Helpful Tips When Renovating

There are a lot of moving parts when you are going through a renovation. Some big, some small, but all important. Even on smaller projects like a bathroom, there are things to consider outside of the immediate focus of work that can help the project go smoother and help you manage the disruption better also. An experienced contractor will guide you through the process and think out the little things, but there are still some items you can look after to ensure all goes smooth for all involved. Here are a few tips:

1. Move all your stuff out of the work area

Seems obvious for a few reasons, but it goes overlooked more often than one may think. Having a work area full of things like clothes and furniture can not only gum up the process, but also puts your belongings at risk of dirt or damage. While we are used to working around items, as in some cases it is just unavoidable, oftentimes it can be avoided. You are paying your contractor good money to come and do skilled work, you don’t want them wasting time moving couches and boxes back and forth if it can be avoided. And although all the items get covered up and care is taken, there is always some residual dust kicking around. If possible, move your things to a different area of the home where they are out of the way and safe.

2. Clear off adjacent walls

This is something we always remind our customers to do. If we are working in a bathroom, for example, the demolition process involves some banging and smashing. This can cause some reverberations in adjacent areas. You don’t want your beautiful wedding picture falling off the wall and damaging the floor.

3. Plastic off areas

This is generally the job of the contractor. They should be laying down floor covering to protect your floors and plastic barriers when possible to contain any high dust work. With that said, if you have some other things in the immediate area that need to be protected, you should let your contractor know.

4. Replace your furnace filters

As much as we try to contain dust, there is always some that escapes. It is just the nature of the beast. Your furnace will suck that dust in through the air return and it will get

trapped in your filter. During a renovation, be sure to change your filter at least once every 1-2 weeks depending on how extensive the renovation is.

We will do another article soon on some other helpful tips during a renovation focusing more on the reno itself. Hope this helps. If you have any questions or comments, just let us know!