Set up a temporary kitchen
A temporary kitchen needs to do four things: keep food cold, heat it, wash up, and give you a place to eat. It does not have to be elaborate, but it has to be ready before demolition day.
| You need | A common solution | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Cold storage | The refrigerator in the dining room or a hallway, or a small second one. | Ask the remodeler when it has to move, and keep the path clear. |
| Heat | A microwave, a toaster oven, a slow cooker or an induction hot plate. | Use outlets on circuits that stay on, and do not overload one. |
| Washing up | A bathroom or laundry sink and a dish tub. | The dishwasher is out of use, so paper and reusable plastic save work. |
| Prep and eating | A folding table or the dining table, with a cutting board. | Cover it when work is going on nearby. |
| Storage | Boxes and a shelf for dry goods, and a few plates and pots. | Pack the cabinets before demolition and label the boxes by day of use. |
Dust and noise
Remodeling makes dust and nothing fully stops it. The measures below cut it down a lot, and each one is worth asking about before you sign:
- A sealed plastic barrier, or a zip wall, between the work area and the rest of the house.
- Floor protection along the path from the door to the kitchen.
- Covered vents and returns in the work area, so dust does not travel through the ducts.
- A HEPA vacuum or an air scrubber, and cleanup at the end of each day.
- A single door for the crew, so dust and foot traffic stay in one lane.
If the house was built before 1978, ask the remodeler to describe the lead-safe work practices the firm will use, and keep children and pets out of the work area. In a condo or other shared building, the association often sets working hours, elevator use and insurance requirements, so ask about them before the contract is signed.
Demolition is the loudest part and usually comes early. Ask for the schedule of the loudest days, and plan phone calls and focused work elsewhere on those days.
Water, power and gas
- Water. The plumber will shut it off at times. Ask for the likely hours, keep drinking water on hand, and decide where you will wash.
- Power. Some circuits will be off, especially during rough-in. Tell the remodeler which ones you cannot be without, such as the refrigerator, a freezer, an internet router or equipment that someone depends on.
- Gas. With a gas range, the line is capped during the work. Ask when it will be turned back on and who does it.
Children and pets
- Set a firm rule that the work area is off limits, and put a barrier or a lock on the door.
- Tools, screws and offcuts end up everywhere. Check the path each evening.
- Dogs and cats can be frightened by noise and strangers. Think about a quiet room, or boarding for the loudest days.
- Doors left open for the crew are doors a pet can slip through. Agree how they will be closed.
When to move out
- You will probably stay if the job is a refresh or a replacement in place, the house has another sink and a place to eat, and you can work or study in a room away from the work.
- Consider leaving for part of it if demolition days, or the days with no water or power, will be hard for your household. If the house was built before 1978 and young children or a pregnancy are in the picture, ask your remodeler about lead-safe practices and about staying elsewhere during demolition.
- Ask your remodeler for an honest view if the kitchen is the only way to the rest of the house, or the dust and noise will reach every room.
Before demolition day
Questions to ask your remodeler
- Which days will be the loudest, and which days will have no water, power or gas?
- What time does work start and end each day?
- Which door will the crew use, and where will they park?
- Where will materials and dumpsters be stored?
- Who is my day-to-day contact, and how quickly do they reply?
- What happens to the schedule if a delivery or an inspection slips?
The order of the work shapes all of this, so read the order of work next. For a short checklist of what to settle before the first estimate, see the planning checklist.
How do I cook without a kitchen?
Plan a week of meals around a microwave, a toaster oven, a slow cooker or a hot plate, and add some no-cook options. Many households also plan more meals out for the days with no water.
Will dust still get into the rest of the house?
Some will, even with good protection. Ask for sealed barriers, floor protection, covered vents and daily cleanup, and make the plan part of the contract.
Who protects my floors and furniture?
The contract should say. Ask who protects the floors along the path, who covers furniture, and who cleans up at the end.
Can I stay through the whole project?
Many households do, but it depends on the scope, the house and who lives in it. Weigh the days without water and the loudest days, and ask your remodeler for an honest view.