Whether you’ve decided it’s time to paint the living room, or remove some of the kitchen cabinet doors to sand them down and repaint them, you don’t want to damage what’s already there. Paint on a floor or carpet is tough to get out afterward, and wood chips can get caught under the skin if you’re not careful too.
Protecting your home and yourself along with it while making some renovations or improvements needs a little planning of its own. That is what this article is all about.
Protection When Painting Walls
When you’re repainting the walls because they’ve become too shabby, you’ll need to think about how to protect yourself and the surrounding area.
We’d recommend putting down heavy duty flooring paper. The Trimaco X-Paper product is thicker than the paper contractors’ use and protects the floors from accidental paint spills. Because it’s more durable, you’ll wear through a roll of it less quickly making it a good investment.
If you’ll be using a paint sprayer for an even finish, you’ll need a painter’s mask to protect from the fumes getting into your lungs.
Cover up any nearby furniture with cotton dust sheets if you’re unable to remove them to another room or into temporary storage.
Avoid Transferring Dirt, Debris or Moisture Everywhere
You’d be amazed how messy your home gets when you start a renovation or decorating project. Even if you’re taking it one room at a time, it’s very easy to end up with plaster dust, wood chippings and paint scattered around the house.
If you’re working in one room where there’s going to be considerable dirt and debris flying around, position dirt trap mats at the doorways to capture it. Wear overalls and strip it off before exiting the room to avoid bits of debris dropping randomly off the overalls as you walk around your home.
Study Multiple Techniques Before Proceeding
Regardless of what renovations and decoration you’re planning on, study multiple approaches to getting it done. There’s not necessarily a right way, so research by reading how-to guides and viewing some YouTube videos to get a better idea of what you’re facing.
Doing this will suggest the best techniques to follow. Also, perhaps, more importantly, it should highlight what not to do! The latter information often is what saves the day by not making a crucial error right at the beginning.
Go Slow and Steady
While you may want to get a mini project completed on a weekend, rushing through a job is likely to create more problems than it solves. You want to get everything done right. Speeding up often requires cutting corners to achieve your goal of completing within a certain timeframe.
It’s much better to allow enough time to complete the renovation or home improvement project but appreciate that it could take longer. Certainly, if you’ve little or any previous experience with the tasks required to complete the project, judging how long it will take you is likely to be wide of the margin.
Getting tasks done right at your own pace and protecting yourself as well as your home during any home project are the most important things. You’ll be living with the fruits of your labor for years to come. Stay safe and don’t rush.
