DIY guys, but don’t hit too hard. Hired a laid off mason on a per-hour basis to build central three story chimney. No heat in house. He quit a few feet from the roof…got exactly what I paid for.
I’ve done some masonry before but nothing cold weather (central PA). Need to lay and line a couple dozen block. Can pick temps above freezing to work but am wondering about projected nighttime temps of 10-15 below freezing. Know mortar must cure above freezing for 24 plus hours, and not to use antifreeze, which is just an accelerent.
Two questions:
-is wrapping the fresh work in tarps/blankets enough (assume no real heat will be generated unlike a slab)?
-would I be insane to drape the fresh work with an electric blanket?
Shingles are on, 14/12 pitch, would like minimum staging if possible. Got a salamaner but don’t want to use it, especially unattended.
Thanks (I think) for any and all advice.
Todd
Replies
The staging in this weather is your bigger concern. don't scrimp on it for your own sake. You've got a grand total of three posts here at Breaktime. We want you to live to make it at least ten or twenty.
Staging for masonry needs to bear plenty of weight and have enough room for enough CMUs to make it worth the trip up the ladder.
Freezing is easy enough to deal with. My masons drape a plastic, blanket,plastic and keep a heat bulb in the flue. Keep yourCMUs and sand in a warm place. It does no good to use hot water and a heated tent if the blocks are twenty below from the night before. It'll never bond even though the mortar cures.
If you are on a schedule, build a tent over all so you can work in worse weather and have it all done sooner.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Piffin,
Your suggestions make sense, as always. Yep, I'm not as comfortable dancing around roofs as I used to be. And the weather is actually warming up (been a weird "fall" season round here) so this should work out fine.
Hey, that's #4!
Thanks and enjoy the holidays!
Todd
Mason didn't quit, he was smart. He'll probably come back in the spring. The law says" GC provides heat" at least it does around here. 14/12, 3 stories, below zero.........I'd be catching up on the Flintstones myself.
Keith,
Nah, not smart. Just lazy. He's had three or four months to do the job. Too busy being unemployed...we've got a great system here.
Todd