A lot of homebuyers—and even some builders—believe winter is not a good time to build in Wisconsin. But that’s just not true. We’d like to bust several myths about building in winter:
MYTH 1—The weather will cause delays.
A big storm can stop progress, but outdoor crews usually work through lighter snow. Also, workers are happy to have jobs in the winter. Exterior work can be done when temperatures are in the 30s—even high 20s—as long as there’s no ice. And interior work can be done if the house is sheeted with vapor barrier and temporary heaters are used.
MYTH 2—In winter concrete contains additives that make it weak.
While calcium chloride is added to a concrete mix to accelerate curing in cold weather, tests show that this concrete is not significantly different in strength than concrete poured in warmer weather. Remember, all concrete must meet building code requirements.
MYTH 3—Cold weather damages exposed lumber.
The lumber industry has developed procedures that are used in the milling process to inhibit damage from weather.
MYTH 4—Homes built during the winter cost more.
There may be some incremental additional expenses during the winter, but builders might offer a discount to keep their crews working year-round. Additionally, the price for building materials and labor usually rises in early spring, which could easily exceed any additional expenses related to cold weather construction.