During major renovations or arrangement in new buildings, it is recommended to carry out repair work from above: starting with the ceiling slab and completing it with decorative finishing of the floor, so as not to damage the coating in the process. However, in practice, everything is not so simple and some repairs have to be done in conditions where the floor covering has already been manufactured. In such a situation, it is extremely important to protect the finish from dust, dirt, scratches, deformation and damage.
Features, selection and use of covering film for repairs
Covering film is an indispensable material for renovation and finishing of premises. From the material in this article you will learn what it is like, what advantages and disadvantages it has, as well as what are the nuances of its calculation and selection.
Advantages and disadvantages
Covering film for repairs has many advantages. It is used when carrying out painting and plastering work, it protects already painted surfaces, and it preserves furniture. In addition, it is distinguished by:
- strength, practicality and functionality;
- heat, wind and vapor tightness;
- resistance to the effects of temperature precipitation;
- light transmission, light weight and flexibility;
- counteracting the appearance of condensation;
- inertness to harmful microflora;
- ease of use and disposal;
- low price, availability and rich assortment;
- frost resistance and light stabilization;
- possibility of use in geometrically complex places;
- resistance to rotting and ease of operation.
The material is used during repair and construction work. They cover objects that might get hit by construction dust, dirt, moisture, or mortars. The film covers windows, doorways, floors, walls, as well as furniture that cannot be removed from the room being repaired. Secure everything with sticky masking tape.
There are also options on sale with tape for painting work, along the edge of which there is adhesive tape. They are used in the renovation of city apartments and private houses.
However, along with the advantages, covering film for repairs also has disadvantages.
For example, film is not at all universal; thin varieties are not designed to handle heavy loads. In addition, if chosen incorrectly, the material cannot withstand significant mechanical loads.
Thanks to the development of the modern chemical industry, films for various purposes are sold on store shelves. Covering film for repairs is made from polyethylene granules by extrusion. Each type of polymer material has its own characteristics and is intended for a specific type of repair work.
Diffusion
This type of material is considered universal. It protects building structures from moisture and promotes wind protection. It is bought when you need to cover thermal insulation layers. If necessary, the joints of the material are connected with masking tape. Diffusion film is used to create hydro- and thermal insulation of roofs and attics in houses with gable roofs. It does not let in not only moisture, but also cold. The material is sold in rolls 1.5 m wide and 5 m long.
The structure of the diffusion film perfectly allows air, steam and gas to pass through.
Windproof
This type of polyethylene film is a multilayer material in its structure. Windproof film is used in conjunction with heat-insulating building materials when insulating structures (mineral wool, polystyrene foam). It is resistant to moisture, does not allow it to penetrate into the thermal insulation, but has the ability to allow vapor to pass out. It goes on sale in rolls.
Waterproofing
This type of covering film is used in conditions of high humidity. For example, it is indispensable in premises under construction, where there is a high risk of condensation. Waterproofing film is suitable for protecting roofs, floors and walls from moisture. With its help, they protect the facades of buildings; it can be laid between walls and foundations, as well as the base of the basement floor. The footage of one roll is 75 m2.
Reinforced polyethylene
Reinforced type covering film differs in the type of structure. It is denser, reinforced with polyethylene mesh, and is particularly durable and has high thermal insulation properties. The material does not change its shape; it is sold in rolls with a width of 2 m and a length of 20, 40 and 50 m. It is used in the construction industry. It protects construction corridors, machines, and enterprise devices. The material consists of 3 layers.
Due to its characteristics, protective reinforced covering film is often used as a temporary canopy over stored building materials.
Packaging
This type of covering film is sold in rolls of different lengths. In addition to the moisture resistance characteristic of all types, this variety is characterized by high elasticity and resistance to temperature changes. The packaging film is non-toxic and has dielectric properties. Printing of varying complexity can be applied to its surface.
The material is cheap and varied, it is used for different purposes. It does not allow moisture, acid to pass through, and is inert to alkalis and organic solvents. They can be used to package building structures, cover wood, and pallets with bricks. The material has heat-saving properties and does not transmit ultraviolet radiation.
Stretch
A distinctive property of this variety is its high elasticity. Thanks to this, it can tightly fit the wrapped objects and be fixed to them. Stretch film is used to bind identical items into a group. During transportation, it protects them from dust, dirt, water, and mechanical damage.
This variety differs in thickness and color.
Thicker varieties are designed for packing heavy loads. The color of the classic material is transparent. If you need to cover stored or transported material from prying eyes, it is covered with colored film. It is used for wrapping bricks, stones, and borders.
