Menu Close

Category: Uncategorized

Choosing A Construction Heater To Beat The Cold

Herman Post

No matter the weather conditions or the season, construction projects must stay on schedule. However, when the temperatures start to drop, these and other outdoor projects become challenging. Staying on schedule becomes difficult when the outdoor temperatures start hitting subzero levels. The extreme cold not only affects the construction materials but takes a toll on worker productivity as well. The cold makes it virtually impossible to wear sufficient cloth layers and still be able to work effectively. Well, this is where temporary heating for construction projects comes into the picture. This solution helps protect both the workers as well as the construction materials.

But how do you pick the best construction heater for your construction site? Well, in this read, you will get expert tips to help you choose the best solution for your next project.

1. Look for the Safest Option

When using a heater at a construction site, there are multiple concerns to keep in mind. The heater needs to adhere to both county and city safety regulations and may call for particular permits for use. To ensure that your heating solution meets the city standards, consult the local fire marshall.

When picking a construction heater, worker safety should be the primary consideration. Ensure the workers comprehend how the heater works and how to run it in accordance with the manufacturer’s specs. The heater needs to protect the laborers from extreme cold, allowing them to focus on the task at hand. Hypothermia tends to kick in when the temperature goes below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best temporary heaters for events and construction projects are designed with a pressure system that minimizes airborne contaminants, keeping the surrounding air clean and safe.

2. Consider Reliability

When choosing a construction site heater, you’ll want to ensure it is dependable. Ascertaining a consistent temperature ensures that the workers are comfortable and safe. The temperature outside should not affect the temperature provided by your heater.

The best heaters for constructions sites provide a constant discharge of 225 degrees Fahrenheit. When the air outside changes, the fuel flow adjusts accordingly, thus maintaining a stable, constant temperature. This not only ensures the workers stay comfortable as they go about their duties but adheres to the local safety regulations

3. Electric vs Fuel-Powered Types

You will come across several heating options including natural gas, propane, diesel, and of course, electric heaters. You will want to lean to the electric type as they are not only silent, but they emit clean dry heat. They do not emit any gases, making them ideal for indoor use. On the other hand, the fuel-powered counterparts tend to be direct-fired, and are mostly used outdoors. The warm air is then directed indoors via vents passing through doors or windows.

4. Ventilation

If you go for the fuel-powered option, the heater is bound to generate substantial exhaust, which makes it vital to ascertain proper ventilation in the construction site. The CO2 produced may result in concrete carbonation, which affects the structure’s integrity. Also, it’s important to understand the heater’s rating, be it for indoor or outdoor use. You may need controlled ventilation systems if you are working with heaters that produce a lot of exhaust.

5. Budget

Most contractors tend to make the mistake of picking the cheapest heater without considering other factors that affect the total renting costs. Operational costs usually take at least 80% of the total cost of the rental heaters. As such, you’ll want to ensure you pick a model that’s efficient even though it costs you more than the alternatives.

When picking a heater for your construction project this coming winter, consider its purpose, cost, safety concerns, and everything in between.

Read more →

Pros and cons of borrowing Money

James Clark

Is cash advance a good thing or a bad thing? If you’ve pored over financial blogs we’re sure you’ve read about borrowing money and why financial experts dissuade you from going into debt. While it’s true that being in debt is not ideal, it’s also not that bad. In fact, thousands of businesses thrived well after they’ve borrowed money. As they say, when you borrow the money you are borrowing from your future self.

Borrowing money isn’t bad if you are in dire need of it just as long as you find means to repay your debt. Check out the following scenarios where people are forced to borrow money and why it’s okay to do so.

#1 Paying for Medical Bills

Nobody wants to get sick or get into accidents but life is full of surprises. You can’t always predict the future. Two things you have little control over are getting sick due to heredity and getting into accidents.

Ideally, you should have prepared an emergency fund to pay for your medical bills as these can easily skyrocket in just a few days but if your salary is enough to support your day-to-day expenses then it would be a good idea to borrow money from credible institutions to pay for your labs, medicines, or surgeries.

If your health and safety depend on it, go ahead and borrow money. Today’s credit bureaus allow up to one hundred and eighty days to deal with your medical bills before they get reflected on your credit report.

