How To Recognize When Your Home Needs An Electrical Wiring Repair And An Electrical Upgrades For A Safe Living
Reasons You Need to Upgrade Your Home Electrical System
The electrical systems in a home are usually ignored by most people—until something goes wrong, at least. When a home electrical system suddenly fails, that’s when people start to take notice and try to find ways to fix it. However, it can pay to hire electrician services to make some electrical upgrades to your home sooner rather than later.
To Bring Your Home Electrical System up to Code
Building codes may vary from one year to the next, and new safety standards may have been implemented since your home electrical system was installed or updated last. Performing an electrical upgrade can help bring your home’s wiring back in line with current building codes.
To Prevent Fire Hazards
When electric system maintenance falls behind, there is a risk that frayed wires and other issues can create fire hazards. So, one reason to upgrade your home electrical system is to minimize fire risks.
To Meet the Power Needs of New Appliances
The average household consumes a lot of energy—and that amount is likely to rise as more and more modern technologies rely on electricity. In fact, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “In 2017, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,399 kilowatt hours (kWh), an average 867 kWh per month.”
To Add New Outlets for Added Convenience
Here’s a common problem: you want to move your TV to a different wall, but there aren’t any outlets near where you want to put it. Maybe the house is old enough that electrical outlets weren’t a major concern or the designer had a specific layout in mind that you don’t want to conform to. Either way, the lack of electrical sockets is going to be inconvenient for your plans.
Smart Electrical Upgrades for Home Remodelers
If your home needs a makeover, or you’re simply planning to upgrade your decor, appliances or any other aspect of your living quarters, now is the best time to consider upgrading your home electrical system, as well. Home repair and remodeling projects often require some electrical work. As long as the electrician is on hand, you can usually save the cost of a service call by adding to the job as needed If you haven’t planned electrical upgrades, a quick look around your house might convince you that you should. Do you have receptacle outlets overburdened by multi-plug strips? Are your lamps and fixtures connected to extension cords? Does every three-prong plug need a two-prong adapter? These and other warning signs indicate a real need for electrical improvements. Unfortunately, many homeowners wait until a problem occurs, and only then do they think to call in an electrician. But there’s along list of reasons why you should inspect and improve your electrical system-before an accident or service breakdown occurs
Is your service adequate? Many older homes still operate with seriously outdated 60-amp electrical service-and sometimes with just a few fuses or circuit breakers to protect the entire system. Newer homes often have 100-amp service panels, but even this minimum requirement set by many current codes may fall short of your present or future needs. Consider upgrading service to 200 amps.
Size for extra demand. If you’re installing a major electrical appliance, like an electric wall oven, a microwave oven, a double-wide refrigerator or central air-conditioning, you’d better think about the additional power it may need. While a salesman or installer might tell you that your system can handle the load, be smart and ask your electrician for a second opinion.
What’s the correct wire size? Electricians often install 14-AWG wiring during renovations, which is adequate for most home uses. But heavier 12-AWG copper wire is a better choice because it’s more energy-efficient and you won’t have to upgrade all over again if you install appliances or fixtures with greater electrical loads. The cost difference for upgrading to 12-AWG copper wire is minimal. If you’re adding a room extension or building a new home, it’s a good idea to install 12-AWG wire (or larger, depending on the needs of each circuit).
Consider special needs. Different rooms in a home serve different purposes-an important consideration when you’re planning improvements, especially where electrical work is involved. Family rooms, home offices and home theaters generally need more circuits, more outlets, and built-in or plug-in power-surge protection. Outlets in kitchens, baths, garages and outdoor areas require ground-fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs. And you don’t have to wait for a major renovation to add protection-you can install many safety devices yourself, such as outlet caps, switch guards and wire shields in nurseries and children’s playrooms.
ELECTRICAL UPGRADES
When you need electrical upgrades to your home, count on the electricians at Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating for expert service. Electrical upgrades to your home aren’t the first thing that you might think about when you consider a remodeling project. After all, it’s much more interesting to think of adding an extra room or upgrading your kitchen appliances and countertops. However, upgrading your wiring can be an extremely beneficial thing to do, and in some cases, it might be a safety priority.
REASONS YOU MIGHT NEED AN ELECTRICAL UPGRADE
You might need upgrades to your wiring or other electrical systems in your home for many reasons, but here are some of the most common.
COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE
No matter what electrical upgrades you need, the electricians from our Kankakee store are here to make sure you get the job done right. Our commitment to customer service means that you get the following when you choose Home Furniture,
FRIENDLY, RESPECTFUL SERVICE
We aim to be both friendly and respectful in the way that we interact with you at all times. We want you to feel comfortable and at ease, and we want you to feel that your questions and comments will always be heard and answered.
ELECTRICAL UPGRADES YOU MIGHT NEED
Re-wiring your home
New electrical panel
Electrical outlets
Dedicated computer circuits
Fixtures and lighting
Breakers and fuses
Outlets and switches
Surge protection
Signs You Might Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
The electrical panel is an essential component of your home’s electrical system. Within the panel are circuits, which carry electricity throughout your home to outlets, lights, and appliances. The number and size of the circuits determine your home’s electrical capacity.
The first step in the upgrade process is determining your home’s electrical load. Do you have enough amps to meet your electrical needs? If you think about electricity like water flowing through your home, an amp is the rate at which electricity flows. A few decades ago, 60 amps was enough to suit the needs of the average American household. Today, 100 amps is standard in the average home, with larger homes that use a lot of electricity needing 150 to 200 amps.
Signs of Electrical Problems in Your Home
Be on the lookout for any of the following signs of a possible problem. If your home is experiencing any of these issues, call a professional to inspect your electrical system, because it might be time for an electrical panel upgrade.
Electrical shocks. Mild shocks and tingling can mean that the wiring is defective or that it was improperly installed. If this is the case, there’s a risk of ‘electrical leakage’ when you touch the switch or outlet.
Burning odors or sparks. The occasional spark is not unusual, but large or frequent sparks can be signs of deteriorated wiring or a faulty circuit. Also pay attention to warm or discolored outlets. Whether the cause is faulty wiring or an overloaded circuit, you’ll want to talk to an electrician about these issues.
Updating Your Electrical System
When was the last time you checked up on the condition of your electrical system? If it has been a while, then now is the right time to inspect it. Don’t just assume that different elements of your electrical system such as the electric cables and explosion proof enclosures are working fine as they have a tendency to wear out after a few years. If you live in an old house or if your current system is unable to meet your family’s power needs, then it is time to update your electrical system.
How to Update your Electrical System?
The first step is to upgrade your panel by bringing more power from the utility to your home. You can replace the existing meter and circuit breakers to allow it to handle more power or replace an electrical panel or circuit breakers that are obsolete, damaged or dangerous. Doing this enables your electrical system to have more power to distribute without affecting the wiring inside the home.
The second step includes adding extra circuits that can distribute the power to your rooms and appliances.
Updating the system may also include adding new electrical outlets and replacing the used cable, old cable wires and receptacles.
There are a number of reasons why malfunctioning, old or faulty wiring represents a huge problem for a few reasons. Some of them include:
An old electrical system creates a fire hazard, putting you and your loved ones at risk. One of the biggest causes of house fires is bad wiring. When the wiring becomes exposed or heated or when sparks are created, materials around it get ignited which eventually leads to a big fire.
The risk of electrocution increases. If the wiring gets old and there are signs of wear and tear, then the electrical current won’t be transferred properly. The insulation may have holes in them. In both these cases, there will be a serious risk of electrocution.
The lifespan of your electrical appliances will be cut down significantly as the faulty wiring won’t be able to manage the power in a safe manner, as it once did, and it may short your appliances. Further, the faulty wiring and electrical system may not have the capacity to support modern appliances which will cause your washing machines, dishwashers and microwaves to wear out quickly.
Call in the Professionals
If you think you are good with power tools and can manage upgrading on your own, brush that thought away. It is never a good idea to go down the DIY route when it comes to handling electricity. Always call in the professionals and let them deal with the problem professionally. Do not put your life at risk by trying to do it on your own — you never know what can go wrong.
One of the major benefits of updating your electrical system is that your home and family will be protected from fire hazards that are mostly caused by overloaded circuits. Additionally, all your modern appliances will also be safe and protected from inefficient power distribution and other problems caused by outdated electrical systems. You can even increase the resale value of your home by updating the electrical system. So, do not procrastinate or ignore an electrical system upgrade even though it is an expensive affair.
Professional Commercial Cleaning To Create That Pristine Environment
How To Choose A Good Commercial Cleaning Company
If you run a business, then you know that cleaning can take up a lot of your time. Cleaning is vital to keep the environment safe and hygienic for both customers and employees, but it can eat into your time considerably.
Many businesses, therefore, choose commercial cleaning services. Choosing excellent commercial cleaning services in Houston, however, can be a challenge. So how do you choose a great cleaning company?
Select A Cleaning Company With Experience
Not all cleaning companies are created equal: some are better than others. The reason for this had to do with the structure of the industry. Cleaning companies can be set up by anyone: you don’t need any license or training. An untrained person can set up a cleaning business and start offering janitorial services in Houston without jumping through any hoops.
Select A Company With A Customer Focus
Many commercial cleaning companies in the Houston area don’t spend the time they should getting to know their clients and understanding their needs. An excellent commercial cleaning company doesn’t see its list of clients as generic. It takes an interest in each company and then looks for ways to serve them as well as possible. Every business has varying cleaning needs. A restaurant, for instance, is very different from a factory. Both, however, need professionals who can clean in a way that is consistent with a company’s goals.
Select A Company With Great Customer Service
Not all cleaning companies offer great customer service, and that’s a problem. Excellent customer service means that you can get in contact with your cleaning company when you need them. Being able to speak to a customer representative is vital if, say, you want to change your cleaning schedule or ask for a different method of cleaning that really targets the dirt.
