Things to Know About Living In House During Renovation

Dear CJ,

We are starting a renovation on our home this fall. We are still tweaking the budget to see how much we will be able to afford to do this year. While planning, we are wondering what we need to know for living in house during a renovation.

We are a family of four. My husband & I plus our daughter who is 8 & our son who is 6. We want things to run as smoothly as possible so we are hoping you can share some tips on how we should prepare.

Kind Regards,

Katie M.

Dear Katie,

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding living in a house during a renovation. There are pros & cons for making the choice to stay on location while doing a renovation to your home.

The pros being that you will save money from having to rent another place or move in with family, plus you’ll be on location to be sure things are running like they should & make quick decisions that will come up often during the process.

The biggest downside is that you will feel like your life has been turned upside down unless you take steps ahead of time to prevent some of the disruptive aspects that come with renovation.

If you take the time to implement the following steps it will make the process a lot less stressful & you’ll have neutral zones to retreat to.

Here are my 5 recommendations when living in house during a renovation

1) Pack Like You Are Moving

I know this is a pain in the booty…especially when you have so many other things to do & decide before your renovation gets underway. However, this is the best time to sort through & purge items you no longer use or need.

Packing them away decreases the clutter, protects the items from damage, eliminates having to dust them off when the project is completed & gives you peace of mind. When we did a major renovation to our home I purchased storage containers & stored the items I didn’t need in the basement & our garage. I labeled each container with specific information. If I did decide I needed access to an item I could easily find it.

Be sure to store items where they will be safe. For instance, if you’re storing away toiletries or medicines they should be stored in a cooler area.

I packed items over a few-month period. Each night I would tackle a project whether it was a bathroom vanity or a piece of furniture that held delicate items. I watched a movie or listened to music while I worked away, always feeling better for checking it off my list.

If you haven’t already, be sure to read my earlier blogpost Creating a Home that Brings Out the Best In You.

2) Protect Furnishings

Although you might be renovating a kitchen or bathroom, the adjacent rooms should be considered as well. It could be as easy as covering them thoroughly with plastic but if you have a room that’s away from the construction zone it’s ideal to move furniture out of the way. You might still need to cover furniture because the sanding of floors & drywall can cause tiny dust particles to seep through finding their way on your beautiful furniture. It’s best to take the extra precautions ahead of time to eliminate the concern & stress of wondering if you should have.

3 ) Have a Clean, Safe Zone to Retreat to

If you have a finished basement with a kitchen, bathroom & bedroom this is ideal. If not, at least some of those features will be beneficial. Be sure to keep this area neat & clean. Avoid storing furniture or containers in the main area by utilizing the storage areas instead.

Treat this area as a long-term vacation home. Have some games accessible to play with the kids. A table to dine at. A clean bathroom to refresh. Make sure it is a dust-free zone.

If you don’t have a full kitchen, a microwave & a small fridge will do. It will be like being in a college dorm again. Make it fun.

4) Contain the Construction Zone

Ask your contractor to put up plastic barriers with zippers to move from the construction zone to your safe zone & reduce the mess. Don’t assume that they will do this on their own. Some will, but many won’t unless you ask them ahead of time.

You should also close off heat & cooling vents in the work zones to help alleviate some of the dust from traveling to other areas as well as filling up your ductwork. This will also help keep your safe zone/s a healthier environment for breathing, eating & sleeping.

5) Have a Backup Plan Just in Case

I know all too well that it always seems like you’ll be able to handle everything that comes your way while living in house during a renovation…however, there can come a point when you decide it’s just too much. I’ve seen this happen before so I’m warning you ahead of time. Have your Just in Case plan in place. Whether it’s a family member or a month-to-month rental you might need some refuge.

This happened to my daughter & son-in-law during a recent renovation. They were having some wood floors replaced & finished & the staircase replaced. They have a finished basement that would have accommodated them as well as our granddaughter. We anticipated they would come & stay with us while the floors would be sanded & finished because our daughter was pregnant at that time.

What happened was when they were replacing the staircase the stair contractors had to cut into the plaster walls of their 1928 vintage home. They hadn’t anticipated having to do this. The concern was that they were disrupting lead paint. With the expected baby & a toddler in the home, this became a major concern & needed to be abated.

What we anticipated being a few days turned into a few weeks. We had fun with having them with us for that time & happy we could accommodate them. That’s what family is for ;)

Just be ready…just in case.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my earlier blogpost What to Know Before Starting a Renovation. This will help you understand what challenges can arise during a renovation.

Have a Clean, Safe Zone to Retreat to

Starting & Proceeding with a Clean Work Zone will Reduce the Stress that comes with a Major Renovation

It’s all about Being prepared for what might come up

When you make the decision of living in house during a renovation be prepared…pack like you’re moving, protect your furnishings, create a clean, safe zone within your home for you & your family to retreat to, contain the construction zone & have a backup plan just in case you need to retreat.

I hope this helps you prepare for your renovation project & makes it as enjoyable & stress-free as possible. Best of luck!