JWS Blog
March:
March in Lake Stevens: The Month That Tricks You
March wants you to believe it’s time to build. The sun breaks through. The lake sparkles. The dirt under your boots doesn’t squish like it did in February. It’s tempting—really tempting—to get going.
But in Lake Stevens, March is the most misleading month of the year.
And knowing that? That’s where smart projects begin.
The “False Spring” Effect
Lake Stevens has a trick: it warms up fast, but it doesn’t stay warm. March often includes five dry days in a row—just enough to give you false confidence before the cold rain snaps back. Framing can get delayed. Deliveries sink in mud. Early pours crack from overnight freezes.
We don’t avoid March. We just treat it like what it is: a test of patience and planning.
Drainage Before Design
One of the best things you can do in March? Walk your site after a storm. Water will reveal where it wants to go—across slopes, through ditches, pooling by future patios.
Trying to fix drainage after you design a build is expensive. Doing it now? That’s free. Let March’s weather do the hard part.
General tip: bring a notepad and walk the edges of your property the day after a downpour. Look for movement. Look for stillness. That’s your future problem—or your avoided one.
Slope Creep and Soil Shift
Lake Stevens is full of new construction on hillsides, many with only thin topsoil over fractured rock or clay. In March, you’ll see subtle slope creep—slow movement caused by deep moisture and thaw cycles.
If you’re planning a deck, retaining wall, or foundation pour, this is the month to pause and evaluate stability.
A basic soils report in March will often save a structural engineer visit in July.
Permits: The Queue is Quiet (for Now)
Most people aren’t thinking about permits yet. That’s your advantage.
Snohomish County offices are usually lighter in March than they are by mid-spring. Starting your permitting process now gets you ahead—and buys you flexibility when the real build season ramps up.
Final Thought
March in Lake Stevens is for listening, measuring, and mapping—not rushing. You don’t need to break ground to make progress. The smartest builders we know start in the mud, not in the dust.
At JWS, we’re not just your contractor. We’re your translator—between land, weather, permit office, and your own long-term vision.
Let’s start early. Let’s start right.