Nobody would choose to live on a construction site, particularly over Christmas, right? Well, maybe not, but if you have a major remodeling project going on at your home, you can’t simply snap your fingers and make it go away just because of the holiday season. Of course, as well as being an inconvenience, construction activities present an ideal opportunity for people to injure themselves.
When Fabgrandpa and I moved into our home in West Georgia, there was plenty to be done My husband and I thought we should have bought a ton of construction signs and hung them all around the place – of course, to inquisitive grandchildren, all that does is increase the mystique of the secret arts of hammering, drilling and sawing all around.
It’s only natural. Children are always interested in new things or unusual activities that are going on, so when Grandma’s house is being ripped apart and put together again, you can hardly blame them for wanting to see what’s happening. Of course, the down side is that construction areas are among the most high-risk environments for adults and children alike.
Know the dangers
I might joke about us putting up construction signs, but that is of course essential so that everyone is aware of what’s happening. If there are signs up, visitors are aware of the risks, and it will, at least, serve as a reminder to the parents of any younger visitors to keep a close eye on their charges.
Agree on a schedule
Any successful project needs good communication. Depending on the type and scale of work being undertaken, there will be times when the things will get noisy, and also when you will be put to greater inconvenience, for example when large pieces of equipment are in use, or when the electricity might need to be shut off.
Make sure you have a firm schedule agreed with the contractors, so that you know what they will be doing and when. Also discuss your own needs. Obviously, over the holiday season you want to be as close to normality as possible for a couple of weeks, but you might also have plans for family visits during the summer. The trick is to work around each other and coexist effectively while the work is ongoing.
Cordon off the danger area
As I suggested earlier, a “keep out” sign might be effective for adults, but it can be just too tempting for the youngsters. While the work is on hold during the holidays, the best plan is to have the construction zone completely cordoned off. Similarly, though, you need to make sure it works both ways, and you have completely construction-free areas, so that you can still live your life away from the noise and dust.
Shoes on
However careful everyone is to keep the construction hazards contained, there is always the possibility for debris to find its way into the most unexpected places. Advise everyone to keep their shoes on to avoid a festive visit to the emergency room!
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