Residential Home Improvement Contractors: Protect yourself With These Tips

As I say so frequently that I’m beginning to bore myself, “most remodeling contractors are honest and reliable individuals who want to do quality work at a reasonable price.” Unfortunately, there are just enough contractors out there (or people who claim to be contractors) who take advantage of their customers that some reminders and tips are helpful if you want to do everything possible to protect yourself and your property during home improvement.

1. Don’t make assumptions about referrals. Exercise the same due diligence in evaluating and checking out all contractors. You might have friends or relatives, co-workers or neighbors referring you to contractors they have used with good results. Many people are also simply trusting recommendations from home improvement stores. Even when you are referred to a contractor, check him or her out before you sign a contract. Consumer Reports recently released findings from a study of people who hired contractors to whom they were referred by the two leading home improvement stores. Their survey indicated that people who used these referrals had more problems and were less satisfied with the work than people who used other contractors.

2. Build your remodeling budget in a way that creates a 20% cushion for unexpected surprises. Although the National Association of the Remodeling Industry suggests an allowance of 10% to 20%, I think you are safer to budget for a 20% cost overrun due to surprises. There are literally hundreds of things that can happen or that can be discovered once remodeling begins that will result in a cost overrun. It is not uncommon, for example to discover termite damage, dry rot, damage from leaking pipes, outdated wiring, etc. My point is that you should not use your entire budget on the basics. You will be much more comfortable with your budget if you leave room for surprises.

3. Get a contract — don’t deal with a contractor on the basis of a proposal. If at all possible, get a contract that states a final price for the work, not an estimated cost that can go up or down. Your contract should be as specific as possible and as detailed as possible. It should also contain some kind of warranty for both the installation and the products or materials. You can also specify in the contract that all materials used will be new materials and meet the standards outlined in the contract. It should also state that any changes made during the construction period will be authorized only by written change orders that explain the difference in cost up front. If a contractor is unwilling to sign a contract stating the final price of the remodel, find another contractor.

4. Know what your insurance covers and take out a liability policy if necessary. It is usually easy to call your insurance agent and ask what is covered in terms of damage to your property, loss of property or possessions, and injury or death of a worker on your property during the construction period. You should also be certain that the contractor carries workman’s compensation insurance and liability insurance against injury or death of a worker and against damage or loss to your property or possessions. If you have any concerns about adequate coverage, discuss it with your insurance agent and consider taking out an additional policy during the construction period.

5. Monitor all liens placed against your property during construction (construction liens) by any contractor or subcontractor and ensure that they are removed when the project is finished and the contractor is paid in full. There are unscrupulous contractors who accept payment for a job and then do not remove the liens. In most of these cases, the homeowner is not aware of the lien until some time later when trying to sell the home or take out a loan for further improvements. When homeowners try to resolve the issue, the contractor claims that the bill or part of the bill was never paid and demands payment before removing the lien.

6. Never do business with someone who comes to your door offering their services.

7. Never pay a contractor the entire bill up front. Work out a payment schedule that reflects work completed, and put the payment schedule in the contract.

8. Specify the quality of workmanship and the quality of materials to be used in the remodel or addition in the contract. Not only should you specify materials quality, you should check materials to ensure compliance with the terms of the contract as they are delivered to the construction site. Insist that the costs of all building materials be specified.

9. Include all job specifications in the contract. The more specific the description of the work to be done, the more protection you have. Job specifications state exactly what work is to be done, how it is to be done, the quality of materials to be used, when it is to be complete, and that it must pass inspection.

10. Check all licenses, permits, proof of insurance, and state or local certification before you hire a contractor or subcontractor. Check to be certain the contractor has or obtains all necessary permits, licenses and certificates. Check with issuing agencies or insurance companies to confirm that insurance and licenses are current.

11. Insist that the contractor show you proof of bond coverage for the total replacement cost of the project.

12. Be sure the contract includes the appropriate information about how conflicts will be resolved, when and how the contract will be or can be terminated, and that lien releases will be provided upon payment.

13. If you give the contractor a key to your home for use during the construction period, change the locks as soon as construction is completed.

14. Take the necessary steps to protect your property and your possessions. Put away all valuables in a safe place. Define the construction area for everyone — tell your family not to enter the area during working hours; define limits of access to the rest of your home for the work crew. Protect your landscaping by covering shrubs if necessary and taking other steps to reduce accidental damage. Seal off the construction area from the rest of the house to confine dust, etc.

15. If you are remodeling an old home, make sure any work with potentially hazardous materials is done under the safest conditions and that hazardous materials are completely removed from the work site immediately and disposed of as instructed by your local government. Be sure any lead paint is properly removed; be sure any asbestos is removed and disposed of correctly; be sure old horse hair plaster (that could contain arsenic) is disposed of properly.

These tips will help you protect your family, your property and the people working on your remodeling project. Residential home improvement contractors should be very willing to cooperate on all of these points.

Copyright 2008 by ABCD Publishing

Protect Your Home from Pests

Protect your home from pests

Of the various types of living beings that are not sometimes welcome at our homes, pests top the chart as the most unwelcome of all these. Once you have bought your house and are living there, the last thing you would want is to deal with these slithering unhealthy creatures that end up making a mess of your home as well as incurring losses, if not controlled effectively.

One of the best ways to ensure that pests do not enter your home is to makes sure that you have nothing at home for them, which effectively means all the waste and debris, as well as the mess in the kitchen which gives them enough food to last a while. Keep your home clean and tidy, and half your problem is solved. Take care of certain closed and damp areas likes under the sink, behind microwave ovens as well as bathroom corners, as these areas tend to accumulate debris, food waste and thus become a heaven for pests to breed and multiply. Make sure that you do not leave any area or shelves cluttered and in a mess, as this tend to help pests breed in such areas.