Construction and technical
This material is obtained by recycling polyethylene. The technical material is painted black and used as garbage bags or containers for the disposal of construction waste. The material has optimal thickness, can withstand different weights, is durable, and is sold in rolls.
Estimation of the quantity of purchased film
Most film sold in rolls or packages has a standard width of 1.5 meters. Moreover, the film is always double in this case. In order to save money, I recommend that you count on the fact that you will cut it at home and get a width of 3 meters. It is better to take a film that is thicker. It’s true that it will be more expensive, but when you cut it, it will still be acceptable for protection.
Let's do the calculation. We need to cover 26.25 square meters. For a width of 3 meters we need: 8.75 meters in length. If you take the film not in ready-made packages, but from a roll, take a little extra - it will definitely come in handy. For our case, we can take 10 meters with a margin.
But that is not all! We need to take this length 2 times. Why? This is what technology requires. So, we take 20 meters.
How to calculate the quantity?
The volume of purchased material depends on its purpose. However, you cannot rely on an approximate quantity: before purchasing, you need to measure the area of the shelter. However, everything is individual, and therefore it is often necessary to measure the length and width of the covered area. If you need to cover the furniture, measure its height, not forgetting about the allowance for measurements for joining the film for sealing with tape.
Saving in this case is not advisable: if you plan to work with cement to finish the walls, and the floor has already been laid in the room, you will need to buy film for the floor as well. At the same time, in order not to trample the corridor covering, you will have to buy covering material for it as well. You need to measure the floor area of the room itself, the corridor, and the kitchen (bathroom), if tiles have already been laid in it.
The film has different widths. It will have to be glued together. If it is necessary to cover a floor covering with an area of 4x4.3 = 17.2 m2, add to the footage the area of the corridor equal to 1.5x2.5 = 3.75 m. In addition, you will need to cover the floor of the bathroom (kitchen). You can add 5 m to this, for a total of 25.95 square meters. m or almost 26 m2.
To protect a surface of 26 m2, on average, about 9 m of covering film will be needed. This means you need to buy 10 m of dense roll material. Sometimes the technology requires purchasing double the calculated length. Moreover, you will have to buy material specifically for lining the floor. The thin variety is not suitable for protecting furniture from dust.
How to choose?
It is necessary to select a material taking into account several criteria. It is important to choose the option that will be suitable for its intended purpose. For example, products for waste disposal and replacement of roofing felt have different characteristics. One film does not replace another at all, you need to understand this. You can cover furniture, finished floors, as well as already finished areas of the room with transparent material.
In this case, there is no need to buy an elastic variety, however, the thickness should be sufficient so that the film does not tear until the end of the repair. If you need to transport furniture and building materials, it is better to buy more expensive film. An elastic covering type is suitable, which will protect objects from chips and mechanical damage.
Protective properties
The protective film is made of polyethylene using the high pressure method. It can be single-layer or multi-layer. Thickness varies from 30 to 350 microns. It is this indicator that determines its barrier function.
The beneficial qualities of polymer protection are determined by three components:
- elasticity - easily takes the shape of an object;
- adhesiveness - thanks to the adhesive layer, it sticks to the surface;
- waterproof - prevents moisture from entering the item.
The main qualities of the film are determined by its structure. Polyethylene combines crystalline and amorphous formations. This alternation makes the material elastic and resistant to mechanical damage.
Adhesiveness is the property of adhesion to a surface, achieved by applying an adhesive composition to the material. Water-based glue is used, which leaves no traces after removing the protection. The composition includes acrylic or rubber.
Thanks to water resistance, furniture and finishing materials are not exposed to moisture and dust.
How to use?
You need to use film correctly to cover furniture, floors or walls during repairs. If it is not possible to take items out of the room, buy thick film with a reserve for protection. It covers everything you need, covering it with an overlap and connecting the edges with adhesive tape. If you need to cover wooden furniture, then first cover it with a blanket, and only then wrap it with film. This will prevent accidental damage to the edges during repairs. Electronic equipment is first packed in film, sealed with tape, and then put into boxes. If possible, they are removed from the premises.
To protect doorways, they are sealed with tape and film. It is not advisable to skimp on material and use regular tape for fixation. When it peels off, the quality of the base coating often suffers. When carrying out repair work, you can protect the wallpaper from dust with a thin transparent double-type film. Rolled material can be cut to obtain a 3-meter width instead of 1.5.
Conducting a comprehensive assessment of all work
Next, you need to understand what work basically needs to be done. If, for example, during work you need to dilute cement or putty, you will periodically need to go to the bathroom to get water across the corridor. If you already have a good floor in the corridor, then it also needs to be protected. We take a pen and write down: 1.5 x 2.5 = 3.75 square meters - the area of the corridor.
