Keeping your home safe for children and pets during building work

Renovating your home can be a stressful venture and the long list of jobs can sometimes become overwhelming. However, it’s important that no matter how busy you are with the build that you don’t forget to protect the safety of your children or pets. Both animals and your little ones can become agitated when it comes to change in routine, loud noises, dusty air or a sense of intrusion in the home. So protect your peace of mind by taking the time to follow these tips to keep your home safe for children and pets during building work.

Establish good communication

Children need to have ground rules established in order to understand what’s happening in the house. Have a simple conversation with your kids and tell them why it’s important they stay out of certain areas of the home during the build. This might also be a good time to create rules such as ‘no running’. Allow your children to ask you any questions about the upcoming project, and do your best to answer them. Be sure to maintain this level of communication throughout the build to keep your kids safe and informed.

Block off unsafe areas

This applies to both children and animals; keep doors locked or blocked that lead to unsafe areas where renovation or construction work is being carried out.

Create temporary spaces

A renovation may render certain rooms of your house useless or uninhabitable. However, your family still needs to carry on with their daily lives and be able to function. Therefore it’s important that temporary spaces are created, and all appropriate furniture is moved into the new space, ready to be used as normal. For your pets, it might be traumatic to have their special space disrupted, so it’s important to try and recreate their cosy corners as faithfully as possible elsewhere in the house, complete with blanket, bed and toys.

Clear the air

During building work the air can become congested with dust, hazardous fumes from glues or adhesives, and particles from drywall and plaster. These released components can be damaging to health and prolonged exposure can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness. Therefore it’s important to encourage a steady flow of fresh air into the home for the benefit of all the family. Because of this factor, it might be best to schedule your project for a warmer time of year when windows can be comfortably left open. Also try and select paints and varnishes that are VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) free to lessen the chance of health problems developing.

Calm your pets

Animals can become agitated when faced with construction work. Loud noises, unfamiliar people and a change of routine can all contribute towards heightened anxiety in your pet, so it’s important you familiarise yourself with some techniques to calm them down and keep them relaxed. Exercising your pet is a simple trick to wear them out and distract them from the build. Other distraction techniques could include putting the TV on loud to drown out the banging, or playing games with your animal to keep them occupied. And always try and remember to maintain your pet’s schedule despite the chaos of construction; familiarity will help them to feel more relaxed.

Choose specialists you can trust  

Handing over your home to strangers is a big ask, but one that should be stress-free if you choose a company you can trust. Do your research and make enquiries, and remember; the safety of your family and pets should be number one priority.

Here at AKB Loft Conversions, we understand the need to keep your family safe and sound during construction work. Our family run business offers excellent customer service and the highest quality conversions and extensions across the Leeds area. For your free quote, get in touch with our helpful team today.