Renovating during a heatwave

Renovating is disruptive enough before you add a heatwave into the mix.

Dust, missing windows, drying plaster, heavy materials, people working in PPE and a house that is already too hot. Not ideal.

Some of this is common sense, but some of it genuinely affects the quality of the work, not just how uncomfortable everyone feels. If you are renovating during a hot spell, it is worth thinking about how the heat changes the plan.

If you have trades working in your home, heat is not just a comfort issue. It is a safety issue.

In hot weather, it is normal for working hours to shift earlier in the day where possible, so the heaviest work happens before the hottest part of the afternoon.

Things to think about:

• Plenty of access to cold drinking water
• Shaded or cooler break areas
• More frequent breaks
• Avoiding the most physical work in the hottest hours

If you are doing the work yourself, the same applies.

Do not try to be a hero because you have “just got one more thing to finish”. Heat exhaustion is not something to push through.

Signs to watch for: dizziness, headache, feeling sick, cramps, excessive sweating, fast breathing or heartbeat, thirst and weakness.

Working on a bathroom? Check out tips for surviving a bathroom renovation.

In the UK, the NHS advises avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm during hot weather.

For renovation work, this is particularly relevant if you are:

• Working outside
• Carrying materials
• Doing demolition
• Sanding
• Lifting flooring
• Working in a loft or roof space
• Working in a room with large glazing

If work can start earlier and finish earlier, that is much better than trying to push through the intense afternoon heat.

Opening all the windows feels like the obvious thing to do.

Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it just blows construction dust through the rest of the house.

If you are doing demolition, sanding or cutting, keep the work area contained as much as possible.

Think about:

• Keeping internal doors closed
• Using plastic sheeting or zipper doors
• Covering floors through access routes
• Keeping pets and children away from the work area
• Cleaning as you go rather than letting dust build up

If you have air conditioning or a ventilation system, be careful as you do not want renovation dust being pulled through ducts, filters or vents.

Hot weather makes things dry too quickly, and that is not always a good thing.

Paints, adhesives, fillers, sealants and epoxies all have recommended temperature ranges. If they dry too fast, you can end up with poor bonding, cracking, peeling or a finish that just does not behave properly.

Before using anything, check the product instructions for:

• Maximum working temperature
• Whether it can be used in direct sunlight
• Drying or curing times
• Ventilation requirements

Boring label-reading moment, but definitely worth it.

Heat can pull moisture out of materials too quickly.

That matters for:

• Concrete
• Mortar
• Plaster
• Screed
• Tile adhesive
• Grout

If these dry or cure too quickly, they can become weaker, crack or be harder to work with.

Plastering in hot weather can set too fast, which reduces working time and can lead to cracking or a weaker finish.

If you are having larger pours, plastering, rendering or tiling done during a heatwave, ask your trade how they are managing the conditions.

Sometimes the right answer is adjusting the timing, but there might be different working methods. Sometimes it is best just to wait.

Try not to leave materials in direct sun or in an overheated room if they are sensitive to temperature or moisture.

Think about:

• Timber stored flat and out of direct sunlight
• Plasterboard kept dry and supported
• Paints and adhesives stored within the recommended temperature range

Fresh timber can move. Plasterboard can suffer if stored badly. Paint and adhesives can be affected by heat before you have even opened them.

Not every job needs to happen exactly when it was planned.

In a heatwave, it may be worth delaying or rescheduling:

• Large concrete pours
• External rendering
• Plastering in very hot rooms
• Painting in direct sun
• Heavy outdoor work
• Roof or loft work in peak heat

This is not about being over-cautious. It is about whether the conditions are right for the work to be done properly.

If you are staying at home during the renovation, think about where you can actually cool down.

That might mean keeping one room as clean and cool as possible, away from the work.

Things that help:

• Closing curtains or blinds when the sun is strongest
• Keeping windows closed if it is hotter outside than inside
• Turning off lights and electrical items that add heat
• Keeping one area dust-free if possible

• Your trade may need to change working hours
• Materials may not behave the same in high heat
• Opening windows can spread dust through the house
• Removing windows or doors can make rooms overheat quickly
• Adhesives, plaster and paint all have temperature limits
• Pets and children need keeping away from hot, dusty work areas
• Some jobs are better delayed than done badly

It just needs a bit more planning, more flexibility, and a willingness to adjust the schedule if the heat is going to affect either the people doing the work or the quality of the finish.