How To Choose The Right Commercial Cleaning Service
Cleaning an office or any type of business premise on a regular basis can be quite a difficult and time-consuming task, especially if the area is larger. However, keeping these spaces clean is extremely important for the well-being and safety of both your employees and clients. You have observed that your office is getting dirtier day-by-day, but you don’t have the time to physically visit each and every cleaning company in London to check if they’re worth hiring or not
Naturally, we all want the best quality service at the most competitive prices when it comes to hiring a cleaning service. Here are some of the factors that must be considered when hiring commercial cleaning services
Some of these include the following:
Check online reviews of the various cleaning services offered in your area in order to get a sense of the professionalism of the company.
One of the things that make hiring a commercial cleaning service provider a worthy idea is the fact they have professional equipment. Check the condition and age of their equipment. A company that has relatively new and clean equipment is the best option for your business.
Never hire an uninsured cleaning company. Any legitimate and professional cleaning company will have insurance and those are the ones you should hire to clean your office premise.
A google search will reveal reputable agencies in your area, it is a good idea to check recent reviews of the company online, dated reviews are often unhelpful and may no longer be relevant. Testimonials on their own website are also often a good indication of the reputation of the company. If they have an active online presence it is a good sign. It means that they are keeping up to date with the goings-on in the cleaning industry.
They should offer a wide range of services as well as the daily clean they should offer services such as window cleaning, floor polishing and high dusting. They should also be willing to offer a suggested cleaning rota and suggest the frequency needed of their services.
They will tailor a commercial clean to suit your budget. If your budget is limited, they should be able suggest a schedule suitable for your budget that still delivers high quality cleaning and standards.
Last but not the least, keep in mind to look for local cleaning companies based in London so that they’re always easy to reach whenever you need them. And, you’ll also love the personalised service you would get every time they’ll visit you.
Tips for Choosing a Commercial Cleaning Company
Maintaining your office space should be a priority for a few different reasons. While the upkeep of your office may be a no-brainer, choosing the right commercial cleaning company can be a daunting task. With so many companies to choose from in Boise, it can be difficult to narrow them down.
Services Offered
The first thing you’ll want to know before hiring a commercial cleaning company is if they provide the services you need. Some companies specialize in janitorial services while others focus on window cleaning. You might also be in the market for a commercial cleaning company that can provide multiple services. This will streamline your process and eliminate any companies you don’t need to contact.
Past Reviews and Experience
Commercial cleaning companies enter your property after hours for the most part. Handing over this responsibility requires confirming that they are a reputable company. Inquire about current clients and experience to gain a sense of well established the cleaning company is. Having an idea of who they work for and how long will help you decide if you can trust them.
Quality of Employees
Protecting your property starts with trusting a company to provide service after hours, but ensuring they do a quality job requires asking about their workforce. A professional commercial cleaning company should be able to walk you through the steps of their hiring process. The process should include screening with background checks followed by employee training for a uniformed end product. You can also ask if a staff member will visit your facility regularly or if turn-over requires irregular scheduling.
Experience in Your Industry
Your industry can determine the level of experience needed by a commercial cleaning company. For example, if you are seeking services for a medical facility you’ll need a business that can adhere to rigorous guidelines. On the other hand, if your institution is data-driven and houses technology there will be a process for making sure wires are not moved in a destructive fashion.
Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Cleaning Company For Your Business
Do you have a business that needs to be cleaned? Have you considered outsourcing the jobs of vacuuming, taking out the trash and cleaning restrooms? If so, you’re probably interested in choosing the best commercial cleaning company for your business. What are some tips to choose the best one?
Reputation is Key
First, consider a cleaning company’s reputation in town. Since cleaners often work with minimal supervision, you’ll want to pick a company with a sterling reputation… one that people know they can trust no matter what. Therefore, look for a company that has been established for a while, that has several accounts, and offers references. Rather than go with a brand new company that doesn’t have a history, look for one that has built-up an outstanding reputation such that others recommend them to you because they’ve had a great overall experience.
Employment Standards
Next, a cleaning company that claims to be the best must take hiring seriously. Instead of just picking any person “off the street” and throwing them into the job, a great company is very specific with their hiring practices, making sure that the people they employ go through background checks. Also, they don’t hire people with criminal records. Meanwhile, they conduct extensive training, such that their workers exhibit professionalism at all times, paying extra attention to safety on the job and more. When you’re looking to hire a commercial cleaning company you should ask, “Will the same people be cleaning our place on a regular basis?” Ideally, you should find a company with low turnover.
The Right Expertise for the Job
Other things to consider when looking for the best commercial cleaning company to clean your business include what services they offer coupled with what kind of facilities they can truly handle cleaning… for instance, if they only have a couple employees, they’re probably not the right company for a job that involves cleaning a sprawling manufacturing plant that takes up a couple acres. Meanwhile, make sure the company offers what you need done, which can include trash removal, sweeping/mopping, dusting, stocking consumables, and/or restroom cleaning.
How to Choose a Cleaning Service for Your Business
Maintaining a clean and sanitary office environment is essential to the success of your business. Most companies will hire a professional cleaning service to take care of this rather than hiring a full-time janitor. A cleaning service will usually come in after hours, cleaning all areas of your office. You’ll probably find several office cleaning companies in your city, so you’ll have to choose the one that’s right for you. Though you may be looking to save money, the company with the lowest cost isn’t always the best deal.
Get price quotes from the companies in your area. The companies will have to visit your officeto estimate the work. When you get this quote, ask for a list of services that they provide. Most will provide mopping, vacuuming, cleaning, and sanitizing of the bathroom and dusting. Some may provide carpet cleaning a few times a year, but it may or may not be included in the quoted price.
Ask to see proof of insurance. You want a cleaning company that has its insurance so that you can be sure that you will not be liable should a cleaner become hurt while cleaning.
Read through the contract. Most companies will want you to sign a contract, locking you into their service for a given amount of time. However, you need recourse if you aren’t happy with the service that the company is providing. For example, you may want to look for a company that has a trial period or one that goes on a month-to-month contract rather than a yearly contract.
Consider the experience of the company. Some companies will have years of experience behind them, which means that you can be sure that they’ve developed a system for cleaning and are comfortable handling any cleaning issues involved. All other things being equal, choose the company with more experience.
Vacation Traveler’s Guide To Bed Bugs
Choosing a Pest Management Professional for Bed Bug Control
If you think you may have bed bugs, the first step to manage them is accurate identification. The most important thing to do is make sure the bug in your home is actually a bed bug (Figure 1). There are several other insects that are commonly mistaken for bed bugs. Just because you have skin irritation or bites does not mean bed bugs are the cause. Many insects can bite and cause skin welts and skin irritation.
Do not feel bad if you have bed bugs in your home. Bed bugs can infest any type of house: large or small, neat or messy. They do not discriminate. They affect poor, rich and everyone equally.
If renting, once the bugs have been identified as bed bugs, report it to your landlord immediately. If they are responsible for pest control in the building, they will hire a pest control company to treat the property. If you own a home, the next step is to contact a pest control company.
Some pest control companies have more experience with bed bugs than others. It is important that you interview a few different ones to determine the best. Ask for references and then call them to ask about their experience with the company. See if there are any online reviews (such as the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List) of the company before you make a final decision.
Use the Following list of questions when calling a pest control company.
Is this business licensed and insured?
The business must be licensed and have insurance.
Are you a member of any professional associations?
Pest control companies that are members of professional associations such as the Oklahoma Pest Control Association or National Pest Management Association are more likely to be better trained.
Has this company provided bed bug treatments in the past?
Make sure that the company has treated for bed bugs successfully in the past and that their pesticide applicators are certified. This is where calling references is helpful.
What methods do you offer for bed bug control?
Likely, the company will offer different treatment methods based on the severity of infestation.
What is your procedure for bed bug jobs?
The procedure will differ with the type of treatment and company chosen. In general, the company will send a pest management professional to do an inspection. After the inspection, they will go through the different treatment options. You will be given a checklist to prepare for the treatment. They will conduct the treatment and should come back two to three weeks later for a follow-up visit and inspection.
Do you have any references I could call?
You can ask for references, but many clients may want to remain anonymous. If they do not have a reference list, look for reviews online.
Tips For Choosing A Bed Bug Exterminator
Bed bug infestations are becoming a real concern for many homeowners, landlords and tenants across the city. They are well known for sneaking into homes unnoticed and spreading like wildfire once they have made themselves comfortable near your bed.
Female bedbugs can lay upwards of 6 eggs per day allowing them to reproduce at alarming rates. Considering how difficult they are to detect and kill, it is a no-brainer that any level of bed bug infestation should only be handled by a professional bed bug exterminator or you risk the chance of making the infestation much more difficult, and expensive, to eradicate.
Choosing a good bed bug extermination company is not as easy as it may seem. Not only do you have to trust them to be in your home alone, you must also confide in their ability to completely exterminate the bed bugs from your home while also keeping your family and pets safe from any dangerous chemicals. To make things easier for you, we have put together some tips on what to look for when hiring a bed bug exterminator
This one seems like common sense but is a very important step in finding the right pest management company to take care of your bed bug problem. Even if a pest management company has a great track record of eliminating other common pests from residential and commercial properties, it does not mean that they will have the same success rate with bed bugs which tend to be the most difficult pest to exterminate
Too many pest control companies claim that they can exterminate bed bugs but in fact do not have the necessary experience with bed bugs to give you the guaranteed results you need. If the bed bug exterminator you choose does not completely eradicate them from your home the problem will become more difficult to solve in the future costing you much more than you had initially planned for
CHOOSING AN INSECTICIDE FOR BED BUGS
Bed bugs are very tough! Most insecticides that are available to the public WILL NOT kill bed bugs. Often the bugs just hide until the insecticide dries up and is no longer effective. Sometimes bed bugs move to avoid insecticides and end up in nearby rooms or apartments.
