It has been a slow spring here in Estonia (2010). This said, I think we can all agree that spring is actually here. Masonry work always slows down during the cold winter months for a variety of different reasons. I would like to talk about these different reasons.

The first is that during the winter, people already have their heat source fixed, whether new or old, what they currently have is what will be used during the winter season, even if the stove or heater is old and in somewhat poor condition. Heat is needed during this cold time and no one is thinking about tearing down their old heater to build when heat is still needed at that time.
Another reason is that it is just not physically possible to build using clay mortar in such cold temperatures. Clay mortar requires a warm temperature, most masons agree that a normal room temperature is the best for working with clay mortar. When then mortar or bricks are too cold, the process which initially sets the bricks is hindered or completely shut down.

So what are our options here in Estonia where we tend to have long and cold winters and building time is so short? The first thing that I would recommend, is to contact a mason early in the season, even at the end of winter and start discussing what project you would like done. As springtime nears, set a date to begin the work. Don’t just say that we will get together in the summer and build it then…..what happens is that summer, in fact comes, but then the masons projects mount up, time gets short, schedules fill up. Never think that it is too early to schedule a project date, at least then you will have a date set to do your project.

Another possibility is to schedule work to be done over the winter. Most masons will have more time in the winter, and if some precautions are taken, the work can be carried out. The first thing is to find an alternative source of heat while the over or stove is being built. This heat can be supplied by an electric heater for example. Of course the extra electricity will need to be paid for, but most masons will charge a little less during the winter months anyway. Once the stove is built, special care must be taken to ’cure’ or dry the oven out slowly with very low intensity fires. A series of small fires over a couple of weeks can dry the heater out thoroughly. Just don’t try to rush things here, as over-heating the stove at this point can cause its total destruction.

So, as summertime approaches, contact your mason and schedule a time to get that project completed. Waiting too long may mean trying to survive next winter with an unsafe heater.