The same assessment must be made in relation to other objects, for example the kitchen. Let's say we estimate that we need to cover another 5 square meters.
How to protect furniture during renovation: 5 ideas tested in practice
What covering material will be useful?
Here you will find everything you need to cover furniture, clothes and shoes, household appliances and other interior items.
You should definitely buy the following covering material:
- carton boxes;
- sheet cardboard;
- plastic film;
- polypropylene bags;
- packing tape.
Cardboard as a protective material during repairs
Covering cardboard will protect the floor covering (laminate, parquet, tiles, linoleum) during repairs. the cardboard is thick enough to prevent mechanical damage to the floor from possible falls of working tools, scratches from moving furniture, and simply protects against construction dust, dirt, paint, making it much easier to clean the room after the renovation is completed. Another use of cardboard is as a spacer between individual pieces of furniture so that they do not get chipped or otherwise damaged when stored during repairs.
What are cardboard boxes for and their advantages?
Use cardboard boxes to pack things during renovations.
You can temporarily hide in them:
- street and indoor shoes;
- kitchen utensils;
- Kids toys;
- bed and underwear;
- kitchen cabinet products;
- medicines, cosmetics, household chemicals, etc.
We offer cardboard in different sizes. They can easily be stacked on top of one another. They will reliably protect objects from deformation, chips and mechanical damage. Seal all cracks in the boxes securely with wide packing tape so that not a single speck of dust can get through. After the renovation, you will definitely appreciate this advice!
The best option for covering soft toys, pillows, blankets and other bulky items from dust and repair dirt will be polypropylene shopping bags.
Polyethylene film is a unique covering material
It will perfectly protect:
- outerwear;
- upholstered furniture, cabinets, tables and chairs;
- household appliances;
- sports and tourism equipment (skis, fishing rods, beach umbrellas);
- musical instruments, carpets and other large or unusual items that do not fit into boxes and bags.
It is enough to wrap these items in, secure with packing tape, and your items will be completely safe and clean during the repair work.
Don't skimp on film! Otherwise, you will then have to spend a lot of time and effort to clean and vacuum all the furniture. Double-glazed windows and the free floor area must also be covered with covering material for repairs - the same film.
We are market leaders and reliable partners with many years of experience in the sale of covering and packaging materials used during repair work. From us you can always buy inexpensive related products: work gloves, polypropylene bags, as well as polyethylene foam in rolls for insulation and soundproofing of floors, walls and ceilings.
Nothing teaches a person more wisdom than his own mistakes. However, when it comes to renovations in a residential area, hardly any owner has the extra resources and time to make even the smallest mistakes. Therefore, it is better to learn from the mistakes of others. Fortunately, those who have already gone through negative experiences willingly share their misadventures.
Advantages of covering film
This material is highly elastic, often completely transparent, and is based on LDPE (high-density polyethylene). It has many advantages over garden and cling films:
- easily stretched and compressed;
- tightly fits any hard or soft surface without flaws;
- the shape of the surface does not matter;
- does not require heating for a strong connection;
- this film is dustproof;
- has ideal water-repellent properties;
- excellent strength under any deformation and mechanical stress;
- Easy to attach and effortless to remove.
With such characteristics, covering films for repairs have become not only reliable protection for furniture and interior items, but also turned out to be very popular for transporting various goods on pallets - palletizing. And this is not only furniture when transporting from one house to another apartment.
Polyethylene film is:
- reliable fixation of cargo stowed in flight;
- facilitating loading and unloading operations;
- reliable protection from damage and dust;
- compact placement in containers, transport bodies and wagons;
- the ability to quickly transport and stow cargo using a forklift and other lifting mechanisms;
- optimized storage using multi-tier racks;
- prompt delivery of any cargo to the warehouse or directly to the buyer.
Inattention to detail
Remember that the little things matter. However, in order to take everything into account, you need to prepare accordingly and study the issue of finishing a specific room in the house.
Do you want even more useful and kind advice on how to better lead your life? Then immediately every day. It turns out that foil is useful not only in the kitchen.
We do not always have the opportunity to completely vacate the apartment in order to make repairs. Many people face this situation, but not everyone can find the right solution and endure this stressful period. So how can we properly prepare for the start of repairs, so that our nerve cells do not begin to be used up along with the working materials? Follow our instructions.
Decide on the scope of work and who will perform it
At the very beginning, you need to decide what kind of work you are aiming for: will it be a “small” cosmetic repair or are you in the mood for a major remodel? Will you move from room to room and do renovations gradually, or are you ready to carry out renovations by type of work and live on the construction site all the time? Who will do the work: will you do it yourself or hire professionals? In any case, the choice will always be yours.
