Month: June 2020

Mold Inspection And Prevention Tips

How To Choose A Good Mold Inspector

Mold inspectors are easy to find as he/she may be found anywhere. However, finding a certified mold inspector, especially certified mold inspector is a real task. First you need to determine whether you need a mold inspector at all. There is a cheat sheet for that. But if you are very concerned about your health and feel that your house contains molds, you can hire the services of a mold inspector. The inspector should be a certified one, whatsoever.

Prior Experience

You should consider the experience even if the mold inspector is certified mold inspector. You should check the number of mold inspections the inspector has performed as you must have heard of, ‘practice makes a man perfect.’ All you need for your house molds is a perfect mold inspector. Furthermore, your good mold inspector would have performed over hundred inspections a year. In this way, you would be sure that the inspector has seen a wide range of scenarios. Also, ask your mold inspector how many verifiable mold inspections have been conducted.

Certifications

It is pertinent to mention here that some states allowed a person to obtain the license of mold inspector without requiring him/her to pass any exam or any proof that he is competent to be a professional mold inspector. Also, there are many certifications and as many certificates. Your mold inspector should have membership with any nationally recognized trade association for mold professionals. The organization certifying his/her credentials should also be nationally recognized. Also, ensure that the inspector’s certification has been given on verifiable work experience and has been issued by a reputed educational institution.

Equipment

Every professional is well equipped and same goes for a good mold inspector. A certified mold inspector will have the basic equipment like an air sampling pump, a respirator and a moisture meter. He/she should also have the sampling media, gloves, flash light, a mirror, and knee pads. Also, an adept mold inspector shall have the latest technology as being low tech does not go well with the profile of a mold inspector. Look out for the thermal imaging camera in his/her equipment which detects the moisture-linked temperature fluctuations.

Inspection Report

A certified mold inspector will be able to give you a detailed inspection report mentioning environmental monitoring results, visual findings, his/her conclusions, interpretation of lab results, and his/her recommendations as to how to get rid of the mold problem. A mere lab report will only make you go to another mold inspector to interpret the results. Beware of the inspectors who charge low price per sample because many of those do not deem it necessary to provide you these details

Things To Look For (And Look Out For) When Choosing A Mold Remediation Specialist.

So They Can Suck More Money Out Of Your Wallet. A lot of remediators take advantage of their customers’ lack of knowledge about mold remediation.They claim there is mold where there is none. They sell extra services that aren’t needed. They quotetheir prices twice as high as it should be, and their innocent customers (more like victims) don’t knowthe difference.

Be Wary Of Mold Remediators That Also Offer Testing Services.

After a mold remediator does his job, you want to get your home tested to make sure it’s at proper mold levels.

No Matter What Most Remediators Say, We

Rarely Need To Treat Mold With Chemicals. Most mold remediators will tell you that you need to treat the problem area with antimicrobial chemicals, special mold paint and a host of other chemicals during remediation.

Certain Mold Remediators Use Cheap,

Imitation Materials That They Pass Off As The Real Thing. I know a guy in the mold remediation business that passes off regular primer as mold encapsulant. If you aren’t familiar with the difference, it’s pretty simple. Mold encapsulant delays mold growth; primer does not.

Some Mold Remediators Don’t Think The Problem Through, And Can Cost You Thousands Of Dollars You Didn’t Need To Spend.

This one relates to problem 4. Most remediators are more in interested in lining their own pockets than providing you with the best solution to your mold problem. They have a “cookie cutter” approach to every situation. As a result, you may spend thousands of dollars you didn’t have to in mold-remediation services, chemical treatments, and home repair costs.

Reasons For Using a Professional Mold Remediation Service

It’s no secret that mold damage inside one’s home can cause serious health issues for those who inhabit the space. Anyone that has mold growth inside their home or business—but also uses air conditioning—is at risk of those mold spores shifting around the air ducts and spreading throughout the home’s entire circulation of air. This is how your system will typically get infected with mold.

You Will Receive a Proper Mold Assessment

One common root cause of mold and its resulting sickness is from a combination of air conditioning and humidity. When systems rapidly try to cool down a home or business amidst the humidity, air condenses inside the vents. If this is the case in your home, you need to discover the source, find the problem areas you don’t see, and enlist quality house cleaning that removes mold for good.

The Mold Problem Will Be Properly Treated

When you’ve found a professional house cleaning company you can place absolute confidence in, the level of experience will be apparent immediately. Step one involves completely assessing the moisture problem. Step two is to properly treat and clean all affected areas. The process for mold remediation involves sealing off the mold, controlling all humidity, physically removing the mold, and cleaning up afterwards

Proper Mold Remediation Prevents Future Problems

Proper mold remediation reduces spreading to prevent future problems. This way you won’t have to pay more for expensive products, on top of having to call a repairman to come back for additional work. A seasoned professional will be able to accurately identify the problem areas and properly educate you as to how you’ll stop the problems from occurring again.

You’ll Receive Multiple Tips to Prevent Future Mold Problems

When hiring a mold removal specialist, you’ll receive multiple tips to prevent future mold problems and secure safe and proper ventilation. Since mold problems require specialized expertise, you’ll want a good communicator in the field who is both dependable and honest. Meet the professionals, who have serviced thousands of satisfied homeowners. Your own home’s perfect solution will vary, but you’ll likely need leaky pipes, roofs, and more fixed in order to guarantee mold won’t continue building up

Here’s What You Need to Do After Your Mold Remediation

No property owner wants to hear that one of their buildings has a mold problem. Unfortunately, any building can be susceptible under the right conditions. All a mold outbreak needs is moisture, warmth, and organic matter to grow on. Moisture can be caused by a natural disaster, a leaky pipe, or even simply excess humidity that is not vented adequately from the area. Warmth and organic matter are provided by the building itself

If you’ve ever dealt with mold in one of your buildings, you understand both how dangerous it can be and also how potentially costly remediation can be. What you may not know is that hiring a remediation contractor may not be the end of the ordeal for you.

Moisture and mold growth are both tricky problems to solve. Both can go undetected behind walls and in hidden areas, like ducts, crawl spaces, or behind vinyl wall coverings. Even an experienced remediation design firm can make mistakes or miss something that is well hidden. A less experienced remediation contractor may even miss obvious problems.

Furthermore, if the leak or other cause of moisture is not properly diagnosed, or if there are multiple causes and only one of them is corrected, you can continue to have a problem after remediation. Likewise, if the affected area was quite large, the initial mold assessment may not have been able to identify all sources of moisture, or the contractor may not have addressed everything.

For this reason, many commercial property owners choose to have a post-mold remediation inspection and testing service conducted after mold remediation. A post-mold remediation inspection report will tell you definitively whether the problem has been solved and the building is ready for tenants to occupy safely. It will also identify any areas that need additional attention, so you can have the remediation firm address it immediately, before it gets worse again.

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A PAID OR FREE MOLD INSPECTION

OUR INSPECTION PROCESS

The primary reason that we charge for our mold inspections is the time and resources that go into each one. Some of our competitors offer “free” inspections, which basically means that the inspector shows up and hands over a price to fix a symptom, without truly knowing the nature of the problem.

Answers to these types of questions get us closer to solving the problem at hand, and help us to know where to look.

Next, the real investigation begins. We’ll then crawl under the house, poke around, and take moisture and relative humidity readings in affected areas, unaffected areas, and outdoors for the best possible points of reference.

Sometimes the mold problem can be easily diagnosed and repaired, like a pipe leaking under the house, but other times we don’t see mold at all. Because the root of the problem is beyond the obvious, we need to think outside the box. No company that offers a free mold inspection will be going to great lengths to determine the true causes of your problem.

We were called to an Athens residence because the tenants reported a musty/moldy smell in the home. Although we found some mold, and a slight musty odor after crawling down into the dirt cellar, the tenants said that was not what they were smelling. We also noticed that the sun was breaking down an old window lining in the basement, creating an odorous gas, but that wasn’t the source either

Deep Cleaning Kitchen Knobs

Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for a Sparkling Home

Nothing feels quite as satisfying as coming home to a clean house. Since cleaning your house from top to bottom can be overwhelming — not to mention, time-consuming — take it room by room (or appliance by appliance) with these tried-and-tested spring cleaning tips. No matter if you have five minutes to freshen up or an entire weekend to spare, give all your home’s trouble spots a refresh with these cleaning how-tos. And while you might not think about cleaning your reusable shopping bags or vacuum on a regular basis, spring cleaning season is the perfect time to spruce up your daily go-tos, especially since they collect dirt and grime just like everything else.

