There are many nuances in the construction process in winter. It is possible to build in winter (even wooden houses are required), restrictions are imposed only on certain types of work. Dmitry Mamin, an engineer and specialist in the development of design and technical documentation, told socialbites.ca about this.
The first of these is earthworks.
“It takes a lot of effort to freeze the ground when building a pit. Permafrost contains water and hard lumps can form voids. “When filling a hole, the rock loses its plasticity and is not compressed, and when it thaws in the spring, the soil can sag significantly, so it is not recommended to build embankments and fill foundation voids in winter,” he said.
In addition, when performing concrete works in winter, positive temperature must be maintained during setting and strength gain.
“This means that the working area must be heated, and in critical structures the temperature must be maintained until the design strength is reached. Mixing of concrete should also be done at positive temperature. There are antifreeze additives that can reduce the effect of cold weather, but their use somehow affects the cement consumption, the strength of the concrete, the time to gain strength.” The expert said that high-quality concrete work in winter will be much more expensive than in summer.
Laying bricks or gas blocks has the same limitations as concrete work.
“Frozen mortar can deform when thawed, which reduces the strength of the wall. For laying bricks and blocks it is necessary to use high-strength cement, and at sub-zero temperatures it is necessary to additionally heat the mortar. A popular method of arranging a greenhouse is a special room (tent) that protects the brick or concrete structure and is heated with a heat gun. “All of the above leads to higher construction costs,” the engineer emphasized.
If the house is already built and the heating system is installed, there are no restrictions on interior decoration. Otherwise, it is necessary to maintain a positive temperature for both the workers themselves and the finishing materials.
“It is recommended that adhesives, solutions, mastic and paint be applied 5 degrees Celsius (optimally 15-20 degrees) above the average daily temperature, otherwise drying problems will occur. Frozen areas of the walls will need to be dried and warmed. Cement, lime and plaster mortars, paints and putties can take up to 2 weeks to dry and require ventilation. “It is problematic to simultaneously regulate ventilation and positive temperature in the room in winter,” the expert explained.
According to Mamin, the human factor plays an important role in winter construction, since non-compliance with construction technologies can lead to a serious deterioration in the quality of the house. The use of a proven construction team with the necessary competencies will be a great advantage. However, in practice, few builders will deliberately make their lives difficult by complying with the regulations and technology violations will occur.
“The use of GOST during construction is mandatory and has the force of law. Construction in winter is dangerous because it is difficult to control the technology for performing some work in order to later prove to the developer that the methodology has been violated. Violation of construction technology during the winter period was proven by an independent inspection. External signs of violation are subsidence of the soil, collapse of the foundation, cracks on the walls, grease and rust stains, peeling of the plaster, etc. “maybe,” concluded the engineer.
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