The inception of an idea (or a dream!) to build your own custom house starts as a part of the planning phase. Building a custom home requires a great deal of patience in planning and designing. One of the aspects to consider is the perfect time to start the construction of the house. Whether you want to start constructing your homes at the beginning of the year, middle, or even in the end, the decision cannot be made right away without considering the weather conditions and seasons in the area where you want to build your dream home.
A few people knew about this, but seasons affect not just the physical construction process of our homes but also the cost and scheduling aspects. It is a fact that weather conditions affect the construction stages of our homes.
In tropical countries, construction can start at any time. This is because of the good weather conditions that can help prevent setbacks and delays in the project. Typically, wet weather conditions can halt construction operations, most especially when talking about heavy rains, and storms. You would not want any accidents and injuries on the project site.
In areas like Toronto, we experience warm and humid weather from June to September. There is a small window between September to November for the fall season. Then, cold and windy weather will follow during winter from December to February. So, when is the best time to start construction in Toronto?
SPRING AND SUMMER (JUNE TO SEPTEMBER)
Pros
Spring or summer is the best option to build your homes, most especially if your goal is to finish constructing your house in a short amount of time. The days are also longer during these times. Therefore, it enables longer working time and paces up the progress of the project. Good weather conditions will also benefit workers as it will promote better working conditions for them. There will be lesser extreme weather disturbances that can halt the operations. If the goal is to finish building your homes quickly, spring or summer is the best option.
If you plan to hire a home builder, they can finish your homes in five to eight months (depending on the design and size). You can probably move in during the holiday season, which is also another thing to consider. Since these times are during the winter season, you have to consider if you can move into your newly-built home in cold conditions.
Cons
Since it is a popular time for home builders to start construction works, there may be issues with suppliers for the materials for your project. Homebuilders and subcontractors are at the peak during spring and summer. Many home builder companies will be starting their respective projects at this time, which might affect the availability and supply of the materials. There can be a huge demand for construction materials and workers during this time. With the increasing demand for materials, prices could rise during this time. You would have to spend more.
The availability of home builders and workers would also be an issue. They will have a lot of projects in their hands, so it might be hard to find a suitable home builder for you to hire.
FALL (SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER)
Pros
If you are not in a hurry to finish your home, starting in the fall would be your option. If you are looking to save money from labor and material costs, this is the best bet. Prices for materials such as lumber and plywood will go lower during this time.
More home builders and workers will be available during the fall. The weather will also be cooler than the previous months, which will be beneficial to workers as well. The cool weather increases the productivity of the workers.
If you plan to have your home finished in eight to ten months, your home builder can turn it over to you during spring or summer. Moving into your new home from June to September is a good idea.
Cons
It will take a longer time to finish the construction, but of course, it wouldn’t be much of a con if you are not in a hurry to finish it quickly.
However, it can benefit you the most during the winter if you can at least finish the structural components of the house before the winter starts. Schedule the construction activities with the home builder wherein the structure and exterior finishes of the house will be finished before the winter comes. You can still work on the interior finishes of the house during winter because the workers will have a roof in their heads and walls to protect them from the cold. This way, it would be more convenient for the workers to do the interior finishes even during the winter season. The safety of the workers will also be observed and not compromised.
WINTER (DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY)
Winter is not advisable to start your construction. Due to the cold weather, the ground may be hard and frozen, and it will require more manpower and equipment costs from you. Workers are not also advised to work outside as it will affect their work performance.
It is not advisable to pour concrete on frozen ground as it will result in the cracking of the concrete structure as it sets. Starting in the winter may cause you more harm than good.
To put it simply, if you plan to finish your home quickly, you start in spring and summer. If you want to save more money, you may begin in the fall. There is a lot of planning and consideration to decide the starting date for your home construction. But in Toronto, the season is one of the considerations that we cannot ignore. The seasons affect, not just the supply and demand of the construction materials but also the availability of workers, but also the overall project cost.
As a luxury custom home builder here in Toronto, you may contact us to assist you in your home construction. The details and suggestions stipulated in this article may vary depending on your specific locations. With years of experience as one of the top-quality home builders in Canada, we have comprehensive knowledge that may help you. Feel free to contact us about the process.
