Renovating While You Live There: Phasing, Protection and What to Expect

Many owners cannot or do not want to move out during a renovation. With the right planning, many projects can be done around a household. Others should not be, and it helps to know the difference at the start.

Projects that can be phased

Bathrooms and kitchens can often be done one at a time while the rest of the home stays in use. Bedrooms, majlis and outdoor areas can be handled in separate phases. A phased plan keeps essential rooms working throughout.

Projects that usually need you to move out

Whole-home flooring, full repainting, structural changes and replacement of main services involve dust, fumes and utility shutoffs that make a home hard to live in. In these cases a temporary move often saves time and stress.

Protection and containment

•     Dust barriers separating the work area from living space.

•     Floor and furniture protection along access routes.

•     Sealed doors and vents where dust could spread.

•     A daily clean up of work areas and walkways.

Shutoffs and access

Planned water and power shutoffs should be agreed in advance, with times communicated to the household. Keep at least one bathroom and a place to prepare food available throughout.

Children, pets and security

Tools, materials and open areas are hazards for children and pets. Agree which areas are off limits and how the crew will secure the site at the end of each day.

Communication

A named supervisor, agreed working hours and daily progress updates, such as a WhatsApp message and photos, remove most of the frustration of living on a work site.

Premium and occupied homes

In occupied villas, the crew's behaviour matters as much as the quality of the work. Uniformed, ID-carrying teams, protected finishes and scheduling around the household are part of how Spanex runs these jobs.

Renovating an occupied home? Book a free site visit and we will plan phasing and protection around your household.