Living through a remodel is a challenge, as anyone who’s been there can attest — but add kids or pets (or both!) to the mix and things get a whole lot trickier
These strategies can help protect animals and children from hazardous materials, construction areas and stress.
How do you keep curious, active kids from getting hurt when there’s construction going on at home? What are you supposed to do with an anxious dog who won’t stop barking at the workers? Take a few deep breaths and then read this guide: We’ll tackle those questions and more.
Part 1, Tips for Remodeling With Kids
Assign Separate Entrances for Workers and Family
This will help keep construction dust and dirt out of the areas you’re using, but also (and perhaps more important) it will help prevent workers from accidentally leaving tools and supplies sitting around in non-work areas. Choose an entrance for the workers closest to the construction zone to minimize foot traffic through the house, even if this means they use the front door and your family switches to the back, side or garage entrance.
If Hazardous Materials Are Present, Stay Somewhere Else
Any remodel is bound to include some potential hazards — but what we’re talking about here are serious hazards like lead paint, asbestos and mold. If one of these is present in your home, staying elsewhere while that portion of the work is being done is a good idea. If you or one of your children have health concerns like asthma or allergies, you may also wish to stay at the home of a friend or relative, or in a rental, to avoid construction dust.
Designate a Safe Place to Play
There are a lot of places you’ll be telling your kids it’s not OK to play, which makes it all the more important that you find a place where play is allowed. If you’re living within a smaller area of your home during the remodel, this might mean letting the kids “take over” a room usually used for another purpose — like the dining room or den.
Always Keep an Eye on Kids During Construction
As a parent, you know how quickly an active kid can decide to do something unexpected. Even if you usually feel confident leaving the kiddos playing happily for a few minutes while you wash the dishes or answer a call, it’s essential to never leave kids unattended during construction. Since it’s rare that construction workers will be on-site from sunup to sundown every day, try to plan your solo tasks for the hours before and after work is happening. And remember, even when work isn’t going on, your home is effectively still a work site, so it’s a good idea to be extra vigilant about safety.
Make Sure Construction Areas Are Cordoned Off Clearly
Yellow tape alone isn’t enough to keep curious kids out. Completely sealing off work areas by hanging plastic sheeting will help prevent kids from wandering in and will stop dust from traveling into your home’s living spaces. Where possible, also use sturdy child-safety gates to add another layer of protection from construction zones.
Let me know in the comments if you have other tips or experiences that you'd like to share. And stay tuned for part 2, where we talk about how to care for the pets of our family..
Until then take care,
TK