Living in a home while you are undergoing major renovations is never much fun. Some projects can take months to complete and in the meantime, your home is upside down and back to front. You will have to deal with endless contractors traipsing in and out of your home, dirt, dust, and debris. Of course, the easiest thing would be to move out and wait until the job is done before you take up residence again, but if you have a beady eye on your budget, this won’t be an option.
Unless the property is being rebuilt from the ground up, or the plumbing and power are disconnected, there is no reason why you can’t continue living at home with major work going on. So long as you have at least one room to live, eat, and sleep in, you can cope.
The biggest problem will be excessive noise and dirt. For a house-proud individual, this is never easy to live with, but there are ways and means to protect your living space from the chaos of a major renovation project.
Mark Your Space
Be very clear from the beginning about which areas of the house are off-limits to contractors and workmen. Most contractors are respectful of their client’s homes, but there will always be some who think it’s OK to wander through your living room in search of a kettle. Stick a sign on the door that clearly says: “Off Limits” to avoid confusion.
Screen the Entrance
Keeping doors closed will help to eliminate the worst of the mess, but it may not be enough if there is a ton of dust. Use dust containment screens and plastic sheeting to prevent dust traveling into your living space. Temporary poles, dust sheeting, and double-sided tape will help keep your living, sleeping, and eating areas clean.
Protect Flooring
Put plastic sheeting down in areas where contractors walk through. Most contractors will do this as a matter of course, but it is worth asking in advance of the start date to ensure your carpets and wooden floors are protected. It may be worth lifting carpets and storing them out of the way if you have a particularly expensive carpet. Expensive carpets can be re-laid relatively cheaply, but they are a lot dearer to replace.
Have a Decontamination Zone
Create a decontamination zone where you have a space to remove dirty shoes, outerwear, and hats before you enter the main living quarters. This is especially important if your renovation project is taking place in bad weather. The last thing you want is to have to clean mud that’s been tracked everywhere.
Have Separate Contractor Areas
Provide a kitchen area for workmen to make hot drinks and eat their food and if you don’t want them using your family bathroom, rent a portable restroom for the duration of the project.
It’s not easy living through a major renovation project, but it can be done if you follow the above tips. The alternative is to rent a mobile home and park it on-site so you have somewhere separate to go, away from the mess.
