The snow begins to fall. The cold is in the air. Holidays await us just around the corner. This is the time to sit inside with a cup of hot cocoa and a sparkling Christmas tree, listening to Christmas carols. But wouldn’t it be so much more satisfying if you were in a log cabin, the perfect setting for those winter activities? Too bad you have to wait until it’s hot again before you can start building your dream cabin.
Or do you do it? Indeed, it is possible to build a log cabin in winter. Sure, it takes a lot of preparation and knowledge, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach.
Preparing Your Log Cabin Site
In reality, winter is not a bad time to get down to business on your log cabin site. Groundwater is much lower than during the warmer months, which makes it an easier job and requires less work to get rid of. Frost can be a problem if you are in the middle of the season, so start as soon as possible. You can prep the site with up to two inches of frost. Snow is a bigger problem, and unless it’s temporary powder, once a real snowfall hits, it will be too late.
Getting ready for work
Are you ready to work in the cold? There is a clear advantage that you have in winter over summer and that is the lack of heat. Anyone who has done manual jobs or labor-intensive projects in the summer knows that it is a miserable and even dangerous task. It can be a real relief to work on things in the colder months, but you do need to dress appropriately. Have a coat and thick layers. Have good textured gloves to keep some friction to hold things. Put thick socks (or several pairs) under solid boots that are warm and slip resistant. A scarf or balaclava and a hat are also important to protect the face, neck, and ears. For added convenience, you can get pocket warmers that can help you on those colder days. Make sure you know the weather conditions and plan your construction accordingly.
Hiring a company for construction
Riding a log cabin is difficult in the best conditions. In winter it can be very difficult for people who do not know what they are doing or who simply do not have help. You should consider hiring builders to do it for you. Many will work in the winter for an additional fee, which also ensures that it will be done faster and correctly the first time. Be prepared to pay a premium, but you’ll be glad for the job when a crew of five or more is lifting your log cabin in a few weeks instead of a few months. Keep in mind that they may only finish the exterior at first as quickly as possible and worry about the finish and interior later, when they don’t have to worry about staying outside.
Prefabricated or made to measure?
Another factor in how quickly you can build your log cabin is whether or not it will be made from scratch. This can take a year or more to complete, so it will only overwinter to do it a little earlier. That is usually too long for most people, especially when there is a faster alternative. A prefab log cabin is one that has been ordered and manufactured in a factory in large pieces and then shipped to its assembly site. A team (or you and a few others) can divide them into sections, making it a much faster process that can be done in weeks rather than months or years. You are also more likely to find a construction crew to take care of construction if they know that it is just a pre-fab house and therefore can tear it down quickly, before it starts to snow. Want another reason to go prefab? They are much cheaper (sometimes for tens of thousands of dollars) and can be customized if you go through a company that specializes in their own designs.
Potential risks in winter
Now that you know that a log cabin can be built in winter, you need to know the risks. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a construction company that is willing to handle construction this late in the year. That could leave you in control, and if you don’t know how to build a log cabin, it could be a really challenging DIY that might not be within your capabilities. Then there is the weather itself. In cold weather, you are at risk for hypothermia and frostbite, which can occur much faster and at higher temperatures than you might expect. Sliding is another very real problem, as the ice can be on the ground and go totally unnoticed if it freezes into a thin, hard layer. The more you move around the site, especially where there was groundwater, the more you are at risk of slipping and injuring yourself. Finally, there is only the construction itself. Let’s say you started and misjudged the snowfall. It starts earlier than you thought and before it ends. You can’t just leave the site, you have to cover it up and hope that there is no damage to what you have already done before spring arrives.
As you can see, winter construction is possible when you want a log cabin. But the best thing you can do is hire a construction company to take care of the manufactured homes to get them up and running before the snow hits. Once the exterior is done you can take more time on the interior and the finishing touches.
So if you’re worried about having to wait until spring to get your dream log cabin, don’t worry. It is within reach, you just have to take the proper precautions.
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