Winter is one of the best times of year to sit on the couch, watch some television, and cuddle in a blanket for hours. However, you’ll begin to feel antsy after a few days of this. While the cold and dark days of winter pass by, you’ll be looking for ways to keep yourself active, warm, and rejuvenated. it’s best not to wait until the last minute to prepare your home for winter
What is the benefit of winter remodeling?
Spring and summer are the peak home renovation seasons, so the basic law of supply and demand makes tackling some home renovations during the winter highly practical.
Consider these benefits of a doing a home improvement project during the winter:
- Better contractor availability
- Lower likelihood of scheduling issues with tradespeople
- Building permits can be obtained faster due to lower demand
- Completing interior home upgrades lets you prioritize exterior home improvements when it warms up
Is it better to remodel house in wintertime?
Good contractors are busy during the summertime. Sometimes it can feel like you’re just a number to them. They’re often less busy during the winter months. Those who have remodeling jobs done during winter tend to get more personalized attention and jobs tend to get done faster due to a lack of distractions.
From the contractor’s point of view, there’s little or no rainfall to deal with. It’s much easier to protect a home from snowfall rather than rain. Often, they’re working on indoor projects where the weather is always perfect. Many customers go on vacation during the winter, meaning less worries in terms of paint fumes or dusty air for both parties.
Is it cheaper in wintertime?
It used to be an absolute truth that you could hire a contractor for less money during the winter. Those times are all but gone. Good home remodeling companies are always busy. There aren’t any more discounts just so they have something to do. However, to stay competitive, some remodelers might offer holiday discounts or, “get ready for spring,” sales.
Design-build companies like to fill up their summertime calendar during the winter. Shopping around for deals on designing a future project might prove fruitful.
Ideas for prepare your home for winter
Replace Exterior Doors
exterior a facelift, or provide a more secure portal into your home.
If you’re not ready to make the investment to replace your entry doors, you could elevate their look by adding a fresh coat of paint, attaching new molding, replacing door hardware, or applying decorative elements that make your grand entryway stand out and make your home prepare for winter.
Update Home Safety
Winter is a good time to inspect your home’s safety features and make any necessary repairs or replacements. Test your fire alarms and replace batteries as needed. If you have not installed a carbon monoxide detector, consider doing so.
Most carbon monoxide deaths occur during cold weather. Conducting yearly maintenance on gas-burning home appliances (especially gas-burning stoves and fireplaces) can also reduce the risk of dangerous carbon monoxide levels collecting in your home.
Insulation
Consider a professional energy-efficiency inspection to identify areas in the home where heat may be escaping, such as around doors, windows, pipes, and vents. These areas can be secured with sealant, caulk, or weatherstripping.
Another space that may need to be checked for leaks and drafts is your attic. A well-insulated attic can result in a tremendous return on your investment. Homeowners often notice the lower energy bills as soon as the project is completed.
Proper Lightning
Proper lighting can help us feel more relaxed, upbeat, and focused. It can even help improve our productivity. No wonder so many of us start to look for ways to get more light into our spaces this time of year. Take advantage of the extra hours you’re spending indoors and swap out your lighting fixtures to freshen up your home’s look, bring more light in, or simply change your mood.
This is also a great opportunity to breathe new life into your space by decluttering and repurposing your home decor. Try rearranging furniture, touching up painted walls, or getting that new backsplash laid. Go through bedroom closets and other spaces that accumulate clutter and make piles to toss, donate, or give away.
Replace Windows
Heat can escape through older windows, causing chilly drafts and making your heating system work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Make window replacement the first of your winter home projects and invest in new, energy-efficient windows to correct this problem. Best of all? You’ll be able to enjoy a toastier home and lower energy bills right away.
Another advantage of prioritizing your window replacement project this time of year is that some companies offer discounts and sales during the winter months. They will be less busy and more focused on your home renovation, meaning you could pay significantly less for the project now than if you waited until summer.