How to keep the builders dust under control?

[AwsomeMrsFox]

We are having some internal building work done and are struggling with the perpetual dust. I apprciate it is the nature of knocking down wall, sawing, mixing up plaster etc, but just wondering if anyone has any pearls of wisdom for keeping it to a minimum. I'm most bothered by it in the air with regards to the DC breathing it in all the time. Did you clean down surfaces everyday or is it fruitless?

[lalalonglegs]

Fruitless

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

No point. Just try and keep doors shut to those areas and different shoes etc

[tilder]

It's a nightmare. Plaster dust is very fine, hangs in the air and gets everywhere.

Do you have a garage? Could things like plaster mixing, board cutting etc be done in there?

Can try things like masking tape round doors, taking shoes off, keeping doors closed etc. Won't keep it out but might help.

You will find the dust keeps appearing for ages after. Good luck!

[PigletJohn]

hide your domestic hoover and buy a canister vac from a DIY shed, with a large pleated cartridge filter. Get some of the big paper bags to fit because they will delay clogging of the cartidge with dust (you can shake, knock or brush it off, and when fully clogged, wash it in water) and a s[are cartridge. I'd vac daily at the end of work.

Opening the windows will help, especially if you can fix the airflow to blow from clean and into dirty rooms, then out.

Try to keep the bedrooms fairly dust free; this may involve discarding dusty clothes outside and staying out until after shower and hairwash.

You can fix hanging curtains of plastic or cotton dustsheet to doorframes, it will reduce casual diffusion.

[nemno]

We've just done this. We hung and taped plastic sheeting on the staircase to block dust going downstairs. The rooms we weren't using on the same floor as the building works were sealed with sheeting and masking tape. Doors on the rooms being worked on were closed whenever possible with windows open. It has worked pretty well.

[bubbles1231]

the official dust phase of our work finished 2 weeks ago and still it settles- it's fruitless. I just go over the worst of it with babywipes.