Remodeling in condo

Ditzydori · ‎03-10-2010

I would like to,do some updating in my condo. I was told that all sawing, cutting, etc, has to be done inside the condo. While I understand the reason for this, now I don't want to do,anything. I can't imagine what a mess it would be to cut tile, and plasterboard inside my condo that has all my stuff in it already.

I have had construction done done in my house where I used to live and it was a mess even though cerything was cut outside. I can't imagine how bad it would be if they did it inside.

I know now I can use heavy plastic to cover stuff and put heavy plastic in front of the entrance doors. Did that in my house and it still it still got dusty. Big cleanup job.

What are are your thoughts on this. It's my first time being in a condo. Is this true of all condo remodeling.

Best to do the remodeling when the condomis o is empty before moving in, but unfortunately I didn't.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

Huh........my neighbor was cutting tile in his driveway on a dry and very windy day. The sparks from the saw burned down the shrubs in my own front yard. (He did nothing to make restitution......and my cost of replacement was less than my homeowners deductible.)

♥Surface of the Sun♥

hopi · ‎03-09-2010

@Ditzydori wrote:
I would like to,do some updating in my condo. I was told that all sawing, cutting, etc, has to be done inside the condo. While I understand the reason for this, now I don't want to do,anything. I can't imagine what a mess it would be to cut tile, and plasterboard inside my condo that has all my stuff in it already.

I have had construction done done in my house where I used to live and it was a mess even though cerything was cut outside. I can't imagine how bad it would be if they did it inside.

I know now I can use heavy plastic to cover stuff and put heavy plastic in front of the entrance doors. Did that in my house and it still it still got dusty. Big cleanup job.

What are are your thoughts on this. It's my first time being in a condo. Is this true of all condo remodeling.

Best to do the remodeling when the condomis o is empty before moving in, but unfortunately I didn't.

@Ditzydori
You won't be able to stay in the house with all that dust, dirt and debris. So unless you plan on sleeping somewhere else you may need to rethink this even if the cutting was done outside. When putting in wood floors the dust seemed to be everywhere forever.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

The word remodel in an enclosed area would not work for me. What were you planning to have done? If it was something small like adding a pantry to the kitchen, then I would put up with the mess.

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

I can fully understand your reluctance to undertake a full remodel under those conditions. Heck, remodeling is a pain even in the best of circumstances! The only way I would even remotely consider something like this would be if I had a basement where the messiest work could be done to keep as much out of the living area as possible. Otherwise, I'd have to settle for smaller cosmetic changes only.

pattypeep · ‎06-06-2011

How many bedrooms do you have? If you have a spare one, I would suggest making it into a "work room" and closing the door. Cover the carpet, etc. with sheets of plastic being careful because it can be slippery on the floor. If you have a window in this room, open it when you're not working there.

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea-Robert A. Heinlein

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@DitzydoriI know in my condo, everything has to be done within the unit. I've seen contractors move in with huge sheets of construction-level plastic to protect our 23' wall of built-ins, to block off doorways, etc. - and people do seem to live through it although I don't know anyone who has cooked and entertained during the mess.

Over the years I've been in my condo, I've had neighbors who lived through removing old tile and adding new in the entire condo; same with changing from tile floors to wood and total kitchen and bath remodels. We all have 2 baths, so I'm sure that helped and we live very conveniently close to way too many eating spots.

Right now the unit next to mine is undergoing a total remodel - new owners are not living in it yet, but other than seeing the workers come and go and hearing a small bit of noise through the walls, I see no evidence of the work - no sawing outside, no piles of old carpet and tiles and appliances. Everything is within the unit.

bri20 · ‎03-10-2016

Most condos only allow the work to be done inside the condo itself. Depending on what kind of remodeling it is, you may not be able to stay there. That dust gets everywhere.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

When we did extensive remodeling in our Pittsburgh Home it was winter so the work had to mostly be done inside - though we had a basement they could use. We decided we couldn't stay through it comfortably so we went to florida for the first 10 days then stayed with my parents for the rest of the time - about 4 more weeks. Since we weren't going to be there anyway we moved our furniture from the living room and DR into other rooms that weren't involved in the construction - closed the doors to those rooms and put towels around the bottom of the doors to keep the dirt out of those rooms. Sadly, at that time my DH was working from his home office so he was stuck there trying to work thru the construction every day.I was still working full time so i enjoyed going to work every day & not even having to think about it. Since DH was right there he was the one they had to ask about any & all decisions, so later on he was not coming back to me and saying I made any wrong choices, which was a blessing for me. If you can possibly figure out a way to go stay with a friend or relative thru this time I highly recommend doing that. For us the worst of it was we still had our dog then so she was at my parents all day while i was at work and they had her so spoiled I thought we would never get her back to normal.