Can I Learn More About Seasonal Work?

When Does Seasonal Work Begin?

Possession dates are not a direct indicator of the order for completion of Seasonal items. Homes are completed street by street in communities for efficiency and scheduling reasons. As per the contract, exact dates cannot be specified or pre-booked due to unpredictable weather conditions. Our contract states that the Seasonal work will be completed within 12 months of possession.

Edmonton’s fluctuating weather throughout the year will have an impact on when work can begin on certain Seasonal items. Weather greatly affects the scheduling and completion time of these items. The biggest contributors to the delays are ground frost and precipitation. For example, each rainfall could cause up to a 3 day delay.

Seasonal work usually begins after May Long weekend, but again, this is all weather dependent.

If you have further questions about your Seasonal work, please contact our Seasonals departments at seasonals@excelhomes.ca (for Calgary and Area) or edmonton-seasonals@excelhomes.ca (for Edmonton).

From here, you will be provided with an update on what stage of seasonal work your community and/or area are currently undergoing. This contact will always provide you with the most up to date information.

Your Purchase Agreement and Schedule L hold further details about your seasonal work, you can find a copy of this verbiage below:

Purchase Agreement:

"The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that certain work in the construction of the Home cannot be completed during the winter season, or during inclement weather. Seasonal Work could include but is not limited to some or all of the following:

(i) Pre-grading;
(ii) Final grading;
(iii) Loam;
(iv) Driveways;
(v) Walkways;
(vi) Parging;
(vii) Exterior masonry;
(ix) Installation of window wells;
(x) Installation of gravel in window wells;
(xi) Landscaping (including grass, trees &/or shrubs);
(xii) Parking pads (gravel or concrete);
(xiii) Detached garage;
(xiv) Removal of roof straps for final inspections

The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that Seasonal Work will not commence until suitable weather conditions for that work exist and will continue as long as weather permits. If a parking pad or detached garage is included with the Home, the Builder cannot complete installation of the parking pad or construction of the detached garage until the Developer has completed and graded the rear lane. There is no exact date when the Seasonal Work will be completed, and the possession date of the Home will not be a factor in determining when the Seasonal Work will be completed.

The Purchaser understands and agrees the Builder will not be responsible for delays in completing Seasonal Work caused by unfavourable weather, strikes, fires, shortages of material or labour, acts of God or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Builder. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Seasonal Work may not be completed for up to TWELVE (12) months from the possession date of the Home.”

Schedule L (Calgary Example)

Excel Homes has planned for our new homeowners to get quality landscaping as promptly as it can be provided. Please find listed below, the Excel Homes Landscaping Process:

Our seasonal landscaping will not commence until suitable weather conditions for that work exist, and will continue as long as weather permits. There are no exact dates when certain stages will be completed, nor will your possession date be a direct factor in the completion date. The Builder will not be responsible for delays in completing landscaping work caused by unfavourable weather, strikes, fires, shortages of material or labour, acts of God or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Builder.

LOT GRADING BYLAW; "Bylaw 32M2004 - A bylaw of the City of Calgary to Regulate the Surface Grades of Properties". This bylaw passed in 2004 has resulted in new procedures and stages of work to be completed before landscaping can be finished. Once the Grade Certificate is received, the Builder will ensure that the landscaping as set out in this Agreement is completed in a timely manner. Unfortunately, landscaping or construction projects (such as fences) cannot proceed until a Grade Certificate from the City of Calgary has been received.

THIS APPLIES ONLY TO HOMES WITHIN THE CITY OF CALGARY.

The weather plays a large factor in the process as precipitation causes delays in getting large trucks into the loam pile, the cutting of sod from the supplier, and generally getting onto the property. For example, each day of rain may cause a 2 –3 day delay.

The topsoil that you receive is not screened loam. The topsoil is the original soil from the developed area your property is now on. We are simply putting back what was taken way. Please note: It may contain rocks, clay, straw, roots, weeds, etc.

