How to Live in Your Home During a Renovation

Yes, You Can Stay — Here’s How

Most of our clients live in their homes during renovations. It takes some adjustment, but with the right preparation, it’s very manageable. Here’s what we’ve learned from hundreds of projects.

Set Up a Temporary Kitchen

If your kitchen is being renovated, you’ll need a backup for 4-8 weeks:

• Move your microwave, coffee maker, and toaster to a spare room or dining area
• Set up a folding table as a prep surface
• Keep a mini-fridge nearby for essentials
• Use disposable plates and utensils — without a sink, dish washing is a hassle
• Stock up on easy meals — crockpot dinners, takeout, and pre-made salads become your best friends
• A portable induction burner ($30-$50) is a game-changer if you want to cook

Dust Containment Is Everything

Renovation dust is the #1 complaint from homeowners. Here’s how we minimize it — and what you can do to help:

What We Do

• Install zip walls and plastic sheeting to seal off the work area
• Use dust-extracting tools (saws with vacuum attachments)
• Run air scrubbers during demo and sanding
• Clean the work area daily before leaving

What You Can Do

• Keep doors to the work area closed at all times
• Run your AC on “fan” mode — the filter catches airborne dust
• Change your AC filter weekly during the renovation (buy a few in advance)
• Keep a Swiffer or damp mop handy for quick wipe-downs
• Cover electronics and upholstered furniture near the work zone with sheets

Bathroom Renovations: Plan Your Routine

If one bathroom is out of commission:

• Map out your morning routine using the remaining bathroom
• Stagger wake-up times if multiple people share one bathroom
• Keep essentials in a caddy you can carry between rooms
• If you only have one bathroom and it’s being renovated, talk to us — we can often phase the work so the toilet and shower are functional for part of each day

Managing Noise and Schedule

Typical Work Hours

Our crews work 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Demo days are the loudest. Finish work (paint, tile, trim) is much quieter.

Tips for Coping

• Plan to be out during demo days if noise bothers you — a coffee shop, gym, or friend’s house for a few hours helps
• Noise-canceling headphones if you work from home
• Give kids and pets a quiet room far from the work area
• It’s temporary — most renovations are 2-8 weeks, and the noisy part is usually the first week

Protect Your Belongings

Before work starts:

• Remove valuables and fragile items from the work area and adjacent rooms
• Clear closets if they share a wall with the renovation
• Move vehicles if the driveway is needed for dumpsters or deliveries
• Cover furniture in rooms adjacent to the work zone

Communication Is Key

The best thing about living on-site is you can see progress daily. But it can also raise questions:

• Your project manager is your single point of contact — call or text anytime
• Daily end-of-day updates keep you informed on what happened and what’s next
• Weekly schedule reviews so you know which days will be loudest or need your input

When Moving Out Makes Sense

For certain projects, temporary relocation is more comfortable:

• Full home renovations (every room affected)
• Major structural work (walls, ceilings, floors simultaneously)
• Families with infants or anyone with respiratory sensitivities
• Homes with only one bathroom undergoing full renovation

If temporary relocation is recommended, we’ll let you know during the planning phase — never as a surprise.

The Payoff

The inconvenience is real but temporary. Every client who lives through a renovation says the same thing: “It was worth it.” And when you walk into your new kitchen or bathroom for the first time, you’ll agree.

Ready to start planning? We’ll walk you through what to expect for your specific project.