How to Contain Dust During Remodel Projects

Remodeling is an exciting undertaking.  Once completed, your remodel will give your room or home new life, a new look, and added value.

Remodeling is an exciting undertaking.  Once completed, your remodel will give your room or home new life, a new look, and added value.  Whether you are doing a small remodel project or a complete gut, it is likely that there will be some dust involved.  What many people do not realize is just how much dust.  Even a modest or moderate remodel will produce a lot of dust and that dust floats and finds its way onto every surface.  Without proper preparation and protection, you could be remodeling a room on one side of the house and find dust from the project all the way on the other side of the house.  You will not be able to completely eliminate dust and protect every surface from it, but, by properly preparing your home you can cut down on dust during a remodel significantly.  Follow these simple tips to reduce dust during a remodel:

• Declutter
  • As much as possible, remove décor and declutter your home before a remodel. This may be completely necessary if you are doing a comprehensive home remodel but even for a small remodel take as much off the walls and tables as possible because by removing them there will be fewer things to dust.
• Plastic Sheeting
  • Break out the plastic sheeting and get ready to tape and close off rooms and air vents to prevent the spread of dust throughout the home. Designate one doorway to get through the home or into necessary rooms and seal off any unnecessary doors with plastic sheeting and tape.  Also, do not seal just one side; seal both sides of the doorway with plastic sheeting for extra protection.
• Cut Outside
  • One of the main sources of dust (aside from tile removal) is cutting wood. Whenever possible, wood should be cut outside.  If wood must be cut or sanded inside, use special tools with vacuums attached or vacuum immediately after cutting.
• Turn the A/C Off
  • If weather/safety permits, turn the air conditioner off during construction. Additionally, if turning the air conditioner off, cover vents with paper or plastic and tape them off as well so that dust cannot get in.  Once dust gets into air vents it is very hard to get it out and it will get spread throughout the entire home through the HVAC system.  By turning the air conditioner off and covering vents you will dramatically reduce the spread of dust throughout your home.
• Cleaning Service
  • Once construction is completed, hire a cleaning service to come in and clean everything – the floors, the walls, the pot shelves, the ceiling – every surface. Do this before moving any of your décor or furniture back in to help rid your home of dust and prevent it from getting tracked throughout the home.