Basement Renovations

Kitchen Remodel Ideas: Renovating a Kitchen Is Definitely More Than Just a Few Ideas

July 23, 2022 Comments Off

Renovating a home is overwhelming for most people and a lot of people put off doing a kitchen remodel because of all the work it takes. There are too many choices today in the market place. Unless you are lucky to find a good contractor who can design, provide all the products and install in your area, it can be a daunting task. Of course there are the few who love the challenge but the opportune words there are a few.
In 1999 my wife and I bought our home. The homes are very expensive in New York City so we bought a home that needed a lot of work. In 2004 after living in our home for about 5 years both my wife and I had just about enough with our cold, poorly designed old kitchen. By this time our third child was born. It is well known that most people’s priorities change rapidly when your kids are small and you are struggling to raise them. We had put it off long enough
We decided to research some kitchen remodel ideas and plan on getting our kitchen done finally. We got 3 estimates and one of the contractors charged us $500 dollars for his time to design our kitchen and that layout just did not work for us at all. After a dispute with my wife for giving them the money we both decided to design the kitchen ourselves. What I am about to tell you now was a turning point in my life and lead me to where I am today designing many kitchens. There are plenty of companies giving free design estimates so don’t be fooled
The contractor we choose to do our kitchen took over 3 months to complete it and it was one of the most stressful times of my life. So many things I saw that were just not acceptable like not putting in enough insulation, building the interior walls too far from our brick interior and because of this we had to reorder kitchen cabinets. Always make sure to have a time line written in the contract specifying how long the project will take.
The ceilings were un-level. There was garbage thrown out our new custom window scratching it. Our dining room floors were damaged and much more. We were robbed during this project and today I am on a mission to educate consumers on the reasons why it is so important to make sure to get a good reliable contractor who does background checks on their workers as well as checking to see if they have enough insurance.
Now my passion is helping people who have smaller kitchens. It is the central meeting place of the home and it is important it functions well. Designing kitchens and using good kitchen remodel ideas is very satisfying. There are companies that bring the selections to your home and help with cabinet styles, counter tops, back splashes and floors as well as quickly show consumers how their kitchen will look after the construction process is complete.
Don’t give up on your dream. If you do your due diligence and call companies like Service Magic who will give you only reputable contractors you should be fine. Check out Angles List, Consumers affairs and BBB. Of course getting referrals is always a good idea but make sure that the people working in your home are the same crew your friend had. This can make a huge difference.…

Asthma and Allergies – Preventative Maintenance For Asthma and Allergy Sufferers

June 21, 2022 Comments Off

There are multiple ways you can minimize your suffering to Asthma and Allergies. They are really very simple and easy to implement. Maintenance is the answer to most problems and needs to be done on a regular basis. It is amazing how many problems I find during an Environmental Inspection that could have been prevented by the homeowner or renter. We will focus on the following areas:
1 Filtration
2 Chemicals
3 Moisture
4 Duct Work
5 Exterior
Filtration:
1. Look at your filter in place and see if air is bypassing the filter. You can tell that by dirt lines around the edges of the filter. If so, the filter is the wrong size or rated too high.
2. Check to see if the replacing filter changes the airflow of the system. It could be too high a rating.
3. Replace filter if it is affecting the airflow.
Chemicals:
1. Do not store any chemicals in your home. It is important that you properly dispose of any chemicals that have expired. Each City has a place to take expired chemicals and paints.
2. Always dispose of any chemicals that you don’t anticipate using before their expiration. Remember that chemicals slowly leak out the container via the air. A note to the consumer, once the seal is broken, it can leak into the air.
Moisture:
1. Check underneath all sinks for leaks or dripping faucets.
2. Look behind the toilets for leaking toilet or water supply lines. Is the exhaust fan exhausting properly to the outside.
3. Check the edges of the shower door around the bath/shower for any moisture or toxic mold.
4. Look at your ceiling on a regular basis for any moisture stains or visible toxic mold stains.
5. Check the attic and crawl spaces for any moisture or staining that can lead to toxic mold. Do you smell any musty odors in house?
Duct Work:
1. Check to see if any duct work is sweating with condensation on the exterior.
2. Check to see if any supply grills are sweating with condensation.
3. Check to see if any duct work is leaking.
Exterior:
1. Is there any pooling of water around the foundation? This is serious.
2. Keep the gutter system clean of leaves and debris.
3. Check gutter downspout extensions and make sure they are moving water away from the foundation.
4. After a rain storm, check for water pooling on window sills.
5. Check for cracks or any discoloration of the exterior walls. Fix cracks immediately.
If you have any questions about these matters, feel free to call us or visit our website.…

