Dust Control- Protecting Your Family During Construction

I know dust protection isn’t the eye candy most consumers are looking for in remodeling; however, it is one of the most important parts of your project. Today, remodelers are required to adhere to the Renovation and Repair Act that abolished ignorant practices such as fans in a window blowing hazardous material into the air- and possibly right back into the home.  What the act doesn’t prevent are the same poorly monitored or poorly managed practices that can effectively keep harmful and annoying dust out of your home.

Our first line of defense is to avoid drop clothes where possible. They contain dust- and if used improperly could bring harmful dust from an older home into your newer lead free home.  We use a protectant that can be vacuumed up regularly like a carpet protection on stair runners and Ram Board on hard surfaces.

In the photo below is my favorite form of protecting our clients from dust… the “alternate means of travel” also known as staging or temporary stairs. You will see we have installed a locking temporary door until the new window goes in near the end, and we were able to close off all access points to the home making this Newton remodel 100% dust proof.  Because the cost of protecting the finishes inside the home and dust proofing need to be part of any project, this option also was the least expensive to the client so it was a win all around.

Happy Renovating, and stay safe!