Any tips on dustproofing house when builders are in?

[PhoebeLaura]

We are having a kitchen extension done early next year and I will have to leave the house with the kids for 8 weeks of it. DH will stay in house during the week so one room will need to remain accessible but the others can be sealed off.

It sounds stupid but I'm not sure what to do to prevent dust getting on everything whilst we are gone. Can I just throw dust sheets over everything or should I tape the rooms up too? Sellotape, masking tape, parcel tape...?? And what do I do about carpets? Any tips?

My very house proud friend had a kitchen extension done a few years ago. my Dad did the plans and the main discussion with the builder
was how to minimize the dirt!
The house was divided into dirty and clean areas and there was to be no cross-contamination, ie no crossing from dirty to clean. the builder used his own bathroom......he only lived a couple of doors away.
Thick polythene was taped between the areas and doorways taped with heavy duty tape.
this would mean that husband only uses front door and builders only use the back. no taking stuff through the house.
I was amazed tha this actually worked. Friend is a theatre nurse and builder very keen to please her, so that might have had something to do with it.
sill you be making site visits?
I would never do this away from site if I wanted to be sure that I got what I wanted.

YEs seal off the rooms that do not have to be used. I would put dust sheets over the furniture AND seal off the doors with plastic and use masking tape. Carpets you need thick heavy duty plastic do a thin layer of plastic underneath that you can tape up skirting boards then the heavy duty layer on the top. Also if it is going to be a 'well walked' bit get one of those cheap and tacky plastic mats on the top. When finished get a cleaning company in to do a deep clean ......

We had a kitchen extension done a couple of years ago. Right in the middle of the time the builders were with us I had DC3. The dust was fine. The builders put plastic sheeting up and sealed it off as best they can. But honestly I was happy enough to live there with a newborn and it was OK!

YYY to everything Rosa said.

The dust is terible. Hide your vac, if the builders use it it will be clogged and damaged by the fine abrasive dust.

They ought to have their own, but you can buy a wet-and-dry Aquavac/Goblin/Stanley or similar if you want as they stand up to builders dust and rubble. Get some of the disposable bags as the filter will get clogged otherwise and you will have to brush it clean. They are very noisy. Buy a pack of dust masks for yourself (get the ones with a valve). If you get a cough the dust will not help.

Put all your clothes and other belongings in clear plastic bags, even if they are in a wardrobe in another room. Put a washable dustsheet over your bed each day. Wrap your computer, TV, HiFi and other electronic stuff in plastic as it can be irretrievably damaged by builders dust.

You can get corrugated plastic flooring protectors in big boards that yopu can tape down until the work is finished and cleaned up.

If you get a cheap cleaner then the guarantee will last at least until the work is finished.

vac

dust masks

dust sheets but read the reviews

a better vac

I use a Goblin Aquavac but they seem to have been discontinued.

Blimey either my builders were very tidy or I have very low standards! LOL

Thanks everyone - some great tips.

Them builders aren't getting anywhere near my Meile vac so I will have to hide it. Will need to check that they have one. I will be doing site visits to keep an eye on things but still need to prevent as much dust as possible.

Good tip about clothes and electrical items, I wouldn't have thought about wrapping them....

Blimey from me as well - we are right at the end of having an extension built and although it has been dusty and I have done a lot of extra cleaning I haven't taken any of the above precautions and nothing has become disgusting or ruined.

We've been living in the house throughout (10 weeks) and it has been manageable though I will be very glad when it is finished!

Wherever else you do, make sure you budget for and schedule a professional top -to- bottom professional clean. It'll keep you sane just knowing that it'll all be ok in the end :)

Sorry for the twice professional. Really wanted to make my point...