There are no magic sprays that will get rid of a bed bug infestation. Using a chemical to get rid of bed bugs WILL NOT WORK unless you also remove clutter, clean and launder everything, seal off hiding places, and follow other, non-chemical steps to control bed bugs. Without special training about how and where to apply chemicals, which depends on the specific circumstances, consumers are not likely to effectively control bed bugs with chemicals.
CALL THE PROS!
If chemical controls are going to be used for bed bugs, consumers are strongly encouraged to work with a certified pest control professional.
IF YOU DECIDE TO USE AN INSECTICIDE
Make sure you select an insecticide that is labeled for indoor use. There are very few insecticides that can safely be used indoors, where there is a greater risk of exposure, especially for children and pets. If you use an insecticide that is labeled for garden, outdoor, or agricultural use, you could cause serious health problems for people and pets in your home.
Make sure the insecticide specifically says that it is effective against bed bugs. Most insecticides don’t work at all on bed bugs.
Follow all directions on the insecticide label carefully.
NEVER apply more than the listed amount. If it doesn’t work the first time, applying more will not solve the problem.
Don’t use any insecticide on a mattress or bedding unless the product label specifically says it can be applied there.
Contact Insecticides
There are many different types of liquids, sprays, and aerosols that claim to kill bed bugs. Most state that they “kill on contact.” This sounds good, but it actually means that you have to spray it directly ON the bed bug for it to work. It will not be effective on bugs that are hiding, and it won’t kill eggs either. For most sprays, once it dries it will no longer work.
How to get rid of bed bugs
Once a bed bug problem is discovered, you should contact a professional bed bug exterminator for a complete peace of mind. DIY solutions are unlikely to be effective with bed bugs due to the resilience and resistance these blood-sucking pests have built up against conventional treatment methods.
There are however, some out there who may want to attempt it on their own. And for those brave DIYers, while the following tips will not help you fully remove bed bugs from your home, we hope they help reduce the infestation.
Fully inspect the below areas – Bed bugs earned their name for their fondness of beds and bed time. They however, infest many other areas too. These opportunistic insects hide in close proximity to their human hosts so they can sneak out to draw a blood meal without being noticed
Fully inspect the below areas:
Mattress – Be it your bedroom or hotel room, the first thing you should check is the mattress. Apart from live insects found along mattress seams and tags, you may also notice red marks from where bed bugs have been accidentally crushed.
Bed frame – Bed bugs are often found in crevices in between bed frames and mattresses. Look out for small cracks in the frame that bed bugs could live in.
Bedding – Closely inspect the bedding for signs of bed bugs, including pillows, sheets, duvets, etc.
Bedside cabinets – The items closest to the bed are most likely to be infested.
Wardrobes & dressers – Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and known to be found on clothes.
Pictures – Live bed bug insects have been found on picture frames and other wall adornments.
Furniture – All furniture in the room should be inspected. When inspecting, remove any furniture covers and pay particular attention to the seams and cushions of couches, sofas and chairs.
Wash infested bedding – If your manufacturer’s instructions allow, wash infested bedding at a temperature of at least 140°F for 90 minutes. A typical household washing machine and dryer settings should manage this. Bed bugs cannot survive in a hot dryer longer than 20 to 30 minutes, so dry all bedding on your dryer’s highest heat setting.
Battling Bed Bugs
The resurgence of bed bugs has caused more than the creepy little blood suckers to come out of the woodwork. Some self-proclaimed pest control professionals and marketers are trying to take a bite out of your wallet by peddling products that claim to prevent or remedy bed bug infestations. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – one of the federal agencies responsible for managing the bed bug problem – reports an increase in the number of individuals and companies making unrealistic claims about their abilities to control or eradicate the pests.
Bed Bug Basics
Bed bugs are good hitchhikers, riding into homes in and on luggage, furniture, bedding, or clothing. Once inside, the pests like to hide in small cracks and crevices – behind your bed’s headboard, in the seams and tufts of your mattress and inside the box spring, along baseboard cracks, and behind wallpaper. The presence of bed bugs has little to do with cleanliness, although clutter can provide good hiding places and make them difficult to treat.
The Tell Tale Signs of Bed Bugs
Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless and have a rusty red color. They have flat bodies, antennae and small eyes. Check out these photos. They are visible to the naked eye, but often hide in cracks and crevices
Treating Bed Bug Infestations
Experts agree: Bed bug infestations are difficult to control, and no one treatment or technique has been found to be effective in all cases. Still, bed bugs can be controlled through a combination of techniques known as integrated pest management (IPM) – an environmentally sensitive approach that includes prevention, monitoring, and limited use of chemical pesticides. In fact, some populations of bed bugs have developed resistance to common pesticides, making some sprays ineffective. Alternative treatments include heat and steam. Bedding, clothing, and electronic items shouldn’t ever be treated with pesticides, but can be treated with heat.
Do-It-Yourself
If you try to control bed bugs on your own with pesticides, choose products that are intended for that purpose. The EPA has a bed bug product search tool that can help you choose a product that meets your needs.
Top Home Remodeling Projects For A High ROI
HOW TO SYSTEMATICALLY CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR
When planning a home remodeling project, homeowners face a long list of worries and concerns. How much will it cost? Will it take too long? Is this really the right move? But there is one question that homeowners could benefit from asking more often: how do I hire the right contractor?
According to the CFA (Consumer Federation of America) and NACAA (National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators), contracting is the top complaint among homeowners doing home improvement. Another survey found that almost half (48%) of all respondents would not hire their contractor for a future project.
Being homeowners ourselves, we understand the pain of spending hard earned money on substandard work. That’s why we created a highly effective method for weeding out the bad contractors until you find the right one.
People (0-10 score)
It is important to remember that you are hiring people with whom you are going to spend quite a lot of time with. You will frequently talk to them, discussing various options. You will work together trying to make decisions on various issues. The project period is sort of a marriage. If you do not connect with your contractor, the whole thing may end up in shambles with you suffering the most.
Process (0-10 score)
Get a rough run-through of their work process before you hire any contractor. Not only will this give you an idea of what to expect when the actual project starts, it will also show you how well they work. To rank a contractor properly in this area, you need to ask lots of questions. Here are some essential ones
TIPS FOR CHOOSING A REMODELING CONTRACTOR
Get Recommendations
Word of mouth is the best way to find a trustworthy contractor. If you know someone who has had a good experience with one, start there
Look at Credentials
Once you have your recommendations, start checking them out. Visit their website or make a phone call. Make sure they have all appropriate licenses and insurance certificates as well as any designations from professional associations like the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Check References
Contact former clients to find how their project went and ask to see the finished product. Better yet, visit a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner’s property? Remember that when you’re hiring a remodeler, you’re buying a service and not a product. Quality of service will determine the quality of the finished project. It’s a good idea to even check with your local Better Business Bureau. If you can’t find any information on them with the BBB then they are most likely complaint free.
Interview Candidates
This is also a good time to set up a face to face at your home to review your plans and ask any follow-up questions. If they ask you to come out to your home–even better. It means that they are interested in you and your project and want to get more details.
Business Management
Ask the remodeler how much the project will add to the home’s value and attain additional insurance from your provider.
Complete Guide To Choosing The Right Home Remodeling Contractor
There are many important decisions to make when it comes to remodeling your home: Which architectural style best fits your personality? Should you go with cool and calm tones, or opt for big, bold colors? What is your timeline? How about your budget? All of these questions are important, but they take a back seat to choosing the best home remodeling contractor for your specific renovation project.
With our Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Home Remodeling Contractor, you’ll have the tools and information to confidently select a contractor who can help you make those tough decisions. This free guide discusses how to separate good contractors from the best contractor for you. From research to vetting, our guide gives you the critical things to look for and the right questions to ask in order to partner with a reputable, trustworthy contractor who you’ll enjoy working with and be happy to recommend.
Homeowners who are planning a remodeling project typically take similar steps when searching for a contractor to work with. They ask friends and family for references, use search engines to find local firms, browse profiles and project photos on Houzz, Instagram, and Pinterest, check out customer reviews and testimonials on Yelp, Google, and BBB, and more.
All of these are great when you’re in the early stages of searching for a home remodeling contractor to turn your renovation ideas into reality. The issue with all of this information gathering is that it can be difficult to differentiate between the best remodeling contractor and the best remodeling contractor for your specific project.
Make no mistake – the distinct between these two is important. Any remodeling contractor worth their salt should have a well-designed website that features high-quality project photos, industry awards and affiliations, client testimonials, and more. They’re also likely to have solid reviews, both online and from in-person references (if this is NOT the case, you can cross them off your list right away). If nearly ever contractor presents themselves as the best, how do you determine which one to ultimately work with?
Tips for Planning a Successful House Remodel
When planning a house remodel, it can be tempting to skip to the exciting stage of choosing new paint colors, fixtures and fittings, but in order for any renovation to go smoothly, there are several things to think about before you even begin.
Know Your End Goal
Before you decide how extensively to renovate, you need to know what your end goal is for your home. Are you renovating to raise the resale value of your home, or will you be staying put for years to come? Consider the condition of your neighborhood before you begin, and know which renovations are a good return on investment, and which will be considered overdoing it for the area. Having a specific plan in place for your future will help you decide how deep to go with your project.
Have a Budget
Knowing your budget—and sticking to it—is one of the most important parts of renovation planning. Remember to add in a contingency fund for any unexpected costs—and expect to use it—as well as incidental costs like the cost of eating out for a kitchen reno, or even taking a hotel for a night or two. It can be easy to want a top-of-the-line renovation, but perhaps all you need are some cheap upgrades which will make your house look more expensive. Do your research and plan your budget before ever lifting a hammer.
