When winter is coming

Now, assuming that Mother Nature isn’t going to cooperate with you, what can be done? Well, you could just wait for the season to change, but there are other solutions.

Sheltering to protect an exterior area

One effective way to proceed with a project is to implement sheltering of the materials. This can mean anything from tarps, insulated blankets, or even building a temporary wood frame structure. (You might be surprised, but some experienced contractors routinely deploy these temporary measures.) It can be something as simple as some sawhorses with appropriate protection draped over them, and weighted down around the edge. This is a common method where a small patio needs to be protected for DIY or residential contract work.

Sheltering can also mean framed-in walls, or scaffolding, that leaves plenty of room to work, even if the outside temperatures are below freezing through the day and night. This is generally reserved for large jobs where shutdown time is more costly than the special measures that allow work to continue on schedule. However, it is reasonable for someone to build their own framed-in shelter if they so choose.

Of course these areas also need to be heated. If an adjoining space has the capacity to be left open, and heat both areas, then the only thing to consider is the additional cost of energy for heating during the working and protection period. If heating needs to be added to a space to achieve and maintain the desired temperatures, then are two further options:

• Electric heaters.
• Combustion heaters or heat exchanger units.

Considerations around heating exterior areas

Electric heaters may also have the effect of drying the air of the space you are trying to heat, so you will have to make sure that the humidity is monitored and controlled if necessary. Electric options range from $20 units you can get from your neighbourhood home improvement store, all the way up to large capacity units that can make sense to purchase or rent, depending on the user.

Combustion-based heating has its own special considerations. Because of the emissions from burning propane, gas, or diesel, these units need to be planned for more carefully. Emissions are harmful to humans - and products, in fact. These heaters must be exhausted properly to the exterior of the shelter to ensure a safe and proper environment is created. Regardless of the heater type selected for a job, continue to monitor temperature and humidity, and control these variables as needed.

If you ever have any questions about what type of protection is feasible for your project, feel free to call us for ideas. Don’t forget: regardless of the task at hand, you can always get support from our Technical Services team anytime at 1-800-361-9309.

I hope you’re keeping warm and on schedule through the cold wherever you are. Thank you for reading this edition of MAPEI Tech Talk. Take care and I’ll see you at the next one!