About Me

Planning and Executing Construction and Contracting Projects: Tips for Consumers

Welcome to my blog. My name is Deborah. About 15 years ago, I bought an old home. We worked with several contractors to rehabilitate it, but ultimately, the foundation simply wasn't stable enough, and we had to tear it down. After that, we worked with a construction crew to build a home from the ground up. The experience was exciting and challenging, and I learned a lot through that process. I want to share construction and contracting facts and information with others so I decided to start this blog. I hope that you like the results, and I thank you for reading. Enjoy!

Planning and Executing Construction and Contracting Projects: Tips for Consumers

2016

Tips for Transporting Construction Materials
If you run a construction company, you will often need to transport construction materials, tools and equipment to different job sites. Whether you are picking up lumber and bringing it to the job site or moving tools from one location to another when relocating your construction company, it is important that you know the basic rules for transporting such materials. Choose How to Transport the Materials The number of items you need to move and the overall size and weight of them will determine the best way to transport them from one location to another.

Two Areas Of Cracked Concrete That Can Deter Potential House Buyers
Spring and summer in Australia are the seasons when house sales traditionally rise. Not only does the nice weather encourage house buyers to get out and hunt for their next home, but the end-of-year holidays give plenty of vacation days to move. However, during the winter, moisture gets into small concrete cracks and makes them bigger. There are two areas of your home where cracks in concrete need repair before you put your home on the market.

Signs You Require Blocked Drain Cleaning Services
Your household's drainage system plays a crucial role in the optimum functioning of your plumbing. However, since the drainage system is typically out of sight, it also tends to be out of mind too. Without the regular care and maintenance, your drainage may begin to experience problems that would affect the entire plumbing in your household. To prevent major drainage catastrophes that could prove to be quite cumbersome, it I prudent to know the signs of a blocked drain.

Which is the Best Plywood for Making Kitchen Cabinets?
If you are thinking about remodelling your kitchen cabinets, you may have heard that different types of plywood are used for making the cabinet boxes and shelves. There are different types of plywood on the market today based on size and grade, but not all of them are ideal for kitchen cabinet construction. Before looking into the best plywood for kitchen cabinets, it is essential to understand why plywood is the best material for the job.

How to Fix a Few Common Plumbing Problems Around the Home
It's never good to try to tackle major plumbing jobs around the house unless you're an experienced plumber yourself, as even one small mistake can lead to water leaks, burst pipes and the like. However, some small fixes at home may be addressed with just a bit of know-how and a few simple tools and plumbing supplies. Note a few of those small fixes here so you can address them on your own, at least before you assume you need to call a plumber.

Excavator Rental: Questions to Guide Your Choice
Excavators vary in size and optional features. It is therefore very important for you to have a checklist that will help you to choose the right excavator for your home improvement project if you are inexperienced in the use of earthmoving equipment. This article discusses some questions that can help homeowners who are renting an excavator for the first time to do a DIY home improvement project. What Is the Ground Like?

Why Hire a Building Consultant to Manage Your Properties?
As a rental property owner, you may try to do as many things as you can on your own when it comes to maintaining that property; this can mean saving money on the cost of building consultancy, but this doesn't mean it's the best idea for your properties. Note a few advantages that a building consultant can offer you and why hiring such a professional or using this type of company may be the most cost-effective choice in the long run.

Understanding Microclimatic Elements in Site Analysis and Their Effect on Your Building
Site analysis is an important part of the planning process for setting up large commercial buildings. In this stage of your building's architectural design, the focus is on the characteristics of the site, including its history, geography, existing infrastructure and climate. Particularly, microclimatic elements affect the approach, design and configuration of your building. Basically, a microclimate refers to a set of localised climatic conditions that differ from those of the general surrounding.

Why You Need To Consider Building Your House with Screw Piles
When thinking about building a house, you will want to be concerned about the type of foundation that the house will have. Among the options you will find are concrete and screw piles. Screw pile foundation is a superior option that you should consider. Here are the reasons why.  Fast Installation Installation of screw piles usually involves the use of heavy construction equipment such as excavators. This makes for inexpensive and fast installation.

