Renovating your home is an ideal way to make it more livable, imbue it with your character and increase its fair market value. However, living through a renovation can be challenging if you are unprepared. Most people anticipate the noise that comes from workers and tools, but many are unprepared for the dust that comes along with remodeling.
Dust particles are messy and can pose a health hazard. Children and adults with respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD are the most vulnerable to dust contamination from remodeling. So, mitigating dust during construction is a significant health concern beyond cleanliness.
Fortunately, you can take several precautions before, during, and after remodeling to mitigate the dust that is produced. You can discuss and plan how to implement most of the dust mitigation measures covered below with your remodeling contractor. However, there are many precautions you can also initiate yourself.
Before Renovation
- Pack up decorations in and around the construction site in your home. Decorations with lots of surface area will collect lots of dust. So, pack up floral arrangements, knick-knacks, figurines, picture frames, and anything else that can collect dust.
- Move and cover furniture. Couches, recliners, chairs, tables, and rugs can be permanently damaged by excessive dust. If you can live without the furniture for the time it takes to remodel, move it and cover it with a plastic or canvas tarp. Unless you want a reason to buy new furniture, it’s better to sacrifice a little livability for the longevity of your furniture.
- Cordon off the construction area from the rest of the house with double zip walls, which are used by design-build remodeling firms like Galyer Design Build. You’ll want to coordinate this step with your contractor, so they have enough room to work and can designate an area to enter and exit the construction site. This step is crucial if your remodeling involves removing or installing drywall.
- Install portable fans and air purifiers around the house, especially around the construction zone—point portable fans out a door or window to move dusty air out of your home. Have extra air purifier filters ready. Dust clogs a filter faster than you think.
- Install portable dehumidifiers thought your home. The dehumidifiers will help prevent mold and mildew from developing in settled construction dust.
- If any of your family members have a chronic respiratory disease, you may consider purchasing n95 masks, which is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles.
During Renovation
- Close doors to any rooms not under construction and place rolled towels at the base of those doors. For an extra level of protection, you can install door gap fillers. However, towels can be cheaper, more accessible, and nearly as effective.
- Limit foot traffic during remodeling. The more people move in and out of your home during a renovation; the more dust is distributed throughout your house.
- Check air filters daily for dust buildup. Check both air purifiers and HVAC filters. They will clog up quicker than the beat of a jackhammer.
- Vacuum floors outside the construction zone at the end of construction every day. It may seem like an act of futility, but remove the dirt, debris, and dust before it can build up or spread throughout your home. Also, check your vacuum filter each day. Consider renting or buying an industrial vacuum cleaner.
After Renovation
- Working with a reputable design-build firm like Gayler Design Build, you can expect professionals to carefully remove tarps and other dust barriers. Fold tarps in on themselves to trap dust.
- Wipe everything down! Walls, floors, shelves, tables, chairs, picture frames, and decorations will collect a layer of dust during the renovation process. Use a damp dusting method to clean your whole house and remove dust from your home. Your contractor should complete some basic cleanup around the former construction area. However, they will likely only clean the part of the house they renovated. Even with the best dust mitigation efforts, there is a good chance that dust will collect in other parts of your home.
- Remove portable fans, but keep air purifiers running for a few weeks. It’s crucial to keep them running during cleanup. Even wet dusting will kick up dust. Air purifiers will help remove that dust from the air.
- Clean air vents and HVAC ducts. This is a step most homeowners never think of, but it can significantly impact your home’s air quality. Even with mitigation efforts, there is a good chance that dust will collect in the HVAC ducts. Given enough time and under humid conditions, the dust in HVAC ducts can breed nasty mold and pose a hidden health risk to you and your family.
- Vacuum every room and all your furniture, and mop hard floors like tile and wood. By taking a top-down strategy, your last step is to vacuum and mop. If your home flooring is mostly carpet, consider renting a carpet cleaner. This should be the final step before redecorating, relaxing, and enjoying your newly renovated home.
Conclusion
Remodeling can be fun and doesn’t have to negatively impact your home or your family. If it’s in the budget, consider handing this list of dust mitigation strategies to your contractor and going on vacation during the remodeling process. However, if you want to keep an eye on construction and keep your home dust free, you now have strategies and tactics to prevent construction dust from penetrating your home and impacting your health.
Author Bio
Ck Harrington is a content writer for Duct Doctor, puppy parent, and homeowner, and he suffers from asthma allergies. Last year, Ck relocated to Savannah, Georgia, and renovated the bathrooms and kitchen. So, he has recent first-hand experience with the dusty dilemmas of home renovation.
