Preparing for a Winter Renovation: What Homeowners Should Know

Winter might not be the first season that comes to mind when you think about renovations, but it can actually be a great time to tackle projects inside your home.

Here in Manitoba, we spend a lot more time indoors once the temperatures drop. That makes winter the perfect time to finally update the bathroom, refresh the kitchen, replace worn flooring, repaint a few rooms, or tackle those interior projects that have been sitting on the list all year.

If you are considering a winter renovation, a little preparation can make the entire process much smoother.

Start Planning Before Winter Arrives

One of the best things you can do is start the planning process early.

Renovations often involve more than simply choosing a start date. Depending on the project, there may be measurements, product selections, ordering materials, coordinating trades, and preparing the space before work begins.

Planning ahead also gives you more time to make decisions without feeling rushed.

If you are hoping to have a project completed during the winter months, reaching out in the fall gives you time to discuss your ideas, establish a budget, select materials, and get your project onto the schedule.

Choose Your Materials Early

Flooring, vanities, doors, fixtures, tile, faucets, and other renovation materials can sometimes take longer than expected to arrive.

Choosing your materials early helps prevent a renovation from coming to a stop because one important item hasn't arrived yet.

At JCJ Residential Services, we can also help guide you through product and design selections for the projects we complete. Our in-house design assistance helps homeowners pull their ideas together and make selections that work well with the finished space.

Think About How the Renovation Will Affect Your Home

Even a relatively small renovation can temporarily change how you use your home.

If we are renovating your only bathroom, for example, there may be periods when the toilet, sink, or shower cannot be used.

Kitchen renovations can temporarily affect your ability to cook, while flooring projects may require furniture to be moved or certain rooms to remain inaccessible.

Before construction begins, think about how your family will use the home while the work is underway.

A little planning can make the disruption much easier to manage.

Prepare the Work Area

Before your renovation begins, remove personal belongings, decorations, toiletries, small furniture, and anything else that may be in the work area.

The clearer the space is, the easier it is for our team to get started.

We take steps to protect the areas we are working in and the paths we use throughout your home, but renovations naturally create some dust, noise, and activity.

If there are valuable or fragile items nearby, it is always a good idea to move them before the project begins.

Consider Pets and Children

Construction sites can be interesting to kids and pets, but tools, materials, cords, equipment, and active work areas can also create hazards.

If possible, keep children and pets away from the renovation area while work is taking place.

Setting up a separate area of the home for them can help keep everyone safe while also allowing our team to work efficiently.

Keep Winter Access in Mind

Winter renovations come with one challenge we don't have to think about quite as much in July: snow and ice.

Contractors may need to carry tools, flooring, drywall, cabinets, tile, or other materials between vehicles and your home.

Keeping walkways, driveways, and entrances reasonably clear of snow and ice helps create a safer and more efficient work environment.

If materials are being delivered, we may also need enough room for delivery vehicles to access the property.

Your Heating System Matters

Certain renovation products perform best within specific temperature and humidity ranges.

Paint, drywall compounds, adhesives, caulking, flooring materials, and other products may need your home to remain at a stable indoor temperature while they are being installed or curing.

During a winter renovation, maintaining normal indoor heating is important.

We may also recommend allowing certain materials to acclimate inside your home before installation, particularly flooring products.

Expect Some Dust But Not Everywhere

Any renovation involving drywall, flooring removal, sanding, demolition, or cutting materials is going to create some dust.

That doesn't mean your entire house should become a construction zone.

At JCJ Residential Services, proper site preparation and cleanup are part of the job. Protecting the client's home is just as important as completing the renovation itself.

If there are particularly sensitive areas of your home, let us know before the project begins so they can be taken into consideration during site preparation.

Winter Is a Great Time for Interior Projects

While some exterior projects are limited by Manitoba weather, there are plenty of projects that work well during the winter.

These can include:

• Bathroom renovations

• Kitchen updates

• Interior painting

• Drywall and taping

• Flooring installation

• Backsplashes and tile

• Trim and baseboards

• Interior doors

• Closet updates

• Fixture replacements

• Basement finishing and upgrades

• General interior repairs and maintenance

Completing these projects during the colder months also means your home can be ready to enjoy when spring arrives.

Don't Wait Until January to Start Thinking About It

If you already know there is a renovation you would like completed this winter, now is the time to start planning.

Getting the quote, design decisions, product selections, and materials organized ahead of time can make a huge difference once construction begins.

At JCJ Residential Services, we work with homeowners throughout Brandon and Westman on renovations, repairs, painting, flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, and other residential projects.

Whether you already know exactly what you want or you are still trying to figure out where to start, we can help you work through the project from planning to completion.

Thinking about renovating this winter? Reach out to JCJ Residential Services and start planning your project before the snow flies.