Potential Dangers That Come with Home Renovations

Renovating a house is a time-consuming, money-sucking and nerve-wrecking process. Besides the usual turmoil, there are many unpleasant surprises lurking around the corner, and some of them can even be scary, unsafe or dangerous for your health. The best way to protect yourself and your home from any unfortunate outcomes is knowing what you are faced with. Here are some of the most common dangers that come with renovating a home and how to prevent them (or what to do if they happen).

Foundation concerns

Let’s start from the biggest problem you can face. The condition of your foundation will affect the success of the entire renovation, but also the safety of your home in the future. The best way to avoid this is to examine the foundation before you even begin thinking about remodeling. This is done by an expert engineer who can tell you the shape of the foundation and how much more weight it can take. If you find out that your foundation is unsafe later in renovation, it might be too late because it will already create cracks in your walls or worse.

Release of lead or asbestos

Was your house built before 1978? Then its construction material probably contains lead or asbestos. The popcorn ceiling is also an indicator of asbestos. This is typical for old houses across the globe, including in the U.S., Australia, and Europe. Even small renovation projects that require damaging the walls, ceilings, or floors carry the risk of inhaling asbestos or lead released into the air which can be very dangerous for your health. To prevent that, make sure you wear a protective mask even for the least invasive projects.

Electrical issues

Another problem that often appears in older houses is faulty electrical installation. When you are looking at closing in a carport, changing over your patio to a custom sunroom, or moving your kitchen to another location in your home, you will need to be sure the wiring is done properly (especially in the rooms that have been transitioned from an outdoor space to an indoor space). There are several ways faulty electrical installation manifests itself, including short circuits, recessed electrical boxes, unsecured wiring, improper wiring size or length, unprotected cables, lack of a cable connector, lack of grounding, or an electric system that is not in accordance with the National Electrical Code. The best way to deal with these problems is to leave the electrical work to professionals.

Plumbing problems

Plumbing is something that needs to be checked regardless of the date of construction of your home. However, it is especially important to keep an eye on when remodeling an older house. A situation that is typical for Australia is that owners of a house built before the 1960s have replaced some of their pipes, but not all of them. As a result, the combination of the new pipes and the old galvanized pipes leads to corrosion and clogs. For any experienced Melbourne based plumber, this is the first problem to check. Dated and leaky pipes are always the following suspects.

Pests and other nasty creatures

House pests, with their region-specific varieties and unique challenges, can permeate your living space, ranging from the merely bothersome to the potentially dangerous, such as rodents and cockroaches prevalent in the U.S. Encounters with these unwelcome guests, perhaps during home maintenance tasks like wall demolition or can light adjustment, can expose you to unsettling experiences, or even potential bites. While donning full-coverage clothing may offer a degree of protection, it sidesteps the root problem. This underscores the vital role of residential pest control: when pests loom, promptly calling professionals isn’t just about elimination. It’s about strategically safeguarding your home against future infestations, ensuring your dwelling and peace of mind remain undisturbed.

Exposure to VOC

When remodeling, you should pay attention to the composition of the products you are purchasing, especially when it comes to paint, finishes and carpets. Some of them might contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) which can cause serious damage to your health when inhaled. Also, even if you buy VOC-free paints, stripping down old layers of paint which might contain VOC can release these dangerous toxins into the air. Protective masks, low-VOC products and natural ventilation can help you remain safe while renovating.

Additionally, scrutinize the label and ask questions about the ingredients and raw materials when buying building supplies, from the metal deck railing system and floor panels to the paint and polish. You want to make sure that you’re using products that don’t pose health and safety risks for people, pets, and the environment.

Being aware of the potential dangers of remodeling is just a step away from knowing how to protect yourself and your family from “renovation side-effects”.

About the Author:

Will Sandford is a Sydney-based wood architect, blogger, and contributor to interior design and ecology blogs. Besides that, he is also interested in home improvement combined with green technology. In his spare time, Will enjoys surfing and rock climbing. Connect with him on Twitter.