It’s a great thing to be able to do home renovation projects yourself. After all, there’s nothing like the feeling of creating your dream house with your own hands. The problem with DIY projects, however, is that there’s a lack of safety regulation and accountability that governs it. After acquiring the necessary permits to get the construction going, many homeowners tend to be complacent about their own safety.
If you don’t want medical costs to be a part of your renovation budget, taking extra-precaution is a must. Here are four essential steps you need to take to ensure that your renovation hazards stay low from beginning to end.
The Proper Gear
Wearing the proper gear when performing the renovation is a must. Just because you don’t mind the smell of fresh paint doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a mask. Did you know that those open shoes you’re wearing make you prone to injuries? And you should probably keep your gloves on when handling different equipment.
A construction site is full of hazards that can cause serious injuries with permanent consequences. This is especially true when you’re dealing with your house’s main structure. Things can break apart, fall, and cause you to lose your footing. Tripping in a construction site can lead to severe cuts due to the wood, equipment, and nails lying about. That’s not to mention the health risks caused by sawdust and paint fumes.
Save yourself from an ER visit by purchasing the proper gear from construction PPE suppliers. Ensure that you have extra for anybody in the family who wants to help, and create a rule that unless they’re wearing safety gear, they’re not allowed into the part of the house that’s under renovation.
Taking Proper Lessons
If this is your first time doing a home renovation, you should have a more skilled companion to take much of the burden from you. Even then, you should still look for ways to acquire basic home improvement skills before the renovation begins. Don’t rely solely on YouTube videos, as the entire process is often trimmed short to make the tutorial viewer-friendly.
Get experience by signing up for certified woodwork classes online or in person. Volunteer for home-building projects and help out a friend who’s also doing a home renovation. Experience is your friend when handling complex tools, taking measurements, and performing delicate tasks like tile installations. The more practice you can get, the safer you’ll be.
The Out-of-house Option
Staying out of the house at certain phases of the renovation should always be a consideration. Understandably, you want to cut costs by steering clear of hotels and Airbnb. The only problem with not including these in your budget is that you’ll end up compromising it should you or anyone in the family start reacting to the fumes and dust. These hazards can trigger respiratory problems like asthma and graver ones like lung cancer.
Keep this option open, but don’t forget the safety practices that will minimize these risks. Ensure that ventilation is good throughout the renovation site so that fresh air can continuously drive out suspended dust. Close doors that lead to other rooms so that the dust doesn’t go there, and put a plastic sheet around your workspace to further contain these pollutants. Should they become difficult to manage and the paint fumes can be smelled from the other side of the house, it’s time to book a hotel room.
The After-renovation Cleanup
A thorough cleanup should be included in your agenda after a home renovation. Before taking out the wine glass and inviting people over to celebrate, get your entire family geared up to wipe everything spotless.
A little dusting and vacuuming here and there won’t cut it. You need to go through all the cupboards, vanities, and upholstery to ensure that they haven’t discreetly gathered dust or absorbed certain odors. Open all the windows to enhance the ventilation and get an air purifier to improve the air quality.
Safety is Your Primary Concern
Why do so many people skip out of these measures? The answer is simple: money. Homeowners tend to compromise their safety in the name of cutting costs. If you really think about it, though, treating any health issues you incur will be more expensive and difficult to amend.
Purchase the right PPE, get the necessary lessons, plan when you’ll stay out of the house, and remember to clean up after the renovation. These are simple and practical investments to your health that you’ll never regret.
