When Mark and Patty Paulson moved into their new home in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood last year, they decided to make some changes. The couple paid workers to install an upstairs bathroom, brighten and enlarge their previously gloomy kitchen and build a sit-in bay window in their front room.
It was a big project, to be sure, one that gave the Paulsons plenty to worry about: Would the project run over budget? How many days would they have to endure construction workers tramping through their hallways? Would they lose their sanity amid the constant din of sawing and hammering?
But one worry stood above the rest: Would they be able to keep their 2-year-old daughter safe?
“She’s so curious,” Patty Paulson said of her daughter, Sara. “If it’s within reach, she’ll grab it. It doesn’t matter if it’s one of her dolls or a saw. She’ll want it.”
The Paulsons aren’t alone. According to Remodeling Magazine, some 25 million homeowners will take on remodeling projects before this year ends. Many of these folks worry about the safety of their children during these projects. After all, ladders, power saws, hammers, exposed wiring are all irresistible to curious children.
But there are steps parents can take to make sure their toddlers don’t mistake that bucket of paint for a bowl of cereal. Home-remodeling experts offer plenty of tips to keep families safe during even the biggest of projects.
As for the Paulsons? They used one sure-fire safety trick: Common sense.
“Nothing happened during our project, thankfully,” said Patty Paulson.”But we really had to keep our eyes on Sara. We didn’t let her out of our sight.”
Before work begins
Safety starts before a remodeling project even begins. Before the first day of construction, homeowners should talk with their contractors, asking them how long an average day will run, how many workers will swarm the house and what materials they’ll be using.
And homeowners should never forget to ask about clean-up procedures. Who will pack up the power tools, fold the ladders and wash down the work area when the day ends? Who will make sure that sharp objects or toxic chemicals aren’t left within reach of small fingers?
“A construction site is interesting, especially to children,” said Mike Masnio, risk manager for The Stanley Works, a tool manufacturer based in Connecticut.”You have to make sure someone is responsible for cleaning up after the day is done. Don’t just assume someone is going to do it. Make sure you know who is going to do it.”
Homeowners should select a contractor who doesn’t leave a mess behind, Masnio said, even if it means hiring someone who charges a little more. “Sometimes, the lowest bidder may be the lowest because he doesn’t pick up. You don’t want to have a ladder sitting out all night. You know a 2-year-old’s going to climb it.”
Selecting the wrong contractor can turn an average remodeling project into a nightmare. It can also turn a relatively safe project into a potentially deadly one. For this reason, remodeling experts recommend taking the time to research contractors’ backgrounds and work histories.
Homeowners should get the addresses of homes on which contractors have previously worked. They should then drive to those homes, ring the doorbells and talk to the residents, asking the owners if the contractor acted professionally, or if the workers left potentially dangerous messes behind each day.
“Just as in any industry, you have to separate the wheat from the chaff,” said Keith Heckler, owner of Acrylic Recoating Systems Inc., and a contractor with an office in nearby Hammond, Ind.
Heckler believes strongly in the power of researching contractors. He’s even written a brochure about it (“How to Hire a Contractor Without Getting Burned,” available by calling Heckler’s company at 219-464-8826.)
Homeowners should also call their local office of the Better Business Bureau. Officials there will be able to tell residents how many complaints homeowners have filed against certain contractors.
“Too many people just go with the low-bidding contractor,” said Californian Jim Walsh, author of “The Insurance Buying Guide.” “People don’t realize the risk they are taking.”
And homeowners shouldn’t stop with just talking to their contractors. They must also explain their remodeling project to their children, telling them why it’s important they resist their natural curiosity about power drills and razor blades.
“It’s no different than explaining why your kids shouldn’t be touching a hot stove,” Masnio said.
During the project
What’s the best way to make sure your entire family survives a big remodeling project? For author, home-improvement expert and Pennsylvania resident Sharon Hanby-Robie, it’s simple: “Go on vacation.”
But if you have no choice but to stay home during the work, there are things you can do to minimize the hazards.
Hanby-Robie, author of “My Name Isn’t Martha, But I Can Renovate My Home,” recommends that families create temporary residences within their homes during the biggest of remodeling projects.
Workers gutting the kitchen today? Then try living in the basement for a week. That may not sound like fun, but it can be if the family has the right attitude.
“I know one family that did this. They had a regular campout in their basement,” Hanby-Robie said.”They made a game out of it, and actually ended up living down there for a month. They had two teenage girls, and even they got into the spirit of it. And that’s one of the keys. You have to have the right attitude. Make sure you have the right personality for it. If you don’t, it’ll be a disaster, and you’ll be better off leaving during the project.”
Hanby-Robie also recommends that contractors cover their construction site with double layers of heavy plastic when they’re done working for the day. She also reminds homeowners that remodelers are working safely when they’re working wet, meaning that workers should hose down dusty areas at the end of the day. The water keeps the amount of dust to a minimum.
Another tip? Hanby-Robie says homeowners can buy or rent equipment to test their air. This is useful if workers will be scraping lead-based paint from the walls, or removing asbestos from the ceiling.
The best contractors will also agree to throw away debris at the end of every day, not just at the completion of the project, Hanby-Robie said. This is important. Some debris, like jagged pieces of wood or shards of metal, are both dangerous and irresistible to children.
“There are so many things you can do,” Hanby-Robie said.”Unfortunately, many people have no idea about how to keep things safe.”
And if you’re doing the remodeling yourself, there are even more tips for protecting your family.
For one thing, spread a plastic runner across the floor, says Hanby-Robie. This way, if you’re painting, drops spill onto the runner, which homeowners can throw away at the end of the day. This prevents resourceful infants from using their tiny fingernails to scrape paint misses off the floor and into their mouths.
Don’t forget to examine children’s toys for dust kicked up during a do-it-yourself project. Dust that coats balls, dolls and other play things will inevitably wind up in the mouths of curious tots. Hanby-Robie recommends packing up all but the most-beloved of toys during a project. Then, make sure to wash those remaining special toys every night.
And one more thing. When you’re done for the day, strip off your work clothes before walking through the rest of the house. If you don’t, those dirty clothes can spread dust and chemicals throughout the rest of the house, Hanby-Robie said. When you’ve finished the project, bag up those work clothes and toss them in the garbage.
Lead-based paint is one of the biggest safety hazards during any project. Los Angeles resident Karen Dustman, author of “The Woman’s Fix It Book,” recommends that homeowners contact their local office of the Environmental Protection Agency before working with lead-based paint. Agency officials can provide specific instructions on how to work with the potentially dangerous paint, she said.
Not sure if you have lead in your paint? Homeowners can purchase a swab test at their local paint or home-improvement store to find out, Dustman said.
“Remodeling projects are always a big pain if you can’t leave,” she said.”But if you’re staying, you have to take steps to be safe. You have to be careful.”
Safety first
Do most homeowners do enough to keep their families safe during construction projects?
The experts say we have a lot to learn.
“Most people who do their own remodeling projects have no clue about safety,” said Hanby-Robie.”Most people aren’t aware of the dangers. Most people don’t even think they might have lead in their paint.”
Masnio, from The Stanley Works, agrees.
“If they don’t have prior experience with remodeling projects, most people don’t know what to do to stay as safe as possible,” he said.”It’s like buying a house. What guides us next time is what happens during the first time.”
Experts say it’s crucial that homeowners learn safety tips. Why? More people than ever are either remodeling their homes or hiring contractors to do it, with officials from the National Association of Home Builders estimating that U.S. homeowners spent a record $121 billion on such projects in 1997.
That’s a lot of work. It’s also the potential for a lot of danger.
