Given the choice, most contractors prefer summer for construction projects and consider winter to be their slow season. After all, summer means more hours of daylight and better weather. On the other hand, winter construction projects face shorter days, weather unpredictability, moisture, and cold and freezing temperatures that hinder all aspects of a job from fuel costs to worker efficiency. But does construction stop during the winter on your job sites just because it’s harder? Probably not. That’s why proper planning and tools are essential to stay ahead of construction issues caused by winter conditions and keep your crew steadily working year-round. These 6 tips are a good place to start when building out your budget and timeline.
Realistic Budgeting For Successful Winter Construction
In most construction contracts, builders are not allowed to recoup costs due to weather delays unless they are truly unforeseeable. That means that good budgeting during the bid process becomes even more important for construction in winter. One of the most valuable tools you should have is a good project manager who can look at bids and estimates with a critical eye. Because cold weather increases costs of each step during a building project and also slows down machinery and your crew, building in budget items that take those issues into account is key.
It is also important to look at historical data on temperatures and snowfall so you can more accurately plan for how many days your crew might not be able to work and what your contingency and/or general conditions budgets should look like. By placing these potential budget impacts into the contract from the beginning, you can save yourself from unexpected financial hits when weather takes a turn for the worse. Of course, planning does not solve everything and unanticipated issues do sometimes arise, which is why you should always keep excellent records in case there are opportunities to recoup incurred costs if you happen to experience a surprisingly intense season.
Tackling Ground Freeze on Project Sites
If you are experiencing a mild winter where the sun comes out during the day, then you might not have to deal with the ground freeze issues that prolonged, sub-zero temperatures can bring. But if you are in an extremely cold environment, frozen earth will make excavation harder and will require the ground to be thawed before you begin pouring foundation in winter. Preventing ground freeze is the easiest and least expensive option to making sure you are still able to dig in the winter. Pay close attention to the weather and, if you are anticipating weeks of below-freezing temperatures, take steps to protect the ground. Materials such as straw or insulation blankets can help keep the earth pliable and also keep your tools and equipment safe. If insulation efforts fail then you’ll need ground heaters, heating blankets, or heated enclosures that will thaw out the ice before you can move forward with construction in winter.
Laying Concrete in Cold Weather
Pouring foundation in the winter means building in precautions to prevent freezing both before and after you plan to lay the concrete. If you have insulated your excavated site, then you’re already ahead of the curve. It is not possible to effectively pour a safe foundation if the ground is frozen so if your insulation efforts failed or if you didn’t plan for insulation, you will have to thaw your site with heaters before proceeding.
Before you get started, you should also ensure you are using a weather-appropriate concrete mix and that you are storing your dry mix and tools in a warm place before use. Once your foundation is poured, you’ll still need to keep the concrete from freezing for at least 24-48 hours. The concrete curing process is temperature-sensitive and failing to keep your new foundation from freezing will permanently damage the strength and durability.
Account for Increased Fuel costs
Warmth on a winter construction site is vital for success and maintaining that warmth often means specialized heaters that will increase your fuel usage. In fact, fuel can be the biggest expense when it comes to heating a jobsite, and your fuel usage might also increase in other equipment, such as concrete mixers, during cold snaps. Don’t underestimate the impact this can have on your budget and make sure you factor in expenses due to decreased fuel efficiency in existing equipment or higher fuel demand for winter-specific equipment during the bid process to limit budgetary surprises for both you and the client.
Think About Snow Removal
Always plan ahead for snow storms. Not building snow removal plans into the budget or waiting until after a snow storm to come up with a plan will put your project behind schedule and increase costs. Simply thinking through what specific conditions should be met to warrant snow removal can help strike the right balance between keeping you moving forward with construction in the winter and meeting budget. For some snow removal, crew members can likely be trained to safely clear the site but it may be worth considering an outside snow removal company for particularly bad snows or if your crew doesn’t have the expertise or equipment to manage it in-house. No matter how you address snow removal, snowy sites increase safety risks and OSHA offers some best practices that will help prevent cold-weather injuries.
Cold Weather Construction Time Costs
Cold weather slows everything down: your crew will have fewer daylight hours, layers of clothing mean reduced movement, cold hands reduce dexterity, commutes can get snarled, supply deliveries may be delayed, and equipment can be sluggish. None of these delays mean that you can’t be profitable during the winter—after all, slower work is better than no work—but advanced planning, building in longer timelines for winter conditions construction, and thinking through scheduling can mitigate delays. If possible, plan for parts of your project that are less impacted by moisture and cold to be completed during the months where inclement weather is likely. If that’s not possible, stay aware of the many small ways cold slows down equipment and people and how they could impact your project delivery timeline.
If you’re looking for a partner who values relationships with their clients and understands best practices in moving projects forward, even in less-than-ideal conditions, contact GALBRAITH/Pre-Design, Inc today. We look forward to working with you on your next commercial, industrial, or institutional design-build project.
FAQ:
How do you budget for a winter construction project?
Look at historical data on temperatures and snowfall so you can more accurately plan for how many days your crew might not be able to work and what your contingency and/or general conditions budgets should look like. By placing these potential budget impacts into the contract from the beginning, you can save yourself from unexpected financial hits when weather takes a turn for the worse.
How to lay concrete in cold weather?
If you have insulated your excavated site, then you’re already ahead of the curve. It is not possible to effectively pour a safe foundation if the ground is frozen so if your insulation efforts failed or if you didn’t plan for insulation, you will have to thaw your site with heaters before proceeding. Before you get started, you should also ensure you are using a weather-appropriate concrete mix and that you are storing your dry mix and tools in a warm place before use. Once your foundation is poured, you’ll still need to keep the concrete from freezing for at least 24-48 hours. The concrete curing process is temperature-sensitive and failing to keep your new foundation from freezing will permanently damage the strength and durability.
How to deal with snow in a winter construction project?
For some snow removal, crew members can likely be trained to safely clear the site but it may be worth considering an outside snow removal company for particularly bad snows or if your crew doesn’t have the expertise or equipment to manage it in-house.
Vice President/Owner,
Galbraith Pre-Design
As co-owner of Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc., Mark Galbraith is responsible for the construction of commercial facilities in nine states. Continuing his family’s tradition of commercial and industrial construction in south central Pennsylvania and beyond, Mark’s experience includes site analysis and selection, pre-construction services, field engineering and project management.
