When you renovate your home, your main focuses are generally the cost and the desired results. While these are both very important factors, you should also consider the safety of your home renovation. This applies to your family, the construction crew, and even your neighbors. Some home renovations require large equipment like excavators or bulldozers. Therefore, ensuring the safety of everyone involved should be of the utmost importance.
In today’s article, we will look at a few ways that you can ensure the safety and security of your home renovation!
Shop Around for the Right Construction Company
As previously mentioned, the cost of your home renovation is always an important factor. In fact, it might be the most important factor for you, especially if you’re working with a tight budget. However, this doesn’t mean that you should automatically go with the cheapest construction crew. Instead, shop around to find a crew that strikes a balance between reasonable costs and high-quality results.
If you’re unsure who to trust or where to turn, you can always rely on various review websites. Most construction companies have some form of online presence, which means they likely have published reviews from past clients. If you still can’t find a good company based on reviews, ask your family and friends for their recommendations.
Establish Safety Protocols From the Start
Once you’ve chosen a construction company that fits your needs and budget, it’s time to dive into the details. Most construction companies will coordinate with you on your exact needs, establish a budget, and get to work. However, if you’re concerned about safety, you should talk to the foreman or construction manager about safety protocols.
You might get a surprised look and even some stubborn responses, but you should persist with your questions. For example, what safety protocols does the company follow when using large machinery? What happens in the event of an injury? Does the construction crew have the proper equipment on hand to keep the area safe, like barricade tape or construction barricades? Ask these questions to establish sound safety protocols from the start.
Manage the Safety of Your Family and Property
In all likelihood, the crew manager will have the safety of his or her construction crew under control. However, you should still oversee the construction process from start to finish to ensure that no injuries occur on your property. Most importantly, you need to know where your family members are at all times during the construction process.
For example, if the construction crew is using a bulldozer to knock down a wall, you need to make sure that all of your family members, including pets, are at a safe distance. If possible, also keep your neighbors informed of your construction project before and during the process. You may not be able to control where they are, but they should be notified if the construction crew needs to create a temporarily hazardous environment on your property.
For more information on conducting home renovations, consult our article on 3 renovations for which you will need to hire the pros!