Living in Your Home During Large-Scale Renovations? Keep These 5 Points in Mind

Staying at home throughout a renovation has positives and negatives. On the bright side, you get to supervise construction more closely, monitoring its progress, spotting minor or hidden issues early and making quick decisions to ensure the finished product matches your vision.

Not leaving the house helps you minimize lodging costs and deters criminals by being present at night.

On the not-so-bright side, the constant mess and noise can cause discomfort at best. Although it’s a temporary condition, going about your plan to stay put can raise your stress levels for weeks or months.

Living in Your Home During Large-Scale Renovations

Keep these five key points in mind to see through the renovation while staying sane.

1. Clean Zones Matter

Living in a construction site doesn’t mean staying in the actual construction zone. Designate spaces that would serve as your sanctuary during this chaotic period.

Ask your contractor to seal off the areas where you intend to spend most of your time at home with plastic sheeting and painters tape, making it easy to maintain a dust-free bubble.

Construction professionals advise against using central heating, air conditioning and cooling equipment until the job is done. Doing so would spread dust and debris throughout the house and severely clog filters, potentially compromising the system’s performance and causing premature failure.

In the meantime, use a space heater or cooler to condition the air. Cover all supply and return vents to prevent dust from entering the ductwork.

2. Safety Is Vital

The ideal clean zones should have separate entry and exit points. They allow you to go out and back into the house without passing through the construction zone, which can pose various hazards.

A convenient means of ingress and egress is crucial, especially if you live with children or pets that may be oblivious to dangers in the surroundings.

A habitable detached structure accessible through the side yard, such as an auxiliary dwelling unit, makes the best temporary shelter.

A code-compliant finished basement is also a good candidate, as it’s spacious and has at least one egress window and a well. An access point designed as an emergency escape route should be effortless to use.

If none of these spaces are available, speak to your renovator to isolate the hallways interlinking clean zones and leading to the outside to have hazard-free corridors.

3. Routines Evoke Normalcy

Daily routines reinforce the sense of familiarity you enjoy by not moving out during a home improvement. Sticking to your typical schedules as best as you can helps reduce the psychological toll of construction.

Routines are particularly beneficial for kids. A predictable flow to the day feels safe and secure, positively affecting children’s cognitive, emotional and social development.

Make it a mission to have meals together and observe a consistent bedtime. Fun activities make effective rituals for a smooth transition from one week to the next.

Talking to little ones about upcoming changes to their routines in advance helps them better manage their emotions when disruptions occur.

4. Minimalism Is Critical

Decluttering is excellent for your mental health, especially since some rooms will be off-limits during construction. If you limit your belongings to essentials, your clean zones won’t feel overcrowded and claustrophobic.

Using temporary storage solutions to keep construction zones furniture-free makes it easy to keep your space organized, protects your valuables from the rigors of renovation and prevents dust buildup.

Prioritize simple meals if you have access to your kitchen to put bulky cookware in storage until the makeover is complete. Order takeout occasionally to reduce the need to buy and store perishable pantry supplies and fridge contents.

Take advantage of affordable local eats to keep trash in check at home.

5. Communication Eases Disruption

Strategic absence allows you to live through the renovation without experiencing its worst. Closely coordinate with your contractor to know when the crew needs to shut off the water and power supply.

Consider spending time elsewhere during the project’s most disruptive phases to avoid dealing with unavailable home amenities. It’s the perfect time to plan a short camping trip for one or two nights in a national park, an extended stay with friends, or visit family members to have a much-needed mental break.

Meet with your renovator for project updates. Knowing the construction’s progress and ensuring it moves on schedule gives you something to feel excited about and look forward to.

Witnessing the transformation of your space can serve as a reward for your sacrifices. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel can give the energy to keep soldiering through.

Renovation Disruption Is Less Stressful to the Prepared

Spending significant time in your house while it’s under renovation can be taxing. However, this endeavor’s benefits should outweigh its drawbacks if you anticipate its hassles in advance.

Remember these essential points to mitigate the project’s inconveniences and survive it without losing your mind.

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