Lead Based Paint: Ready or Not the New Law Is Here!

June 15, 2022 Comments Off

On April 22, 2010 the EPA enacted a new, nationwide set of regulations regarding lead based paint. It has been an absolute JOY (Not!) informing new and existing clients of the risks of lead based paint and the new regulations and fines enacted by Big Brother, I mean, our benevolent government. As a contractor, we are REQUIRED to be the bearer of bad news for those of you who own homes built before 1978. The fines for looking the other way, not informing you of the risks, not giving you the required literature, and not using the required lead paint renovation procedures, start at $37,000 per day! The government is very serious about this issue and the risks to your family.
Several potential clients have asked why we can’t just ignore the new law. Well, several reasons, in fact, 37,000 reasons. Obviously, the risk to your family is the most important reason, but beyond that, contractors can’t risk their business, their home and the physical and financial well being of their employees and subcontractors just to save a few dollars. Contractors have had to invested a lot of money sending staff to the required certification courses, purchasing the necessary protective and cleaning materials and tools, and implementing the required physical and record keeping procedures to be in full compliance. When a contractor suggests that you can ignore the new law, they not only put your family’s health at risk, they also put your financial future at risk. This law is so new, we still don’t know where all of the liability will end up. If you allow renovations to be completed that ignore the new law, you will have to disclose that fact when you sell your home. If you don’t disclose that fact, you open yourself up to huge legal liability. I’m sure we’re not very far off from the late night TV commercial with the deep voiced, concerned announcer who says, “Have you ever had your home remodeled? You may have been injured by lead based paint, and deserve compensation…”.
Make sure you take the time to learn more about this subject and protect your family physically and financially.…

Log Home Maintenance: Basics You Must Know

March 22, 2022 Comments Off

Log home maintenance is different from regular homes. It is not to say that it is harder but it is definitely not easier. There are just different issues concerned with log homes or log cabins than the regular concrete walls and hardwood floors in homes.
Dark patches
Dark patches are among the most common issues for logs. This happens because of molds that have grown because of rain splatter. This is easily cleaned up with water mixed with bleach solution. Brush off the molds with an old toothbrush.
Cracks
Cracks are inevitable in log homes, which is why it is important to go over the entire log house once in awhile. Cracks happen because of humidity and the changing seasons. Do not worry about this because it is a normal thing to happen to logs, without any effect on its integrity. There are different varieties of sealants that can help seal the cracks. Just make sure you ask the experts on the appropriate sealant for the log that you have. For bigger cracks there are also solutions that need to cover up the gap. A sealant will do the finishing touch.
Staining
This is not just part of maintenance but it is an important aspect in the construction of a log home. Stains protect the log cabin from disintegration. The maintenance part though is when stain is no longer working. It is just like paint that is already faded, it is no longer the color that you wanted in the first place. For stains, it may not be much of a protection anymore if the stain has already thinned out. Do not worry though because this do not happen over time. It takes a few years for stains to lose its protective touch. To know if the stain is still working, sprinkle water on the log and if the water beads up and runs down the log then it is still doing a protective job. If you have to reapply stain, make sure you clean the entire log home first with water and let it dry for a few days before applying the stain.
Check gutters regularly
In any house, gutters are important to keep water from running all over the paint of the exterior. For a log house, it is even more important to keep off water on the log because it could damage the home. Immersing log in water will cause the log to become weak. This is the same for log cabins, while they are not immersed in water, too much exposure to water may lead to eventual weakness. This is why gutters are very important in log homes, more important than in regular homes. Gutters also prevent logs from darkening. Make sure that run off water are diverted away from the log home. Also, keep gutters clean.
It is not easy to take care of a log cabin especially if this is just a vacation house rather than your regular home. This means that you have to visit the cabin even if you are not yet on vacation. Log home maintenance is the price one has to pay for having such a nice-looking home.…

