Keeping Your Cool During Building Work

Often we plan to have building work done without really considering how this will impact on our daily lives and the amount of disruption and upheaval that will occur in the property. However, it doesn't have to be chaos when your renovation work is going on, especially if you follow these top tips to keep yourself sane.

Make Yourself Some Space

If you're having major work carried out, it may be possible to live somewhere else for a time. But if you can't manage this, you need to ensure that you have a bit of space that's free from the dust and turmoil. It works well if you can have areas for cooking, living and sleeping in that are clean, dust-free and as tidy as possible, so that you can escape at the end of the day.

Remember Children and Pets

Whether you're having a loft conversion fitted or a balcony with wrought iron fencing installed, it's imperative that you think about the impact the work will have on children and animals. Children need a space to play in that's safe - explain to them which areas are out of bounds, and ensure that tools and dangerous chemicals are kept away from them. It might be beneficial to put your cats or dogs in a cattery or kennels for the duration of the work, as they can become upset.

Plan Ahead

While the renovation work is going on, it might not be as easy to cook an evening meal, so consider cooking some simple dishes beforehand that can be frozen and then simply reheated.

Employ the Right Builders

It doesn't matter whether you're planning a simple project to install wrought iron fencing in your garden or you're having an extension built: it's vital that you have a building team who you can trust. When you're confident about the quality of their work, you will be less stressed about the project.

Understand the Scale of the Work

With any type of building work, there will always be a certain amount of disruption and dust, but if you know exactly what is going to be taking place, it can be easier to plan. Speak to your builders about the schedule of work, so you have an idea of how long the disruption will last. You should also keep on top of any mess, cover up furniture and tidy up at the end of the day so that it doesn't all pile up.