Best Season to Remodel

Homeowners often ask, “What is the best season to remodel?” Honestly, any time is the right time, as long as you’re ready to do it. Remodeling is performed on a year-round basis with most work—which involves reconfiguration of the interior spaces, not significantly impacted by the weather.

That being said, there are times that are better than others for different phases of jobs, as well as for cost-savings — although the two don’t necessarily coincide. Ideally, you’ll work with a contractor on your remodel before their busy season is in full effect. This will allow your contractor to devote ample time and resources to your project. Depending on where you live and what type of project you’re looking to do, different times of the year may be better than others when it comes to remodeling.

Winter

Despite the thought of working outside in the cold winter months, this is actually a good time to start an addition. Frozen ground and dry air are better for digging foundations and pouring concrete footers than muddy ground and humidity.

If your foundation is completed and the room addition is framed before the rainy season, the space can be under cover during the unpredictable spring weather. You’ll likely have fewer “rain days” where no one works on the construction site.

In addition, the winter months tend to be less busy for builders, because many people are waiting for spring and tax refunds to start their home projects.

Spring

Spring is traditionally home building season, not only because homeowners are finding the money to do projects, but also because it’s the time we start to come out of winter hibernation and want something new.

The Spring and Summer months (May through September), known as “Peak Season”, are the most popular time that homeowners book a contractor for their home remodeling. The benefit being the conditions allow for timely work with minimal weather delays. However, there are also drawbacks to scheduling a home improvement project during the Peak Season. Due to the overwhelming demand for home remodeling, many contractors are fully booked for Spring projects; therefore, being able to get on a contractor’s calendar may be a challenge.

If you plan ahead, projects like decks, patios and outdoor rooms are good to plan for this timeframe. Decks require hand-digging, and the ground is usually softer in the spring. In addition, the homeowner will be able to enjoy the deck and outdoor space in the coming summer and fall months.

Summer

Many homeowners are looking for remodeling projects to do during summer for many reasons. The weather is better, it’s the end of school which means a lighter schedule for summer, and a bigger budget for those homeowners who have saved up money since the beginning of the year. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are especially popular during the summer months.

With the kids out of school, you can take a vacation during the renovation and skip some of the hassle and mess that goes along with a home improvement project. Once all the plans for your project have been made, you can get out of town while your house is torn up. If you feel uncomfortable leaving town, schedule a “staycation” at a nearby hotel or resort, where you’ll be close enough to keep tabs on the work but you aren’t living under a layer of dust.

Fall

While the first part of this quarter is ideal for outdoor work and new construction starts, it is traditionally the time when homeowners want their remodeling finished. The impending holidays are a looming deadline for builders, and there’s a scramble to get things done by mid-November.

So, if you’re willing to have crews in your home during the holiday season, this is a good time to schedule anything from a home addition to a kitchen remodel. Business is slower for contractors and materials may be less expensive. However, shipping may take longer, so work those extra days into your timeframe.

Just remember that knowing the best season to remodel is often more about planning and less about the weather. Consider the time you would like your project to be completed, factor in the amount you wish to spend, and work your way backwards so you can give yourself the appropriate amount of time to do your research and book accordingly.