Consult the Calendar
If you’re hoping for a brand new home for a particular event or holiday, make sure you look at your end date and work your way backward. Be sure to pencil in a few weeks to a month at the end for wiggle-room in case there are delays on the way to avoid disappointment
Do Your Research
Take the time to chat with friends, family, and neighbors about the renovation work they have done, and the challenges they have faced during the process. Having a wealth of information from homeowners who have been in your shoes can be invaluable in the planning process, and this information may alter your end plan
How to Choose a Remodeling Contractor that Is Right for You
Your home is an intensely personal space. If you’ve made the exciting decision to remodel your house, you don’t want just anyone working on your home. In fact, you want a highly qualified, trustworthy and conscientious team of professionals who are committed to helping you remodel a living space that fits your functional needs and design style. Taking the time up front to research and ask the right questions is not only time well spent, but will ensure you select the right remodeling contractor for you.
Assemble a list of Contenders
A simple Google search is an excellent place to start assembling names of local home remodeling contractors in your area. Use words that describe what you’re looking for and your location. For example, search for “home remodeling contractor Lafayette” or “kitchen and bath remodeling West Lafayette”.
A safe and reliable way to assemble remodeling contractors is to reach out to your friends, family, and co-workers for any recommendations they may have. Do you have a neighbor who just had some remodeling done? Ask them about their experience and if they would recommend them. Your local hardware store may also have some good suggestions as well.
Website Review
Once you’ve assembled your preliminary list of home remodeling contenders, review each company’s website. This is an easy way to find critical information that will help shape your decision
Qualified home remodeling contractors should also feature a project portfolio or sampling of their work. Take some time to peruse past projects and see what speaks to you. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then look at the finished project photos as an informative way to get a sense of the type of work they do. Moreover, some remodelers only specialize in kitchens and baths, for example, and may not remodel other areas of the home, like basements or additions. This should help you rule out some contenders depending on the type of work you want to have done.
Tips To Choose An Awesome Wedding Photo Booth
Tips for Creating an Awesome Photo Booth
Photo booths are fun. Photo booths at parties are extra fun. Whether you’re stepping back in time to sit in a vintage “two-seater” with someone you love or standing in front of a sparkly backdrop with several friends at a wedding reception, chances are you’ve enjoyed the printed results—so much so that you’ve decided to make your own photo booth for your upcoming holiday party or your own wedding reception. Whether you’re working with an iPad and natural lighting or a more elaborate setup with a DSLR camera and lights, here are a few tips and ideas to make your photo booth a success, regardless the size of your system.
Tailor your backdrop to your event. For a crisp, clean background of your choosing, Savage offers rolls of seamless paper in a variety of colors. While white, gray, and black are more traditional photo booth backgrounds, consider a color that matches your event. Tech Green seamless paper can even be utilized for green screen photography, allowing you to mix it up and explore a variety of images and backgrounds. For a more rugged background, consider an Infinity Vinyl Background. Much like seamless paper, this vinyl background hangs straight but allows for quick cleanup if a guest accidentally spills their drink or desert while they take a quick picture.
Alternatively, you can add dimension to a wall in your home or event space with rows of balloons or something even more unique, like decorated plates lined up in a row. Removable wall paper or sticker decals can also quickly transform your background without the residue. Metallic fringe designed for a doorway, or party streamers draped over a background support system could provide a unique and fun look to your photo booth without breaking the bank. For outdoor venues, add a string of lights to the foliage, drape fabric, or hang lanterns over lower hanging tree branches.
If your photo booth isn’t a traditional “booth,” and it doesn’t have anyone supervising image capture, clearly mark off the area with gaffer tape and write out instructions that even your youngest guest can follow easily and walk away with an instant print. Adding a rug to the area your photo booth occupies can help set the mood and can provide something of an escape from your event. Adding a seat or two in front of the backdrop can not only help frame the area in focus, but provide a welcome relief where older guests can take a load off.
If you don’t already have a photography prop box, now is the perfect opportunity to put one together. Grab an old crate or basket and fill it with oversized glasses, stick-on mustaches, cowboy hats, feather boas, whiteboard or chalkboard conversation bubbles, and more. The more props in your box, the more likely your guests will pose for multiple pictures, experimenting with different looks and different groups of friends or family members.
How to choose the right photo booth company
Photo booths have become popular nowadays. Therefore, if you are planning a party, make sure that you consider hiring a photo booth. However, there are many factors you are recommended to consider before you hire one. Since there are a lot of companies that are offering the same photo booth services, you need to be keen and choose the best one that will allow your guests to leave with a great moment of experience
Type of booth
Due to the technological advances, there are some of the latest booths that are easy to use. This, therefore, makes photo booths to be of many types. That is why you need to know the best type of photo booth you need before you go to the market to buy one. The latest booths have high-resolution digital cameras, and touch screen controls. Therefore, make sure that you choose the best type of booth for your event or party.
The cost
When you want to hire a photo booth, you are supposed to remember this factor. Ideally, most companies will charge you depending on the period your occasion will take. Also, there may be additional charges for certain features. Some of the companies advertise their price. Also, the cost of hiring a photo booth on some of the companies varies depending on the location
Accessories and themes
This is another factor you need to put into consideration before you make your final decision on photo booths. It is essential to know that some companies can alter the look of a booth basically around the event theme. Therefore, this can be done with the customized props, the outer shell of the photo booth and the background of the pictures.
Video messaging
This is another important feature you are supposed to check before you hire your photo booth company. Therefore, if you need a video messaging in your event, make sure that you check with the enterprise and know whether they can provide it.
PHOTO BOOTH RENTAL: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PHOTO BOOTH
Layout– Exactly what type of layout are you trying to find with the prints? Do you want picture strips with several little photos, a 4 × 6 with 3 pics and a logo design, or one huge 4 × 6 design photo? Can you include you own individual touch like a logo, quote, a photo of the mountains where you are having your wedding event, or color that matches your wedding/event? If you are going the photo strip path, does the printer cut the strip for you and will it make a straight cut? Very few printers have the capability to slice the image strips and just the best of the very best can do it straight. Too many booth companies end up having an attendant cut the strips with scissors– slowing the service and providing a less than professional technique to the product.
Props– Are the props enjoyable and appropriate for your party? How will they be displayed? Will they be thrown on a table haphazardly or will they be arranged in a wardrobe or nicely on expert display screen racks? Can you request specific themed props like mustaches, or sports stuff? Exists an extra expense for props or are they consisted of?
Referrals and online presence– Any business worth hiring has reviews and a strong online existence. If a business’s site looks inadequately designed, what does that inform you about the pride they take in themselves? If a company can not stand happy and look excellent online, how can they look good at your event? An excellent looking site with testimonials and pictures of recent setups at events states a lot that words alone can not. You wish to see photos!
Size– How much area do you have for a photo booth? The cubicles with a hard shell are actually cool however they use up a lot of area. Also, you are restricted to the number of people you can fit within. Photo booths that have a removable drape can accommodate as lots of people as you desire. So, get a group shot with all 7 bridesmaids or your extended family! An open booth can also be organized to record the beautiful background that you probably have if your event is in the mountains or other picturesque area, or use a sophisticated background for even larger group enjoyable. Open design booths are quickly ending up being the most required design.
Green Screen– Some photo booths provide green screen innovation. With a green screen you can project any photo in the background; which is quite cool! This is normally an added expense, so you will have to weigh the cost/value. It will likewise take up a bit more space and may not look as attractive as a conventional photo background. It is more typical for special occasions and business functions, and not as popular for weddings.
The Right Photo Booth Company
Digital Photo Booth services have quickly become the must-have item for weddings, birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, quinceaneras, high school reunions, charities, expos and corporate events! Everyone from DJs, photographers, videographers, event coordinators, hotels and venues are all scrambling to find ways to incorporate this exciting and unique new concept into their own service offerings. With so many styles of photo booths (of varied quality) and so many companies in the market, it can be very daunting for consumers to pick the right photo booth and the right company to be part of their special event.
Who are they?
We know that in the event industry, there is no do-over or second chance to get it right on your wedding day or other special event. So you need to do your homework carefully before you pick your vendors. Research the company to make sure you want them to be there with you and your guests at your very special event. Can you trust them? Are they reliable and experienced event professionals? Do they specialize in just photobooths? In other words, you need to ask the right questions to your potential vendors beyond “How much does it cost?”
Does the company have a good reputation?
Check legitimate wedding directories and wedding vendor sites such as WeddingWire.com or EventWire.com. If the vendor isn’t listed or reviewed on these or other reputable sites, you should ask why not. If they aren’t advertising their business, perhaps they don’t have a good reputation or worse yet – they don’t have the money to reinvest in their own company. You might be thinking “So what if they aren’t spending money on advertising themselves” but we would instead ask “if they don’t have the funds to properly advertise their product then who’s to say that they will still be in business by the time your wedding arrives.” We have actually had a few clients in the past come to us needing a last minute booking because they originally booked with a fly-by-night company or Groupon that ended going out of business before their wedding date. So do your due-diligence and speak with event coordinators, wedding planners, venues, friends, and family to investigate their experiences with the company in question
How many events have they done?
Many companies try to make it look like they have been in business for a long time. But how many events have they really done? How much experience do they have with working in the event industry. Are they going to work well with the rest of your vendors and the venue? Do they have a portfolio showing past work?
What equipment are they using?
