DIY Loft Conversion Tip

Loft room Safety

When doing work in the roof, be it with a team of contractors or when you are on your own, personal safety should be a top priority.

Health and safety plays such a big part in our lives, often to ridiculous extremes, that it cannot be ignored and, lets face it, if you are working with heavy beams or building materials it is only common sense to make sure you and everyone else is safe.

In the grand scheme of things a loft conversion may not be a massive piece of engineering work but safety is as important on a small site as it is on the very biggest.

Clothing

The first essential DIY loft conversion tip is to wear a hat. A hard hat.

Yes, you may look like Bob the Builder or that dodgy bloke from the Village People, but with low beams, falling bricks and hurling hammers being part of a typical loft conversion a hard hat can be a life saver.

So make sure you wear steel capped work boots. They may not be as stylish as the latest Nike’s but they will stop your toes being crushed when someone drops a steel beam on them.

Eyes are precious things and they are at risk on any building site. Goggles or full faced eye protectors must be worn as chips of wood or steel are liable to be flying like shrapnel around the confined roof space when drills or grinders are being used.

To complete the essential safety ensemble is a dust mask to protect the lungs from the inevitable dust and fibres that will fill the air during a loft conversion.

Other Safety And DIY loft Conversion Tip

Noise won’t only be a disruption for the homeowner and the neighbours but it can also have an impact on anyone working on the project. Ear protectors should be worn as the human ear is easily damaged by the noise generated by drills and heavy equipment.

Remember to take appropriate care when lifting heavy objects such as beams. You won’t be able to enjoy your new loft room if you are laid up with a bad back brought on by incorrect lifting techniques.

Finally, the working area and immediate environs must be kept tidy. It is all too easy to take a nasty trip or fall if tools or materials are left lying around the work area.

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