What Many Homeowners Ask About Underpinning Their Home
There are many ways to brace up and repair a foundation that has suffered cracks and damage over the years; underpinning is one such process where actual pins are put under the home's foundation in order to push the foundation, and the home itself, back into a level and even position. This can keep the home from sinking any more than it has, can keep cracks from forming along walls inside, and also can protect the chimney and brickwork outside from crumbling.

Trenchless Technology: What to Know When Using Auger Boring Technique
As the need for oil, gas, water and sewer line installation grows, there is an increased need for boring techniques that maximize available ground space with minimum excavation and surface disruptions. The trenchless technology involves the installation and replacement of underground utilities with few or no continuous trenches. One of the most common techniques used is auger boring. It is a suitable option for installing utilities under railroads, highways and other public structures.

Tips For Choosing the Right Kitchen Benchtops
Remodeling a kitchen not only improves its appearance, but can help with functionality and increase your home's resale value. One excellent thing to do is replace the benchtops. Here are some tips for choosing the right ones. Choose Your Design Preferences To start with, you need to select your design preferences. This can make a big difference in which kitchen benchtops will be best for you. First of all, decide if you want to go with manmade or natural stone benchtops.

Improve the Quality of Your Commercial Building With Preventative Maintenance
When you own a commercial building, you not only need to screen your tenants carefully and make sure it looks nice from the outside, but you are also responsible for routine maintenance. Part of this means performing inspections and preventative maintenance so you can avoid problems before they occur. Here are some different areas of the building to keep up with when working on preventative maintenance tasks. Roof Start outside the building with the roof, which might have problems you don't even know exist until you inspect the surface.

Wooden Vs. Plastic Crates: How to Choose
When it comes to buying new crates for storage or transportation of items, you have to make various decisions regarding the type you want. One of the important decisions is choosing between plastic and wood crates. While these are not the only materials used, they are most popular. How do you decide between the two? Here are some features of plastic and wooden crates that will help you make the decision.

Information a Crane Hire Agency Will Need From You
Hiring a crane agency can mean having the equipment you need to work any type of construction or even a cleanup job, without having to maintain a crane or store it on your own. Hiring a crane isn't like just hiring a car to pick you up from the office; you'll need to share some important information with the crane agency so they send the right type of crane, and can work with you to ensure the site is ready for the crane as well.

When Old Isn't Gold: Water Wells
One thing about rural properties is that they often lack mains water supply and as such, many properties have water wells. It's quite possible that there's an old well which is no longer in use within your new rural getaway. Such a well needs to be decommissioned (taken out of service) before a new well is drilled on the property. This article provides tips on how to locate an old well and an explanation on the need for decommissioning.

Ways to Encourage Recycling in the Workplace
If you want your business to be more eco-friendly, one great way to do that is by starting a recycling program. With just a few simple steps, you can encourage your employees to recycle their waste and create a greener workplace. Let Employees Know What Can Be Recycled One of the reasons people don't recycle as much as possible is because they simply don't know what items can be recycled. This is why it helps to post flyers around the office reminding your employees what they can recycle.

Considerations When Erecting a Pergola on Your Residence
If you would like to make the most of your yard, you should consider erecting a pergola. These structures are great for creating an external living space that will easily integrate with your yard. Additionally, you have the option of either erecting them as an adjacent structure to your home or as a stand-alone ornamental feature on your property. However, the process of erecting a pergola is not simply about calling the contractors and having construction underway.

What to Consider Before Waterproofing a Timber and Concrete Balcony
Before you take on waterproofing a balcony, there a few things you should consider. The truth is, you should look beyond the surface level of the key considerations and make sure you are seeing the big picture, especially if you are dealing with both timber and concrete materials. Here are a few of those waterproofing considerations and how to tackle them for your timber and concrete balcony project. Method of Waterproofing

4 Things to Remember Before Renting a Skip Bin
If you are in need of a skip bin hire for demolition or yard waste, you shouldn't rush into it. There are a few things you need to consider first so you get the right bin, know where to park it and use it correctly. Choose the Right Size Before you do anything else, consider what size skip bin you need. This is more important than you might imagine, since you could end up spending a lot more for the bin than necessary if you try to get the largest one.

