How to Make Your Home Safe During and After Renovation

You don't have to spend money on expensive home decor, but you definitely shouldn't skimp on your own safety. Budget finishing materials and furniture are not eco-friendly, easily flammable, and unsafe. If the electrical wiring in your home is poorly installed or unreliable plumbing is used, the risk of dangerous situations increases several times. We've compiled a selection of experts' recommendations on how to make your home as a whole and each room individually safe.

Where to start?

If you're planning to move into a country house or apartment on the first, second, or last floor, install roller shutters and windows with anti-burglary protection in every room. There are several classes of security: if a regular window in its basic configuration can be opened using special tools, then a high-quality and anti-burglary window is practically impossible to break or open.

When choosing an entrance door, think not only about its appearance but also about the reliability of the door frame, door leaf, hinges, and locks. The peephole is an important element of security that allows you to keep track of who is there and what's happening behind the door without opening it.

1. Living Room

In the living room, it's better to install doors or tables made of tempered or shatterproof laminated glass – they are completely safe in case of impact. We recommend avoiding sofas and armchairs made from polyurethane foam, as they start releasing deadly toxic gases when on fire. For creating a cozy atmosphere in the living room, a fireplace or candles are often used – make sure that open flames are protected from spreading further.

Everyone knows it's necessary to turn off electrical appliances before leaving the house, but few people know that you can do it remotely. With smart outlets, you can turn off the lights or a forgotten iron even if you're thousands of kilometers away from home. In addition, smart outlets allow you to turn on electrical appliances according to a schedule, creating the effect of presence. Lights turning on in an empty living room will be an additional security measure and protection against theft.

2. Kitchen

For safety on the kitchen floor, use flooring that prevents slipping. Ensure that outlets are not located above appliances that generate heat. Towels and napkins should not be near the stove when it's on – provide a safe place for kitchen accessories.

In homes with gas stoves, it's more reasonable to install special gas leak detectors. In case of an accident, the detector will react to increased concentrations of flammable gases – methane, butane, propane, and others – and send an alarm signal to the monitoring station and a notification to the homeowner's smartphone.

3. Bedroom

During renovation, pay special attention to finishing materials in the bedroom. They are divided into three classes: M1, M2, M3. The M1 certificate means the highest fire resistance.

Similarly, carefully choose wallpapers. Paper wallpapers are more economical but easily flammable. Modern liquid wallpapers are much safer and do not emit toxic gases when burning.

It is in the bedroom that specialists recommend installing smoke detectors. If there are several bedrooms, fire protection devices should be placed in each room or in the hallway between them. Modern smoke detectors exchange information with each other: if a device on the first floor activates, the siren installed in second-floor detectors will also alert about smoke.

Of course, a smoke detector cannot extinguish a fire, but in case of smoke, it can warn about it in time. For example, the siren will wake everyone in the house. At the same time, an alarm signal will go to the monitoring station and a rescue team will be sent for help. In case of false activation, such as from cigarette smoke, the siren can be easily turned off manually by pressing the button on the device itself.

4. Children's Room

Certainly, materials for renovation in a child’s room should be purchased from reliable manufacturers and checked for certificates of ecological safety. For the child's room, it is better to choose low and light furniture with rounded shapes.

Pay special attention to lamps: bedside sconces, ceiling chandeliers, and table lamps. They should be made from non-breakable materials with LED bulbs – this will protect children from cuts and burns.

An ideal solution for the child’s room would be outlets with automatic shutters: they not only prevent children from reaching dangerous contacts, but also protect against dust and moisture.

5. Bathroom

For bathroom floors, matte ceramic granite is best: it doesn't become slippery even when wet. This durable material is considered one of the cleanest ecologically and does not become radioactive over time.

For the bathroom, choose only original plumbing fixtures: pipes, taps, and sanitary fittings from reputable brands. There is a lot of counterfeit products on the market, so remember that saving money on quality can lead to accidents and leaks. The same recommendation applies to heating systems throughout the house: it's crucial to install quality radiators and fittings for radiators.

During renovation, it's essential to plan for the installation of an automatic water shutoff system in case of leaks. If renovation is already done, a solution for protection against unexpected repairs can be a water leak detector.

A small device placed under the bathtub or sink will start sounding an alarm when water accumulates on the floor. Of course, it won't shut off the water, but it will warn about an accident and allow you to take action in time, even if no one is home. Receiving a water leak alert on your smartphone, you can call the house maintenance service to shut off the main pipe.

6. Smart Protection for the Entire Home

Home safety should be approached comprehensively: apart from quality finishing and furniture, installation of reliable doors and windows, an important component is having a modern security system. Wireless equipment can be mounted on any surface and does not damage the renovation or interior.

The basic package of the 'GOLFSTREAM' security system includes equipment for intrusion and attack protection: a control panel, keyboard with SOS button, door opening sensor, and motion sensors with photo confirmation. Upon an alarm signal, a rapid response team or staff from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will arrive at the secured home.

Illustrations: Cubiq Studio design project.