Q:

I do a lot of remodeling and find myself needing to protect clients’ homes from the dust generated by my efforts. I’ve seen commercial dust-encapsulation systems, but I’m cheap and a world-class procrastinator when it comes to making such purchases. Is there a site-built alternative to these systems?

Todd C., from e-mail, None

A:

Roe A. Osborn, former managing editor of Fine Homebuilding and a former remodeling contractor, replies: In a moment of sheer desperation and before the advent of Zipwall (800-718-2255; www.zipwall.com)—which , by the way, is a great system for keeping dust contained—I came up with a quick, easy and cheap alternative. The only thing needed is a roll of medium-weight plastic sheeting and a bunch of 1×3 furring strips.

First I measure the ceiling height and cut several 1×3 furring strips to that length. Next I roll out the plastic sheeting and cut the length for the first temporary wall. I cut two 1×3 “plates” to that length and roll the long edges of the sheet around them until the sheet reaches floor to ceiling.

While standing on the bottom plate to keep it in place, I push the top plate to the ceiling and spring one of my ceiling-height 1x3s into place near the middle of the plates. It works best if the sheeting stretches tight, so I roll or unroll plastic around the top plate as needed and shift the top plate one direction or the other for the tightest fit. When satisfied, I pop in an additional 1x at each end and in between if needed. I secure the tops and bottoms of each vertical piece to the plates with a toe screw so that they don’t wander or jump out while I’m working.

If additional containment walls are needed, I move to the next one and repeat the process until my instant workroom is complete. I tape the corners where the walls meet, and I leave a vertical 1x back from the most convenient corner if I need a way to get in and out with my tools. With this system, the plates keep the sheet tight to the floor and ceiling, and if there’s room, I run a shop vacuum inside my temporary workroom to help filter dust from the air.

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