It’s up to you: Go slide-by-slide for a whole home makeover or tackle your home’s dirtiest spots (the microwave, junk drawer, you name) when you have some extra time on your hands. Either way, you’ll have a cleaner, more livable space in no time.

Your Doormats

Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, hose off and air-dry mats. Vacuum indoor ones on both sides — going over the back will push trapped dirt out onto the floor where it will be easier to pick up.

Your Windows

Wait for an overcast day and start on the shady side of the house, as direct sun can lead to streaks. “Raise blinds or shades and wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth,”. “Then lower the blinds and vinyl shades and dust with a duster like Swiffer and finish by vacuuming fabric shades and drapes.”

Your Kitchen Sink

Got kitchen stink you just can’t kick? Try running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to dispel the smell.

Steps to Cleaning Business Success!

If you’ve already opened your cleaning business and bought your house cleaning insurance, you’ve taken a huge step forward and that deserves a big thumbs up. But now, you might be wondering how to make your business grow to become a success in the industry. Your potential clients have plenty of house cleaners to choose from, so you want to make your business stand out from the rest! Here we’ll look at a few tips to help your house cleaning business flourish.

Offer Personalized Service and Fair Prices

Spend some time giving free estimates. This will help you see a potential client’s home to work out how much time it will take to clean. Don’t charge the same price for a large house and for a small apartment. Clients will go running to a cleaner they believe is giving them a fair deal. Sit with the client to find out what they want. According to surveys, customer experience with a company has a huge impact on how likely they are to be repeat customers, and that holds true for you, too. Sitting with your clients to understand what is important to them gives them this personalized service and shows that you care about them and their needs, allowing you to develop a pricing plan that is fair to them and worthwhile for you. And when you need to raise your prices? They’re more likely to understand.

Manage Your Time Carefully

To be a success, you need to fill up your schedule. Working on your time management will benefit both you and the customer, as expectations are clear and match reality. Schedule your jobs in a way that allows you to fit more than one job in each day. Slots starting around 10am won’t leave you enough time for an afternoon customer as well. On the other hand, starting at 8am will allow you to finish by lunchtime and go to another customer afterwards–or even take some much needed time off. It also means that your customer won’t have to have their entire day blocked off. Always be on time and efficient to keep to your schedule and keep your customers satisfied.

Find Your Niche

In a crowded market, it can be difficult to make a place for yourself. Spend some time looking online at reviews and social media to see what clients wants and what competitors are offering. Then, create a niche for yourself. Perhaps you guarantee all of your products will be environmentally friendly. You might be able to offer flexible scheduling, such as evening or weekend time slots. Perhaps you work more on marketing with a weekly newsletter or blog posts with free cleaning tips, introductions to your cleaning staff, and product reviews. Having a niche will give you a unique place in the market.

Use Quality Products

Cheap products may save you money to begin with, but using more expensive quality products will help you attract a unique clientele that will benefit your business in the long-run. Using non-toxic and ecologically friendly products is better for the furniture and doesn’t leave any irritating fumes or smells around the home. These safe and healthy alternatives are better for both your cleaner and the client. Keep learning about new products through suppliers, from industry publications or from trade organizations to stay on top of your game.

Deep Cleaning Service

A lot of times we don’t realize we haven’t cleaned the house until it is a total disaster (at least to us). At this point, it is almost impossible to get everything back to 100%, and if you start cleaning a few things at a time – it can begin that “never-ending cycle” of cleaning (especially if you have kids… or a husband! haha). Anyways, we all know it’s a lot easier to maintain a clean home, but let’s face it… getting it up to “mom standards” can take some serious time and it never seems like there is enough! Don’t worry though because you are not alone! This is quite common and luckily for you, Maids 2 Match is here to help with that burden!

For those of you who prefer to book your cleaning online, you can just select the “deep cleaning” add-on after you select the number of rooms in your home. The deep cleaning is a little bit more expensive, but that is due to the fact that it does take a little bit of extra time to clean those neglected areas and we just want to make sure we get your home back to 100%! After your initial deep cleaning, you can always take advantage of our recurring discounts if you would like us to maintain your home on a regular basis! We do have a few other extra services as well, such as: inside the oven, inside the fridge, garage cleaning, and window cleaning. You can always add these services to your deep cleaning service, so we can bang everything out for you at one time!

What if My Home is Extra Dirty?

If your home is extra dirty, just give us a call and let us know the situation. We have no problem with doing a little bit of extra work, but we would appreciate it if you let us know prior to the day of the cleaning to ensure we come prepared with the proper equipment and plan enough time to get the job done 100%.

What Are the Additional Charges if My Home Needs Extra Time?

First off, we don’t make any adjustments to your cleaning without your consent, but we do give you the option to add additional time if you want us to get your entire home back to 100%. Hey, we are already there, if we think it can be cleaned, we are willing to clean it if you let us know of any areas that need extra attention in advance. If for some reason you don’t want us to spend the extra time, no problem! We will prioritize your cleaning and do the absolute best job we can in the time we have.

MUST-HAVE TOOLS FOR CLEANING YOUR WOOD FLOOR

Everyone who loves their wood floor wants a clean wood floor.

A GOOD MOP HANDLE

First, you’ll need a sturdy, aluminum microfiber mop handle.  Don’t cheap out on the mop handle because you’ll need to use some elbow grease when cleaning a dirty wood floor, especially in the kitchen.  We sells and excellent telescoping mop handle here.  Here are some mop handle bullet-points to remember.

There must be at least two rows of velcro loop material on the underside of the mop and the Velcro must be riveted to the base of the mop. Don’t buy a mop handle where is attached only by adhesive as it will quickly detach from the mop with repeated use.

MOP PADS THAT PICK UP DIRT AND ABSORB WATER

Second, you’ll need at least three and preferably more machine-washable microfiber mop pads sized to fit your mop. We sells excellent microfiber mop pads here.  There are other good pads on the market, but most are not.

When you’re purchasing microfiber mop pads, don’t cheap out.  Good mop pads, like ours, don’t bleed their color when machine washed. More importantly the pads are good both at picking up dirt and absorbing water.  The reason high-performance mop pads can do both is that they are made from a balanced blend of polyester and polyamide nylon.

How to Choose Reliable Cleaners When Moving Out of Your Rental?

Moving out is a stressful experience – all the organising and packing, all the documents and the stress from the final inspection with the landlords. Because – let’s face it – nobody wants to lose their deposit. One of the main reasons for deposit deductions is the state of the rental, and particularly – the cleanliness of the property. Many people hire professional cleaners in order to make sure they will leave the place in an impeccable condition. However, not all the companies can meet the expectations.

Do the Cleaners Have a Detailed Checklist?

End of tenancy cleaning is a deep, thorough cleaning; a service oriented particularly to bringing rental homes in a pristine condition when tenants relocate. Many businesses claim that they provide this but fail to meet some essential criteria and to provide the expected results. This is why before you hire the end of tenancy service check if they offer a detailed cleaning checklist of their procedures. Normally, reliable professionals would provide you with a very thorough cleaning checklist, describing items and areas of the property that you haven’t even thought of. The more things are listed in their offer, the more certain you will pass the landlord’s inspection and get your deposit money back.

Do the Cleaners Offer Guarantee for the End of Tenancy Cleaning?

Getting a guarantee for the service from the cleaners is very import so you can be sure you will get your deposit back. True professionals are not afraid to provide compensation or re-cleaning of the property if the customer finds the results insufficient. Cleaners should offer at least a 24-hour guarantee for their. Clients can take advantage of this timeframe and pass their final inspection from the landlord before the property starts accumulating dust and dirt.

What Are the Criteria For The Company’s Pricing?

