What is the Best Time To Shop For A Deck?

There’s No Wrong Time to Buy A Deck, But…

Year after year, once the sun starts to come out in the spring, homeowners call us hoping their outdoor space can be ready for the coming warmer weather. While it only takes a week or 2 to actually build a deck, the whole process takes much longer. In 2023 Loudoun County changed it’s permitting system lengthening the time is takes to get deck permit from 2-3 weeks to 5-8 weeks. With that in mind, we created this guide to help homeowners know what timeline to expect on their project.

While there is no such thing as a wrong time to shop for a deck, there’s an old adage that says, “If you’re not early, you’re late.” Or to put it another way, if you want to enjoy your deck when it’s warm, start planning while it’s still cold. Between scheduling meetings, permits, HOA approvals and installation, it takes longer than most people would expect to complete the other steps to build a new deck in Loudoun County.

When You Reach Out Matters

Every year the demand for quality deck companies rises sharply in the early spring and stays relatively consistent until early November. If you are calling the deck company you want to work with in Spring and Summer, you are competing with all other homeowners. There are a lot of steps involved in building and each one takes longer as things get busy.

Seasonal Time Estimates For Each Step in the Process

  1. Scheduling and Meeting with Qualified Contractors: During the busy season contractors get booked further out lengthening the overall time to get an estimate and settle on a contract.
    1. Early Fall- Late Winter: 1-3 Weeks
    2. Early Spring-Late Summer: 3-5 Weeks
  2. HOA Approval / County & City Permits: During the busy season HOA committees and County/City Offices get overwhelmed. This large increase in overall paperwork typically dramatically lengthens the amount of time it takes to get approval/permits.
    1. Early Fall- Late Winter: 4-6 Weeks
    2. Early Spring-Late Summer: 6-8 Weeks
  3. Scheduling the Build: During the busy season contractors get booked out further than during the slower months.
    1. Early Fall- LateWinter: 1-2 Weeks after HOA and Permits
    2. Early Spring-Late Summer: 2-4 Weeks After HOA and Permit
  4. Installation: The installation of a Typical deck is one of the only things that says fairly consistent weather permitting
    1. Early Fall-Late Winter: 1-2 weeks
    2. Early Fall- Late Winter: 1-2 weeks
  5. Total Project Time Based on When You Reach Out: When you sum it up, you can see the effect of when you reach out on the overall timeline of your project.
    1. Reaching out in Winter: 2.5-3 months
    2. Reaching out In Spring and Summer: 3-5 months

Check the Chart Below For Estimated Project Timelines

Why Can’t The Deck Project Be Completed Any Faster?

Some companies will claim they can move faster. They do this in hopes that you will choose them for the project. The reality is these steps simply cannot be sped up, especially during the Spring and Summer when county offices and HOAs are inundated with applications. To put it concisely, there is simply no way to avoid longer timelines during the spring/summer so start your planning at the appropriate time of year to meet your timeline goal.

Is it Cheaper to Build in The Winter?

A frequent question we get asked is “is it cheaper if I wait until it gets cold.” For some companies the answer will be yes. Their prices will fluctuate greatly by time of year as they raise the prices up in the busy summer months and then bring them down to earth when winter strikes. At Loudoun Deck and Fence, we try to maintain a consistently fair price throughout the year. With that said, the price of materials can dip a little in the winter as demand for supplies wanes, making it possible to get a slight discount if you choose to build during the winter months.

Plan Around What’s Right For You

Like we said in the beginning, there is no wrong time to start the process of building a deck, just be aware of how when you start your planning affects when your deck will be ready to enjoy. If you’re looking to get a jump start on your project, contact Loudoun Deck and Fence today.