How To Keep Your Pets Safe During Home Renovation

In hard economic times, with home values in free fall, many folks are moving toward home renovations as a more economical alternative to moving. I have some personal experience with renovations, as I undertook a massive project almost four years ago, acting as the "general contractor" for the job site, which was my home. I wish I'd had some of Lee Wallender's advice back then, as it would have made my job a heck of a lot easier.

If you have cats in the home, you have double trouble, as your number one priority should be to keep them safe during the construction. Think of this as advanced cat-proofing, if you will. Also be aware that workers are intent on their jobs, and don't pay a lot of attention to closing doors behind them as they make frequent trips in and out of the house. Three of my own four cats will make a beeline for an open door, as quick as you can say "escape." Jaspurr, pictured here, is one of the worst offenders. You should definitely designate one room of the house as a safe room for the duration, and form the habit of consistently cat-proofing each day after the work crew leaves, which in our case was almost always 4 p.m.

Lee's excellent article will give you a lot of tips that will come in handy, should you choose to renovate. The only thing I'd add is in regard to exterior-only renovation: Carpenters, plumbers, plasterers, and painters consume a lot of fluids, and need frequent bathroom breaks. In order to prevent a revolving door of workers coming in and out to use the bathroom, I did two things:

1. I payed to have a "porta-potty" delivered to my driveway and cleaned/emptied weekly. (Think of it as a "litter box for men.")
2. I provided a large ice chest full of bottled water and soft drinks in a shady spot outside

The workers were very appreciative, and it helped easy a lot of the worry about doors inadvertently left ajar.
_{Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy}