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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think 'how the fuck will we manage'...

185 replies

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/12/2023 04:27

Post relates to Disabled Facilities Grant.

Finally, I have a date for the start of our disabled facilities grant (DFG) funded kitchen and bathroom refurb... i have been waiting almost 7 years for this!

2nd of January.

They want to do both at the same time. The contractors are meant to be managed by someone else... but in reality, we're on site - we have to live here and we can't move out whilst the works are done, oh and I also have to work whilst the work is on-going, from home or I have no income.

Um...

This is going to be hell isn't it?

Practical suggestions - DP, myself and three dogs will be spending all day confined to livingroom and back yard, with contractors having to access upstairs, hall and kitchen via the front of the house.

I have space to have kettle and a tub with basic food stuff in here.

We will apparently have a working toilet by the end of each day.

Realistically... how long would one expect this to take. From childhood I recall a similar size kitchen and bathroom job being done by my two parents and some child labour in around four days each, I expect they'll have more people though.. but then I also suspect it benefits them if it takes longer... and they know that whilst I am the client, I am not the person they directly answer to (something I am not overly happy with but theres nothing I can do). I am worried about piss-taking...

Any ideas whatsoever to reduce stress... stress tends to trigger autonomic dysfunction and I am already pretty much buggered working 3 shifts a week (2 til 10, thats another issue, I sleep til 12, ill have to be up and downstairs by 8.30 I expect at the latest!)...

I wish I had a responsible adult do sort this out for me, I realllllllly do, but the only one there is is... me!

OP posts:
Onlymeagaina · 22/12/2023 04:32

Dunno what a DFG fund is? But a bathroom and kitchen refit is always going to be a bit stressful. But it’s a few days, you’ll manage

PupInAPram · 22/12/2023 04:41

Can you take annual leave? Maybe book an air bnb?

Hearmenow23 · 22/12/2023 04:58

Fridge and microwave for microwave meals or kettle for noodle type things.

Yes rent a room or take annual leave. Ask friends and family.

You just need a plan of action.

Stopsnowing · 22/12/2023 05:01

Go to leisure centre for swim and shower. Eat take away. They should be able to do them in a week.

FiveShelties · 22/12/2023 05:01

@Onlymeagaina Disabled Facilities Grant?

OP could you rent a cottage for a week to miss the worst of it?

Mercurysinretrograde · 22/12/2023 05:06

Kitchen isn’t an issue if you have access to water for the kettle and to wash up your cups and glasses but unless you have a second bathroom you need to move in with family or friends. It’s great that you will have a toilet at the end of each day but what about during the day? And how will you shower and brush your teeth?

Nannydoodles · 22/12/2023 05:27

I’m presuming that it’s a DFG funded by your local Adult Care Service on the recommendation of an OT? If so speak to them about making it workable for you whilst the work is going on.
It won’t be easy short term but will definitely be worth it in the end, is there anywhere you can go for a few days?

DeeLusional · 22/12/2023 05:34

I doubt they will deliberately make the job take longer than necessary as most companies quote a price for the job, so the faster they get it done and move on to the next job, the more money they make. I would be very surprised if they are paid by the hour/day.

HolyZarquonsSingingSeals · 22/12/2023 05:35

Is your work setup confined to home or could you take your laptop and phone to another location? Work from a cafe/library/your car?

AndThatWasNY · 22/12/2023 05:36

Do you live near a pure gym? Join for the month (£11 off peak no joining fee if find a code) use their showers.
Microwave meals for a couple of weeks, lots of salads/frozen veg.
You can do it. I lived in a tent for 6 weeks with a bf and a dog in a friend's garden once. I have lots of health problems but survived it fine. Reducing stress - try yoga Nidra, deep relaxation. It's brilliant.

JustAnotherDayInNorfolk · 22/12/2023 05:37

We are currently having our kitchen done - it has taken 10 days. I am glad I have been at work whilst it was done!
Washing up in the bathroom and bought a mini cooker off of Facebook Market place so not living off of microwave meals.
I made sure the washing machine was plumbed back in within 24 hours - that was the one thing I couldn't do without.
It is amazing how much stuff you have in kitchen cupboards- be prepared for emptying the kitchen to take longer than you thought 😀
If it was me I would try and move out as no kitchen and no bathroom will be horrendous.
Good luck 👍

Ohnotyoutoo · 22/12/2023 05:54

Our total bathroom refit took 2 weeks and 2 days (everything was changed, including pipes), sand the kitchen was usable after two weeks. It was hard work though. Will you have access to running water?

