Detail-Oriented
Your guide to Design-Build
Surviving Construction
by Marc Brahaney, March 15th 2025
The reality is that renovating your home or redesigning your kitchen is often a dream come true, but the dust and noise during construction can sometimes seem like a nightmare.
However, homeowners can easily survive and even enjoy the process by planning carefully. Hire a construction firm that suits your personality, one you can trust to communicate effectively and to handle the inevitable bumps in the road.
We ensure homeowners, as well as new furniture and fixtures, are protected from the dust, dirt, and fumes of construction.
Most people choose to live in their homes during construction. They work around the chaos and find ways to avoid being in the house during working hours. Your design-build team should work hard to make you as comfortable as the situation permits. Dust barriers, cordoning off work areas, make a huge difference in controlling the mess. A temporary kitchen can be installed elsewhere in the house, if appropriate. Most importantly, the clean up at the end of each day makes the work significantly more bearable.
The construction team should outline a schedule that sequences the project for you. It should show dates when different phases of the work will happen. All the decisions that you need to make, whether it be bathroom fixtures, paint colors, or molding style, should have ideally been made before construction began. This can avoid miscommunication and cost overages.
Be prepared for something big or little to go wrong during construction. If you have a problem or concern, you should speak up immediately. Request a company contact for emergencies. A good construction team will gladly make themselves accessible and build trust throughout the process.
No matter how accommodating your construction partner is, some people simply can’t live with the disruption of construction, even temporarily. If you fit that description, our advice is to consider alternative living arrangements for a few months, whether it’s a second home, a relative’s house, or a short-term rental.
Whether you love watching your house being transformed, or it’s an ordeal that has you gritting your teeth, in the end it’s just one short step toward a home that should delight and inspire you each and every day.