Avoiding Unsafe Gas Work

November 7, 2020 Comments Off

There have been many stories in the newspapers surrounding the tragic consequences of unsafe gas work. There have been reports of people suffering from brain damage and paralysis from carbon monoxide exposure. Often this would be a result from faulty fitted or badly repaired gas appliances. Unfortunately the sting in the tale is that most of these tragedies could have been prevented, had the correct safety measures been in place.
The purpose behind the Gas Safe Register
The public needs to be protected from unsafe gas work and this is the sole purpose behind the register. It works in keeping track of any reports detailing faulty appliances or repairs which threaten gas safety and these reports are taken very seriously.
It is generally expected that the Gas Safe registered firms should take gas safety very seriously, and as part of the rules of registration, they are responsible in rectifying any faults reported by a customer. As most businesses owe a duty of care to their customers, they will be quick in taking action. The consequences of not doing so will be far worse for the business as the sanction against a firm can include suspension of their registration or even complete removal from the Register.
It is important to note that most businesses are very dedicated and honest in their approach by sticking to the law. They invest quite a bit of time, funds, and training into their registration, therefore they may feel it’s unfair when it comes to complaints from customers.
Nonetheless, public safety comes first, and therefore substandard levels of gas work are unacceptable. A great effort is made to strike a balance between taking care of customer’s needs whilst treating registered engineers with fairness and respect.
In many cases the complaints can be unfounded. This is why it is essential to keep the communication open between the customer and the business so that the customer can complain to the business when they are not happy with the gas work.
Maintaining the right balance
The Gas Safe Register is responsible for ensuring that the businesses are treated fairly whilst maintaining public safety. To demonstrate its fairness policy, as part of the investigation process, the Gas Safe Register invites businesses to participate too. This has many beneficial aspects. It allows to business to amend its ways and put things right. In addition, it allows the business to learn from the mistake to avoid future problems. It also gives the business the opportunity to maintain good customer relations.
If it is brought to the attention that the work was carried out by an incompetent or unregistered person, then this will call for immediate inspection and the information will be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.
To ensure safety, it is necessary that when a defect notice is issued, the business takes the responsibility of completing the rectification work within the deadline specified by the Gas Safety Register. If for some reason the business fails to carry out the remedial work, then it should make alternative arrangements with the customer for another registered business to do it.…

Organic Gardening Can Be Fun With These Tips

July 5, 2020 Comments Off

Gardening can really be a great business move or a great recreational move. It does require a lot of research, hard work, and patience though. This can make you wonder where to begin to start. Don’t worry, everything you need to know about where to start with gardening is listed in the tips below.

You need to be realistic about what your garden can and can’t produce. No matter how tempting a particular vegetable may be, if it’s not suitable for your climate, it’s not going to grow well. You’ll get more out of your garden if you focus on plants that are right for your area.

When removing and replanting perennials, it is important to replenish the soil as well. If you remove a large number of perennials, and then replant them without adding additional compost and soil, the bed will be lower, reducing drainage and air circulation. Also, the compost will replace nutrients that have been used up by previous growing seasons.

When uprooting a perennial plant, you should start digging at its drip line. Dig a trench around the plant, and cut any roots that extend beyond that trench. You can tie stems together to avoid damaging the plant during the process. Once all the roots are severed lift the plant carefully by its main stem.

