If you are keen on protecting yourself against COVID-19, which you should, then you must engage in safe practices in and around your home, which might mean you need to skip the renovations.
Your safety precautions should start at home before you worry about public gatherings and other Corona-prone areas. Some of the ways of remaining vigilant at home include going slow on social visits, ensuring that you have enough water and towels for optimal hygiene, and ensuring that your home is warm at all times.
Here are 5 reasons why you should skip the renovations:
1. You probably don’t have the time or place to stay
Renovations can take a long time depending on the extent of the intended remodeling. Assuming that your planned renovation takes 6 months, are you ready to spend all that time worrying about renovations or do you want to take care of your health first? Also, if you have young kids, you may want to keep them home throughout this pandemic. That won’t be possible if a renovation project disrupts your routine and your life as a whole.
If you are planning a major home remodeling and need to take care of your appliances, unassembled cabinets or other kitchen supplies you may have to consider relocating during the remodel- perhaps live in a hotel or any other temporary housing of your choice. Note that hotel rooms are a great concern during this outbreak due to their vulnerability to cold and flu viruses. You can never be too sure that the room you choose to stay in isn’t harbored by the Covid-19 virus. If it were any other time, you’d easily move in with family and friends but now with the heightened corona fears, not many people would want your family to crowd their home. It would really add to complications and trying to social distance, which is another reason to just skip the renovations.
2. You should be wary of hazardous materials
Health experts have told us that people with underlying health issues are at a higher risk of Corona, especially those living with heart conditions, diabetes, or lung problems. Even if you don’t suffer from any of those, your immunity can be greatly jeopardized upon inhaling asbestos and other hazardous substances that are found in some building materials. These substances can reside in your newly installed ceiling, flooring, or even roofing.
House renovation also means that dust gets everywhere. That is bad news if you have allergies. Inhaling too much dust can also affect your respiratory system, leaving you susceptible to common cold, lowered immunity, and increased vulnerability to Covid-19. It’s best to just skip the renovations until you can ensure you won’t be dragging covid-19 into your home on building materials.
3. You need to go slow on your expenditure
Maybe you have a budget already, but renovations often cost more than initially anticipated. You might want to put all money-draining projects on hold until this virus is contained. You never know when you are going to need the money, especially now that many insurance providers are reluctant to cover Covid-19 victims.
Recent reports indicate that the uninsured and underinsured corona victims are racking up thousands of dollars in medical costs in the US. As much as there is a mandatory U.S. government quarantine for people exhibiting corona-like systems, you cannot count on the government to protect you fully from the virus. You need a back-up plan of your own, which is another reason to just skip the renovations for now.
4. The process can leave you vulnerable
Not all siding installations go as originally intended. Proper siding replacement will keep your family safe from flu, but poorly done siding can be the genesis of corona infection in your home. The deadly Covid-19 is just like flu- it thrives in cool and dry air. The last thing you want, therefore, is insufficient insulation in your home during the renovation process. Unless the siding isn’t keeping the temperatures inside your home at comfortable levels anymore, you don’t need to replace it now.
Siding replacement aside, renovation means that you might have to live in a house without a heating system or internal doors. You might also be knocking down a few walls. All these changes mean that your home will be a challenging sleeping environment. Add to that the possibility of having to interfere with your plumbing and water supply during the renovation. That is the last thing you want when health experts are advising people to wash their hands on a regular basis. It’s not worth the risk! Just skip the renovations for now.
5. Crowding
The builders will be at your house almost every day, which technically makes them a part of your family. Most governments of the world have banned social gatherings as a way of mitigating the spread of covid-19. If you are a family of more than three, you already are a big social gathering. You don’t want to add to that number by having 5 contractors living on site.
Conclusion
Public health experts advise people to clean and disinfect their hands and high-traffic surfaces daily. Remodeling increases the number of high-touch surfaces within common areas in your home. There are more touches on doorknobs, counters, sinks, light switches, and toilets, among other surfaces when you have renovators at your place. For your safety and your loved ones’ health, it is best that you skip the renovations until the covid-19 pandemic is contained.
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