Renovating your home can be a stressful experience at the best of times, but even more so if you are a family with young kids.
Construction zones can be potentially very dangerous, so for parents, the thought of their offspring living amongst one can be a cause for major concern. Particularly if they have curious minds and, like most kids do, tend to run around.
For this reason, homeowners may understandably feel increased anxiety about keeping their little ones safe during the renovations. But fear not! We’ve got you covered.
Outlined below is an overview of 10 tips for navigating your renovations with kids. If you take them on board during your home makeover, you will go a long way towards completing the work efficiently and without incident.
1. Do the work when kids are not around
It might not always be possible, but as much as you can, you should always try and schedule the renovation work to be done while the kids are not around.
The period when they are at daycare or school is when most of the work should be tackled. That way, you can do it within their distractions.
Generally, schools finish around 3 pm. So, to give yourself more time to continue the renovations, it is a good idea to arrange for them to have a playdate or take them out of the house to the park or shops.
2. Make sure they are supervised
Sometimes it is unavoidable that the renovations will have to be done when the kids are at home. In such circumstances, it is important to make sure they are always supervised.
Whether you take turns with your partner to do this, hire a babysitter or ask a family member to look after them is up to you. But try to ensure there is a responsible adult with them at all times. That way, you can tackle the work with the peace of mind that your children won’t be subjected to a high risk of accidents or hazards.
3. Create a child-friendly and construction-free area
While much of the house might be in a state of upheaval, you should create an area in your home that is child-friendly. This can not only keep them safe whilst the work is ongoing, but it can also serve as a place for them to play as well. Make sure you fill it with enough games, toys, electronic devices and books to ensure your children won’t want to leave it!
At the same time, you should create a construction-free zone for yourself as well. This will provide you with an area to relax, unwind and switch off after a busy day of refurbishment.
4. Securely restrict access to the renovation zone
As well as creating construction-free areas, you should securely restrict access to renovation zones where work is ongoing.
Materials like plastic sheets and Gaffar’s tape can easily enable you to do this, although a simple child safety gate can also be used if the area you are working on is much smaller.
Should your construction area be on the large side, especially if it is taking place outside, you may even need to erect some type of temporary fencing to section it off. (It is also worth checking what your obligations are with your local council).
5. Focus on one room at a time
If it is possible, you should try and focus on one room at a time. Tackling a major, multi-room renovation with children around would be very taxing and stressful. It would also be harder to live in such an environment too.
Focusing on one room at a time will minimise disruption and enable you to shut away the mess from the rest of the house as well. You will also be able to finish that room quicker as you are channelling all your efforts into it.
6. Safely store equipment, tools and hazardous materials
Through the renovation process, you should always ensure that the equipment, tools and hazardous materials you use on the project are safely stored away. This will go a long way towards ensuring accidents and injuries do not occur.
Whilst you are working, try not to leave items lying around idly, and after you have finished for the day, make sure you thoroughly clear away all debris and pick up items like nails and screws which children could easily step on or even swallow.
Additionally, if you are using and storing chemicals, you should always make sure there is sufficient ventilation on site to prevent a toxic situation from happening. Keep these safely stored away in a locked space of at least 1.5 metres in height.
7. Leave people alone to get on with the job
Whether it is yourself carrying out the work or a construction crew, it is important that all members of the household leave you or them to get on with the work.
The more interruptions and disruptions they have the more likelihood there will be delays and the potential for accidents.
If you or your partner are carrying out the work, tell your children not to disrupt them until they have finished. It is important to lead by example in this respect because if your little ones see you talking to mummy or daddy whilst they are on the job, they will want to as well.
Likewise, if you want to speak to the construction crew, it is best to schedule a time to do so to enable them to create a more efficient workflow.
8. Leave some jobs to the professionals
There are some renovations that should only be done by professionals, including removing asbestos and lead paint or plumbing and electrical work.
These tasks require a high level of skill and experience, not least because they come with a substantial risk if you don’t perform them properly.
The incorrect removal of asbestos, for instance, could lead to severe health problems, while faulty electrical wiring could result in fatalities (if not immediate than later) and the potential for fires.
Be sensible and choose to protect yourself and your family by calling in the experts.
9. Regularly dispose of your rubbish
Renovations can be very messy, especially if you have knocked down walls, stripped paint or ripped up floorboards. And then, of course, there is all that dust!
It is important to regularly keep on top of cleaning up your construction zone to make sure you are not putting yourself and your family at risk. For instance, dust inhalation can cause respiratory issues in children and babies, as well as those suffering from asthma. Additionally, materials like concrete, wood and plaster can cause injury, such as scratches that can lead to infection or even broken limbs if you trip over them. They can also breed germs or attract snakes and rats, which is the last thing you want in your home!
For this reason, it is worth hiring a team like 1300 Rubbish to get rid of the rubbish for you on a regular basis. They will even be able to do it in an eco-friendly way. Moreover, once the work is completely finished, you should also consider getting a professional cleaning company to give your home the once over.
10. Take Regular Breaks and Prioritise Health
Living in a construction zone can be very mentally and physically taxing, particularly if you are carrying out some of the work yourself. Therefore, it is important not to let it get on top of you.
It is crucial to regularly detach yourself from your home by going out of it. This could involve taking the kids to the park or the beach, going out for a swim at the local pool or going on a nice drive in the countryside.
In addition, you should also make sure you set aside some time to play with your kids (and, for that matter, partner), read a book with them or watch TV – essentially, do normal things that will make them forget they are living in a construction zone.
Lastly, don’t forget to prioritise your health, and in particular, sleep. You will have enough on your plate with the renovation project happening, so to be at your freshest, you will need to make sure you get the recommended amount of between 7 and 9 hours a day.
Final Thoughts
Renovations can be a very exciting proposition as you can add significant value to your property and make your home much more liveable. However, they don’t happen overnight and depending on their scope, can significantly disrupt your otherwise peaceful home life.
Subsequently, if you have children, it is important to make sure you are fully prepared for the impact of the renovation on your temporary day to day living arrangements. The tips outlined above should help you do that, which means you’ll be able to get the work done quicker and more smoothly without it causing too much stress for yourself or your little ones.