The quality of the cleaning is of great importance when you want to hire a professional company. The best cleaners offer service prices based on the contents or the size of the property, not on time spent cleaning. The results of the cleaning must help the customer to pass the final inspection with their landlord, so the cleaners must leave the property in a pristine condition. Hiring cleaning team for a certain amount of time doesn’t give you a guarantee that all areas in your rental property will be in impeccably cleaned.

Does the Cleaning Price Include the Tools and Supplies?

When looking for a professional company for your end of tenancy cleaning, ask if the products and tools are included in the price. The team must bring all the necessary supplies to do their job. You shouldn’t pay extra for common consumables or for machines, essential for the job. You should also ask if taxes are included in the final bill. Most services can give you an estimate in advance and you don’t have to pay more than this pre-arranged price.

Laminate Flooring And What You Need to Know

The secret on how to lay laminate floors quick and easy

we need to share this progressive item gliding laminate wood floors. Laying laminate floors would be an awesome choice for you to run with, in the event that you need to spare a buck like we as a whole do in this season of retreat. Day! It’s extremely straightforward from the principal board you cut together. Not to stress, We here to enable you in adapting all you to need to know.

With regards to looking incredible, straightforward establishment, on a financial plan yet at the same time solid. Nothing approaches laminate flooring. All that you requirement for introducing your laminate flooring dependably accompanies simple to take after directions on the container it will make your work a breeze. Gliding laminate floors are not appended to your current floor with the goal that why I mean by is fast and simple.   It’s straightforward laminate floors clasp and bolts together upon connection. How simple is that. Envision no paste or nails, to introduce this kind of floor. Amazing, you can really confine it for any reason, so in the event that you move your floors can accompany you. How cool is that. Let’s say you need to offer you laminate floor. You could do as such and profit back in addition to an introducing charge, on the grounds that after you take in the data you assemble from this site, you will be a pro.

The mystery behind glue less laminate flooring is each board cutting Bodenlegen Laminat Duisburg. It’s a basic locking framework that can enable you to fit each piece effortlessly. No all the more reasoning like the past. This is what is to come! Consider it along these lines. Presently a day you can have it done in the event that you can take in specific tips and traps. Time to prepare began!

Before you lay anything down on your solid floor. Make a point to clear the floor for rocks or whatever else from the floor. There are a few assortments of these liners you can browse to pick the best that suits your sub-floor. Laminate floors have a substantial determination of that may have worked in under liner. It’s still best prescribed to apply this clammy confirmation laminate underlayment to your solid floors. Protection is another idea you should put into thought. For engrossing commotion and keeping dampness out is a piece of these laminate underlayment’s obligations. There are distinctive kinds of commotion diminishment cover as well.

Mind the Gap

Prior to installation, it is important to remove the baseboards on the walls of the room where you are installing your laminate floor.  Laminate installation instructions always include “Be sure there is a 1/4″ gap between the laminate planks, the walls and any transitions.”  This space will easily be covered by the room’s baseboards once you re-install them.  This simple process is vital to the health and longevity of your laminate floors.  Like all wood products, laminate expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity.  When the laminate expands, this small space allows it to do so without buckling.  Using a 1/4 inch wide shim to verify your spacing around walls and between transitions will keep your floors looking great for years to come.

Make Smart Transition Choices

It doesn’t matter how thick your laminate is, even the thickest laminate has limits to how much square footage it can cover before its structural integrity is compromised. In order to ensure the strength of your laminate floor, it is best to install a transition at the threshold of every room.  Transitions are spaces where molding is installed to break up the laminate flow.  With a 1/4 inch space on either side of the transition space, your floor is able to expand at a variety of conditions.  This is especially important in multi-room installations as the varying environmental conditions between rooms can wreak havoc on the flooring.  For instance, for laminate installed in a dining room and kitchen, a transition piece in the doorway between the two rooms will allow the flooring in the kitchen, where temperature varies wildly, to expand at a different time and different rate than the flooring in the dining room, where the temperature remains more constant.  Transitions from laminate to tile, from laminate to carpet, and from laminate to laminate are available to ensure your floor looks finished and beautiful.

Installing your laminate floor is a fast, easy process provided you remember these two simple tips.  By minding the gap around walls and transitions and ensuring your transitions are appropriately placed, your laminate will give your home a modern flair and will last for years to come.

Install the First Row of Flooring

Before installing the floor, it’s important first to calculate the width of the flooring planks in the very first row and in the very last row. That’s necessary for a couple of reasons: First, the floor will look much better—and more balanced—when the first and last rows are approximately the same width. And more importantly, it’s critical that neither row be less than half the width of one full plank. Here’s how to do the necessary calculations:

Measure the width of the room and subtract 3/4 inch for the expansion space (3/8-inch gap along each wall). Then divide by the room width by the width of one plank. That’ll give you the number of full-width planks needed to cover the floor, plus the fractional width of any remaining plank. If the remaining width is less than half a plank, you must use a table saw or circular saw to rip down the flooring in the first row so that the last row will be at least half a plank wide. Sound confusing? It isn’t really. Here’s an example:

Let’s say the room is 123 inches wide, and the plastic-laminate planks are 7½ inches wide. Subtract 3/4 inch from 123, then divide by 7½ to get 16.3. That reveals that you’ll need 16 full planks to cover the room, plus 3/10ths of a plank. So, if you start the first row with full planks, the last row would be only 2-1/4 inches wide, which is 3/10ths of a plank. In this case, it would be necessary to rip 2 5/8 inches off the first row so that the first and last rows would each be 4 7/8 inches wide. Get it?

When setting down the first row of planks, be sure the edge with the tongue faces the wall, and the grooved edge faces out into the room.

How to end flooring at a doorway

Often, there’s no avoiding ending up at a doorway. When that happens, it’s a bit tricky because you have to slide the flooring under both jambs. Here’s how to handle it with just a little bit of trim carpentry.

1. Lift to fit:

Plan on a seam in the middle of the doorway. Notch and cut the first piece to fit and then slide it completely under the jamb. Notch the second piece so it’ll be just short of the door stop when it’s in place. Lift the flooring to get it around the corner and under the casing, then snap it in.

2. Slide both pieces over:

Once the two pieces are connected, slide them both over just far enough so that both jambs cover the flooring ends.

In your home

When you lay laminate flooring in your home, it’s important to consider whether your flooring is suitable for that particular room. As you can see from the room suitability chart above, laminate flooring can be installed in most areas within your home. However, rooms with high levels of moisture require extra caution and thought. While laminate is water resistant, it isn’t waterproof. In areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, large spillages and prolonged exposure to moisture causes lasting damage to your flooring.

Although it’s not advised, if you are fitting laminate flooring in either of these two areas, ensure you clean up any spills as quickly as possible. Laminate is also compatible with underfloor heating. As long as the temperature doesn’t exceed 27°C, it’s able to handle the heat without damage. For high-traffic rooms that may see a lot of people coming and going, such as hallways and living areas, laminate’s durability makes it the perfect choice. Its HDF (high-density fibreboard) core, as well as a scratch-proof protective wear layer, gives it added strength.

How To Manage Home Renovation Costs

Choosing A Builder

Do you plan to build your own home? Perhaps you’re looking to renovate or extend your existing home. Either way, there are many ways to make the right and wrong decisions when choosing a builder.

Get some advice

When choosing a builder, a good place to start is by asking any family and friends that have hired a builder to construct their home or renovate.

Licences and insurance

Whether you’re going through a home builder or you’re designing your own home or renovation works with help from an architect, it’s important that you choose a builder that is licenced, registered and insured.

You should be wary of builders that either refuse or don’t make it clear upfront that they are legally permitted to be involved in building and construction. Some builders’ licences or registrations may have simply expired or some may have had their licences revoked but are still involved in the building industry.

Experience and skills

Really question whether they have the skills you need. If they only have experience in renovations and extensions, they’re not the right choice for your home.

How To Choose The Best Home Renovation Loan?

Setting up your new home or redecorating an old one can be as daunting a task as it is exciting. Especially when it comes to managing finances. Bigger tasks such as renovation, remodelling, complete furnishing, require higher funds. Also, you can use it to enhance your home in many ways such as tiling and flooring, internal & external plaster and painting, etc. However, this should not cause any hindrance when setting up your dream house.

However, before taking a decision, make sure you consider some essential factors:

Need – First and foremost is deciding what you will use the loan amount for. List down all the activities and purchases you wish you carry out for your house. This will help you set a fixed budget.

Eligibility – Once you have decided on a budget, you should check the loan amount you are eligible for. Depending on your credit score, you can also get suitable interest rates.

Interest rates – Apart from your credit score, the loan amount as well as loan tenure also makes a difference to your interest rate. You can also opt for a fixed or floating interest rate, depending on your capability of repayment.

Fee – Along with the interest rates, also compare the fee being charged. Different repayment plans have different fee. A high fee can significantly increase the repayment amount.

Repayment option – Choose a repayment option and amount most suitable to your needs and abilities. You would want to go for an option that doesn’t create a hole in your pocket in the longer run.

expert renovating tips to remember

From choosing tradies to setting a budget and nailing your floorplan, our tips from those in the know will set you on the path to a successful renovation

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

“When shopping for a property to renovate, look for large spaces, lots of natural light and a back garden that faces north. Always have a building inspection done to confirm that the existing house is in good condition, and check that access for tradespeople is not too difficult.”

BEFORE YOU START

“Before starting a renovation, always check that the plumbing and electricals are up to scratch, and if there are any structural remedial works that need to be done, such as rectifying water damage or rising damp. They’re not the most exciting things to invest in, but it will help avoid costly repairs down the track.”

GETTING PLANS APPROVED

“To get plans approved quickly by council, make sure you know the rules and rationale for their existence. Design to meet that rationale and, if necessary, work the rules in favour of the right design.”

DIY DEMOLITION

“If this is a home you plan on selling in the future, look at recent sales and comparable renovations in the area to ensure you’re not overcapitalising.”

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST RENOVATION SPECIALIST FOR YOUR HOME RENOVATION

Your home renovation will be the biggest project that you are likely to undertake in your life.  Choosing the best renovation specialist for your home renovation is a crucial decision. In this article we will take a quick look at the criteria you should consider when picking a renovation specialist for your home renovation.

Extensive Experience.

Browse through a renovation specialists website, have a look at the projects that they have previously completed. Are there a reasonable amount of completed projects or only a few that have many highlighted pictures?  Make sure that the renovation specialist has successfully completed a variety of projects in the past. How long has the company been in business for? Do they have a long and proven track record of completing projects on time and on budget? Are they a reputable renovation specialist? Have a look at the reviews that mention their name. Are the reviewers happy about every aspect of the renovation? An established company with extensive positive reviews will be able to deliver the home renovation that you will love.

Compare Pricing.

Once you have a short list of home renovation specialist builders you will want to compare the prices that they quote. The temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote. However this is rarely the best thing to do. Calculator: The home renovation specialist that works with you on your budget is an ideal choice. The best renovation experts will be able to suggest cost saving measures and give advice as to where spending some extra cash for those special features will get you the desired outcome. An expert renovation builder will know how best to plan your home renovation to fit with your budget. If you want a champagne build, don’t go to a builder with a beer budget. Be realistic with your budgeting. Know what features are not negotiable and which ones you could do without.

Planning Time Frames

Having a clear plan of how your renovation will proceed is essential to remaining sane during a renovation. You will have a good idea when the kitchen or bathroom will be occupied and be able to plan around these eventualities. Have your renovator work on a plan with you. The best renovation specialists will have other jobs on too so you will have to negotiate a schedule that works for you both. Also remember that the weather may (will) affect your plans, so be prepared to be flexible.

Personality Match.

The last and possibly most important aspect of choosing a home renovations builder Brisbane is whether you can relate to one another. It is a little like choosing a partner.  This person is going to be in your life for an extended period of time and you will have to communicate about a wide variety of topics. Some of those discussions may be difficult. You should choose someone that you feel that you can trust on top of meeting all the other criteria. If you have a good clear relationship and you have been upfront about all of your expectations then you should expect the same from your renovations specialist

How to choose the right builder

When building a new home or undertaking a renovation, the most important decision you’ll make is picking the right builder. Choose well and the builder will bring your dream home to life, settle for less and you may regret it for years to come

Where to start

Brian Seidler, Master Builders Association NSW executive director, stresses how important it is to spend time doing research when selecting the right builder for a home building or renovation project.

“What builders want is detailed information about what has to be done. This is the most important thing for them to be able to accurately quote work and price. For example, engineering details and specifications for the concrete slab or footings are needed. An extra centimetre or two in thickness, or a different type of waterproofing product and process can add a significant chunk to the bottom line.”

Seidler also suggests going to the NSW Fair Trading website to see what information it has about your preferred builder. “See whether your builder has a licence to do home warranty work, that’s anything over $20,000. And whether they have any black marks, or a pattern of disputes with clients.”

What to look for

“Experience makes all the difference. Renovators should find out how and when the contractor got into business and how long the company has been around.”

The Benefits Of Metal Roof Over Tile Roof

HERE’S THE NITTY GRITTY OF RESTORING OLD TILE ROOFS

Restoring old tile roofs presents an intricate challenge for any roofing contractor. If not done correctly, newly restored roof tiles can lose their beauty in just a few short years. Often times, the reason for this occurring is that the contractor didn’t know how to deal with older style tiles which need additional preparation and care. An old tile roof can still be serviceable with a long life ahead. But prior to any restoration work, it will need correct treatment to protect and prepare it for a beautiful, long lasting top coat. 

When just pressure cleaning won’t cut it

If you’ve got a house with old roof tiles, even straight after pressure cleaning, you can still feel grittiness. You mightn’t think it’s a biggie…it’s just a bit of loose grit, right? Let me tell you, if there is any loose sediment, the surface will move under the new top-coat, causing it to lift. Your newly restored tiled roof will look rubbish in a few short years. That IS a biggie!

To prevent this from occurring, a specific type of primer must always be used to bind any loose sediments down. Not all roofing contractors are experienced in restoring old tile roofs as it’s a bit of a specialised area. They may not be aware of which is the right type of primer to use or the correct preparation steps to take prior to restoration.

HERE IS SOME HANDY ADVICE TO HELP YOU ADD YEARS OF LIFE TO YOUR ROOF.

RESPRAYING YOUR ROOF

Exposure to UV, pollution and other environmental factors can take their toll. If you have a concrete tile, composite or metal roof, it will gradually dull with time. This should be expected, but is also easily fixed with regular respraying.

EFFLORESCENCE – WAIT, WHAT’S THAT?

Occasionally, natural salts within concrete roof tiles can migrate to the surface to form a whitish-greyish discolouration. It’s called efflorescence and it’s just a temporary cosmetic thing. You will find that it should disappear on its own over time.

MOISTURE MEANS MOSS

Moss and lichen spores are everywhere in the air and they can settle and grow on most roofing materials. Moss and lichen grow only where there is sufficient build-up of moisture and dirt particles to support them. Removing the growth is easy. A quick turn with a low-pressure hose or a chemical solution will be enough to remove unwanted growth.

CHECK YOUR GUTTERS, DOWNPIPES AND VALLEYS

Uncleared gutters, downpipes and valleys are a common cause of roof leaks. You should give them an inspection regularly – at least once a year.

PAINTED ROOFS NEED REPAINTING

If you choose to have your concrete roof painted you will need to respray it again every five years or every so often to retain that fresh-coat lustre.

TYPES OF TILE ROOFS:

  • Clay-This is by far the most popular and most used type of tile roof. The clay tiles can be glazed or unglazed.
  • Granite-A newcomer to the tile roof, granite tiles are lovely and come in ivory or black.
  • Slate-Slate tiles have been used for over 1000 years and are very durable and make a beautiful roof.
  • Concrete-This medium for roofing tiles has come into its own in the last 100 years.

COMMON PROBLEMS TO WATCH FOR:

Dirt, mold or algae-If any of these are excessive on your tile roof, it may be best to consult with a tile roofing contractor. For small amounts, a long brush and a mild cleaner will work wonders.

