Written by Tim Gaughan, Urban Edge. Published June 1, 2026.
Yes, most families live at home through a kitchen remodel, with a temporary kitchen set up in another room and the work area sealed off from the rest of the house. It is inconvenient for a few weeks, but planning it before demo day makes a real difference.
Set up a temporary kitchen
- A spot with power and a sink nearby: a dining room, laundry room or garage.
- The fridge, moved and plugged in there.
- Countertop cooking: microwave, toaster oven, electric kettle, an electric burner or a slow cooker.
- A bin of everyday dishes, and paper plates for the messy weeks.
- The grill. Portland summers make this easier; winter remodels lean on the slow cooker.
Dust and noise
Demolition is loud for a day or two. After that it is mostly saws, drills and nail guns during work hours. We seal the work area with plastic and zip doors, cover floors on the path in and out, and clean up at the end of each day. Some dust gets through anyway; plan to keep the HVAC filter fresh.
Our crew works 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The weeks without water
The kitchen sink is out from demolition until the countertops are in. That is the longest stretch to plan for. See the order of work in a kitchen remodel for where it falls.
When moving out makes sense
- Several rooms being remodeled at once.
- Someone in the house with asthma or a health condition.
- Work from home with calls all day, near the work area.
- Small children and only one route through the house past the kitchen.
Plan it at the design visit
We go through the schedule, the dust plan and the temporary kitchen setup at the design consultation, so you know the weeks without a sink before they start.
Our work is covered by a 2-year workmanship warranty, in writing.
Book a free design consultation or call Tim, (503) 597-8520.