Interior Stair Protection System for Chinese Drywall Remediation – Tampa

Signs of a Good Chinese Drywall Remediation Contractor – Part 2

In our last post, we talked about how a good Chinese drywall remediation contractor will go to any lengths to ensure that the interior and exterior of your home is protected during a lengthy remediation process and that the first phase of any Chinese drywall remediation should  be dedicated to protecting and prepping the home for the remediation.  We showed you the floor protection systems we used to protect the flooring and the thresholds on a 4000 square foot Chinese drywall remediation job we are currently working on in Tampa. In this post, we’ll show you the system we use to protect the staircase in the home from damage.

CBHB Chinese Drywall Remediation Protection Systems – Interior Stairs

Interior stairs are one of the most important components to protect on a Chinese drywall remediation. They are the only way up to, and down from the 2nd floor, so they endure a lot of heavy traffic during the demolition and rebuild phases. Not only are they one of the most important components to protect, they are also one of the most difficult. Each step’s protective covering must be custom fit, so the installation takes quite a bit of time and is fairly tedious.

The images above show the stairs in one of the homes we are currently remediating in Hillsborough county on Davis Islands. The home has stained stair treads with painted risers that will stay in place during the remediation. We take every precaution possible to ensure the stairs will not be damaged during the process.

We begin by laying down a 1/4″ foam board on each tread and riser. The foam is held in place by screwing a 1×2 into the riser. The holes in the riser will later be filled in and repainted, making them undetectable. Next we install a 1/2″ piece of plywood on each tread. Each piece is carefully measured to create a proper fit. The plywood layer overhangs the edge of the tread so the nosing is fully protected. All seams are then thoroughly taped to prevent the Chinese drywall dust and debris from getting through the protective layers during demolition.

It’s important to note that we actually install these protective systems twice during the remediation process. When doing a Chinese drywall remediation, there are several different phases the home goes through. The first is the prep and protection phase, which includes removing and storing salvage items such as cabinets, granite countertops, doors, and window fixtures. This phase also includes installing the protection systems shown here.

The next phase of the remediation is demolition. This is where all the Chinese drywall board is taken out of the home. Electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, insulation and HVAC systems are also removed.

Once the demo is complete, then we move on to the micro-cleaning phase. This is where every speck of Chinese drywall debris and dust is removed from the home and all surfaces are hand washed multiple times. But before we can begin the micro-cleaning phase, all of of the protection systems must be removed so that the salvaged components underneath can cleaned and are ready for the next phase, which is the air-out phase. During the air-out, we circulate fresh air into the home, allowing any residual odors caused by the Chinese drywall to dissipate from the home.

Once the air-out phase is completed and air-tests have been conducted, it’s time to begin the rebuilding phase. The rebuilding phase involves a lot of activity and traffic in the home, so it’s once again necessary to protect any pre-existing components in the home. Prior to beginning the rebuild, we once again install protection systems for the floors, stairs and thresholds. While  all of this may seem overly cautious, it ensures that no damage is done to any of the components left in place during the remediation process.

In our next post, we will look at how we went about protecting the exterior stairs of this home in Tampa.

Charter Bay Home Builders is a full-service Tampa Custom Home Builder,  Tampa Chinese Drywall Contractor and Remediator, and Remodeler working throughout the greater Tampa Bay area including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, and Sarasota.  Charter Bay can help with your Custom Home Building, Chinese Drywall Problems and Remediation, Additions, larger Kitchen Remodeling and Bath Remodeling projects, and major Renovation and Remodeling needs. In addition, as one of the few Tampa custom home builders, or remodeling contractors, with multiple green building and green remodeling certifications (FGBC Certifying Agent and NAHB Certified Green Building Professional), Charter Bay can also assist those clients who want green features and sustainable building practices incorporated into their projects. Visit our website – www.CharterBayHomes.com – today to learn how “The Charter Bay Way” delivers: “Yesterday’s Values • Today’s Technology • Tomorrow’s Vision” (813) 357-9030 (CBC1255041)

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