Your family, home and furnishings are important to you so they are important to us. Every remodeling project should have necessary precautions to limit the spread of dust and particles (as it should always be not just because of COVID-19).
One of our biggest concerns is to make sure we have as little impact on your home and life as possible during a remodeling project. We’re constantly evaluating what tools and measures to use in order to limit our footprint in your home. If you are taking on a remodeling project of your own we highly recommend Pro-Tect products for floor and carpet protection.
Dust prevention methods: closing off rooms with plastic temporary walls and zippered doorways. This helps contain dust particles into a confined space. Opening a window and placing a fan blowing to the exterior creates a small negative air pressure in a room which reduces dust migrating through the dust protection barrier. Sometimes, typically during an extensive and extended duration project, we will build a temporary wall gasketed in place with sliced foam pool noodles on the top, bottom and sides of the wall. The foam insulates existing surfaces like drywall and floors from damage while providing an air tight dust free barrier. We’ll typically install an interior door fully weatherstripped in this wall to create a durable, dust free safe barrier. If you want extra measures taken to protect a valued heirloom or possession, be sure to express your concerns with your contractor.
Dust and your HVAC system: Dust control/containment is very important when it comes to your HVAC system. Excess dust entering your HVAC system will be distributed into your duct work and other rooms in the house creating a nuisance film of dust. However, far more important than a dust film is the potential damage dust can do to your HVAC system. We like to start each project by covering the existing return grills with a relatively high MERV rating furnace filter (we like to use MERV 8-11). We seal these over the return grill with painters tape. These filters capture loose dust Before the dust can enter the existing HVAC filter system. NOTE: the higher MERV filters tend to restrict air flow a bit so we like to change them frequently during a dusty project.
Floor protection is not just for capturing muddy footprints, it also provides a physical damage barrier of protection. This extra barrier ensures existing and newly replaced surfaces are receiving the care they deserve. Carpet protectors and hardwood floor protectors are an everyday necessity in homes during construction. If applied properly, they can last several weeks if not the entire duration of the project. We like to use rubber backed felt protection for hard surface floors. This product is durable, slip resistant and provides a cushion if something is dropped onto the floor. Extra protection can be obtained by adding a thin layer of masonite or luan over the rubber backed felt. Carpets are typically protected with adhesive backed plastic that adheres to the carpet protecting it from shoes, dust, dirt, paint etc. NOTE: We typically like to change the carpet protection every couple weeks. If not sometimes the adhesive on the carpet protector remains on the carpet – which then needs steam cleaning to remove the adhesive (YES – this was a hard learned lesson).
Rest assured that these steps work, if applied properly.
Recently, we wrapped up a multi-level home renovation that started after Thanksgiving and ended in mid March. Every level of the house was impacted. After our departure, our client scheduled a HVAC technician to clean and check over the furnace and duct work. Upon inspection, the technician found the furnace motor in a state of normal wear. He was impressed with how little dust had collected inside of the HVAC air handler especially after a home remodel. Kudos to our Dan for his exceptional attention to care.