Thinking of tackling a home renovation? Wondering how you and your family will survive through the process? Cowan Building has some top tips to help you plan and reduce stress during your renovation project.

From bathrooms and kitchens to adding rooms or extending, renovations can be messy, disruptive, and loud. So how can you best prepare for your new project and keep the stress to a bare minimum?

The key is preparation and being realistic about what your family can and can’t cope with. Timing is also essential. Renovating during high traffic times in the home, such as festive seasons and school holidays, will certainly add more pressure to your renovation. If you are renovating a bathroom and will be without your only shower or bath for a week or two, it’s a good idea to consider renovating during the warmer months.

Bathroom Renovations

If you are renovating your bathroom it’s important to get a clear project timeline, particularly if it is your only bathroom in the house. Make alternative arrangements with friends or family for showering and washing. The warmer months are most desirable as you can substitute your daily shower by utilising a camp-style showering system for the days your bathroom is unavailable.

Kitchen Renovations

If you are undertaking a new kitchen project, the extent of this will depend on the amount of preparation you’ll need to make. A full kitchen renovation will require you to ‘move’ your daily essentials such as your pantry, oven, and cooking area while the renovation is taking place. BBQs areas make a great substitute for your kitchen. Another top tip is to meal prep and have ready-made frozen meals that can be heated quickly and easily. By writing up a clear meal-plan you can eliminate a lot of stress on how you will eat during the project. Remembering that even if you have access to your oven, your kitchen will be a busy work area and full of dust and debris until the project is complete.

Storage & Areas

With all renovations, making alternative areas is a must, to give you the space and functionality of the home while the project is in full swing.  Prepare before your project starts with additional storage and set up spaces that are being lost in other areas – like kitchens, bedrooms, etc. You may have the ultimate storage solution like a spare room or a garage, however, if storage is limited consider renting temporary storage until your project is over. Having huge amounts of furniture cluttering one room may seem like an easy fix, but, if you are all trying to live in this space, it will certainly cause more headaches than it is worth. Pack up everything that you do not need to use in the room you are relocating to. This will not only help with dust, but it will also save your sanity with clutter and space.

Dust During Renovations

Consider purchasing (or ask your builder) heavy-duty plastic dust sheets that can be used to keep the dust and debris from the construction zone, encroaching on the entire home. Renovations are very dusty! No matter how hard to try and keep it out, you will most certainly find it in every corner of your home particularly if your project has any drywall installation, painting, or carpentry work. It’s a good plan to pack away anything that you are not going to need during the project in dust-free areas, and also seal off the construction area as best you can from the remainder of the home. Covering air vents is also advised in adjoining rooms to prevent the dust from being spread through the air-conditioning or heating vents.

If you are a person who struggles with dust, noise, or change it is vital you mentally prep yourself for living through a renovation. Remembering with an extensive renovation, you need to understand that you will be living on a building site.

DIY and Renovations

If you speak to the experts, many advise against doing DIY renovations for many reasons. Not only will this add to the huge amount of stress a renovation can bring, but it can also lead to expensive problems that will need fixing. Not to mention the extension of your renovation timetable. There are certainly DIY aspects during a big renovation that many owners can competently achieve, however for the serious stuff, if you have no previous experience then it’s best left to the experts.

Safety

With all renovations, your home will temporarily become a construction site. It is important to not only prepare yourself but also to set up rules and barriers for children and pets. For major renovations when you cannot securely keep your pet, perhaps consider boarding options or ask a friend for help to care for your pet. Cats in particular do not like change or loud noises. Consider a ‘safe room’ away from all the noise and people for your pet if you are unable to 100% monitor them during busy periods. Baby gates work perfectly to ensure young children keep out of renovation areas. Always keep any chemicals including paint, up and out of reach of curious fingers.