Can I live in my home during a second-storey addition in Ottawa?

Whether you can live at home during a second-storey addition depends on the scope of work, the time of year, your household and your tolerance for disruption. Some families stay through the whole project with careful planning, and many move out for at least part of it, especially while the roof is off. Talk it through with your contractor before you sign.

The hardest stretch is when the existing roof is removed and the new storey is being framed. During that time the house has only temporary protection on top. Contractors use tarps, temporary membranes and other coverings, but they aren't perfect, and a heavy summer storm can push water into the living space. If you have valuable furniture, electronics or wood floors on the main level, that risk alone can make a short move worthwhile.

Safety matters too. An occupied house needs safe exits, working smoke alarms and protection from open floor openings, debris and exposed wiring. Ask your contractor how they'll separate the work zone from the areas you're living in. If you have young children, moving out becomes much more attractive.

Noise is constant during demolition, framing and roofing, and working from home becomes very difficult. Check the City's noise by-law for permitted construction hours so you know what to expect, and ask your contractor about their usual working day.

If you decide to stay, plan some comfort measures. Dust barriers of heavy plastic with zippered doors between the work and your living space help a lot. Heating and cooling may be disconnected or modified at times, and in winter losing heat even briefly is a risk for comfort and for your plumbing, so ask how heat will be maintained.

Temporary housing is a real cost. Price furnished rentals near your home for the period you'd be away, and add it to your budget. Some people split the difference, moving out for the open-roof stage and moving back once the house is closed in.

Ask each contractor during quoting about weather protection, dust control and phasing, and how they've handled occupied projects before. A clear written plan for those stages is a good sign. You can browse addition contractors in the Ottawa Construction Network directory and compare their answers and itemized quotes.

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

• Homeupgraders
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Jaiko Cleaning Services
• The Fixer
• Pure Flow Water Solutions inc.