I get what you mean about doubling up, but I’ve actually had more luck with those cheap plastic tarps from the hardware store—just the thin ones. They’re not fancy, but they’re totally waterproof and surprisingly tough. I know they’re not as eco-friendly, but if you’re careful, you can reuse them a bunch of times. Plus, they’re way easier to shake off outside if you get a ton of dust or old insulation falling down (which definitely happened in my 1948 place).
“with a 50s house, I’d say err on the side of caution. These old places love to surprise us.”
Couldn’t agree more there. Just saying, sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.
- I’ve tried those thin tarps too, but honestly, I had a few rip on me when dragging them around corners or over rough stuff. Maybe I’m just too rough on gear.
- For my 1952 place, I switched to the thicker canvas drop cloths. Not totally waterproof, but they handle nails and splinters better and don’t end up as landfill as quickly.
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True, though sometimes the “simple” stuff ends up being single-use if you’re not careful.“sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.”
- If you’re dealing with a lot of old insulation, maybe double layer—plastic on bottom, canvas on top? That’s worked for me when things got messy.
“sometimes the simplest stuff works better than we expect.”
I get what you mean about canvas lasting longer—my neighbor swears by them too. But I’m curious, how do you deal with keeping dust out of the rest of the house? I’ve read about taping plastic sheeting around the work area, but it seems like a pain if you’re moving in and out a lot. Is there a trick to making that less annoying, or is it just part of the process?
“I’ve read about taping plastic sheeting around the work area, but it seems like a pain if you’re moving in and out a lot.”
Yeah, I totally get that. When we did our windows last winter, I tried the whole plastic sheet and tape thing—honestly, it *is* a pain, especially if you’re hauling tools or have folks coming in and out. What worked better for us was using those cheap zipper doorway kits. You stick the plastic up, then cut a slit and attach the zipper—it sounds gimmicky but it actually made moving between rooms way easier without letting clouds of dust escape every time.
One thing I’d add: turn off any HVAC or fans in the area while you’re working. Otherwise, dust just finds its way into every vent and corner. We also put old towels along the bottom of doors as an extra barrier. Not perfect, but it helped.
Canvas is great for floors, but for dust control, the combo of plastic + zipper + turning off airflow was honestly worth it. Still a hassle, but less than re-cleaning the whole house.
Is the zipper doorway kit really that much better though? I’ve seen them online but wasn’t sure if they’re worth the extra cost. When my neighbor did his windows, he just used overlapping sheets of plastic and kind of made a “curtain” effect—said it was quicker than setting up zippers and worked fine for him, even with people walking through.
Turning off the HVAC makes sense, but how do you deal with the cold if you’re doing this in winter? I’d be worried about freezing the house out, especially if it takes more than a day. Also, does anyone ever just skip the plastic and just vacuum a lot after? I feel like no matter what, dust gets everywhere... maybe I’m just being lazy, but I’m not sure the hassle is always worth it.
I feel like no matter what, dust gets everywhere... maybe I’m just being lazy, but I’m not sure the hassle is always worth it.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. I did the overlapping plastic “curtain” method for my window project last fall, and it sorta worked, but dust still crept into the hallway. The zipper kit was a pain to set up, but it actually kept the mess way more contained when I tried it for a closet reno. If you’re only doing a couple windows, I’d say skip it, but for a whole house or if you’re sensitive to dust, the zipper’s worth considering.
About the cold—yeah, turning off HVAC in winter is rough. I just closed doors to rooms I wasn’t working in and used space heaters (very carefully) in the work zone. Not perfect, but the house didn’t freeze. Vacuuming after is a must either way, but the less dust you let loose, the easier cleanup is.
Yeah, dust is just relentless. I tried the blue tape and plastic method on my 70s ranch when I swapped out four windows last spring, but honestly, it was only about 80% effective. I will say, if you’ve got a shop vac with a HEPA filter, that’s a game changer for cleanup. I’m not convinced the zipper kits are worth it unless you’re doing a ton of demo or have allergies—felt like overkill for me. Cold was a pain, though... my wife was not thrilled with the drafts, even with doors closed.
I hear you on the blue tape and plastic—it’s the go-to, but it’s not exactly airtight. I’ve actually come to appreciate the zipper kits more than I expected, especially in older homes where the dust seems to find its way into every nook. On a recent job, we used one in a mid-century split-level, and it made a noticeable difference. Not just for dust, but it kept the cold from seeping into the rest of the house. The initial setup is a bit of a pain, and yeah, it’s not cheap, but for a couple days of work, it kept my client’s living room from turning into an arctic tundra.
That said, if you’re only swapping a few windows and you’re not tearing out plaster or lath, I get why it feels like overkill. Still, for folks with pets or little kids, or if you’re doing work in winter, I’d argue it’s worth considering. The HEPA shop vac is non-negotiable though—totally agree there. Nothing like seeing that fine dust disappear instead of just swirling around.