Of course, the easiest way is to invite a professional designer, builder, finishing, electrical and plumbing specialists who will determine the strengths and weaknesses of the room. Note that this is what will directly affect the costs and deadlines, and consultation with a designer and his assistance in developing a sketch will help save time and money on rework.
Write down the plan
After you have made a choice on the type of repair and its performers, you need to write down a clear plan and schedule for the repair, which should contain a list of rooms and the work carried out in them, the cost of the work and the cost of purchasing the necessary materials.
Start repairs at the right time
The best time for renovation is spring and summer. During the spring and summer months, the heating is turned off, so it will be much easier for you to negotiate with the housing department about temporarily turning off the riser to replace radiators.
In the warm season, you can safely open the windows and constantly ventilate the room. In addition, in spring and summer the putty dries faster.
Free up space
After drawing up and approving the estimate, begin to boldly empty the rooms of furniture, lamps and unnecessary things.
The more you clean at the beginning, the less you will clean at the end.
Fabrics absorb all odors, so before starting renovations, you need to pack all things in sealed bags and take them out of the room. It is best to store clothes in vacuum bags; they take up less space and prevent dust from being absorbed into the fabric.
For wall cladding, we recommend using natural wood panels or gypsum-based decorative panels. It is extremely dangerous to use plastic panels in an apartment, as they are very fire hazardous and in the event of a fire they emit a suffocating odor that poisons the body.
The floor is done in two steps, moving furniture from one part to another.
As for finishing the ceiling, you need to choose: either you tolerate and breathe dust all the time, or, having abandoned puttying, sanding and painting the ceiling, you are ready to install a tension fabric.
The cost of such a stretch ceiling is approximately equal to the cost of work and materials for a painted ceiling, and the installation speed is only 2–3 hours (as opposed to 5–6 days for a painted one). However, it is important to understand that such film ceilings do not “breathe” and, together with plastic windows and linoleum, create a closed “non-breathing” space. Such a room needs to be ventilated frequently, but such a suspended ceiling can protect you from leaks from upper neighbors. It inflates like a bubble and can hold a volume of water up to 50 liters.
Free access to walls and ceiling
- The first thing you need to do when preparing is to free her from things as much as possible. Remove curtains, remove rugs and carpets, remove paintings from the walls. Take indoor flowers out of the room too; being in a room being renovated can be very damaging to them.
- It is better, of course, to take all household electronics out too. If this is not possible, then wrap it in film, carefully seal it with tape and put it in boxes.
- Place small furniture in other rooms of the apartment. Large furniture must be moved to the center to provide easy access to the walls and ceiling.
- If possible, it is also better to remove the chandelier, leaving only the socket with the light bulb. Or remove all removable parts so that dust and dirt do not get on them. If you can’t remove it, you’ll have to cover the chandelier. But be careful with incandescent light bulbs, they get very hot. Do not allow the light bulb to come into contact with paper or film.
How can I cover furniture during renovation work?
Repair is equivalent to a fire, because dust penetrates into all hard-to-reach places like smoke.
After repairs, it will always be difficult to clean everything, and this is not a pleasant task. To keep your apartment as clean as possible, you need to prepare in advance for the upcoming improvement of your apartment. Especially if there is no opportunity to move, and the renovation will take place one by one in each room. On the one hand, it is very convenient to do it in rooms one at a time, but on the other hand, living in such a room is very problematic. Often the situation is such that there is nowhere to move. Being close to workers is also highly desirable. Life experience shows that they do not always correctly understand the wishes of customers.
Means of protection
- wet gauze
tightly to all doorways using Velcro (picture mounts) . Its fiber perfectly absorbs construction dust. The gauze must be rinsed several times a day and reattached to the doorways. - Masking film for surface protection
. It prevents putty or clouds of paint microparticles from reaching the surface. This self-adhesive film can be removed without leaving any residue, but do not forget that all protective materials must be removed after painting, and the surfaces must be washed and cleaned of possible minor troubles. If the second coat of paint is carried over to the next day, the protective film must be reapplied. - Masking tape
. It fits tightly and does not allow paint to penetrate beyond it, thereby blocking the surface for painting. This adhesive tape is used to seal window frames, door casings and all protruding surfaces that cannot be repaired. - Polyethylene film and covering material (rags)
. During repairs, the floor is covered with film to protect it from damage. Covering material must be used to cover cabinets on all sides, appliances and even flowers. True, it is advisable to open the flowers in the evening so that they can “breathe.” - Respirator
,
gloves
and
other personal protective equipment
. During the period of painting surfaces, sawing tiles, sanding surfaces and all dusty work, apartment residents need to protect their health with similar individual means and drink as much liquid and dairy products as possible to help the body quickly remove particles of construction dust that entered the lungs during repairs.