#2 Paying for Moving Costs

Another reason why people borrow money is when they are moving to a different place. Moving to a new place may seem exciting but if you start calculating the costs of transportation, storage, boxes, and paying for professional movers you’ll be shocked to see how much you’ll need to spend just to move to a different location. The rates can even go high up if you are moving interstate. You’re looking into thousands of dollars.

Applying for a personal loan can easily cover this hefty expense plus you’ll be saving more money compared to charging it to your credit card. What’s so bad about credit cards? Well, take a look at the interest rate. Personal loans have a lower interest rate compared to credit cards.

If you don’t believe us, check your last credit card statement and compute the interest rate. Most banks charge you a fifteen percent interest rate, sometimes higher.

#3 Trying to Save but Living in Debt

Trying to save money while being in debt is a lost cause. According to a study published online, in a list of savings account the best offer was a 1.10% APR. Try to compare that with your credit card debts that have an average of fifteen percent and you’ll see why getting a personal loan is better. We suggest you pay off your debt using money from your personal loan. Focus on paying your debit first in a year and then the rest of the money you can use to save or invest.

#4 Home Improvements But Not Enough Equity

Equity is the current value of your home minus the amount of your mortgage. For example, if your home costs $200,000 and you owed $180,000 you have $20,000 worth of equity. Getting a home equity loan is a much better option to finance your home improvement project as these enhancements increase the value of your home.

Takeaway

As you can see, borrowing money is not as bad as others say it is. Being in debt isn’t always a bad thing as long as you can pay your debt off. With the low-interest rates, we couldn’t see why you shouldn’t apply for a personal loan considering these situations.

Read more →

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, What is the most efficient way to run air conditioning?

Michael Hope

Running the air conditioner during the hot summer months can cause the energy bills for your home to sky rocket. But it seems that the only alternative will be sweating profusely in the heat of summer. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can lower your expenses and save cash on your air conditioner or hvac.

Here are some of the things you can do to keep your bills low when using your air conditioner and enjoy an efficient summer.

Quit cooling the entire neighborhood

If your home is not built recently, it may have older insulation features that are not quite as effective. This can mean that the cold air from inside your home is getting outside through worn doors and window seals, poorly insulated attics, and other holes in the home.

To see how efficient the insulation in your home is you may consider signing up for an audit with a utility provider. A top-notch home energy rater can help you locate all the leaks in the home and show you how to improve the efficiency of your home.

If you would rather not go through the audit yourself, check the doors and windows yourself. When your air conditioner is running, check the outside of doors and windows. If you feel cool air is escaping this is where some insulation needs to be applied.

Make sure your thermostat is on the right wall

One of the most important things to check is that your thermostat is on the right wall. If your thermostat is on the wall across from a large window or right next to a window it may see a lot of heat and this will mean your air conditioner is flicking on very few minutes. This will greatly increase the costs of your energy bills spent on cooling your home.

Close the blinds

A window letting in the heat up the interior of your home. This can add increased strain on your air conditioner. For best results, consider dropping the blinds and closing the curtains to ward off some solar heat during the heat of the day. This can also keep the cool air inside from being lost.

Use a fan

Sometimes the best way to cool the home will be with a properly situated fan. You don’t always have to drop the thermostat way down to feel cooler, setting up a fan will help to keep the air circulating and this is often just as good. A good fan will make the room feel 10 degrees cooler and only use about 10% of the energy used by an air conditioner.

Don’t be afraid to start the cooling over

Some people think that it will be cheaper to just let the air conditioner run all day so that it will not have to cool the house again when you get back. But this is erroneous thinking. The best option is to shut the air conditioner off when you leave the house and turn it back on when you get back.

Setting low is a no-go

You will want to set your thermostat to the highest setting with which you will be comfortable if you hope to save money. Just the smallest reduction temperature can cost you a small fortune.

You can save a full 10% of your annual energy costs by adjusting your thermostat temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for a mere hours a day. Furthermore, the temperature 78°F is a pretty balmy climate by any one’s standards and according to the US Department of Energy this is the highest recommended indoor temperature for energy efficiency.

Read more →

Tips on How I Bought My First Apartment Building

Nancy Alperin

I bought an apartment building many years ago, and it was no easy task. However, it was easier than I thought and I recommend doing it if you are looking to invest in property, but I also recommend doing it with a professional such as Maxwell Realty Inc. With that said, below are a few tips on how I bought my very first apartment building.