Hiring Commercial Cleaning Service for Peaceful Work Environment
People spend more than forty hours in their offices each week.  A clean office seems to be the most effective work-enhancing factor. With so much work and deadlines to observe, you can hire new cleaning staff. However adding new employees to your payroll can become a costly solution. To curb this problem, hiring a commercial cleaning service remains the best solution. Cleaner and Healthier Environment Every part of the office is prone to bacteria and germs making office workers susceptible to sickness.

A concrete driveway does not have to be a solid, unattractive expanse
Concrete is a cost-effective material to use for driveways. It can be cast as one enormous slab / surface, but there are alternatives to make sure that your concrete driveway is an attractive feature of your home. Using individual concrete slabs You can have your driveway cast in any number of slabs, which could be arranged in a pattern to give an aesthetic appeal. You also do not need to think of a concrete driveway as necessarily being the usual grey colour of dry concrete.

Handy Tips for Keeping Your Pool Pristine
Although having a swimming pool can significantly ease having to endure the hot summer months, improper maintenance will make your pool more of a burden than a relief. The following are some of things that you should keep in mind when it comes to effective pool maintenance. Check levels of alkalinity Keeping your pool water balanced is essential in ensuring that the people who use the pool do not become susceptible to skin irritation.

The 3 Steps To A Bigger House
A large number of prospective new homeowners lack the financial ability to build a new home or to buy one that is newly-built. Such homeowners often end up investing in pre-owned houses that may lack a few of their desired features. A good example of the features referred to is the number and the layout of rooms within the house. Adding new structures to a pre-owned house is among the best ways to increase the number of rooms in a house and to improve the layout of these rooms.

Ways to treat the wood for your garden sleeper
Garden sleepers are great for showcasing a particular spot or flower bed of your garden, and they also give your garden many different levels, which can make your garden more interesting looking. Pine is a popular material for sleepers, as it's a natural material that gives your garden a rustic look. However, for pine to be used as retaining walls for a sleeper, it's very important that it's treated properly. In order to get a treated pine sleeper with all the qualities you desire, you need to choose what treatment to give it.

Safety considerations when installing an electrical outlet
Installing an electrical outlet can be a complicated and dangerous procedure if you don't know what you're doing. If you have any doubts about not being able to do it on your own, you should hire an electrician to do it for you. However, if you feel confident and have some experience in electrical work, then doing your own outlet installation can save you both time and money. However, in order to do so, there are a few things you should think about in regards to safety.

Under Pressure: Troubleshooting Low Water Pressure
Experiencing problems with your water pressure can be a real pain. No one wants to shower in a drip of water or to wait forever for a sink to fill. If you need to troubleshoot low water pressure, below are some common causes. Blocked Aerators If low water pressure only affects a particular tap, it may be that the aerator on that particular tap is blocked or clogged with debris. To clear it, unscrew the end on the tap and remove the aerator.

Painting an "Attractive" Wall: Tips for Using Magnetic Paint
Magnetic paint is a great way to liven up an empty wall, but using it is not exactly the same as using traditional wall paint. Want magnetised walls and need a few helpful tips? Take a look at this essential advice: 1. Choose a dark colour for over the magnetic primer. Magnetic paint can be used on its own, or it can be used as primer underneath coloured paint. Unfortunately, magnetic paint tends to only come in very dark colours, and as a result, you need a relatively dark top coat to hide it.

3 Key Things to Consider When Selecting a Site for Tennis Court Building
If you want to build a tennis court, there are some choices that you have to make. One of the major choices you need to make is the perfect site for the court. The type of site you choose can affect the overall suitability of the court in terms of durability or functionality. With the help of a contractor, you can assess the suitability of possible sites for construction of the tennis court.

Buying guide | 4 expert tips on choosing the right poly tarps
Poly tarps have flooded the market and manufacturers are now producing these materials like never before. A quick online search would give you a good idea of how many different types of tarps exist. You don't want to buy one and then realise that it was the wrong product. So whether you'll be using the poly tarp in a construction site to cover buildings or as a material for your tent, here are expert tips on how you can purchase the exact product you need.

