Should you lay the foundation in the fall?Is it possible to build walls in winter, or is it better to wait for spring? Is it true that you can save a lot in autumn and winter? In our article you will find detailed answers from builders and architects to these and other questions related to seasonal construction Wrapped up with polyethylene foundation and winter cabins you will not surprise anyone for a long time. in central Russia has become commonplace. And this is understandable: from September-October, discounts on building materials begin, foremen become more accommodating in matters of payment, and the flow of cars on large "outbound" highways decreases. It is believed that the autumn construction will save up to 20-25 percent of the budget. And construction companies assure that modern techniques make it possible not to interrupt work either in rain, snow or frost. This is partly the case. Nevertheless, many experts advise not to rely too much on technology and take into account the peculiarities of both the national climate and mentality. 
Preparatory work
If you think that the house begins with a foundation,You are seriously mistaken. The house begins with the selection and purchase of the site, the study of its features, design works. This first stage of your construction can be carried out at any time of the year. And in autumn, perhaps the best. 
Our opinion: - In autumn, many construction exhibitions take place, where you can learn a lot of interesting information about modern building technologies, materials, types of houses, etc. There also it is necessary to look narrowly to designers and contractors. In the autumn it is possible to conduct geological work and geodetic survey. Both kinds of work should not be underestimated - they are key to choosing the type and construction of the foundation. Finally, at this time, you can calmly and without haste discuss with the architect, designer and designer all the nuances of your future housing. 
Mikhail Egiyan, architect:- First you need to think about what kind of house you want to build, then order a project, then hand it over to the designer, who will make the necessary calculations, taking into account the characteristics of your site and the type of building. If you want a good, solid foundation, you can't economize at any of these stages. Do not think that if your neighbor has sand, then you too. You need to entrust the work to a professional. torard.ru 
Below zero
The zero construction cycle begins withProviding convenient access to equipment, unloading materials, creating a site on which you will store them. Do not forget about protection from rain and wind, given the capricious nature of the "golden age". It is not bad to take care of acceptable working conditions for workers, even if it is a small, warm and heated room in case of unexpected frosts and colds. In addition, autumn is the time of rapid reduction of the light day, which means that we have to think over the lighting of the object, again well protected from the weather. 
Our opinion: - What foundation would you not prefer, under it you have to drain, excavate and compact the soil. Autumn is not the best time for carrying out these works, especially during the rainy season. Therefore, they usually try to finish them by the end of summer or even at the very beginning of autumn. 
In the question of whether it is worth laying the foundationIn the fall, even the builders have no common opinion. On the one hand, manufacturers of building materials assure that modern construction methods allow the construction of structures at any time of the year - look at the monolithic houses growing like cakes for example. On the other hand, the "winter" construction technologies at the slightest miscalculation multiply by "zero" all the benefits and significantly increase the costs. 
For example, theoretically "winter" concrete withAntifreeze additives allows you to work and at significant negative temperatures. But with strong differences - and this often happens in the fall - it can behave unpredictably. The "heating" of the foundation with heat guns is an exercise both costly and not always reliable in practice. In rainy weather mixtures with additives that increase moisture resistance are used, but even they are not recommended to be poured in the period of showers. 
Mikhail Egiyan, architect:- If the foundation needs to be deeply buried, it needs good waterproofing. For concrete to dry and harden properly, it takes one and a half to two months. It is desirable that they fall on a relatively dry season. So count it. We usually try to finish the foundation work by November. That is, it is best to start no later than the first days of September. torard.ru 
In Soviet times it was believed that the house, the foundationWhich is laid down in the autumn, but before the rainy season begins, will be the most reliable. After winter frosts and snow melting, it will be seen how well the works were performed, many mistakes can be corrected, and the foundation itself will "stand up" properly. 
Our opinion: - But this approach has its drawbacks. Firstly, the terms of construction are stretched. Secondly, if there is too much water in the spring, a shallow tape foundation, for example, may be too impregnated with water and even deformed. To avoid this, in autumn, prior to the conservation of construction, a drainage trench is excavated. The "all-season" version of the foundation is the so-called screwed piles. But these are suitable only for very light structures - garages or baths for example, and often "float" in the spring together with the house, if in the autumn they were installed illiterately. 
Mounting in the rain and snow
Build a house from "factory" sandwich panels orprofiled timber is possible at any time of the year. And yet, during the period of heavy rains, even these works can be difficult to carry out. For advice, we turned to the architect Alexander Borisov, whose company, in just a few months, builds according to the individual projects of another famous Moscow architect - Ivan Shalmin. 
Project author Ivan Shalmin Alexander Borisov,architect: - The main thing is to finish all work with the soil before it rains. The frame house can also be assembled in wet weather. The timber itself is pre-treated with antiseptics and dried properly. After that, humidity is not terrible for him. And the assembly process can be organized by pulling awnings over the entire site. But here, too, there may be some nuances. It is good if the site on which the work is being carried out is in a pine forest. Then no problem. And if it is an open area blown by the winds? In a very strong wind with rain, it is difficult and unsafe to assemble a house even under an awning. But there are no temperature restrictions for our construction technology. As soon as the autumn rains and winds have passed, construction can be resumed in full. Installation of a frame house of about 150 square meters will take about 4-5 months. borisovpro.com 
Author of the project Ivan Shalmin 
Author of the project Ivan Shalmin and block housesexcess moisture and low temperatures are contraindicated. Winter building technologies and special additives to the solution exist here as well. But the risks are very high. During nighttime temperatures below zero, water freezes in microcracks and pores. Considering the high cost of brick housing, mistakes can result in very serious sums, and therefore winter construction using this technology is more the exception than the rule. Such buildings are most often preserved until spring. But for wooden structures, winter, on the contrary, is a good time. 
Our opinion: - If the foundation is laid in time and competently, for a low construction season you can have time to put a wooden house. Winter logging is the best. The summer forest is bad because it can turn blue when the humidity rises. Winter and spring time - the most favorable for the natural drying of the forest, without sudden temperature changes. And its shrinking is much less. 
Preservation until spring
The main enemies of "unfinished" - precipitation and amateursFree building materials. From the first, the right "clothing" will protect. The structure should be well wrapped with polyethylene, leaving sufficient ventilation openings, so that the materials are blown. Otherwise, you can face a fungus in the spring. It is best to pre-treat the main surfaces with special antiseptic compounds. If there is no certainty that the foundation is really well insulated and buried, it is best to lay a heater around it and protect the ground around from deep freezing. 
From wanting to profit at someone else's construction siteTo protect is not easier. Practice shows that the best methods of fighting - buying a site in a known protected village and an alert neighbor who lives side by side all the time. But if there are no such conditions, we have to look for other exits: from GSM-signaling to a siren operating according to the principle of "pugach" and informing the entire district about the "arrival" of the police. It is best not to leave any combustible garbage, construction equipment or tools, even the simplest, on the site, and try to hide light or expensive materials from prying eyes. 
