Winter Planning Tips for Major Spring Renovations

In the USA, spring is the most popular time to start major home renovations. However, many homeowners don’t realize that the work determining whether a project begins on time needs to happen during the winter months.

“Winter is the planning season for spring renovations,” says Kevin Xing, product manager at global construction machinery manufacturer BOLEO. “Contractors need clear access to the site, accurate ground assessments, and enough time to coordinate equipment and materials. If homeowners wait until March to start these steps, the project is already behind.”

Kevin explains that winter conditions, from soil moisture to early freeze–thaw cycles in parts of the country, can affect how contractors evaluate a site and how they plan machinery access. Getting these checks done early ensures the property is truly “shovel ready” when crews arrive in spring.

To help homeowners avoid delays, Kevin shares 6 things that homeowners planning spring renovations should do now: 

1. Schedule a pre-construction site evaluation.

Contractors need to inspect slope, drainage tree roots, and nearby structures before deeper frost or winter storms obscure issues. Early assessments give homeowners time to address problems before spring.

2. Start permitting and design reviews early.

Winter is often a lighter period for permit offices and design teams. Submitting applications now helps avoid the spring backlog which slows many renovation projects.

3. Complete soil testing before the ground freezes.

Accurate compaction, load-bearing and drainage tests rely on accessible soil. In colder regions, once the ground freezes, these assessments become less reliable or impossible until thaw.

4. Plan equipment access routes.

Gate widths, turning space, slopes and overhead clearance all determine what machinery can safely enter the property. Compact equipment helps, but contractors still need clear access to work zones.

5. Identify material staging areas.

Homeowners should map out level, dry areas where lumber, aggregates and equipment can be stored without sinking into soft ground when the spring thaw begins.

6. Understand what “shovel ready” actually means.

For contractors, it’s more than paperwork. A site is “shovel-ready” when access is cleared, utilities are identified, ground conditions are documented, and staging space is planned.

“Most spring delays come from issues that could have been caught in winter, like tight access routes, unclear drainage problems, or permits that weren’t filed early enough,” Kevin says. “Homeowners who use winter to plan are the ones whose projects start on schedule once the weather warms.”