As an HVAC engineer, I’m used to seeing designs in field and the difficulties that come with construction. That feeling of project oversight is increased when it applies to your own home! Home renovation just felt like a continuation of my work life. Verifying work, responding to RFIs, confirming outages, and so on.

Working with contractors in your own home brings an increased level of scrutiny and detailing. You go from being the designer of record for client to managing the planning for your day to day impacts. As I went through this experience, I kept thinking about how much the renovation impacted my workflows and life.

As a renovation specialist, we often have to think about how the work will impact the continued facility operations. This was a stark reminder that even minor renovations can impact day to day operations such as Wi-Fi, restrooms, power, dust, and sound (jack hammers vibrate a house!).  It was a great reminder how construction can impact end users. Both thoughtful design and clear expectations can alleviate impacts to end users and provide better outcomes for both contractors and building owners.

5 Lessons I Took from the Job Site:

  1. Trust, but clarify – Not everyone uses blueprints, but everyone needs a common understanding. Sketch it, write it down, confirm it.
  2. Scope creep happens at home too – That “while you’re here” moment? It’s real. And expensive.
  3. Your standards may not be theirs – “Level” is apparently a flexible concept unless you specify otherwise.
  4. Micromanaging helps no one – Step back, let the pros work, and check in at key milestones before walls close and concrete poured.
  5. Communication is a two-way tool – I realized I had to be a good client, not just expect good service.
  6. Learn from experts – The contractors are experts of their craft and can provide great recommendations based on constructability and access.

Bridging Professional Skills and Personal Projects

The irony is, many of the tools we use in engineering—requirements gathering, documentation, review cycles—are exactly what’s needed at home too. We just don’t always apply them because, well, we’re not at work.

But this experience made me realize whether you’re renovating a bathroom in your home vs a large commercial renovation, good project management is universal.

So here’s to every engineer who’s ever tried to turn their home into a side project.