“By doing a little preventative maintenance now, you can prevent minor problems from escalating into a major headache in the spring,” Felton said. “Minor repairs done now can prevent air and moisture penetration from attacking the structural integrity of your home down the road,” he added.

Cleaning the eavestroughs in the fall, for example, can prevent ice damming in the winter, where moisture is forced up under the roof’s shingles during winter’s freeze-thaw cycles. “Our roofing contractors are always busy in the spring, fixing damage and leaks that have occurred because of ice damming,” Felton added.

Here are some home maintenance jobs that should be on a homeowner’s winterizing checklist:

• Clean eavestroughs after the last leaves have fallen. Run a garden hose and check that they are draining properly and that downspouts are operating and directed away from the home’s foundation walls. Check for leaking or damaged gutters, downspouts and hangers. Remove rust and patch the gutters with roofing cement. Caulk leaking seams and make sure pop rivets are secure.
• Check the roof for trouble signs such as broken or missing shingles, cracked, buckling or curling shingles, or bare spots where the granular coating has worn off. Check flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys. Look for pieces that have peeled back and for cracked caulking that could allow moisture penetration.
• Have the chimney cleaned and check the exterior structure for worn flashing, loose bricks or crumbling mortar.
• Have your furnace cleaned, inspected and safety checked. Depending on the system, you will need to have the furnace vacuumed, the filter changed and the pilot checked.
• Check for blockage of attic louvres by wasp’s nests and put sheet metal, wire screen or wood over any openings, including under the eaves, to prevent animals from nesting.
• Remove and store your window air conditioner. Make sure to clean the coils and filters and cover loosely for the winter. If you are leaving the air conditioner in the window, put a weatherproof cover over it to protect it during the winter.
• Clean your lawnmower and other garden tools before storing. Give all the metal parts of your tools a wipe with an oiled rag to prevent rusting. Drain the fuel from gas-powered machines and run the engine until the lines are clear. Drain the oil and replace it. Clean caked-on grass and debris.
• Check doors and windows for proper caulking and weatherstripping. Do the draft test: hold a lit candle and run it along the seams of doors and windows. A flickering flame means your heating dollars are going out the window.  Check the bottoms of doors for a snug threshold seal or door sweep.
• Make sure your fireplace is in safe working order. Check that the damper opens and closes smoothly and fits properly to prevent heat loss. Check inside the fireplace to make sure no bricks are loose or broken. If your fireplace is smoking excessively, check the chimney for fallen bricks. Installing a chimney cap can cure a smoking fireplace by improving the draft.
• Drain exterior water lines, hose bibs, sprinklers, and pool equipment before the first major freeze. Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.
• Clean your barbecue and store it in a protected place for the winter. Never store propane tanks indoors.
• Clean patio furniture and store, loosely covered, in a dry place.
• Wash windows to let in the maximum heat and light during cold winter days.

Doing your fall chores can make your life easier come spring, when you would rather be fishing than fixing winter damage. There are a lot more tips included on Home Renovation Contractors on the official Homeserviceclub website.

Have you ever had a problem with a home contractor? You’re not alone. A friend of mine paid over seven thousand dollars to have his roof repaired, only to have it leak the next time it rained. The contractor made excuses, but never did a thing about it – and my friend was an attorney! To make situations like this less likely, avoid the following mistakes when hiring a contractor.

1. Not being clear about what you want. When you don’t know what you want, you might not like what you get. If you change your mind and change the job halfway through, the contract – and price – will change. Hint: it won’t get cheaper. Be clear on what you want done.
2. Not getting it in writing. Hearing “I didn’t say I was going to include the gutters,” could be a problem, or you could point to the contract.
3. No dates in the contract. Do you want the job finished this year? Be sure you have it in the contract.
4. Too much money up front. Deposits are a reasonable request when contracts are signed. The home contractor may need money for materials prior to the start date. But never pay in full before the job is finished.
5. Unlicensed contractors. This can be okay, if you know what you are doing (and he does). A license doesn’t mean you get expertise, but it does mean you get leverage. Contractors will right their wrongs to avoid losing that license.
6. Hiring the first in the phone book. Talk to friends who had work done, or to the owner of a hardware store. Get a recommendation based on a similar job to yours.
7. Assuming there will be no problems. Delays due to weather, employees quitting, and more will happen. A few problems is okay, but it’s not okay if the contractor can’t work out the issues to your satisfaction.
8. Expecting neatness. Guess what? It is sometimes more efficient to leave things laying where they’ll next be used. There will be messes, so prepare accordingly. Cover up things if it will be a dusty job, for example. Also be clear in the contract that the jobsite will be cleaned up at the end of the job.
9. No penalties in the contract. It’s one thing for a contract to say “Work to be completed by May 2nd.” That helps, but it’s better to add, “$100 per day to be deducted from the contract price for each day the job is unfinished beyond May 2nd. It’s what I call a motivational clause.
10. Thinking contracts eliminate problems. Contracts help, but unreasonable people on either side of a contract can ignore them, or even use “literal readings” to make things worse. Find a home contractor you can work with, and keep your eyes open.

