Pouring the foundation in winter. Is it worth the risk? All the pros and cons.

  • Dec 10, 2020
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It is no secret that construction work is best done when the weather is warm and dry. The exception is houses that the owners build with their own hands. In this case, it will hardly be possible to complete construction in one season.

Below I will consider whether it is allowed to fill the foundation in winter, for good or bad.

Advantages of pouring in winter:

  • 1. Winter pouring helps to save time, the overall construction time is reduced.
  • 2. If the work is carried out on crumbling soil, then it is even profitable to fill the foundation in the cold season.
  • 3. In some regions, the spring-summer period lasts very little, so winter flooding cannot be avoided.
  • 4. The cost of work with this type of filling is reduced. There is no need to take this point seriously, since the technology of winter pouring is rather complicated, and therefore the construction budget may increase.

Disadvantages of pouring the foundation in frost:

  • 1. It is necessary to preheat the base.
  • 2. The work is of increased complexity, you need to involve heavy equipment.
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  • 3. Additives that can withstand frost are expensive.
Image source: Yandex Pictures service
Image source: Yandex Pictures service

Can the foundation be poured directly onto the snow?

During construction in the winter season, the question arises whether it is possible to prepare the foundation when the snow falls. It is prohibited to pour the foundation directly onto the sediments. When equipping the pit, it is necessary to completely remove the groundwater. Otherwise, they may freeze, which will complicate subsequent work.

As a rule, private developers offer house owners to lay a strip foundation, since the cost of a floating slab is very high. Owners whose plots are located on unstable ground will not be able to avoid this costly option.

It is necessary to pour concrete when the temperature outside is freezing using a special technology. In winter, construction crews have few orders, so they can complete the work on time. It is possible that the customer will be offered a good discount.

When the thermometer dropped to minus five

If there is frost in the yard, before preparing the foundation, it is necessary to warm up the solution. This requires various modifiers. In addition, you should think about the thermal insulation of the finished base.

Water can cause problems. At subzero temperatures, the solution will freeze without having time to grab. There is a way out of this situation: you need to add additives that slow down the hardening. The modifier should be selected based on the frost resistance indicators. This information is written on the packaging. When preparing a solution with additives, it is necessary to take 10-15 percent less water.

The solution is mixed in warm water. The foundation must be heated for at least two days. As a rule, this is done using a heat gun, heating cable and reinforcing rods to which current is supplied. The concrete takes thirty days to reach its final density. A month later, you can lay waterproofing, insulate the base.

Before the onset of heat, the structure must be preserved. To do this, you can use sand, expanded clay, sawdust, soil or foam. To prevent the concrete from damp, it is recommended to lay a protective film under the snow. Thus, the foundation will be saved from melting snow.

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