Is 

Winter 

a 

Bad 

Time 

to 

Renovate 

in 

BC? 

(Not 

Always!) 

Is Winter a Bad Time to Renovate in BC? (Not Always!)

Many homeowners assume winter is a poor time to renovate, cold weather, shorter days, rainy skies. But the truth is: winter can actually be a smart window to start or complete certain types of home renovations, especially interior work. In BC and the Lower Mainland, the slower season often brings advantages for families looking to renovate with less hassle, lower wait times, and potentially better value.

Why Winter Can Be a Great Time for Renovations

Contractor Availability & Potential Cost Savings

Once peak renovation season winds down (spring through summer), contractors often have more availability. This can mean:

• Easier scheduling, your favourite builder is more likely to be free.
• Sometimes lower labour or materials costs, or at least less competition for high-demand trades.
• Faster turnaround on interior jobs because trades aren’t juggling multiple overlapping projects.

Good Timing for Indoor Work

Winter is especially well-suited for interior renovations like kitchen remodels, flooring, bathroom updates, basement finishing, and reconfigurations of living space.

Since weather doesn’t interfere much indoors, you avoid delays tied to rain, cold, or frozen ground.

Beat the Spring Rush — Finish Before Busy Season

By renovating over winter, you avoid the spring/summer backlog. That means your project can wrap up before warmer weather, a big plus if you want to enjoy your refreshed home in spring or summer.

Less Disruption to Summer Plans

If your family’s summer is usually packed — vacations, kids, social events — doing renovations in winter means you avoid disrupting those fun months. Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy your upgrades just as the weather warms.

But Winter Has Its Challenges — Plan Carefully

Winter isn’t ideal for all renovation types. There are important drawbacks to keep in mind, especially for projects involving exterior work or materials sensitive to cold.

Weather & Material Risks

• Cold, damp, or wet weather can slow or disrupt deliveries, especially for exterior jobs or structural work.
• Some materials, like concrete, certain adhesives/finishes, or exterior paint, may cure or settle poorly under cold or damp conditions, risking quality or durability.

Limited Daylight & Shorter Days

Shorter winter days mean less daylight for work, which can slow progress or reduce the number of usable working hours, especially for jobs needing natural light or exterior work.

Heating, Ventilation & Safety Considerations

During interior renovations, keeping the home warm, while windows or walls may be open, requires careful heating and ventilation planning. It’s important for comfort, materials performance, and worker/homeowner safety.

Outdoor / Structural Work Is Riskier

Projects like exterior siding, roof work, foundation, concrete pour, landscaping, these tend to suffer from winter conditions. Cold, moisture, or frozen ground make them harder or unsafe.

What Renovations Work Best in Winter — What to Wait On

✅ Good Winter Projects

❄️ Projects to Delay or Plan for Warmer Weather

Kitchen remodels (cabinets, finishes, layout)

Exterior painting or siding

Bathroom remodels or basement finishing

Roofing, driveway work, concrete pour, foundation

Flooring, interior wall / ceiling updates, insulation

Landscaping, patios/decks, concrete work

Window/door replacement if done carefully & temperature-appropriate

Full-scale exterior builds/additions, major exterior structural changes

Our Take for BC / Fraser Valley Families

If you’re based in Langley, Surrey, or any part of the Lower Mainland and, like many BC families — you’re drawn to kitchen remodels or opening living spaces, winter can be a strong candidate for starting your renovation.

With proper planning around heating, materials, and scope (focusing on interior when possible), you may end up with:

• easier scheduling and contractor availability
• efficient timeline (potentially finishing before spring’s peak)
• less disruption to summer months
• smart use of your renovation budget

That said, for exterior or structural-heavy work, it’s usually smarter to wait for milder weather.

Our team at Square One Construction can walk you through timelines, budgets, and what’s realistic for your home, even in the colder months.

📧 info@squareoneconstruction.ca 📞 (778) 400-7948