“The idea is not to live forever, but to create something that will.”
- Andy Warhol
1. Set up a space to live in
When you spend some time on setting up a liveable space, the renovation will not disrupt the household too much. You will need to set up a space to sleep, eat and use the bathroom. Some people rent a portable toilet for the builders to keep disruptions to the minimum. People can live in their house during a remodel even without a usable kitchen. You can save a lot of money by deciding to stay in during the renovation.
2. Protect your space from dust
You can clear out the surrounding rooms, cover everything and seal the doorways. It will help if the dust-generating work happens outside. If the house gets swept and vacuumed at the end of each day, the dust will be much easier to contain. You can also be at the premises to manage the process during the renovation. As far as possible, try to limit the dust to a specific area. You have to be prepared to get ahead, even before the remodel begins.
3. Determine a construction schedule
It helps when you know what the renovation schedule is, for example, when water gets turned off. If there is a schedule available, the disruptions will get minimized, as well as the security of the house will not be compromised. This schedule is beneficial for both parties, and it can eliminate any misunderstandings.
4. Pack like your moving
It’s a good idea to get rid of all the things you don’t use anymore. It will help if your house gets cleaned out when the remodelling begins. You can even pack like you’re moving.
Everything will feel new again if it gets opened after the remodel.
You can use this as an opportunity to get rid of a lot of things you do not use or even donate or sell some items. Your valuables can break if they are too close to the construction zone Items not used should get moved into storage or be put away for protection.
5. Create a designated work zone
It is much safer for everyone if the work area is blocked off. We can create a work zone by building temporary plywood walls with doors. It is helpful if there’s a separate entrance for the crew, so they and the homeowners are not always crossing paths. Have a section of your home that stays in order and clean; it will serve as a sanctuary, away from the construction.
6. Set up a temporary kitchen
It helps if you set up a temporary kitchen that consists of a microwave, two-burner hot plates, a coffee maker and a small refrigerator. You can even move some of the old kitchen cabinets into a temporary kitchen area.
Often the temporary kitchen gets set up into the living room, but you can move it close to a patio and do some of the cooking on a barbeque.
7. Plan a remodel in summer or go on a vacation.
If you go away for a certain period of the construction, it will make the disturbance less and the renovation experience better as you can take a break from it. It will be a good idea to do this during a period of heavy construction.
It is much easier to cook outside in summer or have a barbeque. If you have an outside table, you can still eat together as a family. Even having a cup of coffee outside will make space feel more like your own.
Projects where you would not be able to live at home:
- Major roof remodelling
- Remodelling that occupies more than 50% of the house
- Asbestos or major mould removal
- Wood flooring refinishing
- Recladding
- Repair a leaky home
Planning a major home renovation can be very overwhelming and finding the right information can be difficult. To help you we have developed a free guide that is beneficial for anyone who is in the planning stage of a major renovation. I know you will enjoy it. It is packed with super-practical information covering 7 of the biggest mistakes made when planning a major home renovation.
Click on the link below to download the 7 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid When Planning Your Major Home Renovation.
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