It’s a fact that the current state of your home can change how you feel every day. This  is  specially true when you are working at home as having things your way will surely make you feel good. You’ll be able to find yourself being at a better mood while your family thanks you for it. With the help of this article, you will be able to know some of  the things you can do to turn your home into a wonderful place for you and your family.

First thing that you need to do is to take a walk around your house. Then you will need to take notice of anything that annoys or bothers you. If you have your own family with you, you can try doing this with your spouse, but you can do it alone nevertheless. If you see that  there’s a portion of your home that can be improved, then think of the best way to improve it. Just keep in mind that you will want to feel good once the improvement is finished.

Enlarging your house’s space is also a good option. There will come a point when your house will start to get cluttered and it’s only practical to expand for more space. With the right remodeling plan, you will be able to open up more space in your house without compromising its current state.

Adding recreational facilities like a pool or a tennis court is also something that you can do for your home. With such facilities, you will be able to have recreational activities with your family or friends and spend some quality time with them. You may also consider getting a fitness room in your home as it can help your relieve stress while staying healthy and keeping your body fit at the same time. In addition to all of those, such additions will surely improve the overall value of your home.

You should also know that changing the lighting fixtures will be essential to the improvement of your home. It’s quite surprising how such fixtures can make significant improvements for your home. The best  thing about this is that changing lighting fixtures is very affordable in the first place.

You will also want to improve the exterior of your home. Simply adding paint and remodeling your house’s roof can make a lot of difference and improvement. If you have your own yard, you will want it improved too.

Most of the time, having a garden in your backyard is something that adds appeal to your home. If you’re not much  of a green thumb, you can always call an expert to help you setup the garden that you want for your yard. Also, looking at gardens tend to  put people in a better mood which is another reason why you should get one. You also get to enjoy growing flowers and vegetables if you have your own garden.

One other area that you should take notice of in your home are the windows. If you have a beautiful garden or yard, you will want to enjoy the view by looking out the window of your home. However, old windows can sometimes ruin the mood if you’re fond of details. Having that in mind, you will want to consider putting on new windows for your home.

We truly hope that these tips were able to help you come up with some plans for home improvement. Just keep in mind that improving your own will always be a benefit for yourself and for your entire family. With the right home improvements, you’ll be able to feel motivated with your work and you get to spend a great time with your family.

If you want to improve the look of your home, then you cannot go wrong when it comes down to home renovations. Home renovation projects are really amazing and they can no doubt improve the look of your home, boost its value, and get you excited about your own home again.

There are actually plenty of different kinds of home renovation projects, which you will be able to do to your home such as remodeling the kitchen, changing furniture, adding new rooms, and just about anything you can imagine. However, these kinds of home renovations can be quite expensive, so just keep that into mind if you plan on moving forward. So here is some options you can do if you are on a small budget.
Changing up the Paint

One of the best kinds of home improvements, that you can do is changing the paint on your home and the best part about this kind of project, it is affordable. So just get some paint and change up the look and feel of your home with the stroke of a brush.

Making a Portrait Wall

If you want to change up the interior of your house, then you may want to consider having a portrait wall where you have pictures of all of your friends and family. So a good method you can use is to simply go to your local store and see if you are able to find some cheap frames for the photos. Also, you will want to see if you can find some other things to help decorate, such as glitter pens, craft paint, and embellishments like seashells, stones, and also beads.

Visiting the Thrift Store

If you want to find new things for your home at an affordable price, then a thrift store will be like heaven for you. You can find just about anything you can imagine in these stores, so go wild and check them out.

Renovating the Bathroom

A popular home renovation project that a lot of people do is to remodel the bathroom. On a tight budget, you may not be able to remodel the entire bathroom but you can still change the look while not spending a fortune. You can change the paint in the room. You could add some accents. And you can even change some things like a lighting fixture or even the shower curtains.
So as you can see, the sky is the limit when it comes down to home improvement projects, even when you are on a budget.

Every wants to save money, this is very important for a lot of different kinds of reasons but this also means that people try to cut corners as well. However, when people take shortcuts, they do this because they want to be able to save money, however in the long run they will end up costing them even more money, because they will most likely need to redo whatever they cut a corner on.

Some other kinds of things you will want to keep into mind of as well are the professionals you hire, because even though they are cheap it does not mean they will provide you a good service. However, it is usually the fault of the homeowners, because they will hire a cheap professional, hoping they will get a good deal as well as good quality work, but it usually does not work that way because they are cheap for a reason.

When it comes down to home renovation services, you will most definitely get what you pay for. So always keep that into mind.

But there are still some methods you can use in order to do home improvement without having to break the bank in the process, because you can find top notch professionals that can offer you fair prices with high quality work. Also, there is quite a few different kinds of methods out there that you will want to keep into mind of.