Efflorescence-This is a naturally occurring reaction of rainwater affecting the limestone in the clay. It produces whitish marks and streaks, but it is not harmful and does not need to be removed. It will naturally go away with time.

Broken tiles-If you have many broken tiles, contact a tile roofing contractor. If it is just one or two, you can replace them yourself. There are many helpful videos available on the internet to assist you with this.

Roof And Loft Space Ventilation

Attics and loft spaces often get forgotten about, but it’s just as important to inspect these areas of the home on a regular basis as it is the surface of the roof itself.

Proper ventilation is essential to help regulate the temperature difference between the interior and exterior regions of the roof as such that it helps prevent the build-up of moisture and keeps humidity to a minimum.

If there’s a lack of ventilation, the structure of your roof will deteriorate at a much faster rate while also having a significant impact on your energy bills as well as the comfort of your home.

Roofs are particularly susceptible to damage in overheated and poorly ventilated homes. Fortunately, such problems are usually easy to fix, provided you identify them early enough.

When inspecting your attic, be sure to look out for any mould or mildew, since this indicates a damp problem, either due to a leaking roof or poor ventilation.

If the area is particularly damp, especially after rain, then a leaking roof is the most likely culprit. However, mould doesn’t necessarily need a great deal of moisture to form, in which case it could be a product of poor ventilation alone.

This is most likely to be the case if the area is still fairly dry.

Simple Roof Maintenance Tips to Ensure a Healthy Roof

The cost of replacing or repairing a roof is an expense most of us can ill afford. Luckily, by spending a few hours periodically to carry out scheduled maintenance, you can actually catch roof problems and solve them before they spiral out of control.

Below are seven simple roof maintenance tips to ensure a healthy roof for as long as possible:

1. Shingles

Keep a close eye to detect any missing or damaged shingles and/or roof sealant. Simply cleaning shingles and keeping them free of dirt can also reduce the risk for algae, moss, fungal and lichen growth that can compromise your roof’s integrity.

If you notice that some shingles on the roof are worn, damaged or missing, you must act fast. If you feel you can handle it, replace them yourself, but if not you can engage a professional contractor. It is critical that you check, since shingle damage is part of normal roof wear, and shingles alone are simple and cheap to replace.

2. Sealant

Replace the roof sealant as needed. Inspect every area of the roof where there is sealant and identify any signs of cracking or wear and tear. If present, you will need to remove the old sealant completely and apply new sealant in each area

3. Trim Overhanging Branches

As you go about routinely inspecting your roof, be on the lookout for trees that are growing near your home. If there are branches hanging too closely to or directly above your roof, they need trimming. The reason is that falling leaves will collect on the roof, retain moisture and then start to rot your tiles, making them much weaker. If this remains unsolved for a long time, it may result in even more damage to the entire roofing structure.

4. Inspect for Rust

If you constructed your roof using any metallic parts, then you need to check regularly that there is not corrosion/rust on the metal parts. If you notice rust developing, it’s important to wire-brush to remove the rust, prime and finally paint the affected areas of the metal to retain keep them healthy longer.

5. Clean the Gutters

Gutters that clog up can cause a lot of damage to your roof. The reason for this is that water accumulating on gutters can easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. By keeping your gutters clean and in good repair, you ensure they can serve their intended purpose, alleviating any immediate dangers to your roof in the process.

Find Out How To Troubleshoot Basic Garbage Disposal Problems

How To: Clean a Garbage Disposal

If your sink smells like the dumpster behind a restaurant, take ten minutes to clean out your garbage disposal with these freshening tips.

Consider the environment within the average in-sink garbage disposal: It’s cool, dark, and moist, and there’s a near constant influx of food that gets shredded and scattered about. No wonder it gets smelly from time to time! To clean a garbage disposal and eliminate the odor-causing bacteria, follow these instructions.

STEP 1
There are two cardinal rules when it comes to cleaning a garbage disposal. The first is always to disconnect the power to the appliance before working on it. The easiest way to cut its power is simply by unplugging it. Normally, it’s plugged in to the wall under the sink. If you can’t locate the outlet, go to the electrical panel in your house and cut electricity to the circuit on which the garbage disposal is powered. To confirm that the power is off, try turning on the garbage disposal.

Next, point a flashlight down the drain to identify objects that may be lodged in, or wound around, the impellers that macerate the solids sent through the disposal. Look for such things as bottle caps, aluminum can pull-tabs, or vegetable fibers. If you find any, remove these items with needle-nose pliers or tongs. Yes, the second rule of cleaning a garbage disposal is never to stick your hand into the chamber.

STEP 2
Drop about a dozen ice cubes into the garbage disposal, followed by a half-cup of rock salt. Restore power to the disposal, so that you can turn on the mechanism while running water down the drain. Keep it on for about a minute, until all the built-up grime and gunk has fallen away from the disposal blades. Check the drain with a flashlight again. If the blades are clean, go and shut the power back off.

STEP 3
Pour a cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda into the disposal. Let the combination fizz for about 15 minutes. In the process, the acidity of the solution kills bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli. Stick with the natural cleaners here; no toxic chemical should be used. Just as bacteria can come flying out of the disposal, compromising the sanitation of your kitchen sink, so too could a chemical.

STEP 4
While the vinegar and baking soda are busy fizzing inside the disposal, combine the two again—this time outside the appliance, on the counter—to create a thick paste. Put some of that paste on an old toothbrush, and use it to scrub down the top and bottom surfaces of the rubber flaps along the neck of the disposal. Those flaps are likely to be as bacteria-ridden as any other component. So while you’re at it, think about giving a good scrubbing to the rubber parts on your sink stopper, too, if there are any.

STEP 5
Now’s the time to engineer one final flush of the garbage disposal. First, plug the drain opening. Second, run the water in the sink until its basin is about three-quarters full. Add a teaspoon of dish soap, then finally remove the drain plug, letting the water drain out all while the disposal runs.

If you use your disposal daily, it’s a good idea to follow these steps once a week to clean it:

Step 1: With the disposal and faucet turned off, put six ice cubes in the chamber followed by 1 tablespoon of baking soda, three thin lemon slices, and 1 teaspoon of bleach. Top it all off with six more ice cubes.

Step 2: Turn the disposal on without running water until you hear the grinding stop.

Step 3: With the motor still running, flush with cold water for 30 seconds.

Thrifty Garbage Disposal Cleaning Tips

Did you know that your home’s garbage disposal needs to be cleaned regularly? During use, food particles and residue can be left behind and cause the unit to have an unpleasant odor.

The good news is that you don’t have to buy special, expensive products to do the job. Your disposal can be effectively cleaned with common items that you probably already have in your kitchen.  Learn some of the best ways to clean your garbage disposal with these 8 simple cleaning solutions.

1. Ice cubes 

One of the best disposal cleaning methods is with ice cubes from your freezer. Simply put a few handfuls of ice into the unit, then turn it on and run some cold water while the cubes grind. You’ll definitely hear the cubes working!

2. Ice and rock salt

You can also add a cup or so of rock salt to the ice cubes for some extra scrubbing power. Remember to run cold water when you turn the disposal on.

3. Baking soda and vinegar

A simple mixture of baking soda and vinegar is also a good dgarbage disposal cleaning method. Sprinkle about a half-cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a cup of white or apple cider vinegar. Let the mixture bubble up and sit for five to ten minutes, then turn on the disposal and run water to distribute the mixture throughout the unit.

4. Citrus

Any type of citrus peel is a good disposal deodorizer. Lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit peels will all help refresh your sink and system. Be sure to cut the peels into small enough pieces for the unit to handle, then turn on the unit and run water while the peels grind.

5. Borax

You can also sprinkle a few tablespoons of borax into the disposal, followed by running water.

Tips for Deodorizing a Garbage Disposal

If the disposal is really smelly, or you have tried other cleaners and still get a foul odor, you can use a diluted bleach solution of two parts warm water and one part bleach. Don’t use more than 1/3 cup of bleach, and wear gloves when pouring into the drain. After pouring the bleach solution into the drain, run warm (not hot) water down the drain for several seconds.

