Cottage Must Do's For Winter
10/21/2011 at 7:06:55 PM
I'm building a cottage on a lake near Renfrew Ontario and am about to have the roof put up.. Next will be windows and roofing shingles and the basement floor will be poured. I just want to know what else must be done with the building process of the cottage prior to leaving it for the winter. I plan to return in April to complete it for use next summer.
10/25/2011 at 2:35:48 PM
Hi Blair,
Sounds like a great project! You've basically covered off the key things: get the building enclosed to keep water out. It would be ideal if you can get your weather barrier in place (air-barrier/house wrap and siding), but if you have OSB or plywood sheathing, it will survive the winter just fine. If the windows are in, you should seal around them to keep moisture and critters out. No insulation is fine. If you have installed any rough-in plumbing, it would be a good idea to make sure there is no water in any of the pipes. If there is drain what you and and pour a little plumbing antifreeze in where you know water is trapped. If you have installed copper piping and it is left exposed, you may want to consider covering it with scrap material to keep it out of sight. Copper is a common target for thieves.
Depending on when the basement floor was poured, you may want to think about opening a basement window an inch or so and securing it open in some way to prevent vandalism. Also apply a screen to keep mice and other critters out. The purpose of opening the window might seem counter intuative, but you should allow the moisture evaporating out of the concrete someplace to go or you will be faced with mould in the spring.
Those are just my suggestions...I'm sure others will have something to add.
~ Dave
Henderson Brothers Contracting
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