Reducing Remodeling Dust

By Robert Robillard on Dealing With Dust

Image: myco-tek.net

Remodeling Dust

Construction dust can wreak havoc on a home and one’s lungs. It seems that no matter how careful we are that fine remodeling dust seems to find its way deep into the farthest parts of the house.

If you’re planning an extensive, long term remodeling project consider taking steps on reducing remodeling dust and preparing a dust-containment system.

Dust containment falls into two general categories:

  1. Protecting floors
  2. Confining dust to the work area

    No matter which phase of remodeling you’re in – there’s DUST!

Confining dust to the work area is often where contractors are penny wise and pound foolish.  Time spent here is time and money saved later during clean up or worse paying someone else to clean an oriental rug!

Floor Protection

Hardwood floors:

For long term remodels or where heavy foot traffic and construction is expected as well as for protection against falling tools cut sheets of 1/8-in. hardboard to fit the room and duct-tape them together at the seams. Also tape around the perimeter with blue masking tape so grit can’t get underneath the hardboard and scratch the floor. Homosote also works well.

Protecting stairs is tricky because you don’t want to use anything that will cause a slip or trip.  Rosin paper is a good choice for wood stairs because you can crease it over the edge of the tread and tape it securely around the entire perimeter.  Taping separate sheets to the risers.

Carpeted Stairs:

For carpeted stairs, use a long, narrow drop cloth (called a runner). Secure the runner by driving small nails right through the carpet and into the treads.

On smaller jobs with less traffic anticipated the floor can be covered with Rosin paper, taping the edges and seams. Rosin paper does not protect the floors from impact but will prevent scratches and protect from spills.

There are also commercially available films that can be applied to either carpet or hardwood or tile flooring.

Carpeting :

Reducing remodeling dust on carpets can be tricky.   One way to approach carpeting that will be saved is to cover the carpet with 6 mil plastic and hardboard and homosote.

Elevators:

Most buildings that have nice elevators also have service elevators. If not, the building management will often wrap the elevator with moving blankets or other protections for you. This requires advance notice and planning.

Doorway Trim & Doors:

Areas that will have a lot of foot traffic and activity like lugging big equipment through may need protection measures.

Use cardboard to wrap door jambs and cover wall corners, or even shield large sections of wall along main pathways and baseboards. To make sure the cardboard stays in place, crease it thoroughly to fit corners and don’t be stingy with the masking tape.

Doors can take a beating during remodeling too.  The best protection is to remove them from the work zone. If removing a door isn’t practical, clad it with cardboard.

Dust Containment for extended projects

Doorways:

Before the project starts, always designate one doorway as the entry and exit to the work area.  To seal up the other doorways, consider creating a zippered door. Use 6-mil poly, a $ 20.00 Protective Products zipper and blue masking tape.

Blue tape – double wide the walls surrounding the doorway. Then Duct tape the 6 mil plastic to the blue tape. This blue tape protects the wall surface / paint from peeling when the tape is removed.

Once the plastic is installed tape the zipper to the plastic and as your open the zipper cut the plastic between the zippers with a utility knife – VIOLA – your done!

Image: RD.com

Depressurize the Room:

Depressurizing a room can assist in reducing remodeling dust.  Choose a window at the far end of the work area and mount a window fan there, blowing outside. Seal around the fan and window frame with cardboard, 6-mil poly, then it to the sides of the fan to create a good seal.
Run this fan all day long. This draws air into the work area and keeps dust from drifting to other areas of the house.

Image: RD.com

HVAC System:

If ducts are part of your heating-and-cooling system, make sure it doesn’t run during construction, if possible, or divert air away from the work area.
Cover any registers in the work area with plastic or Kraft paper and tape. Consider advising the homeowners to replace filters weekly during the project.

Cut & Sand Outside:

Once the job is under way, the main source of dust comes from cutting wood. Cut outside whenever possible, or attach a vacuum to the tools inside. A shop vac can solve most of these issues. Some Vacs come with a switch that power on the vacuum when the tool powers on and keeps the vacuum on for a few seconds after the tool is shut off – to clear the hose of dust.


Sweep and Vacuum:

Sweep several times a day and at the end of the day. Be thorough.

Before using a shop vacuum, clean it out and brush off the filters. Consider venting the exhaust port of the vacuum outside by running a second hose out the window – this prevents fine dust to be thrown out the exhaust port.

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service:

Factor in a few hours of cleaning to be done at the end of the project. Hire someone to come in and do that for you. It’s great for customer service and perceived value!

Over the years I have developed strategies and researched the BEST methods to control remodeling dust.

 

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About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

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