Building in bitter temperatures

Last night was the coldest night of the year so far, and snow and ice warnings have been issued for many parts of the UK. This spell of cold weather is expected to last until Friday – so, what does it mean for construction?

Impact on concrete and mortar

Depending on which stage your construction project is at, the cold and icy weather brings different challenges.

At our cut & carve project in Gloucester Road, we’ve had to make amendments to the programme as the sub-zero temperatures mean we can’t pour the concrete footings. Concrete is a widely used building material due to its strength and durability, but its strength is largely dependent on the temperature it dries in. When the temperature is below 5oC, the concrete takes longer to develop strength and is prone to frost damage and freeze-thaw attack.

We’re also in the middle of laying blocks for a lift shaft at Gloucester Road. This is tricky in cold weather as the moisture in the mortar can freeze and expand, compromising the structural bonds and waterproofing properties of the mixture. Not to mention the brick workers’ freezing cold hands!

Waiting for painting!

In St John’s Wood, at one of our residential refurb projects, we’re at the external decoration works stage. But while the weather remains icy, we can only do the preparation – raking out joints and sanding. We can’t apply the external paint just yet as it’s mostly water-based and will freeze.

We are able to paint the inside but and the chilly weather means that it takes a lot longer to dry. Long dry times sometimes results in inconsistent colour and water spots, and puts walls at risk of surface cracking, flaking and mildew. Luckily, we’re counteracting this by using space heaters during working hours, and the newly installed windows and doors are keeping out the sub-zero night-time chills.

Making cosy homes for clients

At our newbuild project in Southall of 24 duplex apartments, we are in the very last stages before handing the building over to our client, ready for the tenants to move in. This week we’re doing final finishes, snagging, and had planned to complete both hard and soft landscaping. We’ve had to reschedule some of the external works – like the paving which involves sand and cement – to next week when the forecast improves and the temperatures are less chilly. But we’re confident that when the tenants do move in, they’ll feel warm and cosy in these highly insulated, air-tight homes that are powered by eco-friendly heat recovery systems.

A healthy workforce

Another thing to consider when it’s so cold, is how to keep our workforce toasty, safe and happy. As well as rescheduling external works, we’re providing them with extra clothing, making sure there are space heaters indoors and giving them plenty of tea breaks inside where it’s warm.

Work with us

Syntec Projects is a London based construction company with over 20 years of experience, that specialises in new builds, retrofits, refurbishments and renovations.?

Get in touch to find out about how we can help with your building project: [email protected]

Visit our website to learn more about what we do: syntecprojects.com/