renovating dust

[emmagreeny]

I am renovating my new home,(back to bricks and morter,start again)you know the stuff only insane people think is a good idea! My main problem however is the dust it's so bad that it's broken my new TV and I'm thinking of setting up mouse traps for the dust mite.how the hell do you keep it under control?

[skelly]

Dont put expensive items like t.v.'s in the rooms that are being renovated! I've worked on a number of building sites and the dust is a constant problem and extremely difficult to control. One method used on large sites (with concrete floors) is do dampen the area, i.e. hose it down with water, just enough that the floor is wet and not flooded. Then sweep up. This will stop the dust flying around the air when you sweep up. I don't know if your property will lend itself to this method. But, I'm sorry to say, you will struggle to get it dust free, and you will have to clean it, and clean it again, and clean it again, and.... you get the idea. That is why construction sites employ labourers to clean up constantly, all day every day, and they're still a mess.

[paulz]

You can hire dust extractors [HSS etc] to use in the room you're working on. Tape up all the door/window frames. When I sanded the bedroom floor I sued a couple of bin bags [overlaping] on the door opening, and on the inside hung an old duvet [dampened] this seemed to wrok fairly well. Get a good hoover, empty it regularly. Use a plant mister when you've finished. This will knock the dust down to floor level. Leave overnight, the hoover the floor, then hoover from ceiling down. Don't open any windows until you've finished, and finally wash everything down with clean water [changing it regularly]. If you are keep the bare bricks look get some sealer for the surface [builder's merchant will advise] put on as many coats as you can afford. Good luck - it'll be worth it in the end !

[emmagreeny]

Thanks Paulz and Skelly, My TV had only been in the house 7 days in its box(yes the dust was that bad!)but that is no longer a problem as the tv is in the work shop been repaired for a few weeks.The main problem is the dust from the plastering, these dust extractors are a new one on me. They would be ideal for when the staircase comes down, do you think they would work on the everyday dust that settles regardless of any work been done?

[paulz]

My step son [in the trade] says tehy're the DB's - but he's not paying to hire it. Try http://www.hss.com/FAE.asp [you may have to copy & paste the link]. Most of our local hire shops are fairly good with advice, go along and have a chat with them. With the amount your doing you'll probably get a discount. Good luck

[emmagreeny]

Thanks Paulz, great advice I shall leave for the hire shop at the speed of light!!