Furniture protection technologies
Many people prefer fairly thick garden films for greenhouses , which are sold in markets and in relevant gardening stores.
a per linear meter basis , which allows you to purchase exactly as much material as you will subsequently need to solve a particular problem.
It’s worth noting right away that the great temptation to simultaneously close large areas of the apartment while renovations are underway in neighboring rooms is initially doomed to failure.
Construction dust can spread everywhere. As a result, if you try to cover the entire wall with cabinets at the same time, the solution may not be reliable. It is necessary to pay sufficient attention to each specific element.
As practice shows, it is this approach that provides the best result subsequently, since a single tear, when wrapped tightly enough, practically does not damage the furniture and does not cause extensive dust.
If you make a hole in a large canvas, gradually the construction dust will cover almost the entire contents with a thin layer.
Polyethylene film of sufficient thickness is perfect for wrapping tables and cabinets. In addition, it would be a good idea to wrap and seal upholstered furniture without fail.
Regarding the latter, you need to be as careful and attentive as possible. It is very difficult to subsequently clean such types of furniture from the smallest particles, which can remain in the fabric for a long time, air can fly up at the slightest touch and enter the lungs of households.
Methods of protection against construction dust should be designed as carefully as the repair itself. The undoubted advantage of gradually carrying out renovations is that you don’t need to transport all your belongings anywhere, nor do you need to leave the apartment yourself.
However, you will have to live in a fairly dusty environment .
Even if the doorway to the room being renovated is curtained and closed, each time it is opened, construction dust will still settle on all adjacent spaces.
Think about which items you will use most intensively, so that you can leave this option when overall wrapping the furniture.
It would be a good idea to glue a special fleecy tape to the bottom end of the door that leads to the room being renovated . If you supplement the protection with strips of plastic film that overlap in the passage, you can minimize the penetration of caustic and unpleasant construction dust.
It is worth moving all the least popular pieces of furniture to the room that is closest to renovation. At the same time, all furniture is completely wrapped, and plastic film is glued to the walls.
This will free up additional space in the remaining living areas. Of course, upholstered furniture must be protected everywhere . You will have to sit for some time on plastic film, which can be covered with a thin cloth for comfort.
Of course, by the end of the operation such fabric will be filled with dust and must either be washed or thrown away. In no case can you hope that even the thickest blankets and fabrics will protect upholstered furniture from exposure to dust.
Construction dust is hazardous to health!
Construction dust is always harmful to health. Once in the lungs, it lingers on the mucous layer of the bronchi, which can lead to inflammation or dysfunction. When dust gets into the eyes, it irritates the mucous membrane of the eye, which can cause various disturbances in the functioning of the conjunctiva. To top it off, building materials contain many chemical compounds to which the body may have an allergic reaction. This can manifest itself in the form of a rash, redness of the skin, rhinitis (runny nose), asthma. To prevent such phenomena, you should take care of your protection. Use special safety glasses and clothing that covers most of your body. Light cotton or linen clothing is worn under the overalls. To protect your respiratory tract from dust, use special lightweight construction respirators.
Video: expert opinion on house dust
If symptoms of an allergy to construction dust appear: rash, redness of the skin, itching, redness of the eyes or dryness in the eyes and mouth, difficulty breathing, cough, then you must immediately leave the repair site, call an ambulance, and describe all the symptoms. If your eyes or skin are damaged after contact with any particular substance, you should immediately rinse the affected areas with clean water.
Now let's talk about ways to get rid of construction dust.
Cardboard mining
I’ll honestly tell you how many times I’ve done repairs, but I’ve never bought cardboard! Logically, you need it for the same area as you took the film for, i.e. 26.25 square meters. Where can I get it?
- in some construction hypermarkets, cardboard packaging is thrown out of the backyard;
- You can find boxes in bicycle shops, especially in the summer, on sales days;
- In grocery hypermarkets you can ask for cardboard packaging.
If you still haven’t gotten cardboard for free, you can buy it at a construction hypermarket in the form of prefabricated cardboard boxes.
Lucky are those who have a car. In general, it’s hard to do repairs without a car, but it’s possible. If you don’t have a car, then you need to find a private owner who will agree to deliver the cardboard to your home.
Approximate repair plan
Consultation with the designer and builders.
Drawing up and approval of estimates.
Emptying the room of furniture and belongings.
Launch of the construction team.
Beginning of work. Dismantling (one day is enough for dismantling work for one room).
Electrical and plumbing installation (the most noisy, dusty and dirty work, during which the kindness and patience of neighbors are tested).
