Reno's can be Messy...

Renovations can be Messy.

Especially if you are removing tiles, drywall and other materials back to the studs. Dust control and containment go a long way to helping manage the mess and assisting with clean up. Especially if you are living in the house during the Renovations.

Colvin Plumbing has a few tips and tricks that we use for our renos that we would love to pass on.

1) Designate one "staging area" if possible. This is where all the materials, tools, fixtures, amd everything else will go for the length of the reno. Make it an adjacent room. It won't make sense if it is on the other side of the house. Clear out the floor space as much as possible and plastic off all shelves and furniture. Dust travels everywhere.

2) Floor and stairway protection. Old sheets aren't going to cut it. Use heavy duty floor paper protection taped down securely over all floors and stairs. We sweep or preferably vacuum these at the end of everyday. The less the dust hangs around the easier it will be to recover from the Renovation mess. Repair and replace these as necessary.

3) Remove all paintings and debris in the Stairwell area. If your Renovation is anywhere other then the main floor, clear the main Stairwell of all furniture, paintings pictures and whatever else you can. That area will be getting Heavy and dirty traffic. So make sure there are no trip hazards or breakables on the route.

4) I love a good shop vac. Shop vac the area everyday. It really keeps the dust down and will help to minimize how much dust travels throughout the house.

5) Change all of your furnace and air filters frequently. At the minimum right after the Renovation, or during if it's a long one. If you haven't had your ducts cleaned in a while, after a Renovation is a good time to consider it! The cold air returns and heating vents travel throughout your home.

6) Draping plastic over existing doorways can help protect the rooms inside. It helps to prevent the dust going into the other areas of the house.

Have a conversation with your Contractor and Trades. Know what protection they are going to lay out for your house.

Keep in mind that the other portion of having the house preotected is that this takes time (labour) and money (protection+labour). The cost of labour and cleaning materials should be a part of the renovation.

Just as with every step of the Renovation, the most important part is to have a clear outline and knowledge before hand on the responsibilities and boundaries before the Renovation begins. Clear expectations and communication are the foundation of any successful relationship, and when the relationship involves so many decisions, it is incredibly important.