Home renovation

mbbach

Hey ladies! So DH and I are working on our house, which as been a real treat while pregnant, let me tell ya. But I was wondering have any of you ladies done a renovation while pregnant? I'm wondering if I should scale back on doing things like sanding drywall. I wear a mask but I can't help but wonder. Everything I read says it's safe as long as I have a mask on. What are your thoughts?! Thanks.

Pintobean39

Are you going to be doing the renovation yourself? Personally I'm a huge DIY nut. I like building and making things. I'd like to do a few more projects before the baby gets here. I want to build an entertainment center, refinish furniture and repaint a few rooms.

I'm honestly not really worried that about doing any of it while I'm pregnant because I wear proper gear when refinishing furniture even when not pregnant. As far as the painting, paint these days aren't harmful, I just make sure the room is well ventilated. Everything else it's just having the energy, which I'm desperately lacking at this moment.

I've done drywall before and I can't see where it's harmful as long as you wear mask. My mask is the best one I could find because I'm sure a lot of the furniture and wood I work with has lead paint on it somewhere. I would just make sure you get good protective gear, don't skimp in that department.

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Pintobean39

I can't find my mask right now, my husband cleaned out the garage yesterday so no clue where it is. I got mine at Home Depot and got the highest rated one I could find. You shouldn't have an issue, I think the packaging explained everything. It's not the most comfortable mask though. The gloves I wear are the black neoprene ones and I quit using harsh stripper years ago. I just use the orange stripper now because it doesn't eat through all my gloves. I actually think the spray cans of it work better but it gets expensive for big projects. I also soak coarse steel wool in mineral spirits to get the residue off and do a little more stripping with it. It may be a little more work but beats using that strong stripper.

swiftrr

Thank you for this post, not only are they renovating at my work but we are also in the middle of renovating at home. At work is major, walls coming down, insulation getting torn out, solvents etc so they have moved me to a different location. At home is just plaster and painting but being moved at work made me very nervous at home. So I haven't been around while the guys have been working and have waited the recommended 48 hours to come back in house after airing. They are using paint sealer, oil based paints for wood work. Could still smell it last night and got worried so an I just being insane? And have sensitive nose as have followed painters and plasterers instructions. Any advice from DIY ladies be much appreciated also

Pintobean39

@swiftrr‌ I wouldn't worry about the smell after the fact. Oil based paint is strong in itself and you are going to be able to smell the lingering paint smell for a while. I'm guessing as long as you aren't there while the work is done you don't have anything to worry about.

swiftrr

Thank you:) think i needed some reassurance while the work continues for the next few weeks

Swanky929

We are currently remodeling our kitchen. Everything has been torn down to the studs. Let me tell you it has been fabulous spending almost my entire first trimester with no kitchen to cook in. Take out and frozen food are horrible!

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rivers714

@Pintobean39‌ you sound super human with all your house projects ... I'm freaking out about putting a crib together

Jillio31

Last fall we renovated our dining room and were planning to do the same to the kitchen. Basically a gut job - new cabinets/cupboards, new sink, new countertop, drywall and painting. We never got around to doing the kitchen cause the dining room took longer than we had planned and then the holidays hit. Now that I'm pregnant we are debating renovating the kitchen. Part of me thinks "get it done with and out of the way before the baby comes" and another part of me says "wait til the baby is 3 months old or so then go away for a week or two while DH does the renovations with some help from co-workers/friends." Hmmm I can't decide what to do. Any suggestions?

mpower0606

@juneheart‌ can you come do my house next?? That is so impressive!!

When I was preg with DD we remodeled almost our entire house (with the exception of the basement). Now I'm preg with #2 and we have decided to finish the basement. I found the whole house remodel to be SO overwhelming while 8-9months pregnant-and we didn't even do any of it ourselves (DH and I are not handy at all)! I remember having a complete breakdown the week before my due date when the contractor kept asking me about which doorknobs I wanted

I give all of you guys that do your own renovations and DIY projects SO much respect!! I wish we knew how/had the talent to do it!

manacita

Same thing as everyone else said. As long as you're safe about it, you should be fine.

But! I would like to warn you about lead based paints. If you think you might be stripping or sanding those, then you should not do that.

We did a kitchen remodel when I was pregnant with my 2nd. Except it took a lot longer than expected and we didn't finish until I was 36weeks, a whale, and really crabby. But the kitchen looks great!

Pintobean39

I love the furniture @juneheart‌, awesome job!

I want to be an AW and show some of my stuff now.


I made a buffet type of thing for my back patio. I found a place to buy wood that's been taken out of old New Orleans houses. The front actually has doors that open to shelves made out of 12ft baseboard. The outside is actually tung and grove wall boards and I used the pallets from the pave stones around my pool for the frame. It's my green project I guess you could say. I made the entire thing by myself, my boys were amazed. It's near my grill so it really comes in handy to lay things on when we have pool parties.

The second is my bathroom window above my tub. It was just a plain window and I framed it out with molding. Found a chandelier at habitat for humanity and repainted it and hung it where my can light was. I also made floating shelves out of some crown molding. I'm in love with our compound miter saw. I even did some wainscoting.