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Forget the mess
It's no fun living on a construction site. In fact, if the renovations are major, you may want to consider moving out for a while.
Of course, this isn't always possible. Be sure at least to find out from your renovator what kinds of disruptions you can expect.
For example, water and electricity may have to be turned off, heavy equipment brought in, or sanding done at some stage of your project. As the work progresses, ask for specific dates and times so that you and your family can plan around them.
You'll also want to negotiate the times workers start and finish each day, and whether they'll work on weekends. Builders often keep several jobs goings at once, especially during the busy summer season, so there may be days or even weeks between their appearances. These periods must be indicated in the builder's work schedule.
Be aware that renovating can be a dirty job, or at least a very dusty one. If you decide to stay in your house, remove all furnishings and personal items from the work site. If you can't easily move something, cover it with a plastic sheet and seal it with duct tape.
Safety
If you are still living in the house while work is going on, you need to be especially conscious of risks to the safety of you and your family. Don't let children play or wander around the work area. Danger comes from the generally hazardous nature of building sites, including:
- Falls into excavations, or off the edges of building work.
- Power tools in operation or left lying around.
- Fumes or contamination from building materials, including treated timber, and glues in enclosed spaces.
If you are doing the work yourself, follow normal commonsense safety practices, such as ladder safety, and using the correct safety gear.
Step 8 Inspect as you go