1. Get Cash

For starters, I got as much cash together as possible. I did this before anything else because I knew that buying an apartment building would cost a lot of money, possible even more than it would a house. Therefore, I told myself I would gather as much cash as possible over the course of a year.

This meant creating a tight budget and sticking to it. No junk food, no Ubers, no Netflix and so forth. Also, I took up a part-time job and never touched the money for anything. This was going and was used towards the purchase of a building.

The bottom line is the more cash you can get, the better. It means lower loan payments and a better interest rate. On that note, if you have debt, knock it down or eliminate it before buying an apartment building. Trust me, this will make life a lot easier.

2. Decide on The Units I Wanted

After getting cash together, I needed to decide on which type of units I wanted. Did I want a small building that had mainly studio apartments or did I want a large complex that had several studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms? I eventually settled on a complex that had several, but what worked for me might not work for you.

I suggest deciding how much risk you’re willing to take on. Also, weigh the pros and cons of the different types of units. This will make your choice easier.

3. Location Is Everything

Another thing I did was research various locations. I actually ended up buying a building nowhere near me because I didn’t feel that where I was, was an ideal location to buy and rent out apartments. I researched several markets within a 500-mile radius and settled on something in between that distance. I was willing to go as far as 500 miles because I firmly believe location is everything.

When doing market research on locations, take a look at everything. This includes the crime rate in the areas, public transportation, the average age of people living there and what types of entertainment is there. All these should factor into whether or not you buy an apartment building there.

4. Use Several Agencies

I used several real estate agencies because I figured the more I worked with, the better my chances were that I would find the ideal apartment building to buy. I was right, so I highly recommend contacting at least 3-6 agencies in the areas you are researching. If any of them make you feel pressured into buying something, then stop contact with them because they probably only want their commissions.

On that note, it’s a good idea to find an agency that can help you secure financing. Many do, but there are a lot of agencies that don’t. At the very least, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

The bottom line is to get as much money together as possible and work as hard as you can to get cash. Deciding on what you want, doing market research, learning about the demand, getting the right financing and using multiple agencies can all help you too. With that said, good luck if you plan on buying your first apartment building.

Read more →

How Is House Leveling Done?

Richard Earls

As a homeowner you’ve probably heard of the terms foundation repair and house leveling. For average people who know nothing about these things you’ll probably think that these services are going to cost you a fortune, well, they won’t. The rates are reasonable, which is a good thing because these services are necessary to preserve the safety and the value of your home. When it comes to house leveling, you should not attempt to do it by yourself. This is not the kind of DIY project you’d want to involve yourself in because it’s risky and making mistakes may cost you a lot.

How do you know if your house needs leveling? Let’s find out.

What Is House Leveling?

House leveling involves lifting your home back to its original position (when it was first erected). For new erected houses the slabs should not go beyond 1.5 inches out of level. This is the standard set by the American Concrete Institute. When a house starts to move and shift out of its original position, house leveling is done to get it back to its usual spot. Majority of homeowners fail to notice changes to their home’s foundation elevations.

You see, all houses are built on a strong and solid foundation but over time this foundation can move and it can heave, crack, settle or sink. There are various factors that cause the foundation to move including problems with the soil, foundation that is poorly done and soil that have too much moisture. If the foundation of your property has moved you should have it repaired right away. Foregoing foundation repair or house leveling can lead to numerous structural damages and significantly reduce the value of your home.

Does Your House Require Foundation Repair or House Leveling?

Ideally, the best way to know if your house needs foundation repair or house leveling is to ask professional foundation repair specialists. Nonetheless, there are several signs that will help determine if your house needs repairs. Cracks in your ceilings or walls and outside your home are signs that you need to have it repaired. Doors that stick out or don’t properly shut also need to be repaired. If your floor appears to dip and sag or feel softer than the usual then you definitely need to seek the help of experts.

What Are the Different Foundation Types?

There are two main types of foundations – Pier & Beam and Concrete Slab.

Pier & Beam

A Pier & Beam foundation consists of three parts. The first part is a concrete foundation beam that’s built around the borders of the house. The second part are concrete columns or pads that are installed within the borders and the third wood beams that are placed on the interior pads on the border beam.

Slab Foundation

Concrete is the main component of slab foundation. It basically consists of a massive sheet of concrete that is directly poured to the ground. Standard thickness is between 4 to 6 inches. The outer parts of the slab have a depth of around 24 to 36 inches.

