Timing is Everything: When to Start Your Lancaster Remodel

When it comes to the success of your home remodeling project–and how you feel about the process–a lot of factors come into play. You want to hire the right team, prepare well, have a budget in place, and be clear on your priorities. But did you know that when you start your project will also play a part in the end result? 

The timing of your remodel can have a significant impact on the success of the project. It can affect how long the project takes to complete, the final cost, and how much of a disruption it is to your family. This post will explore the components at play so you can decide the best time for you to start your home remodel.

Pros and Cons of Each Season

Summer

Summer is definitely the most popular time to remodel a home. The weather is great and the days are long–perfect conditions for construction to get done. Many people deal with the inevitable disruptions of construction in the home by heading out for summer vacations. Even if you stay in town, the slower pace of summer often means that the stress of a home remodel is easier to deal with. Summer is a good time to get exterior work done on the home as well.

But summer is also the busiest time for most remodelers. The peak season for home remodeling is May through July.  Many people start planning their remodel in early spring after the rush of the holidays and are ready to start construction in the summer. Because so many people are remodeling during this season, it can be harder to get your project on the docket. And if you do, you may end up waiting longer than you want as your contractor juggles a lot of remodels at once.

Permit approval can be delayed a bit since so many people are submitting them. Materials may take longer to be delivered as demand sometimes outstrips supply. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t remodel your home during the busy season–just that you should know going in that you may experience some delays.

Fall

Fall is perhaps the best time to do a home remodel, and it’s often overlooked. The weather is still great, and cooler days might be welcome if your remodel requires that the AC be shut off for a while.

Contractors are less busy in the fall. This means your project will often be more of a priority, rates may be lower, and even the price of materials might be less. Because not as many people are remodeling, your project will likely be done faster than if you had started in the summer. This means you can still look forward to spending the cold winter months and the holidays in your newly remodeled space.

While you may not be able to leave home during the construction process like you could in the summer, the kids being back in school means they’re still likely gone for much of the day. And the routine of school and work can be helpful to keep everyone emotionally healthy during what can be a stressful time.

Winter

Winter is the least popular time to remodel a home. Everyone is focusing on the holidays and no one wants their home to be disrupted. The cold weather means that some projects simply can’t be completed: you can’t remove a roof or exterior walls in freezing temperatures. And there aren’t as many hours of daylight, which means construction either stops for the day when it gets dark (slowing down the process), or lights need to be put up (resulting in higher electricity bills for you).

But if you can manage it, winter might be the perfect time for you to remodel your home. If your remodel is completely interior, like a bathroom or basement, the weather won’t impact you at all. And because no one else is remodeling now, contractors and subcontractors are free to focus on your project.

Often, winter is when materials are the least expensive. Sometimes they are harder to source (because they’re more readily available in spring), which may result in delays.

What about the holidays? If you’re planning to travel to see family, schedule your remodel then and return to a finished house! If you want to stay home, get creative about how you can still decorate and use the parts of your home that aren’t being worked on, knowing that it’s just for a relatively short period of time. The savings in materials and labor costs, and the focused attention from your builder might be worth it to you to remodel during the winter season.

Spring

Spring is probably the best time to remodel in terms of weather. While summer can be hot or have thunderstorms that delay work, fall can sometimes be rainy, and winter presents its own challenges, spring days are often balmy and temperate, perfect for construction. Many people also want to do their projects in the spring so they can enjoy them all summer.

The downside to spring is that so many people are starting their remodels now. The prices of materials go up, and there can sometimes be supply issues. Builders’ workloads are increasing, so that might slow your particular project down. If you want your project finished by summertime, make sure you get a start in early spring before the busy season ramps up.

What Are You Remodeling?

Sometimes the room or rooms you are remodeling are better suited to a particular time of year. This can be based on how you use the space, when the weather is best for the work involved, and how involved the project is.

• For kitchen remodels, think about when you can best go without a kitchen. In summer, you can grill outside, or you may be out of town on vacation, making it potentially the best time.
• If you’re remodeling a bathroom, consider doing it in the fall before the holidays start (and bathrooms are needed when guests are in town), or in late winter or early spring, during the slow season.
• For additions, early spring is generally the best time to lay footings and do other outdoor work. Hopefully, with an early spring start date, you can get the project done before the busy season starts.
• For a whole home remodel, you need to think about what is most important to you. If you want the project done quickly, start in early fall. If you want the flexibility of free schedules or have a lot of outdoor work, summer is likely best. Whole home remodels can be done in the winter if you’re willing to put up with some weather-related delays, and that may be your least expensive option. Spring is a good middle-of-the-road choice where your builders are busy but not too busy, materials are less expensive but also available, and the weather is good.
   

Other Factors to Consider

What needs to happen before construction starts?

Starting the remodeling process is not the same as starting construction on your home. There’s a lot that needs to happen between your first consultation with a remodeling company and the first day of demolition or construction in your home. If you hire a design-build company (which we recommend!), a lot of the work and planning will take place on the front end, ensuring you a great design, a reliable budget, and a smooth process. (If you want more information on the design-build model, here’s a quick guide!)

So if you want actual construction to start, say, in September, you need to begin the planning process several months before, maybe in early June (or for a very involved or large project, even earlier in the year). Following this timeline, if your goal is to enjoy your remodel by the holiday season, then starting in late summer or early fall is ideal.

Our preconstruction planning process consists of preliminary design, design development, and preproduction. During this time we are meeting with you to learn your wants and needs, doing on-site evaluations, preparing budgets, helping you make selections, filing for permits, ordering materials, and much more. There’s a lot that needs to happen before the hammers start swinging!

How long will my remodel take?

It’s impossible to give a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If you remodel during the height of the busy season, your remodel will likely take longer than if you choose the quietest time of year. But there are a variety of other factors that play into how long your remodel will take, including

• the scope of work
• your availability to meet with your designer and how quickly you make selections
• the schedules of your contractor, his vendors, your Project Developer, etc
• what permits you need
• what municipality you live in
• how long it takes for materials to come in

For some general ideas about how long to expect your remodel to take, check out this post. For a more specific answer, contact us, and let’s talk about the details.

How far in advance should I book a remodeler?

As soon as you decide to do a remodel, it’s a good idea to go ahead and talk to a remodeler. He can help you decide when to get started and you can get on his schedule for the time that works best for you. If you need help vetting a contractor, here are some good questions you can ask.

What are my personal preferences and needs?

It’s a great idea to strategize about lower costs and freer schedules when it comes to remodeling your home. But the most important thing to think about is what you and your family need. Remodeling can be stressful, so make it as easy on yourself as you can.

• If you want to be out of the house during a remodel, plan it for around a vacation.
• If you have small kids or pets who might be upset by all the activity in the home, maybe keeping a regular schedule is best for them.
• Do you want to have everything done before a certain time, like summer vacation or the holidays? Plan accordingly.
• Do you want a quiet holiday season with no one working on your house, or is it more important to you to potentially save on costs?
• Do you have a stressful season coming up? Either get your remodel done before it hits or wait until after. 

The timing of your home remodel is important to consider. If you need help weighing the options, we have professional designers and Project Developers who are here for you. Contact us today and let’s make a great plan for your project.