The best time of year to build a house in Texas is typically in the spring or fall, based on the weather and several other key details. Other factors to consider when building a custom home include market and economic conditions, the urgency of your desire to own a new home, your goals and personal timeline projections. This guide can help you determine when you should build a custom home.
Best Months to Start Building in Texas
The three spring months are typically the best for breaking ground on your new home. In Central Texas, spring provides the least extreme temperatures and reasonably dry working conditions. Taking advantage of the mild climate during these months can help you avoid delays due to extreme weather conditions like summer’s intense heat and winter’s winds and cold.
What Is the Best Month to Start Building?
May stands out a bit for its mild average temperatures and low precipitation. While all the spring and fall months are excellent for beginning home construction, May has a slight advantage in terms of average temperatures and low rainfall.
Weather data for each spring and fall month across the past couple of years includes:
- March’s average temperature is 64.99 degrees, and the monthly precipitation is usually under an inch.
- April’s average temperature is 71.47 degrees, and precipitation for the month is usually under half an inch.
- May’s average temperature is 79.83 degrees, and precipitation for the month is negligible.
- September's average temperature is 81.95 degrees, and precipitation for the month is usually around half an inch.
- October’s average temperature is 77.79 degrees, and precipitation for the month is usually negligible.
- November’s average temperature is 66.42, and precipitation for the month is under half an inch.
While the prices of some building materials remain fairly constant throughout the year, cost trends for some materials align with the best months to break ground. Shingles, drywall and insulation prices are typically steady. Lumber prices tend to fluctuate slightly, with prices dropping in May when the weather is comfortable and dry. Lumber prices nationwide then normally stay low until late September.
Some local builders have noted that winter may be the most cost-effective time to get building materials, but it’s not necessarily the ideal time to start new home construction. A fall start offers the advantage of placing the foundation before the colder months arrive. A spring start provides the chance to get siding in place before summer’s heat arrives to impact workers.
Should You Wait to Custom Build Your Home?
You should not wait to begin if you feel ready to get started. After all, the best time to build a house in the Texas Hill Country is when it fits your personal timeline. Even during winter months, the climate is fairly mild. The custom homebuilding process can take a year or more, depending on factors like weather conditions, the complexity of home design, mid-construction changes requested, permits and inspections.
Beyond choosing when to build a house in Texas based on emotions, you can also factor in a few details to confirm your decision, including:
- Real estate market conditions
- Economic housing trends
- Your budget
- Your desired move-in date
Things to Consider Before Delaying Your Construction Plans
Once you’ve decided to begin the custom homebuilding process, you may find some things that make you want to wait. After all, overseeing a custom home build can be challenging due to market challenges affecting your finances. Weigh the potential added costs against the benefits of proceeding. Delays can be costly in several ways, including:
- Labor and material costs can be higher during high-demand months.
- A delay charge or standing time fees could add to the amount you have to pay.
- Month-to-month rental fees on your current residence could add significantly to the cost you bear while waiting for move-in day.
- Cleanup costs after bad weather hits can raise your costs if work is delayed at a key point in construction, and it can delay the completion of your new home.
- Material prices can escalate quickly, and delays could force you to pay higher prices to get the building materials to finish building.
The Importance of Timing in Home Construction
Avoiding spikes in material costs is often one of the most important reasons to avoid delays. Several details can play into the price increase. Seasonal fluctuations and natural disasters can drive costs up, leaving people building new homes at the mercy of external issues. Problems can be especially significant if they happen during critical phases of construction. They can leave you with contractors ready to work while material prices climb out of your budget or drive labor costs up if workers are busy with emergency work.
Benefits of Planning Your Construction Timeline
Looking ahead and planning a timeline for your new home project can help you avoid delays and budget constraints. Forecasting and creating a solid plan come with several important benefits, including:
- Maximized efficiency
- Reduced expenses
- Construction milestones that align with your personal and investment goals
- Life goals and your new home build stay on the desired timeline
- Seasonal fluctuations can be avoided
Understanding Texas Weather and Its Impact on Construction
Overall, the climate in Texas is warm-to-hot and relatively dry, and construction opportunities exist year-round in the state. Seasonal fluctuations introduce some weather variations in this huge state, but even the winter months tend to be mild. With careful planning, key parts of the building process, like setting the foundation and installing roofing, can be managed during the mildest weather.
Seasonal Construction Trends in Texas
Seasonal building trends in Central Texas include heavier work beginning in the spring and fall when the mildest temperatures occur. Additionally, rainfall patterns in the last few years have shown these to be the least rainy months in Central Texas.
Reasons this is the best time to build a custom home in Texas include the opportunity to:
- Get key structural elements in place while the weather cooperates.
- Avoid seasonal fluctuations in the costs of some building materials.
- Avoid delays due to inclement weather that can add unexpected costs to your budget.
The main disadvantage to building during the spring and fall is the potential added cost for materials, which could be lower during the winter months when less construction means less competition to buy materials.
Choose JLP Builders for Your Custom Build
When choosing a start date, key factors include your personal goals and finances, seasonal issues that could impact your project, and when you want to move into your new home. JLP Builders can assist in planning your affordable luxury dream home in the Texas Hill Country when you’re ready to begin. We’re here to serve your home construction needs through every step of the process. We specialize in building custom homes in communities within Central Texas and offer Turnkey and Build on Your Lot options.
When you choose a Turnkey home from JLP Builders, you can select the JLP community you prefer or pick a property from our list of inventory lots. You pick the Inspiration floor plan you like, and we handle the land acquisition and construction loans, and we take the stress off of you by building your home. Do you love the idea of living near San Antonio or Marble Falls? We have sites that offer the quality of life and lifestyle you want.
If you already own your lot, consider the JLP Inspiration or Custom Build Process to get the home of your dreams built on your land. When you're ready to make your dream of owning a custom home in the Texas Hill Country a reality, contact JLP Builders today to discuss your project timeline.