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

[WiddlinDiddlin]

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!

Our neighbours hired a portacabin type thing that was a mobile kitchen/bathroom when they had both replaced. Their works took couple of months though.
Would hiring a campervan or caravan be an option?

If it's at all possible I would try and book the dogs into kennels/ doggie day care / ask a friend to have them. I know that's expensive but that's the bit I'd prioritise if you possibly can and it's cheaper than all decamping to a b and b etc which might not even be accessible.

Ime dfg contractors quote an accurate time most of the time because the works are so detailed in scope. So I'd try to stay optimistic that it will be done broadly in line with the estimates. If you can get some biscuits in for he builders and access to a kettle for them I always think that goes a really long way.

I'd set up a mini kitchen with slow cooker, toaster and microwave and plan out a menu. It'll all be worth it

Took 10 days for a full bathroom Reno here, which they took back to the studs, and is small room. Took a further 3-5 days to finish stuff off, get trims, doors on etc

our kitchen was 6 weeks, but mainly because of building works and the builders were idiots. We went to an Airbnb for a week as it was unlivable in at one point

I’ve just had mine renovated. Bathroom took almost 2 weeks ( started on Monday - operational loo + shower + tub following Friday am) . It was fully gutted and refurbished and then I had to wait for minor bits and bobs. I moved out for that as didn’t have a second loo. The kitchen was completed much faster and really wasn’t a bother. If you are planning to stay at home it may be worth renting a portable loo and locate it in the back yard.

Can't you either take annual leave ( and explain the situation to your work) and/or stay in somewhere like a premier Inn?

Assuming it's going to take a week or so?

If you move out they will be able to do it quicker because they don't have to worry about tidying up etc.

If you have no sink and no wash basin you won't be able to wash up so be prepared with ready meals and disposable crockery. And buy bottled water.

Also there is a chance of them turning electrics off (for short periods) which might screw up your Internet/WFH so be prepared for that.

Our kitchen took 3 weeks- we set up a very small cooking area elsewhere with a microwave,kettle and air fryer. Took washing to my Mum who lives nearby. Bathroom took longer as it was a complete rip out and start again- again, used my Mum's facilities. Luckily we had a downstairs loo!

Someone I know had a complete kitchen in a trailer on their drive. http://www.temporarykitchenpod.co.uk/

Do you have a local library you could use to work at?

We found an air fryer was a godsend.

Pre-prepared meals in the freezer.
Washing up in the bath (put the bowl on top of a camping table to avoid backache).
Lots of microwave rice.
Spent an absolute fortune at the laundrette.
Henry hoover was a hero.
Give the workmen their own kettle and supply of biscuits.

IMO this isn’t possible.. the noise will be impossible to work through you’ll need to be out of the house for the day I think. X

I’d contact your landlord/ housing association for more information.

Theyve given you very little notice and it may well be the case that they will do one room followed by the other rather than both at once?
They should be able to give you the name of the contractors they’re using and an approximate length of the job.

Bear in mind your electricity may be off for parts of the work if you’re reliant on Wi-Fi for your job.

Agreed - you wouldn’t want to be a customer or client of someone working at home through this sort of upheaval.

Slow cooker or air fryer. It saved us from takeaways

Good luck!

I don’t really get what the issue is. We’ve had works done where we have been confined to one room for a week or two. You just set up the lounge to be a basic kitchen and shower elsewhere. We showered at the gym. I also worked from home throughout by setting up my desk in the bedroom as this was furtherest from the noise.

If it was at all possible, I'd kennel the dogs and move into a hotel/AirBnB/family home for the duration.

Do you have an air fryer or a slow cooker?
Would increase the number of meals you are able to make.

Do you have friends you could visit in an evening, even if you are not staying with them?

Do you have friends who camp? I have extra fold up tables, water carrier etc for this reason and at this time of year I'd be delighted to free up cupboard space by lending it to a friend!

Can you clear anything not essential from the living room? Someone with a garage might let you store a bit. Same with the kitchen. Ask people to save you boxes (plenty going spare just now) and reduce your kitchen to the absolute essentials. Pack everything else and store it so that you are not swamped with extra things in the few unaffected rooms you have.

Buy paper plates and cups. Use these on top of an ordinary plate so you have very little to wash up.

It probably won't mean all the work happens at the same time, just that they are booked in as same job.

Could be some cheap holiday rentals after Christmas and New Year, why don't you book something with good WIFI and you can still work if you need to. So much less stress.

You will be able to muddle through.

Can you elaborate on your situation? Is dp out of the house working during the day? If he could be there with the dogs then that would allow you to do some of your afternoon work shifts elsewhere?

You say you have autonomic dysfunction- how does that manifest? How much can dp help practically?

Do you have family who would help out? Let you use their facilities or use a room to work from?

Do you know what work has been approved? Are we talking basic adaptions for a disability? Replacement of toilet/ bath /grab rails etc and a new kitchen sink and worktops or is this a complete rip out?

Personally, I think it's unreasonable for them to be doing the kitchen and bathroom at the same time. I would never schedule those two jobs together if I had to live on site and particularly as one of you is disabled they should be doing them separately IMO. Just because it's free to you doesn't mean that you have to accept whatever they say and I'd be asking that they complete one job before moving on to the next

I agree with you

When our bathroom was done we had a paddling pool in the kitchen. I poured a big jug of water over my head, lathered up and then rinsed. It worked well.

I lived without a functional kitchen for 6 months while I lived in a renovation project and a relationship breakdown removed all my liquid cash...

Toaster can cook naan bread and potato waffles. Air fryer can be used in lieu of an oven for small things. Beans on toast, microwave meals, noodles, all sorts of things you can do to get a varied diet.

Slow cooker is useful too!

Ours were both done in less than 5 days although not at the same time. We only have one loo/bathroom so it was washes at the kitchen sink for us! We had a flushing loo at night and I did a run to the supermarket with the kids just before it closed at 10 pm

I think the most important thing is for the dogs to be in daycare and for you to work out of the house (cafe, library, coworking space). Neither of those options are free. If you have any annual leave or special leave take it and take the dogs out for the day yourself.