Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

OT:

Starting from 17.10, the exterior plaster is supposed to be applied... I personally see this critically...
Do I have any leverage to prohibit this from the general contractor? It is said that it should not be done below 5° and the drying time is at least 14 days.

Thanks

For us from 23.10, so the same dilemma. Prohibiting it will be difficult; as often, I will express my concerns by email and refer to the manufacturer's processing instructions. This has already led several times in the past to rescheduling, and luckily we were spared from damage (walls below 0 degrees, concreting at -2 degrees, walking on screed after 18 hours, etc.). Whether it would still be "feasible" because "it has always worked so far" I simply don’t want to find out. The neighbor did not complain about inappropriate weather for these works on his facade, and his facade looks accordingly. The final receipt usually comes a few years later, if chance wants it, when the warranty period is already over.
In your position, I would at least speak up and refer to the weather forecast and ask whether this complies with the plaster manufacturer’s processing guidelines. Of course, worded politely and not accusatory as I have done here exemplarily.

We also had a huge effort (waiting time, scaffolding costs, follow-up trades like exterior stairs, balcony) because the plaster could not be applied. But we were later in the year and it was really quite cold. We had to wait until March or even April of the following year until the 14 days over 5° were "guaranteed." I am not expecting frost right now, it's comfortably warm for mid-October ;-) If the GU offers it, I would have it done (follow-up trades also depend on the plaster; if you have to wait for that, it could, if things go badly, take half a year from now ...)

So on the outside, the house is finished in my opinion except for the plaster... You can also move in without exterior plaster (many do that here during the cold months)

So we can decide for ourselves whether now or in spring. Due to daytime temperatures above 10°, he would have no concerns...

Good advice is expensive as always :/

So in my opinion, the house is finished on the outside except for the plaster... You can also move in without exterior plaster (many people do that here during the cold months)

I would ask what the timeframe is until they are finished. At our place, they taped off all the windows more than 3-4 weeks ago. Then it started at some point, but the plastering team only comes sporadically. Since we can’t move the shutters anymore (otherwise the film might get damaged), it’s getting kind of annoying. According to the builder, the timeframe is now the end of October until everything is finished. They haven’t even finished the base plaster.

In the long run, it gets a bit depressing when you can’t look out of any window in the house anymore. Light does come through, but that’s it. Besides, our older kid has been sitting in the dark in the afternoons all this time because his shutter is also down (necessary for the night). It’s not so bad in our bedroom, but the little one not only sleeps in his room but also likes to play there in the afternoons. I had hoped that all this taping stuff would be done faster. I also asked if I could remove individual windows again, but they said it would be too much work to tape everything again...
:rolleyes:

Edit: What I’m trying to say is—I would strongly try to avoid the situation where they start at your place now and tape everything off, but then possibly don’t finish because of the temperatures, and you end up sitting in the taped-off cave all winter. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

The problem is not that it is too cold during the day but the night frosts. So I would not want fresh plaster on my facade if the weather forecast reports -2 at night. To me, the risk of damage would be too high here. If plastering then has to be postponed to the coming spring because the forecast does not bode well either, I would first remove all the foil. If a general contractor loses the gamble against the weather, I do not allow it to be at my expense. They know exactly when to schedule what and with what buffer, they do this multiple times a year and mostly have been doing it for decades. My understanding is really limited here regarding the "the client will just have to swallow it" mentality of many general contractors.