Beck Design Group

How to Survive Your Home Remodeling Project.

Helpful hints and tips on how to make the process a smooth one!

Remodeling usually involves tearing out old walls, windows, cabinets, or other pieces of your home that once seemed permanent. But this dirty, noisy, and disruptive process doesn't necessarily mean you'll be tearing out your hair, too.

With careful planning, it is possible to survive major renovations. Even though your daily routines may be derailed, you can minimize the inconvenience and give yourself room to collect your thoughts even amid a storm of drywall dust, flying wood chips, and noxious odors.

Tip #1: Plan for everyday life.

Your house may be in shambles, but you'll still want hot meals, a snug bed, a refreshing shower, and clean clothes. Seek safe harbor away from the confusion by staying at a motel, taking refuge with a kind relative, or even moving into a travel trailer or recreational vehicle.

But don't go so far away from home that you lose touch with the project. If you can, or must, live at home during remodeling, rearrange rooms before work begins. To prepare for a kitchen makeover, move your microwave and refrigerator to a place where they can still be used. If the water will be turned off for long periods of time, order bottled water and scout out a place for showers. A bedroom may even become a combination living room/kitchen for awhile.

Tip #2: Keep waste in its place.

There's no way to avoid a mess when remodeling. But the tide of rubble, trash, and dust can be contained. Before the swing of the first hammer, work out waste logistics with your contractor. Hang tarps in doorways to seal off rooms where remodeling is under way. Establish a plan for handling waste materials so they will be routed away from sensitive areas, such as gardens or porches, and hauled away on a regular basis. If floors need protection, see to it that they are covered up.

Tip #3: Defend against air pollution.

When determining the timetable, pin down the periods when glues, finishes, or other odorous materials will be used. Make certain the house will be properly, even excessively, ventilated when smells are at their peak. Escape to Grandma's.

Tip #4: Protect your Property from Dust.

Some dust will always drift out of work areas. Electronic equipment, fine furniture, or other valuables should be covered or removed. Also, keep expensive telephones out of the remodeling area.

Tip #5: Communicate with Contractors.

Keep the lines of communication open and stick to your plans as much as possible. Mid-course project changes often lead to unexpected service charges.

Tip #6: Let your neighbors know.

Whenever you decide on renovating your home, make sure the neighbors know. You wouldn't want to take on any brawls with the neighbors over noise issues. Take along a basket of muffins or invite them over for a party after the renovation. They will surely be cooperative if you take on a positive and friendly attitude.

Tip #7: This is the perfect time to eliminate clutter.

What a great time to go through all of your closets and storage spaces to eliminate items like the old wardrobes, exercise equipment gathering dust in your garage, clothes that haven't been worn for over two years, old books and keepsakes that are never used, old linens, and items stored in the garage. You'll be surprised at the reclaimed space that suddenly is available. It will make you feel good during your remodeling project plus it will give you new space!

Tip #8: Protect Your Belongings.

Remove pictures from walls and store fragile items away from the work area. Lock up or remove valuables. Roll up area rugs and store them out of the way. Seal clothing and linens in plastic bags. We will tape plastic sheets to doorways, windows and air vents to seal off rooms where remodeling is under way. If we are building an addition, we will not break into the main house until the last possible moment so most of the mess will be outside for most of the project. If floors need protection, we will see to it that they are covered up. If you have any special protection requirements, please let us know as soon as possible.

Tip #9: Protect Your Plants.

If we are going to be working in and around your garden or shrubs, you need to move those plants. Before we start, decide which plants you want to save. Saving plants during a remodel means digging them up and potting them; or digging and heeling them in some place away from the construction site. Let us know which plants might be damaged. We do all we can to protect them, but keep in mind that if we are digging a foundation three feet from your clematis arbor, some damage is almost inevitable.

Tip #10: Prepare yourself for a roller coaster of emotions.

Your initial excitement will nose dive once the mess, noise and organized confusion of remodeling begin. At different stages in the process, it’s perfectly normal for your feelings to go up and down. Expect it to happen. Just remind yourself that your original enthusiasm will return with interest when the remodeling is finished and your beautiful new space is ready to use.

Bonus Tips: Our Process for Being On-site at Your Remodel!

The earliest and latest hours for working. Typical work hours are from dawn to dusk. If you have special requirements, or you just need a break once in a while, spell out the hours when work is not allowed. Do, however, expect to make an exception here and there, especially where critical tasks absolutely have to be done.

Smoking areas. Odds are very good that at least some of the craftsmen on your project will smoke. If you have special concerns about smoking, you need to let us know.

Entrances. Generally workmen will use an entrance closest to the project site. Where possible we prefer an entrance not frequently used by your family — even to the point of building a temporary entrance where needed. Craftsmen will use only the designated entrance. Your family should use it as little as possible to avoid mishaps.

Keys. Unless you intend to be on site at all times work is being done, we will need keys to your house. Except for very unusual situations, only the project manager will have a key and is the person responsible for it. If he needs to give it to someone to get in your house, he will make every effort to let you know. Do not give out keys to any workman unless you have discussed it with the project manager and he approves.

Storage. There will have to be storage on site for tools and materials. If possible, we will store tools inside the house. Where not possible, we will bring on site portable tool storage. We will also need to discuss where materials may be safely stored with minimal disruption to your use of the premises.

Parking. We try to park at your home only those vehicles that are absolutely required. But this may mean as many as 5 or 6 vehicles at one time on rare occasions. We will not operate heavy trucks on your driveway due to the possibility of pavement damage, and generally do not allow any vehicle to be parked in your driveway. But if there is no other parking, we may have little choice. If special parking permits are required, we will obtain them from the governing entity. If you have a neighbor who will be upset by trucks in front of his or her house, please let us know.

Children and Pets. Children and household pets must be kept out of the construction area for their safety, the safety of our personnel, and to minimize disruption on the job site. Off-Limits Areas: All parts of the house not involved in the project are off limits to all of our personnel unless you specify otherwise, the exception being bathroom facilities. Any of our personnel in an unauthorized part of your home should be reported to the project manager immediately.

Bathrooms. For a large job expected to last several weeks, we will bring in a portable toilet. Otherwise, we need to arrange for toilet facilities for crew during the remodeling.

Music. We do not allow the playing of radios or recorded music on the project site except through personal earphones.

Cleanup. The site will be picked up and swept up each day. Trash will be removed, and tools and materials stowed. We do everything we can to keep waste in its place and out of the way. But there is no way to avoid a mess when remodeling. We want to work out a plan for handling waste materials so they will be routed away from sensitive areas, such as gardens or porches. Trash is hauled away on a regular basis.

Signs. We may post one sign in your yard during the remodel, two signs if you are in a corner house. We need to know where you prefer it to be set, if you have a preference.