Plan ahead so you can properly enjoy your deck when the weather is warmer
Winter is a surprisingly ideal time to build a new deck.
Contractors’ schedules are more available during the winter months.
Heat damage to the wood during installation is minimal.
You can potentially save money on labor and materials.
When snow is piling up outside during the winter months, many people are thinking about snuggling up with hot cocoa. But, staring out at all that unused space in your backyard, you might wonder, “Can you build a deck in the winter?” Absolutely.
While building a deck during the winter might feel counterintuitive, it’s the perfect season to get your project started. Check out these reasons why the cold-weather months may be the best time to build a deck.
Building your deck during the winter months can save you money on labor and material costs. You could save on labor costs because contractors in your area will likely have fewer jobs. As a result, they may quote you a lower rate to build your deck than they would during warmer weather.
In order to get a sense of how much you can expect to spend on your deck should you have it built in the winter, you need to know the range of cost. The average cost to build a deck is $4,100 to $11,650. If you decide to have your deck built during the winter, you can expect the price to be on the lower end of that range.
Another perk of building your deck in the winter is contractor availability. The best contractors in your area might not be able to immediately start a job for you during the spring or summer because they’re in high demand. However, during the off-season, you’re more likely to hire a local deck builder and start your project with less lag time.
That isn’t to say that the contractor will be able to get the job done faster in the winter once they get it started. Delays and work stoppages could still arise depending on what that winter weather is doing—building a deck during a week-long blizzard, for example, isn’t likely.
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While wood is one of the more common materials used to make decks, the three-digit temperatures during the summer can damage it. Why? The sun’s heat can warp the wood, making it difficult for even the most seasoned contractors to align properly, especially if the wood has been sitting out.
In the winter, the cold temps keep the wood from expanding, making it easier to install. Of course, keep in mind that this doesn’t apply if you’ve selected another material for your deck. Non-wood long-lasting deck materials include PVC (polyvinyl chloride), aluminum, or composite decking. Since they aren’t made entirely of wood (or in the case of PVC, no wood at all), they don’t warp the same way wood planks for decks do.
A good reason to build your deck during the winter? Just like you don’t want to spend time out there, neither will the rest of your family. Building your deck in the winter means that you don’t need to schedule your outdoor activities (like parties and BBQs) around the construction schedule. Plus, if the build goes according to plan, it’ll be complete by the time it’s warm enough to grill again.
What do your new deck and smoked meat have in common? They both need to cure! Even if you’ve chosen composite or aluminum instead of wood for your new deck, it still has a wooden base and wooden feet.
The wood used for this part of your deck is pressure-treated lumber. That means a mixture of water and preserving agents were injected into this wood using pressure so your natural wood can live a long and happy life without prematurely warping, rotting, or cracking.
Your deck’s cure time is how long it takes for the moisture that remains in these boards to evaporate. Winter is a great time to accomplish this task because of the lack of humidity. When you build your deck in winter, it has the ideal conditions it needs to cure effectively.
The perk of staining a wooden deck in the winter is the dry air that allows for the color to reach its full potential without the threat of streaking or cracking that may be present in more humid seasons like spring or summer.
As mentioned above, wood tends to soak up moisture from the air, which can cause cracking and peeling in the stain if you apply it in warmer temperatures. If you live in a particularly warm climate, the hot air can even speed up the dry time of the stain, which can cause unwanted streaking or leave watermarks.
Building a deck, especially one with a big footprint, can lead to a team of contractors in your yard for several days, if not longer. The more foot traffic in your yard, the more likely your grass or landscaping will suffer the consequences.
However, your yard is less likely to be affected by the increased foot traffic during the winter, especially if there’s ice or snow on the ground, which can act as a barrier between workers and your precious turf. A firm ground with dormant grass in the winter will mean you won’t have as much damage to correct once spring or summer rolls around.
Whether you like to have the occasional cocktail outside or entertain the masses in your backyard, a major upside to building a deck in the winter is the ability to use it as soon as the flowers bloom and the cold melts away. Your deck will be primed and ready for weeknight bonfires, grilling season, and other occasions that utilize your outdoor entertaining space. Plus, once the deck is complete, you’ll have more time to furnish it and adorn it with all of the elements that will make it more magical, such as string lights, Adirondack chairs, or a new smoker.
Becca Stokes contributed to this piece.
Yes, and in some cases, frozen ground may improve the digging process for footings due to sturdier conditions. It’s easier than working in muddy conditions, which are more common in the spring. Contractors may use machinery that makes this step a breeze, so harder ground shouldn’t affect the building process.
No. In most cases, it’s not colder or freezing temperatures that affect decking materials but the amount of moisture that seeps into the materials as a result. For example, wood decking material is more likely to suffer from rot or decay when exposed to excess moisture from snow or ice. An extreme change in temperature can cause wood to expand or contract, but only if it’s not properly treated beforehand.
Yes. Composite decking is resistant to moisture and freezing temperatures, so it’s an ideal material to use in particularly cold or damp seasons. You can install this type of decking throughout the year since it does not warp or split in the cold.
Late fall and early winter can be ideal for a deck-building project. More people want to build a new deck during the warmer spring and summer months, so demand for labor and materials will be down. Not only will labor be cheaper because it’s the off-season, but decking materials will also come at a lower cost. Consider building your deck between October and January.
