Six Ways to Prevent Contractors From Damaging Your Home During Renovations
Renovating a home is an expensive and exciting endeavor. Taking out the old and installing the new is never cheap, but quality renovations can turn your home into the home of your dreams, or at least solve some of the nagging problems that have been bothering you for years. While not every remodeling project will produce the results you’re looking for , there’s no doubt that doing some work on your home usually results in a happier , more valuable place to live.
But remodeling projects aren’t about “set it and forget it.” You’ve hired people to come into your personal space with tools and materials, rip out old things (which sometimes they don’t want to rip out and cause major embarrassment), and generally make a huge mess of the place. Hiring reliable contractors will protect you from worst-case scenarios in most renovation jobs, but any time tools and large, heavy materials are involved, there is a possibility of damage. If your contractors destroy the place, your homeowners insurance may cover the cost, but it’s best if you avoid the damage altogether. Here are some simple precautions you can take to protect your home during renovations.
Sequester renovation areas
If you’re only renovating part of your home, the first step should be to seal that area with plastic sheeting. This doesn’t have to be a complicated process:
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Apply masking tape around the doorway or opening leading to the area where the renovation will be done.
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Cut a sheet of plastic film so that it covers the doorway or opening with a margin of an inch or more all the way around.
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Tape the plastic in place, being careful to stick it to the masking tape so you don’t damage the walls or floor.
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Attach the canvas zipper to the plastic barrier, then cut it to create an opening for you and your contractors to pass through.
This will help contain dust and debris, preventing damage to your furniture or HVAC systems.
Turn off the HVAC system
If your home has central heating and cooling, you should take some precautions to protect it from dust and debris that can clog the filters and damage the unit itself:
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Close the ventilation openings. Use magnetic vent covers or additional plastic tape to completely cover the vents in the work area.
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Turn off the system. When applying mud to drywall or painting, some contractors want to run your HVAC system to help with drying, but won’t let them. In fact, turn off your HVAC system (only in the affected area if you can) to make sure it isn’t sucking up heavy construction dust all day long. If your contractors want to speed up the drying or curing process, they can use portable heaters or dehumidifiers to get the job done without putting your home’s infrastructure at risk.
Protect important surfaces from damage
Now that dust doesn’t cover your entire home in a thin layer, it’s important to protect the various parts of your home from scratches, dents, and dings.
Doors
Doors are an easy target for damage during renovations. Contractors carrying large, bulky items can bump into them, and tools can easily get scratched and dented as they are carried around the premises. Adding snap-on door jamb guards and removing or covering the door with construction paper will protect it from such incidents.
Bathtubs and sinks
If your workers will be anywhere near your kitchen and plumbing fixtures, you need to protect them from dirt and dust, as well as scratches and other damage. You can line the drains with rags or tape them shut, and then cover the sinks and tubs with heavy-duty cardboard (or purchase an adjustable bathtub guard or temporary removable bathtub liner ). That way, when your contractor drops a hammer on your new bathtub, you can simply ignore it.
Floors
Floors take a beating from any type of construction. Dirt and sand can act like sandpaper on a finish, and there are endless possibilities for nicks and scratches. Depending on the job you’re doing, you might be able to get away with a simple drop cloth or carpet sheet , but if the job is more involved, you’ll want to consider something tougher to protect your hardwood , tile, or laminate flooring. Floor surface protection sheets are relatively easy to install and very effective at protecting against damage from even the most careless contractors, while neoprene rails are a reliable option for simpler, temporary protection as they can be quickly rolled out and rolled up. You can also use
To protect your stairs, a simple and effective solution is a non-slip cloth like this that will stay in place even on the stairs.
Tabletops
In kitchens and bathrooms, contractors usually can’t help but treat countertops as extra work space, a place to leave tools, store materials and other misuses. Covering countertops with a rag or protective film can rid them of dust, dirt and grease stains, but will not protect them from chips and abrasions. Covering them with the same plank material you use for your floors can give you an extra layer of protection that will ensure you still have countertops when the job is done.