Anyone who has endured a major home remodeling project can tell you that it’s a stressful time. Surviving the process can be rough on a marriage. Nothing goes exactly as planned. Contractors have to be hired, and unfortunately often fired and rehired. Hidden problems are uncovered that need to be fixed, and that takes extra time. Forget about sticking to the initial budget because it’s probably going to cost at least fifty percent more. Family members disagree about the way things should be done. The kitchen is out-of-order for a month.

With all of these issues, it’s no wonder a marriage relationship suffers during a remodeling project. Arguments come more easily when there is so much tension in the air, especially if the disagreements are about the remodeling project. It’s easy to relieve the stress that builds up by taking it out on a relationship. Use these tips for surviving a home remodeling project with the marriage intact.

Take Breaks
Don’t forget to take some time away from both the project and each other once in a while. Spending too much time together puts stress on any relationship, marriage or otherwise. Thinking about and doing something that’s not related to the project can also be a getaway from the related stress—and a key to surviving it happily. This is especially important if it’s large do-it-yourself project.

Agree on Living Arrangements Ahead of Time
This is especially important if the kitchen or bathroom is part of the remodeling project. The inconvenience of eating and bathing in a strange place can really strain a marriage. If going to the in-laws every day for a shower, or even living there for a while, is sure to put stress on the relationship—avoid it if at all possible. A plan should be in place ahead of time. Waking up one day in the middle of a home remodeling project and realizing you have no toilet creates unnecessary relationship stress.

Compromise
It sounds simple, but if marriage partners disagree about how the remodeling project should be done, compromises will have to be made. Respecting one another’s opinions and tastes is essential to the relationship surviving in tact. Understand that both partners in the relationship will be living in the house and both should have equal say. If the kitchen cabinets are more important to her, let her choose them. If he feels more strongly about hiring a certain contractor, let him do it. Consider assigning different responsibilities of the remodeling project to each marriage partner, but go over everything together before it’s done.

Remember Basic Methods of Surviving Marriage Happily
If the relationship was healthy and happy before the home remodeling project, these things were already in place. However, it can be easy to forget them under added stress.