Should I live in my home during a major renovation in New Brunswick?

Whether to stay or leave during a major NB renovation depends entirely on the scope of work — kitchen and bathroom gut renovations, structural work, or whole-home projects genuinely require you to leave for your own comfort and the crew's efficiency, while phased renovations of individual rooms can often be managed around normal home life. The answer changes dramatically depending on what's being renovated.

For a whole-home renovation, gut kitchen renovation, or any project involving asbestos abatement, staying in the house is usually not practical or safe. Dust from demolition in a typical pre-1980 NB home is pervasive — it gets into HVAC systems, clothing, food, and every corner of the house within hours. Asbestos abatement (common in NB homes built before 1990, where floor tiles, insulation wrap, and texture coatings often contain asbestos) requires professional containment and temporary evacuation regardless of project scale. Construction noise from 7 AM daily for weeks is exhausting for families. Most renovation crews also work more efficiently without occupants navigating around them.

For a single bathroom renovation or a basement finishing project, staying home is often manageable if you set clear boundaries with the crew. Establish which areas are off-limits to the renovation team, where the bathroom access will be during construction, and what the daily start and end times will be. A basement renovation doesn't have to disrupt daily life on the main floor, provided dust containment is properly installed at the basement stairway opening. A bedroom or home office renovation is entirely compatible with staying put, provided the room sequence is planned so you're never without a functioning sleeping space.

NB winters add a specific consideration that warmer-climate homeowners don't face: major renovations that open exterior walls (window replacements, additions, siding replacement with new sheathing) in February or March mean cold air entering the home while work is underway. If you have children, elderly family members, or pets sensitive to cold, temporary displacement during that specific phase is worth planning for even if you stay for the rest of the project.

The financial reality of displacement in NB is manageable compared to major urban centres. Short-term furnished rentals in Moncton or Fredericton run $2,000-$4,000 per month, and extended-stay hotels run $1,500-$2,500 per month depending on the season. A four-to-six week kitchen renovation might cost $6,000-$8,000 in temporary accommodation — real money, but worth including in your renovation budget from the start rather than being surprised by it.

If you do stay during construction, set clear expectations with your contractor upfront. Define the dust containment requirements in writing — plastic sheeting on doorways, HEPA air scrubbers running during drywall sanding, daily cleanup of common areas. Define work hours and whether the crew has access when you're not home. A good contractor won't object to these conditions; they're industry-standard expectations. Establish where materials will be staged, where the skip or debris bin will sit, and who is responsible for securing the site at the end of each day.

Regardless of your choice, budget a 10-15% contingency for temporary living costs, temporary kitchen setups, or unexpected project delays. NB renovations of older homes routinely uncover conditions — asbestos, knob-and-tube wiring, inadequate subfloor, foundation issues — that extend timelines by one to three weeks. Plan for delays rather than being caught off guard.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations