All aboard for train trip through remodeling project
The train-station atmosphere of a remodeling project can lead to remodeling fever. The main symptom of this temporary affliction is feeling a loss of control that results from disrupted routines and the impact on your personal space. The best way to prevent this fever is to prepare well — remember “this too shall pass” — and focus on the progress being made.
Afew other suggestions from remodeling pros are:
Prepare for incon- venience. A remodeling project can turn your home and — on some days your life — upside down. A kitchen remodel will, of course, affect meal planning. Alittle ingenuity and some culinary shortcuts can lessen the impact. Set up a temporary cooking quarters by moving the refrigerator, toaster oven and microwave to another room. Arrange a dishwashing station in your laundry room. If the weather is warm, fire up the grill and dine al fresco.
Designate a safe haven in your home where you can escape from the chaos and commotion.
Guard against dust. During a remodeling project, dust has the tendency to appear everywhere from lampshades to plates stacked inside your kitchen cabinets. To keep out as much dust as possible: Seal off doorways and stairs; turn off central air or heat when workers are sanding, and stock up on extra filters so you can change them often; have deliveries made though a designated entrance; use doormats and temporary floor coverings where appropriate; remove anything that might get damaged by the dust or at least cover it with plastic drop cloths taped shut.
Maintain a sense of humor. Remember certain things are out of your control and it’s best to laugh rather than upset yourself about things such as the weather or delayed delivery of materials.
See the remodeling process as an adventure. Tell the kids you are “camping in” and transform inconvenience into fun. Along the way, celebrate as different stages of the project are completed.
Just as being in a train station means you are going somewhere, the same is true with the journey you and your home are going through. At the end of the journey, you will have a transformed home. Once you are there, it will be worth it.
This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. For information on this article, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, visit www.ghba.org.