Demolition of our old kitchen began this week, and we are in the thick of noise, dust, and debris! From this vantage point, I am sharing guidance on preparing for the construction phase of renovation. You have likely spent months selecting a contractor, revising plans and layouts, and choosing design elements and finishings. Unfortunately, the hard work is not quite over. The weeks prior to the start of construction in your home are crucial to the success of the renovation and your comfort during the process. Below are some tips and takeaways as you prepare for your renovation.
complete or check on orders
If you are purchasing some of your elements on your own, such as a faucet or lighting, ask your contractor about anticipated installation timelines. Create a checklist and order those items as soon as possible to ensure that they are onsite when needed. Shipping and delivery delays are the norm these days, so double check prior to ordering that projected delivery dates align with the timeline. During the renovation, even one missing element can cause a ripple effect of delays that can impact your entire project. If you have already ordered items such as appliances, check in with your vendors for updated delivery estimates.
start packing
Start packing. Start early. I cannot emphasize this enough. Even if you do not have a specific start date yet, begin to edit, purge, and donate items in your space. Future You will thank you. Once you have a ballpark idea of when construction will begin, start packing. Sort items by category, not by current location (a new layout may result in a different organization) and pack into moving boxes or lidded clear plastic bins. Leave out the essentials you will need to stock your temporary kitchen (see list below).
meet with your contractor
Schedule a pre-construction meeting with your contractor to make plans and establish expectations. Clear and frequent communication with the contractor will make the entire process much smoother. Some topics for this meeting include:
+ Dust and debris control and removal. Will the crew apply floor protection? Will they use plastic barriers around doorways to reduce dust traveling around your home? Will a dumpster and portable toilet be on site and, if so, where will those items be placed? To what extent will the crew clean up at the end of each workday?
+ Discuss whether the crew will need spaces for staging tools and materials or cutting wood or tile. Communicate whether you plan to open up areas of your home to the crew for purposes of hand washing, lunch storage/heating, etc., or if you will have water or coffee available. These are by no means expected, so allow your preferences to be the guide.
+ Ask about the crew’s working hours. Discuss if there will be phases of the project where you should be off the premises, or specific times you should be on site to make decisions. Let your contractor know in advance of any timing conflicts, so they can revise the timeline and reschedule subcontractors, if needed.
set up your renovation kitchen
Below is a list of items you may want to include in your temporary kitchen space. This list is not exhaustive, and you may not need or have space for all items listed. Consider this a starting point, and adjust based on if/how/what you plan to prepare meals during the renovation.
+ Cooking and prep station: small appliances like microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven, slow cooker, electric griddle, hot plate, and air fryer; cutting board and knives; basic kitchen tools such as can opener, measuring cup/spoons, scissors, tongs, large all-purpose bowl, pot holders, grill tools
+ Dish station: plates, bowls, cutlery, napkins, cups, wineglasses 😉
+ Refrigerator and water filtration pitcher if your fridge will no longer have access to a water line
+ Pantry storage: store pantry items in large clear lidded plastic bins under your stations
+ Cleaning and trash disposal: trash and recycling bins, paper towels, sponge and dish soap, all-purpose cleaning spray. If the space where you plan to set up your temporary kitchen does not have a sink, game plan how you will wash dishes and access water.
adjust your expectations
During the height of the pandemic, we used the phrase “COVID good enough” multiple times a day. The idea was a reminder that we were living in abnormal times and we should adjust our expectations for ourselves accordingly. Now it’s “renovation good enough.” Your home is likely going to be a chaotic mess; embrace that idea in advance. Relax your standards for cleanliness and order, and resolve to give yourself grace if takeout happens more than your usual once a week. Schedule a week (or more) of camp for the kids and send Fido off to doggie daycare. Think about how you can work in time away for yourself as well. Get out for a run, meet a friend for coffee, take an evening soak in the tub.
Do you have other tips for preparing for a renovation? Share them in the comments! If you would like to get caught up on our kitchen project, check out how we chose a contractor and our mood board and design plans.
Update: the kitchen is finished! Click here for a progress post and here for a mini reveal and what we learned during the process.