Using citrus peels is another popular way to freshen up a smelly garbage disposal. The citrus oils in the peels certainly add some fragrance to the air, but the fact is, the peels do little to clean the disposal, and they do nothing to get rid of those slimy areas (which you’ve hopefully already cleaned with a sponge).

To give your disposal a little spritz, grind a small handful of citrus peels (cut into small pieces) in the disposal with cool water. If desired, you can also add a few ice cubes. The citrus oil can give the disposal a pleasant smell that lasts a little while. Keep in mind that this freshening method works best on a relatively clean disposal.

Ways to Clean a Smelly Garbage Disposal

The convenience of a garbage disposal is undeniable, as it simplifies a lot of our kitchen cleanups. However, frequent use of it can lead to unpleasant odors. If you have noticed a less than pleasant scent emerging from your garbage disposal, know that this is not permanent. Ridding your garbage disposal of a smell is not a laborious task.

In fact, you probably already have all of the ingredients to do the job. Here are nine tips on how to clean garbage disposal, and get rid of those lingering smells immediately.

1. Clean the Visible Portion of the Disposal

Slather a generous amount of dishwashing soap onto a dish wand or scrub brush. Scrub the visible part of the garbage disposal. Be particularly aware of the joint where the disposal rim meets the sink basin because small food particles and debris have a tendency to get trapped there. Even mold can grow in this area.

2. Soak the Housing

It is always advisable to run the kitchen faucet when you operate the garbage disposal. This helps your disposal get rid of all of the bits of food trapped in the housing.

If you notice that your appliance smells bad, it may be time to give the housing a thorough soak. Stop the sink drain, fill the basin about halfway with water and then add a bit of dish soap or vinegar. Next, unplug the drain while activating the garbage disposal. This propels the soapy water through the housing, rinsing off its hidden nooks and crannies.

3. Dislodge Slimy Residue

Kosher salt is an effective abrasive cleaner that can adequately dislodge slimy residue. First, pour a large cup of ice cubes into the garbage disposal, switch it on while adding a half-cup of the salt. The ice and salt combination should grind away what remains of the odor-causing residue. This is yet another quick fix to a dirty drain using simple items that you already have in your freezer and pantry.

4. Citrus

Citrus fruits can help your drain stay clean as well as act as a deodorizer. If you have an extra lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit lying around, try grinding a few peels — or even the entire fruit — to imbue the kitchen with a fresh citrus scent. Not only will this help your kitchen smell great, but the rough peels help to clean the blades and the disposal wall. The citrus oils do a fantastic job of keeping your garbage disposal fresh.

5. Routine Flushing

Don’t wait for your disposal to start smelling bad before you act. Garbage disposals require active and preventative care.

Turn on the garbage disposal and run a thick stream of hot water through it for at least one minute. This should be long enough to push particles through the pipes in your house. This is an ideal method for reducing and removing odor, as it doesn’t require you to purchase any extra ingredients. This is a tip that you should do after each time that you run the machine.

This Is Why Party Bus Rentals Are So Important

Quinceanera Party Bus

Choosing the right party bus for your Quinceañera party will make your day to be a memorable one. Riding in a party bus is the best way of making your Quinceañera to be perfect. The style and luxury that comes with a party bus, will add to the uniqueness of your Quince party. On this wonderful occasions, it is very important that you rent a good and comfortable party bus that will take you and your friends safely and stylishly to your Quince celebration.

However, on this special day, the first thing that should come to your mind is how to choose the best party bus in Houston. Do you have la hard time with choosing the best professional party bus rental company that will make your celebration a success? That should not be a problem

You may be very excited to pick a fun venue and a pretty dress. However, planning ahead for your transportation is also a very important things to do, make sure you get the best bus rental company to transport you safely to your venue. If your Quinceañera celebration is in March, April, May and June and you hesitate to make a schedule with a party bus rental company in Houston, you may get disappointed at the end of the day as all of them will be booked for prom and weddings. Booking for your ride few month ahead of time is a very smart idea, this way, you are sure to get your ride take you to your venue. And you will also have that extra time to make other necessary arrangements to make your Quinceañera to be perfect

Who will be accompanying you in your bus? Your Quinceañera court? Your parents? Making a reservation with a bus rental company in Houston will help you choose a party bus with enough space. It will be bad to hire a party bus and later finding out that it doesn’t contain you and your friends, parents or your Quinceañera court. At S and T’s Party Bus Huston, the size of the bus is never a problem. There are many buses of different sizes to choose from. Just make the necessary arrangements and leave the rest for S and T’s Party Bus Houston to provide you with exactly what you need.

Are you looking for a way of gracing your Quinceañera party with style and class in Houston? Have you been looking for the best bus drivers in Houston? If you have, then S and T’s Party Bus Houston is your best option. What better way to feel safe and comfortable on your Quinceañera party. You are sure to arrive in style and look beautiful in your pretty dress or suit. That’s not all, you will also have the best driver to drive you and your friends to your party at a very affordable price

How Much Is a Party Bus? Your Pre-Party Planning Guide

The Party Supply Rental industry has grown by 3.1% over the past five years and is expected to reach $6 Billion by the end of 2019.  And it’s a growing business for good reason… who doesn’t like a party bus?

How Much is a Party Bus

Many different factors impact the price of a party bus. However, a general average is $700 to $1000.

Choosing The Right Party Bus

When you start your party bus research, you’ll find that there are many different types of party bus rentals to choose from.

Duration of the Ride

Most party buses will be offered in blocks of time, usually in four-hour increments. Even if you only need the bus for two hours, you will still be charged for the base rate.

Picking Up and Dropping Off

The time of day you choose to be picked up and dropped off will impact the total cost of your experience. Just like rideshare apps have surge pricing during busy hours, it will be more expensive to get a bus during weekend evenings than during weekdays

Making the Most of Your Party Bus Rental

When celebrating life’s milestones from proms to bachelor and bachelorette parties to family reunions to switching bodies with a parent and learning a valuable lesson, a party bus rental can be one of the most fun ways to do it. You get an endlessly customizable space that’s as wholesome or as decadent as you want it to be. And where else can you drink and “drive” in complete safety, or be seen while sightseeing?

But the truth is you don’t even need a reason to rent a party bus. Picture this: instead of jostling for a bartender’s attention and yelling over strangers, you and your friends can create a built-for-you nightlife alternative—maybe even for a lower cost than a typical night out (depending on how many people you invite). If you plan to rent a party bus

Choosing a Party-Bus Theme

Clever party themes elevate standard shindigs to legendary status, which means all the more reason to pick a good one for your next mobile affair. Even if it’s not apropos to the event you’re celebrating, a random unifying concept will instantly grab the attention of passersby and result in some unforgettable selfies

Recommended Decorations: Balloons, streamers, and banners are all easy to tape up and pull down later without incurring a cleaning fee. Also, don’t overlook the advantage of having a TV in the bus; you can add to the atmosphere with movies or photo slideshows.

Recommended Costumes: Masks, wigs, hats, and custom T-shirts are always smart options, since they can be removed easily and free guests to dress to their own comfort level

RENTING A PARTY BUS? THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

When you’re renting a party bus, you only want the best. To get not only the best bus, but the best experience, there are a few things you should know prior to actually hiring one. These tips help you pick the perfect party bus for your needs while still getting a fair price.

Check The Capacity

It should be obvious that a party bus only fits a set number of passengers, but sometimes extra people suddenly want to come at the last minute. Before you decide on a bus, get a concrete number for the maximum passengers that may be riding. For best results, rent a party bus that fits at least a few more than your maximum number. This leaves plenty of room for everyone. Remember that you may void your contract if you try to place more people on the bus than allowed.

See The Bus In Person

Never under any circumstances hire a party bus without seeing it in person first. The only real exception is if you’ve rented the exact bus before and trust the company. Pictures online often look great, but you may not be renting a party bus that’s the same as the pictures. Reputable companies have no problem letting you check out your bus prior to renting it.

Get A Contract

Always ask for an easy to understand contract with every fee listed clearly. The last thing you want is to discover hidden fees that you have to pay after you’ve already committed. Renting a party bus doesn’t have to be complicated. By having a clear quote in advance, you’ll know what to expect and won’t have any nasty surprises that ruin your fun.

