Reasons To Consider Home Renovations This Winter
Winter is arguably the most difficult time of the year to complete any form of home renovation project. From the unpredictable bad weather along with darkness that draws in early and the potentially freezing cold temperatures, dealing with a renovation project at this time of year is difficult for both the builder onsite as well as the homeowners who have to put up with the disruption around their property. However, there are certain renovation projects that can be done in the winter. In fact, doing some renovation projects in the winter may save you money.
Builder Availability One advantage of choosing to engage a builder for a renovation in the winter is less competition. Spring and summer are the busiest times of year for home renovations, and builder’s plates will be full once renovation season is in full swing, which could leave you competing for the best builders. And a renovation project in the winter months may get you more time and attention from your builder. While the best builders and architects won’t bite off more than they can chew, working with a builder who’s taken on too many projects can mean protracted schedules and slapdash work, and this is more likely to happen in peak renovation season when schedules are full.
Cellar / Basement Renovations Because basements are below ground and out of the cold wintery weather, they’re the perfect renovation project to take on during the winter. While we don’t recommend digging a foundation (you’ll want to have a basement already!), updating the decor or finishing an unfinished basement is a great use of time in the winter.
Kitchen Renovations Winter is a great time for having a kitchen renovated for several reasons. First, you can plan a holiday while the work is done. Or if you aren’t heading off on holiday, at least the kids will be in school and cause fewer potential disruptions to getting this project finished. You’ll want to make sure you have a contingency plan for eating, doing dishes and other daily activities while the renovations are being done. But this could be a good excuse to eat out.
Insulate Your Home There are many simple yet effective ways to insulate your home, which can significantly reduce heat loss while lowering your heating bills. A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Insulating your loft, attic or flat roof is a simple and effective way to reduce heat loss and reduce your heating bills. About a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls. By properly insulating cavity walls, you will save energy and cut costs off your heating bill. In general, houses built from the 1990s onwards have wall insulation to keep the heat in, but if your house is older than that, it may not have any wall insulation at all. Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy and money in any type of building.
Avoid Manufacturer Spring Price Increases Now is the time to look for and take advantage of reduced prices. If you’re remodelling your home, you may find end of line prices on appliances and be able to purchase materials before manufacturers increase prices. Typically, we experience price increases for wood products, windows and cabinet lines in the spring. During the winter, manufacturers may feature special offers to reduce inventory. Whenever you choose to take on your home renovation project, you’ll need time to research, plan and schedule builders. The builder will need time to plan, order materials and schedule his team. Allow several weeks for planning your remodel — no matter what time of year.
