Minnesota summers are hard to beat. They’re perfect for cabin weekends, golf rounds, and trail rides—but they’re also prime time for construction. With longer days, drier weather, and firmer ground, it’s the best season for outdoor projects. Unfortunately, summer goes fast—and so do resources, making proper planning vital to project success.
Whether you’re working on school improvements, city upgrades, or building extra storage before winter, you’ll need a solid plan to make the most of the season.
At Stonewing Builders, we’ve been managing summer builds in the Twin Cities for nearly 20 years. We know what it takes to get a job done right when the clock is ticking and have the resources to deliver. Here’s what we recommend helping your summer construction project run smoothly and successfully:
1. Start Planning Early
By summer, most contractors are already booked. Crews are busy, suppliers are backed up, and timelines are stretched. If you wait until May or June to start making calls, you’re already behind—and often end up at the bottom of priority lists, risking inexperienced contractors, poor installers, costly shortcuts and elongated timelines.
We always tell our clients: if you want boots on the ground in June, talk to us in Q1. That gives you time to properly define your scope, make any necessary modifications, lock into a schedule, and baton down pricing before demand spikes.
2. Permits Take Time
Nobody loves the paperwork—but permits are non-negotiable, and they often take longer than expected. City inspectors and officials are slammed in the warmer months and often attempting to enjoy their precious summer like everyone else. A process that normally takes a week can suddenly take a month due to limited availability, permit backlogs or other required red tape.
If your project involves concrete, roofing, electrical, or ADA upgrades, don’t assume you can “just get started.” We help clients handle permits and needed required registrations early so we’re ready to go when the site is.
3. Build in a Budget Buffer
Let’s be real—construction material costs aren’t going back to pre-COVID levels. Prices continue to rise 10% or more each year, especially during peak construction season. Asphalt, concrete, roofing products—it’s all in high demand. Labor costs climb also, as talented crews prioritize higher-paying or larger-scale jobs.
That’s why we always recommend building in a 10–15% contingency. It cushions your budget against price hikes and scheduling curveballs—way less stressful than scrambling to revise your scope mid-project.
4. Be Ready for Weather
Minnesota summers may be beautiful—but the weather isn’t always on your side. A sudden downpour, a week of rain, or an extreme heat wave can bring your project to a halt. That’s just the nature of the season.
At Stonewing, we plan for weather delays from the start and track forecasts closely. Our goal? Stay one step ahead and keep your project moving—safely and on schedule—even when Mother Nature throws a curveball.
5. Pick the Right Partner
Not every contractor can handle the time crunch and complexity of a summer build. You need a team that knows how to juggle schedules, pull permits, manage subs, communicate clearly—and still pick up the phone when you call.
That’s where we come in. Stonewing Builders is a WBE-certified general contractor specializing in small-to-midsize commercial, school, and municipal projects. From ADA upgrades to roofing and concrete work, we bring a “No Fail” mindset to every job. It’s not just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about building something beautiful that lasts through all four Minnesota seasons for decades to come.
Let’s Make This Summer Count
Got a project to knock out this summer? Let’s talk now—before calendars fill up and prices rise. Whether you’re still planning or ready to break ground, we’re here to help.
info@stonewingbuilders.pro
www.stonewingbuilders.pro
