How to keep kids safe during a home renovation project

Home renovation projects are significant undertakings.

Some projects are simple and do not require residents to adjust much, if at all. But larger projects can take several weeks or even months, and such renovations pose a unique challenge, particularly for homeowners who have young children.

Children are curious by nature, and that curiosity can be dangerous during home renovations.

Homeowners preparing to renovate their homes can keep these safety strategies in mind to protect their children during the project.

• Let contractors know there are children in the house. Keeping kids safe can be a collective effort that involves homeowners and the contractors working in their homes.

On the day contractors arrive, remind the project leader there are kids in the house and request that he or she let staff know there will be curious youngsters around.

Contractors can seal off rooms being worked on at the start of each day, and then do so again before leaving for the night.

Many contractors have children of their own at home, so if they know youngsters are in the house they might be especially mindful of safety and less likely to leave tools or potentially harmful debris out overnight.

• Inform children certain areas are now off limits.

Parents can inform and routinely remind children that spaces being renovated are off limits until the project is complete. Explain why it’s important that everyone in the house, including adults, must respect this rule.

Of course, kids don’t always listen to Mom and Dad, so this step likely won’t guarantee kids will steer clear of sealed off areas.

But explaining to kids why they need to avoid the areas can be more effective than just telling them to avoid project spaces.

• Set a good example. It can be tempting to peak in on spaces being renovated when contractors go home for the day, but parents should know children may be watching them.

If you’re curious about the progress, ask the project manager to see a space during the day while children are at school. If it’s summertime and kids are home, you can still ask, but do so with your children so they won’t think you’re being sneaky, which will only add to their curiosity.

• Turn off electricity in rooms being renovated when contractors go home. Speak with your contractor and ask if it’s alright to turn off the power to rooms being worked on at the end of each day. If so, this can remove the risk of kids sneaking into spaces and turning on power tools at night or getting hurt while poking around exposed electrical wires.

• Hire a cleaning service once the project is complete.

Once the job is finished, hire a professional cleaning service to clean all areas that were worked on. This increases the chances that small but potentially harmful remnants, such as nails or staples, are gone before kids start using the renovated spaces.

— Metro Editorial Services