Surviving A Renovation
By Peter Feinmann, CR
Article reprinted courtesy of HomeWorks Sourcebook
Renovating your home is truly an adventure. Make no mistake about it: remodeling can be very stressful. With visions of your dream house finally coming to fruition, it's hard to imagine your home becoming a construction site in the meantime. However, most of the horror stories you hear are avoidable. Here are some steps that can be taken to protect your family and your sanity.
1) Have a plan and stick to it
Thoroughly planning your project in advance will allow for a much smoother process. Remember that adding new work during the project will cost extra time and money - so will changing your plan in mid-stream. Without being overly rigid, having a well-thought out plan that you stick to from the beginning will get you the best result for the least time and cost.
2) Make your selections early
Although the choices for fixtures, cabinets, counters, etc. seem endless, making your selections early will help your project stay on schedule, saving time, money and last minute aggravations. Seeking the advice of a professional may help you sort through the options while alleviating stress and confusion.
3) Establish regular communications channels
The bigger and more complex the project, the more important it is to maintain regular communications with your contractor. Inevitably, the unexpected will happen, but good communication will allow you to handle these issues quickly, and with minimal time and financial impacts.
4) Plan for the crew
Remember, your home is about to become a working construction area. Establish ground rules and decide with your contractor where workers can drop lumber, store materials, dump trash, and park their vehicles.
5) Managing the subcontractors
Good contractors hire good subs, but you should still make sure your contractor communicates to all subs the ground rules you have established (e.g. smoking policy, music, private territory, etc.). And remember, subcontractors are experts in their field - don't be afraid to use their expertise to solve problems.
6) It's a dirty job!
Construction dust can settle anywhere, and usually does. Pack away fragile and valuable items. Make sure to cover all items and areas you feel necessary. Make sure your contractor has a plan to minimize dust infiltration and, if possible, have the job site closed off from the rest of the house.
7) Keep children safe
Remember that children, whether your own or your neighbors, are very curious - and this could prove to be dangerous. Taking the children on a tour to explain what is happening and why they should stay clear of the area is a great way to avoid accidents. If they are kept in the know, their curiosity will be less likely to get the best of them.
8) Create safe rooms
If you are renovating your kitchen, a temporary kitchen may definitely worth the time and money. The laundry room, basement, garage or even the deck (weather permitting) are great areas for setting up a temporary kitchen. If your renovation occurs throughout your home, you may want to consider alternative accommodations. Once again, the benefits typically outweigh the costs.
9) Don't jump the gun
Your project is almost complete and you want to move into your new space - but the key word here is almost. Moving back into a space that isn't quite ready creates problems for everyone. Not only will it be more difficult for the workers to complete their tasks, the cleaning will be endless.
10) Keep your sense of humor
Hang in there! Remember, this soon will pass and your remodeled home will be well worth the trouble.
Peter Feinmann is president of Feinmann Remodeling, Inc., an award-winning architectural design and remodeling company located in Arlington. Feinmann specializes in the design and construction of high-quality additions, kitchens, baths, exterior and whole house renovations
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