How to Survive in Your Home While the Kitchen is Remodeled?
Completing a total kitchen remodeling is a great opportunity to boost your home’s value and overall look and functionality. The trouble is, living through the chaos of the actual building process involves many real issues, ranging from dealing with dust and noise to cooking meals without a stove or sink.
It is important to work with professionals like WellCraft Kitchen & Bath; so, everything will be done according to plan and on time, however, coping with the hustle and bustle during the construction process requires careful planning. By following the right strategy, you will not go mad.
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Establishing a Working Temporary Cooking Area
Selecting and Equipping the Space
With demolition starting, it becomes absolutely essential to have another location where one would cook, because otherwise you won’t be able to perform your usual routine without going crazy.
The cooking area should be chosen as far away from construction activity as possible; this can be your dining room, basement den, sun room, or large guest bedroom on the main floor.
It needs to feature many grounded electrical outlets on separate circuit breakers in order to provide electricity to various heavy-duty cooking appliances without any fuses burning out. Having an additional water supply in the form of a laundry sink, wet bar or half-bathroom is also important.
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Appliances and Stocking Strategy
The kitchen space should be designed to be as compact and functional as possible. The countertop appliances that will be needed are as follows: high capacity microwave, toaster oven, electric griddle, single induction burner and instant pot or slow cooker.
Having five appliances means that you will be able to accomplish just about anything in your kitchen. The tools that will be needed should be stored in stackable plastic containers, and light weight cutting boards, basic knives, paper plates, paper towels and biodegradable utensils should be purchased to keep clean-up minimal.
Mastering Meal Planning, Shopping, and Food Preparation
Batch Cooking Food
Before the contractors’ crew comes into your home for kitchen remodeling, make sure that during the whole weekend before you prepare some healthy food in bulk.
Lasagna, chilies, soups, stews, pulled pork and chicken in marinade are just some of the dishes that could be frozen flat in zip lock bags, using very little space in a different freezer or mini-fridge.
Using those prepared dishes during your busier days of renovation will save you time, money and allow you not to cook if there is no counter or even working sink available.
Smart Shopping and Easy Recipes
Alter your purchasing habit and make your life simple by making sure there is a minimal amount of clean-up work involved. You have a choice among fresh salad greens, cooked chickens, canned beans, ready-made vegetables, cold cuts, and packaged foods that do not require any preparation whatsoever.
Stick to one-pot meals, sheet-pan electric griddle cooking, crock pot meals, and microwaving that demands the least amount of clean-up effort.
Controlling Airborne Dust, Debris and Noise During Construction
Isolating the Construction Area from the Living Spaces
There will be very fine dust that is generated from the demolition process and from the drywall installation process, and it can easily infiltrate into every space in your home. Work with your kitchen remodeling contractor team to put up heavy duty plastic sheets, which are magnetic or zippered for the entrances to all doorways into living spaces.
Turn off central forced air HVAC systems when there is dust in the air, such as sanding of drywall or simply block the vent ducts leading into these areas with plastic wrap.
Protecting Your Property and Filtering the Air
Make sure that all upholstery in neighboring areas, carpets, electricals, and other vulnerable items of your home décor are protected with either cloth covers or plastic so that no traces of the dirt get into them and settle in their fabrics.
Position portable air cleaners with HEPA filters right at the perimeter of your closed construction site so that any dirt in the air is captured, and your bedroom, study, and living room air stays clean throughout the entire process of renovation.
Creating a Productive Temporary Dish Washing System
Installation of Alternate Washing Stations
Effective temporary dish washing without the use of an appropriate kitchen sink calls for innovative planning, space division, and meticulousness. Laundry utility sinks, designated guest bathroom sinks, or large plastic wash tubs installed in a bath can be considered efficient alternatives in the absence of the right kitchen washing equipment.
Using two nesting washing tubs, one with warm soapy water and another with clean rinse water, is recommended to ensure that the whole process remains manageable, clean and hygienic without allowing heavy food debris to block sensitive home bathroom drains.
Creating a Daily Cleaning Schedule
It is advisable to use environmentally friendly disposable tableware where possible to minimize the amount of dishes that need cleaning every day. Where pots, pans, and reusable tableware have to be used, make sure to adopt a stringent household policy of scraping the food off them and washing immediately after finishing. This helps to avoid the accumulation of dirty dishes.
Focusing on the Well-Being of Your Mind and of the Family
Going through such an extensive renovation of the house requires not only patience but also endurance and a good emotional state of mind. It should be accepted from the beginning that there will be some temporary mess around, some morning noise and some schedule changes – they are absolutely normal for the process.
Set up a dust-free and tool-free sanctuary room for your family to have a comfortable place to unwind without looking at the building material or blue painter’s tape around. Going out to dinner regularly or inviting friends and relatives will provide great psychological relief.
Conclusion
Being stuck in your house while you remodel your kitchen takes some planning and some ability to be flexible. With a temporary kitchen that works, streamlined processes for making meals, managing the movement of dust, and keeping a good attitude about things, you will find that everything goes quite well. Having reliable people doing the work will help the project go smoothly.
