|
 |
Life In A Construction Zone
Since Boulder’s great housing booms were in the 50’s and 60’s, most of the homes in town are now 30 or more years old, and looking a little tired. Many of the amenities that were "modern" at the time, are simply inadequate to serve the needs of today’s families. The typical Boulder house has no master bath, bedrooms are barely larger that a King-size bed, and a kitchen full of "avocado" or "harvest gold" appliances on their last leg.
Insulation is often poor, windows are double-pain, shag carpet hides the original oak flooring, lighting is dismal, storage is poor, and the basement looks like it was finished over a weekend by fraternity buddies working for beer.
Building your own custom home might sound attractive, but lots are scarce and expensive, and Boulder’s permit allocation process is difficult and time consuming. Developments may have the latest amenities, but are not as conveniently located, the "trees" are twigs, the houses all look like clones, and the neighbors are strangers.
Such considerations cause many people to engage in the ultimate recycling project--remodeling their home. Remodeling can yield remarkable results, but the process can be confusing and intimidating.
I am frequently asked by remodeling prospects if they can live in their house during remodeling. The answer is--maybe, depending upon what the project involves, how much inconvenience you can tolerate, the time of year, and how much confidence you have in your contractor’s schedule.
If the project involves the master bedroom, master bath, and kitchen, you may want to move out for the duration. Not only will you be more comfortable, but the construction will cost less because the contractor won’t have to work around you.
If you’re adding a new room on the back of the house, the impact on your daily life will be much less. The new room can usually be "dried in" against the weather, and the messiest work completed, before being opened to the rest of the house.
If you stay in your home during a major remodel, there are some things you can do to mitigate the stress. Start with a pre-construction conference with your contractor, detailing the schedule, and how it will affect you. A clear understanding of what to expect is important. Construction appears to advance in spurts. Having a detailed schedule will prevent panic at those stages when nothing appears to be happening.
All strategic materials--like ceramic tile, plumbing fixtures, and special-order items should be in hand , or at least on order, before construction begins. Late arrival of materials will delay your project.
Establish a routine of regular communication with your contractor. Arrange to meet at your home weekly in order for you and your contractor to get all your questions answered promptly. Also find a place in your home for a message center where you can leave notes for each other.
Define and enforce your "house rules". Never forget--this is your house! You may want to designate a certain toilet for the workers, otherwise a portable toilet may cost you hundreds of dollars. Assign a telephone for contractor use. It will be needed for ordering material, calling subcontractors, etc.. Some contractors have portable telephones they can use to minimize disruption to your family.
If you have a pet that is not allowed outside, arrange a temporary enclosure to prevent accidental escape. Even the most conscientious contractor can’t insure a door or gate won’t be open long enough for your pet to escape.
Ask your contractor to use clean drop cloths or carpet runners, zippered "dust doors" to partition off work areas, filtered exhaust systems to clean the air in the dusty area, and outside access to keep dust under control. He or she should have vacuum cleaners with filtered exhaust, and use them frequently.
Noise pollution is another important factor. Enforce work hours that leave you some time to yourselves. Consider restricting work to the hours between 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M on weekdays. If you will be home during work hours, you can protect yourself from "dueling radios" by restricting use of radios by construction crews. If the painter likes country & western, the floor layer likes classical, and the drywaller likes heavy metal, you could be in trouble without some guidelines.
Daily housekeeping is important to your safety and comfort during construction. The jobsite should be broom-cleaned at the end of each work day, and debris removed from the site frequently to prevent trash from blowing around the neighborhood.
Be sure to discuss security issues. You may want to use a "Realtor’s lock box" to keep a house key available for the crews, or issue only one key to the contractor, and require him to unlock in the morning and lockup at the end of each day. Consider budgeting the cost of re-keying your locks after the job is done. The peace of mind could be worth the cost.
Avoid the temptation to approach workmen and subcontractors with questions and changes that should be directed to your project manager. Direct communication to the responsible party will minimize confusion and delay.
Don’t forget to plan some special treats for yourself to help you cope with the inevitable stress of construction. Schedule one or more meals at a restaurant each week just to get out of the house, and perhaps a vacation during a particularly disruptive stage of construction--or about two-thirds of the way through, when your patience will be wearing thin.
If you find yourself annoyed by something your contractor did or didn’t do, bring the issue up immediately. If you address each problem as it comes up, you’ll vent the frustration while it’s easy to manage, and maybe be able to actually enjoy the construction process.
