and windy or soft and snowy. As you understand, sudden temperature fluctuations, frost or thaw can become a serious obstacle to pouring a foundation or installing walls.

One of the conditions for carrying out construction work in the cold season is to maintain above-zero temperatures on the site. Most often, a temporary structure called a “warmhouse” is used for such purposes. This is a metal or wooden structure that is erected immediately on the site. It consists of a durable frame covered with an awning or waterproof material. If necessary, such awnings are additionally insulated. A greenhouse is used to cover the entire construction site or individual parts. To maintain the desired temperature, the structure is heated from the inside using portable devices or heat guns.

Carrying out construction work in winter has a number of features and difficulties. Let's start with the excavation procedures that are required for arranging the foundation. Such activities are difficult due to frozen soil, so it is necessary to chisel the soil with special tools.

Soil development can be accelerated by preheating. To solve this problem, thermoelectric mats are used. Due to heat transfer and additional infrared radiation, the earth is heated to the required depth.

However, there are some advantages to building a private house in winter. For example, digging a pit when the ground is frozen reduces the risk of wall collapse.

Concrete work in cold weather is carried out using modified technology. The fact is that as the air temperature decreases, the time it takes for concrete to gain the required strength increases. The main problem is related to the possible freezing of water in the solution - this will prevent the concrete from hardening. Therefore, in cold weather it is better to include special antifreeze additives in the mixture. The concentration of such components is determined taking into account the air temperature. Compositions are produced that allow concrete work to be carried out even in severe frosts.

This process is not without its nuances, since the additives are designed for a certain temperature. For this reason, in the first few days (until the concrete gains 50% strength), the temperature on the site should not fall below acceptable values. Difficulties may arise, since the weather forecast, even for the coming days, is not always accurate. Therefore, if you doubt the weather for the next week, it is better to play it safe or take additional measures to maintain the desired temperature (for example, heating the mixture or using a heater).

A common question is whether it is possible to install roofing during the cold season. As a rule, the rafter structure consists of wooden elements that can be installed in winter without any problems. There are no difficulties when installing the roofing “pie” or roofing materials. However, there are also some “buts”.

Problems are observed when installing flexible tiles, since they are demanding on temperature conditions and are difficult to install at temperatures below +5. Sheets with tiles are attached using self-tapping screws and a special self-adhesive layer. “Sintering”, that is, hardening of this layer occurs only at temperatures above +5, so during installation it may be necessary to use a hair dryer. But this creates a risk of damaging the tiles. Therefore, many experts advise postponing winter construction of a house or using a greenhouse to maintain optimal temperature.

Another problem associated with carrying out construction procedures in cold weather is the installation of various components. For example, we are talking about the aeroelements of a skate. In this case, a hair dryer may also be required. With its help, it is easy to heat additional parts and the surfaces to which they must be attached.

The use of metal tiles is considered optimal for winter. This material is easy to install at temperatures down to –30 degrees. You can work with composite materials at temperatures down to –10 without problems. However, you should take a closer look at the choice of mastics and sealants - you will need to use frost-resistant options.

Remember that roof installation in winter depends on the quality of the materials. Therefore, if you want to save money and use the cheapest building materials possible, then you should postpone the work to the summer.

The cold season makes adjustments to the construction of buildings made of different materials. For example, certain difficulties arise when building a house made of aerated concrete in winter. Standard aerated concrete blocks are not afraid of frost. But dry mixture for masonry can only be used at air temperatures above +5 degrees. Special “winter” mixtures are produced, but they allow construction work to be carried out at temperatures down to –10.

Such restrictions are associated with the same factors as when working with concrete: the water in the solution freezes in severe frost, which prevents the composition from setting.

It is worth understanding that a certain temperature regime must be maintained for at least 24 hours after laying aerated concrete. If the necessary conditions are not met, cracks may appear. In addition, frost will negatively affect the load-bearing capacity of the walls.

When installing internal walls and partitions in aerated concrete houses, special adhesive foam is used. It also has restrictions on temperature of use. In general, blocks can be laid in severe frost, but only if suitable conditions exist. For example, when using a greenhouse or additional heating of blocks before installation.

By the way, difficulties often arise in early spring or late autumn. During this period, frosts are possible at night, which makes adjustments to the construction process. To protect aerated concrete from bad weather, it is additionally recommended to use waterproof materials. In general, aerated concrete has excellent frost resistance, but you should still avoid extreme operating conditions.

Country houses made of brick are still very popular. They are durable and reliable, suitable for year-round use. But, as you understand, it cannot be done without difficulties and limitations.

In general, it should be noted that brick houses are built in winter, but there are temperature restrictions. Work can only be carried out at temperatures not lower than +6 degrees. In other cases, installation of a greenhouse or additional heating of the construction site will be required.

Before laying, the brick should be thoroughly cleared of snow and ice. As for the mixture for masonry, anti-frost compounds must be added to it. You cannot heat the mixture with boiling water, as it will lose its properties. In addition, it is recommended to postpone facing masonry until the onset of summer, as there is a risk of deformation of the walls.

In winter, many people prefer to start building a small country house or cottage. Such buildings do not provide for insulation and are made from the most available materials. Therefore, answering the question whether it is possible to build a summer house in winter, it is worth noting that this is indeed possible. But it is better to complete the work before the onset of a thaw, as there is a risk of rain and active snow melting. And this can become a serious problem for the safety of building materials, especially if we are talking about timber or logs.

We hope that you have understood the features of winter construction.