There will be dust. There will be chaos, and there will be people moving in and out of your house while the building process is on its way! There are ways and means for you to reduce the impact of all of the dust, debris and chaos on the rest of your house and your wellbeing. Taking the following steps will also reduce the final clean up that you will need to do once all of the building has been completed.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
1. Put dust protection and clean up in your budget
Before you even start your building project, make sure you have accounted for the few extras you are going to need to contain and clean up the dust.
2. Make clear pathways
You will have people moving in and out of the area where the building is occurring. The best way that you can keep your carpets and floors clean and protected is to create clear pathways for people to walk. You can do this by laying down cardboard and taping it together, or by laying down a plastic floor protector. Do not forget about providing a pathway to the less travelled (but equally important) areas like the bathroom or where the electrical panel is located.
3. Get some booties!
For the areas where you cannot lay down a floor protector, make some booties available! A pair of slip-on protective shoe covers will also ensure that dirt is not tracked into and around the house. It is quicker (and easier) to slip on a pair of booties while you are moving in the “clean” areas of the house than what it would be to untie your shoelaces.
4. Seal off the area with plastic drop sheets and masking tape
Dust will be blowing everywhere, and the best way to stop it from entering the house is to place a plastic barrier between the work area and the rest of the house. It will be at its most effective if you can create an airtight seal using strategically placed masking tape and a plastic sheet that has a zipper in it for easy in and out movement.
5. Cover up or store precious furniture and carpets
Carpets and furniture like couches will suck up dust like there is no tomorrow. Make sure to cover them sufficiently with plastic, or if you can, remove them entirely during the building process.
6. Cover up any air flow vents
Above many doors in houses, especially older ones there are air vents. Do not forget to seal these off during the building process.
7. Blow dust out the window using a fan
During the worst of the grinding, drilling and sawing you can also use a fan to blow the dust out of an open window, which will reduce the amount of dust that is present in the house. Just make sure to keep all other windows in the house closed so as not to have dust flying back in!
8. Vacuum up the dust (without stirring it up)
Vacuum cleaners are one of the greatest inventions of all time and no home is complete (or completely clean) without one. You can use a vacuum cleaner with an extra vacuum hose that will vent the exhaust stream of the vacuum cleaner to the outside. This will stop your vacuum cleaner from stirring up any settled dust while you are vacuuming!
9. Cut and sand outside
Whatever you can do as far as cutting, sanding and grinding is concerned, it will reduce the overall dust if you can complete this work outside in a designated area, preferably not near any open windows!
Hiring a builder an undertaking any renovations or remodel is a big job. Being prepared will lessen your workload and your stress when it comes to the dust, dirt and chaos that is involved with any building project. Make sure that you get to enjoy the process and that you will be completely satisfied with all the work that you have put in to make your project a success!