As a builder, you likely build homes year-round. In the not-too-distant past, certain finishing details, such as painting outdoor trim, could not be done under a specific temperature. But times are changing … Cold Weather Painting: Original article by Ted Cushman, Feb. 1, 2008, published in builderonline.com. Q: I have some homes that need exterior painting, and cold weather is closing in. My painters say they can paint outdoors when it’s as cold as 35 degrees F. Should I be worried? A: Things are always changing in the world of house paint. Just a decade ago, labels on exterior-paint cans … Read more »

Original post by Ted Cushman, Senior Editor. Published online in The Journal of Light Construction, January 2016 Slabs and basements in freezing weather? Let’s talk about it. On a 9°F day in December 2014, Connecticut concrete con­tractor Dennis Purinton was pouring a slab on grade. It was the kind of work Purinton had done often enough before. But this time, he had a small audience of experts and sup­plier representatives from around the concrete industry—some of them, like Purinton himself, members of the consensus committee that creates ACI 306, the American Concrete Institute’s Guide to Cold Weather Concrete. Purinton’s goal … Read more »