What’s the best time of year to renovate?
We’re over half way through the year now and there is always this sense of “oh s**t - I haven’t even got properly started yet!”, right?!
Maybe it’s just me - however much I have actually achieved in the first two quarters I still manage to have a mini melt down and stress myself out by judging the progress I’ve made against made up deadlines.
I just had to take a week off to reset and address the overwhelm. Last year, in a moment of madness, I actually told everyone in my christmas cards what I was planning for 2021…just to make sure I could never quite relax and put it off for another while. Genius or maniac, you tell me!
(for those of you in the know - it’s still on!) 😉😉😉
Well, I’ve sorted myself out now and I’m back full of enthusiasm and energy. I’ve recruited some cheerleaders and am sticking to the plan I made in January. Go me!
But, this isn’t about me, it’s about you. So I want to share some tips on when to think about and plan work throughout the year, so you actually are ready -and not trying to book your emergency roof repair during the seasons only snow, as it slowly melts into grandma’s tea during the Queen’s speech. Because that’ll cost ya’.
January
Contractors that work with the hospitality industry will be flat out completing fit-outs and refurbs by Valentines, after the Christmas/NY rush. But January is one of the quietest months in most domestic builders’ calendars due to low demand and poor weather. People are just distracted by the hunger pangs of the latest fad diet and going to the gym excessively for the first ten minutes of the new year.
Personally, I tend to get quite a few desperate enquiries about extensions and remodels (after the kids have had to bunk up again to accommodate Aunt Shirley in her own room) and I do a lot of quoting and business development. I am rarely busy actually working on big projects - but I would love to be though!
If you are on the ball, you’ll find yourself with attentive consultants and contractors excited about getting the year off to a strong start and keen to give you their undivided attention. As a result you will get great quality and lots of added benefits because they are feeling relaxed and generous.
Flooring and paint companies are putting out new product ranges in January too, so leftover stock is regularly on sale. Go get that deal!
To do:
Decorations
New Flooring
Plan your kitchen/bathroom refurb whilst the holiday niggles are still fresh in your mind
To think about:
What really didn’t work for you over the holidays. Will a simple change make a big difference?
Getting quotes for work for the rest of the year. Contractors will be keen to book you in and secure work in their calendars and may even give you a good rate for securing your slot early.
February
Hopefully you’ve managed to get your Christmas tree off the kurb and finished off the final dregs of sherry (now that you’re back to eating regular, normal meals).
February should be a time to take action and go in for some drastic change to set the tone for the new year.
Press the button on that kitchen or bathroom refurb you planned in January, look for good quality ex display units and fittings in the showrooms and feel in charge! You will be tripping over the badly placed dishwasher no more whilst cooking dinner.
To accompany this, take a leaf from Marie Kondo and The Home Edit and sort out all the crap that accumulated over the last 12 months. Give yourself some space!
If it’s broken; fix it or chuck it, if you don’t use/wear/love it; repurpose it or donate it. Don’t feel guilty, it is the best way to feel like you are in charge of your surroundings!
To do:
Kitchen & Bathroom Refurbs
A good clear out!
To think about:
Storage - do you have enough of it, is it suitable for your needs?
Spring sales! I know we’ve just moved on from the New Years sales, but plot the next batch into your diary. New season new stock!
March
The ground is starting to thaw and it is generally nice bright weather so get to grips with those self contained outdoor jobs during this window.
Let the light in with some new windows or external doors. This is a less disruptive time of year to get the work done whilst daily routines are regular and there are no exams or school holidays to account for. Casements can be replaced or refurbished in a few days and you’re less at risk of torrential rain pouring in through the opening to ruin your carpets.
Talking about April showers, you might as well hop on a ladder and get the gutters and downpipes checked and cleared. Last year’s leaves are probably piling up in there and you’d be surprised how often I’ve found (not-so-perky) birds to be blocking the drainage runs.
To do:
Gutters & rainwater goods
Window and door replacement
To think about:
Which rooms were too hot/cold in the summer & winter
Rearranging your furniture to make the most of the views and sunshine ready for indoor/outdoor living!
April
I know it sounds counterintuitive to insulate in spring - but you can save a lot doing it when nobody else is! The weather is likely wet and damp so any weak spots in your roof may be easier to identify. On the plus side, that decluttering you did in February will make the loft more accessible!, right!
Check that your roof void or loft is adequately ventilated too, as varying (indoor & outdoor) temperatures and trapped humidity are nobody’s friend.
To do:
Insulate
Roof repairs
To think about:
Garden repair jobs are also a good thing to tackle when the sun is out. New fencing, steps, planting etc. Give it some thought.
May
Finally we should be back to some stability on the weather front so get those foundations dug now without them immediately filling up with rainwater*.
Major landscaping projects are also good to tackle at the same time.
You should be spared the mud bath and use this month to get retaining walls in, new patios laid, balustrades and fencing, terraced lawns, water features and stunning external lighting installed ready for hosting garden parties!
Invest in some ‘green’ energies too like solar panels to start harvesting that summer sun to power you through the winter.
*Kids may think big holes are fun pools but waterlogged foundations are a death trap and can suddenly collapse. Digging foundations in winter is another good option, as frost can help keep the soil in place and vegetation has died down so there is less clearing.
To do:
Start digging!
Landscaping projects
To think about:
Protected species like bats, badgers, newts, breeding birds, reptiles, dormice and otters have specific times of year when you cannot disturb them, even for survey work. And it tends to be around this time of year so consult a protected species survey calendar or contact an ecologist asap if you think this may impact your project.
I have no affiliation with JCA, but over the years I have found their calendar to be the most helpful and regularly refer back to it. Click the image to go to their website.June
Before you know it the summer holidays are upon you, the sun is shining and you’d much rather not be commuting into town nose-to-armpit on the tube to sit at a laminate desk with a takeaway lunch.
