Everyone dreams of remodeling their home. If you are actually doing it — or about to start, — it helps to anticipate problems. It will help you cope with what may become a stressful time. Preferably you can start these coping strategies before you even sign the contract. You’ll be glad you established some protections and made smart decisions that should keep the remodeling on time and on budget with Home Remodeling Adventure.
Get Things in Writing
Some people embark on a remodel with a handshake. Others sign a contract written by the contractor. You definitely want an estimate, a timeline, and a contract, but you need to state some of the terms and not just sign what you are given.
A homeowner should ask their contractor to commit to certain practices to keep the house and yard from being damaged in such a way that the homeowner will end up spending more money to correct the problem. Keep in mind that if you sign and then want to set terms, you’ll either get a lot of blowback, or the contractor may try to add to the costs or timeline.
Protect Your Stuff Home Remodeling Adventure
Your contractor should be able to tell you what types of jobs will be indoors and what will be outdoors. Why does it matter? Indoor jobs, if they include sawing, trimming, or cutting, will produce sawdust and other debris.
There should be plenty of covers for furniture and perhaps heavy plastic sheeting hung as a temporary wall between the construction area and the rest of the house. If you are worried that dust will carry into other parts of the house, you should plan on covering everything that isn’t used every day as well as important items such as a piano, oil paintings, and equipment.
The goal is to stop the dust from penetrating where it can’t be wiped clean. You can restrict your living quarters, keeping family out of areas that are most exposed to dust. This will prevent tracking and will keep them from breathing in particulants. You should cover the vents closest to the renovations and make every effort to keep these particles out of the air you breathe.
Depending on the extent of the remodel, it may be worth it to move out temporarily or send children to stay with nearby relatives or friends for long intervals. You should remain close to the situation and visit often if you have moved out. Furthermore, you should make clear to the contractor that your actions are meant to help speed up the timeline.
Guard Your Lawn
If your contractor will be working outside, then there’s a chance that your yard will sustain some damage. How will it be minimized? You’ll want to know how the process will affect trees, shrubs, and gardens. Construction mats can be put down to protect the topsoil, if you push for this when writing up the contract.
Although these access mats are common in the construction trades, they aren’t used by every contractor. The mats create parking, temporary roads, and a protected worksite for the contractor’s trucks and equipment. That protects your yard from damage and helps speed up their work, too.
Consider Off-gassing When Choosing Materials
Fresh cuts of manmade materials will accelerate off-gassing. This can include kitchen countertops, cabinetry, carpets, manufactured wood flooring, and much more. Off-gassing may or may not smell, but you can bet it is bad for everyone either way.
You’ll want to favor materials that don’t cause this environmental problem. The contractor should have an outdoor space to deal with trimming or cutting these items. Windows should be left open in the areas where new flooring or countertops have been added.
Try to get as much in writing about protections for your health and home before you get started. You’ll have a better remodeling process with fewer problems to fix after the contractors are done.
