How to Remodel With Children Around

Let’s face it, any kitchen remodelling project can be extra stressful with your children around. It’s going to take time and planning, but it doesn’t have to be stressful, and there are ways to complete a project without too much hassle. Contact Showcase Kitchens today with any questions on how to protect – or distract – your loved ones during a kitchen remodel.

Safety is our number one priority, and keeping kids out of harm’s way is key, but it can be a challenge. Children are curious by nature, and having the kitchen, a common area and the soul of your household, disrupted by something new and interesting is going to be of great interest to them. In today’s blog, we’re offering our top tips on how to keep them safe throughout your remodeling project.

Change Kitchen Use Habits

One of the most difficult things for children to get used to during a kitchen remodel is new rules on how or when they can use the kitchen. This is especially true because it is a space that they use everyday. Their first memories may even revolve around the kitchen.

Setting up another area such as the garage or an extra room with a refrigerator and microwave for a temporary period can divert normal traffic and keep them away from the kitchen during the remodel. Depending on your children’s age, they may be more willing to embrace the change if they recognize familiar items that they use daily.

Protect the Air

A remodeling project can kick dust and particulates into the air, triggering allergies or asthma in your loved ones. Protecting the air in your household can be accomplished by hanging plastic sheeting, using disposable drop cloths, and even vacuuming horizontal surfaces with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. Not only does this protect the air that is circulating in your household, but it also protects your possessions.

Besides this, your children could be sensitive to the materials and chemicals that are used during the project, such as paints and primers. In this case, it might be best to vacate the house by staying with friends, staying at a hotel, or even taking a short vacation.

Keep Tools out of Reach

Your children’s toys probably have bright colors, make interesting noises, and flash with colorful lights. Consider how the average power tool looks in comparison. Make sure that any power tools are not left out overnight or even plugged in with kids are nearby. You could even take the batteries out of cordless tools and move them out of reach to make sure your kids can’t or won’t play with them.

Keeping track of tools can be a challenge, but with the proper attention and awareness, you can stay organized and one step ahead. For instance, designate one area as the tool storage space, and place all tools when they aren’t being used. Who knows when a child may wander into the workspace? If the tools are centralized, it will be easier to keep them away from small hands.

Avoid the Path of Work

Believe it or not, children can be a danger to the workers involved in your remodeling project, so it’s important for both your team and your family to be conscious and aware of each other. If workers are carrying in cabinets or a countertop and a child gets in their path, the results could be disastrous, but these dangerous situations are completely preventable. The last thing you want is to have a child hurt, a worker injured, and a crucial piece of your kitchen remodel damaged, so try to make clear rules on where everyone can be at all times.

Store Waste

Any remodel project produces waste, and the last thing you want is your child stepping on a nail. That’s why it is important to keep hazards such as sharp metal objects, chemical containers, and other waste out of reach and out of sight. Even a small amount of a substance can be harmful to a child, so preventing access, even to empty containers, is a must. If you have to have a trash pile, cordon it off in a less traveled area.

Your kitchen is often the heart and soul of your home. With nearly a century of kitchen remodeling experience, Showcase Kitchens can ensure your kitchen remodel is done safely, efficiently, and on time with your children’s well-being in mind. Contact us today to discuss your next project!