5 Tips for Installing Stone Veneer in Cold Weather

Not everyone is able to get through their to-do list in the summer. Sometimes, there are a few leftover tasks after the warm season that homeowners still need to get done. When creating your to-do list, it’s good to account for the colder weather so that you do not have a harder time than necessary with certain renovations. These five tips for installing stone veneer in cold weather are great for those with exterior renovation plans still on the table.

Know When It’s Too Cold

The main issue with mixing things like mortar and cement in the winter is that they take much longer to cure in the cold weather. This means the adhesive mixtures need time to achieve the ideal temperature and moisture levels to reach their full strength. This takes longer in the winter and is not viable when temperatures hit lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stick to a Schedule

Normally, it is not ideal to install home renovations requiring mortar on the outside of your house when temperatures are low. But hiccups sometimes pop up that delay these projects into the colder seasons. If you are willing and able to put in the work, you can try to breeze through this project. However, it’s more prudent to give yourself a realistic goal and stick to it. Aiming to complete the project in ten days is often an ideal timespan.

Enclose the Area

When it gets too cold for your mixtures to set, it is a good idea to enclose the area to preserve heat. At the same time, keeping a heat source active in the work area helps ensure the weather does not get in the way of the curing process. This strategy helps control the temperature of the work area and alleviate some of the consequences that cold temperatures bring to the project.

Watch the Workplace

Keeping the heat source active when no one is around is an important factor to help guarantee nothing goes wrong when the day’s work is over. Using wireless thermometers that warn you of temperature drops can ensure you are ready to fix anything that unexpectedly fails. The last thing you want is to fall behind schedule because someone unknowingly turned off the power source to the heater.

Get Help

While it is good to be motivated to complete a big project by yourself, getting additional support is also beneficial if your deadline is getting too close for comfort. The cold weather is not forgiving once it gets going. Relying on a team rather than one person to install something like faux field stone veneer to a large area of your home’s exterior is often the safest option.

Home renovations are already a lot of work on their own. It is important to be diligent and cautious when working on them as temperatures drop. These five tips for installing stone veneer in cold weather are good things to consider for those hoping to beat the winter clock.