Building a house in winter | Alex Garden

For a long time, the arrival of winter meant the total stoppage of all construction sites. The shells remained there for months and had to be carefully dried before construction work resumed in the spring. Thanks to modern technology, progress can now continue on construction sites even in winter! However, the frosty season brings with it circumstances that must be taken into account during construction. Read our article on what you need to consider when building a house in winter.

Building a house in winter: Depends on the temperature

While building a house in winter is generally possible, this has clear limitations. This means that construction work can proceed without problems above the temperature limit of 5 °C. However, when temperatures drop below 5°C, even the most experienced builders take a break. Cold not only complicates the construction process, but also has a negative effect on the building material. It is often water-based and frozen water expands, changing the nature of the material. For example, concrete does not harden properly in extreme cold, and mortar becomes watery when it thaws. If open bricks are exposed to frost and moisture, they can also become brittle and crack.

Furthermore, there are always people involved in construction who can be affected by temperatures. For the sake of your health, building a home in the winter should be limited to milder days.

Winter protection on construction sites

When a house is built in winter, the building structure is exposed to the weather typical of the season. To ensure that everything remains green, the building should be carefully protected during the construction process. According to the general construction regulations DIN 18299, the construction company is also required to take care of winter protection on construction sites. For example, door and window openings should be well covered with waterproof building film to prevent moisture from penetrating the interior of the building. The same applies to access to the attic during internal work. Building materials should also be prepared for the winter so that they do not cool or even freeze.

Good planning is the key to success

A complete completion of the construction in winter entails additional obstacles. So it’s best to plan your construction project so that the building is completed by the end of autumn. A few colder days are not a problem for most construction companies, as long as temperatures do not drop below 5°C. When planning the start of construction, always take into account the weather conditions of the respective season. Check the forecast and talk to your construction partner. They can advise you on the construction period according to your wishes and find a suitable date.

Rötzer brick elements enable shorter construction times

Our brick walls are prefabricated in the factory and then transported to the construction site. There they only need to be assembled, which significantly reduces construction time. The rough work is then made in a few days and the house only needs to be completed with the facade and interior work. This way our construction with brick elements is ideal if you want to build it quickly before the onset of winter. In the blog post “The advantages of building with solid brick elements” you will find further information about our Rötzer construction method. Please read it.

Conclusion: Building a house in winter is possible, but not ideal

In principle it is possible to build a house in winter. Seasonal weather does not offer ideal conditions, can have a negative impact on building materials and makes work more difficult. A property can therefore be completed in early winter, but construction should not begin at that time. It’s best to use the cold months to plan. Get inspired, get advice from your construction partner and aim to complete your building in the summer. This way you are on the safe side so that everything works optimally. If you want to assemble the casing particularly quickly, choose the Rötzer brick element construction method. This saves you time and money.

Are you planning to build a building and are still looking for the right construction partner? Make an appointment and come and meet us.