Most home renovation projects will require you to do some kind of demolition work. In fact, that may be the part of the job that you want to do — who doesn't want to bust through walls or break up tile, right? Many people think that demolition work is simple. But, however easy it may be, you can't let your guard down during the process. If demolition work isn't completed right, you could end up in a dangerous situation. So before you start ripping apart your home, check out these demo tips.
Safety Needs to Be Your Top Priority
When you're working on your house, safety should always come first, but it's especially important during the demolition process. If you aren't careful, you could electrocute yourself, be hit with a heavy object, or cut yourself on a random nail. So before you enter the area that you're renovating, you need to put on your safety gear. At the very least, you should be wearing gloves, goggles, and thick-soled shoes. If you're demolishing a large area, it's also a good idea to wear a hard hat.
Also, it's extremely important that you completely turn the power off in the room before you start demolishing it. Don't leave it on so that you can use power tools. If you need electricity for your tools or light, you need to run a long extension cord from another room that has electricity. Keep in mind, gas and water should also be turned off before you start the demo process.
Keep the Area Clean
You're more likely to get injured in a room that's filled with debris, so it's important that you keep the area that you're working in as clean as possible. Consider renting a dumpster for the duration of the project so that you can dispose of the debris as you work. It's a good idea to take as much trash out to the dumpster as possible every time you take a break. Also, cleaning up as you go could make it possible for you to rent a smaller dumpster. Because you'll be filling it more frequently, the dumpster company can empty it as needed instead of waiting until the demolition process is complete. Visit a site like http://www.espwaste.com for more information.
Know What's Behind the Wall
Even if you've turned the electric off, there's still a chance you could damage the wiring or plumbing if you blindly start demolishing a wall. So before you can knock down a large section of a wall completely, you need to find out what's behind it. To do this, create a small hole in the wall and use a flashlight to illuminate the area behind the wall so that you can see what's back there. Remember, it's not just walls that you need to look behind, you also need to look under flooring and above ceilings before you start demolishing them.
Completing demolition work yourself can save you a lot of money, but you need to be careful while you work so that you don't make any mistakes. By putting safety first and disposing of any debris throughout the duration of the project, you're less likely to make a mistake that will throw your project off course.
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