Painting works. It is quiet but very dusty during the sanding process. Plastering and puttying work can last from 1 to 10 days, depending on the task at hand (leveling along beacons, filling deep grooves, visual leveling, wallpapering, decorative plaster or painting). During the same period, ceilings are made if they are being prepared for painting.
Filling the floor can be done both before (the need for serious leveling) and after preparing the walls (if only partial adjustments are enough).
Installation or laying of flooring.
Installation of tension fabric on the ceiling.
Installation and connection of lighting fixtures, sockets/switches, decorative elements (baguettes, floor skirting boards, door/window trims, etc.).
Furniture arrangement and textile decoration.
In this article we will look at all the cases when it is necessary to protect the parquet during repairs, and also note when this can not be done. We will also consider the types of floors and parquet installation conditions under which protection is not required for certain types of repairs.
Global reshuffle
A convenient solution for owners of apartments with several rooms, especially if the renovation affects only one room. To do this, you need to find two to four physically strong assistants to take out all the contents - upholstered furniture, cabinets, cabinets, household appliances, and so on.
The only drawback is that the room in which all the furniture is stored will be non-functional during the renovation period. You will have to allocate a separate room for living, or live in another housing altogether.
Acceptable parquet floors without protection
These requirements are relevant during wet and dusty work: remove/tear off, moisturize, old wallpaper, plaster, sand, whitewash, glue wallpaper. So what should the parquet be like so that it does not have to be protected during such work?
Parquet, parquet or floorboards must be laid on the floor without any gaps. The floor must be varnished, filling the wood structure to the level of plastic, and not have any scuffs. The following varnishes have these properties: “Novomoskovsky”, “Leningradsky”, on acid, epoxy and alkyd-urethane bases.
Several necessary conditions for repairs without parquet protection. The legs of rigid-supporting structures, such as stairs, stepladders, homemade auxiliary structures, should be wrapped in rags or covered with thick rags. Upon completion of repair work, thoroughly vacuum and carry out important cleaning of the floor.
Prevention of dust formation during work
When drilling holes, chiselling walls, grouting putty and plaster, as well as when removing old layers of plaster and screed, a huge amount of dust is generated. There are several ways to reduce its spread and the amount of formation.
Dust collection during work
The best option is to always use a vacuum cleaner for construction dust, which will collect all the resulting dust. Household vacuum cleaners are not suitable for this; they will quickly fail. A specialized construction vacuum cleaner is required. Purchasing such expensive equipment can be expensive, especially for small private repairs. You can rent it or use it in another way. When drilling, place a scoop or container cut from a plastic bottle under the hole to collect debris and dust. You can lightly wet the surface, if possible, using a spray bottle.
Ventilate the room, use a spray bottle
When chipping walls using a grinder, it will no longer be possible to avoid the spread of dust in the room. So we close the doors tightly with a very wet cloth, and open the windows wide open. After work, a hand sprayer helps again. It is enough to lightly spray water throughout the room so that the main dust is nailed to the floor. In this case, cleaning up construction dust can only begin after it has settled or evaporated through the window.
Cleaning before each new stage
If there was a lot of dust, then spray water all over the floor, just lightly moisten the surface. After this, use a broom to collect all the dirt into pellets and easily remove it. It is important not to overdo it with water so that streaks do not form. It is imperative to remove dust and other contaminants after each stage of repair. At first glance, this is tedious and unnecessary, but it will ultimately save a lot of time, which will subsequently be spent on removing dust throughout the apartment.
When dismantling old wallpaper, paint or whitewash, use the wet method, that is, thoroughly wet the surface to soften the material and prevent the formation of dust when stripping off the old coating.
How to remove protection
When removing the protective layer from the floor, follow the technology. First, remove all debris from the surface of the film and vacuum it. You can wipe the film with a damp cloth. This will prevent dust and debris from getting on the decorative coating. Only after this, disconnect the tape from the baseboards and remove the layer of film, rolling it up in the process.
These recommendations will help protect decorative flooring, including expensive parquet, from all kinds of scratches and defects, even during major repairs with wet work. In addition, it will save time on general cleaning later.
How to protect parquet during different types of repairs
Redecorating
For which floors: for uncoated parquet, coated with varnish, oil, oil+wax and any impregnations. The coating must be fresh for at least 10 days.
The first thing to do is to cover the parquet with plastic film with a thickness of at least 80 microns, completely without gaps. Without moving to the walls, glue the joints and overlaps of the film with tape (not paper). Wrap the legs of rigidly supporting structures (stairs, stepladders) with rags or cover them with thick rags. Upon completion of the repair work, sweep thoroughly and, if possible, vacuum (setting the vacuum cleaner power to minimum). Remove the protective film from the floor.
