Whether it’s putting a bathroom out of commission or sleeping in the living room, home remodeling can be a stressful time but doesn't have to lead to a meltdown. Surviving a renovation is possible, just follow Zenith Design + Build’s useful tips!
We can’t emphasize this enough; the only way to survive a kitchen remodel or home renovation is to plan, plan, plan! Prioritize structural projects first (like your roof, building new walls, or any foundational or electrical systems that need improvements) before moving on to cosmetic tasks like painting, for example.
Suppose you’re staying in your home during the renovation. In that case, you’ll want to consult your contractor about the building schedule, so you can devise a plan to eradicate clutter and ensure you’re not inhabiting their construction space. How to survive a renovation? Ask your contractor for their recommendations, and work with them to make the process easier.
Creating and adhering to a daily schedule can help you stay on track during your remodel. It also allows you to plan ahead and determine which days will be most chaotic. For example, surviving a kitchen or bathroom remodel might entail spending the weekend away with the kids if there’s rewiring or appliance downtime.
The better prepared you are, the less stress there will be. Of course, disruption to you and your family’s life will be part of the process, but there are simple steps you can take, like sticking to a schedule and asking your contractor for one, to mitigate inconveniences.
How to live through a kitchen or bathroom remodel, or any for that matter requires being mentally prepared for chronic dust. Even after contractors clean the site, it is impossible to eradicate construction dust from every nook and cranny. We recommend packing away items you won’t use and investing in adequate furniture storage during renovation.
It’s also a good idea to seal doorways between your make-shift living and renovation area with heavy-duty plastic drop cloths and tape up vents so dust doesn’t infiltrate your home’s ventilation system. If there’s a chance material worked on contains lead paint, then you will need to follow EPA Renovation, Repair, and Paint guidelines.
During renovations, you will need a place in or outside your home, depending on the extent of the project, to store furniture that typically resides in the space. A large basement or spare bedroom may do the trick, but if you don’t have that luxury, you might consider hiring storage during renovation.
The storage space could be as a small unit or large container. Some homeowners opt to rent furniture storage even when they have space in the home to protect their belongings from dust. You could either transport your goods to a storage center or rent a container to keep at your property for the remodel duration.
If you want to survive a home renovation, don’t DIY. Homeowners typically choose to DIY because they have proficiency in certain renovation aspects like drywall installation, for instance, or they want to save money or both.
As professionals, we’d strongly recommend against this. It’s easier to hire experts with the right resources, knowledge, and experience to do the job. If a DIY task does not meet compliance or is poorly executed, it may actually lower a home's resale value.
There comes a time during renovations when you’ll be required to make decisions on the spot. Of course, that doesn’t mean you need to be rash or impulsive, but you will require a degree of decisiveness or risk delay and increased costs.
Selecting cabinetry, handles, paint colors, and other bits and bobs can overwhelm you. One of the greatest tips for surviving a home renovation is to do adequate research before building begins and tier different design options. That way, you’ll already know what concessions to make if and when the time arises.
A successful home renovation entails budget transparency. As a guiding principle, you should decide on your budget and allocate an extra 5-10% for emergencies. Be honest with the contractor regarding contingencies, so they will know how best to handle the situation if an unforeseen issue arises. How to survive a home renovation is partly about managing finances and expectations. Sticking to a budget will certainly help avoid frivolous and impulsive money-related decisions.
As you can see, surviving renovation just requires a little forethought and finessing! When deciding to remodel your home, be sure to hire a top-notch contractor like Zenith Design + Build. We know how stressful it can be and make every effort to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to discuss your project!