In the farming world, winter offers a much-needed break from the demands of growing season. It’s also a prime opportunity to plan and prepare for seasons ahead to set your farm up for success in the future. Despite the cold, building post frame in the winter offers a range of advantages that can make investing in a machine shed, calving barn, or other agricultural structure during the winter a smart choice. Here’s a list of benefits of building post frame in winter that make the cold months a good time for Western Canadian farmers to build.
Benefits of Building Post Frame in Winter
1. Less Damage to Your Property
One of the most overlooked winter construction benefits is how frozen ground minimizes impact on your land. When the soil is dry and frozen hard, equipment used for post frame construction leaves fewer ruts and tracks compared to when ground is wet and muddy in warmer months.
This eliminates dealing with torn-up yards or field access points, and saves on ground repair and remediation costs after your building is finished.
2. Fewer Disruptions to Your Operations
Winter post frame construction aligns well with the agricultural calendar. By scheduling to build in the winter, you avoid coordinating construction dates around essential farm responsibilities like seeding and harvest, minimizing disruptions to your operations.
3. More Prepared for Next Season
One of the key advantages of winter post frame construction is timing. Completing your build in winter ensures it’s fully operational by spring and ready to play a key role in a successful season. Adding a new barn, machine shed, or workshop during the winter months positions you to hit the ground running come spring.
4. Avoiding the Spring Rush
Spring is traditionally the busiest time of year for builders. Schedules fill up quickly and you’ll likely have to wait a bit longer to start construction. Avoiding spring backlogs by choosing winter construction provides better timelines and quicker start dates.
5. Smoother Permitting Process
In many cases, winter construction can also mean faster permitting. With fewer projects being submitted for approval leading up to and during cold months, your application may face less congestion. Some rural municipalities process permits faster in winter than other times of year simply because the volume of applications is lower.
Building Post Frame in the Winter is a Smart Option
The benefits of building post frame in winter make it a smart choice for farmers. From protecting your property from damage and getting ahead of spring backlogs to timing that naturally aligns with the farming season, the advantages of winter construction for barns, cold storage buildings, and workshops are practical and profitable.
