Creating A Livable Space During Extended Renovation
Renovating a home is hard work isn't it? There's so much to do, and it feels like the jobs are never-ending. It isn't cheap either, with UK homeowners spending an average of £23,100 per house getting it up to scratch. But it isn't all misery! Some renovations can add huge amounts onto the value of your home. Painting and decorating can add up to £7,000, a garage up to £26,000 and energy savings up to £18,000 according to recent media reports.
There's also that lovely feeling when the renovations are done, where your home is feeling completely new and fresh, and it is looking absolutely beautiful.
Unfortunately, during the renovation there isn't much time to think about all these benefits as it can be very difficult to live normally day to day depending on which utilities you don't have. It may be you're missing the water, you're missing a toilet, you are without electricity, or you are without the Internet. It may be you are having to live without all utilities, which can be really difficult.
However, there are ways to make your living situation during renovation more comfortable, read on to find out how:
Living Without A ToiletIt may be that your bathroom is being renovated, in which case there are lots of things you can do to keep yourself clean. Bucket washes, sink washes in the kitchen, wet wipe washes and plenty of dry shampoo can all help to keep you clean. But what about the very basic need of using the toilet? The average person needs to urinate 6-7 times a day, so it isn't really viable to keep asking next door if you can pop in and use their toilet, especially if you're a big family. So you will need to set something up so you can use the toilet privately, and comfortably without the use of your plumbing. A porta-potty set up in the home could work well, if you have a spare room or somewhere private. Place it on plastic matting for hygiene and have some hand sanitiser nearby. If that isn't practical or you are concerned about the smell, a toilet tent and porta-potty could be a good option to set up outside. Just be mindful of your shadow with a torch if you are overlooked!
Living Without ElectricityElectricity is something that the modern world depends on. The average American household uses just over 900 kWh of electricity every month according to statistics. It isn't hard to see why we all use so much electricity either. Device charging and electricity supply is a big one as we all depend on technology more and more. Fridges, freezers, lighting, heating - there's just so much dependency on electricity. Living without it if you are getting a rewire is not going to be easy. The most convenient thing you can do to help yourself through your rewire is to invest in a generator Adelaide or from your own local town or city. This will provide you with all the power you need to charge up essential gadgets, stay warm and to have a fairly decent living situation until your power is reconnected. As well as a generator you might also want to consider getting:
A basic camping stove
Candles/ torches
Blankets
Firewood
Board games and electricity-free entertainment
Living Without A Kitchen
Living without a kitchen can be tough when you have a family. As a single person, or couple, noodles in pots and other kettle made meals can be sufficient for a while. However, when there are children, it just isn't practical to live that way. In order to survive mealtimes without your permanent kitchen, you'll need to set yourself up with a temporary kitchen:
Setting Up A Temporary Kitchen
In a space near or with running water and electricity, you should set up a temporary kitchen area. If washing your tools is not possible, you might want to get some eco-friendly paper or wooden cutlery and crockery. You will also want a few small appliances to help you cook. A kettle, a toaster, microwave or mini gas cooker and fridge will all be very useful in a temporary kitchen. You will also want bottled water if your water supply is off. A plastic tub for washing is also useful, along with a flat table and chopping board for preparing.
In your temporary kitchen you will want to ensure safety. In a permanent kitchen things are laid out for optimum safety but, in a temporary kitchen that kind of safety has to be setup by you. A mini fire extinguisher, surge protector, and GFCI outlet are all useful for safety. You will also want to make sure children are unable to access the appliances and tools.
Hygiene is another big concern in a temporary kitchen. You will want to pop a large plastic sheet or old rug down to protect flooring from spills. A set of drawers or something to organise your tools will be really useful too. Washing equipment is essential for cleaning. Towels, water and washing up liquid along with a tub can help you keep everything clean. Anti-bacterial wipes will also help to keep everything clean without the need for water usage all the time.
You won't be able to make elaborate meals, but you will be able to be creative and make good, basic meals that keep everybody full. A good stock of healthy snacks on hand will help to keep crying children and grumpy partners at bay when food takes that little bit longer to prepare and cook.
A problem is a chance for you to do your best - Duke Ellington
Renovations can be tough for day to day living, but you will surprise yourself with how creative you can be problem-solving. Prepare as best you can, and think of it as a mini camping adventure (or at least paint it that way to the kids!). Before long you'll be enjoying the newly renovated parts of your home, and feeling really proud of how well you worked around a lack of basic utilities.
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