Two tips for living on site during a major renovation project
A lot of homeowners choose to live on site whilst their homes are being renovated. If you have decided to do this, here are a couple of tips which should help to make this experience as comfortable as possible.
Invest in the right supplies
Living on site during a renovation can be a very stressful experience, especially if you are a stay-at-home parent, or if you work from home and will, therefore, be in the house every single day throughout the project. However, if you equip yourself with the right supplies, you can make this process far more bearable.
First and foremost, consider purchasing some soundproof ear muffs for you and any other household members who will be on site during the day. Construction work often involves breaking through walls, hammering and using power tools; these activities can be incredibly noisy.
Constant exposure to loud noises will not only put you at risk of hearing damage but will also increase your stress levels; whilst you might be happy to tolerate the banging and clattering for an hour or two, you will eventually find yourself feeling tense and irritated by the relentless racket. Soundproof ear muffs will protect your ears from damage and help to drown out the annoying sounds produced by the construction work.
If you wish to be spared the hassle of ordering takeaway or dining out at restaurants on a daily basis, you should also invest in some small-sized food preparation and cooking equipment. A portable fridge, along with a microwave and a hot plate should enable you to whip up a few basic meals for you and your family each day, even if your kitchen is completely unusable.
Prepare for disruption to your water supply
If your bathroom and kitchen are being renovated, the plumbers will almost certainly need to switch off the water supply whilst they perform their job. Depending on the extent of the work that needs to be done, the supply may be turned off for several days; for example, if the plumbers have been tasked with re-routing the pipes in the bathroom to allow for a different placement of your bath or shower, this could take up to a week, if not longer.
As such, it is vital to ensure that you are prepared to live without access to your normal water supply. You will need a large quantity of bottled water for drinking, washing your hands and rinsing used dishes and cutlery. You may also want to purchase several bottles of hand sanitiser.
If you are on good terms with a nearby neighbour, it might be worth asking them if it would be possible to use their bathroom facilities during the period where your own home's water supply is unavailable. If this is not an option, it will probably be necessary to hire a portable toilet to keep on site for the duration of the plumbing work and to use your local gym's showers for bathing.
