Here's our foyer's boveda celing . No vents can work in here! (LOL)! These bricks are over 125 years old and all handmade. That was very special for us!

Same crew for 2 weeks? They might bring their own port a potty. If you are feeling uneasy about having strangers in your house, have you husband drop by (lunch?, cancel a patient?) at a few different times early in the process. You will be fine.

I agree with the dread of having workers in all day, every day for a time period. It just throws everything off. No way around that unless you leave for the duration, but then no one to oversee. I'd remove anything and everything you don't want accidently broken or damaged if you have a safe place to store it. If they don't bring a port-a-potty, then it's hard not to offer a bathroom. Inquire now so you can adjust to the idea. Floor coverings a must. Daily clean-up too. I feel your pain, but it sounds like you've given this a lot of thought and are prepared. BTW, you have a beautiful home and one I've always admired. We're always here too if you need to vent :)

Have you seen the HVAC plan? Do you know what the vents will look like? Can the vents be wood to match your wood ceilings?

Store your artwork in a room that is not going to be affected. Dust is likely to be a problem.

I wouldn't stay in the room while the workers are working, but do inspect their work at the end of the day and make sure they leave the place clean each day.

So many worries. I think you are right to remove all valuables and artwork. If you can remove lamps that would be helpful if the workers are putting drop cloths over the furniture.

Take a deep breath.

I am assuming they will bring the Port-O San.

With Knight at your side, you are well protected. But, I understand the dogs will be nervous having workers there.

You definitely need to leave with the dogs at least part of the day.

Will they let you know which rooms they are working on? All 13 can't be done at the same time.

This will be hard, but certainly worthwhile.

When I first started having housekeeping help I stayed home. Silly. It was not as if I could follow them around while they work. Your workers should be insured and bonded.

I agree with the advice given above. It seems like you have hired an excellent company so I'm wondering if you need to be on site all day every day? That would drive me nuts! But if so, I would be in other parts of the house/outside, etc. and just check in and be available for questions.

As to the bathroom...I really prefer that workers use the restroom elsewhere when they break for lunch but always say yes if asked. Cautionary tale...recently, I had a worker ask to use the restroom and then spent - I kid you not - 30 minutes in there. When he emerged he asked for a plunger. Ugh.

I've had workers in the house every day for 6 months ... now that gets old and annoying. You'll do fine with a 2 week project. It will be over just as you get into a routine.

You can keep the dogs in their crates during working hours, but take them out for a short walk or ball throwing session every 2 hours. It will also be good for you to go outside and stretch your legs.

I also offer the powder room to workers. It just seems like the right thing to do.

You will get used to their presence very quickly. They are there to work and they want to be done as quickly as possible. My advice is to carry on as much as normal as possible. I would steer clear of the rooms they are working in. And guess what? At the end of the time there, or even sooner, your dogs will treat them as their new BFFs. (My anxiety-ridden dog surprised me by doing just this.) Good idea to put away artwork to protect it from dust and vibrations that might cause it to fall.

If you're concerned about it, protect it. Box it up and pack it away. Unfortunately, when we had our barn repaired, a whole bunch of DH's antique planes disappeared, but we could never prove who did it. So it does happen, as well as accidents too.

I doubt they'll have a port a pot and may only need to use the bathroom occasionally or rarely. Guys manage. Just never open a tape compound bucket with a lid on it.

The doberman is a good excuse to cordon yourself off into a room or two where they won't be working. The noise will be disturbing, but the progress will be fun to see. You might decide which room you want to spend the most time in and ask if they take care of that one first...or last.

Also they'll like it if you provide drinks...coffee, tea, or whatever. When it was really hot, I gave my muchachos popsicles every afternoon which they enjoyed. Also be sure to have water around for them to drink.

Is there anyway you can ask them what their order of events are so that you might have in the plan one room that is done last? Maybe the master bedroom ? Load up on books, sandwiches and pets in that closed off area. Give yourself permission to be a bit lazy for two weeks. Your husband can bring you takeout dinner and wine. Pretend you are glamping.

Edited: I didn‘t see Annies post before mine but see we were thinking the same about having a room, a room that is done last.

I dont have a lot of advice to add. I will confirm dust will be a problem. I offer hugs. It will be tiring. You may not want to cook at the end of the day. Have a dinner plan. You may not want to make yourself lunch, have a lunch plan.

