Why Winter Is the Smartest Time to Plan a Remodel in Bucks County and Mercer County

December 22nd, 2025

If your home feels tighter than it used to, you are not imagining it. Families grow, routines change, and suddenly the layout that once felt fine starts working against you. The good news is you do not need to wait for spring to start moving forward.

Winter is one of the smartest seasons to plan a home addition, because the most critical work happens long before construction starts. Design decisions, engineering, permit submissions, and schedule planning all happen first, and those steps often determine whether your project feels smooth or stressful.

If you live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, or Mercer County, New Jersey, winter planning can put you in a stronger position for 2026.

Winter Planning Gets You Ahead

Permits do not move faster just because the weather warms up, and review windows can vary by municipality.

In Bucks County, some municipalities publish clear review timeframes. Newtown Township notes it has 15 business days to provide a review of a residential permit. Solebury Township notes permits can take up to 45 days, with review time split between zoning review and building review. Doylestown Borough notes permit review is conducted once a week, and incomplete or unclear plans can lead to resubmittal and delays.

Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code also includes review time limits for residential permit applications, and it notes that incomplete plans may be returned, which can extend timelines after resubmittal. In Mercer County, building permits are typically issued by municipal construction departments under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs provides detailed guidance on plan submissions and the plan review process.

When you start planning in winter, you give yourself time to submit complete documents, respond quickly to review notes, and avoid losing momentum right when you want construction to begin.

You Secure Better Schedule Flexibility

Spring and early summer can fill up fast, especially for projects that require multiple trades and tight coordination. Winter planning gives you more options, more time to make decisions you feel good about, and a stronger chance of landing the build window you actually want.

It also helps you avoid the classic spring scramble, when homeowners try to design, permit, and schedule all at once.

You Make Better Choices

A home addition is not one decision; it is hundreds of smaller decisions that shape the final result. Layout, window placement, rooflines, exterior details, insulation, HVAC strategy, and finish selections all matter.

Winter planning gives you room to think clearly, so you can:

Build a layout around how you live, not just how it looks on paper.
Finalize the scope early, which helps protect the budget.
Select finishes before construction pressure kicks in.
Avoid mid-project changes that can add cost and time.

In-Law Suites are Valuable

For many homeowners in Bucks County and Mercer County, an in-law suite is not just extra space, it is a lifestyle upgrade and a long-term plan.

An in-law suite can support:

Aging parents who need privacy and comfort, without feeling separated
Adult children returning home for a season.
Guests and family visits, without disrupting the main house
Future flexibility, like a private office, studio, or quiet retreat

Because in-law suites often involve plumbing, electrical, separate entrances, and sometimes cooking spaces, they typically require thoughtful design and careful coordination with code and zoning requirements. Local rules vary, and that is exactly why winter is such a smart time to start planning. It gives you time to confirm feasibility, define the right layout, and pursue approvals the right way.

Decks, Porticos, and Roof Covers

Not every addition needs to be a major interior expansion. Sometimes the smartest upgrade is expanding how you live outside your home, or improving curb appeal and protection at the entry.

Decks, porticos, and roof covers still involve real structural decisions and often require permits, depending on location and scope. Doylestown Borough’s residential permitting guidance for decks highlights that weekly review cycles and incomplete plans can delay issuance.

Winter planning helps you:

Dial in the size, elevation, and flow so it feels intentional.
Match the architecture so the addition looks original to the home.
Plan drainage, footings, and roof tie-ins correctly
Start approvals early so you can build as soon as conditions improve.

If your goal is a summer-ready outdoor space, winter is when you win that timeline.

What Makes Munz Construction Different

A lot of remodeling stress comes from juggling multiple companies and hoping everyone stays aligned. Munz Construction is built to simplify that experience.

When you plan your addition with Munz, you get:

An in-house permit team that keeps paperwork organized and the process moving
A dedicated designer who helps bring your dream renovation to life
A project manager who walks you through construction and keeps communication clear

That structure matters most in winter, because it is then that planning decisions set the tone for everything that follows.

Start Planning Your 2026 Renovation Now

The best renovations begin with a conversation. Starting early gives you more flexibility, stronger design options, and a better place in our construction schedule. If you want your home in Bucks County or Mercer County to work better in 2026 and beyond, now is the time to plan it.

Let’s design something incredible together.

Call 215-953-8833 to speak with a team member.

Visit MunzConstruction.com to get started!

Don’t move, improve with Munz Construction!

Is winter a good time to plan a home addition?

Yes. Winter is ideal for design, budgeting, and permit submissions so you can start construction at the right time.

How long do permits take in Bucks County?

It depends on the municipality. Some areas note residential review windows of 15 business days, others note timelines of up to 45 days or more, and some conduct weekly reviews, where incomplete plans can require resubmittal and delay issuance.

Do decks and covered outdoor structures need permits?

Often, yes. Requirements vary, but many municipalities treat decks as permitted work, and incomplete plans can slow approval.

