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TIPS TO SURVIVING A HOME RENOVATION
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Late nights, lost sleep, planning, and more planning. The team at Kitchen Fashions has been a part of literally thousands of renovations, and we have compiled a list of what we feel are the top tips to help you make it through any renovation whether you have a contractor or you’ re running the project yourself.
1. SELECTION BATTLES When it comes to picking finishes, accessories, styles, and colours, you and your spouse might not have the same style in mind. We often see couples visit our showroom and are shocked to find out that they have completely different tastes. Your spouse may say that they don’ t care, that nothing would make them happier than you choosing what you like, but never, and we mean literally never, does that actually happen. There is always at least some compromise, so it’ s good to figure those things out in advance. This will help to reduce major conflicts when the time comes to make choices and also help you more accurately budget your renovation. Visit a few design centers or hardware stores early in the process. Compose a portfolio of pictures on Pinterest, Houzz, online, or take pictures with your phone. Pictures speak a thousand words and it will make it easier for everyone to help achieve your goals.
2. CONSIDER FUNCTION BEFORE DESIGN You want your space to look nice, but styles age; practicality lasts forever. You may or may not still like the design in ten years but we can guarantee you won’ t like that cabinet door that can’ t open the whole way.
3. TEMPORARY KITCHEN You know not having a kitchen will be bad, after all it is the heart of the home, but until it’ s gone people often don’ t realize just how difficult it is to function without one. More often than not, the people who take the time to setup a temporary kitchen space are happier when the job is nearing completion. It may only take a couple of days to remove and install new cabinets, but stone countertops could be a couple weeks behind. Backsplash and trim
like living through a renovation. »
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often have to happen last. This can lead to a longer period without a kitchen than you expected. Eating take out for every single meal adds up, is a blow to your health, and it tends to loose the fun after the 10th time in a row. You’ d be surprised at the meals you can prepare with a small bar fridge, bbq, toaster oven, and slow cooker. Set it up in a nearby room and don’ t take it down till the job is done.
4. SINGLE BATH HOME RENO Sometimes you just don’ t have a choice, that 1970’ s tile and pink tub just has to go. Renovating a home’ s only bathroom is near the top of the stressful renovation list. Using the bathroom outside might be fun at first, but it quickly loses its novelty. The tip here to making it through with your sanity intact is to use this as some time to get away. Take the family camping, go on that road trip you’ ve been talking about, stay with a friend, or at the in-law’ s place. The good news is that getting the bathroom semi-operational again usually only takes a week or so, depending on how good you are at planning. However, sometimes it could be longer depending on the scale of your renovation.
5. A CURTAIN WALL GOES A LONG WAY Take the time before you start tear-out to put up a curtain wall, it will help to reduce dust throughout the entire home. Pick up a roll of thin plastic like vapor barrier, some tuck tape, and some quality masking tape. First apply masking tape to the area where you will be hanging the curtain wall, and then use the tuck tape to stick the vapor barrier to the masking tape. Masking tape itself isn’ t sticky enough to grip to vapor barrier but on unmasked drywall tuck tape can do some serious damage when later removed. At the end of the day having a barrier to reduce dust is totally worth it.