Heating the house during the construction phase?

2022-11-15 10:53:18

Hello everyone,

we are now in the interior construction phase, meaning the remaining openings are to be closed. Afterwards, the screed is scheduled to be installed at the beginning of December. The interior plaster has now completely dried after 12 weeks. It is getting colder and inside the house it is still 1-2 degrees cooler than outside because the vapor barrier and insulation on the upper floor are not completely sealed yet. According to the site manager, it makes no sense to set up a small heater, but the construction power is supplied by the general contractor :D. Therefore the question is, does it make sense to heat a little with a 2KW heater? Many thanks

2022-11-15 10:58:33

If underfloor heating is installed, the pipes should be laid before the screed is poured, and then heating (and ventilating) must be done for drying anyway. At the latest by then, the vapor barrier for the roof insulation should be sealed, otherwise it will get saturated. I don't understand why it is cooler inside than outside because the roof insulation is not finished yet. I only know that it is colder at night than outside. Otherwise, as long as it is frost-free or nearly frost-free (a bit of ground frost in the morning), it is not necessary, especially if no work with wet materials (plaster, adhesive, screed, etc.) is being done inside.

2022-11-15 11:20:21

Was the relative humidity measured in the upstairs? I would simply place a small dehumidifier there with a drain hose. The waste heat then suffices as 'heating'.

2022-11-15 11:24:20

I had not measured the relative humidity until now. I was on site every day and especially on the mild days at +15 degrees, I had the windows open almost all day. The underfloor heating naturally goes in before the screed and is also used to dry the screed. I will then set up 1-2 fans in the house to ensure circulation and, of course, ventilate frequently. For me, before the underfloor heating starts, it is about whether additional heating makes sense so that, for example, the closed openings dry faster.

2022-11-19 11:21:48

Facing the same problem, although in my case the screed has been laid for 8 weeks. I have asked several "experts" independently, such as site managers, construction technicians from the developer, the plumber, a master bricklayer... They all advised me not to let the house "freeze out" if possible, but to put a small heater in, one per floor. The costs are manageable. If you heat to >5°C, then you might need 1-2,000 kWh over the winter? Even at 50 cents/kWh (until 1.1. you usually only pay "just" 30 cents) that's 500-1,000 EUR. If the screed is freshly laid, you have to heat anyway? As I understood it, it does not cure below 0°C. You are also not supposed to pour concrete in frost.

2022-11-19 15:08:20

I am facing the same problem, although the screed has been laid for 8 weeks already.
I asked several "experts" independently, like site managers, construction technicians from the developer, the plumber, a master mason...

They all advised me not to let the house "freeze out" if possible, but to put a small heater in, one per floor.
The costs are manageable. If you heat to >5°C, you might need about 1-2,000 kWh over the winter? Even at 50 cents/kWh (usually until 1.1. you only pay "about" 30 cents) that’s 500-1,000 EUR.

If the screed is freshly laid, you have to heat anyway? As I understand it, it does not cure below 0°C anymore. They also say you shouldn’t pour concrete in frost.

Yes, take a construction dryer.
It removes the moisture and with the waste heat of the 800W you have your heating.
You can also buy two cheap basement dehumidifiers with 400W, but usually you have to empty the tank manually most of the time.

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Heating the house during the construction phase?

Bauenaberwie

dertill

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Bauenaberwie

xMisterDx

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