Roselilly36 · 22/12/2023 05:59

It is disruptive, but worth it in the end, so just go with the flow. We had a new kitchen when our DS were little, we had a kettle, fridge and microwave in our dining room, a washing up bowl etc. and had takeaways so some dinners. It was ok for a couple of weeks. Good luck

terraced · 22/12/2023 06:09

We're doing our own renovation. We had Jo heating for 10 weeks until recently, no kitchen other than some bits on a trestle table (have a downstairs bathroom so thankfully had a sink in there), no electricity in parts etc etc. Youll manage day by day and hopefully they will do it quickly. We had an air fryer set up and it helped a lot.

ImNotReallySpartacus · 22/12/2023 06:12

If you can take leave at short notice, early January is a great time to get a cheap flight to somewhere sunny.

Fleetheart · 22/12/2023 06:19

Just to get out of the house you can go and work in a local library? take it in turns.

Cadenza12 · 22/12/2023 06:25

It will almost certainly take longer than you think. You should get an estimate for the time and plan around it. It's going to be noisy and dusty but you do need to be around to keep an eye on what's going on. Plan to eat out as much as possible. There's bound to be some deals in January. Get in extra tea to keep them going, you need to keep them on side.

autienotnaughty · 22/12/2023 06:33

Our kitchen took 10 days. We had a microwave kettle and fridge in living room the freezer was already in the garage. We lived on sandwiches, frozen meals and noodles. Used disposable crockery
Plus takeaway and cadging invites for dinner.
Could you work in a cafe?
Bathroom should be a few days . Can you shower at families?

Hollyhead · 22/12/2023 06:37

I don’t quite understand what DFG means and whether you have spare money, but there’s a company that people around here use which brings you a kitchen and bathroom in a trailer/caravan type thing that sits on your drive. I think it’s called temporary kitchens.com or something like that.

CrepuscularCritter · 22/12/2023 06:37

We had the kitchen and downstairs loo out of action for works rather than a new kitchen. It took a week. We brought the microwave and kettle into the sitting room and bought one of those summer drink dispensers to fill with water every morning to top up the kettle. The kitchen bin went in the hall so we could get rid of the rubbish more easily.

For the stress, I found it easier to take the attitude of embracing the chaos. I was also working from home at the time and found big headphones better than earbuds, with the added bonus that the builders knew I could not hear them, so would wave at me. Try and plan some time in a happy place, whether that's finding a quiet coffee shop or sitting somewhere peaceful. Easier for us in summer than it may be for you in January. And look forward to your long-awaited improvements. I hope they make your life much easier.

tara66 · 22/12/2023 06:38

Well - good luck but a lot of people have to do this too - not the end of the world. Let the dogs go to a dog sitter in your area.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 22/12/2023 06:41

You could book into a workspace for the period - if you're in social housing, it tends towards a fortnight, rather than the week that private arrangements usually take, and you'll need to escape the noise.

gerispringer · 22/12/2023 06:43

Put dogs in daycare or kennels for a few days. Work in library or work friendly cafe. Shower in gym or leisure centre. Even better you could hire a caravan out of season or air bnb for a week. Friends/ family may be happy to help out.

Twiglets1 · 22/12/2023 06:47

A friend is getting a new bathroom in 2024 she has been told that alone will take 10 days so one week for both rooms is optimistic.

I would try to find a cheap holiday let or AirBnB otherwise it will be ridiculously hard to be without a kitchen or bathroom. At the very least try to book time off work as it won’t be feasible to work effectively from home with all the noise & constant disruption.

FloydWasACat · 22/12/2023 06:48

We had to have the whole of our downstairs amended for my husband. Think wet room installed, new kitchen, doors widened, rooms changed for the above. It was a nightmare at the time but you will get there. Getting out of the house was a great escape (my husband was still in care at that time) and the kids were at school which also helped.

It seems like a distant memory now.

You will be ok, I think it is the thought of it that is more daunting than it actually happening.x