Elisabeth Stubbs

4Home, Quietly Ways to Improve Your

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

You are ready to sign the papers and start that big home improvement project. Maybe you are gutting your kitchen, knocking out walls to open up your space, or your dream pool is going in. Unfortunately, construction is loud and dirty, which are big annoyances if you live in a quiet and tidy neighborhood.

Here are a few tips to keep the peace: 1. Talk to your neighbors. Understanding the project’s scope ahead of time can be helpful to work around the noise, dust and general disruption. Get in touch with your neighbors before the project begins.

Regular communication is important. How much longer will the giant dumpster be in your driveway? Has the timeline changed? Provide updates as needed. You also may need to keep your homeowners association in the loop. 2. Prepare for demolition and dust. Demolition also creates lots of dust. If the homes are very close together, ask your contractor to take precautions to keep most of the mess on your property. For example, wetting the construction site every day to dampen particles and keep them from flying around. 3. Make a plan to handle construction noise. All that pounding from construction can seriously get on your nerves. Let your neighbors know when the job site will be particularly noisy. Be aware of what times construction noise can start and end. Find out on what days of the week noise is permitted. (Many places don’t allow construction on Sundays, for instance.) 4. Share contact information with neighbors. If you will not be home while most of the work is being done, give your neighbors the contractor’s name and number so they contact them if there’s an emergency.

Keep in mind that construction is temporary. Try not to let every little thing bother you. Here is some advice to help you stay calm during your next big home improvement project: • When it gets noisy, consider putting on headphones (noise-canceling headphones work best) and playing music. • During the height of construction, get outside and take a nature walk. • If you’re working from home, plan to go to a local coffee shop for a few hours, to concentrate and grab a cup of joe.

Big projects aren’t always fun, but remember — once completed, the value of your home increases, which will increase the value of your neighbors’ homes as well.

Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors & More, one of Atlanta’s toprated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.