One of the most important aspects of any home renovation project is ensuring that the mess and potential damage are minimized. It’s easy to overlook areas like the floors and furnishings during a construction or remodeling work. However, even minor scratches don’t just ruin the beauty of your home interiors, they can also mean costly and stressful repairs.
How to Protect Floors During a Renovation
The floor is often the most susceptible to damage during any construction or remodeling work. Protecting newly-finished floors is an important but tedious process that should be dealt with by both the homeowner and the contractor.
Before starting the renovation work, safeguarding the floors, along with other surfaces, is a must. Here are the best practices followed by professional contractors:
Choose a quality covering
When knocking down a wall, painting cabinets and surfaces, installing new cabinets or counters, or drilling holes – there’s always a likelihood of debris falling down on the floors, which could lead to damage. The easiest and most effective way to protect your floors is to cover them with high quality tarp or some other protective sheets or secure floor protectors. If you’re tight in budget, tarps are the cheapest option. They are thick and could greatly resist impact. What’s more, you can keep them for later use (such as a roof cover, tent, or shed). Meanwhile, protective films are available from trade and retail suppliers. These materials vary in thickness and durability, depending on how long the renovation project will go.
Safeguard the right areas
Areas with heavy foot traffic in particular, such as around exterior doorways or stairs, should be fully protected. Planning ahead is the key. If you are moving large and heavy items from one room to another, consider placing rigid plastic protectors not only on floors but also on stairs and steps. Consider using dirt trap mats at doorways as well. Freshly laid wooden floors require breathable protection that should also protect them from scratches and scuff marks. For carpets, use plastic film. This material will also give the carpet more traction, which lowers the possibility of anyone slipping during the renovation work.
Clean as you go
Dust and dirt can easily go overboard during home construction or renovation. Thus, a “clean and go” strategy is the best solution. At the end of each workday, the contractors should be able to clean the debris from the protective covering (or replace it when needed). Vacuuming and mopping floors should be done on a daily basis as well to minimize mess as much as possible.
Ventilate the renovation area
Ventilating the area by installing a fan by the window or using air scrubbers greatly helps remove contaminants from the renovation area and creates a pressure barrier. When there’s a pressure barrier, dust circulates less into the rest of the house.
How to Protect Décor and Furnishings During a Renovation
• Remove décor and furnishings whenever possible
There’s no better way to protect these items than removing and storing them somewhere safe. Picture frames, paintings, and other decors should be safely kept in boxes or containers. Breakable items must be wrapped in paper before putting them in a box. Remove curtains, rugs and upholstery from the renovation area as these things can easily soak dust. Don’t forget to label your containers accordingly so anyone who has to carry them should know when to be more careful.
Cover furniture with plastic or drop cloths
Larger furniture such as chairs, tables, cabinets and sofas can be covered using old clothes that are otherwise useless. However, there are downsides to it. For instance, cloths can easily fall off from the furniture. If you decide to use drop cloths, make sure to do it properly. Plastic is another option. It can be slightly expensive but fasten easily. Just don’t forget to tape the edges of the plastic you’re using.
Use wipes and soft-fiber cloths to remove dust
Dust particles are sharp and can damage your home décor and furnishings easily. Make use of soft-fiber cloths or wipes to safely remove dirt and fine dust. Using just any type of cloth or tissue paper can just ruin your valued items.
A home renovation does have ‘messy’ consequences. Fortunately, there are tips and tricks to keep your home free from damage, especially your precious furniture, décor, furnishings, and floors. The planning and preparation stage can be time-consuming and tedious. But it’s definitely worth the time and effort. If you’re after fully protecting your items from potential damage, follow these suggestions. Don’t forget to discuss your concern with your renovation contractor. Ask them for additional ways and strategies to ensure minimal mess and damage around your home as they complete the project.