With summer fast approaching, many homeowners will be considering ways they can improve their living space – either to add curb appeal and increase its chances of selling or for their own enjoyment.
Are you the same?
If so, simple cosmetic changes, like adding a new lick of paint to the walls or swapping dusty old carpets for sophisticated laminate floorboards, can be achieved with relative ease. However, you might be surprised to hear that there are pros and cons to undertaking renovation work at different times of the year.
So, to help, we thought we’d list a few examples of possible home improvement projects you could take on and offer a few helpful tips on when to execute them…
· Foundations – January to early March
Quite often, people dismiss the winter season when it comes to renovating – but it’s actually an ideal time to start as the frozen ground conditions and dry air make it easier to dig the foundations.
Plus, in the winter, builders tend to be less busy because everyone is holding out until the spring/summer to start their home projects. That means you might be able to get the work done for a cheaper price too!
· Garden decking – April to June
Always dreamt of having a patio or deck that can be enjoyed by the entire family in the coming summer months? Ideally, you want to look at pencilling such work in your diary for springtime.
Decks require hand-digging and, as it marks the end of winter hibernation, the ground is usually much softer during this time of year. However, we must add that spring is the busiest time of year for contractors, so you could end up spending more on labour and materials.
· Kitchen or bathroom remodelling – July to September
Believe it or not, summer is the perfect time to completely redesign your kitchen or bathroom.
If you’re going on holiday, you could leave your house keys with someone you trust (i.e. a neighbour, family member or friend) and ask them to let the contractors in whilst you’re away. At least then you can avoid the inconvenience of living with a renovation, and come back to a brand new bathroom or kitchen.
· Roofing projects – July to September
Let’s face it, the UK gets its fair share of wet weather – especially areas like Warrington in the North West. However, one thing for sure is that, in the summer, there is less chance of weather interference.
Although this allows roofers to work safely and efficiently, it’s also ideal because some roofing materials need higher temperatures to seal.
Top tip – try to avoid renovating in October to December, if possible.
Early October is great for outdoor work, such as painting and constructing. But as the temperatures start to plummet, workers usually have a lot of deadlines to meet and are in a rush to get finished. And with Christmas just around the corner, it could take longer for materials to ship – pushing your plans even further back.
Oh, and don’t forget to consider the waste that your project will generate once work commences so you can establish whether you need to hire a skip. GSH Skips specialise in skip hire in Warrington and have a variety of skip sizes available – ranging from 4-cubic yards right the way up to 14-cubic yards. So no matter how big or small your project, they can deliver a suitable skip to your door in time for your project to start.
