As the Northeast prepares for another round of snow tomorrow morning, we’re reminded of all the work we put into protecting our construction sites during the cold winter months. The impact of extreme weather, ranging from transportation delays to service disruptions, are often rippling, and sometimes crippling. This can be especially true in the construction industry, where even the building materials can be sensitive to the elements. While weather conditions will always be beyond our control, our team of construction experts and field supervisors have several measures they can implement ahead of time to minimize any disruptions to their work.

The acquisition and activation of temporary heat is our first line of defense in battling cold weather construction, and 30-plus years of experience have taught us that we can’t plan for temporary heat a week before we need it. For many reasons, including the availability of utilities and the required support for different heating systems, these plans must often be made months in advance. In construction, it’s not about where we are, it’s about where we’re going. So, while it may surprise some clients to hear our estimators talk about their project’s heating needs in the middle of July, they will be relieved when they see that the project is moving forward as scheduled and that the interior finishes they have carefully selected can be properly installed.

Did we just reference finishes, like carpet tiles and millwork packages? Yes, you read that correctly. Almost every trade on a construction site can be affected by weather, and more specifically, by extreme temperatures (including heat and humidity). The more obvious trades to be impacted are site work, concrete, and steel framing contractors. But the adhesives used in piping and flooring, and the compounds used in drywall are all sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Even millwork materials require a stable environment for proper installation. So, as you can see, a frozen ground is just the tip of the iceberg (pun intended).

Protecting the integrity of the project site and maintaining the construction schedule are always among our top priorities. By forecasting and projecting the effects of winter conditions we can estimate and include these costs in our pricing and ensure that our seasonal needs can be met if and when the time comes.