Home Renovation Tips

Home renovations are super exciting, however the process can take a few weeks or more and creates a lot of mess, sometimes leaving us without key functional rooms in our homes, like kitchens and bathrooms, so if you would like your renovations to go that little bit smoother, read on for our tips below….

Children and Pets

For children, safety needs to be considered, be sure to make all tradespeople are aware if there are children in the home as they will need to ensure all the tools or potentially hazardous objects are put away and the area is made safe. Do not allow the children to play on the building site or in any of the rooms being renovated, and ensure the temporary living space is safe and uncluttered, so they have freedom to play there. The noise of the work can be frightening for animals. If you have someone who can look after them during the build, you should definitely consider this. You could your dog to your place of work during the day if you can. Make a safe space away from the noise where they can have calm. For outdoor cats, perhaps get a temporary cat flap made in a position away from the main building work.

Security

Research your contractor before you commission them for the build. Ask for their plans to keep your home secure during the renovation. Make sure your contractor and any subcontractors are correctly insured. You should also contact your home insurance provider to let them know that renovations are taking place; they may ask to see proof of your builder’s insurance cover for example. If you’re living off-site for the build, it may be sensible to consider some extra precautions. Some people install security systems or motion sensors. You should store valuables off-site if possible and request that the builders use high-security locks on any areas that will need closing up overnight. It’s also sensible to change the locks once the build is complete.

Are dust-free areas of the house going to be possible?

Although there will be constant dust, particularly at the demolition stage, it can be possible to maintain a reasonably dust-free living zone. Depending on the work being done, it may be possible to block off the stairwell entirely with a solid wall to keep the works separate to the rest of the house. To get in and out of the “clean” part of the house, using plastic sheeting with zipper doorways can help to keep dust from escaping, then ask the contractors to make sure hallway and any connecting areas are then vacuumed and mopped at the end of every day to prevent the dust from spreading. Use cover sheets on any furniture close to the building zone and ensure flooring is well protected – your builders should be able to do this for you.

How can I make my home feel nice for the duration of the project?

It depends on how much space you have, but if you can, separate your living space from the renovation area. You could move your living space upstairs, away from all the noise and dust, so it feels disconnected, which is ideal. It also means children and pets can stay away from the building site, too. If you have a lot of stuff in boxes, you could always consider renting a storage unit for a short time during the build to give yourself space to live in comfortably

If the rest of the home is available for you to use, make it as functional as possible and become receptive to the changes to your home environment, Many people become stressed, as the impact can be too much. Try to make the process it and look forward to your new home once it is all done.

Creating a temporary kitchen

You can set up a temporary kitchen yourself or ask your contractor to do it for you somewhere else in your home or garden!

As a basic, you could set up a folding table or two, or maybe some old cabinets and some worktop with a microwave, toaster, kettle, and, if possible, a two-ring hot plate, a cheap one of which can be picked up for around £50. A small table and chairs would be ideal too or you could use a dining or living room to eat in. You can use a washing-up bowl with a drainer plug to wash up in the bath and a draining board that fits over it. You can plug old appliances in and possibly have a temporary sink plumbed in if you have space, otherwise it will be laundry visits or services for washing the clothes. If you have friends or family nearby they could help with weekend laundry.

There are companies who’ll bring a pop-up kitchen on wheels but you need somewhere to park it, so it’s not available to everyone or you can always set up your camping gear in the garden and use that – weather permitting!

Remember not to pack away….

A simple essentials list includes a kettle, toaster, coffee-maker if you have one and sufficient cups, plates, bowls and cutlery. You will also need pots and pans, a chopping board and knives. Try to keep these to a minimum, as you won’t have much space. A microwave and air fryer can be very handy! Be prepared to eat lots of takeaways! Keep your meals simple and wash up as you go!

If you would like to talk to us about designing your new kitchen, bathroom or new extension living space please get in touch by filling out the contact form on our website, we’d love to hear from you!