Can I Live at Home During a Kitchen Remodel?
If you're gearing up for a kitchen remodel, you might be wondering if your home life is about to be flipped upside down. The kitchen tends to be the heart of the home, a place where meals and memories come together. It’s no surprise that people want to make it better. But when that space is off-limits, it can feel like a huge part of your life is missing.
The idea of moving out can feel like an unnecessary expense, but staying home while your kitchen is under construction does come with its challenges. Luckily, with a bit of planning, it’s entirely possible to stay put and keep life running smoothly during your kitchen renovation.
Set Up a Makeshift Kitchen
For longer renovations, some contractors may even help you assemble a temporary kitchen in a garage or spare room. Here at West End Kitchen Company, for example, we’ve set up makeshift kitchenettes for clients to make the process more manageable. You can also ask your contractor if the refrigerator can be relocated to another accessible spot, so you’re not stuck storing milk on the patio.
Get Comfortable with a New Menu
Let’s be honest, your diet will change during a remodel. This is the time to embrace easy-prep meals, frozen dinners, and a brief love affair with takeout. Think of it as your kitchen’s vacation and yours from full-on cooking. Who knows, you might even develop a newfound appreciation for the fine art of microwaving a Hungry Man dinner to perfection.
Since eating out tends to be part of the remodeling lifestyle, it is a good idea to budget for those extra restaurant runs ahead of time. You may also want to loosen your belt a notch, both financially and literally. Bonus tip, stock up on paper plates and utensils unless you are feeling particularly adventurous about scrubbing spaghetti sauce off a bathroom sink.
Keep Safety in mind
Start by asking exactly where tools, materials, and equipment will be stored at the end of the workday. A good contractor will have a system to keep things as organized as possible, so you’re not tripping over power tools while grabbing your morning coffee.
Another thing to discuss with your contractor is daily cleanup. If you have children or pets, this step is especially important, and a thorough contractor will be happy to tidy up at the end of each day. Discuss how they’ll remove trash, vacuum up sawdust, or store materials out of the way in a designated place.
It’s also helpful to establish clear boundaries for where workers can and can’t go. Mark off areas that are off-limits and make sure contractors know which doors they should use to access the construction zone.
You probably want to consider wearing shoes indoors to protect against stray debris, and be cautious when navigating work areas. With the right safety measures in place, your remodel can be smooth and injury-free, for everyone involved.
Dealing With Dust
Dust is the unwanted guest that shows up to every remodel. But. to keep it contained, most contractors will hang plastic sheets in doorways or other openings leading out of the work area. These sheets, taped from floor to ceiling, help prevent dust from traveling to the rest of your home.
Your contractor will most likely also lay thick, cardboard-like floor protectors to be laid down in high-traffic areas, minimizing the mess on your floors as workers come and go. While construction dust is inevitable, these precautions go a long way toward keeping keeping the dust in your living spaces to a minimum.
The light at the end of the tunnel
Living at home during a kitchen remodel isn’t always glamorous, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. With a little creativity and some open communication with your contractor, you can make the process much more comfortable. At the end of it all, you’ll have a shiny new kitchen with custom cabinets, and you’ll probably come away with a newfound appreciation for the simple joy of a fully functioning stovetop.
Author:
Aaron Randolph