Many companies would have you believe that the bigger the mega-pixel the better the quality. On paper this would seem to be the case, but the reality is that no matter what the mega-pixels are, most photo booths are designed to take advantage of space constraints and a limited depth of field, so proper lighting and the printer’s DPI (dots per inch) are much more important factors to consider. Therefore, a more important question to ask if whether or not the company can deliver professional lab quality photos? Do they have to manually cut the photo strips with a scissors? How fast is their printing process? Some companies use inexpensive printers which give sub standard print quality and are likely to fade, smear or do not last. These type of companies may not be inclined to mail you sample prints either.
Questions To Ask When Choosing a Photo Booth Company
Before you decide to just hire the cheapest one, read through this question list. Even more important than price is finding a great company to work with. How a photo booth company does business, how they treat you, and the attention they put into the experience will speak volumes more than a number on a quote form.
Are you licensed and insured?
If you’re taking the time to hire a photo booth company, you should be careful not to hire someone who’s just doing this as a hobby.
What type of booths do you have?
Some companies offer an upgraded tablet as their only photo booth. While there’s nothing wrong with that, there’s a big difference between someone who just buys a bunch of iPads and someone who takes the time to invest in high-quality, professional photo booths
With photo booths, as with most things, you get what you pay for.
A photo booth company with a rock-bottom deal might charge extra for stuff you’d expect to be included, like props, a backdrop, or prints. With every company you interview, make sure they are clear about what their price includes.
Modern day photo booths offer different size prints, digital images, social sharing, even video messaging!
If you are dead set on a model that makes animated gifs, for example, this is something you’ll want to ask each photo booth company as you interview them. If having 4×6 prints instead of the typical 2×6 strips is important to you, ask about that as well.
Dermatologist Skin Care Products
HOW TO BECOME A DERMATOLOGIST
Required Education
Prospective dermatologists must first obtain a bachelor’s degree, taking courses in English, math, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, and biology. Then they must complete medical school, where they’ll spend the first two years studying human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pathology, and medical ethics, among other subjects.
During the last two years, they’ll work with hospital patients under the supervision of staff doctors. Graduation from medical school is followed by a one-year year internship, three years of on-the-job training as a medical resident, a state-licensing exam, as well as a certification by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) for those who qualify.
Skills Required
Dermatologists must be emotionally stable, motivated to serve others, able to work long hours, and willing to engage in lifelong learning. Compassion for patients and good communication, organization, and problem-solving skills are key. Dermatologists should also be detail oriented, manually dexterous, and patient when dealing with individuals or young children who are anxious about treatments.
PLAN ACCORDINGLY: IT TAKES OVER A DECADE TO BECOME A DERM.
Like any medical professional, becoming a dermatologist requires *years* of schooling. Aside from earning your bachelor’s degree, you must attend an additional four years of medical school. After passing several major exams, you then apply to a residency, which takes another four years to complete. Some people choose to focus on sub-specialties within the field, such as cosmetic or surgical dermatology, and in that case, it takes another year or two to complete a fellowship. All in all, expect a bare minimum of 12 years of schooling before becoming a certified dermatologist.
REWARDS OF BEING A DERMATOLOGIST
Dermatologists treat skin, hair and nail disorders, and some beautify a person’s appearance. Enter the field of dermatology and you’ll reap the rewards, from a bank account that can see a huge deposit of money each payday to a work week that doesn’t see you chained to the desk for hours on end. But those benefits aren’t easy to come by — dermatology is a highly competitive field to get into.
High Salary
If you enjoy the sight of Benjamin Franklin’s face on money, you’ll love being a dermatologist. Physicians in general earn boatloads of money, but dermatologists really rake in the greenbacks, to the tune of an average of $283,000 in 2011, according to Medscape’s 2012 Physician Compensation Report compiled from survey results. That number hides an important statistic: women dermatologists earned significantly less than men. Women earned an average annual salary of $252,000, while men pulled in 24 percent more at $313,000. The average annual salary for all physicians in 2012 was $184,820, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reasonable Work Week
Putting in long hours at work often translates to more stress. That’s not as much of a concern for a dermatologist. According to Medscape’s 2012 Physician Compensation Report, 52 percent of dermatologists reported spending between 30 and 40 hours per week in direct patient care. Only 30 percent of all physicians surveyed said they worked similar hours — most worked more. Working fewer hours each week than you would in another specialty gives you plenty of free time to spend with your family, your dog, yourself or with hundreds of other people at the mall, spending a chunk of that massive paycheck.
Perform Surgeries and Variety of Patients
Many physicians don’t have the option of treating their patients’ conditions non-surgically and surgically. It’s usually one or the other. Think of your family doctor: if you need your wrist operated on, a kidney stone taken out or anything that requires a surgical approach, he’s not going to be the one who does it. Dermatologists are trained in surgical and non-surgical procedures, injecting some variety into their career and making their work week a little less routine. Speaking of variety, become a dermatologist and you’ll treat patients from all walks of life, from little rascals who have a bad case of acne to adults who want their wrinkly skin to be a thing of the past.
High Demand
In most communities, dermatologists are some seriously sought-after docs. Skin conditions are prevalent in most age groups. Teens often go through bouts of acne, older men and women aren’t awfully excited about losing their hair, people want treatment for their varicose veins, and skin cancer, thanks largely to tanning beds, is rearing its ugly head more and more. Beyond medical conditions that need to be treated, cosmetic fixer-uppers are also often requested, especially when the economy is trucking along and people have more disposable income.
PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING DERMATOLOGY
This article is for you if you’re in the throes of med school. You’re probably in survival mode, subsisting on caffeine and adrenaline – but you are probably also giving some thought, when you can, to what comes next. Where do you want your professional career to take you? Perhaps – dermatology?
Of course, as a specialty, the years of schooling – and associated cost – are something to consider thoroughly before taking on dermatology as your chosen path. Many agree that dermatology is a specialty that requires some of the highest performances, academically, to enter.
But the eventual salaries can make up for that, with averages among the highest in any specialty, and growing. It’s possible that future compensation could fall, as managed care continues to evolve and affect the practice of medicine. But, for now, dermatologists ranked among the highest on job satisfaction overall.
Job growth is projected to be very promising, as it’s a small community. While dermatology saw a rise in burnout rates over the last few years, the rate is comparatively very low, according to a recent study. There can be lower feelings of stress, possibly because the profession is so well compensated and because most cases are not time-critical (unlike, for instance, those of an emergency medicine specialist).
However, some say that dermatology can have little respect in the overall physician community. This may be because some see dermatology as one of the “lighter” specialties, with a focus on wrinkles and other lifestyle, rather than foundational, health concerns.
DERMATOLOGISTS – PREPARATION
To work as a dermatologist, you typically need to:
- have a high school diploma or equivalent;
- complete a bachelor’s degree;
- graduate from medical school;
- complete an internship;
- pass a state licensing exam;
- complete a residency program in dermatology; and
- pass additional exams to become board certified.
EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
To become a dermatologist, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of physicians.
You need a bachelor’s degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.
WORK EXPERIENCE
It takes 12 to 14 years to become a dermatologist. It’s a good idea to decide early if dermatology is the right specialty for you. Volunteer to work in a dermatology office while still in college. Take a paid position as a medical assistant in a dermatology practice. Talk to people in this field and find out what they like about it and what skills and qualities are necessary. A helpful dermatologist may allow you to shadow them for a day or a couple of weeks. This will help you determine if this specialty is right for you.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.
After medical school, you complete a residency program in dermatology. Residency lasts up to five years. After your residency, you take additional exams to become board certified.
Flat Roof Repair Advice
Tips for How to Choose the Right Roofing Contractor
Getting a roof repaired or replaced is a large investment, so it’s important that you get the job done by the right roofing contractor. It takes careful consideration and research to choose a good roofing company
Read Local Reviews
A good place to start is to read customer reviews of local roofing contractors. A couple of good review sites to check include Yelp and Google My Business. Once you find a few roofing contractors with good reviews, you can move on to the next steps
Check their BBB Rating
A good business will always be registered with the Better Business Bureau. Check for a high BBB rating and whether or not the company’s been registered with the BBB for a long time.
Look for Association Memberships
All roofing organizations require that contractors meet strict standards in order for them to retain membership within the organization. If the contractor belongs to one or more roofing association, you can be sure that they’re dedicated to meeting high standards for their work
Ask for References
Roofing contractors should be able to provide you with references. Ask them for 3-5 references and make sure that they check out
Tips For Choosing The Right Roofer For The Job
When you purchase a home you are making one of the most important decisions in your life. You’re also making one of the most important investments in your life. Choosing the right home is just as important as choosing the right roofer to fix your home when problems arise
If you live in the Northeast then you better be prepared to encounter some problems over the years. The tri-state area has no shortage of rough weather that puts serious wear and tear on homes. If you live in areas such as New Jersey, you’ll want to find the right roofer
Experience
Look for a roofer with years of experience and credibility. Be sure that whoever you decide to work with knows the industry and has worked on credible projects you can verify
References & Reviews
When you finally find a roofing company you feel comfortable with, ask for some references and do some homework. God roofers will have tons of reviews and a portfolio of the past jobs. Or you can read online reviews or and you’ll have a better chance of choosing someone who is the right fit for the job
Free Estimates & Warranty
Be sure that the contractor you decide to work with provides work that is warranted. A credible contractor is confident in his work and a warranty will establish that. The best warranty is a manufacturer warranty and it is always best to have the roofer explain it so both parties know what is covered.
