Surviving a Home Remodel: Essential Tips for Living Comfortably Through It All
Planning a Home Remodel Goes Beyond Paint Colors and Kitchen Cabinets
You have to plan for every eventuality, and that includes how and where you’re going to live while the project is going on. Many homeowners overlook this and are surprised when their lives are disrupted on a daily basis.
But take heart: you don’t have to spend more money than you have on lodging while the contractors do their thing. In many cases, it’s possible to remain in the home while the home remodel in Danville is going on. You just have to get creative and get on board with your contractors to stay apprised of progress so you can adjust your plans accordingly.
Get Realistic About Your Normal Routine
There will be nothing normal about the home remodeling process, as your lives will inevitably be interrupted, even in the smallest ways. Understand what this will do to your everyday routine and come to terms with the fact that everyone in the family will have to make some sacrifices along the way if the home remodel is to come to fruition.
Hitting that finish line can be a challenge, but if you prepare for the interruptions beforehand, you’ll all keep your sanity till it’s done. Renovations involve much more than just planning the project – you also have to worry about navigating social schedules. Most will be minor inconveniences, but if you know what to expect, you can take them in stride.
Plan Out Your Meals
Everyone has to eat, and this will be the biggest inconvenience as part of your home remodel. Especially if your kitchen will be gutted, you’ll experience quite a bit of downtime using that room. As the heart of the home, the kitchen is where you all gather to recap your day, prep meals, and eat together. With that hub missing for a while, you will have to get creative in how you tackle meals.
An extensive remodel means you may not have access to your kitchen for a few weeks. Eating out every day is not feasible for most families, yet you don’t have the luxury of home-cooked meals, so you’ll have to come up with a blend of the two. Maybe you can place the microwave in your dining room so at least you can heat up leftovers or eat some TV dinners once in a while. Or maybe you can use the grill in the backyard for steaks, burgers, and veggies. If you can, relocate your fridge, coffee maker, and electric griddle, and set up a foldable table with chairs for some seating.
Pick up plenty of paper plates, cups, and plastic silverware for now until you get your kitchen back.
Keep the Air Clean
The demo phase, in particular, will bring a lot of dust and debris to your home that you don’t want to breathe in. You also don’t want those dust particles to get into your ductwork and keep recirculating throughout the home. If you have to work from home, and you have a bedroom with a return duct, for instance, tape it off. This can be a quick and temporary fix until the demo stage is over. Most contractors take their own steps to ensure good air quality during a remodel and will do their best to keep your home relatively dust-free.
Remove Furniture and Valuables
During a remodel, it’s important to protect your valuables. Either remove large pieces of furniture from the room that will be worked on, or cover them in plastic wrapping. Your contractor will likely put up a temporary zipper wall that extends from the floor to the ceiling. This prevents dust from entering and escaping rooms. They may also put down protective flooring, which is great especially if you have brand-new floors. Plastic roll-out coverings should be placed over carpet, and rosin paper over hardwood floors.
Avoid the Remodel Site
If you’ve hired a reputable contractor, you can rest assured your house is safe to live in while work is going on. Obviously, if substances like asbestos are found and disturbed, this would be a different story. Your contractor should clean up after themselves after each day’s work so your kids and pets remain safe. They may leave tools behind that they will need the next day, as well as tarping, but this is normal.
However, it’s best to avoid the construction area completely if you can. You never know where there will be a stray nail or screw left behind.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Home Remodelers Today
At TheHomeMag Pro’s of Asher Brothers Construction, they’ll keep you updated on progress every step of the way so you know what to expect and how to plan for every eventuality. As your local experts in luxury home remodels, they invite you to schedule your consultation today or give them a call at (925) 406-4776.