I've always offered workers my guest bath (they can walk over slate to get there, no shoes or boots on good floors or carpet). Some have accepted, and a landscape crew here for about 4 1/2 days once chose to leave on their breaks and lunch. They never did come inside.

I have bottled water, sometimes soft drinks for anyone working for me. If a smaller crew like 2 or even three, I offer coffee when they arrive in the morning. A larger group, No....I am not a Starbucks.

Then, the dust. If any of your art or collectibles are textile, I'd want to put away or put into one of the closed rooms the day they are not working there. If you have open doorways or hallways, will they hang plastic dust stoppers (often with painters tape, quickly up, quickly down).

Hopefully this will be a great crew and you'll ease into their routine in a day or two. I do completely understand the imposition on your privacy, I dread that the most with any project myself.

You said skylights and that they will be on your roof. Change your morning routine and complete your shower before they arrive! I ducked low in my own bathroom showering one morning as I saw feet step past my skylight. I hadn't known anyone was above or even present at my house that morning.

I think I'd watch that first opening in my ceiling very carefully. Make sure you make them aware you are someone to fear if they are careless but remember to compliment and say thank you - a lot. With your DH committed elsewhere, the voice will need to be yours to set the tone for your project. I think you'll find it easier than you are imagining.

Hopefully your pets won't be too stressed. I'll wish everything goes completely smoothly for you and they'll finish ahead of schedule, leaving you with a cozy warm house.

When I had a crew of workers in my house for several weeks they used the same bathroom for the entire time. Fortunately they were working in half of the house and I was able to do some projects in the remainder of the house. To keep busy I went through all my file cabinets and purged old papers and bills, shredded papers, went through many, many photos and caught up with some other computer projects. It helped me to feel productive and made the time pass more quickly. Good luck in your project.

Wow - what an invasive ordeal. I can’t advise as I’ve not had anything done quite like that. Worst was a kitchen remodel and that was relatively localized compared with your situation. Good luck!!!

It should be fine since you are using a good, reputable company. Try not to stress, especially ahead of time. We don't like having workers in our home, so I too would be one that would stay around while they are working. However, I wouldn't stay in the rooms they are working in and I would try and spend some of that time outside. I can't imagine a company providing a port-a-potty for a heat and air job. It would not bother me to offer the powder room to them. I don't think you can expect someone to only use a bathroom on their lunch break. If you are a ways from town, they may have (bring) their lunch there on-site. That is what happened when we had roofers. Protect your valuables and moving the lamps is probably a good idea. I would keep the dogs in other rooms as much as possible, and stay with them as much as possible. Try to relax while they are there and watch tv, read, do some organizing tasks, etc. something to fill the time. It will be over before you know it and you'll be so glad you had it done! Good luck!!

What Tina said. I’d offer coffee in the morning leave some water and and soft drinks at a designated sPot. I’d be prepared to offer the use of the powder room for the duration if needed. Good luck.

Dust and vibration as has been mentioned will probably be an issue. I would pack up all of your artwork and the lamps to protect the lampshades. If you have any drapes I would take those down as well.

I would keep in mind that you may want to hire a nook and cranny cleaning team after who can do a deep cleaning for dust.

Do you have a detection cameras inside, if so keep your phone on and watch what's happening. I would remove every single thing on the walls as banging can make them drop. I'm so darn organized that I'd be packing every thing that is dear to me and storing them. I'd roll up rugs that I cherish etc.

It's the only way I could relax. Our last contractor had so many power drills plugged in that it blew out the service. I made lots of lemonade and every four hours would give them drinks and snacks. I did let them use a bathroom but, I have to say, it bothered me lol. I stayed inside and never really got chummy with them so I could continue my normal days without feeling on edge. It went by fast. The best part of those days was when they left. Just saying.

The workers will bring their own coffee and soft drinks, and probably a microwave oven for their lunches, or leave for lunch. You're not their maid and that's a lot of responsibility to take on.

Designate one bathroom for them to use.

If there's a foreman on the job, or the head guy that seems trustworthy, tell him when you plan to do errands and ask him to please keep an eye on things for you. If you leave, find a room to put the dogs in with a sign on the door saying do not open door, dogs inside. They will kill you. Just kidding!

Speaking of dogs, plan to stay home the first couple of days hen the work begins so the dogs will get used to all the noise and workers. That way, when you leave them alone they'll be fine.

Put all jewelry, etc., away in a spot you don't think they'd find.

