How do you plan for a home renovation project during a pandemic? Can you safely have contractors in your home? How will COVID-19 affect contractor and product delivery timelines? Those are all valid questions homeowners with renovation plans should be asking. These issues are especially important when so many of us work remotely or spend much more time at home. Masks and social distancing will be with us for quite a while longer. Kitchen and bath renovation projects are possible today, but you must plan and expect delays.
Home remodeling projects are rising, and contractors are busier than ever. However, the pandemic and recent natural disasters in 2020 have contributed to a backlog of construction materials, such as lumber, and an increased awareness of keeping workers safe and healthy. If a contractor or crew comes down with COVID-19 symptoms, operations could shut down until workers return after quarantine with negative test results.
Contractors must enter your home for a kitchen remodel or even if you need a plumber or HVAC tech for a quick fix. Here are a few things to consider.
Patience! There Will Be Delays
Expect delays and plan for them. All aspects of your project will likely be delayed, so you must be prepared for that. Due to supply chain and labor issues, everything from product and materials to the delivery timeline has slowed down. This affects the delivery timeline of your kitchen cabinets as well.
Homeowners who planned or started a project before COVID-19 should triple their original contractor timeline. Supply chain bottlenecks and workers with flu-like symptoms could add one to two months to your project’s completion.
Before beginning a project, you should ask your contractors what precautions they take in light of the pandemic. Talk to your contractors and ask if they use virtual workarounds to provide estimates, quotes, and design work. A video call could help avoid at least one unnecessary trip inside your house.
Follow CDC Guidelines
Both you and your contractors should be following CDC guidelines. This includes wearing masks, staying six feet away from others, and washing your hands frequently.
Make hand sanitizer available at entry points to your house. Avoid using common areas, but provide workers access to bathrooms and sinks. Regularly clean and disinfect high-contact surfaces and spaces. Anyone living in your house should wear a mask if they could be in the same room with the contractor at any point.
Cleanliness and Communication
Your contractor may request assurance from you that they are entering a safe work environment. Be prepared to share with them your protocols for cleanliness. Above all, respect the contractors coming into your home and try to keep them safe.
If a worker is sick, they shouldn’t be in your home. Alternatively, if someone in your house is sick, the contractors should not be allowed inside. This bears repeating: Under no circumstances should a contractor or their subcontractors enter a house if sick persons or workers show symptoms.
Give Contractors Plenty of Space and Time
If you’re working from home, keep your distance. Give your contractor space to do the job — don’t hover! Try to stay as far away from them as possible within your home. It’s important not to be in the same room for long periods.
Make sure your home is well-ventilated. Some windows should be left open in winter or summer for fresh air circulation.
Kitchen and bath remodeling projects are still happening, but homeowners must allow more time than usual from planning through completion. COVID-19 has affected all aspects of home improvement, especially the timeframe, so it is your priority to plan. This is the new reality for the foreseeable future.
If you have a renovation or remodeling project in mind and are apprehensive about it, please feel free to contact us. We’re here to help! Or, if you want to start a free, no-obligation design consultation, reach out to one of our professional kitchen designers.
Searching for the Best Home Renovation in San Diego, CA? Contact Eco Home Builders, a Reliable Contractor for San Diego Home Renovation. Best Home Renovation Service Providers in Imperial Beach, Coronado, Lemon Grove, La Jolla, Fallbrook, National City, Poway, Spring Valley, Santee, Encinitas, La Jolla, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Oceanside, El Cajon, Escondido, CA. Call us at (619) 919-1121 or Email us at info@ecohomebuildersinc.com
