A kitchen renovation is one of the biggest single home projects you may take on. It’s rarely a quick job and it takes away the room in your home you probably use the most, potentially leaving you to live on microwave meals and do your washing-up in the bath! However, budget-wise, staying at home is the only option for many of us.
How long do kitchen renovations take?
On average kitchen renovations take three to four months including the design phase but this can be extended due to weather conditions, supply lead times and the team of contractors. The length of time you’ll have contractors working at your home is a big factor in the decision to live in or out, but there are also many more to consider…
What are the pros of living in during your kitchen project?
You don’t have to pay for rent and bills for a second home – this will significantly impact your build budget. You get to stay up-to-date with the project and ensure it’s running smoothly. You have the opportunity to develop a good relationship with the build team and are available to answer contractor questions on the spot, you’ll be able to notice potential issues as they arise and can stop them developing any further and you’ll know if things are falling behind schedule. Security as your home is not being left empty, it is arguably safer and you’ll be aware when contractors are turning up and leaving. There’s also the potential for keeping neighbours on side, as you’re there to address any issues straight away. You could compromise. Some people do a large renovation over the summer, so they can go on holiday during the most disruptive stage of the build.
What are the downsides of living in?
If you’ve never lived through a renovation before, you have no idea what it will be like. Walls are down, floors are removed, it’s messy work. You won’t have a kitchen and appliances for a couple of months. It will be noisy and it can be difficult with pets or children to consider. If you live in a terraced house with no side or rear access, then it also means the builders, dirt and dust will all come through the house. Living out will also provide a little sense of space between you and the contractor – particularly on the difficult days, as it can be stressful. Your presence on site may even slow down the rate of work. If you’re not there, for example, the contractor doesn’t need to make considerations to keep the boiler functioning – they can go ahead and strip out the whole space or knock through walls as soon as they start, and come in at weekends or stay late if needed.
If you decide to move out…
Living off-site doesn’t mean you have to feel out of touch with what’s happening to your house. Discuss the management process and a potential schedule early on with your professional, ask them to share daily updates, arrange weekly site meetings with your project manager as your point of contact who knows about design, the build and has the relationship with the client and they can feed decisions out to all parties.
You may not have a project manager, but do think carefully before taking on this huge job yourself. Design and build companies will typically build project management into their fees; interior designers like us and architects can offer the service for a fee, or you can hire a standalone project manager.
If you decide to leave for a while…
Most of us won’t have the budget to move out entirely for the duration. This can work fine, but it requires good planning.Agree a set of rules and boundaries, so you can maintain your privacy for example, the builders knock at the door when they arrive and don’t automatically let themselves in. We would definitely recommend considering paying extra for a Portaloo! If you would like to talk to us about designing your new kitchen, please get in touch by filling out the contact form on our website, we’d love to hear from you!
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