While any month is a good month for home improvement and upgrades, some months are better than others. This is especially true when it comes to big-ticket energy conservation measures like exterior insulation that are going to save money in energy costs.
When scheduling a home renovation project, there are many factors to consider: weather, cost, holidays, labour, and material availability. Homeowners don’t always have the luxury of choosing a start and finish date. Their project schedule revolves around the availability of their renovator and contractors.
It’s the law of supply and demand:
Spring is the busiest time of year typically when it comes to home construction, as Canadians come out of hibernation. Warmer temperatures and defrosting landscapes mean work can begin on foundations.
Times for Renovation
When it comes to a home renovation, the time frame will affect the method, budget, and extent of the work. There’s no one size fits all solution. Here’s some general truths:
- The demand for renovations increases in the early spring when the weather becomes more pleasant.
- Construction peaks in the summer, when school is out, and the weather is at its best, and continues into the fall.
- Winter is when everything slows down - homeowners want to be wrapped up before winter holidays, and contractors want to have jobs signed off before the end of the year.
Unveiling the Right Months for Home Retrofits
Fall or spring are the best seasons to work outside - temperatures are reasonable, in most parts of Canada the weather is also reasonable.
When it comes to a significant energy retrofit, like adding exterior insulation under new cladding, the best time to do the work is in the fall. October is the best month - weather is usually decent, temperatures aren’t too bad, and the timing is perfect.
Here’s why:
The benefits associated with the cost of doing the retrofit work will be immediately apparent with lower energy bills. It’s the beginning of heating season! That means financing that kicks in or cash outlays coincide with energy savings. With this timing, there is lower impact on the household budget and cash flow. The first month of savings might not be very much, but you’re going into the deep freeze when the savings will be most obvious.
Big-ticket energy retrofits that are undertaken in the spring mean that homeowners are paying for financing for 4 to 6 months before seeing the energy savings kick in. That needs to be calculated into the equation to ensure that it’s not a stressor or risk factor.
Fall is the ideal season for energy retrofit work, but only if you plan early. This involves getting started with planning and estimates in the spring and completing contracts, finance, and estimates in the summer.
