I think you will get very helpful ideas from the folks at the Azalea & Rhododendron Forum. They helped me alot.

Good Luck.

Snow

Just dig it with as large rootball as possible and drug it away from the work site.
As soon as work will be done you could replant it in its former place if you wish to.
Rhododendrons are transplantable at any time of the year for as long as grounds are workable and they are very forgiving plants.

Yes, they are relatively easy to move. Just soak the ground thoroughly the day before--it will ease the process. You can plant it temporarily somewhere and put it back later. Then be sure to spray it with Wilt-Pruf twice--in December when it gets cold and again in mid-February when the sun gets strong. This will help protect it when it is a bit shocked.

You can also leave it where it is and cut it way back and then let it recover in place. Most popular rhodies are hard to kill.

Thanks all. I don't think cutting it back would work - at least I wouldn't trust the guys not to squish it (nothing against window replacement guys - the last contractors were gutter guys who smucked a few things)

It would most likely be mid-November-mid December so would the best thing be just to move it in September to someplace for the winter, then move back in the spring?

build a 2x4 frame around it and use heavy duty chickenwire to screen it in. They'll be forced to stay away from it that way!

If you're going to move it, do so immediately and then replant in spring. Use the Wilt-Pruf and protect it from winter sun, which dehydrates the foliage, especially a stressed plant. Good luck.

If you decide to move it back to its original location, see if you can give it a little more room. Planting it at least 2 or 3 feet from the foundation will surely make it happier. It will get more natural rainfall and less lime leaching out of the foundation. It might also sprawl a bit less if it is away from the house wall.

While it's out of the ground, keep it in shade. The rootball can dry out very fast in sun.