Don’t Let Winter Ruin Your Worksite Efforts

The arrival of winter means that construction industry professionals will need to adapt quickly to whatever Mother Nature throws their way. This might be sub-freezing temperatures, sleet, hail, snow, blizzards, etc. Cold weather typically means higher costs, as well – to keep workers warm, to ensure equipment works smoothly, to increase levels of fuel and maintenance, and to reverse the negative effects of cold weather.

Maintain proper temperatures, ventilation, and humidity to keep jobsites running smoothly throughout winter months. Depending on the scope of your project, thousands of gallons of water may be used in the construction of commercial buildings. Concrete mixtures, masonry, drywall compound, paint, floor coating, and varnishes all have a water base. When the finishes dry, the moisture is given up into the interior space of the building, which is why it’s crucial to keep the building ventilated and dry.

You can keep winter from completely ruining your worksite efforts by heating the space thoroughly, and by ensuring that workers take the necessary precautions to stay safe. NOMAD direct-fired air heaters and accessories may be one of the best options for providing both heat and ventilation in an enclosed building. Construction projects that have a large power source may look into using electric heaters.

A critical factor to avoid ruining much of your productivity involves making sure your mortar and grout gets enough heat for normal cement hydration. Winter can completely stop or slow down the process of cement hydration, which reduces the masonry’s bond strength. Frozen masonry units must be melted and dried before use. Measure the unit temperature using a flat, instant-read thermometer. Pre-heat bricks so they can have the same absorption characteristics as those laid at normal temperatures.

Prevent trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia so that your workers remain healthy and safe throughout season. Encourage them to dress warmly, allow them to consume warm drinks to stay hydrated throughout the day, shield work areas from drafts to reduce wind chill, and assign workers in pairs so they can monitor each other’s condition. These efforts will allow you to make progress throughout the tough winter months.