Remodeling can be a cluttered and dusty operation. Dust from sanding drywall or flooring, spills from spackling or paint, or dirty work boots will make a mess in your flooring and staircase. Do not rely upon your contractor to look after the remainder of the house. Before beginning any job, protect your flooring and staircase.
Vacuum and dust hardwood, tile and vinyl flooring. This will remove grit that can get ground by the layers on top into flooring.
Cover that will get traffic or are vulnerable using 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheets to dust. Overlap the edges and tape everything down with duct tape. Turn a foot or so of this plastic up the baseboard or walls and tape into position with painter’s tape.
Lay sheets of half-inch foam board insulation on top of the plastic over hardwood flooring in almost any area that will get construction traffic. Put another layer of plastic and tape it into position with tape.
Lay sheets of paper over the covering carpeting in traffic areas. Make certain that the kraft paper overlaps the seams from the plasticsheeting. Tape the paper along the edges to keep it from ripping easily.
Place masking tape in a pattern on areas covered only. This will provide some traction on the plastic that is slippery. Ensure that any areas on stairs that aren’t covered with paper have masking tape for slip resistance.
Lay down rubber-backed runners in high-traffic areas between the work area and the front doorway and/or garage door.