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Securing the construction site for the winter – how to do it right?

Building a house is not only a complex and multi-level undertaking, but also time-consuming and, due to various factors, can be extended into the winter. This is especially the case if we carry out the investment in brick technology using the economic method, i.e. when we do most of the work on our own. While winters have been milder in recent years, some work should not be carried out during this period, so it is necessary to properly protect the construction site for the winter – against rain, snow and low temperatures.

So how to properly secure the construction site for the winter? How to do it right by individual stages of building a house?

Table of contents

Zero state – protection of foundations

In the construction industry, it is assumed that construction works related to earthworks and foundation foundation must be completed before the onset of the winter season. The zero state of the building is a stage that ends with the full construction of foundations with appropriate frost-resistant and moisture-proof insulation. If at this stage we are finishing work on the construction site in a given year, it is worth to:

– cover the foundations with polystyrene boards or straw mats;

– then cover the whole thing with foil, firmly enough, but not too tightly attached to the ground;

– secure openings for stairs or approaches to installations.

Securing a roofless house for the winter

Before the construction of a house reaches the open shell state, when the building has walls, ceilings, chimneys, stairs and a roof erected, winter can interrupt the work just before the last stage of such work, i.e. laying the roof. Some investors sometimes deliberately suspend work at this point for fear of theft of the tiles. Regardless of the reason – how to protect the ceiling for winter and the truss? It is worth covering them with a temporary but rigid sheathing made of OSB boards or boards with a place on the entire surface of the roofing felt.

How to protect the ceiling for the winter

Open shell state – protection of window openings for winter

If construction works are interrupted for the winter just before the installation of joinery, it becomes particularly important to protect the building against precipitation. At this stage of work, it is worth securing all window and door openings with boards or boards. Construction foil spread on specially constructed frames is also often used. However, what is very important, the building cannot be secured too tightly to ensure the desired air circulation in it.

Closed shell state

The arrival of winter right after the installation of window and door joinery is the optimal time to take a break in construction work or continue it inside the building. Then you can confidently distribute installations or put up partition walls. Regardless of whether the work inside will be carried out during winter or not, it is necessary to ensure not only a constant positive temperature inside the building, but also adequate airflow so that the building can dry properly, e.g. by slightly unsealing the windows or opening the ventilators. If no finishing works are carried out in the building, it is worth considering additional measures to protect the building against unwanted persons.

BONUS: securing the construction for the winter, when the house is ready to move in

What if the house is already finished, but the future residents hold off on moving until spring? It is worth ensuring:

– a temperature of several degrees;

– air circulation;

– drain water from the installation in case of severe frost;

– protect the accumulated belongings against theft by installing an alarm or monitoring along with the purchase of an insurance policy.

If you’re wondering How to organize a construction site on your plot well, then be sure to read our article. You will find a lot of valuable tips there.