Renovation tips if we are living on-site

[PurpleStar123]

Our building work has finally started but we only got a week’s notice of their arrival so we aren’t v organised. We are doing stuff upstairs and downstairs but we are starting downstairs and hopefully then moving contents of upstairs downstairs before we do upstairs.

We have two DC and both work FT. We will be doing some DIY around the work. We currently still have a sink and a hob but probably not for much longer.

Anyone have any top tips? Microwave meals all the way?

Potato waffles also toast. You can cook pasta in the microwave (fresh or dried, fresh is easier). That mixed with creme fraiche, lemon and smoked salmon is a super easy meal that doesn't feel too microwave-y. Or can use roule and white wine increase of creme fraiche and lemon.

I also used to make cheese fondue. Soup can be done in slow cooker, so can bolognese, sausage and veg sauce for pasta, meatballs and sauce for pasta.

If you're feeling really adventurous really quite a lot of things can be cooked in a microwave - I've fried onions, courgettes etc in olive oil in a Pyrex bowl, bacon hung over the side of a mug, fish fillets in white wine in a cover but not airtight dish. Syrup sponge pudding can also be done in the microwave!

TBH though I'd buy a single ring hob at least, or put a request out on freecycle. I had a two ring induction job, works with most stainless steel pans, made life much much easier.

Is it possible to seal off doorframes so that dust has minimal chances of leaving the rooms being worked on and getting into clean ones? If so, what kind of tape (?) would you use for that?

Well, just wide masking tape
Anything else will potentially damage the paintwork
And masking tape is very cheap

You can get temporary polythene sheeting that you can use as a barrier. I'm going to screen off half my lounge using two sheets, one on one side of a reveal, the other on the other. Will probably try tacks to put it up! I'm hoping that this, plus two zipped doors, will be enough to contain most of the dust of the knock-through until it can be removed with one of those special hooves Pigletjohn is always talking about.

OMG This thread is a complete eye opener we are doing a double storey extension and I thought we might get away with staying ....but I think a move to the in laws might be sensible after all.

Plus, can I stay with them too? I was actually just wondering if there was anyone we could borrow a caravan from! Thank you for all the tips. I think I underestimated just how many decisions need to be made too! We have moved so we don't have a network of local friends and family to rely on which is a shame.

You can get plastic bags sized for 4 seater sofas. And pianos. And you'll need them

When the sockets go in, check that they are level (using a spirit level) before they put the fronts on. Every electrician I know just doesn't care if they are slightly out, but it will bug you forever once you have noticed!!!

Socks and small undies, spin well in a salad spinner.

Agreed @callmeadoctor - I went round mine with a spirit level "Now, you will get those totally level won't you?"

My tip is stock up on wine 🍷 & gin !

😂😂

whiskyowl what is a zipped door please? We are contemplating work and I will do everything I can to minimise dust. Polythene sheeting, sofa bags and making tape are on the list already!

I've screwed white cup hooks into the ceiling and walls for a "curtain" of polythene sheet. You have to locate the joists above. They might show through with shadow staining or nail dimples. So you can pilot-drill into the wood rather than risk pulling the ceiling down.

Filling a little hole after the work is easy. Or you can leave them for next time.

p.s.

I should have mentioned that TVs and hifi can also be ruined by builders dust.

So far so good, but we are going to lose the sink for a bit soon. Paper plates will be the way forward!

welltidy - it's a polythene door with a zip in it, that you can open up to step through e.g.

premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/door-dust-prevention-door-p-655.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwvuDPBRDnARIsAGhuAmZ_OJDYCt8FXLUWaFQwrm-iyCRnVwEBZsCLLWGajtrvB-weJR4xnNMaAvLYEALw_wcB

Following as we are just about to move into a house with no washing facilities or central heating! (there are electric heaters). Those zip doors look really good.

We're now in week 14 without a kitchen - also 2 DCs and FT jobs. It's been tough. We've been using our spare bedroom as a kitchen and in hindsight we should have put the plastic protective stuff over the carpets; we've been through a few picnic blanket / oilcloth sheets etc.

Our builders broke every mug we owned in the first two weeks, we didn't bother replacing them. I just drink tea at work.

I've discovered a world of microwave meals I didn't know existed. And Deliveroo. We've been using disposable crockery and cutlery though - terrible for the environment but really saves our backs as washing up in the bath is agony!

I hoover every day, at least once, as no matter how much protection they put down, dust and rubble gets everywhere.

And I've also been trying to keep the DCs out of the house as much as possible. Friends have taken pity on us and invited us over for meals most weekends, which has really helped too. Good luck!

Week 14? Omg! I just say our builders are being as good as they can be so far. I’m already sick of microwave meals though!