Protecting the Rest of the House During a Kitchen Remodel

Agree on protection before work starts

Protection should be in the written scope, not left to goodwill. Walk the house with your contractor and decide together which rooms are off-limits, which path crews will use, and where materials will be staged. Photograph existing floors and finishes along that path before work begins so there's no question later.

Dust control

• Seal the work area from the rest of the house with plastic barriers and zippered doors where the kitchen opens to other rooms.
• Cover or close HVAC returns and supplies in the work area so dust isn't pulled through the house, and ask about changing the furnace filter after dusty work.
• Ask how cutting will be handled: outside, or with dust collection inside.
• Agree on daily cleanup of the work area and the path.

Floors and finishes

• Protect hardwood and stone along the path with floor protection rated for foot traffic and rolling carts, taped so it can't slide.
• Protect stair treads, door frames and corners where appliances and cabinets will be carried.
• Cover nearby furniture or, better, move it out of adjoining rooms.
• Protect new cabinets and countertops as soon as they're installed, while later trades work around them.

These photos are from a Kitchen Kings remodel in Herndon, not McLean. Note the countertops still covered for protection in the middle photo while other work continued.

Older homes and lead-safe work

Much of McLean's original housing predates 1978. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule applies to renovation that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978, and requires lead-safe work practices by certified firms. If your home is that old, ask any contractor how they'll handle painted surfaces, cleanup and verification. Other older materials, such as some flooring, adhesives and insulation, may also need testing before demolition.

Living at home during the remodel

Most families stay home during a kitchen remodel. A full remodel typically leaves the kitchen unusable for part of the project, so set up a temporary kitchen: a refrigerator, a microwave or countertop oven, a coffee maker, and a place to wash dishes, such as a laundry sink. Keep a small set of dishes and utensils and pack the rest.

• Agree on working hours and how the crew will enter and leave.
• Keep children and pets clear of the work area.
• Know where the water and gas shutoffs are, and who to call after hours.
• Plan where deliveries and a dumpster will go, and check your HOA's rules on driveway containers.

Protecting the outside of the house

Protection doesn't stop at the front door. Deliveries of cabinets, slabs and appliances cross the driveway, walkway and entry. Plan where trucks will park, where materials will be staged, and how the lawn, landscaping and entry steps will be protected. If a dumpster is needed, confirm placement and any HOA rules before it arrives, and ask for driveway protection under it.

Questions to ask about protection

• Which rooms and paths will be protected, and with what?
• How will you keep dust from spreading through the HVAC?
• Where will materials and tools be stored overnight?
• How is the work area cleaned at the end of each day?
• What happens if something outside the kitchen is damaged?

Before the work starts: your checklist

• Empty the kitchen cabinets and nearby rooms of anything fragile.
• Photograph floors, walls and furniture along the work path.
• Set up the temporary kitchen and a dish-washing spot.
• Agree on the work path, staging area and parking.
• Share alarm codes, pet plans and any household schedules the crew should know about.

Closeout

At the end, walk the protected path and adjoining rooms as well as the kitchen. Compare against the photos you took at the start. Protection coming down should be followed by cleaning, and any damage should go on the closeout list.