Winter is unlikely to be associated with intensifying renovation or construction work. In many cases, we suspend them out of concern about the adverse effects of low temperatures on the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. However, these concerns are not always justified. Many renovation works can be successfully carried out in winter.
Is it possible to build a house in winter?
Today the answer to the question of whether it is possible to build a house in winter is no longer as clear-cut as it was a dozen years ago. First, due to the fact that winters in recent years are often quite mild, and slamming frosts are relatively rare. Second — because of the materials. Modern materials available in stores often withstand low temperatures much better than those that could be purchased years ago
However, it doesn't mean that you can build a house from scratch in winter. As a rule, most exterior work should not be performed during this time. So, during winter, you should not pour foundations, do masonry work or lay a roof. In some cases, however, it is possible to insulate and plaster facades in winter. When can you plan to perform this type of work?
Exterior construction work in winter
Insulation and plastering of buildings in winter is possible, although experts recommend doing it in spring, summer or early autumn. Sometimes, however, the situation forces us to undertake this kind of work in winter.
If this is your case, remember a few rules. If you plan to insulate a building using the light-wet method, the temperature outside must not be lower than 5°C. However, if you insulate a building using the light dry method, you can do it even during freezing temperatures.
In winter, a lot of exterior construction work must be stopped
Photo by Milivoj Kuhar © Unsplash
Winter construction and repair work inside the house
If the building is already in the closed shell state, winter can be a great time to carry out renovation work inside the building. However, it is worth remembering that for many of them, the temperature inside the building should not be less than 15°C, so that all materials can dry thoroughly. What can you do when there is frost and slob outside the window?
1. Building partition walls
If you want to change the layout of a room or create it anew, in winter you can carry out reconstruction of partition walls. They are often constructed of ready-made elements, such as gypsum board, which are easy to install and do not require airing the rooms.
2. Making concrete floors and ceilings
Concrete sets as early as 5°C, so you can also easily make floors in winter. If your house is not yet properly insulated, it is worth performing them at the beginning of winter — when the building is not yet very cold.
3. Performing interior insulation
Winter is also the ideal time to perform interior insulation, which involves laying an extra layer of insulation on walls, floors or ceilings. Interior insulation is designed to increase thermal comfort, reduce energy losses and heating costs. Interior insulation can be made of various materials, such as mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam or cellulose.
Work related to internal insulation can be safely continued in winter
Photo: Brett Jordan © Unsplash
4. Installations
Winter is also a very good time to prepare all plumbing, electrical or gas installations. It is worth considering carrying out this type of work in winter, because then the installation specialists may have more vacancies than in the peak of the renovation and construction season. The work will go more smoothly, and you will be able to enjoy your new house or apartment sooner.
5. Painting and plastering
In winter, there are days when the temperature reaches as low as 10°C. It's worth taking advantage of them to plaster and paint the rooms inside your house or apartment. With such weather and relatively low humidity, it is enough to regularly ventilate the rooms so that paints and plasters dry quickly enough.
If you want to refresh the color of the walls in your house or apartment, you can do it in winter without any worries
Photo by Roselyn Tirado © Unsplash
How to ensure comfortable conditions for the construction team in winter?
If the house is not yet heated, it is natural that it will be cold in the winter. Working in such conditions — especially those that require precision, such as installation work — can be very uncomfortable. How to ensure the comfort of professionals who work in your home in winter?
There are quite a few possibilities. You can reheat the interiors with oil or convector heaters. Heaters that are light and portable also work well and can significantly improve work comfort.
Efficient construction and renovation should first of all be based on a good plan. However, as you know — in life things do not always go according to plan, and work that was supposed to be done in the summer drags on until late autumn. That's why it's worth knowing the scope of work that can be easily and safely done in winter as well.
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