{Disclosure: Our partner Hoffman Weber has a few great tips to share about protecting your family before, during, and after home renovation. As a full-service general contractor, they have years of experience in home improvement and remodeling and recommend these tips to ensure your home is both safe and healthy.}
Although looks and features motivate many remodeling projects, don’t miss the opportunity to make your family’s home safer and healthier while pursuing these goals. Also, be sure you don’t create new dangers during construction.
“Some of the scariest health and safety hazards arise when do-it-yourselfers and unqualified handymen tackle project without understanding the codes and regulations, taking proper precautions, and getting required inspections,” observed Mike Sample, general manager of Hoffman Weber Construction and star of the Hoffman Weber Home Show on MyTalk 107.1 radio.
Lead paint dust is particularly hazardous to pregnant women and young children. Before disturbing painted surfaces on a home built before 1978, test for lead or assume the paint contains lead. Lead-Safe certified contractors such as Hoffman Weber take EPA-approved precautions such as lead dust containment, disposal and thorough cleaning.
When remodeling your basement, test for cancer-causing radon gas and for mold that can cause serious respiratory illness. Radon mitigation typically involves sealing cracks and installing a quiet fan that runs continuously to draw dangerous ground gases from under the slab before they collect in the basement. Mold mitigation requires correcting moisture sources and improving ventilation. Both are easily addressed during remodeling but difficult afterwards, especially if the home lacks a sump and perimeter drains.
Smart Health and Safety Projects
For peace of mind, consider a Hoffman Weber Health & Energy Audit. In effort to make clients’ homes safer and more energy efficient, they’ve introduced new audit program which can include such services as:
- Blower door testing
- Thermal imaging
- Visual inspection
- Appliance assessment
- CO2 inspection
- Air flow inspection
- Duct blast
- REM design for efficiency
Their trained inspector will provide detailed reports on any issues and propose solutions.
Here are some other important items for your home safety list:
- Install an egress window in illegal basement bedroom.
- Clean lint from clothes dryer vent (short, smooth metal duct is best)
- Test smoke detectors when installing fresh batteries twice a year and replace units if more than 10 years old.
- Test GFCI receptacles monthly and replace those over 10 years old.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors at all bedrooms.
- Inspect deck railing, ledgers and posts for looseness and rot.
- Test sensitivity of the automatic reverse feature on garage door opener.
- Childproof low windows in high places.
- Install pressure-balanced, anti-scald shower controls and lower water heater temperature.
- Secure all firearms, ammunition and prescription medications.
Hoffman Weber’s Rooftop View
Hoffman Weber Construction are top, award-winning roofing and exteriors contractor and storm repair specialist. If hail or high winds have hit your neighborhood in the past two years, there still is time to file an insurance claim. Let Hoffman Weber do a free rooftop inspection and document damage with photos. To be safe, don’t attempt your own rooftop check: leave it to the pros.
Keep Safe During Construction
Whether you do your own home improvements or hire a contractor, keep children and pets out of the work area. Unplug and secure tools and clean up at the end of the day. Consider temporary plastic sheeting with zipper doors to control access and dust. Lastly, quit before you are exhausted. Most DIY remodeling accidents happen at the end of the day when people are tired and rushed.
