If you have never experienced a remodel before, it’s safe to say that you will encounter a lot of dust in your home. While the results are exciting to think about, the tear down can become hazardous with loads of particles invading your space, making it hard to breath. Not only that, but whatever insect waste, paint remnants, or any other elements lingering in your walls, will be invading your air. There is a way to keep the level of dust to a minimum. It is even a best practice to ask your contractor how they intend to keep the dust from becoming a nuisance. In the same breath (pun intended), it is always good to know what to do for yourself.
Get Power Tools with Dust Extractors. There are tools on the market that use a sucking mechanism to catch the dust like a vacuum while in use. The percentage of dust captured averages to about 90%. It is unfortunate that not all contractors can afford these tools because it would raise their overhead and prices. But wherever possible, any sawing or sanding should be done outside of the home for minimization of air nuisances.
Put Up Dust Barriers. Power Tools are just a small percentage of the demolition. Tearing down of walls is a huge factor in dust. Because of this, other barriers should be set in place. It is essential that contractors put up tarps in the entrance of the area being worked on. This barrier is also known in the industry as a zipwall. Of course, there is always the chance that the dust will get into the main part of your home with workers going in and out. This is also true when removing debris from the area. For this reason, it is also good to discuss with your contractor how they intend to remove waste.
Use Air Scrubbers. Having a peculiar name, air scrubbers are more like vacuums that are strategically placed on the work site to suck in the dust from the air. The size of the air scrubber is similar to air conditioning units in that the horse power will be dependent on the space being worked in.
With some of these options at your fingertips, the dust in your remodeled area will definitely be very minimal. It will allow you to coexist easier while the work is getting done and you won’t be as displaced as normally anticipated.
