When’s the best time to start your home extension

We all know how unpredictable the British weather can be and this makes it so hard to plan even a day out! So, imagine having to decide when to start building your home extension.

There are many things to take into account, weather being just one of them. When is the builder you want to work with available? Have you got any family commitments that will influence timing? Perhaps you’ve got a baby on the way and you need the space fast. Or maybe you can afford to wait a while for everything, including the weather, to align perfectly, laying the foundations for a smooth build.

So, which season is best to start your build?

Spring

If you can be flexible about when you can start, then March or April are ideal times. There is less chance of the ground being too frozen to dig or the air being too cold for brickwork. Rainfall and freezing temperatures can greatly affect setting times for concrete, flat roof coverings and plaster.

Summer

The summer months seem to be the most popular time of year to have building work done - and it’s fairly obvious why that’s the case. The weather is usually dry, which is ideal for builders. It is also a preferable time of year if you are having any walls knocked down which will leave your home open to the elements. It’s not very pleasant if there’s a North wind blowing through your bedroom!

Building in the summer means things should go much more according to plan. And if the work involves your kitchen it will be a great advantage to use the garden as an extra room. Get re-acquainted with your BBQ and enjoy some outdoor living.

However, with the (hopefully) dry weather being an advantage, many homeowners will be having the same thought as you and most builders will therefore be in great demand at this time of year. As such, you may not be able to book the builder you want and it comes down to what’s more important to you.

Autumn/Winter

Winter is a much quieter time of year to start your project and it will be easier to get your builder of choice. The weather might not go the way you want it to but tarpaulins etc. can be used to protect any work being done and, let’s face it, builders are used to working in all weathers - although they may need a few extra cuppas to see them through.

Occasionally, there can be a delay to projects when the weather is particularly bad but this would usually only happen in extreme conditions.

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There’s pros and cons to all four seasons. Getting things done in the winter means you can hibernate in another part of the house and then enjoy the completed work when summer comes around. But if you go for a summer build, you can make the most of the better weather and prevent delays.

Even if you decide to wait until the warmer weather to start your build, if your builder comes highly recommended (and we hope that they do), this will be reflected in their availability. Chances are they will be fully booked many months in advance so it’s best to contact them right away - even if you end up waiting a year or two to start your build.

There’s no reason why you can’t start planning your home extension as soon as you make the decision that you need the extra space, so long as you start building within three years of gaining your planning and building control approvals.

Without a full set of design plans, you’ll struggle to get an accurate quote from builders, which means you’ll then struggle to get your builder booked in good time. It also makes sense to get your plans approved by your local authority if planning permission is required. Planning departments can get very busy in the summer thanks to annual leave and summer holidays, plus an increase in workload - why not get it out of the way when it’s a bit quieter?

To find out more about when and how to get a builder on board, check out this article in our Advice Centre. And if you would like to discuss anything regarding building work, an extension you’re planning or you’re just looking for some friendly advice, please contact our team on hello@practicalplanningco.co.uk / 0115 8748570.