We all have dreams about the things we would love to do to our homes. I’d also say it was a sure thing that those dreams don’t include visions of the mess, the expense, or all the time you’ll spend living on a building site.

Unfortunately, in most cases, you can’t have the former without going through the latter. And, as much as it is nice to dream, it’s important to understand what home renovation entails before you commit. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to show you what to expect. With any luck, it won’t put you off!

Living Arrangements

First of all, if you’re having anything major done to your home, you might have to organise different living arrangements. It’s not ideal to live on a building site, and it can be dangerous if you have kids. Plus, you tend to find that builders get along a lot quicker when they aren’t being disturbed every five minutes. Talk to your family and see if you can move in for a few weeks – or months. The long-term project of six months and above might mean looking for rented accommodation. Hotels are great, but you wouldn’t want to live in one for a long time – and your bank manager might have a few questions for you, too. Of course, moving out may not be an option, even for a weekend. If so, you have the rest of this list to look forward to…

Dust – Everywhere

Dust is going to be a huge issue if you have a large renovation project on your hands. And, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can restrict it travelling around the house, either. It will be everywhere – in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom – and probably on your clothes! There are protective sheets you can buy, of course. But, although they will stop the majority of dust, it’s going to be something you have to get used to. Once all the work is complete, you should let is settle for 24 hours or so, clean what you can, and repeat the process. It’s going to take some time – months, in some cases – to get everything clear.

Noise

Another issue is the noise. Not only is it going to bother you, but your neighbours are likely to be a little peeved, too. It’s best to let them know about the work well in advance so that they can make their own plans to deal with it. Builders will only work during the day, so you should get some respite in the evenings – and very welcome it will be, too. But, if you work nights you are going to struggle to sleep in the daytime. A good set of noise cancelling headphones with some white noise might help!

The Money

Renovations always seem to go over budget, so be prepared to dig a little deeper. Quotes only go so far, and you should take them as a rough guide as there can be so many things that can happen by the end of the renovation. There could be undiscovered issues with your foundations, and you might even change your mind halfway through. So, when it comes to setting your budget, make sure that have some spare for any emergencies. if you do end up struggling, take a look at my guide for some low-cost ideas that you use.

The Weather

Living in the UK, you should be used to the ever-changing weather, but so many people don’t include it in their renovation plans. Builders will work through rain or shine – as the quicker they finish, the more money they can earn. But, there will be times when they just can’t work. Snowfall, heat issues, and much more can have an impact on the speed they finish their work.

The Rubbish

I’ve already brought dust into the equation, and there will be plenty of rubbish to join it with any major renovation. You have a few options. The first will be the cheapest, but most time-consuming – just take it to your local refuse collection point. However, you will have to make sure you don’t go over your council’s allowance for household waste, and you may not be able to dispose of everything. You could look at getting a rubbish removal company to come and take it all away. It’s much easier and it will save up a lot of your time. Finally, if you are having something like a new kitchen, see if there are any charities that will take it from you. There are plenty of organisations that will come to your home and remove your old things to sell them on. 

The Environment

Don’t forget about the environment, either. The amount of rubbish that comes out of your home will astonish you, but there is a chance that some of it can be reused. Any metal that you have can go to scrap – including copper, aluminium, and piping. There’s asbestos to think about, too, which will have to be disposed of properly. And, even wood, soil, and brick can be given a new home.

The End

By the time you finish the renovation, there’s a good chance you will have been waiting for that very moment for a very long time. And, if something isn’t quite right with the work, it can be disappointing. Well, in fact, it can be heartbreaking – especially if it is nowhere near what you envisaged. The truth is that many renovations end up with one or two things that need a little extra work. It might be a light switch that doesn’t function properly or a wobbly cupboard door. In most cases, it’s small jobs that are annoying – but not devastating. If the workmanship is poor, or there is an aspect of the design that is wrong, raise the issue with your builders. They will be keen to get it right as their reputation will be on the line.

So, there you go – the dark side of home renovation. I hope you don’t encounter too many problems, and everything goes smoothly.