Q: My in-laws are remodeling their kitchen. The remodel includes staining cabinets, painting walls, adding new lighting, new countertops, and fixtures. All of this will involve creating dust and adding possibly toxic fumes into the air in their home. Any ideas on keeping the IAQ (indoor air quality) at a healthy level during the renovation?
Sent in by T
Editor: Our first suggestions are the obvious ones:
• Keep doors and windows open as much as possible so that you're getting a lot of air circulation.
• Use as many zero-VOC and/or non-toxic products as possible in paints and finishes.
• Consider getting an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Check out our list of the Best Air Purifiers.
On a separate note, if your in-laws are committed to installing everything new, make sure to dispose of the old cabinets/countertops/fixtures in a responsible way. Companies like Green Demolitions kitchen and appliance donations and resells them at their Green Demolitions stores in the Northeast.
What are some other ideas?
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• For paint removal, instead of using chemical strippers (even the soy ones are nasty), try using an infrared heating element designed specifically for removing paint in a safe way. Speedheater and Silent Paint Remover are two products on the market. A heat gun is too hot and not as safe.
•For managing dust, professionals rave about tools that have vacuums attached to them. Festool, a german toolmaker, has a whole system for cutting, sanding, joining, routing and general carpentry with a sophisticated and effective dust collection system.
view George C's profile
In addition to the use of low-VOC non-toxic materials & finishes -- avoid using the HVAC system during construction or seal off all duct vents in the construction area. Additionally, the entire construction area should be sealed off from the rest of the house (use a zippered opening for access). When construction is complete the contractor should replace the furnace filter and vacuum out all the ducts if necessary. Any work that can be done outside (cutting, staining, etc) will also be helpful.
view Rachelw's profile
If possible, try to create an air separation between the remodeling and the occupied part of the house. Thick plastic sheeting held up by tension rods and taped around the edges (double it up if you can) or taped over a closed door can work. Create this separation in such a way that the traffic for the home and for the worksite are separate -- no workers on the home side, no residents walking through the remodeling to get to the home.
Try to ensure that the job site is kept clean. With less dust and dirt lying around, less of it will get kicked up. And if possible, have an exhaust fan set up to pull air out of the remodeling -- negative pressure means air is drawn out of house, through the renovation and out, and dust and dirt less likely to go against the air flow.
view Michelle of Montreal's profile