If applicable, all trees are chosen at the discretion of the Landscaping Company or Developer with no choices given to purchasers. Warranty on trees is 3 months from the time of planting. Should your tree or shrubs die within this warranty period they will be replaced for you, provided you have properly cared for them. Please carefully follow instructions left for you by the landscaping company. Failure to do so may void your warranty.

The Builder will supply up to one load of unscreened topsoil for settlement within the one-year warranty period, as long as full access to the yard is granted. The topsoil must be brought in by truck, and dumped in the yard without any fences or other obstructions in the way. If a fence is in the way or another obstruction prevents access, the top soil will not be delivered. As this topsoil is provided for settlement purposes only and cannot in any way change the grade of the yard, the Customer Care Representative will advise if the Property requires a ½ load or a full load.

PLEASE NOTE: This includes delivery only; the Purchaser is responsible for spreading the topsoil to the necessary areas (e.g. under front steps, under rear deck/steps, and general rear yard settlement). Please also be advised that the Builder will not return to pick up any excess topsoil.

Should the Property experience front yard settlement causing negative drainage, the landscaping company will return to fix this settlement only once within the one-year warranty period.

Back yards and parking pads will not be completed on lots with lanes until the developer has completed the lanes. Front and side yard landscaping is not affected.

Retaining walls, if required, are the Purchaser’s responsibility and are excluded as per the Agreement.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the Builder will complete the seasonal landscaping and concrete work as quickly as they are able, given the prevailing conditions and any applicable delays due to weather, process, etc. The Purchaser agrees to refrain from contacting the Builder at any of their offices or any of their staff regarding their incomplete seasonal items, as this will not accelerate the process.

Schedule L (Edmonton Example)

Excel Homes has planned for our new homeowners to get quality landscaping as promptly as it can be provided. Please find listed below, the Excel Homes Landscaping Process:

Our seasonal landscaping will not commence until suitable weather conditions for that work exist and will continue as long as weather permits . There are no exact dates when certain stages will be completed, nor will your possession date be a direct factor in the completion date. The Builder will not be responsible for delays in completing landscaping work caused by unfavourable weather, strikes, fires, shortages of material or labour, acts of God or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Builder.

DRAINAGE BYLAW; "Bylaw 16200 (Consolidated January 1, 2017). This bylaw has resulted in new procedures and stages of work to be completed before your landscaping can be finished. Once the Grade Certificate is received, we will ensure that your landscaping as set out in the Agreement is completed in a timely manner. Unfortunately, you may not proceed with your own landscaping or construction projects (such as fences) until you have received a Grade Certificate from the City of Edmonton.

THIS APPLIES ONLY TO HOMES WITHIN THE CITY OF EDMONTON.

The Builder will supply up to one load of unscreened topsoil for settlement within the one-year warranty period, as long as full access to the yard is granted. The topsoil must be brought in by truck and dumped in the yard without any fences or other obstructions in the way. If a fence is in the way or another obstruction prevents access, the topsoil will not be delivered. As this topsoil is provided for settlement purposes only and cannot in any way change the grade of the yard, the Customer Care Representative will advise if the Property requires a ½ load or a full load.

Should the Property experience front yard settlement causing negative drainage, the landscaping company will return to fix this settlement only once within the one-year warranty period.

Back yards and parking pads will not be completed on lots with lanes until the developer has completed the lanes. Front and side yard landscaping is not affected.

Retaining walls, if required, are the Purchaser’s responsibility and are excluded as per the Agreement.

The Builder will comply with the developer requirements for landscaping within your specific community. However, there may be additional requirements for landscaping from the City of Edmonton. It is the Purchaser’s responsibility to ensure that their landscaping conforms to city by-laws.

At Excel Homes, we do not have any seasonal monetary holdbacks when you take possession of your new home.

Last updated on March 29, 2025