If you're in the middle of a home addition as winter is approaching or if you are trying to begin a home addition during the colder months, there are a few items to be aware of.
Tips for building a home addition in winter:
- Weather. Places like California make building year-round easy. Weather cools down but stays reasonably mild compared to the rest of the country. The same goes for Florida. However, those who live in the mountains want to get the framing and exterior work done before the ground freezes and the snow flies.
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Deadlines. Something always seems to come up during the building process that delays the finish date. This can be due to completely random circumstances like Hurricane Sandy holding up delivery of supplies, or illnesses, but there is usually some type of hiccup that can push back the completion of the project. For those hiring for an end of November finish, be prepared for winter to move in faster than expected and have your home sectioned off so that you and your family can stay warm if work is still being done.
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Have a back-up plan for exposed areas. Home additions means knock out walls between the existing house and the framework for the new house. This can mean a lot of cold air blowing in. Several years ago when we put an addition on our house, the only thing between my family and an unheated addition was a piece of plastic. If you need to find somewhere to stay for a couple of weeks to ensure your warmth and comfort, do it.
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No matter what time of year you're building, be sure to secure away items of importance to you. There will be a lot of people moving through your home, and while we all want to believe the best in people, better to have priceless objects stored safely.
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Be sure you hire a general contractor you can trust. This is key. Your general contractor is the person who coordinates all the sub-contractors' schedules and keeps your deadlines on track. They can also help offer suggestions as to how to best accomplish what you want to accomplish. Check references on-line and through phone calls and ask if they are licensed. If you live in a state where contractors do not need to be licensed, then ask about their past history and where they were trained.
When you build in winter, the safety and warmth of you and your family are the first priority. Make sure you know what you're getting into and expect to extend your deadline by at least a few weeks.
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