L. C.

14:13 11 Sep 18

Munz Construction has done a number of large projects for us at our home over the past 18 yrs. They have always done a great job. Their workers are good and very courteous. We have always felt very comfortable with them in our house, especially Phil and Jason. Steve and Pete are easy to work with and are responsive to questions/issues. Bryan is very helpful when you need to make selections for your projects. The company stands behind their work and provides quality in a timely fashion, which can't be said for a lot of other companies these days. We would definitely recommend them!

tina leck

17:46 17 Aug 18

Munz Construction did an amazing job with our basement remodel. The entire team was so pleasant to work with. Everyone that has come to our home since the remodel has been thoroughly impressed with the design. It really was a great experience to work with everyone at Munz. I’d like to also add that my husband tends to be an “overspender” and I am the complete opposite... so from the very start of our project , the design team made sure we were both comfortable with all of our selections. They always showed numerous options and price points for different things. So in the end, my husband and I were both so happy with everything. Thanks Munz, we’ll definitely use you again.

Sheryl Duffy

19:23 17 Sep 18

I did a major renovation of a 40 year old house. While touching virtually every room, the most significant changes included creating a new custom kitchen by combining the existing kitchen with a small dining room, creating a new master bedroom and converting a small bedroom into a large new master bathroom. I had contacted several well known home renovation companies who either did not seem to be interested in the large project or did not seem to offer the “full service” and support I needed. Steve and Bryan spent all the time I needed to make me comfortable making all the design decisions – not an easy task since I am design challenged! Any issues that came up, as would be expected in a project this size, were addressed. In addition, everyone made living in the house during construction as comfortable as possible. I would also like to say that the attention to detail and the finishing work done by their people was remarkable. The final results are fantastic! Needless to say I would use them again for any project and would highly recommend Munz Construction.

DJ Mischak

17:49 17 Sep 18

Chris and his crew were amazing! They added an addition that "touched" every room in the house. His workers were kind, courteous, and respectful AND they got the job done in a timely manner with WONDERFUL results. We love our new addition. We have the BEST house on the block!!!!

Hunter Labovitz

20:39 19 Sep 18

We were gutting and remodeling an old house that needed major work but that we didn’t want to tear down. Given the time and cost involved, we were very deliberate with our choice of contractor. We are very glad we chose Munz Construction as dealing with all of their employees was a pleasure from Day One (and the project took about a year so we had lots of contact). They always suggested ways to cut costs, had good suggestions to modify the blueprints to our advantage and never pushed unnecessary ideas. The design team was especially helpful as their three-dimensional computer models really gave us good insight into the final product and allowed us to make pre-construction tweaks of which we otherwise would not have thought. Munz was also very good about fixing things without complaint. As we approach one year in our new house, we are very happy and also receive lots of compliments on the design and preservation of the house.

Stacey Holloran

13:58 18 Oct 18

We are very pleased with Munz Construction. We had the front of our house framed for new windows, new siding, stucco removal, new gutters, lighting etc. They helped with design ideas upfront and the house looks amazing. Erich and his team were very pleasant, professional and detail oriented. We would definitely use them again for any additional work in the future.

Cynthia Powell

20:28 23 Oct 18

Everyone at Munz that we had the pleasure of working with were wonderful. From the beginning of our project, until the end everyone worked so hard. We had a new room, bathroom, and a beautiful porch put on our house. We are extremely happy. I would highly recommend this company.

Giannina Macaluso

21:14 22 Oct 18

Munz Construction installed my new windows. They were extremely professional and did a great job.The crew arrived timely, covered my floors and were sure keep all areas clean throughout the installation.After the job was completed the crew cleaned and actually left my home cleaner than they found it! Munz Construction is hugely recommeded and will be installing my new kitchen, powder room and hall bath!Nice to see a professional company!!!!

Catherine Melly

15:09 30 Aug 18

Had great experience with Pete, our site manager, as well as Jason (construction), Jack (electrician ), Dave (painter), and all of the other subcontractors. Very clean, professional, pleasant. I found the initial process of general design less than ideal. Having little experience with this process, I didn't feel as informed as I could have been. I expected there may be options in layout and design, but that was not the case. In fact, the original design presented to us didn't really show a layout at all, merely a word document of what would be done. I was slightly taken aback when, e.g., there was no option for any kind of linen storage in the bathroom as the design completely removed a large closet that we had in order to make room for a stall shower. It was assumed we would want a whirlpool tub, and we weren't really asked about that option. These kinds of things made me a little uncomfortable with going forward. To us, it was a very expensive job, and yet I felt like it was not considered an important one when we sat with the designer. We felt much more comfortable when Pete met with us to go over the job expectations. There were very few glitches along the way, and Pete handled each of these very professionally. The work as completed is very good, and we are very happy with the end result.

Peter Gilles

21:19 17 Oct 18

Munz Construction is a one-of-a-kind experience when it comes to renovations and construction. The family-run local business will handle every aspect of your project from helping see your initial ideas through to budgeting, permitting, and construction. You will be delighted by the friendly, knowledgeable staff whether you're visiting the showroom or have construction crews conscientiously working for you to create your masterpiece. Munz Construction has the capabilities to handle any size renovation or construction project. If you enjoy working with the best then try Munz!