Renovopedia

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvments.

    What's Hot

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    RenovopediaRenovopedia
    Demo
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Ideas

      7 Master Bedroom Designs With Stylish Style And Functional Features

      January 27, 2023

      Why is Garage Door maintenance essential?

      January 17, 2023

      5 Ways To Improve Your Flooring

      December 22, 2022

      Ideas to revamp and reorganise your garage

      December 22, 2022

      The Benefits Of Cleaning Your Windows Regularly

      November 30, 2022
    • Videos

      Water In Electrical Panel! Easy Fix? #Short

      March 30, 2022

      Working on My House LIVE! | Framing Door Openings

      March 23, 2022

      Framing a Wall With Angles Over Stair Bulkhead

      March 22, 2022

      Framing Bedroom/Hall Closet | Adding Basement Stair Headroom

      March 17, 2022

      Fixing Hacked Floor Framing | Straightening Kitchen Floor… Kinda

      March 8, 2022
    • Interior Remodel
    • Painting
    • Kitchen
    • More
      • Skills & Specialties
      • Exterior Remodel
      • Bathroom
      • Outdoor Building
      • Green Improvements
      • Home Services
    Renovopedia
    Home » Stay Safe During Home Renovation Demolition With These Tips

    Stay Safe During Home Renovation Demolition With These Tips

    November 29, 2021No Comments Exterior Remodel
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Demolition is an essential part of a number of renovation projects. However, the process can be dangerous, frustrating, and expensive. If it’s not done right, it can nip your whole renovation project in the bud.

    Approach demolition with the mindset that it is a project all on its own, not merely the prelude to the “real” project of renovating. There are people who do nothing but demolition, you should take the same kind of professional approach to doing the work yourself. Think of yourself as wearing a “demo” hat for a while, and don’t rush the project. When demolition is completely done and cleanup is complete, you can proceed to renovation. All too many remodeling projects run into problems when the demolition phase trickles over into the construction phase, and it often leads to wasted effort.

    Demo

    Warning

    Make sure electricity and water have been turned off to the demo area to ensure your safety. That last thing you want is to cut into live electrical wires or punch into a pressurized water supply pipe. If you need light, run an extension cord from another room and illuminate the room with a utility light.

    Prepping for Demo

    Once electricity and water supply have been shut off, take the steps to get both yourself and the area ready for demo.

    • Get the right tools: Just as you carefully select a drill or a saw for a construction project, you need to select proper tools for your destruction project. Have at least a sledgehammer, a crowbar (the big kind), a prybar (the flat, hand-held tool), and a claw hammer that you don’t particularly care about (it will get dinged up and may even break). A reciprocating saw is necessary for most major demolition jobs. For floor or roofing demolition, a demo fork can make it much easier to pry up materials. A wheelbarrow for hauling debris to the dumpster is essential.
    • Wear the right outfit: This isn’t about fashion, but rather about safety. Wear thick-soled boots to avoid stepping on nails and screws. You can buy disposable paper coveralls to put over your clothes if you’re doing something extremely dirty such as tearing out a ceiling. If you are doing floor demolition or other work that involves hands-and-knees, a good pair of knee pads will work wonders. If you’ll be doing a lot of heavy work and lifting, a back support belt will ease your fatigue. Wear a sturdy plastic hard hat whenever working overhead.
    • Seal off the demo area: If there is an opening anywhere, drywall and plaster dust will find it and drift into other areas of the home. Merely closing a door on demo usually isn’t good enough. Seal openings with sheets of plastic, and secure them in place with blue tape or use a ready-made system like the Zipwall Dust Barrier. Make sure to also cover up air ducts and cold air returns, because an enormous amount of dust can be distributed all over your house by the forced air HVAC system.
    • Rent a dumpster: Rather than making multiple trips to a landfill, rent a roll-off dumpster and park it where you have easy access. A dumpster with a drop-gate is a good idea, as it makes it easy to fill it with debris by wheelbarrow.

    During Demo

    Home demolition isn’t a one-person job, and not only because it’s a lot of work. It’s also important to have someone around for safety precautions, particularly if you need to remove kitchen cabinets. Other practices to keep in mind include:

    • Use a respirator or dust mask. If you can’t stand wearing a respirator or feel certain you’re not dealing with hazardous materials, at least use a dust mask that will filter out most particles.

    Warning

    A HEPA respirator is best if you’re kicking up dust in an old house, because asbestos, lead-based paint, or other hazards could be in that debris.

    • Learn what’s lies beneath (or behind). Before swinging that sledgehammer or crowbar, try to determine what is behind that wall. Live electrical wires? Water pipe? Gas lines? Asbestos? Exploratory holes, stud finders, and flashlights work wonders at helping you find out what’s in there—but until you know for sure, always assume that there’s a live electrical wire behind the surfaces.
    • Clean as you go. If you’re doing a demo project of any real scale, it’s worth every penny to rent a roll-off dumpster bin. This can save you from multiple trips to the landfill.

    After You’re Done

    Even if you have been cleaning up as you go, demolition is a messy job. Finish up the project before you start the renovation process by hiring a hauling service. These are less cost-effective than the roll-off, but good for demo projects smaller than a roll-off. For instance, if you’re tearing out a small-to-medium-size bathroom, you may want to just dump everything on the back patio and have the hauling company deal with it.

    Finally, completely sweep and vacuum the work area. It is best to start with a completely clean slate as you move into active construction. Even a quick damp mopping is a good idea. The remodeling construction that comes next, will, of course, generate its own dust and debris, but try to make opened wall cavities and subfloors as clean as possible before sealing them up with drywall or flooring.

    Source: The Spruce

    Demo
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit VKontakte Telegram WhatsApp

    Related Posts

    Your Electrical Service Feed Choices

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Standing Seam Metal Roof Basics Before You Buy

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Weatherproof Electrical Boxes for Exterior Use

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    How to Paint a House Faster and Easier

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Painting a House When It’s Humid

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    What Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Demo
    Don't Miss

    How to Repair Torn Drywall Paper FAST!

    Videos August 11, 2021

    Watch full video on Youtube

    Controlling Clutter in a Garage

    May 16, 2022

    Kitchen of the Week: A Characterful Kitchen in Kent, England, from an Under-the-Radar Design Savant

    February 3, 2022

    Top Reasons Your House Foundation Is Cracking & How To Fix It

    December 7, 2021
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Latest Articles

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023

    A Day in Khaki Muromachi

    March 18, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvements.

    Demo
    Our Picks

    Spring Swaps: Freshen Up Your Home With These Simple Updates

    March 20, 2023

    Before & After: A Soulless Apartment Gets the ‘More Is More’ Treatment

    March 20, 2023

    Looking Back, Looking Forward: 15 Years of Remodelista

    March 19, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    Renovopedia is the premier source for home improvement news and articles. We provide the latest news and articles for homeowners looking to find inspiration, solutions, tips, and ideas to prepare your home for sale or turn it into your dream home.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: hello@renovopedia.com
    Contact: +1-320-0123-451

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
    Popular

    Thermofoil Cabinets Basics and Buying Guide

    November 29, 2021

    Outdoor Fireplace: Create a Focal Point For Your Patio

    August 22, 2022

    How To Check If A Diamond Is Real Or Fake

    February 26, 2019
    © 2023 Renovopedia. All Rights Reserved.
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Videos
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.