So work flexibly if you can. To do this, carve out a space in the house or garden to concentrate, with good natural light and fresh air.
It may be that you need to jig a few of your existing spaces around to make your house work for you. Builders will often be booked up quite a way in advance as demand rises steeply over the summer, so if you haven’t got one booked in spend the time planning ahead for next year’s build or invest in an off-the-shelf structure.
Garden offices can take a couple of days to a few weeks to install and fit out depending on the spec, but if you start now you should get most of the summer out of it. If it is well insulated you may find it a great hideout for the rest of the year too!
To do:
Garden or home office
Remodel
To think about:
How do you work, and how do you want to work. Is your work/life balance aligned with what you want it to be. If not, how can you tweak it. Take some steps to changing it now!
July
If your renovation project requires a timber frame you need to bear in mind that the timber for your frame will have quite a high wood moisture content. Bricklaying is also highly impacted by wet weather and they are harder to lay to a neat finish. So in a nice dry summer, chances of a speedy job with fewer defects is higher.The same applies to external painting.
You may think it’s best to do any tiling and decorating over the winter months when you’re stuck indoors. But actually, in summer you can fling open the windows and doors – adhesives and paint will dry quicker and the fresh air will get rid of any strong odours. The light is good too and the days longer, so you can get more done and be more confident in the shade of white you chose....
To do:
Timber framing & bricklaying
External paint jobs & internal tiling and painting
To think about:
Curb appeal. Painting and tidying up the impression of your house is one of the easiest ways to add value. Try to look at your house with objective eyes and tackle a few manageable tasks.
August
Don’t let hedges and shrubs go out of control, as trimming them then becomes much harder. This is physical work, but also immensely satisfying. You may as well do it now whilst you can sit outside with a beer and appreciate your handiwork, right?!
The garage is another storage black hole for most people. Take advantage of the dry mild weather to take everything out, install some proper storage to make things accessible (read: useable) and head off to the car boot sale (or Facebook Marketplace) with anything you don’t remember having.
To do:
Trimming hedges and shrubs
Sort out the garage - gym, bike store, carpentry/DIY hideaway…
To think about:
What did you enjoy most this summer? What worked really well in your house and how can you make sure that it is even better next year. Loved going for long walks but would have appreciated a hot and cold water tap outside to hose down the dog? Start an ideas list and keep it handy on your phone or fridge.
September
The kids are back to school and you’re starting to settle back into a routine.
Between the last of the late summer BBQ’s, take a moment to think about what will take a battering in the winter storms and energy demands of the colder months. Book inspections and pre-empt issues early to save the stress of hard-to-identify water ingress and cold showers before work when the boiler breaks down. Maybe time to get a bigger storage tank or upgrade the water pressure?
To do:
Roof, render and cladding repairs
Flue & chimney maintenance
Boiler service
To think about:
Are your needs changing? Have your storage/living/socialising patterns evolved?
Put pen to paper, talk to the others in your home about what they would change if they could. Sometimes it takes a while for a seed to grow into a commitment to change something!
October
It takes about six months from an initial idea to starting work on an average extension.
Sure anything can be done quicker, but by the time you’ve gone back and forwards a few times with design ideas, submitted and waited an age (minimum 2 months) for Planning permission, prepared detailed drawings and tendered a few contractors months have flown by…..trust me. Do yourself a favour and engage a designer now so that your process is well underway by prime foundation-digging-time in May/June. That way, even if you’re behind schedule you’ve still got the summer to get the bones of the building up and watertight before Jack Frost visits.
You do however still have a few months left of the year, so there is enough time to convert your loft into the necessary extra sleeping space. Or a man cave to escape to if necessary!
To do:
Plan your extension
Loft conversion
To think about:
Start thinking about what to get in the November sales!
November
Black Friday and pre-Christmas sales are upon us! This is the time to go mad and save so much money on that expensive smart technology you’ve been dreaming about for years.
The days are short and we’re in the mood with recently-carved pumpkins and bonfires. So don’t let those horrible cold white spotlights or undimmable paper shade pendants ruin the moment when you get home. Your home should be a place to rest, relax and enjoy yourself.
Use those sales to invest in some new lighting (floor, wall, table & ceiling!) and then book in an electrician to sort out your wiring before things get manic in December. You want to be able to spend November reading in an armchair….preferably undisturbed with a hot chocolate and cookies.
To do:
Invest in some new smart home tech
Up your Hygge game with new (dimmable) mood & feature lighting
To think about:
Who will sleep where over Christmas. Who will clash over the TV remote and who will deliberately leave their hearing aids out? Is there a better design solution?
December
To be honest, most of us want minimal disruption in December. There are parties to go to, drinks to be had, carol services to go to and so many minced pies to eat.
But! If you can face the idea of not spending Christmas at home, this is a fantastic time to decamp to another place and renovate.
Bigger contractors will often shut down for 2-3 weeks, but jobbing builders and individual tradespeople are often happy to squeeze the last remaining working days out of the year.
To do:
Renovate - the lounge, hallway, bedrooms
Get fitted storage and furniture made & installed
To think about:
Check the contractors Christmas shut down period - and make sure you are insured for any time your house is empty or not 100% secure.
January sales. I know, I hate thinking that way too - but so many materials and products are sold off cheaply to make way for new stock that it really is worth having your spec and colour scheme sorted before the New Year so you can strike whilst the iron is hot!
Wow - you made it all the way to here!
Thank you for reading, and cheers to that! Hopefully you found this helpful!
If you did, please share on social media and shout about my blog and resources to anyone you know in need of a bit of support (or just cheering up whilst the building dust flurries around them - I get it!).