I've been in the same situation and I found the workers to be really nice people. Most were illegal, but they did a wonderful job. They all smiled and waved when I took pictures of them. :)

Oh wow, I just posted about having to clear out my second floor for refinishing the floors. That’s only a two day project. Can’t imaging what you’ll be going through. At least I can escape for a day or two. Good advice to pack up anything important to you. Once I had an electrician in my attic and they literally threw boxes aside. I had some vintage toys up there and several were broken. They could just as easily have lifted the boxes and move them, they weren’t heavy. I also caught my kitchen Reno workers trying to hide debris down in the walls. I had a fit over that. Even though it’s misery to be on site, you should try to be there as much as possible. Sounds like you have hired good guys and most are respectful of your property.

Ded, I totally forgot about the attic. Lynn, if you store anything precious up there, move it. They'll spend a lot of time in the attic.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the great advice!!!!!

I still have so many major things to do here before Monday morning, so forgive me if I don't thank each of you personally.

I've now gotten our local, well-known electrician hired and put in touch with the H&A Company manager in charge of our project. Who, yes, will be here on site, he tells me, every other day. Yesterday, I got also got in touch with our local plumber that we know and trust. He's supposed to get in touch with H&A and get back to me today. BTW, this great H&A company would have been happy to hire their own plumber and electricians, but we know our local ones and trust them. Also, those further away in town charge $50-$75 driving time fees to come up here.

I also did some more grocery shopping yesterday, as Localeater suggested. I hadn't thought of that on Monday, but it was a very timely suggestion! Planning easy or make-ahead meals ahead of time I also met one of my close girl friends in town for lunch . . . and to cry on her shoulder (LOL).

So, today I'm going through each room, writing down what needs to be moved out when work is done in that specific room. We have a collapsible banquet table that I've just decided to use. I plan to set it up in one nearby room that's not being worked on that day. And, it will be a safe place to hold lamps, statues, and stuff in the room or rooms that are being worked on. Kept all together and making it easier to move back into finished rooms.

We don't have an attic or even a crawl space, nor do we have a basement. Out here in these mountains, our ground is filled with huge boulders that make it very difficult and expensive to dig up and haul away. I don't know anyone out here who has one.

And, no, I'm not leery of the having strange men in here with me. I'd feel safe with this well-known company even if I didn't have my dobie, Knight. It's just the in and out all day long. As much as it would help to have DH here during the day with me, his clinic is over 30 minutes away and his family practice is too busy to leave for hours. As it is, the poor guy even does paperwork through his lunch hour at his desk!

As Arapaho mentioned, make sure ahead of time that there will not only be tarps to cover furniture, but ground cloths and daily clean-up before they leave. And, yes, I'm going to call the H&A people today about whether they will be bringing a Port-A-Potty. Thank you!

I'm still up in the air about what to do with the dogs. I do NOT want Knight getting friendly with anyone (for future safety reasons), but I will bring them both out to see the workers many times. We have several acres of land so I can walk them close by. Just have to watch out for any rattlers not hibernating yet! We also have a large guest parking area that can accommodate 8 or so cars or small trucks, so my neighbors won't be affected. I have sent out a group email to them all, though, apprising them of what will be happening and for how long.

My biggest stress is still the dogs and the amount of work DH is going to have to do this weekend clearing all personal and patient info/documents out of his study.

Oakley, I LOVE the idea of your Beware of Dogs sign on the door!!! And, yes, you're right. IF the foreman seems on top of things, I can leave for short times if I make sure he knows.

Yaya, thank you for the reminder to roll up my rugs and move them out! Also, snacks and drinks. It would take me almost an hour to run to town and back every morning for donuts, but I might try picking some up Sunday evening as a nice start for them. And, thanks, turn off alarms before they come and on again after they leave!!!

CCrunner: good idea about planning ahead some portable projects to do these next two weeks!

Eld: funny you should say that about housekeeping help. I drove my husband AND myself crazy when I had help, as I'd always run around cleaning up the night before they came!

Morz8: OMG, I'd forgotten about the skylights in every bathroom. They're all frosted, but still, I will definitely plan ahead! UGH!!!!

Well, enough sitting for now! It's time to starting moving things and putting plans in motion. Thank you ALL for you ideas, suggestions and comforting. I pride myself on being super organized but this upcoming project really has me rattled, and you're definitely helping!

Lynn

You are going to ace it Lyn, you are so organized and focused. It will all come together for you, I'm sure of it.