The Best and Worst Times to Build in NSW by Region

Having a strategy in place when building is crucial to minimise construction delays and keep within your budget. One of the biggest causes of delays is the weather. Rains, high winds and extreme heat can throw your schedule off as work progresses at a snail’s pace or your site is shut down completely.

But rain and storms aren’t the only challenges you face when planning a build—both Granny Flats and larger projects. The whole industry shuts down over the festive season, which will also affect your timeline and your budget if it’s not worked into your planning.

In this article, we look at weather trends in key NSW regions to help you minimise delays and choose the best time of year to start building. We also consider labour demand and look at the seasonal impact on construction throughout NSW and what it can mean for your build.

Understanding Seasonal Impact on Construction in NSW

Seasons can affect the availability of your builder and other trades, present weather challenges for workers and make it more difficult to work with some materials. For example, concrete can take longer to set in cold weather and paint can be difficult to work with in high humidity.

Jobs like site preparation, excavation, framing and roofing are near impossible in the rain and if the building isn’t yet weatherproof, it can cause material delays.

Public holidays and the festive season can be worked into your planning but even the best long-range forecast can’t predict how many days you may lose if the weather isn’t in your favour. Planning your build around the peak rainfall season can help you minimise delays (as we’ve done below for key NSW regions) but no matter how precise your schedule, it’s always best to have contingency money in your budget to account for things that can’t be planned for.

Best Time of Year to Build a House or Granny Flat in NSW

The rainfall patterns in NSW are largely affected by ocean winds and the Great Dividing Range. Planning your build around peak rainfall periods can help avoid costly, lengthy delays.

Sydney

The best time to start building in Sydney is from March. This is because Sydney enjoys warm, humid summers and mild winters, with the most rainfall occurring during the summer and early autumn. By beginning your build in March, you do risk running into some rain delays, but the high humidity that occurs from December onwards has subsided by early autumn.

Central Coast

The Central Coast experiences the most rain during summer and autumn. By starting your building project in early spring, in September, you’ll be able to make the most of the mild, dry conditions. Excavations and foundations are best completed with dry soil, meaning you’ll be able to get a head start on your project before the Christmas shutdown period.

Hunter Valley

The Hunter catchment lies east of the Great Dividing Range, with towns closer to the coast receiving higher rainfall than other parts of the region. Late spring to early summer, from October to December, is a good time to start your Hunter Valley building project if you are trying to avoid heavy rainfall. More daylight hours also mean your construction team can work longer days. However, contractors are likely to be heavily booked for this time of year, so you’ll need to plan well in advance.

Illawarra

In NSW, the southern coast receives most of its rain in the summer and autumn months, with the driest month being July. The wettest month in the Illawarra region is March. Starting your building project in the last month of winter ensures you will make good progress before the Christmas shutdown period. Tradespeople are also more likely to have fewer projects on the go at this time of year, so should have good availability.

North Coast

Tropical weather systems and coastal cyclones mean that the NSW north coast receives the majority of its rainfall in summer. Therefore, it’s best to avoid the summer months to minimise building delays. Climate change is making summer days hotter, so starting your build in autumn, around March, can also avoid heat-related delays.

Worst Seasons to Build a House or Granny Flat in NSW

Wet conditions, heat, and the availability of workers can significantly delay your building project if you start it at the following time.

Sydney

The middle of winter is not a great time to start a building project in Sydney because wet conditions, shorter days and a lack of available trades can cause lengthy delays.

Central Coast

Wet, unpredictable winters are also not an ideal time to start building on the Central Coast. The ground takes longer to dry out, making site preparation, foundation work and framing hard to complete. Cold weather can also affect materials such as paint and concrete, which will take longer to cure.

Hunter Valley

Shorter days and unfavourable ground conditions mean that the winter months from June to August aren’t particularly favourable for building in the Hunter Valley. Starting a build in winter means you may face extra costs to manage materials and deal with weather-related delays.

Illawarra

The wettest month in the Illawarra region, March, is a poor time to begin building. Rainfall at this time can exceed 150mm. Muddy, slippery conditions mean your building team will struggle to access your site and complete projects like foundation work.

North Coast

In the summer months, particularly December and January, when faced with high temperatures and unpredictable summer storms, builders and other trades take extended time off, starting from Christmas. If they are working, many will cease work in the heat if temperatures hit 35 degrees. Therefore, December is the worst time to start building on the NSW north coast.

Ways To Avoid Other Factors Delaying Your Build

Now you know the best months of the year to build, here are some other ways to avoid construction delays.

• Apply for planning approvals and permits as soon as possible to avoid development delays.
• Consider any specific events for your region that may cause delays to materials or labour shortages.
• Work closely with your builder to schedule each part of your build and ask to be kept in the loop about any possible challenges.
• Select and order your building materials as early as possible and try to avoid changing your mind.
• Be clear about your plans before you begin and keep an open line of communication with your builder.

How Long Does It Take To Build A Granny Flat Vs House

If you’re building a house, construction can take anywhere from 6-18 months to complete. However, when building a Granny Flat, you can expect it to be completed much faster than a primary home. Granny Flat Solutions can often have your secondary dwelling constructed within a matter of weeks. A typical Granny Flat on a flat block with good access typically takes about 12 weeks.

You can find answers to other frequently asked questions about our Granny Flats here.

Ready To Start Building Your Dream Granny Flat?

Building can be a stressful time and there will always be challenges to overcome. However, with a little bit of research and planning about the best time to start your building project, you can minimise costly delays and missed working days. Fortunately, a Granny Flat can be built quickly, helping to avoid many weather and labour-related delays if planned carefully.

If you’re ready to start building your dream Granny Flat, check our website to see how to get started building or call us on 1300 160 320.