This will depend on your circumstances as well as the scope of your renovation project. If it’s only a bathroom or a kitchen, you might be able to just work in with neighbours or set up a temporary facility. But if it’s a larger scale renovation, some big decisions will need to be made about how to deal with the disruption. Factors will be convenience, family size, house layout, money and timeframe.
The basic options for a large renovation are:
Staying in your home
This is a great way to keep renovating costs to a minimum, but be prepared for the disruption! To stay in your home, you will need to renovate room by room, which will probably take longer and you will need to make a comprehensive plan. Some of the key considerations are to make sure that you have a working bathroom at all times, control the dust with plastic sheets and allow time for paint fumes to dissipate before relocating into a new room. Whether this is possible will also depend on the layout of your home and your timeframe.
Whichever option you choose, James Hardie has a product that can help you save time on your renovation, HomeRABTM PreClad Lining. It’s a rigid air barrier that replaces the need for flexible building wraps and weatherproofs your home quicker, allowing you to start work on the inside sooner, saving time, money and family friction.
Staying with family or friends
A great option if your family or friends have space for you. But here are a few things to consider:
Mobile home or caravan
This will depend on the size of your section and obviously, if you have a caravan or mobile home or have access to one that you can borrow or hire. This option is better suited to a couple or small family, as it can be very cramped living in such close quarters.
Renting a house
For larger renovation projects, and larger families, those with the means tend to go for this option. It means your family can live fairly normally thoughout your renovation process, without having to worry about disrupting others. However, there is a cost! It can add tens of thousands to the cost of your renovation, depending on the size of your family, the area you want to rent in, and the length of your stay.
Talk to a local real estate agent about short-term rentals in the area. Sometimes if a rental property is left empty in between longer rental periods, you may be able to find a good deal when the owner just wants to fill the gap.