What You Need to Know About Freight Forwarding Services
A freight forwarder is a company that picks up your freight or cargo at a state or international border and takes it to its next or final destination. This can be needed for shipping, as many trucking and shipping companies will only take your cargo to a certain border and no further, or you might need to change your method of shipment, such as having your items loaded onto a cargo ship or plane.

DIY Vs Non-DIY Concrete Resurfacing
The "hard-wearing" nature of tiles made of concrete is perhaps the best explanation for the preference of these tiles in residential flooring systems. Thanks to this quality, concrete tiles are able to handle the use (and sometimes abuse) that comes with exposure to constant traffic without losing their aesthetic appeal. In order to maintain this appeal, concrete floor tiles will need to be resurfaced from time to time. This also helps to preserve the structural integrity of the tiles.

Questions to Ask About Cleaning Tile and Grout in Your Home
When you're ready to have your home's floors cleaned, you don't want to overlook the tile and grout in the kitchen, bathroom, and elsewhere. Many homeowners think about having their carpets professionally steam cleaned but then don't consider the state of their tile floors or the tile in their shower areas. Note a few questions you might have about getting this job done and then discuss this with a professional floor cleaner so you can determine if you should schedule the job for your home.

Estimating the True Cost of Home Window Tinting
For someone looking to open up their home and create that expansive feeling the outdoors pours into a home, large windows and extensive glass siding may offer a solution. Unfortunately, homes with such open spaces protected by a layer of mere glass can suffer higher internal temperatures courtesy of the sun. The sun also brings damaging amounts of UV rays that will quickly fade draperies and furniture and may even damage carpets.

Things to Keep In Mind When Constructing With Recycled Timber Products
If you are looking to embark on ecofriendly construction, you should consider incorporating recycled timber products into your building materials. Recycled timber is wood that has been salvaged from various places such as demolition sites, wharves, factories and more. The timber that is picked out is that which has stayed in good condition therefore can be reused for other purposes. This is practiced to reduce the amount of timber waste that ends up in landfills for no good reason.

Choosing the right type of air conditioner for your small business
As a small business owner, you have a lot to think about when it comes to making your work place as comfortable for your workers as possible while still ensuring it can fulfill the purpose of the business. One thing that is very important for a small business owner to keep in mind is the air conditioning in your work space. If your workers have to work in an environment that's too hot, it can affect their morale.

Truss Issues You Should Look Out For In an Inspection Report
Some homeowners do not know which sections of a house inspection report to take seriously once the home inspector has completed his or her work. This article discusses some problems that a timber truss inspection of an older home may reveal. Use this information to renegotiate the purchase terms so that you use the discount to hire certified professionals to repair the defective timber roof trusses. Split or Cracked Truss Members

Why Go for Split System Air Conditioning?
Comfort is a standard feature of any good home. That is why air conditioning service is now being viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury for modern homeowners. But many homeowners often find themselves at crossroads when it comes to choosing a suitable air conditioning system for their homes because they do not understand the various benefits associated with each type of air conditioner. If you are thinking of installing a split system air conditioner in your home, you should know about its upsides.

Would Aluminium Fencing Be Ideal For Your Residence?
There is a myriad of fencing materials in the market. The most popular options tend to be timber since this material is readily available and blends well with the environment. Alternatively, you could choose other options such as steel, PVC, vinyl and aluminium. It should be noted that your choice of material largely depends on the needs you want fulfilled by your fence. Here are some of the things you need to know about aluminium fencing to help you determine whether it would be an ideal choice for your residence.

Commercial Roadways: Critical Options for Asphalt Concrete Repair
Asphalt is an ideal material for the construction of roadways and pavements in your commercial property. This type of material, which is also known as tarmac, asphalt concrete, pavement and blacktop, is resilient since it is formed using strong mineral aggregate and binding bitumen. In addition, it is an economical choice for most applications because of its wide availability and ease of installation. Unfortunately, commercial surfaces constructed using this material can become degraded due to frost heaves, poor construction quality and even from normal usage.