Steps to Hiring the Right Roofer
Whereas other home upgrades are purely elective, roof repairs aren’t a choice; they’re essential. Besides being critically important to personal comfort, structural integrity, and the resale value of your home, roofing ranks among the largest and most expensive projects a homeowner can undertake. The significant costs involved motivate some ambitious do-it-yourselfers to do the work on their own. But for the majority of us, a roofing job means hiring a professional. So if you’re at an early stage of the process, take control by finding a qualified contractor with a solid reputation. Hire well, and you can expect the roofer not only to get the job done on time and on budget, but also to offer valuable insight on the best materials for your house style and the climate where you live. So rather than flip open the yellow pages and settle on the first company listed
Get a referral
One tried-and-true method of finding a reliable contractor is to query your friends and neighbors. Within the past few years, has anyone in your life had work done on his roof? Make a list of names, reach out to each person, and ask two questions: Was he happy with the job done and would he work with that contractor again? Testimonials provide the most accurate picture of what your experience might be with a given company, and you can count on personal contacts to give you honest feedback. Outside of your circle, you can also get leads from lumber yards and hardware stores.
Do your research
If you’ve identified at least three qualified roofers, you can get started investigating each one. Start by verifying the businesses’ contact information. Next, confirm that each one is licensed and insured. Consult your chamber of commerce and the Better Business Bureau to be certain there are no red flags to be aware of
Meet face-to-face them
Having narrowed the field, invite the prospective contractors to visit your home and scope out the job. You’ll want to discuss roofing materials and the extent of work to be done, but don’t forget to ask about the time and manpower needed for completion. Observe the contractor: He should be enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and professional in demeanor. Certainly, you’re dealing with an authority on materials and methods, but don’t be deterred from participating in the decision-making process! Ask a lot of questions and before he leaves, remember to get a list of references (then remember to check them).
Get it in writing
Work shouldn’t begin until you have a signed contract detailing every aspect of the job. Make certain it covers safety procedures and liability, including workers’ compensation. The contract should also specify such things as clean-up methods, payment amounts, and the schedule. Consider requesting a lien waiver to protect against claims that could arise if the roofer fails to pay a vendor for materials.
Tips For Choosing A Roofing Contractor
When it comes time to repair your roof, choosing the right roofing company can be a big challenge. How do you make sure you choose a Calgary roofing contractor who actually knows what they’re doing? What should you look for in a good roofing company? And how can you tell if your new roof was installed incorrectly?
Choosing A Roofing Contractor In Calgary:
Getting A New Roof Shouldn’t Leave You Soaked! It certainly can seem like there are more roofing contractors than you can shake a hammer at in this beautiful city. And they’re all trying to get your business.
Professional Advice On How To Choose A Great Roofer:
Here at Advanced Level Roofing, we’ve seen far too many Calgarians victimized by these shady “roofing contractors” and the sub-standard roofs that they’ve installed.
Get referrals from satisfied customers (and watch for warnings from dissatisfied customers!)
Online reviews are a good place, but word-of-mouth reviews are worth their weight in gold. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers if they know of a roofing contractor they’d recommend and then do a quick follow-up investigation. Definitely check their reviews online, but also be sure to ask them some questions to make sure they’re a good fit for your needs
Are they properly licensed and insured?
A reputable roofing company will have insurance coverage for all its employees and subcontractors. They will also be able to show you a copy of their insurance certificate upon request, so don’t be afraid to ask to see it! If a roofing company doesn’t have insurance, or if they say they do but can’t back it up with proof, then walk away and don’t look back!
How to Choose a Roofing Company
As a Raleigh area homeowner, having your roof replaced is one of the most important and most expensive home improvement projects you’ll encounter. Your roof is the first line of defense for your home against the elements, so it’s essential to hire a trusted, reputable roofing company. As you may know from experience, a quick search online can be quite overwhelming. It is key to look for a few important criteria when it’s time to choose a qualified roofing company.
At Triangle’s Trusted Roofing, we specialize in residential roofing. Roofing is all that we do. We pride ourselves on quality and we provide top notch service. Whether you need a roof repair or a full roof replacement, we are happy to answer your questions about the process, the materials we use, and past jobs we’ve completed. From our vast experience of over 20 years in the industry, we want to share some tips to help you choose the ideal roofing company for your next roofing project
Insurance. Your roofing company needs to have workers’ compensation and liability insurance. These coverages will protect you, the homeowner, if an accident happens at your house. For example, if a worker gets injured on the job while on your property, by having valid worker’s compensation coverage, you will not be held responsible for expenses related to the injury. Liability insurance protects you from accidents that may happen while your roof is being worked on. We recommend you ask to see the insurance certificates and possibly even call the insurance company to verify the policies are active and valid.
Local. Choose a local company – this means they operate locally and have an established reputation in the community. Many roofing projects come with a workmanship warranty, ranging from 1 year to 10 years or more. This warranty is only as good as the likelihood that the company will still be in your area when you discover a problem and give them a call to assess the issue. Also, a roofing company who is local will be familiar with the weather conditions and climate of your specific area. By knowing local environmental factors, the roofer will be able to provide the best solution for your roofing needs.
Communication. Make sure your calls, texts and emails are being returned and that documentation is provided as promised. If the company can’t follow through on their communication, they may not be able to follow through on the agreed upon scope of work. Communication is key.
Attractive Interior Painting Can Give Surfaces A More Distinguished Look Than The Usual Painting
Tips for Choosing Interior Paint Colors
The easiest way to choose the best interior paint colors is to start with the colors you love. When you start with the colors you love, you are not bound by the traditional color schemes for a particular decorating style. Using your favorite color as your base color, you can use it to create a color scheme around it. Your favorite colors can be the perfect inspiration for your new color palette for the whole room.
Find Paint Color Inspiration
Magazines and catalogs have always been the staple of decorating inspiration. You have access to thousands of pages of inspiration on the internet. Retailer sites can be inspiring with their room vignettes, and paint company sites can also show you ways to use color in your home. Social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram offer color inspiration that is refreshed in real-time. Pinterest is great for creating inspiration boards for your favorite ideas, so you can keep all your ideas in one spot.
Use Color Theory to Create a Color Scheme
You don’t have to study color theory to get great ideas from a little color wheel. These inexpensive color tools can generate color scheme ideas quickly. With a turn of the wheel, you can see how colors might relate to each other and learn the basics of color theory. While you probably won’t be painting your home in the exact colors you see on the wheel, you can choose shades of those colors at your favorite paint store.
Get Creative With Neutral Paint Colors
Just because you choose neutral paint colors doesn’t mean they have to be laid-back. You can rev up your neutral color palette by being creative with how the colors are used. A striped wall in neutral colors adds tons of style but still keeps the room looking relaxed. Neutral wall color with a pastel ceiling is a sneaky way to add color without losing the soothing vibe of the space.
Pull Your Paint Color From a Print
One of the easiest ways to choose interior paint colors is to start with a print fabric. Throw pillows, bedding, and even table linens can provide you with paint color ideas. If you’re creating an accent wall, look to the boldest colors in the print. If you would like to choose a paint color that is more subtle or for a larger space, look at the color in the small details of your print fabric. Take a fabric swatch to the paint store so you can choose paint strips to view at home.
How To Select the Right Paint and Color For Your Home
Painting is a quick and cheap way to give an old room a breath of fresh air or to make your house more sellable if you are putting it on the market. Find out all you have ever wanted to know about selecting paint.
Which paint should you choose?
Paint comes in a variety of sheens as well as in either oil or latex. Latex paint is the most commonly and preferred paint type to use because of its ease of clean up and long lasting durability. It also tends to be more fade resistant and breathes better than oil, resulting in less blistering of the paint. I recommend using a latex paint for most of your walls and household uses. However, oil based paint is great for priming real wood moldings and trim as it tends to seal stains and knots from the wood better than a latex paint wood. It does take longer to dry than a latex paint though, so plan for more drying time. I personally use an oil based shellac primer on my trim and then opt for a latex paint as the top coat. There are a variety of brands on the market, but my top preference is Behr paint.
Which sheen should I select?
The glossier the paint, the easier it is to clean up. If you have small children and the room you are painting has high traffic, like in a playroom, or tends to get grease on the wall such as in a kitchen, opt for high gloss sheen as you can easily wipe the wall down with a damp sponge. This will however make blemishes and imperfections in your wall more apparent and in rooms such as living rooms, could give off an unpleasant shine. High gloss is also great for trim and will give the trim a nice finished look, complementing the flatter sheen of your walls.
Which color should I choose?
If you are in the process of selling your house, I recommend selecting a white or off-white color as the choice for walls. This will allow the buyer to easily cover the wall with their choice of color and will give your rooms a brighter and clean appearance. However, you should take full advantage of the hundreds of paint selections and brochures at your local paint store as well as talk to a salesperson about the various color schemes for the look you want. You can change the feel of any room in your house with a little planning and some color, varying the shades for a certain look or feel.
I want a subtle and soothing look:
You can choose to stay within the same shade and use a monochromatic approach such as select a variety of shades of blue for subtle color that tends to be soothing. This tends to look good in a bathroom or a bedroom if you want the feeling of calmness. Just choose your favorite color and overlap the shades. For example, select a darker color for the wall and then another in the same color scheme but different shade and slightly lighter for the trim. Your curtains, towels or bedding as well as accessories such as candles can be varying shades within the same scheme. You can also layer the colors by selecting a lighter green as the basecoat and then do a faux paint with a darker green overlay.
TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAINT COLOR
Today I’m continuing my quest to making choosing the right paint color easier for all of you. Last week we talked about neutral paint colors and how to choose the right one, but you will probably still end up with a few different colors or shades that you need to decide between and that is where today’s post will help you
Don’t Pick Your Paint Color First.
I know it seems natural to get the biggest things done first, but it is much easier to choose a paint color that goes with your furniture and decor than it is to choose decor to go with a paint color.
Start With An Inspiration.
Pinterest is a great place to start when deciding on paint colors. Make a board for each room and start pinning rooms that catch your eye. Once you have about 10 you’ll get a feel for what you are drawn to color and style wise.
Stick With Neutrals.
