What I Bought During My Remodel That Was Actually Worth It
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Remodeling has a way of making you buy things you never expected to need. Some of them turn out to be genuinely useful. Others solve a problem that exists for approximately three days and then spend the rest of their lives taking up space in your garage. After living through a major remodel, I have a much better sense of which purchases actually made a difference. The things on this list helped me deal with construction dust, protect the house from water damage, keep some semblance of normal life going, or solve one of the weird practical problems that comes with having contractors working in your home every day. This isn't a giant list of remodeling supplies, and I'm not including things your contractor should already be providing. These are the products I personally found useful enough that, if I were starting another remodel tomorrow, I'd buy them again.
Govee Leak Detector
A remodel means people are constantly touching things that normally stay put: supply lines get disconnected, sinks move, appliances get installed, and plumbing gets opened up and put back together. I put Govee leak detectors under my sinks and near anything with a water connection because they’re a cheap extra layer of protection during a time when the risk of something going wrong is unusually high. What I like most is that they don’t just sound an alarm in the house. I can get an alert on my phone if they detect water, which matters when contractors are working and I’m not home. After spending this much money on a remodel, a small sensor that could potentially catch a leak before it damages new cabinets, floors, or drywall feels like an extremely easy yes.
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Levoit Home Air Purifier
Construction dust gets absolutely everywhere during a remodel, even when your contractor is using plastic barriers and trying to contain it. I kept a Levoit air purifier running because it helped capture the fine dust that inevitably made its way into the parts of the house we were still living in. I especially like that it’s simple, relatively quiet, and easy to move wherever I need it most. I wouldn’t pretend an air purifier can replace proper construction dust containment, but as an extra layer of defense while you’re living through a remodel, I was very glad to have one.
Shop now →Ashley Hendrix
Writer, product strategist, and founder of North & Common. She writes about wellness, home, money, and modern adulthood with an emphasis on emotional realism over perfection.