Making the most out of a bobcat hire for your pool excavation
When building a pool for your home, there are a lot of things you need to think about. One of the most important things is how to perform the actual excavation itself. A good option to do this is to hire a bobcat that you operate yourself. A bobcat is ideal for these types of projects, as they are versatile and nimble enough to be working on small properties. However, in order to get the most out of your bobcat hire, there are a few things you need to think about.

Commercial Pavements: Material Options for Your Property Kerbs
The nature of the roadways in your commercial property will affect the efficiency of traffic flow and even aesthetics. If you are interested in improving these aspects in your space, you should consider installing kerbs along your pavements. These structures will separate the pedestrian sidewalk from the vehicle roadways and parking spaces. Your customers will also be discouraged from driving or even parking on your turf. In addition, kerbs are ideal for giving the external commercial space a more finished and professional appearance.

Do Old Wooden Pallets Make Good Firewood?
Wooden pallets are designed for longevity, and yet there comes a day when they can no longer be used for their intended purpose. Some of them are recycled or made into furniture, and others end up in landfill. You might be tempted to use any old wooden pallets you have at home as firewood during the winter months. You might also find a number of pallets on sale and buy them with a view to using them as firewood.

Kitchen Design Options for Small Spaces
Having a small kitchen can be a challenge, as it means less room for food prep and for storage. This doesn't mean that a small space needs to somehow be inefficient as a kitchen, as there are many design options and features you might choose to maximize that space overall. Note a few of those options and features here and then discuss them with a kitchen designer when you're ready to make some changes so you know you're making the best of your kitchen space no matter its size.

4 Reasons to Build a Granny Flat before Granny Needs It
When people think of building a granny flat, it's usually to enable them to have elderly relatives living close by. However, building a flat before granny needs it is now becoming a popular investment choice. In New South Wales alone, 4,818 new flats were built in 2014. These self-contained additions to the family home can be used for a variety of purposes. Here are 4 reasons why you might want to build granny flats.

Plumbing Situations That Require Professional Help
Homeowners may often tackle certain plumbing problems on their own, without the help of a professional. This can include simple jobs like changing washers in a faucet or unclogging a kitchen sink, but it's never good to tackle every plumbing situation in your home, on your own. Some plumbing problems or jobs that need to be done should be left in the hands of a professional so that you don't make the plumbing problems worse or perform a job incorrectly, leading to even larger repair jobs down the road.

Tips To Help You Determine The Best Wooden Flooring For Your Home
Modern flooring has availed a wide variety of options for homeowners. You can also have a customized floor made for you, if you need unique and specific aspects and features. Below is a list of wooden floor types and tips you should take note of when choosing a particular type of flooring. Laminate Flooring Laminate flooring is a great choice for high humid areas because it is highly water resistant, unlike other wooden surfaces.

Tips for Preparing to Paint Over Old Painted Walls
When renovating an old home, a fresh coat of paint on the walls can drastically improve the look and feel of a room. If you are planning to repaint over old painted walls, check out these tips to ensure a great result with minimal hassle. Prepare the surface By thoroughly preparing your walls prior to applying the first layer of new paint, you will safeguard against any old flaws, peeling paint and imperfections showing up after all your hard work.

4 Reasons to Use an Employment Agency When Finding a Job
If you have been having trouble finding a job or even landing an interview, it might be time to change the method you use to look for a job. An excellent resource is an employment agency, sometimes called a temporary agency. You will work for the employment agency, but be sent to different companies for various work assignments. These assignments will vary widely in their length of time and the type of work you will do.

Introduction To Steel: 2 Frequiently Asked Questions
Steel is among the most commonly used building materials in the construction industry today. This can be partly attributed to its versatility as well as its ready availability. Having emphasized the importance of steel, this article proceeds to provide answers to two common questions about the mentioned building material. Information herein would be most useful to trainee metal fabrication specialists. How Is Steel Classified? Classification of steel can be done using a wide range of parameters.

Eco-friendly Solutions for Insulating Your Home
Cutting down the cost of energy in your home is one of the reasons for insulating your home. During the cold weather, the insulation prevents the loss of warm air from the house. On the other side, it keeps the warm air out of the house when the hot season sets in. During insulation, you can use eco-friendly and natural materials that have not been manufactured using chemicals. At least, the materials you use will not contain any harmful substances that can adversely affect your health.