Now I’m not saying avoid color all together. Color is good, but you have to first decide where you want the attention in a room to go. If your answer is the walls, then heck, go bold. And if you go bold on the walls everything else in the room should be pretty neutral so that you don’t end up with too many things competing. This is why bold color in a bathroom can work so well because most everything else in a bathroom is already neutral (white).
Use Testers.
Buy testers in a few colors/ shades and paint a large enough area on a few different walls so that you can see how the light hits it at different times of the day. Try your best not to test your paint against white walls cause it will throw the color off. If you have to, just do a larger test area to get a better feel.
How to Choose Interior Paint Colors
Choosing the right interior paint colors depends on the kind of room you want. Take some time to think about what kind of ambiance you want. Certain colors add weight to the room while others create a lighter tone. You can also mix colors into different shades and tints to help create more visual unity. Plan out your rooms before painting so that you can make your home’s interior pleasant no matter what colors you use.
Paint with warm colors to create comfortable, energizing rooms. Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow. The brightest tints of these colors are bold and vibrant but can be too strong when used often. More muted shades can make a room feel cozier, similar to a summer or autumn day. Warm colors work well in rooms that feature a lot of activity, such as living rooms
Choose cool colors to make a room relaxing. Blue, green, and purple are all cool colors. Cool colors can freshen up a room or help you calm down after a long day. They make for good choices in bedrooms and sitting rooms. Lighter shades can feel more vibrant, while darker shades can feel more soothing
Select neutral colors to balance out other colors. At first glance, the various shades of white and gray seem boring. In decorating, they are very useful because they fit well in any color palette. They tone down warm or light colors, but they also lighten cool or dark colors. Black, brown, and light blue are a few alternative colors that can serve as a neutral base
Opt for lighter tints in order to open up rooms. Pale yellows, blues, and whites are great choices to lighten up a room. Light colors lack visual weight, which means your eye isn’t drawn to them. When you step into the room, your eye may go to a piece of art or another bright feature. Since you aren’t focused on the exterior surfaces, rooms with light colors often feel larger than they are
Here’s How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color Every Time
Let’s face it: Picking the right paint color is important. There’s no denying the shade we pick to adorn the walls is a fundamental part of any interior design project. In fact, it’s often the element the rest of our aesthetic choices are based on.
That said, choosing the ideal shade is far from easy. There are so many options available and each one just a little different than the last. For many, it’s almost impossible to figure out where to start.
Buy textiles first
Usually when we talk about textiles, they’re considered a finishing aspect of the design, so this advice may seem counterintuitive. However, one of the easiest ways to make sure your paint coordinates well with the rest of the room is to use fabrics as your design inspiration.
Work with neighboring spaces
Odds are, you’ve experienced a house where the paint choices were truly overwhelming. As you walked from room to room it may have felt as though there was nowhere for your eyes to rest, as though the home was too busy for its own good.
Factor in lighting
Like it or not, the way in which a room is lit can have a huge impact on how the room looks. Each light temperature pulls out a color undertone, which is why rooms often feel vastly different at night than they do during the day.
Outdoor Electrical Lighting Will Give You the Opportunity To Save Money And Energy
Must-Know Outdoor Lighting Tips
With summer in full swing, you’re probably spending most of your time enjoying the great outdoors—and that likely includes relaxing in your backyard, or hosting friends for a dinner alfresco. Don’t let the fun stop once the sun goes down just because your outdoor lighting is nonexistent or inefficient. Not all outdoor lighting is created the same, and it requires more than just putting up a wall light or some string lights and calling it a day. To create ambience, it’s all about choosing the right type of lighting fixture for your backyard. Luckily, Michael Murphy, Interior Design and Trends Producer for Lamps Plus, is here to help. Here, Murphy breaks down the different types of outdoor lighting, where to place fixtures, how to calculate how much lighting you need, and much more. Use his tips and you’ll be able to enjoy those fun summer nights even more.
Include These Three Types.
Make sure to incorporate the three basic types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting can be achieved through hanging lights, post lights, and wall lights. Task lighting includes pathway lights, plus deck and security lights. And you can get accent outdoor lighting with landscape kits and spotlights. “For a small patio and a modest budget, consider string lights, solar spotlights, or LED candles,” Murphy says.
Calculate.
Before you start shopping, you’ll need to figure out exactly how much lighting you need. “To determine how much light a space requires, try this quick calculation: multiply the square footage of the area you want to light by 1.5 to get a rough estimate of the total wattage required,” he says. “For example, 100 square feet of space would require 150 watts.”
Plan Ahead When Choosing Fixtures.
Observe your space and take measurements so you don’t choose fixtures that are too large-scale. “Check the size and position of a fixture before you buy using a simple piece of paper,” Murphy says. “Use a paper template to determine exact placement to review the size before buying. For either the front porch or the back patio, the size of an outdoor wall light should be approximately one-third the height of the door.” You’ll also want to make sure you’re choosing sturdy lighting, one that’s made of high-quality and weather-resistant materials.
Use LEDs.
“They use far less energy than halogen or incandescent bulbs,” he says. “Plus, they are almost maintenance-free, so you won’t have to change bulbs.”
Outdoor Lighting Buying Guide
Add beauty and security with outdoor lighting. Our guide helps you understand outdoor lighting fixture types and functions so you can choose the best and safest accent lighting, post lighting and deck lighting for your home.
What Is Outdoor Lighting?
Outdoor lighting includes a variety of light fixtures that address and improve exterior home security and safety. Additionally, these outdoor lighting fixtures highlight landscaping and architecture at night and come in a variety of styles and finishes.
Power and Performance
With options ranging from hardwire flood lights to plug-in dusk-to-dawn lights to even solar motion lights, you can find the perfect outdoor flood lights for your landscape and the exterior of your home.
Solar-powered outdoor lighting draws the energy it needs to make the lights operate from sunlight. Though this option can cost more for the initial purchase and setup, you can ultimately save on your energy bill. Be sure to install the solar panels in areas that receive sufficient sunlight, and avoid dark and shadowy areas of your home.
Security and Flood Lights
Security and flood lights are broad-beamed, high-intensity lights designed to flood large areas with light. As a result, these fixtures are often used as a preventive measure to reduce criminal activity and increase feelings of safety, especially when equipped with a motion sensor that causes the light to illuminate when movement is perceived
Outdoor lighting buying guide
Stay safe and have fun with our garden lighting options
Enjoy your garden after dark by introducing some outdoor lighting. It not only helps you move around your space safely, illuminating paths and changes in level, it can also help create an atmosphere for socialising or dining. Be it for fun family parties; romantic, intimate dinners or quiet, relaxing time alone. And with such a range of designs on offer, garden lighting can become an attractive feature to complement contemporary or more classic garden styles
So whether you’re looking for a permanent solution, or ones that can be put up and taken down as and when you need them, we have lighting options to help you make the most of your outdoors space.
What area do you want to light?
The area in need of lighting often determines what lighting type would work best in this space. So, if you’re looking to light up a path for example, this would require navigational lighting that helps people stay safe and easily follow the route, rather than a decorative alternative that might only illuminate a portion of the path. So, have a think about your space and how you use it to shape your lighting design.
Do you want your lights to be portable?
When it comes to whether or not you can move your outdoor lighting around, power source plays a large part. Fixed, electrical lights need to be connected to the mains making them the ideal choice if you want lighting close to the house. Whereas candles, battery or solar-powered lighting have no restrictions and can be moved around as, and when, you like. So, if the area you want to light is a distance from your home, or you want to be able to adjust your lighting based on what you’re doing, choose one of these options.
Electrical lighting
Mains power provides consistent and uninterrupted lighting which will burn brightly and for us long as you want it to. Being a permanent fixture, it has to be fixed into place and be properly fitted.
DIY Outdoor Lighting Tips for Beginners
No Electrical Experience Necessary
Since most outdoor lighting is low voltage, it’s safe and easy enough for any DIYer to install. In fact, the only special tool you’ll need is a wire stripper. Find out what’s trending in outdoor lighting before embarking on your project.
Install Underground Wiring After Planting
To prevent accidental cutting of wiring for ground-level fixtures, install wiring after your landscape has been planted. That way you won’t accidentally chop through it with a shovel. Also, don’t install wiring in digging areas like garden beds, and be sure to bury low-voltage wire at least 6 in. below the surface
How It All Fits Together
A low-voltage system has three parts:
The transformer plugs into a nearby GFCI-protected outlet and reduces 120-volt current to 12 volts.
The low-voltage cable carries current between the transformer and the light fixtures.
The light fixtures get connected to the cable with wire connectors made specifically for outdoor use.
Keep Your Fixtures; Upgrade Your Bulbs
For decades, halogen lights reigned supreme in low-voltage outdoor lighting systems, but LEDs have all but replaced them because they cost less to operate and last much longer. But you don’t have to tear out all your old halogen fixtures to enjoy the benefits of LEDs—retrofit bulbs are available. Just be sure to replace each halogen bulb with equivalent wattage and the same base type. Expect to pay about four times more for an LED bulb, but they use less energy and you’ll get up to 20 years of life from one compared with only two or three years from a halogen
Don’t Overlap Pools of Light
The purpose of most deck lighting is ambience, and professional outdoor lighting designers say it’s best not to create overlapping ‘pools’ of light on decks and patios. So avoid mounting fixtures too close together. For decks, choose fixtures that cast a 4- to 5-ft. pool of light. Keep them 30 in. up off the deck’s floor and space them up to 10 ft. apart. Overlapping lights on deck stairs and walkways can be a good thing, however, by providing enough light to help people avoid tripping
The Best Ways to Light the Backyard
Assessing Your Yard’s Needs
Darkness needn’t put a damper on backyard activities like swimming and barbecuing. By installing backyard lighting, you can keep the party going long after dusk, boost outdoor ambiance, and protect your property from unseen threats.
