When you’re remodeling a kitchen, you don’t just want to think about how the work will get done, the time it will take and all that, but you also want to figure out how to get everything done safely. This is why all kitchen remodeling companies consider safety a priority in remodels and renovations. Here are all the safety tips you need to know.
Remove Unnecessary Stuff To Create Space
First things first, you want to create space for an easy kitchen remodel. If there is anything in the kitchen that isn’t a part of the kitchen remodel and you want to get it removed to create more space and protect said thing, then you have to do it. For instance, if the refrigerator or the stove top is not part of the remodel, and it is just hogging up necessary space required to complete the kitchen remodel, then you can get it removed – that is, if it is easily portable.
Not everyone has a cooktop that can be moved easily since it is flush with the connections and the ground, and moving it is just too complicated, but if something is easily removable, then remove it. This also goes for utensils, shelves, things inside cabinets, and cooking pots. You want to remove everything from the kitchen so that work doesn’t only get easier, but the risk of these very things becoming a hazard is minimized too.
Make An Entry & Exit Point
When your kitchen is going through an extensive remodel, it won’t look like the same space in which you whip up food. It might look completely demolished and you won’t be able to tell the entry from the exit.
Well, in this case, you want to ensure that you’re making an entry and exit point for the kitchen. This not only provides a clean and hurdle-free path for the people coming in and out of the kitchen, but it also makes general entry and exit in the kitchen easy and that is what you want at the end of the day.
Safety Gear Is Key
If you’re getting your kitchen remodeled by a contractor or even if you’re doing some minor handy work by yourself, you need to take care of the fact that protective gear is a priority. It is there to protect you and your body from any incoming falling object.
So, whenever you or the contractor is working on your kitchen, make sure that you’re decked out in your protective gear. This involves steel-toed boots, a helmet and overalls to protect your clothes from any debris and smudges. You will thank yourself for doing this.
Sufficient Lighting
Proper lighting isn’t just necessary for the kitchen remodel process itself. It is also necessary during the remodeling process. How can you expect the contractor and workers to work efficiently in the kitchen when they literally can’t see anything?
Well, this is why you want to ensure that you are installing proper work lights in the kitchen while the work is being done. You don’t want this to be neglected, because the work can literally crumble and take a turn for the worse if you don’t have any lighting in the kitchen.
Beware Of Electric Shocks
This is also something that can happen more often than not during work in the kitchen. Your kitchen can have a web of electrical connections and when renovations are being done, it is common to come across these electrical connections, but safety is paramount to avoid getting zapped.
So, you want to be aware of the electrical connections and ensure that you are playing it safe – literally. The last thing you need is getting a zappy welcome from loose wires and that is not a fun way to come back to your senses. This is why DIY kitchen remodels can be risky and you should consider hiring a kitchen remodeler Bowie.
Clogged Drain
Your kitchen might even have a couple of drains too and that is something that you have to deal with carefully too. Sometimes, you might not realize and something like a small piece of a material or any other sizable thing can fall into the drain and clog it.
This is why you want to work carefully when it comes to drains and you want to ensure that you’re keeping them covered temporarily, just so nothing falls into the drain hole and causes more problems for you in the long run.
Dealing With Gas Leakage
This is really common if you have a gas cooktop and you are removing it and a pipe leaks or cracks. Gas leakage can be really dangerous for a number of reasons. Firstly, and obviously, it can be a fire hazard and even the presence of a flammable substance can spark a flame and the fire can get out of control.
Next, it can also be a poisoning hazard and if there are no ventilation or windows in the remodeled kitchen, then gas can fill up the space and cause suffocation and other respiratory issues. So, you definitely don’t want that to happen and once you smell a gas-like sweet odor, then you need to deal with it immediately.
Work With Proper Equipment
This is also a very important thing to look at when you’re concerned about safety during a kitchen remodel. If you are building a makeshift ladder with a chair, table, and other things, then it will be an accident waiting to happen.
Instead, you want to use a step ladder and use it to reach impossibly high places and do the work from there. It is never a good idea to use DIY equipment because it might just end up doing more bad than good.
Fire Hazards
It is a kitchen, so a fire hazard will be omnipresent. Whether it be gas leakage, an electric spark, or anything that is prone to leading to a fire or even a spark, you want to put a lid on it. You want to double and triple-check all of the possible fire hazards and make sure that they don’t pose a threat in any way.
You will end up saving your kitchen from a huge disaster. Also, keep a fire extinguisher on hand just in case, so that you can control the fire before it spreads.
Spills & Spoilage
You want to remove any traces of liquid or spills on the floor too. You don’t want there to be any spills, because if there are, then it will turn into a tripping hazard and that is not what you want.
So, whether it be water or even harmful chemicals, you want to remove any and every spill and even remove the bottles of liquid from the kitchen for the time being. Some liquids and harsh cleaning agents can be flammable and toxic, and that is not good in the kitchen at all.
Conclusion
A successful kitchen remodel is one in which you can get everything done, but don’t jeopardize yours or anyone’s safety in the process. To ensure that, hire a kitchen remodeling contractor Silver Spring for your project.