With the chill of winter having now settled on Durango the usual buzz of activity of warmer months will soon dwindle. It can seem, in these cold stretches, that everything has stopped. Typically, you wouldn’t think that this would be the time of year to start a building project. The cold, the weather, the shortened days, they just don’t seem to be an optimal environment for new builds and remodels. Though winter does pose some challenges, we have techniques and the assistance of technology that not only allows work to continue in winter months but can actually provide some advantages.

This prevailing idea that home construction is out of the question in the winter can actually expedite many of the processes necessary for building a house. The group of people who assume that building and remodels are out of the question during winter leave a large window open that benefits you. Due to the reduction in projects taking place during this time it’s a no-brainer to take advantage of the lowered demand for resources. Building materials and machinery become more readily available and may even come at reduced prices. With sparse competition, permits can be acquired in a timelier manner, concrete trucks have more open schedules, and you have more overall flexibility in scheduling a construction window that works to your best interest.

Key in a successful winter build is getting the ground dug and crucial concrete structures poured before the ground freezes. This is not to say it would otherwise be impossible, but the potential for issues to arise multiplies beyond this point. The good news is that, in Durango, the ground typically won’t freeze to a depth of true hindrance until weeks beyond our first frozen nights. With the assistance of tents, heaters and concrete additives that assist proper curing in cold weather, the window for starting new construction is larger than you might initially think.

Once the concrete has cured things become all clear to proceed with framing and the rest of construction. Some people think that snow is the worst possible condition to attempt to build in, but consider this, snow is fairly dry. One of the true worst enemies of a building project is rain; all of that moisture has the potential wreak havoc on a building project in its early stages and cause delays.

Working in winter means we have the added confidence of knowing that, if the weather does roll in, we can be fairly confident we don’t have to worry about rain complicating everything. Additionally, the cold that keeps the rain at bay also provides the convenience of pulling a majority of the humidity out of the air which may otherwise slow the drying process. Add to this the heaters that are typically used during winter builds and you have lumber that can dry out much more quickly and reliably than that plagued by rainy or humid days.

In a sense, the snow and cold are much more manageable than weather that can be expected in other seasons. Of course, more extreme winter weather can cause delays. For the most part, though, snow can be shoveled and plowed and cold can be battled with simple strategies. By no means does winter put a dead stop on building for the season.

As the world slows down and hides from the cold it can be tempting to put our plans on hold. But, winter can be just as advantageous of a season to build in as all the others, even having its own unique circumstances that can make it a more desirable time to get started on your custom home or remodel. So, if you’re ready to get started on a project but have been hesitant due to the season, there’s no need to wait. We can jump start your plans today.

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