Insure construction site
Take out builder’s liability insurance in good time to cover damage caused by construction to third parties. In addition, it also makes sense to have construction performance insurance, which covers, among other things, damage caused by storms and vandalism to the unfinished building – especially during the cold season, when the construction site is often empty.
Avoid frost damage
When water freezes, it expands, so all damp areas on the house are at risk – especially plaster and mortar. If possible, the shell should be closed before the frost. Good drainage of the shell and sealing of openings and window holes with foil can help. Also at the tops of walls should be prevented from moisture penetration with weatherproof films. Otherwise, the stones could flake off.
Detect heat leaks
For new buildings to save energy, they must be airtight and show no heat leaks. Heat leaks can be easily made visible with a thermographic camera: The camera maps surface temperatures using different colors.
Keep construction diary
Keep a construction diary documenting the condition and also the outside and inside temperature and humidity. Many building materials may only be processed at certain temperatures. If there is a dispute with the construction company later due to improper workmanship, a construction diary is worth its weight in gold.
Do blower door test
Check the airtightness of the building with a blower door test. After all openings in the house are sealed airtight, an airtight film is stretched in a door or window and several fans are let in. These create a pressure gradient that can be measured precisely. Where there are leaks, air flows in, which can be easily visualized with the help of theatrical fog.
