I'm having a basement company come in to install steel support I beams, which involves jack hammering the foundation and placing the beams in the ground. I'm really concerned about the dust situation. I feel like I should head to the store for some tarps, but they'll need to keep the basement door open for the equipment. I'm wondering if my whole house is about to be coated in concrete dust. Will the jack hammer break the concrete into large chunks, or will it create a fine dust? Do I really need to go overboard with preparations?
3 Answers
A big factor in how much dust spreads is the air pressure differences. If the basement is at a higher pressure than upstairs, all that dust will try to escape upwards. A fan that pulls in filtered air from outside can create positive pressure in dust-free areas. Make sure to seal off any airflow points like vents and windows with tape and plastic. It's a good idea to check if the contractor has a plan for this, or you can handle it yourself.
Definitely bring up your dust concerns with the team! This isn't their first rodeo, so they should have a plan in place to keep your house protected. If you feel like their measures aren't enough, don't hesitate to ask them to step it up or take some extra precautions yourself.
Make sure they know how important it is to control the dust in your basement. And yes, it's smart to get those tarps! Also, remember to turn off your HVAC system while they're working. Construction dust has this annoying way of spreading throughout your house, practically like it’s on a mission to invade every corner.