Winter may not be the most favoured season to build your house in Australia, but it is not bad either. Timing plays a major role when it comes to such a huge undertaking as building. So far, summer appears to be the most favoured season for construction. However, winter building has its pros and cons. In this article, we are going to take you through all you need to know about building a house in winter.
Benefits of Winter Construction
Shorter Wait Times
One of the greatest benefits of winter construction is that you will experience shorter wait times both for calling in and receiving your materials. During most summer months, general contractors are slammed, which can cause delays and problems with your project timeline. During the wintertime, however, there is generally less demand for these services. This means that you’re going to get your project started sooner.
Possible Lower Cost
Building in the off-season makes sense from a financial standpoint as well. With fewer projects, you find that there are instances where suppliers and contractors charge lower rates or offer discounts just to get business. That will mean better control of your budget and some money to spare, hopefully from reduced labour and material costs.
Easy Process in Acquiring Permits
Many municipal building departments process permits more quickly in winter because of their reduced workload. Faster approvals tend to translate into earlier and on-schedule starts for your construction.
Winter Construction Issues
Weather Delay
The biggest challenge of winter building is the weather-related delays. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can get in the way and cause hindrances to progress, as well as increase the difficulty of the job. The schedule must be flexible, and all are prepared for interruptions.
Material Handling
Some of the materials used in construction are cold-sensitive. Concrete, for instance, has to be handled and cured differently so that it can be set properly in cold temperatures. It’s quite important to ensure that the contractor one is working with has experience in dealing effectively with these conditions.
Cost of Heating
The temperature should be sufficient to keep the construction site warm for the workers to work and the materials. It may increase the heating costs. It can require temporary heating methods like propane heaters, which will add to the total cost of the project.
Short Daylight Hours
The shorter daylight hours during winter months reduce the daylight hours available for outdoor work in a day. This may extend the duration of the project, so proper planning and efficient daylight utilization are very much necessary.
Tips for Successful Winter Construction
Plan Ahead
Winter construction involves detailed planning. Obtain all permits, and acquire all materials, before commencing the work. A good schedule organization may reduce delays caused by bad weather.
Experienced Contractors
Select contractors with winter construction experience. They will know how to overcome the challenges that such weather conditions impose on the construction process. Best practices for cold-weather building will help them keep the work on schedule.
Use Appropriate Materials
Select materials that can be used during the winter period. For example cold weather concrete mixes and store all the materials appropriately to ensure that freezing temperatures do not affect the materials.
Site Preparation
The site should be well prepared. The snow should be cleared and ice frequently and the pathways and work areas are safe to use by workers. There can be temporary heating to help provide a good working environment.
Monitor Weather
Keep an eye on the weather forecast so all work can be done around predicted storms or cold snaps. This will help minimize the impact of this on your overall construction timeline.
Conclusion
The idea of building a house in the winter is not that bad, actually, but it does involve some specific problems that you need to consider and provide for in advance. Quite obviously, you will face less competition, and the probability of the construction being cheaper is high too.
At the same time, if you prepare well in advance about weather-related issues, then you can rest assured the work will not undergo any appalling delays. Winter construction, then – with the right approach and a team full of professionals – is not only feasible but even rewarding to a good extent.