Safety Tips for Doing Your Own Demo

So many homeowners think that they have to hire an expert demolition contractor when they are doing big home remodeling projects. You don’t, but you should know how to demo safely. Before you break out the ten–pound sledgehammer, educate yourself on some key safety tips.

Have Safety Goggles, Safety Gloves, and Safety Headgear

Protect your eyes, head, and hands. Wear work gloves that cannot be punctured by sharp objects. Wear wraparound protective goggles to protect your eyes Finally, wear a hard hat to protect your head. Falling debris can cut and injure your head, and nobody wants that. 

Wear Clothing That Covers Your Lower Torso Well

Wearing long sleeves is optional, although you take risks with falling debris. Wearing long pants isn’t optional, since you will likely be standing knee-high in debris as you remodel. The debris on the floor around you can cut and scratch, so the long pants provide some level of protection for your legs. 

Wear Closed-Toe Shoes

Don’t wear shoes that expose your toes. Stuff falling down can land on your feet and wading through debris could cut your toes. Wear closed-toe shoes. Steel-toed shoes aren’t necessary, but heavy-duty work boots or hiking boots are ideal. If you don’t have boots, wear shoes that are more hard-top than soft.

Make Sure That the Walls You Smash Down Are NOT Load-Bearing Walls!

Before you start a demo project, make sure you know which walls are safe to destroy and which ones aren’t. Many a demo mistake begins with destroying a load-bearing wall. When you knock down a load-bearing wall you end up destroying much more than just the area you are remodeling. The entire house sitting on that wall collapses too. Envision your upstairs bedroom completely falling through the ceiling and landing on top of you because you destroyed the load-bearing wall in the bathroom right below your bedroom! 

Plan ahead. Find out what walls are fair game and then plan your remodeling project based on which walls are safe to demo. 

Pause and Remove Debris Often to Prevent Accidents

Every time you have a small pile of debris accumulate, stop swinging your hammer. Pick up the debris and throw it in a waiting dumpster or garbage can outside. Removing piles of debris along the way reduces the possibility of a more serious injury or accident while demolishing part of your home.