How long do we need to be out of the house during a basement renovation?

Most basement renovations allow you to stay in your home throughout the project, though you'll experience some disruption and may need to temporarily relocate certain activities.

The beauty of basement renovations is that they typically don't require you to move out entirely. However, the level of disruption depends significantly on your project scope and your home's layout. For a standard basement finishing project, you can expect to live upstairs normally while work happens below, though you'll deal with construction noise, dust, and workers coming and going daily between 7 AM and 5 PM.

Dust and noise management becomes your biggest challenge during the renovation. Professional contractors use plastic sheeting to contain dust, but fine particles still migrate upstairs. The noise from framing, drywall installation, and especially concrete cutting for egress windows can be substantial. Many homeowners find it helpful to plan daytime activities outside the home during the loudest phases, which typically occur in weeks 2-4 of the project.

Utility disruptions may require temporary adjustments to your routine. If your electrical panel, furnace, or water heater are in the renovation area, expect brief shutdowns for connections and upgrades. In Ottawa's climate, timing these disruptions during milder months (April through October) prevents heating concerns. Most utility work happens in single-day phases, so you're rarely without essential services overnight.

Secondary suite conversions create more significant disruption since they often require separate utility connections, new electrical panels, and sometimes structural modifications. These projects may necessitate staying elsewhere for 2-3 days during major electrical or plumbing tie-ins, particularly if your main electrical panel needs upgrading to handle the additional load.

The exception requiring temporary relocation occurs with major structural work, foundation repairs, or whole-house electrical upgrades that coincide with basement renovations. If asbestos abatement is required in older Ottawa homes (pre-1980), professional remediation requires the house to be vacant for 2-5 days depending on the scope.

Most Ottawa basement renovations take 6-12 weeks from start to finish, including permit approval time. Planning temporary sleeping arrangements upstairs if your basement currently serves as living space, and arranging alternative storage for displaced items, makes the process much smoother.

For a detailed timeline specific to your project scope and to discuss dust containment strategies, Ottawa Basements offers free consultations to help you plan around the renovation schedule.