Here's a question we get asked a lot: "Can we actually stay in our house while you're renovating?"
The short answer? It depends. The longer answer? With careful planning and realistic expectations, many families successfully navigate live-in renovations. We've helped plenty of them do it, and we've learned a thing or two about what works (and what doesn't).
Before we get into the practical stuff, let's have a reality check. Living through a renovation means accepting dust (everywhere), noise (starting earlier than you'd like), disrupted routines, and trades people coming and going. Your kitchen might be out of action for weeks, your main bathroom could be unusable, and finding your belongings might become a daily treasure hunt.
If you can make peace with this from the start, you're already halfway to success. The families who struggle are usually the ones hoping everything will stay normal - and that's just not realistic.
Some renovations are more liveable than others. Here's what we consider when assessing whether staying put makes sense:
The families who thrive during live-in renovations are those who accept the disruption from the start rather than hoping everything will stay normal.
The key to successful live-in renovations is smart staging. We always ensure you maintain access to at least one bathroom, basic kitchen facilities, and proper sleeping areas. Working in zones - completing one area fully before moving to the next - means you always have liveable spaces available.
Setting up temporary living arrangements doesn't have to be fancy, but it needs to be functional. A simple temporary kitchen with a portable bench, microwave, and kettle can make a huge difference. Paper plates and easy-to-prepare meals become your best friends.
We use plastic sheeting and tape to create barriers between construction and living areas, implement comprehensive dust control measures, and respect your family's need for privacy and security. Our sites are properly secured each day when workers leave, and we maintain clear communication about daily schedules.
Dust will be your biggest enemy, so daily cleaning becomes part of life, though don't aim for perfection during construction. We recommend investing in air purifiers for your clean zones and covering furniture and electronics in work areas.
Try to maintain family routines as much as possible. Consistent meal times, bedtimes, and regular activities help everyone feel more settled when everything else is in flux. This is actually a great time to explore local parks more, visit friends and family, or plan weekend getaways.
Children often find construction fascinating when it's presented positively. We involve them in age-appropriate ways whilst keeping them safely away from work areas. Communication with your family about what's happening and when helps reduce stress for everyone.
Living in a construction zone requires extra vigilance. We ensure good ventilation throughout your home and recommend air purifiers, especially if anyone has allergies or asthma. Older homes may contain lead or asbestos requiring professional testing and removal.
Physical safety is paramount - children and pets must stay away from construction areas at all times. We implement systems to ensure your home remains secure and that work areas are properly isolated from living spaces.
Sometimes staying home simply isn't practical. Here are the situations where we usually recommend temporary relocation:
We'll give you honest advice about whether your specific project is suitable for live-in renovation. Sometimes the stress and cost of staying isn't worth it.
At Koda Construct, we understand that many families need to stay in their homes during renovations. We've developed specific systems and processes to make this as manageable as possible.
We plan renovations in careful phases to minimise disruption, maintain clear daily communication about schedules and progress, and work efficiently to reduce the duration of inconvenience. Jacob's exceptional site organisation ensures everything runs smoothly and productively, whilst we respect your home and family's need for normal life to continue as much as possible.
Our experience with live-in renovations means we can anticipate challenges and plan accordingly. We know how to balance productivity with livability, ensuring your project progresses efficiently whilst your family maintains some semblance of normal routine.
Whether you're expanding for a growing family or updating your forever home, we understand this renovation represents a significant investment in your family's future happiness. We take that responsibility seriously.
Wondering whether you could realistically stay in your home during renovation? Every situation is different, and we're happy to talk through what would work for your specific project and family circumstances. Give us a call, we'll give you our honest thoughts about what's possible.
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