One of the best ways to find a good contractor that can really help you out is by referrals, so always ask your friends and family if they will be able to help you out. Also, asking other contractors and tradesmen is a great way for you to be able to find someone that can help you with your home improvement projects.

Be sure to check up on those references in person. Also when you have references, it is always a good idea to check them personally as well. This will not only help you figure out if the contractor is good but it will also help you get some insight on whether the client was satisfied with their work.

It is important not to hire the first contractor you come across. It is important to shop around and check out different contractor for home renovation and then compare them. Also, always ask for a quote as well if you want to find a good contractor.

Last but by no means least, don’t attempt any home improvements yourself if you don’t know what you are doing. This is especially important for the plumbing and electrical in your home but can have just as many disastrous consequences for a building project. This is especially true for difficult tasks like plumbing and electrical work, because it is far more effective to hire someone that knows what they are doing.

So that is some of the different factors to consider when you want to do home improvement the right way.

Wound dressings on trees have been around for quite some time now. These are supposed to help the tree wounds after pruning to insure against insect and fungal invasion. However, that is not the case. A simple basic ingredient in any wound dressing is a petroleum based byproduct which is supposed to help the tree. But it damages the tree in ways we cannot even understand. Let us look at the myths and the realities behind this “Wound Dressing”.

The Myth vs. The Reality

Although we hear a lot of claims even with a simple internet reading about how these wound dressings are simple easy ways to aid in healing the pruning cuts and wounds, they are not true at all. The myth that these wound dressing helps the tree needs to be cleared. Some of the myths also include that these wound dressing insure your trees against decay and insects, they are the ultimate treatment for wounds and that the diseases will be repelled. Doesn’t that seem a bit over exaggerated?

The reality is quite the opposite. Tree wound dressing is a petroleum based product, not something you would want to use on a living tissue, right? They are supposed to help the tree but what they do is that they seal the moisture and decay inside the tree making it weaker inside out. It has also seen to be a food source for pathogens eventually cracking the tree and exposing it to the fed pathogens. Not only this but it also prevents the wood from forming, and it does not prevent the decay nor does it helps with the rotting problem.

What to do then?

So, now the question is what should you do? Clearly to get ahead of this myth that these wound dressings on trees are any good. And understand this simple concept that trees by nature have natural resistance to fight off insects and other diseases. Healing process of the wounds is by itself quite natural and helpful for the trees. We don’t need to pitch in products that will hinder this process. So, give it up and help other to understand this concept more. Consult your arborist before doing anything that will cause more harm than good.

Remember to winterize you garden this fall by call your local tree company and get any extended limbs and branches cut back to avoid any damage to your property and have a more stress free winter knowing your trees are taken care of for the ever increasing unpredictable winters.

A licensed electrical contractor is a professional who installs, repairs, maintains and services equipment and various other electrical installations. Such installations don’t have to be of the contractor’s making and often were not even previously installed by that particular electrician. In spite of this, many professional electricians decide to decline certain projects due to the fact that they aren’t truly familiar with the specific installation if it was installed by a different electrician.

Educational Attainment

An electrical contractor may have completed a post-secondary academic education in the field of‘ electrical engineering. This simply means that they have passed college with this specific major. There are also numerous electricians who haven’t got a college degree but have completed their high school education and continue to courses that are associated with electrical studies.

There is a difference between these two academic paths, as a person who has completed electrical engineering studies is far more likely to professionally handle larger projects because he has graduated in this field and has studied the dynamics and principles concerning these topics.

This is not to say that those individuals who haven’t undergone a college course aren’t skilled, but they will probably have a harder time handling big projects without a college degree. There are some short-term academic courses that may help individuals who want to become an electrical contractor without studying electrical engineering. These specific courses typically last approximately 2 years and graduates become certified with a diploma that is different from electrical engineering, but may work in similar fields with certain restrictions.

Responsibilities and Duties

The responsibilities and duties of the professional electrician tend to vary depending on the specific contract that is created between the contractor and the client. The electrical contractor may work on certain construction sites in work that includes installation and erection of devices, along with wiring that are required to service the structure when it is completed. The approximate estimation of the overall costs of the materials and labor falls on the contractor’s responsibility.

The project’s safety is another responsibility that should be placed as a top priority with the electrical contractor. He must ensure that his set of instructions associated with the safety of the site are followed in order to avoid any unwanted accidents. The coordination with other professional contractors who handle other fields of construction is another things that he must take into consideration. The specific time of the project construction and the melding of different fields, such as the electrical ones and plumbing need to be well coordinated.

The hiring of various different subordinates to assist with the construction project is also part of the electrician’s responsibilities. The welfare of the ones he has hired is another thing that he must look out for.The client may also request progress reports that are provided to the client in order to keep him updated on the status of the construction progress.

An electrical contractor is a field of work that is associated with a wide set of responsibilities and requirements that must be met, but is also very rewarding when done properly.