Home renovation is usually carried out to transform the outlook of your property. You want your house to look more pretty and comfortable than it has ever been. Think of your home renovation plan like a business plan that you are beginning from scratch. It has to be done properly to bring out the outcome you want.
For that to happen, you can choose to hire an architect to create a design plan for you or choose to do it yourself if you want to save money. Either way, one thing is certain: there would be wastes from all the deconstruction and renovation which are pretty hazardous to the environment.
While renovating or remodeling your home, you also need to take some steps to reduce pollution within the home. It can either be from new materials or old materials that have been in the house. Before you begin the process, ensure that residents in your neighborhood are aware that there would be renovations and as such need to expect insufficient ventilation like moisture on cold surfaces, stuffy air, or mold growth. These sorts of things need to be handled before remodeling commences. If you don’t know how, here’s how you can deal with harmful wastes during renovation.
Begin With The Design
Most people have the notion that there must be wastes factored into a building reconstruction budget with no intention of reducing it. That is why you must raise the issue with your architect and other building professionals so early decisions can be made to reduce waste even at the design stage. It is common practice for these professionals to not see that their decisions contribute to waste. Some have no idea what happens to the waste that has been generated.
But the reality is that deciding on what to do with the wastes even during the design stage with material sizes in mind would go a long way in reducing the waste. Perhaps there is a ceiling height that isn’t matching the plasterboard sheet and you finally have to end up with tiny strips that need to be cut out from a full sheet, thereby, leading to waste.
Not all materials can indeed work perfectly at their standard sizes without you having to fit them into your renovation. But having creative designs can strategically reduce the overall waste.
Collaborate With Your Builder
When you decide not to do your renovation yourself and use an architect for it instead, getting both the architect and the builder to agree on some common issues can be difficult. The repercussion now is that any errors that are now spotted after the renovation is done would not only cost more but result in wastes.
A better approach would be to demand that the architect and builder of the project work together to create a waste management plan before they proceed with the task.
Rather than allow the professionals working on the project to remain at loggerhead with each other, strictly and courteously ask that they cooperate. Also, ensure that all the stakeholders get involved in the project early enough. Have a briefing stage where everyone can come up with a strategy they agree on to minimize waste.
Make Wise Purchases
Another way to reduce the amount of waste that would be generated during your home renovation is by purchasing products that do not come with packaging and if they do, they should be recyclable. Speak with the professionals on-site to make the selections since they’re the ones to use the materials.
When quality materials are used, they last longer, thereby, reducing the amount of maintenance to be done later on. Again, choose only products from manufacturers that use very minimal packaging so that waste can be reduced. If painting is part of the renovation, organic paint is a good option. There is a big difference between packaging that’s minimal and inadequate as there can be material breaking when the packaging is insufficient.
Another option is to reuse the materials from your renovation but you would have to check that out with the professionals in charge if that is viable. Don’t forget to speak with them about using materials with recycled content.
Stick With The Designs
Wastes during a construction project are usually a result of the client making late changes to the design. This is something that is widely known in the construction industry as having massive implications on the number of wastes produced. It is because of the owners getting to change their minds after something has been built.
Having to work on reconstructing any aspect of the project because of changes in the design actually costs about 50% of what was initially spent. Not only that, there would be delays in delivery including the generation of more wastes.
Complete the early work with the design team outlined so you can be sure that is what you want and not get to change your mind. Demolishing after the work has begun can cost you more money in the long run and create more wastes.
It’s Better To Deconstruct
In renovation, you should deconstruct the building rather than demolishing it. Deconstruction is when the builders take the building apart for the purpose of recovering materials that can be recycled and reused. This way materials can be sorted on-site.
After sorting the materials, the salvaged ones can either be sold to the community or used in renovations. This would help to reduce the fees which are seldom higher for mixed waste if you decide not to use it.
Certainly, doing this means more time and the additional cost would be spent. So you need to balance the cost of deconstruction properly before doing it.
Some countries have even mandated that their government buildings undergo selective demolition such that construction wastes are sorted well. Check with your state environment department to know what guidelines are involved with construction waste.
As already explained, reducing harmful wastes during renovation can help you reduce costs. The first place you have to start with, however, is the design. Let there be unity amongst all who would be involved on what plan would there be for wastes.
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