It's Raining, It's Pouring... Is Work Getting Done on Your House?

When a storm rolls in, a builder's construction crew and laborers don't just pack up and go home for the day -- at least not usually. While bad weather can absolutely slow things down, construction superintendents and managers are experts at pivoting. 

What the crew actually does depends entirely on how far along your home build is and how severe the weather is. Here's how our crews handle the shift in plans due to storms:

If the House is "Under Roof" or "Dried In"  

If your new home is already "under roof", has plywood sheathing, and waterproof house wrap, a little bit of rain won't stop your home's progress towards completion. The crew will move indoors to work on:

• Rough-In Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC Work: Running wires, pipes and ductwork
• Insulation & Drywall: Hanging and taping drywall (provided the interior is completely dry)
• Interior Trim & Details: Installing doors, baseboards, cabinets and flooring
• Painting: Interior priming and painting

If the House is open to the Elements

If the house is in foundations, or an open frame, heavy wind and rain can create serious safety and quality issues. In this case, crews shift to site management and safety.

• Erosion & Stormwater Control: They may lay or check on silt fencing or silt "socks", prevent  building debris from going into the city storm sewers and reduce erosion on the work site.
• Securing the Job Site: High winds can turn loose plywood, scaffolding, siding, trash and other construction debris into dangerous projectiles. Crews will strap down materials, lower crane booms, lock up loose tools, etc.  Missouri is known for high-wind storms, and Houston Homes laborers and contractors will do their best to ensure the site (and neighborhood) is safe from flying construction debris. 
• Equipment Maintenance: Most crews will not drive out heavy machinery in poor weather to avoid muddy mechanical problems, so it's a good time for them to service tools, clean up machinery, etc.

Off-Site Work & Logistics 

If the site is completely rained out (think ankle-deep mud that heavy trucks and machinery will get stuck in) the crew and managers will head off site. 

• Pre-Fabrication: Some crews will head to a dry warehouse or workshop to pre-cut framing lumber, build stairs, or assemble components that can be taken to the job site later. 
• Permits & Inspections: Superintendents and managers may use rain-out days to catch up on paperwork, submit permits, or make appointments for inspections. 

So, when do crews actually call it a day and leave? Standard rain showers usually just make for a schedule shift, but storms with lightning and/or high winds, and torrential downpours will shut down a site completely. Builders have a strict "duty of care" to maintain a safe job site for all involved. Crew safety is key, so working in severe weather conditions may be too unsafe to continue that day. 

Customers building a home are welcome to consult with their community superintendent to inquire about whether their home's construction timeline has changed due to inclement weather.