Cosmetic and all electrical repairs
For the floors listed in the previous section.
Cover the parquet with plastic film with a thickness of at least 80 microns. Cover the top tightly with cardboard without gaps, seal the joints and overlaps with tape (not paper). Wrap the legs of rigidly supporting structures with rags or cover them with thick rags. Upon completion of the repair work, thoroughly sweep and vacuum (set the vacuum cleaner power to medium speed). Remove the protective film from the floor.
Major renovation
For the floors listed above.
Cover the parquet with plastic film with a thickness of at least 80 microns. Cover the top tightly without gaps or overlaps (only at the joint) with hardboard, glue the joints with tape (not paper). Wrap structures without supporting protection with rags. Do not throw heavy or sharp items on the floor. Upon completion of repair work, sweep and vacuum thoroughly. Remove the protective film from the floor.
How to prevent dust from spreading
There are a number of measures that will help fight dust and prevent it from leaving the workplace.
- First of all, it is necessary to protect each room that is involved in the repair from all the others. Even if renovations are being carried out throughout the entire apartment or house, curtains made of thick fabric or film should be hung on doorways and windows. The best solution at the moment is temporary doors. They are a plastic film with a soldered or sewn-in zipper along the entire length. They are mounted around the perimeter of the doorway or even on the windows. A wet, thick cloth does the job just as effectively, but you just have to constantly wet it for it to be effective.
Be sure to separate each room with film.
- If you plan to simply close the doors to the room, then be sure to seal the gap at the bottom with a damp cloth, at least for the duration of particularly dirty and dusty work.
- If the renovation is partial or cosmetic and a living room is involved, then all furnishings that cannot be removed from it should be properly and securely covered. Furniture is covered with construction film; it is especially important to carefully wrap upholstered furniture. For reliability, several layers of film are used. If the floor is not going to be repaired, then it is advisable to cover it completely.
- All equipment must be packed. It’s better to take it out of the room completely and even pack it up if it’s in the same apartment. The finest dust will still pass through all the protections, and due to the increased static of electrical equipment, it will settle inside the equipment.
Careful packaging of furniture is a simple but very important point.
Furniture with sharp corners (trellage, cabinets with right corners, etc.) are additionally covered with fabric, at least in places where the film will come into contact with the corners. This will prevent the film from tearing due to tension or accidental contact.
How to protect furniture from dust during renovation?
A thoughtful renovation begins with the owners taking into account all the little details.
And the matter here concerns not only the purchase of all necessary materials, coordination of plans and deadlines for the restoration and transformation of the apartment, but also the protection of elements , structures and furniture from the effects of extremely unwanted construction dust.
There is absolutely no need to explain that furniture must be covered with appropriate film. However, very few people, when addressing a specific issue, are able to choose the most effective, high-quality and inexpensive materials.
One of the key aspects often remains the question of the thickness of the coating itself. You can, for example, purchase relatively inexpensive adhesive film.
Its dimensions and dimensions are well suited for simultaneously covering almost half of the room along with furniture.
However, the thickness and structure itself, as well as frequent breaks, can make even the covering process itself extremely labor-intensive and not always successful.
If you take a film that is too thin, the deposition of a large layer of construction dust will destroy its structure, and the slightest mechanical impact will lead to a complete rupture of the coating, and, accordingly, a loss of efficiency.
If you didn't save the parquet
If you were unable to protect the parquet during repairs, the complexity of its restoration depends on the extent of the damage. Let's look at various defects that could occur during repair work.
Minor scratches on the paintwork that did not reach the wood
Restoration: carry out careful intermediate sanding of the old parquet covering, without sanding down to the wood itself. Vacuum, wet-clean the floor, treat with paint and varnish.
How and with what to protect the floor (parquet, laminate) during repairs
So, we begin to show the technology of how and with what to protect the floor during repairs.
Laying film on parquet
The first step is to cut the film to get 3 meters out of 1.5 meters width. After that, we begin to cut it and cover the parquet:
Laying cardboard over film
Very important!
Before laying down the cardboard, inspect it and remove any metal staples. Usually the cardboard is covered with them, if previously this cardboard was boxes.
When the staples have been removed and cut to fit the size of the corridor or room, we begin to lay the cardboard on top of the film:
Barrier to dust penetration
Doorways can be curtained with thick fabric or construction film. You can use old curtains or sheets for this, the main thing is that they fit in size without leaving gaps on the sides and bottom.
It is better to wet the cloth so that the damp cloth collects and absorbs settling construction dust. As the fabric dries and gets dirty, it will need to be rinsed and hung on the opening again, so it won’t be possible to nail it tightly.
