Why Winter Is the Best Time for a Kitchen Renovation
Timing home remodeling projects right can offer some unexpected benefits worth considering. In this blog, we will explain why winter is the best time for a kitchen renovation.
Winter Kitchen Renovations Are “Off Season”
Believe it or not, home remodeling contracts experience seasonal renovation peaks. Spring and summer tend to see the busy season kick in across a wide range of projects, which means you might find yourself struggling to find someone to complete your project as soon as you had hoped. By starting your project in the winter, you are shopping around in the “off season,” providing you with a wider selection of contractors so you get what you want.
Off-Season Renovations Are More Affordable
Off-season kitchen renovations offer better access to quality contractors, skilled labourers, and popular materials. When you tackle your home remodeling in the winter, less competition with other homeowners means you can see some very notable cost savings from contractors who find themselves idle, waiting until the peak season arrives in the spring.
Also, contractors don’t face costly labour and material shortages for seasonal renovations in the winter and often happily pass those savings onto you.
More Home Remodeling Sales in the Winter
Winter is the season of home improvement retail closeout sales. As a result, you not only see savings in your labour costs, but can also see big savings on inventory clear-outs from appliances to flooring, and backsplash materials to entire kitchen cabinet displays.
For example, at Quartz Co Surfaces, our special featured surfaces in the winter are available for a limited time at reduced prices in the winter, ideal for countertops and solid backsplashes that offer lasting beauty more affordably.
More Desirable Remnants Available
With all the summer renovations out of the way, many suppliers have high-quality quartz remnants available for kitchen countertops and focal points like walls behind the stove.
As custom surface fabricators, we process large quantities of countertop materials like quartz and granite that produce unused pieces of material that are large enough for projects such as counters for smaller kitchens, islands, or features such as coffee bars, butler pantries, or kitchen desks.
It’s worth a visit to our showrooms to get ideas, consider ways to create focal points, and introduce practical work surfaces to improve the look and function of your kitchen.
Avoid Seasonal Renovations During the Holiday
The holidays are the busiest time for kitchens. Whether you tend to become the host-with-the-most or bake up a storm during the holidays, home remodeling in the late fall is too hectic a time to have your kitchen out of service.
By scheduling your kitchen renovation in the winter, you can get all that holiday prep out of the way and then begin your renovations when there’s not much going on. It makes more sense to work your old kitchen hard in December so it is ready for a much-needed refresh in the New Year!
Less Red Tape Delays for Kitchen Renovation Permits
Waiting for permits can slow things down or even lead to delays. Although not all kitchen remodeling projects require permits, major structural, electrical, plumbing, and installation work such as gas lines does. In the winter, there are fewer contractors and homeowners lining up for permits, which means fewer red tape delays for your kitchen renovation.
More Attention From Contractors
Kitchen contractors can sometimes be less responsive during the peak home remodeling season, leading to frustration, crossed wires, and delays. Ongoing communication during kitchen remodels is key to ensuring the project runs smoothly.
It also helps reduce stress when you have regular check-ins with your contractor. If you can’t reach your contractor for critical change orders, cancel aspects of the project due to budget concerns, or simply have found another material you prefer, it can end up costing you money.
In the winter, when contractors have fewer jobs, they are far more responsive and can provide their undivided attention to ensure your project goes exactly as you want it.
They spend more time discussing major considerations, such as materials, are more thorough in their project updates, and can take more calls because they have more time.
Dedicated Trades for Winter Kitchen Renovations
Many kitchen contractors work with dedicated trades they rely on for specialty tasks such as electrical, tile installation, plumbing, and gas lines. In peak season, coordinating all these trades efficiently can be difficult, leading to unnecessary delays or, worse, contractors hiring less-experienced workers.
In the winter, expertise is more readily available, ensuring you complete your project on time at a lower cost with higher-quality work.
Avoid Kitchen Renovation Delays
The less time your contractor has, the greater the chance of delays. From placing material orders to ensuring communication keeps things moving forward, winter kitchen remodeling frees up contractors to keep your project on schedule. Common delays include:
- Material shortages
- Poor responsiveness during the decision-making process
- Waiting for permits
- Waiting for back orders
- Labour shortages
- Trade shortages such as plumbers, tilers, electricians, etc.
Winter Upgrades for a Quick Refresh
Winter is also the perfect time for quick refreshes and upgrades to create a whole new look without the need for costly, time-consuming whole-kitchen renovations. Refreshes that see results almost as impressive as a complete kitchen seasonal renovation might include:
- New countertops such as natural stone, quartz, sintered and porcelain, or wood
- Solid surface feature walls or backsplashes
- A kitchen island
- New faucet and sink
- New cabinet pulls and handles
- Kitchen fireplace surround
Kitchen renovations during the slower winter season offer an opportunity to enjoy superior service, reduced prices for labour and materials, and more responsive contractors who can focus on your project without delays.
Contact the Experts at Quartz Co Surfaces
Quartz Co Surfaces has perfected our stone surface process to ensure unmatched results with a selection of remnants ideal for special winter projects, as well as fully customized kitchen countertops for your full kitchen renovation. We are your go-to provider for luxurious natural stone interior design. For more information, book an in-person or virtual consultation or visit one of our showrooms near you.
