If you’re considering a major home renovation, you may be wondering whether you should do it all at once or as a series of smaller projects. The advantage of doing work in phases over of a number of years is that you don’t have to pay for it all in one year. Although it may be more costly in the long run, you ultimately may be able to afford a remodel of larger scope because you have time to save in between projects.
On the other hand, tackling the entire project all at once allows you to achieve a certain economy of scale. For example, as long as the plumber is there for the new tub in the bathroom, he can plumb in the kitchen sink at the same time. The painter will give a better price per square foot on three rooms rather than one. And a general contractor will be able to supervise the work of both projects at once, saving time and money.
If you decide to go this route and have all of your remodeling work done at one time, there are specific steps your contractor can take to ease the inconvenience of living in a construction zone. Here are some examples:
- Stagger the work so that one bath is always in commission
- Make sure you have all the essentials every night, including electricity, heat, water, and toilet
- Provide a temporary kitchen
- Hang dust barriers to protect your living space
Regardless of which approach you take, consider having the entire project designed up front so each individual project is part of an ultimate plan. Think of your design as a road map that will prevent you from taking any wrong turns along the way.