Drain Pains: Installing Proper Drainage And Preventing Pooling Under Your Carport
A carport can be a great boon for any driver, keeping their vehicle sheltered from the worst of the elements without going to the expense and trouble of constructing a full-blown garage. However, while carports are generally simple to assemble and install, you may encounter some problems if construction is not up to standard. One problem many carport owners encounter is water pooling under the carport. Runoff from rainwater hitting the roof of the carport can quickly collect in pools of standing water if proper provisions for water drainage are not made, presenting a serious slipping hazard and potentially causing structural damage to hard-standing floors.

Information You May Include in Your Asbestos Register
An asbestos register is a document that captures all the relevant information about asbestos in a building. That register helps contractors and other concerned people to identify where they should be careful in order to avoid disturbing the asbestos. This article discusses some of the information that should be captured in the asbestos register of your building. The Location As already stated, it is important to indicate the location of asbestos containing material (ACM) or suspected ACM.

Concrete Pumping | A Revolution in the Construction Industry
The construction industry has undergone tremendous changes over the past decade. New tools and techniques have made the process more efficient and structures are being built to their optimum levels. One of the major changes that has revolutionized the construction process is concrete pumping. This is simply a technique used for placing concrete by using specialized pumps. It's able to get the concrete moving to exactly where it needs to be, and liquid concrete is easily transferred without any loss in quality.

Signs of inadequate roof ventilation
Proper roof ventilation is an important aspect to be aware of in regards to your roofing system. Adequate roof venting, correctly installed, serves to pull in fresh air into the attic while pushing out heat and moisture. In effect, this lowers the temperature difference between the air inside and outside the attic space. Indeed, a good roof ventilation helps reduce the threat of serious roof problems for homeowners while extending the life service of roof systems.

Converting an Industrial Property into a Residential Property: Is It for You?
Converting an industrial property into a residential property can be an alluring proposition. While the cost of the land and existing dwelling can still be significant, you will generally pay less for a disused small property or office building as opposed to an already finished residential property. But how easy is it to turn an industrial property into your dream home? The Location The location of the property is key. While there are a number of industrial properties located close to major city centres around Australia, you need to ensure that the location works for you.

When a Homeowner May Need a Land Survey, Even Though They Already Own the Home
If you already own your home then you may assume that you would never need a land survey done. However, knowing the exact boundaries of your property and what might be encroaching on those boundaries can be very helpful in a variety of situations. Note when a homeowner may need a land survey completed and why it can be helpful to them, even though they already own the home and the land.

Features to add to your deadbolt lock to make it even more secure
Deadbolt locks are among the safest types of locks there is when it comes to prevent burglary and they can help with increasing the safety in your home significantly. There are many different features that a deadbolt lock can have to further improve how well it protects against intrusion, and in order for you to get exactly what you want out of your deadbolt lock, there are some features you should consider getting for your lock.

Excavation safety through structural stability
Civil works and excavations are twin related and largely dependent on each other.  Subsequently, there are lots of risks associated with this activity, thus, the law is very adamant on the safety of workers near excavation sites. Prior to the start of any working shift, a competent professional must inspect the site and determine its work to risk ratio. Structural aspects form the backbone of an excavation process hence; key issues will be discussed in this article.

Planning on buying an older home? Make sure the inspector looks for these things
If you are planning on buying an older home, you get the benefit of history along with a beautiful house. Unfortunately, this also puts you at risk of having a variety of issues. To avoid major and expensive repairs down the line, it is best to have the house fully inspected and to look for the following things. Single-Pane Windows One area of the house that needs to be inspected fully is the windows.

Signs That Your Bathroom Has a Hidden Plumbing Leak
Since it's often the wettest room in your house, signs of plumbing leaks may not be so obvious in your bathroom, and therefore they can easily be overlooked or go unheeded. If left unattended or untreated, a plumbing or water leak in your bathroom will cost you in terms of water bills and repairs in case of serious damages to the walls and the flooring. Therefore, if you observe any of the following signs, you might want to contact your plumber like A and C Plumbing as soon as possible.