Living at Home During a Home Addition

Can you stay home?

For most additions that build out from the house, yes. Much of the work happens outside the existing walls, and the house is only opened near the end. Second-story additions are different: the roof is opened over the house and ceilings below are affected, so some families plan to be away for part of the work. Additions that rework the kitchen or the only bathroom also need extra planning.

What changes day to day

• NoiseExcavation, framing and demolition are loud. Work hours are set in advance.
• DustMostly outside until the opening into the house. Barriers and floor protection limit it inside.
• AccessPart of the yard, driveway or a door may be off limits.
• PeopleCrews, trades and inspectors come and go during the day.
• UtilitiesShort, scheduled shutoffs for electrical and plumbing connections.

The easier and harder stretches

Easier: foundation, framing, roofing and exterior work, when the existing exterior wall still separates the house from the site. Noise is the main effect.

Harder: when the existing wall is opened, when work affects the kitchen or bathroom you use, and for second stories when the roof is open. Dust control and scheduling matter most here, and it is when families sometimes choose a few days away.

The construction process guide shows where these stages fall.

If the kitchen is affected

For a kitchen addition or a project that opens into the kitchen, set up a temporary kitchen before that stage. A refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, a small counter and a utility or laundry sink go a long way. Plan simple meals, paper plates and some takeout. The more selections are made before construction, the shorter this stretch is.

If the bathroom is affected

If the house has only one bathroom and the work touches it, the sequence matters. Often the new bathroom can be finished before the old one is disrupted. When that is not possible, a short stay elsewhere, access to a relative's home, or a rental for the few days without a working bathroom are common solutions.

Kids, pets and safety

• Agree on the boundaries of the work area and keep children out
• Keep pets away from open doors, gates and crews
• Check for nails and debris in any yard area the family still uses
• Know where the barrier doors and temporary walls are
• Keep smoke and carbon monoxide alarms working throughout

Protecting the rest of the house

Dust barriers with zipper doors, floor protection along work paths, sealing HVAC returns near the work, and covering belongings in adjacent rooms limit dust. Moving valuables and fragile items away from shared walls helps too, since framing and demolition can shake pictures and shelves.

Communication

Living through a project is easier when you know what is coming. A short weekly update on the next stages, noisy days, shutoffs and decisions needed lets you plan. It also gives you a clear person to raise concerns with. See our process.

When to plan time away

Consider staying elsewhere during part of a project if the roof will be open over living areas, the only bathroom or the kitchen will be out of service for more than a few days, someone in the household is sensitive to dust or noise, or someone works night shifts and sleeps during the day. Planning that time into the schedule and the budget is better than deciding in the middle of it. Our timeline guide helps estimate when.

Questions about living through the build