| When preparing for a home remodeling project, | | | | upper respiratory afflictions, cause headaches or |
| whether it's just having a paint contractor in or a | | | | trigger allergies. Ask your contractor what steps they |
| major kitchen remodel, we make sure to have a | | | | take to minimize the risk to avoid the creation of |
| checklist of everything that needs to get done. We | | | | these indoor pollutants and contain those that can't |
| move furniture, take down pictures, arrange our | | | | be avoided. |
| schedules to be there when the contractor | | | | While there are many steps that have been taken to |
| arrives...but what about our pets? Do they have a | | | | reduce the hazards of lead paint, if you live in an |
| safe place to go where they can stay safe and out | | | | older home (older than 1975) there is a possibility that |
| of trouble? | | | | lead paint can be a cause of concern. This is still a |
| First and foremost, it is important to remember that | | | | threat even if you'd placed lead-free coats over it. If |
| the contractor is not a babysitter for your pet(s). It | | | | you scrape, sand or heat lead paint, the lead can |
| isn't their job to make sure that the cat has water in | | | | become airborne and make it into your body or |
| its bowl or that the dog is let outside at 2p. I | | | | contaminate the soil around your home. This is a |
| suggest you find alternative residence for your pet | | | | hazard for anyone that comes into contact with it. If |
| whenever possible during your project. If a relative or | | | | lead paint may be an issue during your project, hire a |
| alternative residence isn't an option, check out pet | | | | trained inspector to test the surfaces. |
| day care. Most areas have this service available on a | | | | ***The EPA does not recommend home-use testing |
| daily or per hour basis. | | | | kits. Get the "Reducing Lead Hazards When |
| ***Your pet must be up-to-date on all of their | | | | Remodeling Your Home" brochure for suggestions |
| vaccinations and have basic "social" skills to be | | | | and tips on how to proceed.*** |
| admitted to most establishments.*** | | | | Make sure the contractor uses low or no VOC |
| Any type of design project is going to require | | | | materials whenever possible to cut down the risk of |
| "strangers" being in your home. For most pets, this is | | | | all home occupants becoming sick from breathing in |
| a cause of much stress as their primary job is to | | | | these emitted chemicals and toxins. Carpeting is one |
| protect their people and property. If your pet isn't | | | | of the largest indoor polluters of our spaces. Carpet |
| too "neurotic", introducing the workers to your pet | | | | off-gasses toxins and chemicals into the air upon |
| prior to work starting can help. This will help to | | | | installation and removal. Make sure the carpet installer |
| establish the contractor as a "friend." | | | | unrolls the carpet BEFORE it is delivered to your |
| As stated previously, if you can't find alternative care | | | | home, or at least before it is brought inside to help |
| for your pet during working hours, placing your pet in | | | | air the carpet out. Make sure the installer uses a no |
| a "safe" room away from all of the commotion will | | | | or low VOC adhesive to secure the carpeting |
| help. Construction sites, whether they are big or | | | | (although this goes for ALL flooring). Cats are more |
| small, are fraught with dangers for curious animals. | | | | susceptible to VOCs and other airbourn irritations |
| Open paint cans, nails and screws, hammers and | | | | than dogs due to their shortened upper respiratory |
| saws can all be an accident waiting to happen. A pet | | | | tracts and they should be sequestered away during |
| gate cordoning off the work area can also be helpful | | | | any painting, sanding, scraping or carpet removal |
| to keep your pet safe. | | | | installation. |
| If possible, have a separate entrance for workers to | | | | ***Paint is the second major "offender" of |
| arrive and come and go as they need. This helps to | | | | off-gassing indoor spaces.*** |
| keep the commotion at bay as tools and equipment | | | | After the work day has finished, it is vital that the |
| are being brought into the home and construction | | | | contractor secure the work area if the job isn't |
| waste being thrown out. Having a separate entrance | | | | finished. Dangerous items such as tools, ladders and |
| will also help you to keep tabs on "Sparky" the dog | | | | other hazardous materials out of family member's |
| (or Morris the cat) from escaping out into the | | | | reach at all times. Any holes in walls, floors or in the |
| neighborhood. | | | | yard should also be secured to prevent any 4-legged |
| Dr Lisa Kluskow of the Silver Spring Animal Wellness | | | | family members (or 2 legged for that matter!) from |
| Center in Glendale WI strongly suggests the use of | | | | falling in. |
| DAP for dogs and Feliway for cats to help them deal | | | | Here is a checklist to help you manage your |
| with stress. DAP stands for "Dog Appeasing | | | | remodeling project AND your companion animals |
| Pheromone" and mimics the scent given off by the | | | | during the duration of construction: |
| mother dog that keeps her puppies calm and happy. | | | | - Mist down all surfaces before sanding or scraping |
| These same "appeasement" pheromones have the | | | | areas to be painted or stained. This will help keep the |
| same calming effect on adult dogs and aren't | | | | dust from becoming airborne and you and your |
| detectable by humans. DAP takes about a week | | | | pet(s) from breathing it in. |
| before the effects are noticeable-so start using | | | | - Work outside whenever possible. This will help to |
| before your project begins. It should be noted that | | | | keep the mess to a minimum inside, and cause less |
| not all dogs will be effected by DAP as it depends on | | | | chance of your pet getting into trouble. |
| the dog and the severity of the anxiety. Feliway is a | | | | - Ventilate the space, even in winter. Even if you are |
| pheromone which works on a cat's sense of smell, | | | | doing a GREEN remodel, dust and other particles will |
| and has been proven to be so calming that peace | | | | still be a problem. Position fans so that they exhaust |
| and harmony can be restored in even multi-cat | | | | out instead of in. |
| households. (Feliway is also used to help prevent | | | | - DO run your HVAC unit when contractors are |
| spraying and litterbox usage!). Both products are | | | | sanding. Make sure to change filters as often as once |
| available as room diffusers and sprays | | | | a week to keep dust from spreading through the |
| Make sure that the workers place plastic sheeting | | | | house in prolonged projects. If your project is only a |
| and/or tarps around the work area. Plastic sheeting | | | | couple of days-change the filter once project is |
| should be hung in all doorways of rooms being | | | | finished. |
| worked on to prevent pollutants, dust and other | | | | - Be wary of rodent droppings that might be |
| debris from spreading throughout the house. Dust, | | | | exposed during demolition and can spread Hantavirus. |
| pollutants and other airborne particles can irritate any | | | | This can be deadly for pets and people. |