Am I mad for considering a loft conversion in January?

[SpottyBrolly]

I'm currently getting quotes in for a hip to gable rear dormer loft conversion. One joiner who I liked a lot can start in January. In one way this appeals to me as I'm still in mat leave but then that could also be a downside plus I'm slightly worried that it'll make the house a bit cold for a 6 year old and what will then be 10 month old. Anyone have any advice?

Hi I had a loft conversion done in March and the hole they cut in the roof to get in was covered with tarpaulin but it was still bloody draughty and cold just saying !

Yeah, I mean I had inside snow at one point in March when I did loft.

On reflection, I’d have got the ‘tin hat’.

I would also worry about bad weather interrupting work. I had mine done in September and October and I don't remember things being held up by weather - I used a specialist loft conversion company. They still use contractors but actually everything happened according to schedule and they did a very standard job but completed what they said, including a much needed new roof as well as the extension. I had delayed getting the roof fixed because I was planning the loft, but it had reached a point where everyone who did roofing work kept knocking on the front door. (No way I'd hire anyone on that basis). We then used other people and a recommendation to decorate the loft and do some further work, and the second company abandoned us at the end of February with a bathroom full of tools, no flooring covering bare floorboards and no shower screens in either the old bathroom or the new one in the loft extension.

Thanks all. I hadn't even considered that bad weather could delay work, and I suppose the temperature will depend on the weather but after last winter and hearing that it was draughty in March I'm not feeling too optimistic about a January start. Elkiedee that sound awful, was it the loft conversion company that abandoned you?

No, thankfully the loft conversion company pretty much did everything they said they would when they said, in September and October. It took a few months for the work to be scheduled and I had to get next door neighbours to sign party wall agreements. My problems were with another builder and his contractors, who abandoned us in February and never responded to any efforts to get in touch (email, phone, text). He didn't even take his tools away.

We had ours done Jan - Feb this year - when it was super cold and it was super cold. We ran extra heaters all night in kids room and they wore extra layers. Mine were 3 and 5 though think I would have struggled with a baby. I am glad we did it though as I was pregnant so wanted builders gone before newborn.

We’ve booked one to be done December to early feb, it does seem slightly mad but we really need it plus we were able to negotiate a good price as people don’t want it done at this time of year.
This was through a loft conversion company though.
My thoughts are that we’ll be enjoying the space by next spring rather than the work just starting.