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If you’re looking into buying a new construction home near Saratoga Springs, NY, you may be wondering about signing onto a project like the building of a new house when winter is around the corner. While it’s true we can get some harsh weather come November in the Capital Region, that’s no reason to slow down your house search, new construction or not.

excavator in the snow

See six commonly asked questions about building a new construction home in the winter below, complete with some input from one of our experienced partner home builders, DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders.

1) Are there any potential benefits to building in the winter?

fireplace in empty living room in newly built house

There are typically fewer new construction homes being assembled during the colder months, which means the professionals can likely dedicate more time to your house. The permit process can move faster in the winter, too, because of fewer applications to weed through.

Surprisingly, snow is easier to deal with than rain, when it comes to the elements and their effect on construction.

2) What are some possible disadvantages to building in the winter?

Building a new construction home in the winter is likely to incur additional costs, like concrete curing blankets, which keep the material warm during the curing process.

When asked about expenses incurred when building in the winter, Mark Johnson of DeGraff Bloom Custom Builders added, “Cold temperatures, needing to add heat, and the moving of snow,” as components that can add to the price tag.

However, these added expenses pale in comparison to the cost of the project as a whole. Plus, the cost of building materials tends to increase in the spring, which overall could add up to more than those added expenses incurred for winter construction.

3) Is it true that concrete poured in the winter won’t be as strong?

concrete floor of basement

One concern some have about building a house in the winter is the calcium chloride added to the concrete mix. This compound is included to warm up the concrete and make it more malleable.

Although adding the calcium chloride can make the foundation take longer to fully cure, when used in the correct amounts it can actually produce an even stronger foundation than if the concrete did not have this addition.

Moreover, concrete foundations and walls need to meet building code requirements regardless of any additives. And they do!

4) What about lumber, is that adversely affected by cold weather?

framing of a house on the left, wooden frames on the right

When it comes to lumber and the elements it’s actually the humidity of warmer weather that can wreak havoc on the wood. Wood is porous and absorbs moisture in the air, and that can cause the lumber to expand.

Lumber is not likely to be exposed to as much rain or moisture in colder weather, and even snow, provided it’s brushed off before it melts, shouldn’t pose a significant problem.

5) What do builders tell clients about building at this time?

“The main thing is it just takes longer in the winter,” Johnson said. “We watch the weather and only schedule outside work on ‘good’ days.” Johnson mentioned concerns with ice on job sites, and needing to put safety first.

“We advise clients to have patience in the winter. You just cannot move as fast in winter conditions.”

6) What else should potential new construction home buyers know?

gray house

Now that you’re apprised of the ups and downs with regards to building a house in the winter, we’ll leave you with this parting thought:

Those in the construction industry, especially the reputable builders we work with here in the Saratoga area, tend to be hardy, dedicated professionals who are passionate about their craft. They know how to work around obstacles that arise regardless of the season.

Between your real estate professional and the builder, every step of the process will be communicated to you, so there are no surprises and any concerns are addressed.

So why wait if you don’t have to? Get started looking into new construction homes in the Saratoga region today!

Read about how our real estate agents are trained in new construction >>