Planning for Winter Weather in the Construction Industry

Although California is known worldwide for its warm, sunny weather, the fact of the matter is that, in many parts of the state, you could be facing lower temperatures – and even snow – over the next few months. While our state’s “winter weather” is certainly not as severe as it might be in other parts of the country, there are a few precautions that contractors should take:

Wear warmer clothing, especially in the morning. This is an obvious tip, but it’s worth mentioning that contractors and their employees should dress in layers. That way, you can deal with the slight morning chill without sweating and big jackets and coats later in the day.

Allow a bit of extra time in your bids and proposals. Although having the weather a little bit cooler might not affect you much, rain and wind (or even ice) could slow work down. And, since you don’t want to rush through projects, or disappoint clients, that means building a few extra days into each proposal.

Consider slowing down a bit for the season. In the northern parts of the state, a lot of construction contractors slow things down during and after the holiday season. After all, why not spend a little time with friends and family if the weather isn’t cooperating? As we’ve noted in the past, having a break now and again can be a good thing for you, and for your business.

Or, conversely, speed work up. If you are in the southern part of the state, where summer temperatures can be brutal, less-oppressive temperatures might mean you can actually finish more work. In fact, do enough during the winter, and you might be able to get away for a while during the warmer summer months.

Even with our relatively mild winters, ignoring the effects of the cooler months and weather differences can be a mistake. What separates the best contractors and the rest is an attention to detail, and that includes knowing what’s coming in the weather report and planning your work around it.

Looking for more great advice on starting or running your own California contracting business? Check back to our blog soon, or see our list of upcoming CSLS courses and seminars for construction industry professionals.