In recent years, there has been a noticeable influx of house building initiatives around the UK. Business and commercial construction have also noticed a similar increase in their turnout. It seems that, despite all the turbulence and difficulties of our times, construction and home renovation projects are still in high demand. If you’re planning to add something to your estate to raise its property value or simply add that terrace or a garage to your home that you though of for a while, it seems like there’s no time like the present to make those visions come to life.
This begs a question – when should you begin looking shopping for professionals that will help you make your dream home aspirations a reality? The most common answer most experts in the field seem to agree on may surprise you. The best season to begin your perfect abode construction seems to be… winter, surprisingly enough. “But why?”, you may ask. The season, during which in the UK most of the time the ground is frozen shut and covered in copious amount of snow that makes it hard to leave the house at times, doesn’t inspire expansion and construction thoughts. However, in this article, we will give you some reasons why people seem to agree on this point.
Permitted Development May Not Cover Your Plans
Make sure you are familiar with your local zoning and municipal ordinances as one of the first steps in the planning process for a new project. You must be aware of what you can construct, where you can construct it, and how big it can be. While some of your construction plans can be done without running it by your local municipality for approval – we have covered what cases are included in permitted development in a previous article – you may want to construct something that requires additional paperwork. Starting on this process relatively early on in the year can save you trouble and headache from dealing with legal issues during the time when you could instead have active construction done.
The permit application process is typically completed much more quickly during slow building periods. If all of your paperwork is in order and your building plan complies with all regulations, a permit can be approved in as little as one week during the winter. However, it’s practically a given that your neighborhood permit office will be swamped with last-minute requests for review throughout the Spring or Summer. We’ve seen permit office backlogs delay building projects for months, and even up to a year, so if you submit your plans for evaluation at this time of year, it’s highly probable that your request will be at the bottom of a backlogged pile of other permission requests.
Wider Range of Available General Experts and Subcontractors
The biggest and most crucial benefit of beginning work during the winter months is that, quite bluntly, many people believe that building must be done during warmer seasons of the year, especially in the UK climate where precipitation and humidity may pose a reason for concern. As a result, there are more general contractors and subcontractors available to complete your project, resulting in a number of connected advantages.
Moreover, the majority of contractors—certainly the finest ones—book their spring and summer building jobs months in advance. You’ll miss out on many of the top building and designing contractors in your area who are already fully booked if you put off starting your search for a contractor until the summer. In addition, many contractors will charge more for work they agree to squeeze into their already hectic schedules over the summer because their time is so important.
More Time for Planning
One of the main causes of projects missing deadlines is scheduling issues with subcontractors. Project managers incorporate time into production plans knowing there will be delays at some point since it takes a lot of strategy and meticulous preparation to get all the components of a project fit into place. We are all aware that if one project component is delayed, it will affect all subsequent tasks. There is less competition for subcontractors’ time during the winter because there is often less work done. This makes maintaining the timeline for your project simpler. As a result of decreased downtime, your project might potentially be completed sooner.
Starting your project timetable now will help you enjoy some of these advantages if you are organizing a brand-new project for 2023. By securing subcontractors now for upcoming work, you can prevent delays later.
It will take more time to start your project after you wait longer to hire an architect. They also frequently become busier following Christmas. By hiring an architect during early winter period, you may avoid the rush and guarantee that your work will begin at the first thaw of spring. They can design your ideal property during the chilly winter months. Additionally, it will allow you plenty of time to discuss any modifications or revisions you may have in mind with them. The actual development of your property will be delayed if you wait until after Christmas or even until it gets warmer. The actual building might not start for months if you wait too long and the architect you select is overworked. By then, another wave of cold weather might be approaching. Work with an architect this winter to try and start your project before it’s too late and beat the rush. Your new building might be finished and ready to use by this time next year, depending on your demands.
Quicker Material Fabrication and Delivery
Manufacturing plants receive a flood of orders over the summer. It’s not unusual for a building that would typically take 4-6 weeks to construct in the off-season to take twice as long to construct in the summer just due to the backlog. Your building will be the first in line for fabrication if your engineering drawings are finished and your construction permit is authorized as soon as possible. To be completely ready and in charge of your construction timetable, schedule your time and your delivery date months in advance.
Lower Material Costs: Early Bird Gets Its Worm Cheaper
If none of the time-saving advice presented here has persuaded you, perhaps a reference to your bank account would! Building prices are frequently far lower in the winter than they are in the spring or summer. Customers can gain from lower prices and exclusive offers on accessories because the objective is to keep manufacturing plants working throughout the year. Therefore, you’ll save time and money by commencing your summer construction project in the winter.
On top of that, contractors’ goal in the winter is to keep their personnel occupied by filling their schedules. This can imply that they’ll reduce their pricing for you.
Naturally, some construction tasks lend themselves to being carried out more easily in the winter. For obvious reasons, tenant improvements, buildouts, remodels, interior finishes, or anything else where you are residing inside an existing external shell, are perfect. However, with the right design and modern equipment, even outdoor winter construction is possible. Planning around the weather and ensuring a successful project will be easier if you are aware of how seasonality affects construction projects.