How Is House Leveling Done?

House leveling makes use of various techniques. The technique or process used is going to depend on your house’s foundation type. Each type of foundation can be repaired in various ways. Regardless of the technique used the ultimate goal is to level the foundation.

Pier and Beam Foundation Leveling

Each case requires a specific set of tools. If your house has a Pier & Beam foundation affixing concrete or steel pilings under specific locations under the concrete perimeter beam can level the foundation. The interior can be adjusted by either removing or adding shims on top of the columns or interior pads. Often times the movement is caused by incorrectly installed or damaged wood.

Concrete Slab Foundation Leveling

For concrete slab foundation leveling, certain areas in your home have to be excavated in order to make room for the installation of steel pilings, concrete pilings or concrete piers. Often times the terms slab jacking or mud jacking is confused with these types of repairs. To minimize the chances of soil swelling your professional foundation repair specialist will use soil injections.

After the successful completion of a house leveling project you must make sure to trace the source of the problem otherwise it will keep on coming back. Find out what is causing your house to move. If the problem is caused by water then you have to find a way to fix your drainage system and seal any leaks or perhaps it’s caused by a badly constructed foundation. If yes, we recommend that you find a professional company to take care of it.

Read more →

An Overview of California’s ADA Compliance Laws

David LoPresti

If you’re a business owner with an actual brick-and-mortar store it is important that you be mindful of your physical store and make sure that it complies with California’s ADA compliance laws and proper ADA Designs. While you may be busy improving your products and service with your customers in mind, never forget that your actual store has a huge impact on your customers. When your property does not comply with ADA regulations then it means you failed to include people with disabilities in the picture. Are you aware that if you don’t comply with the regulations set by the ADA you are putting yourself at risk of costly lawsuits? ADA compliance is mandatory by federal and state law.

How to Know If Your Property is ADA Compliant?

How do you know if your property is compliant? The only surefire way to know is if you conduct an ADA accessibility assessment or otherwise called CASp Report. This report will identify and record every issue in your property that does not comply with ADA. By obtaining this report you are taking a vital step in safeguarding your business against potential lawsuits. Of course, action must be taken if the report indicates that your property has issues with accessibility.

Why Are ADA Complaints in California High?

Failure to comply with ADA can lead to expensive consequences. Are you aware that California receives the highest non-compliance complaints? Do you wonder why this is so? There are two reasons why ADA non-compliance complaints have gone through the roof over the past years. Number one, it is very easy to file a complaint because all the complainant needs to do is to fill out a form and submit it. The second reason is that most if not all complainants are winning the cases and as a result of winning the case, they will be rewarded with a whopping $4000 aside from lawyer fees and court costs.

What Are the Most Common Claims Made?

The following are some of the violations that complainants use in their reports.

Failure to put up signage or putting up the wrong signage for entrance and exit points or the absence of accessibility symbols

Routes that are too sloped or too steep that they cannot be accessed by people in wheelchairs or routes that are difficult to navigate by people with disabilities

Bathrooms that do not have sufficient floor space for adequate turning or bathrooms without accessible stall and those without affixed grab bars and a non-compliant sink

You will also be prone to violation if your property’s stairways do not follow the correct riser heights and tread widths, failing to install non-slip treads and when handrails are not set to the proper height or stairways that do not offer extensions and open risers. A crane or a foot can get stuck in it and this can cause people to trip and fall

If the parking spaces in your property are not spacious enough and if doesn’t display the correct designation signage or if it is not located near the entrance and accessible route

Not being able to provide appropriately designed seating for individuals in wheelchairs

Incorrect height of bars, work surfaces and service counters

What Happens If You Violate These Regulations?

One thing is for sure; you are going to be spending money if you violate ADA regulations. Aside from paying lawyer fees and fines, the owner of the property and those involved in the design and construction of the building will be held responsible for finding ways in fixing the issues. According to the law, property owners should execute readily achievable changes. For example, changing the position of a sign if it is wrongly placed, recoating parking lines to make them more visible, adding a ramp or redesigning a bathroom.

Why Hire an ADA Specialist?

