How do I prepare my NB home for a kitchen renovation?

Preparing your New Brunswick home for a kitchen renovation starts 2-4 weeks before demo day and involves protecting your living spaces, setting up a temporary kitchen, and making sure your contractor has clear access to work. Proper preparation prevents damage to the rest of your home and keeps the project moving efficiently once work begins.

Clear out everything from the kitchen at least two days before demolition starts. Remove all dishes, small appliances, food from pantries and cabinets, and anything stored on countertops. This sounds obvious, but many homeowners underestimate how much they have packed into kitchen drawers and cupboards. Box it all up and store it in a spare bedroom or basement — you will not have access to your kitchen for 4-8 weeks on a mid-range renovation.

Set up a temporary kitchen in another room. At minimum, you need a microwave, a kettle, a small table, and access to a bathroom sink for washing dishes. Many NB families set up in a basement or dining room with a folding table, a mini-fridge, and a portable induction burner (about $60-$80 at any NB retailer). Budget an extra $50-$100 per week for takeout — even the most prepared homeowners eat out more during a renovation.

Protect adjacent rooms from dust. Kitchen demolition generates enormous amounts of fine dust, especially when removing drywall, old tile, or plaster-and-lath walls (very common in older NB homes built before the 1980s). Hang heavy-duty plastic sheeting over every doorway leading out of the kitchen and tape it securely at the top and sides. A $25 zip-wall kit with a zipper door makes life much easier for daily access. Lay drop cloths or heavy paper on hallway floors between the kitchen and the nearest exterior door.

Practical Steps Before Demo Day

Check your electrical panel. If your NB home has a 60-amp panel — common in homes built through the 1980s — discuss a panel upgrade with your contractor before work begins. A modern kitchen needs dedicated 20-amp circuits for countertop outlets, plus individual circuits for the range, dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave. An upgrade to 100 or 200 amps runs $1,500-$4,000 and must be done by a licensed electrician with a permit.

Locate your water shut-off valve and make sure it actually works. In many older NB homes, the main shut-off valve has not been turned in decades and may be seized. Your plumber will need to shut off water when disconnecting the sink and dishwasher.

Confirm permits are in place. If your renovation involves any electrical changes, plumbing relocation, or structural modifications, your contractor should have pulled permits before starting. In Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John, residential kitchen permits typically take 1-3 weeks; rural areas under Regional Service Commissions may take 2-5 weeks.

Finally, talk to your neighbours if you share walls (duplexes and row houses are common in Saint John and Moncton) — demolition noise starts early and lasts several days. A quick heads-up goes a long way.

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

• Thirty Four Renovations
• Gionetterenovations