How do I live without a kitchen during a NB renovation?

Set up a temporary kitchen in another room before demolition day — with a microwave, electric kettle, toaster oven, and a small table, you can manage surprisingly well for the 6-12 weeks a typical NB kitchen renovation takes. A little planning before the work begins makes the disruption much more manageable.

The best location for your temporary kitchen is wherever you have access to water and some counter space. A laundry room is ideal since it already has plumbing for a utility sink. A basement with a sink works well too. If neither option is available, set up in your dining room or a corner of the living room. You will need a folding table or sturdy shelf for your prep area, a large plastic bin for washing dishes (if you do not have a nearby sink), and a power bar with enough outlets for your appliances. Avoid plugging too many appliances into the same circuit — older NB homes, especially those built in the 1960s-1990s, may have limited circuits and overloading them trips breakers.

Your essential temporary kitchen appliances should include a microwave, toaster oven or air fryer, electric kettle, slow cooker or Instant Pot, and a single or double burner hot plate. These will cover the vast majority of your cooking needs. Stock up on disposable plates and utensils for the first week or two until you establish a dishwashing routine. Keep a cooler with ice as a backup if your refrigerator needs to be moved out — though most contractors will try to keep your fridge accessible in an adjacent room.

Practical Tips for the Renovation Period

Meal planning is your best friend during this stretch. Prep freezer meals in the weeks leading up to demolition while you still have your full kitchen. Budget an extra $200-$400 per month for takeout and restaurant meals — even with the best temporary setup, you will eat out more than usual, and being realistic about this cost prevents budget stress. Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John all have affordable meal options, but if you are in a more rural part of NB, plan more heavily on home cooking with your temporary setup.

Protect the rest of your home from renovation dust by having your contractor seal off the kitchen with plastic sheeting and zippered doorways. Construction dust from demolition and drywall work gets into everything — cover furniture in adjacent rooms and change your furnace filter more frequently during the project. If you are renovating in winter, dust in your forced-air heating system is a particular concern in NB homes.

Talk to your contractor about the schedule in advance. Some contractors can phase the work so you have running water or basic appliance access for portions of the project. If your renovation is primarily cosmetic — new countertops, backsplash, and cabinet refacing in the $12,000-$20,000 range — you may only be without full use for 2-3 weeks rather than the 6-12 weeks a gut renovation requires. Ask your contractor to give you a realistic day-by-day disruption timeline before work begins so you can plan accordingly.

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

• Thirty Four Renovations
• Gionetterenovations