The three main types of backyard illumination are safety lighting to deter prowlers and improve navigation, landscape lighting to accentuate garden features, and accent lighting to put the focus on the hardscape. Ultimately, you’d want all three types in your backyard to achieve different lighting levels for different needs—and within each of these categories, there’s a variety of lighting choices. So let us shine a light on the best backyard illumination options, so you’ll know what to put in your outdoor space
Security Lighting
Security lighting, generally the brightest backyard lighting, is safety lighting to illuminate large areas and scare off would-be burglars or destructive animals. Powered by standard, 120-Volt current, this lighting is installed high spots such as the eaves or above a garage to cast wide beams of light down onto main walkways or the backyard fence entrance.
Our Pick for Security Lights
Available in bronze or white, the Revolve 270° Triple Head (available at amazon.com; $69) blends in with your home’s trim when positioned on the eaves or the underside of a covered patio. But you’ll know that this wired light is there when you approach: Its three optical LED lights produce a powerful 2400 lumens to light up your landscape as bright as day for up to 100 feet for as long as you choose. And, when placed at the corner of the eaves, the rotating optics on the Revolve can be adjusted to light up two sides of the house.
Path Lighting
Path lighting is soft to moderately bright safety and landscape lighting designed to help you navigate walkways while attractively highlighting them. Install it on the ground along both sides of main walkways from the back door to your fence door, along stepping stones from the main walkway to a backyard feature like a fountain, and/or around flower beds to emphasize their contours.
Try Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders
Tips to Keep Your Home Rodent and Squirrel Free This Fall
Out with the old, in with the new- Are there broken or old and warped attic, dryer or gable vents on the exterior of your home? Now is the time to replace them. Rodents and squirrels have no trouble tearing through vents to enter your attic or home
Don’t hang bird feeders- Bird feeders are prone to both squirrel and mouse feeding. Squirrels are exceptionally good climbers, so breaking into bird feeders is a treat for squirrels. Even if squirrels don’t touch your bird feeders, birds will. Birds fling seeds around, leaving piles on the ground while they feed. Mice and rats flock to this easy food source, attracting them to your property. Next stop? Inside your house.
Seal it up- Take a walk around the exterior of your home. Look for cracks and crevices that can be sealed with foam or stuffed with steel wool. Mice are not able to chew through steel wool, so getting it right the first time is important. Mice have collapsible bodies and can fit through tiny holes and gaps as small as ¼ inch. Once they enter your home, mice nest in wall voids, insulation, attics, under refrigerators, under stoves, and under dishwashers. It’s better to take a proactive approach as soon as you find these vulnerabilities.
Stop using essential oils- They do not work for pest control. If it was this easy, pest control companies would be out of business. If mice or squirrels are getting into your home, the entry point needs to be sealed. Think about it this way. If a bird keeps flying through a broken window in your house, would you spray essential oils onto the broken opening or would you fix the window?
Keep it clean- Sweep up crumbs inside your home on a regular basis. Make sure that you pay close attention to the hard to reach spaces that are easily ignored such as under stoves and under dishwashers. In garages, move bird seed and grass seeds into heavily secured Tupperware or containers.
Choosing a Squirrel Removal Company
Sometimes the best and easiest way to remove a squirrel or exclude it from your property is to hire a company to do it for you. Wildlife removal companies are not well monitored or licensed, so it is up to you to ask questions about a company’s practices before hiring them
A good wildlife removal company should
Provide a customized plan of action and a firm price estimate before you are required to commit
Focus on long-term solutions, such as fixing potential entry points (as opposed to simply removing squirrels)
Guarantee their work (for at least one year)
Know about squirrel behaviour, such as when babies are born and where squirrels are likely to gain entry to a building.
Use only humane live traps (cage traps) or one-way doors to remove animals (rather than leg-hold traps or other harmful capture devices)
Physically check the space for babies, no matter the time of year
Release any live-trapped animals on-site. Never hire a company that moves squirrels to a new location: this is illegal and harmful to the animals. Instead, they should remove squirrels from the nest space and seal the hole to prevent return.
Squirrel Exterminators – Choosing a Pest Control Service
Squirrels look cute and cuddly… until they enter your home. Then they’re not so adorable when you hear sounds coming from your attic, find chewed up stuff, or worse, find droppings everywhere. Finding a company to remove squirrels from your attic, chimney, or other places in your home isn’t as easy as looking up a list of squirrel exterminators and picking one. It’s important to find a pest control service that is experienced with dealing with these quick and sometimes unpredictable little rodents.
The Use of Poisons
Some companies will suggest poisons as a means of squirrel control. Aside from being inhumane, toxic, and potentially dangerous for households with children and pets, consider what happens after the squirrel ingests the poison. It has to die somewhere – and that “somewhere” might end up being inside your house. You then end up with an entirely different problem of how to locate and remove a decomposing squirrel corpse. The smell could attract other wildlife or insects and, of course, is unpleasant to homeowners – particularly if the body is located near the home’s ventilation system. It could be very costly to try to remove the rodent if it has died somewhere particularly hard to access.
DIY vs Professional Help
Sometimes homeowners want to try squirrel removal themselves, before turning to the professionals for any type of extermination service. This is not as easy as it may seem. Even if the homeowner is able to convince the squirrel to leave and then seals up the squirrel’s entry points into the home… how can we be sure that all the squirrels are out?
Choosing a Pest Control Service
An experienced pest control service can help prevent these types of problems from occurring
How much experience do they have with squirrels?
There are many different rodent types, each with its own behaviors. A company that deals with squirrels regularly will be more familiar with what to look for and how to deal with it. Are they able to remove squirrels from different parts of the home – the attic, the chimney, the walls, etc?
WAYS TO ELIMINATE SQUIRRELS IN ATTIC SPACES
Find entry points around the home.They might be cute and fuzzy outdoors, but when you get squirrels in the attic or walls of your home, serious harm and injury can occur. Squirrels can cause damage to your house in places that are very difficult to reach, meaning lengthy and costly repairs. Further, they can transmit quite a few diseases, so an encounter with a frightened and trapped wild animal in your home could spell disaster for you and your loved ones. That’s why it’s important you not only learn how to get rid of squirrels in the attic, but also how to keep squirrels out of attic spaces
Seal up all entry points except one. Squirrels can squeeze through just about any opening in your home, so make sure doors and windows are properly fitted to your house and covered with fitted screens. Wire mesh can be placed over open vents and chimney tops (or you can invest in a chimney cap). Seal up other openings with caulk, steel wool or appropriate materials as needed (e.g., fill up holes with dirt, use bricks to fix a wall, etc.). A pest management professional can help suggest ways to shore up your home’s defense. Just remember to always leave one entry point open so the squirrels can leave on their own. This should be the most obvious and accessible entry point. Cover this last entry point with a single sheet of newspaper, and if it’s still intact a few days after you stop hearing signs of squirrels in the attic, it’s safe to seal it off for good.
Give the squirrels some incentive to leave. Unfortunately, you might have to learn how to get rid of squirrels in your attic by giving them a little push. Squirrels won’t always leave on their own, especially if they’ve already given birth to a litter. In this scenario, the adult will repeatedly leave and enter the home to bring food to the young. If you seal up the final entry point when the adult squirrel leaves while the baby squirrels are still in the attic or walls, they will need to be removed by a pest management professional, dead or alive. To prevent this, drive the squirrels out as soon as they make themselves known, before they can give birth or set up shop. Playing loud music and keeping lights on can be effective as a squirrel repellent. Attics should be avoided while squirrels are in them since they can be dangerous and may even get scared and run into other parts of the house, creating a path of terror and destruction along the way.
Learn how to get rid of squirrels in the attic with traps.Traps are a very effective weapon in the war against squirrels in the attic. There are a few different types of squirrel traps that you can use, as well as a few different places to set them. Live-capture traps do just what their name sounds like: captures the squirrel alive. Unfortunately, you will still have to deal with the live animal after trapping, either through euthanasia or setting it free 5 or 10 miles from your home. This is dangerous to both you and the squirrel and may require a permit based on your state’s wildlife laws. Kill-traps are actually more humane than live traps and much safer, since the rodent will be taken out of the equation quickly and safely. Live traps also have to be checked frequently, as it is inhumane to let the animal starve to death. Both of these types of traps (kill- and live-capture) are typically ‟box traps” and can be placed in attic runways where squirrel activity has been noticed. A third type of trap is called a ‟body-gripping” trap and can be placed directly outside of entry points to catch the squirrel as it darts in and out of your home. Box traps can also be placed outside in the yard, near burrows, to capture squirrels before they can enter your home.
Learn how to keep squirrels out of attics and your home in general. Finally, it’s vital that you take preventative measures to keep not only squirrels, but also pests in general, out of your home. Insects, arachnids, wildlife and reptiles belong outside in nature (unless kept as pets), so start by sealing up entry points around your home (discussed above). Trim any trees that overhang your house, as squirrels and other pests can gain easy access to your roof, windows and attic. If the squirrel population around your home is a problem, use traps to alleviate it. Take necessary precautions if you have children or pets, as they can get caught in the traps as well.
Squirrels
A problem squirrel can destroy insulation, strip the protective coating from electrical wires and can be incredibly destructive to furniture and woodwork (interior and exterior). Squirrel Control is not for amateurs and is best to be handled by a licensed professional. Similarly, raccoons and bats like to nest in the attics of homes and commercial properties and when left unchecked can cause extensive damage.
How long do squirrels live?
Depending on the type of squirrel, some can live upwards of 5 years
What do squirrels eat?
They mostly eat nuts, seeds and fruit
How do you get rid of squirrels?
The best way to get rid of a squirrel in your home (walls, basement, attic) is to trap it and release it somewhere else.