Living through a renovation: dust, noise and the schedule

Most of the advice on remodeling is about the finished room. Less is said about the weeks before it, when the house is full of materials, doors are covered in plastic and the kettle lives in the bedroom. Knowing what to expect makes those weeks much easier.

Here is what living at home during a renovation is usually like, and how to prepare.

What changes day to day

• **People in your house.** A crew arrives at the same time each day and works through the day.
• **Noise.** Demolition, cutting and drilling are loud, and some tasks are noisy for several days.
• **Dust.** Even with protection, fine dust finds its way around the house.
• **Limited rooms.** A kitchen or a bathroom may be unusable for a time.
• **Deliveries.** Materials come in, and some are large.
• **A moving schedule.** Inspections, deliveries and discoveries can change the order of the work.

Before the work starts

**Clear the space.** Take valuables, breakables and wall art out of the work area and nearby rooms. Empty cabinets that will be removed. The easier it is for the crew to move, the faster and safer the work.

**Set up a temporary space.** For a kitchen project, that means a spot with a microwave, a kettle, a small refrigerator or a cooler, and paper plates or a washable set. For a bathroom, it means knowing which other bathroom you will use.

**Talk about access.** Agree on how the crew enters, where they park, which bathroom they use and how pets and children are kept clear of the work.

**Arrange the household.** If you work from home or have small children, think about which part of the day is most affected, and whether you want to be elsewhere for the noisiest days.

Dust control

Dust is the complaint we hear most. A good crew controls it in several ways.

• Sealing the work area with plastic sheeting and zipped doorways
• Covering floors and furniture in the path
• Using vacuums and cutting methods that reduce airborne dust
• Cleaning at the end of each day

Even so, you can help by closing doors, covering furniture in neighboring rooms and changing the filter on your heating and cooling system when the work is done.

Noise

If you cannot be away, plan the day around the noise. Early demolition tends to be the loudest part. Cutting tile and drywall can also be noisy. Ask your crew which days will be loudest so you can arrange meetings, naps and calls.

The schedule

A good schedule describes the order of work: demolition, structure, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, walls, tile, fixtures, paint and clean-up. The timing within it depends on things that nobody controls completely: product deliveries, inspection dates, weather and what is found behind the walls.

Ask for a schedule and ask how changes are communicated. A short message that says "tile delivery is a day late, so we will do the paint prep first" is much better than silence.

Decisions on time

Delays often come from decisions that are still open. Make your choices on tile, fixtures and paint colors before they are needed, and check in with the crew about what is coming next. See our post on reading an estimate for how allowances and changes work.

What to expect when something is found

In older houses, opening a wall can reveal surprises: outdated wiring, hidden damage or framing that is not as expected. These need attention, and a good contractor tells you what they have found, shows you and explains the options in writing before continuing.

Seeing progress

In a bathroom we worked on, progress photos show large tile on the walls, the shower area still being built and materials spread across the floor. It looks messy, and that is normal. It is the middle of the project, and the finished room comes after it.

Keep your sense of humor

Renovations have a middle stage that feels like nothing is happening. Usually a lot is happening, just not in a way that looks pretty. Keep a list of what is done and what is next, and ask for updates.

Talk it through with us

We plan around the household, not just the room. See our whole-home renovation page, then request a free estimate and we will talk through how the work would fit your family's routine.