The plastic film can be secured around the perimeter of the doorway by sewing a zipper along its length. It is a little easier to make such a temporary screen from two pieces of construction film, securing them overlapping. An extra 20-25 cm will be enough to cover the junction.
Having built such a simple protective structure, you can carefully exit the work area without dispersing settled dust throughout the rooms. Then you won’t have to think about how to remove construction dust in other rooms.
Wide transparent film can also be used to curtain windows. If this is not done, the smooth surface of the glass will attract everything that “dances” in the air and will become covered with a dense layer of dust. It will be impossible to sweep it away with a broom or collect it with a vacuum cleaner. The windows will have to be washed several times with plenty of water to achieve the same cleanliness and transparency.
A closed door can also act as a barrier, but then you will need to fill the gap at the bottom with a roller made of wet fabric. This should be done even in those rooms where renovations are not being done.
You can also protect the floor from dust if it is not intended to be repaired. The better and neater it is laid, the less dust will remain on it. But we must take into account that if there is high humidity during repairs, parquet and laminate flooring may suffer under the film.
Interior items that remain in the living room during work must be securely covered, wrapped, and swaddled. This applies not only to upholstered furniture, but also to cabinet furniture. Construction film will also come in handy here. The wider it is, the fewer unprotected places there will be for dust to get into. A wide film sheet will allow you to cover a large surface without joints. To be sure, you can lay it in two layers, and line the sharp corners with a soft cloth to prevent tearing.
As a result, it turns out that when preparing a room for renovation work, four main things need to be done:
- collect and remove small items and equipment from the work area;
- cover the floor;
- cover something that cannot be moved;
- curtain doorways.
But what to do with the furniture? How to protect it from dust and debris?
Freeing access to the ceiling and walls:
- First you need to clear the room of furniture as much as possible. Remove curtains, tulle, remove carpeting, remove paintings and photo frames. Plants must also be removed from the room in which the work will be carried out.
- It is also better to put the equipment in another room. If it is not possible to move it to another room, then wrap the household appliances in film, seal them with adhesive tape and put them in boxes.
- If possible, it is also better to move upholstered furniture to another room. If this is not possible, then the soft part must be moved to the center of the room so that there is access to the walls.
- The chandelier also needs to be removed. If you cannot remove it completely, then you need to remove all the parts to be removed so that dust does not settle on them. Please note that incandescent light bulbs get very hot and should never be wrapped in film.
Very interesting video with useful tips:
What can harm furniture during renovation?
If you are planning to do renovation work, then first of all you need to take care of the furniture, unless of course your plans include completely replacing it with completely new ones. Building materials contain components that will not be easy to remove from upholstered furniture.
How to remove paint from a new sofa, table top, glass table or carpet? Lime is also very difficult to wash off from any surface. And many examples can be given. If glue gets on the soft part, it can only be removed with the help of a special solvent, despite the fact that this stain will be very difficult to remove completely.
Many substances that are used during repairs - glue, paint, putty, cement - can harm your furniture. That is why it is necessary to think in advance about where the furniture will be moved, or how it can be covered.
How to cover upholstered furniture?
The best way to protect upholstered furniture is to move it to the next room. But what to do if there is only one room in the apartment, or if you can’t move the furniture out the doorway? Then you can cover it with regular film.
Each item is wrapped individually. For example - chairs, sofa, ottoman, couch, wardrobe, armchairs, chest of drawers, ottomans, bed and so on. If there are removable parts, they also need to be packaged separately. After this, it is necessary to glue the edges with tape to ensure that dust does not fall on the surface of the soft part. Lay newspapers or old wallpaper on top of the oilcloth so that all the debris falls on them. After finishing the work, you simply throw away the paper with all the garbage.
You can buy several empty polypropylene bags at the supermarket. They are very durable and easy to work with.
How to cover cabinet furniture?
If the room has a large wardrobe or built-in kitchen, then you need to immediately purchase a lot of film. The film must completely cover the furniture. The cut areas must be glued together with adhesive tape. Think in advance about the mirror that is located on the wardrobe, because one awkward movement and there is no expensive item.
Maybe the doors can be removed and moved to another room. If this is not possible, then the mirror must be sealed with bubble wrap. It must be removed as carefully as possible so that debris does not fall on the visible surface of the furniture.
An excellent material for covering furniture during repairs will be film, which is used to create greenhouses. It is not as thin as regular polyethylene.
You can also purchase reinforced film; it is much more reliable, but also more expensive. But also keep in mind that you will use this oilcloth more than once; it will also come in handy during renovations in other rooms. After the film is peeled off, it is wiped with a damp cloth and dried. Fold it and put it away, it will definitely help you out more than once.