Divide Costs In Advance

Part of the reason to get a set cost in advance is so you have time to divide the costs among each passenger that’s paying. You don’t have to worry about this part if you’re paying for it all yourself. Most limo companies require an upfront deposit, so be prepared. If you are splitting costs, getting the money before the final payment is due ensures that you’re not shorted at the last minute by your friends.

How Big Of A Party Bus Do I Need? Check Out This Guide For Answers

Whether you’re planning a bachelorette party, a wine tour, or a huge birthday bash, party buses make awesome modes of transportation. Planning the logistics of the event can get kind of complicated sometimes. For instance, you may be asking yourself, “How big of a party bus do I need?” Well, here are steps you can follow to help you figure that out.

Get a rough roster together: When you start planning your event, put together a rough list of people you want to invite. Think of every single person you would want to be at the party, and then slowly dwindle the list down if you have more people than you want. If you have the perfect amount of people for the party, you’re golden

Send out the invitations: Once your roster has been finalized, you can start sending out the invitations. Make sure you enclose all the important details in the invitations.

Count all RSVPs: Those RSVP are really important. When you get the calls, texts, or response cards back, make sure you have a good system for keeping track of them. If you haven’t heard from someone and it’s a day or two before the RSVP date, reach out to them and find out if they plan on coming.

Get the final headcount: After you’ve heard back from everyone, determine the final headcount. After you have a number in mind, make sure you included yourself. You would be surprised how often party planners forget to count themselves

Home Electrical Safety Inspection Tips

The Importance of Safety Inspections and Electrical Testing

The importance of electrical safety testing and inspections cannot be understated. While the majority of the devices we use are fully dependent on electricity, most of us tend to overlook electrical wiring safety. Often, we only contact a professional electrician when a breaker has already tripped, or an entire circuit has already stopped working. This negligence for electrical wiring safety is one of the main culprits of electrical hazards resulting in property damages, injuries, and loss of lives.

One of the crucial things to keep your residence or commercial establishment safe from electrical hazards is by having your electric wiring tested and inspected regularly. A periodic electrical safety inspection will:

  • Uncover potential fire hazards and electric shock risks
  • Determine any faulty or inferior quality electrical work
  • Reveal problems or absence of appropriate grounding system in your premise
  • Identify old or outdated wiring
  • Spot appliances that are operating erratically

As important as having your wiring system inspected in a fairly regular basis is the need to see to it that you contact only those licensed electricians to conduct the inspection. A certified expert electrician can thoroughly check your electrical system, and offer suggestions after inspecting to ensure the safety and optimal performance of all appliances and wiring systems within your premises.

Old or Outdated Wiring

Most electrical wiring systems can be expected to last for around 30 or 40 years, but about one-third of homes in the U.S. have had the same wiring for over 50 years. If your home’s electrical wiring is in need of an update, you may notice these signs:

  • Fuses that frequently blow
  • Circuit breaker trip repeatedly
  • You use extension cords and surge protectors in several outlets

Extension cords, surge protectors, and switching circuits back on should all be temporary solutions to problems. If they become normal parts of your home life, you should have your electrical system inspected to ensure that it’s safe. Our electricians will help you determine whether your wiring needs to be replaced.

ElectaCourse News: Electrical Inspection and Testing

Individuals who are new to the testing and inspection of electrical installations will greatly benefit from the 2392 home study course. This course is presented in six easy to access modules, and it is designed to ensure that …

An electrical inspection is not only done once or twice. There should be a regular home inspection thereafter, to avoid any faulty wiring or short circuit as a result of pest infestation or exposure of wires to weather elements. You can perform electrical inspection by yourself by checking all the wiring, circuits and appliances. Determine the condition of your switches or replace dead bulbs. All these you can do without the help of an electrician and saves you a lot of money too.

However, if you have a large house or office, you can always contact a professional Denver electrician to perform a regular comprehensive electrical inspection. For industrial electrical inspections, here’s a video demonstrating the actual inspection and testing before installation is performed.

Importance of home electrical safety inspection

All electrical installations/wiring will deteriorate with age and use. However, most home owners often overlook the wiring condition. At the most, an electrical safety inspection will only be called when a breaker has already been tripped or a fuse has already been blown. It is not surprising that an electrical fault is a common cause for house fires.

Having your electrical wiring inspected is one of the most important things to keep your home safe from electrical hazards. You don’t want to risk the lives of your loved ones, nor getting your property damaged due to electrical fires. Therefore, electrical safety should be a top priority in your home.

A proper electrical safety inspection will:

  • Identify electrical wiring and components that may have degraded over time.
  • Reveal if any electrical circuits are overloaded.
  • Reveal if any lack of earthing.
  • Identify any defective wiring or other mistakes made by non-certified electricians or DIY home-owners.
  • Spot oversized fuses or breakers that may cause an electrical fire hazard.
  • Find any potential electric shock risks.

What will I receive upon the completion of an Electrical Safety Inspection?

Although currently there isn’t any legislative documentation or certification that is required upon a completion of an Electrical Safety Inspection, it is recommended that one or more of the following is supplied to the Client by the electrician:

  • Energy Safe Victoria’s (ESV) Certificate of Home Safety Inspection – Report
  • A checklist listing all observed and tested appliances, circuits and outlets including explanations if applicable
  • A detailed report outlining any observations that may be considered a potential hazard
  • Recommendations to prevent any electrical failures in the future

Any documentation you receive should be kept in a safe and accessible place should you require it in the future (e.g. insurance purposes, future electrical projects, to accompany a WHS report, or as an asset when selling the property).

Important Tips For Long Distance Moving

WHAT IS LONG DISTANCE MOVING?

In contrast to local or intrastate moves, long distance moving falls under federal regulation for transporting items from state to state. Companies that perform long distance, or interstate, moves must also have insurance policies that help to protect the items transported and the customer.

LONG DISTANCE MOVING COMPANY

Moving can be one of the most stressful experiences in your life, especially if the move in question is going to take you across long distances. Whether you’re relocating for work or just looking for a change of scenery, there shouldn’t be anything standing in the way of picking up and moving cross-country, but for most people, there is.

No, it isn’t just leaving your comfort zone to set your life down among new people and surroundings, but the move itself. Luckily, there’s a way to make moves of any distance as easy and stress-free as possible. That’s where we come in.

What is considered a long distance move?

Every company will define long distance moving differently, but it’s typically considered to be moving more than 100 miles and across state lines. Long-distance moves are also referred to as interstate moves.

What companies offer these services?

The three main options for long-distance moving are:

  • Full service. Includes packing, loading, unloading and transportation.
  • Truck Rental. Includes use of the equipment for a certain number of days/miles.
  • Self-Move. Includes transportation, and allows for significant cost savings.

8 cheap ways to move across country

Most people move for a new job, to attend school or to be closer to family. Whatever your reason is for making the move, you’ll want to save money wherever you can. Here are eight of the best ways to save money when you move:

