When you decide to take the exciting step of building a new deck, the anticipation of seeing your vision come to life is exhilarating. While the thought of starting immediately is tempting, understanding the realities of the industry can help set realistic expectations. In Winnipeg’s vibrant summer season, it’s common to plan ahead, sometimes even a year in advance, to ensure you get the deck of your dreams.
- The surge in demand: Everyone wants their deck built immediately after deciding they want one, but the industry works on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many people book their projects in Winter or Spring, and a waitlist is common.
- The permit offices are busy: They routinely have waiting lists of 3-4 weeks in the summer season. This compounds if there are recommendations from the permit office to alter the design plans.
- Scheduling the work: A qualified workforce has been difficult to recruit since the pandemic. Most contractors are always hiring, meaning we have more work than people to do the jobs.
- The Spring/Summer season is short: Once people decide on a deck design, they want their decks and backyards built shortly after. This is usually okay if there are good weather conditions. Many good building days are lost when it rains excessively, and project lag time stacks up.
If Summer isn’t a good time to build a new deck, when is?
As the blog title suggests, building your deck in the Fall/Winter can be a great option compared to the summer months. We often get asked what can be done in the winter months, and although we can not fully complete a deck project in five feet of snow, we can get a head start for the Spring! In the colder months, we can:
- Book a design consultation appointment
- Measure up your yard
- Create a beautiful 3D color design of your backyard (see picture above)
- Create all technical drawings
- Apply for a permit: A process that should take less than a week in the “off-season” and colder months
- We receive a down payment on the project to get started
What does starting the building process look like in the Fall/Winter?
- Removal and clean-up of the existing structure
- Survey and sketch – mark out your backyard
- Install screw piles to prepare for the weight of the new deck
These three steps allow your project to be ready to work on early in the Spring as the screw piles are already in the ground. Not to mention, you already have permission to build with the permit approval. When starting in the Spring, wet conditions often delay the installation of screw piles and further delay your project, which is why starting in the colder months is ideal.
Design & Anchor Install Program
- Backyard conceptual design
- Permit approval process
- Fall anchor installation
Get yourself to the front of the line for early Spring installation.
Pros for building in the Fall/Winter
Bottom line, you get to the front of the line for spring builds. It helps your contractor spread the work by extending the current building season. It gives you extra months to pay off the entire project because only a small down payment is required for your project to get started in the fall.
Cons for building in the Fall/Winter
The first objection we hear about starting in the Fall/Winter is that we will remove the current deck for three to four months. We have learned that many dog owners need access to their back yards, which may prevent them from seeking this option. To overcome this objection, we offer to build temporary stairs to accommodate the owners and give pets access to the backyard.
Ready to get started on your dream deck? Don’t wait! Contact us at Deck City today to book your consultation and get ahead of the rush. Call us at (204) 272-0610 and let’s begin planning your perfect outdoor space.