Fall Home Renovation Projects: 7 to Book Before Winter

Fall has a way of sneaking up on you. One week you’re still on the patio, and the next you’re hunting for the ice scraper. If you’ve been putting off a project, fall home renovation projects are worth starting now. The house is about to work a lot harder for the next five months, and you’ll be spending more time inside it.

Below are the seven projects Canadian homeowners most often book in the fall, why the timing works, and where to find verified pros in your city for each one.

Why fall is a good time for home renovation projects

Summer belongs to roofers, deck builders and landscapers. Once the weather turns, a lot of that outdoor work winds down, and many renovation crews have more room in their schedules for work inside the house.

There’s a second reason, too. If you want something done before the holidays, or before family comes to stay, fall is when you need to book it. Wait until November and you may be looking at the new year.

1. Furnace tune-up or replacement

This one comes first for a reason. Nobody wants to find out the furnace has quit on the first cold night of the year, and that’s exactly when every heating company in town gets busy.

A yearly furnace tune-up in early fall lets a technician catch small problems before they turn into a no-heat call. If your furnace is getting older, noisy, or your gas bills keep creeping up, fall is also the calmest time to talk about replacing it. You’ll have time to compare quotes instead of taking whoever can come tonight.

2. Window replacement before winter

If you can feel a draft when you sit near a window, or you see frost on the inside of the glass in January, your windows are letting heat out. That heat is money your furnace already spent.

Early fall is a good time to replace windows. Installers can still work comfortably, and new windows will be in before the coldest months arrive. Keep in mind that many windows are made to order and can take several weeks to arrive, so it helps to get quotes sooner rather than later.

3. Basement finishing

Come January, the whole family is inside, and the house can start to feel small. An unfinished basement is often the easiest place to find more room without moving. A family room, an office, a guest bedroom for when the in-laws visit. It all counts.

Basement finishing is indoor work, so the weather doesn’t hold it up. One thing to sort out first: if your basement has ever been damp or leaked, have that looked at before anything gets framed or drywalled. It’s much easier to fix now than after the carpet goes down.

4. Kitchen renovation

Kitchens are the project most homeowners think about the longest before they start. Fall is a good time to stop thinking and start planning. It’s inside work, and crews that spent the summer on outdoor jobs often have more time for you.

If you want your kitchen renovation done before the holidays, be realistic about timing. Even a simple kitchen takes several weeks of work, and custom cabinets can take weeks more just to be built. Booking in September gives you a fair shot. Booking in November usually means the new year.

5. Bathroom renovation

A bathroom is smaller than a kitchen, so it’s often the easier project to finish before the holidays. It’s also the room where small problems like to hide. A soft spot in the floor, a loose tile, or caulking that keeps turning black can all point to water getting where it shouldn’t.

If guests will be staying with you over the holidays, a refreshed bathroom is one of the upgrades you’ll notice every single day.

6. Interior painting

Interior painting is one of the quickest ways to make a house feel new again, and it doesn’t take weeks. Most rooms are done in a day or two.

Early fall has a small advantage here. It’s often still mild enough to crack a window while the paint dries, which is harder to do once it’s minus twenty outside. Painters also tend to have more openings once exterior season wraps up.

7. New flooring

Worn carpet and scratched floors are easy to ignore in summer when everyone’s outside. In winter, you’re looking at them every day. New flooring is a big visual change without the mess of a full renovation.

One tip: wood flooring needs to sit inside your home for a few days before it’s installed so it can adjust to the air in your house. A good installer will plan for that. If yours wants to lay it the same day it arrives, it’s worth asking why.

Fall home renovation projects by city

The list above works across Canada, but the weather doesn’t treat every city the same. Here’s what to put first where you live:

• Calgary: Snow in September isn’t unusual, and chinooks can swing the temperature fast. Get the furnace checked early rather than waiting for the first cold snap.
• Edmonton: Winters are long, and your furnace will be running for a good chunk of the year. Heating and drafty windows are the two to look at first.
• Winnipeg: Some of the coldest winters of any big Canadian city. If your windows are letting in cold air now, you’ll feel it much more in February.
• Vancouver: Fall here means rain more than cold. Before finishing a basement, make sure it stays dry through the wet season. Many homes also use heat pumps, which benefit from a fall check-up too.
• Ottawa: Cold winters and plenty of snow. Heating and windows first, then the inside projects you want done before the holidays.
• Toronto: Winters are milder than on the Prairies, but many older homes have basements that need attention before they’re finished. Get any dampness looked at first.

Before you book a contractor

Whatever the project, the same few things matter. Get more than one quote, and make sure each one is for the same job. Ask for proof of licensing and insurance. Get everything in writing before you pay a deposit. And ask who will actually be in your home doing the work.

Most of all, trust the contractor who asks you good questions. The one who wants to understand how you use your home is usually the one who does the job right.

Common questions about fall renovations

What home renovation projects can you do in the fall?

The most popular fall home renovation projects are furnace tune-ups or replacement, window replacement, basement finishing, kitchen and bathroom renovations, interior painting, and new flooring. Most are indoor work, so cooler weather doesn’t slow them down.

Is fall a good time to renovate?

Yes, especially for indoor projects. Outdoor work slows down after summer, so many renovation crews have more openings. It’s also your last good chance to get work done before the holidays.

When should I book a renovation to finish before the holidays?

As early in the fall as you can. September or early October is best for bigger projects like kitchens. Custom cabinets and made-to-order windows can take several weeks just to arrive.

Can you replace windows in the fall?

Yes. Early fall is a good time to replace windows, because installers can still work comfortably and your new windows will be in before the coldest months.

How often should a furnace be serviced?

Once a year is the usual advice, and early fall is the best time. A technician can catch small problems before you need the heat every day.

How do I find a trusted contractor for a fall project?

Get more than one quote, ask for proof of licensing and insurance, and get everything in writing. RenovationFind checks contractors for licensing, insurance, reputation and business practices before they’re listed, so you can start with pros who’ve already been verified.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com