As the weather turns from fall to winter, people might wonder if they can build a home with snow on the ground. The short answer is yes, but weighing the pros and cons is important.
Winter delivers many opportunities for homeowners and builders alike — however, there are some challenges. Here are a few things to consider before starting winter home construction.
Can You Build a Home During the Winter?
Many homeowners choose to start homebuilding during the winter, hoping to move in by spring or summer. Often, builders are happy to oblige.
Of course, contractors usually want to complete excavation and foundation work — such as pouring concrete — in the fall before the ground freezes. If they can finish the foundation before a cold snap, framing and building the home is possible whether snow, rain or ice is in the forecast.
Advantages of Winter Homebuilding
There are several reasons why homeowners and builders enjoy home construction during the winter. For one thing, contractors’ schedules may be slower than usual, leaving them looking for work. Here’s a breakdown of some of the advantages of winter homebuilding.
Contractor Availability
The summer months are the busiest time of the year for contractors, and you may struggle to find a builder with an exceptional reputation and availability. Their hectic schedules may also make them difficult to track down, and your project may not get the attention it deserves.
During the winter, contractors have more free time and flexibility to focus on your project specifically. For some homeowners, this personalized attention is critical above all else.
Discounted Materials
Suppose you’re on a tight budget — homebuilding during the off-season may be the best approach. You can often find great deals on discounted materials through holiday and pre-spring sales.
Regarding interior design, discounts on essential materials can help you save money or allow you to allocate more funds to the build itself.
More Streamlined Permitting
Obtaining building permits can be a long and drawn-out process during the busy season. Depending on where you live, it could take months for your new home construction to be approved.
Permitting tends to go much quicker in winter since municipalities have fewer projects to review. This means you’ll be able to dive into your home build much faster than you would other times of the year.
Challenges of Winter Construction
Naturally, winter weather can make homebuilding difficult for contractors. They must navigate obstacles they might not have had to during other seasons, such as safety issues and delays. Here are a few challenges to consider.
Safety Hazards
Snow and ice can create hazardous conditions for homebuilders. For instance, weather fluctuations could lead to continuing melting and refreezing — which occurs with temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit — making the site slippery for workers.
Winter winds and snow or ice storms can hinder visibility. Meanwhile, workers may struggle to stay warm while enduring the elements. Although they can bundle up to protect themselves, the extra layers make moving around harder.
Builders also face a lot of safety issues during the winter from chimney and electrical fires. Builders should learn the signs of fast-burning and slow-burning fires in order to increase their safety and minimize or prevent worksite damage.
Lower Productivity
Many factors can hinder productivity during winter homebuilding. For instance, builders may not be enthusiastic about spending long hours outdoors. The cold weather could also make them sick and achy, lowering their morale.
Likewise, days are shorter during the winter — meaning less time to finish work. This could pose a problem when builders must tackle other tasks, such as shoveling snow accumulated overnight or taking extra measures to promote drying and air circulation of cladding.
Longer Timelines
Homeowners want to move into their new construction as quickly as possible. However, expert builders suggest factoring an extra two to three weeks to the building timeline during winter.
Certain parts of the project — such as the exterior envelope, including the foundations, walls and roofing — must never be rushed through. Otherwise, mistakes could lead to costly repairs later on.
Is Winter Homebuilding for You?
Does contractor availability and shorter permitting approvals outweigh the safety risks and longer timelines? Only you can decide what’s best for you and your winter homebuilding endeavor. Contact a professional contractor who can tell you precisely what your project will entail during the cold season.
