Installing a Shed in New York – What is the Best Time of Year?

Winter Installation

Installing a backyard shed in winter can be challenging, especially in New York, where snowfall is frequent. Installing a foundation is possible, but extreme weather and freezing temperatures often complicate it. The two main types of foundations consist of gravel or concrete. Gravel is easier to install in winter, especially if you have a spell without snow. Concrete foundations remain difficult because they usually need about seven days to cure. Look for a dry weather report for a week, or plan to cover the concrete to avoid compromising it.

However, at this time of year, many homeowners realize their equipment isn’t suited for winter and need shelter. If this happens to you, contact Gigglin’ Pig for the right-sized shed. Many manufacturers recommend ordering a shed in February, particularly for custom features. This timing allows planning—determining the shed’s location, dimensions, and features—while ensuring availability if your chosen shed isn’t in stock.

Since summer is the busiest season for shed companies, late-winter buyers have an advantage. While installation doesn’t work well with the weather, ordering in winter is a great idea. For those seeking custom sheds, ordering in February provides manufacturers enough time to craft the structure. A shed installed in spring gives you a place to organize tools and equipment as the snow melts.

Spring and Fall Installation

Purchasing a shed in spring ensures that, when warm weather arrives, you have a space for lawn, garden, or sports equipment. For gardeners, backyard storage sheds serve as a shelter for pots, soil, and gardening tools. Early planting becomes easier when seedlings are protected from temperature fluctuations inside a shed. Additionally, sheds offer storage for lawnmowers, trimmers, kayaks, and soccer goals. By summer, your organizational system will be in place.

However, spring can also prove difficult to find dry weather to install your shed. Instead of snow, excessive rain can make digging at any level unwieldy. Again, a gravel foundation won’t prove as difficult, but digging a deeper concrete foundation might be challenging in spring.

Many homeowners wait until fall to winterize their gardens and flower beds, only to realize they need storage for tarps, new equipment, and more. Fortunately, fall remains a time to buy a shed! A solid foundation is crucial when purchasing a shed, and fall typically provides dry weather needed for installation. Though simple, foundation work requires a few rain-free days.

Summer Installation

Many people purchase sheds in summer because they need them immediately. Buying new lawn and garden equipment often reveals a lack of storage space in the garage. A shed provides a solution for storing garden tractors, sporting gear, and more. It also creates a shaded workspace for hobbies during the summer months.

Summer offers the easiest installation conditions. Western New York tends to be drier in summer, making it the season to lay a foundation. A concrete base, the most durable option, requires time and money. Installation takes at least a day, and concrete should be cured in dry conditions for about a week. Once complete, you’ll protect your equipment when fall rains and winter snow arrive.