[fitzg2md]

Ill admit, when it comes to hardscaping, I would consider myself very inexperienced. I have already learned a great deal from everyone here, and read your posts everyday. Thanks. One question I had was about harscaping in the winter. Im in Western VA were we just had our first snow. I have a client who wants to install a 600 square foot paver patio. What are the "rules" to doing such work in the winter months? Should I wait till spring? Also, Ive done a few smaller jobs before, but would love to learn more. Does anyone know of any expansive articles here on this site, or any book, website or anything else I could look into? Even if fairly basic, I would love to dive deeper into this stuff before attempting anything over my head. Other than actually doing (which is obviously the best), how did everyone learn the tricks of the trade? Thanks ahead of time! This site has been a huge help. -Mike

[Pelican]

I stop work when the frost sets up in the ground. I feel you can't put in a stable base with frost. Plus your materials freeze, item 4 and sand, you just can't be sure you will end up with the same grade in the Spring that you set in the winter.

If we get a warm spell where all the frost has come out, I'll do a quick job but not until then.

[Stonehenge]

Hi Mike -

For us, the end of the season comes when there is enough frost in the ground that it can't thaw out again in a day or so. Concrete blankets can help with this, but here in Wisconsin, the season is over (it was 6 below zero this morning! ).

Check your PMs.

Jeff

[Paul]

It all depends on how big the project is or how bad the client want it done. We have been known to use ground heating units to complete jobs on dead line. Cost for this service is in the $2000 to $3500 per week plus cost of blankets, visqueen, fuel and labor.

[Lanelle]

In Virginia, we don't assume that the ground will freeze for long periods of time but it can happen. Having said that, I have found that jobs that start in January, stretch out for a long time because the ground will stay so wet that it is hard to work, its hard to close out and clean up a job so that it looks nice and there are always days that the crew can't work the full day. All of that means that my cost of the job is going up, the client is frustrated cuz their yard is messed up for a long time and I think we will never be done. It does keep the guys busy but that is not the best reason to undertake big winter projects. If you have a 1-2 day job, sure, slide it in during a break in the cold weather.

[John Palasek]

Preparation and a little luck.

If you're doing a paver job, and you can prep your aggregate base and your sand base prior to a freeze, then you shouldn't have any problems.

A couple of years ago, we were working to finish a paver job past Christmas. The entire job was pavers, decking and a pond and we were trying to finish up the last portion of the paver work. The pond had already frozen over in mid-build, so we put that off until spring. We luckily had temps in the 40's when we set the base and before we left one day, we screeded the sand base carefully because a cold front was supposed to come through that night.

It sure did!

When we got to the job the next morning, the air temp was 8-degrees and the wind-chill, (according to the cheerful girl on the radio), was minus thirteen degrees. The sand was so thoroughly frozen that we could walk across it without leaving a footprint. So, we cut and laid the pavers and told the homeowners that we would be back when everything thawed to compact them. That turned out to be almost four months later. Also, we had some coping we needed to install as stair treads which we couldn't adhere to the wall block because it was too cold to use adhesive, so we let them sit there loose until everything warmed up.

Months later, when we finished everything, we had absolutely no problems. Of course, if we hadn't prepped everything, that wouldn't be true. If you can't prep a site properly due to freezing, then don't try. Leave it be until better weather.

Now with something like decking, that can still be done in the cold as long as you can dig a footing. Since deck footings need to go to frost anyway, (and as long as you can auger the soil), there shouldn't be much trouble other than making sure that the concrete is properly prepared, (additives and so on), and that the footings are covered and insulated so they can set.

Once set, everything else is easy as long as you don't mind working in the cold. The only issues with decking in the winter are remembering to allow for some expansion when the temps go up, and if working with composite lumber, adhering to the manufacturer's installation criteria regarding temperature. That's available from a fact sheet you get with the lumber.

Other than that, as long as the in-ground prep work can be done properly, there's no reason why you couldn't proceed with a fair amount of hardscape work in the cold.


Of course, I'd rather just stay home and watch football.




-JP

[albert]

check out the e.p.henry web site ,they have a hardscape trade show in atlantic city for a week in feb. it is well worth the trip and stay over a few days to get in the different seminars , many vendors their selling tools and equipment related to hardscape work , you can also become ICPI certified if you take their 2 day course at the show( extra fee ) again it is well worth the trip. as for hardscape in the winter ,I sort of shut down at the first freeze or snow fall , it's no fun doing this work when it's that cold and I think the quailty of the work is compromised , so waite till spring

[fitzg2md]

Seems like Im going to just wait till spring like everyone here recommends. Thanks for the replys, and advice. -Mike