It’s unavoidable for significant renovations to cause some messes and disruptions to your home. Whether your renovation project entails new bathroom installations or an annex extension in your home, you’re probably expecting dust, noise, and any kind of disruption for a few weeks. Of course, in addition to these, there’s also the possibilities of danger for you and your family. Anytime you had the work done, you would have encountered these issues.
Hence, read along with this article as you get some insights on how to protect your home and yourself while having a home renovation:
Wear Proper Protective Gear
Renovations should be well planned and prepared before they begin. It’s vital for your health and safety and the health of your family to have the correct protective gear for the job at hand. While renovating, it’s recommended to wear the proper personal protective equipment, so you won’t breathe in and ingest contaminants. The best way to approach renovations safely is to be informed about the dangers, plan ways to prevent them, and always be careful through and through.
Your contractors should do the same; they must wear company uniforms, and protective gears like plumber shirts, electrician’s PPE, and so on to distinguish themselves and protect themselves from any possible hazards.
Select A Reputable Contractor
There are many unreliable contractors in the field. Anyone with a poor record can obtain another contractor’s license or open it under another business name. You have to stay away from them. Also, some mediocre contractors would often charge low rates because inferior materials are used. Hence, you need to take these tips when searching for the best contractor for your renovation:
- Get recommendations from friends and family.
- You might consult a realtor, financial planner, advisor, or attorney.
- Online reviews can help you learn about the contractor’s quality of services.
- Find out which general contractors your subcontractors prefer and ask for their recommendations.
Protect Your Home From Theft
When you undergo a major home renovation or construction project, you may need to relocate temporarily. Because your home and belongings are left unattended when workers leave each day, robbery is possible. These tips will help prevent burglars from entering your home:
- Build a temporary burglar alarm during new home construction. Then, put in a permanent system when the house is finished.
- It’s vital to regularly check your burglar alarm during your home renovation project, especially after the construction crew leaves each day. Ensure that they’re turned on and are working well.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting around the property’s perimeter and a temporary fence along the driveway, including a gate.
- A centrally monitored surveillance system or security guard is an excellent choice. An intruder, water leaks, smoke, and water contamination are preventable with a regular home inspection by your guard. Surveillance cameras should be installed inside and outside your home.
- If you keep valuables and cash on your property, you might consider installing a safe that can protect them from opportunistic thieves.
- Another way to ensure your belongings remain safe while your house is not as secure, consider storing them in self-storage.
Be Careful Of Toxic Chemicals
During a renovation, poisonous substances such as paint, paint stripper, solvents, polishes, insect sprays, bleach, and other cleaning solutions may be used around the house. People can become poisoned by these types of chemicals when renovating a home. A common reason for this is that products are often transferred from a chemical container to a food or beverage container instead of the appropriate container for the chemical. Therefore, labeling materials and chemicals are vital. Ensure that these things are far away from your daily necessities like food and water.
Consider It First Before Lifting Heavy Things
Before you want to start implementing your house renovation ideas, you may have thought of moving things here and there. You can strain your body when lifting or carrying large, heavy, or awkward objects, which might result in injury. It’s possible to prevent these injuries during renovations simply by thinking twice before lifting anything. Your mind sometimes tells you can, but your body tells you otherwise.
Think about how to avoid unnecessary lifting rather than how to lift safely. To reduce the risk of moving deliveries again, ensure delivery personnel places them exactly where they must be. Before you bend over to pick up something, consider whether you should ask for help moving it. Consider not only the object’s weight but also its visibility while walking, whether the path to where you are going is clear, and whether there is a safe spot to set the object down. Pushing or pulling things should be handled with the same consideration.
Conclusion
If you remain safe throughout the renovation, you’ll have fond memories to look back on when the project is completed—and you can enjoy the benefits of all your hard work. The safety of your renovation or DIY project is a crucial part of planning and executing your work. Consider all the tips mentioned above to ensure you, your family, and your home are all protected during these renovation periods.
Photo by Jean-Luc Benazet on Unsplash