To grow an incredible crop of tomatoes, make sure your planting area gets plenty of light and has lots of room around each tomato plant. Tomato plants are sun hungry! They really want at least ten hours of sun each and every day and the additional space between plants helps maximize each tomato’s succulence.

Pick garden vegetables often and early. While immature, many types of vegetables are very tasty in their young phase. Snap peas, little summer squash, cucumbers, and budding broccoli can be picked to keep the plants in a state of reproduction for a longer period of time. This will also increase yields with a second harvest off of the same plants.

Slide your fingernails against a bar of soap to prevent dirt from getting under your nails. The dirt doesn’t necessarily hurt you, but you will save time and effort when cleaning your hands later. Instead of having to dig underneath your nails, you can just use a nailbrush to quickly remove the soap residue.

When gardening, be sure to use proper posture. Don’t lift with your back, and try to bend at the knees instead of at the waist. Keep your back straight when bending over. This allows you to use stronger and more flexible muscle groups to lift, and also protects your spine.

If you want your garden to be off-limits to your dog, spray a scented perimeter around it using things like old perfumes or aftershave. This will mask the garden smell that is attracting your dog, and it will make it a less appealing place for your dog to visit.

So, as you have seen, it is true that gardening requires research, hard work, and patience to start growing. It is also true that in order to see results that you have to keep at it. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to being successful with your garden.…

How To Grown And Organic Vegetable Garden

September 11, 2019 Comments Off

Gardening serves different purposes for many people. For some, gardening is a means of relaxation, as they find it therapeutic to create beautiful floral arrangements and give new life to flowers. Others use gardening as a means of sustenance, growing their own fruits and vegetables for consumption. The tips in the following article will help you with your gardening needs.

For the fall season, plant a few fall edible plants in your garden containers. Beautiful selections of kale and mustard greens, have lovely shades of greens and purples and offer different textures to the arrangement. Add a few edible pansies to bring color to the green textures. The combination is fetching and will last well into the winter.

To avoid drowning your plants, follow weather reports as much as possible. If rain is expected, there is no need in watering your garden. This will save you money on your water bill and avoid watering your plants exceedingly. If dryness and heat are expected, water your plants accordingly.

Plants are generally best grown in their native environments. Grapes for example, require a dry, hot environment to maximize their growth while minimizing the amount of microbes that are dangerous to them. When growing plants it’s important to realize their region of origin; generally it’s best to identify the local varieties of horticultural species.

When deciding to take up gardening, it is important to study and know your geographical area. Some vegetation simply can’t survive a northern winter. Contrarily, some plants can’t survive a Texas summer. As such, it is important to know where you are and what the plants that you intend on growing can handle.

If frost has killed your pumpkins before they’ve had a chance to turn orange, it’s not too late to save them. Cut the pumpkins off the vine, leaving a minimum of 4 inches of the vine on the top of the pumpkin. Wash them thoroughly with water mixed with a small amount of bleach to prevent the development of mold. Bring them inside, and place them in a warm, sunny location, turning them occasionally so the sun can reach all the green areas of the pumpkin. Within a few weeks or less, you’ll have bright orange pumpkins to carve into jack-o-lanterns or use to make homemade pumpkin pie.

Get the most out of garden space by growing compatible crops. When growing a crop like tomatoes, plant lettuce and spinach in between to grow in the shade of the taller plants. This will maximize the space used in the garden. Also, grow plants which mature at different times alongside each other like carrots and radishes. The radishes will be ready in only thirty days while it takes much longer for the carrots to mature.

In conclusion, many people have different reasons for gardening. Some garden for relaxation, while other garden for food. If you remember the tips from this article, you can create a garden that suits your needs, whether you wish to grow a beautiful floral landscape, or a personal grocery in your back yard.…

CASTLEMANAGER

Because Care begins at Home