Home Renovation: How to Reduce Dust in Construction
By Kathryn Haley
One of the biggest concerns people have before beginning a renovation is the amount of dirt and dust that will be created. The idea of having their home covered in a layer of dust keeps many from starting. If you have allergies or health issues need to be extra careful.
Although you can’t eliminate all dust and dirt during a renovation, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of dust that is created and control its spread throughout your home. So whether you are using a contractor or doing the work yourself, here are some tips for reducing dust.
1/ Seal Room
You can purchase rolls of thin plastic that you can seal off the work areas with. Hang the plastic in doorways and openings and tape it to the door frames. Make sure it is a tight seal, especially when sanding drywall.
2/ Cover Ducting
Be sure to seal off the floor vents and cold air returns in the rooms you are renovating. Once dirt and dust get into the vents it will spread throughout the house when you turn the system on. It will also require you to pay to have them cleaned out. Simply close them and seal them with plastic and tape.
3/ Use Dustless Drywall Compound
If you have ever had drywall work done you know the dust gets everywhere and lingers in the air for days. I discovered this product the last time I did a major renovation and it really works. Instead of going airborne and staying airborne, the dust falls to the floor and stays there. It is available at Home Depot and other home improvement stores and it is a must if you are doing drywall work.
4/ Wear layers
You probably won’t be able to get hired workers to wear them, but if you are doing the work yourself, buy some painters overalls and wear them. They are very inexpensive, you can find them at the dollar store, and they will protect your clothes and help you control the dirt.
Wear them when you are doing drywall sanding or any other dusty task, and then remove them before leaving the room. That way you keep the dirt and dust in the room and you don’t track it throughout the house.
5/ Cut Materials Outside.
Yes, it is more convenient to set up saws near the room being renovated, especially if it is upstairs. However, cutting tiles and wood in the garage or backyard is an easy way to minimize saw dust and tile dust.
6/ Make Cleanup Easy 
Another great product that makes clean up and containing dust and dirt easier is Rosin paper. Cover your floors with the paper and tape it in place before you start renovating. Once you are finished you can simply roll up the paper with the dirt and dust inside and throw it out. An added bonus is it protects your tile or hardwood flooring from damage as well.
Let’s face it, renovations are messy. There is no way to do a renovation and not have some dirt and dust. However, if you follow these tips it will much easier to control the dirt and reduce the dust.
Do you have any other tips to help keep renovation dust under control? Let us know in the comments below.
Spring Is Here: Let’s Get Dirty!
By Kathryn Haley
Spring is here and for many of you that means you are starting to think about making some changes in your home. It is the time of year for Home Shows and seeing all the new trends and products, your creative juices start flowing. If you haven’t watched the video on trends for 2010, check it out here.
Sadly though, many of you will only dream about starting that project. Whether it is tiling that back splash or painting that room, many women talk themselves out of getting their hands dirty. It seems like too big a job, or you don’t know where to start. Or even worse, you don’t think you can do it.
Well, I am here to tell you YOU CAN DO IT!
This picture is of me cutting tile for a Kitchen Backsplash. I admit that I am very comfortable using a wet saw and other power tools. But at some point in the past I had to try it for the first time. And just like anything else in life, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will be.
And now I find it very liberating to pull of hair in a pony tail, put on my ripped, paint covered jeans and get my hands dirty. To be able to stand back and admire something you have created is an amazing feeling. I don’t care if it is painting your bedroom dresser a different colour, installing a new bathroom floor, or creating a new flower bed in your back yard, you will feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment by doing it yourself.
So come on ladies, don’t worry about that manicure! If you want to make some changes to your home this Spring, go for it! And once you are finished your project send us some pictures so we can inspire others to get creative.
Renovation Home: 5 Organization Tips For Keeping Your Sanity
By Kathryn Haley
Being disorganized will cost time and money during a renovation. Home organization is the key to success. If it is a large scale project and most of the house is being affected, it is going to be difficult to keep things orderly but with these tips you should be able to stay of top of the chaos.
1. Have files for everything
Keep all of your paperwork in one place. I recommend an inexpensive file folder holder that is portable. Create a file for all the receipts that you collect. As you post them into the budget, move them into another file labeled posted.
You should keep all of the permits and papers from the city together. You will need to refer to these to make sure you are doing everything they want.
Create another file with your design ideas and pictures from magazines. This is your inspiration file and it will help you make colour and product decisions.
2. Have a spot for tools.
There is nothing more frustrating than searching around for tools that have been misplaced. I don’t know that you will ever be able to avoid this completely, but if you create an area for tools it will help a great deal.
Create a space where all the tools are put. I find that if you designate a table for tools where tool boxes and small tools are kept. The larger tools sit on the floor underneath the table. Every time you are finished with a tool, put it back. It doesn’t take any time and it will keep the clean up at the end of the day to a minimum.
3. Be forward thinking
You need to always be one step ahead of the project. It is very frustrating to go to start a project and realize you don’t have everything you need. You either waste an hour driving to the store to pick up what you need, or you go do something else which gets you off schedule.
Make sure you buy all the materials you are going to need ahead of time. For example, if you are doing a Bathroom and the drywall work is being finished, you need to make sure the vanity and tiles are already on site.
After you have finished working for the day, spend a few minutes and think about what is next for the project. Take stock of what you have purchased and if you don’t have everything you need go purchase it. I know the last thing you want to do after renovating all day is to go shopping but it is much more productive that wasting half your morning running to the store.
4. Keep an ongoing list
I don’t care how good your memory is, you won’t be able to keep track of things unless you write them down. A solution I have found that works is to get a clip board and hang it on a nail in the area you are working. Whenever you realize you are running low on something, write it down immediately. You won’t remember later.
Look at the list every night as you plan the next day and add to it. Check your supply of essentials such as screws, nails and dap. Make sure you have more than enough.
5. Clean up
Keeping the work area clean will keep the risk of injury down and make the job run smoother. Every night after you are finished working, remove all the large debris and shop vac the area.
Remember if you are living in the house while you are renovating you don’t want to be breathing in all that old dust and dirt. Get rid of it as soon as you can.
You will also find it easier to deal with the renovation if you keep the area clean. Even though drywall might be missing and the floor is plywood, is it much easier to handle emotionally if it is tidy.
Have you got a tip for staying organized during a renovation? Share it with us in the comments!
Happy renovating!
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