Posted by Dave in Star-Eagle Independent Newspaper SEP 2009
I received a good email question for this time of year regarding home construction.
Q: “We are considering having a home built with a start date in late September but are concerned about the outdoor early morning temps lowering to 32 degrees and affecting the cement foundation. Do you know if our area has success with concrete curing during the month of October?” —Vince
A: Thanks for the great question. Concrete that time of year should not be a problem. It is done all the time. What you want to make sure of is that the subcontractor to your builder is aware of your concern and takes the precautions, if needed, with the proper mixture, anti-freeze additives and thermal blankets over the top to keep in the self generated heat in, if need be.
Of more of a concern, I would think, is that with a late September foundation, means an October dry in of the roof. We want to make sure that the framing, floor sheathing, and roof sheathing stays dry and are not buttoned up with moist lumber from late season rains. You also want to make sure that stored lumber on the site is not subjected to a lot of moisture. Wet interiors result in warped walls and squeaky floors.
So this all got me thinking… What else in construction has issues with temperature? Besides my knees. Lots. And it is true for remodeling too.
Roofing shingles have these little black strips of goo running down the middle. They are there so the next layer over the top will stick to the one under it. This helps keep the tabs from lifting in the wind. If it is too cold out when your roof goes down, it could take a while for the adhesive to soften up and do it’s job.
Painting in cold weather can be a dangerous proposition. Most all house paint is a water base material and water and cold are not good here together. Although there are cold weather paints, too often they are not used due to their higher costs. If a latex paint is not allowed to dry properly, the intended film may not form correctly leading to a premature failure. Also, if it takes too long to dry, rain or dust could hurt the finish.
Caulking and sealants should be checked for cold applications also for some of the same reasons. Improper curing will lead to cracks, which can lead to water infiltration and hidden damage.
But perhaps the greatest danger of a cold weather build is expansion and contraction. Generally, cold things are smaller than when the same thing is hot. If you do not take into account for expansion later when it heats up, things like trim boards, decking, siding, and sheathings could buckle or twist. Be sure to check manufacturer recommendations for proper gapping when it drops below about 50 degrees. I saw this happen on some roof sheathing when in the summer the surface of the roof looked like the rolling hills of northern Idaho. Eventually, this will be a major problem for the homeowner.
