36" Corner Build in Minnesota

[MnDude45]

RandyJ - I closed it down for this fall. Wrapped it up tight with moving blanket, 6mil plastic and a tarp. I had to switch today to my winter project. I promised my grandkids a skating rink this winter so I’m spending this beautiful Saturday putting up the boards.

[RandyJ]

You have been making good progress. We have some beautiful weather this weekend so maybe you can make some more progress.

[MnDude45]

I was out of town most of this weekend but made it home and was able to spend some time cleaning mortar from the arch and the gaps in dome. Looks much better.

[mongota]

If you have four of five course and a plug to go, I'd encourage you to keep going and get the dome done. When you're done working for the day put a work light inside the dome. Cover the dome with a blanket, and cover that with a sheet of poly for wind washing, Then throw a tarp over it and let it go. Each added layer will afford a little more insulative protection through a cold night.

As long as your daytime temps are in the 50s I'd keep working. In the 60s that's bonus! lol!

Obviously, do what you're comfortable with.

[MnDude45]

Thanks, Mongo! That is reassuring to hear. I was worrying about the plastic over the winter but the moving blanket idea is great. I will definitely use that one.

Based on the feedback from you guys, I feel better about trying to shutdown at a good point and not rushing with the threat of cold weather. I'm now thinking it may be a bigger risk to try to eek out a couple more courses but I should just finish my current course and concentrate on protecting it for the winter. I have to go out of town for the weekend so I picked up a curing blanket from Menards to insulate and wrapped it with a big tarp. We have frost warnings for Friday and Saturday.

The input from the forum members has been invaluable and appreciate all who have given back to the FB community.

[mongota]

I agree with NCMan and JR. Since you're not cooking this year, there is no need at all for any fires. Even if you were to drive any residual moisture out of the dome, it'll just absorb atmospheric moisture over the winter.

In the springtime when you open it up, don't fire it up until you have the insulation on. The insulation will buffer the overall temperature of the dome, allowing it a more even heat up as well as a gentler cool down. Moisture within the dome will turn to vapor and pass through the insulation to free air.

Put me in the group that let my dome go through a winter unfinished. Actually, two winters! My wife and I had to go out to the midwest for family issues; caretaking of her parents. My dome sat quiet for quite some time while we were gone. I had 6-mil poly over it plus it was double tarped. The winds did abrade the poly against the brick, and moisture did get in to my board insulation. When I returned I was able to dry it out with several days of fire with no ill effects.

I'd recommend putting a Harbor Freight moving blanket over the dome to protect the poly from brick abrasion, then 6-mil poly for water, then a tarp for overall protection.

You're doing nice work! Congrats on your progress.

[MnDude45]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. I finished another course today. It’s going to take me at least another week or so to finish the dome. JR - it’s good to hear from someone else that has gone through this decision, NCMan - I like your idea to just finish the dome and close it down for the year. It will get cold enough to freeze in November but I can try to protect it with insulated blankets for a couple weeks.

[NCMan]

If it were mine, I'd just finish it up and forget the drying fires. Cover it up good and let it cure naturally. If you get some warmer days and it's not too much trouble to uncover it, let it get some air if you can, then cover it back up. Just my 2¢.

[JRPizza]

You are shutting down for the winter right about where I did in my build. I spent the late fall getting chimney/vent bricks cut and played with layouts and spacings. I had some thick visqueen that was big enough to cover the dome and extend down the sides of my stand, then wrapped it in tarps to protect the integrity of the plastic wrap. If you just use woven tarps you might get more moisture than you want. I also had a tarp cover over the roof structure I had erected that helped keep the majority of the rain off. I still had lost of water that had to be driven out of the CF board but I attributed that to the early soakings it got.

[MnDude45]

My plan is to just finish the dome this fall. I'll leave the outer arch/flue until spring. I was planning on running the series of curing fires and then wrapping it up with tarps to keep the snow and water out for the winter. Does that sound reasonable?

[NCMan]

Mainly just after you use it, as the more water is in it, the more vulnerable it is. As to when that time passes, it is no exact science, as your conditions are not known. But, to answer you, the longer you can protect it, the better. Generally, in lots of cases, a few days is enough, but, as long as there is moisture in it, it can freeze.

[MnDude45]

Is it vulnerable the whole time until I'm able to run the curing fires or just in the days following the mortar and bricks being placed?

[NCMan]

Other than what you suggested, no. Maybe an electric blanket or putting a small heater/heat lamp under it(?) Just simply covering it w/a regular blanket will do if it doesn't freeze hard, but I wouldn't take many chances w/it.

[MnDude45]

I will have to invest in some insulating blankets until I'm able to complete the dome. Any other tricks of the trade to keep in mind to ensure it does freeze until cured?

[NCMan]

I have a question regarding cold temperatures. Here in Minnesota we've had a warm summer and a mild fall thus far but we've got frost warnings coming. I have 5 courses left plus the outer arch to go before I would plan on running the curing fires. I'm thinking that after that is complete, I will shut down until spring. The average highs/lows are dropping and with sub-freezing low temps expected to be the norm beginning in November.

Anyone have thoughts on the impact of colder temps on the dome and mortar prior to running the curing fires?

As long as you keep it all from freezing, you're fine. Actually, cooler weather is better for all cement, as it slows down the curing process. No way do you let it freeze, though.