  1. Purge your belongings
    If you lighten your load, you’ll pay less in moving costs. Have a yard sale, sell what you don’t need on Craigslist or similar sites, donate what you can to charities and stop acquiring new things before you leave. Taking a few steps to declutter your home will make your move easier and cheaper.
  2. Make your move seasonal
    Summer is the most expensive time to move because that’s when families are getting settled before the new school year starts. Leases tend to expire towards the end of the month, so you’ll have more people booking moving companies the last week of the month than the first or second. Try to move at a different time of the year, in the middle of the month and on a weekday when there’s less competition for movers.
  3. Shop around for the best prices
    Don’t book the first mover you talk to. Get estimates from long distance movers that specialize in cross-country moves. Compare what you’ll pay. Remember to measure costs and services. A lower price from a company that calls themselves a discount mover might mean you pay for extras that you wouldn’t pay for with a higher priced company.
  4. Look for moving discounts
    While you’re shopping around, don’t neglect to ask for available discounts. AAA moving discounts are available for members and some moving companies provide reduced rates at certain times of the year (generally during their slower seasons, like winter).
  5. Consider doing the move yourself
    Shop around to find the cheapest truck rental for moving. Truck rentals are reasonably priced through companies like U-Haul and Budget Truck Rental, and most of these companies offer one-way rental trucks. If you really want to keep your budget tight, pack up your car with only your most critical belongings, or hitch a trailer to your car. It’s a good way to save money and start over. Handling the move yourself with just the bare essentials is one of the cheapest ways to move long distance.
  6. Use a portable moving container
    One of the cheapest ways to move out of state is to use a portable storage container. Mobile storage units can help you cut down on costs and stress by keeping all of your things in one place until it’s time to relocate. Companies like PODS provide a great way to store your belongings before and after the actual move. A cross-country trip could cost as little as $1,500.
  7. Ship your things
    You can also travel with your stuff while someone else does the driving. If you don’t have furniture to move and you’ve managed to reduce your load significantly, you can ship what you need to your new home using FedEx, UPS or the U.S. Postal Service. You can get on a bus or a train or even book a flight across the country to your final destination. You may have to pay for extra baggage fees, but those might cost a lot less than what you pay a moving company.
  8. Be frugal, and save money wherever you can
    Instead of buying boxes from a retailer, visit grocery stores and department stores to collect the boxes that they would normally recycle. See what you can find on Craigslist, and remember that the packing tape you buy at a discount shop is probably just as good as the packing tape you buy at a high-end retailer. Accept help wherever you can, whether it’s your family offering to help you pack or a friend donating frequent flyer miles for your trip.

Professional moving services

Considering the huge competition in the moving industry and the constant struggle for more customers, especially during the off-season, the range and quality of the services a moving company offers to their clients is what sets apart the great movers from the mediocre or even bad ones.

Do moving companies pack for you? They will, if you want them to. Obviously, quick and safe packing is the number one extra service that movers have in their arsenal of magic tricks to please their customers. If you don’t have much time until your move-out date (emergency or last-minute moving) or if you own a number of special items that require professional packing (antique furniture, a piano, or a hot tub), then your choice is clear. Professional packers will arrive at your home with all the necessary packing supplies too! (Should I hire professional packers?)

Do moving companies disassemble furniture? If they have to do it, they will do it. In fact, there are a number of reasons why some of your furniture may need to be taken apart for moving: 1) some large pieces will not go through narrow doorways, hallways or staircases unless they are disassembled, 2) other furniture pieces will have highly breakable glass elements or delicate ornaments that can only be saved if packed separately. Professional movers will come with the right tools and proper moving equipment too! (Will movers disassemble furniture?)
Do moving companies store your stuff? Most of the reputable and trustworthy moving companies offer the additional service of placing all or part of your household items in storage until you are ready to receive them. Keep in mind that that extra service can literally save you a lot of troubles when you’re in the middle of a house renovation project, when you’re still looking for a new home but have to move out of the old one, and when you have to do a temporary move and have no other place to leave your stuff.

Why hire a long distance mover?

Before you start preparing for your house move, it’s important that you take the time to think about how exactly you are going to handle the house moving project. To make an informed decision, you’ll need to take a closer look at several key points, the major one being the DISTANCE between Point A (the current home you’re moving out of) and Point B (the destination home you’re about to move into soon).

Theoretically, when the move distance between the two homes is greater than 100 miles, then you’re facing a long distance move. Therefore, when moving 500 miles, 1,000 miles or 2,000 miles across the entire country, then the upcoming move becomes not only increasingly complicated and challenging, but also rather risky and dangerous for everyone involved.

Long distance moving falls well outside the comfort zone of Do-It-Yourself moves due to a couple of main reasons: expenses and risks.

  • Self-move expenses. The cost of renting a moving vehicle of the right size and purchasing the required insurance is the first step. Then add the cost of fuel, road tolls, parking fees, meals and lodgings along the trip as well. Factor in the cost of all the packing supplies and the price of renting or purchasing the necessary moving equipment (a moving dolly). Finally, set up a contingency fund because you never know what may happen on the road to your new home.
  • Risks and dangers. Driving a big rental moving truck across multiple state lines is a risky business, especially if you’ve never done it before. Each driven mile increases the risk of something bad happening on the road. Sustaining personal injuries or inflicting property damage are two other highly undesirable scenarios that will further complicate the risk assessment task when moving without using the services of a long distance mover.

Window Cleaning Tips By Professional Window Cleaners

What’s the best thing to clean windows with?

We recommend washing your windows with soapy water. Fill a bucket with a simple solution of washing-up liquid and warm water, but avoid creating too many soap suds as these will leave further marks if allowed to dry. Start washing windows using a non-abrasive sponge. Alternatively, try a specific window-cleaning fluid, but be careful that strong formulas don’t damage surrounding paintwork.

How to cleaning windows without streaks – wipe off any excess cleaner

To remove soapy water from glass, use a clean squeegee to work from top to bottom in a reverse S pattern. Periodically wipe the squeegee blade on a clean rag to avoid smearing dirt around. Remove remaining water with a damp chamois or microfibre cloth and dry the windowsill. Avoid paper towels or cloths that might leave lint on the glass. For exterior upper-floor panes, it’s worth investing in a gadget with a U-shaped pole to avoid reaching out of top-floor windows!

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST WINDOW CLEANER

MATERIALS

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dish detergent

TOOLS

  • bucket
  • scrub brush
  • optional extension pole
  • water hose
  • optional sprayer attachment

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Combine water, white vinegar and dish detergent in a bucket. Increase amounts as needed.
  • Using a soft bristle scrub brush on an extension pole handle thingy, dip the brush in a bucket of the solution, and scrub it on the window.
  • Before it has a chance to dry, spray/rinse it off with clean water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. A hose fitted with a sprayer attachment is helpful.

Don’t neglect window screens

If you have metal window screens, write a number on each window in erasable pencil. Write a corresponding number on the screen before removing it from the window so you know which screen goes back where.

Remove the screens and dust the mesh and frame with the soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Scrub both sides of the screen with a stiff brush dipped in detergent solution (if you are doing this in the bath, line it with towels to prevent scratching the finish). Rinse using a shower attachment or the fine spray nozzle of a hosepipe. Leave to dry thoroughly in a sunny spot before refitting to the window.

Warnings and Precautions for Using Cleaners

Always label the contents of your cleaner bottles. Label it clearly in big letters with what is in the bottle. “Vinegar Glass Cleaner” or “Rubbing Alcohol and Vinegar Glass Cleaner” are good labels. It is also wise to add the date when you mixed the ingredients. If you aren’t getting good results, that date might tell you why. Store cleaning products separately from cooking ingredients. You don’t want to confuse rubbing alcohol with drinking alcohol or use diluted vinegar in a recipe.

Warning

Do not reuse empty cleaner bottles. Buy a new bottle for your glass cleaner. Both vinegar and alcohol act as solvents and will pick up any traces of other chemicals that were in an old spray bottle. Even if you have a degree in chemistry, it’s wise to avoid unwanted chemical interactions. With a new, clean bottle you won’t have to worry about unintended reactions. Keep all glass cleaners out of the reach of children and pets. The ingredients can be irritating, and rubbing alcohol is flammable.

Truth or myth? Is newspaper the best glass cleaner?

Get a bang for your buck with these unusual newspaper uses.

Claim:

Newspapers are an effective way to wipe glass windows clean, sans streaks.

It’s True!

Compared to paper towels, newspaper fibers are more rigid and will not separate and cause lint. According to The Daily Reporter, more than 90% of U.S. papers switched from petroleum-based ink, which caused stains and smears, to the cheaper, smear-free alternative of soy-based ink by 2000. The switch rendered the newspaper perfect for multi-purpose use!

Want to try this cleaning method out yourself? Grab your local paper and look for the official Soy Ink Seal to see whether the ink is petroleum-based or soy-based. You can also test by holding the paper  between your thumb and index finger for a minute or more. If your fingers are stained, the paper uses petroleum-based ink and is no good for glass cleaning. If your fingers are stain-free, mix equal parts vinegar and water for your cleaning solution then use the newspaper to clean the glass as you would with a paper towel. You can also use old newspapers to ripen tomatoes, deodorize food containers, kill weeds and more, according to Friends of the Earth!