If you are not familiar with the ADA regulations of California then your best course of action is to hire a reliable ADA specialist to help you. Hire an ADA expert prior to the start of the construction work or before it reaches completion so you can still make the necessary changes. Some business owners are lucky enough to have an employee who has had some experience with ADA compliance, if so then there’s no need to hire a specialist, otherwise you need a CASp professional to assist you. California Senate Bill 1608 made the Certified Access Specialist Program. These professionals have been trained and certified to determine what ADA requirements are needed for your property. It doesn’t matter whether you are constructing a new building from scratch or doing a major renovation, if you are not sure if your property adheres to ADA guidelines then you definitely can benefit from hiring an ADA specialist to help you. You can check out the list of Certified Access Specialists by vising the website of California Division of Architects. Investing in an ADA specialist will save you money in the long run as it safeguards your property from possible lawsuits.

Read more →

Tension Fabric Structures and What They Can Be Used For

Carol Fontius

Tension fabric structures are some of the most useful and affordable structures that can be used for both temporary and permanent situations. These structures are also called fabric buildings, cover-all buildings, Quonset huts, tarp building, and tent buildings.

What Tension Fabric Structures Are

These buildings are made of steel skeletons and covered with tension fabric, essentially. The frame is often in a curved shape which is why some people also call them bubble buildings. A clear span fabric structure is a light material building that has no support beams, thus a “clear span.”

They cost very little to build and operate and they offer quick installation on-the-spot. They are erected securely but can be relocated quickly whenever necessary. These buildings are made by specialty companies that have a primary focus on the engineering, design, and installation of these structures.

What Tension Fabric Buildings Can Be Used For

The uses are practically endless. They can be used for functional or recreational purposes. They are often used in the gas and oil industries to provide a good shelter for the processing and handling of such resources. They can be installed wherever a job site is which makes them superb for the ever-changing gas and oil industries.

These buildings are used for municipalities that want to store salt or sand. They make ideal recycling centers and they can be the perfect storage facilities for industrial tools.

They can be used for agricultural work or equestrian practices and shows. They make great entertainment and sporting event facilities as well as Farmer’s Markets and much more.

When you decide to get a tension fabric structure for your needs, the first step is getting it designed by a building engineer. If you already have plans designed that meet all relevant building codes in your area, you can submit those designs to the manufacturer and your building will be custom made for you.

When you require a design, the engineers will use software to design the building as per your instructions. They will be stamped by an engineered that is licensed in your area. They also will be up to all codes.

Once the designs are complete, the building will be custom made for you. This process starts using fabric panels, many of which are created in the manufacturer’s facility. They will cut it as needed to allow for the proper tension once it is installed. The correct tension eliminates friction and allows the building to withstand various winds and even snow.

The fabric gets treated to make it waterproof. Once it has been cut the frame that supports the building is made. It is made from hot-dipped, galvanized steel, powder-coated steel or regular galvanized steel. Your fabric gets rolled so that it can be transported to the building site.

Your building will be constructed on site with all doors, lighting, and ventilation put into place. The building will be able to withstand various hanging loads and will have a fire suppression system. Many buildings come with fabric liners to protect the top layer from being affected in corrosive environments. Many also come with a generous warranty.

Read more →

Strategies For Buying Property

admin

With regards to buying real estate property and in particular, the first house, there are many considerations you want to keep in mind. All things considered, investing in a house is a big deal and it is usually the largest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. So, having said that, we’ll now have a look at a number of tips which will make certain you find the best property that you’ll enjoy for a long time.

The initial tip is that you should think about your future needs as well as your existing needs. Many people who are now thinking about buying their first house create the mistake of just thinking about what they need at this time. They generally forget to think about if they wish to add more kids for the family, if they’d like to create a pool within the backyard or maybe if their parents might go to tolerate them inside the years to come. Many of these things have to be thought of and considered prior to buying a residence. By doing this, it can stop you from purchasing a house that won’t meet your future needs.

Next, another tip is that you should have a professional builder look at the home before getting serious about buying it. It may be really simple to disguise mold or water damage and the very last thing you wish to do is get a home containing secret things that will set you back thousands to fix. So, always walk having a professional builder to correctly measure the property and find out if you will find any issues you should be aware about.

Lastly, it is best to take some time when you’re trying to find a home. Remember, there is no rush and you need to take no less than a couple of months and look at what’s in the marketplace before you start viewing homes. In that way, you will definately get a greater feel of the market and obtain a property that is not merely perfect for you but at an excellent price.

Read more →