Safely Renovating An Older Home With Small Children
As a parent, safety is your number one priority. We all cover the basics to ensure our children’s environment is a safe one. When undertaking a home renovation, particularly in an older home, there are safety issues of which you might not be aware. One of the biggest concerns when renovating is that if the home was built prior to 1978 there may be lead-based paint in the existing structure. We commonly might think of this factor when sanding or painting a child’s room or furniture, but have you considered the possibilities of spreading this dangerous substance while doing a renovation?
One of the most common reasons people renovate a home is that they have a growing family and simply need more room for children’s play area or perhaps a nursery room. Children who are under the age of six are at the highest risk of lead poisoning. Tearing down walls, sand blasting and simply tracking this debris through the house and yard on the bottom of your shoes is a very real concern and needs to be addressed. Here are some things you can do today to prevent lead poisoning in your home.
> Completely block off all existing areas of your home that are not going to be renovated with strong, heavy plastic and a good, sturdy tape.
> Turn off your air conditioning while the work is being done to prevent hazardous materials from entering your home’s air ducts.
> Make sure your workers understand that cleanliness is a priority. Have them (and yourself, if you enter the work area) wipe off shoes with a wet cloth before tracking them through the rest of your home and the premises surrounding your home where children might be at play.
> Make sure someone is available to clean the work area daily to wipe up with a wet mop and dispose of properly any contaminants that could be spread potentially.
> The use of a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner in the work area can dramatically reduce the incidence of lead poisoning in your home.
> Wash all work surface, ie. Countertops, closet shelving, built-ins, etc with a detergent that is high in phosphate. This is commonly found in many dishwashing detergent products. Check the label to make sure you or someone who will be doing the cleaning up is using the right products.
> Dispose of building debris safely. Double bag all debris in heavy plastic bags. You can contact the EPA (environmental protection agency) for information regarding safe removal of hazardous materials in your town.
> If possible, try to leave your home while work is being done. This is the safest way to ensure that no direct contact or inhalation of hazardous materials will encounter young children.
> Stop working on windy days if there are open or exposed areas of your existing home structure to ensure that the wind does not carry hazardous debris to otherwise safe areas.
> If you visit the work site during construction, make sure to wash your hands immediately after leaving and do not chew gum while you are in that area.
Congratulations on your expanding family and for making it through the renovation process. We all want the best for our children, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have gone through this process in the first place. Do your part to ensure that safety remains your top priority by following these simple procedures while your renovation is being completed. Your family’s health is an invaluable, irreplaceable component of your overall lifestyle. By following these guidelines you can ensure a healthy future for years to come.
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> by Crystal Davis