One of the hardest parts of any renovation is deciding when to bite the bullet and put your order in. What happens if your dream plans turn into a nightmare of soggy British weather? Today the team at Monarch Oak are looking at when the best time to install your oak garage really is, the considerations you need to make around the installation, and everything else you need to know to make the process as seamless as possible.
Is There a Season I Can’t Install My Garage in?
There is no season in which you can’t install an oak garage. It’s easier to do at the times of the year when there isn’t much precipitation, simply because precipitation, especially melting snow and rain, introduces a lot of unknown variables to the table with any groundwork. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to install it when the weather’s grungy, though.
There is a lingering perception in the UK that you can only do anything garden-related in the summertime. We certainly understand why planting and digging is much better to do in the warm months than with a frigid winter gale undoing all your hard work, but it doesn’t really carry over into the building trade as much- especially with oak garages.
Why? Compared to other building methods, a lot of the assembly and design of your oak garage is done off-site, in the factory. This means a lot of it is done in an area with temperature control and protection.
Provided the delivered oak parts don’t sit around the site in inclement weather for ages, this means you’re pretty safe to install them at any time of year. Likewise, while you’ll always need some site preparation for your oak garage, it doesn’t have the intense need of some brick-and-mortar projects, which makes life easier no matter the weather.
Checking in with Planning Permission
Of course, it’s worth remembering that the council often needs to get involved when adding a full new structure to the property. Bear in mind the perception that summer is the time to get your renovations done, so the planning offices can be a little slower in summer than in cooler months. It shouldn’t be enough of a backlog to be worth changing installation dates, but it’s worth remembering and planning accordingly. Don’t just plan for the garage itself, but remember to factor in any permits or permission for additional trades, like electricity and glazing, you need.
In a similar vein, many tradies and builders find that they are slower in the cooler months, so they have more incentive to offer discounts and could have less of a waiting list than in summer. However, if you’re using your own builders to erect your oak garage, remember that good tradesmen tend to always have a bit of a backlog, so again, plan ahead.
What Should I Know About Soil Conditions?
With an oak garage, you don’t have many of the considerations that brick structures need- such as time for cement or plaster to cure, which can be heavily affected by weather conditions. That doesn’t mean you’re entirely scot-free, however.
Most oak garages need careful preparation of the site. So something known as ‘soil shift’ is always worth bearing in mind. Without getting too technical, it is exactly what it sounds like, and can lead to subsidence on concrete platforms, brick surfaces, and so on. It’s typically caused by heavy frost or a lot of rain. Plus, if you’re going with concrete footings or floors, remember that it will need to dry and cure before the rest of the installation is done.
Are You Doing DIY?
This might seem like a silly consideration, but it’s worth it! While professional builders are used to working in all seasons and weather conditions, DIY isn’t appealing when it’s sleeting, raining, or freezing outside. Do you want to self-install it in the particular season you’re thinking of? Or would it be better to trust a pro? Finding the motivation to get the job done can be tough if it’s not a nice time of the year.
What Weather is Ideal to Install an Oak Garage?
So, you can actually install your oak garage at any time of year. All you need to do is your best to find a patch of dry weather and plan accordingly.
That doesn’t mean every time of year is ideal, however. When is the best time to install an oak garage? Any time of the year when it’s cool and dry. The UK weather doesn’t always cooperate with that- mid-winter can be precipitation heavy and cold enough to raise soil shift concerns, while bucketing rain is not unknown in summer! However, just about the best time of year, where we most reliably get somewhat dependable weather, is late winter and early spring. These are rain-free for most of the country, neither too hot nor too cold, and they tend to be pleasant and motivational times of year for home improvement projects, too.
If you’ve had any extreme temperature warnings, high or low, it can be a good idea to put off your build. If you’re using contractors or the Monarch Oak installation team, check in with them for their thoughts on the current conditions if you’re worried. Remember that professionals will always do their utmost to stay on top of deadlines you agree to in the contract, so typically only the most extreme weather will delay your installation.
And there you have it! While you can successfully install an oak garage in any season, there are some factors that make late winter and early-to-mid spring a fantastic time to look at getting the job done. Are you planning to add an oak garage anytime soon? The team at Monarch Oak is always happy to answer your questions and discuss your project, so get in touch today!