Though most construction companies do pest control treatment during the construction stages itself, this does not make the house pest proof. Timely treatments are very important as pests tend to become immune to certain pesticides after prolonged use and hence even the chemicals have to be changed periodically to get the best results. Though cockroaches and ants are considered to be the most common pests that invade out houses, another variety that tends to cause much more serious harm than the before mentioned two, is the termite. Termites are very dangerous as they tend to eat wood and make the furniture hollow, which leads to collapse, if not controlled effectively. To effectively control termites, there are different types of termite treatments available with the pest control companies., If found, it is better to engage a pest control company to determine the type of termite that is present as well as the treatment that is most suitable to get rid of this menace.

You will find several companies offering pest control treatments and solutions. A thorough research is necessary before you finalize on one. It will be a good idea to check with neighbors and friends for their opinion on certain companies. The pest control company should be easily accessible, so that you can get the necessary help whenever you need. The company should also be able to offer you flexible scheduling so that they visit and treat your home according to your timings and comfort.

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Organic Gardening Pest Control?Top 5 Tips to Protect Fruits against Pests

So you have luscious fruit growing on your fruit trees and are looking forward to having a good crop. But you seem to be worried? Is it the thought of keeping Aphids, fruit flies and coddling moths at bay that is giving you sleepless nights? Sure these thoughts must be troubling you as they do every gardener, having an orchard. The surest and simplest cure for your troubles lies in organic gardening pest control, which is nothing but a bunch of healthy recipes to keep pests under control.

These organic gardening pest control solutions are easily available, extremely beneficial and easy to prepare as these employ things that we commonly use in our daily routine. Being organic in nature these are extremely beneficial for the fruit trees and can in no way harm them like the synthetic pest control remedies often tend to do.

Baits and Horticultural Oil – Coddling moths are best tackled with the help of sticky traps and corrugated cardboard. If facing this problem, you can use pheromone baits. Horticultural oil can be sprayed on the leaves of fruit trees for dealing with their larvae. This also proves beneficial in dealing with thrips, which are another common pest bothering fruit trees. Organic Soap Solution – Sprayed in the evenings, this is another way to tackle the annoying thrips and spider mites that infest the fruit trees during late summer season. Apart from this one can also spay neem oil, which again works wonders. Natural Predators – Aphids are best tackled when left to the mercy of natural predators. Make sure that you have plenty of these around to help you deal with this problem. Lacewings and lady bugs are some of the good natural predators that can help fruit farmers. Borers are another variety of pests that attack fruit trees. To protect your trees from their onslaught it is advisable to cover up their trunk. However, if they have already been infected, which would be evident from tell-tale signs as wilted stems and stiff bark, inject the stems with nematodes. This helps kill the remaining larvae. It is advisable to pull off the badly affected stems. Oriental fruit moths are another nuisance that fruit growers often face. To expose their larvae and deal with them it is advisable to till the soil around the affected trees.

The best way to protect your fruit trees from pests is to do it organically. You’ll be surprised with the results.

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I am a clean freak and I do everything that I am able to do to make sure that my home looks and smells great. I don’t mind a little bit of clutter – but when the room is filthy and covered in dust I have to clean it at once. I have a family to look after and this means making sure that there is nothing in the home that can attract bugs.

Too often people will leave food or dirty dishes over night not considering about how this will attract ants and roaches. Unfortunately there are sometimes when no measure of cleaning is able to keep them away. I hate bugs and am so disappointed when every time I clean I still see at least one scurrying around my home.

I had at long last had enough when ants settled to overrun my pantry for no obvious cause. I called the pest control company at once after that and told them that they required to come spray inside of my house and my yard. That is when I learned that at times there is no other substitute for you.

The best time to call these companies is when cleaning is not helping the problem. For some it might be the weather that is driving them in. If you have an ant problem then it might be because your yard has many ant piles that are situated around the home. They have the ability to come through holes in the walls.

When you utilize a pest control company they can spray every hole in your home to ensure that each entrance for them will prove lethal. Have them come out once each month and your pest trouble will disappear.

Perhaps man discovered agriculture and pest control methods nearly simultaneously, and since then, the fight is on. Now, as if agricultural pests were not enough, there is a big menace of domestic pests, too. Of which termites, or white ants as they are generally called, are most dreaded as they feed on just about anything organic. Surprisingly enough, they can bore through six feet thick concrete and live for ages without food.

Pest Control Methods
Pest control methods largely differ for domestic and agriculture applications. Traditional methods of pest control in agriculture mainly included crop rotation, selective breeding and companion planting. Low flying airplanes are made use of in sprinkling chemical pesticides over large fields.

Chemical pest control methods are quite old and are said to be in practice since 4000 or 4500 years. But closer to date, pyrethrum and derris were introduced which were followed by better synthetic pesticides like DDT and other herbicides.

The Domestic Scenario
But domestic pest problem is almost entirely different. The major pests that bother us are termites, rodents, mosquitoes and bed bugs. You can almost call termites as terror-mites. These soft looking, unassuming ant like insects, belong to two types: subterranean and dry wood termites, belonging to over 2000 species. Both of them subsist on cellulose.

How Do You Know?
A thorough inspection of critical areas (without dismantling) by professionals reveals whether your home is infested by termites or is vulnerable for attacks. Inspection may require instruments sometimes.

Pest Control Agencies
Living beagles can sniff out the termites. Protimeter for mold detection, scanning and acoustic infrared sensors, resistographs and fractometers are other instruments generally used by the agencies.

What Do They Do
Fumigation, spot treatment and removal of infested wood are some immediate options. While fumigation exterminates dry wood termites, a certified applicator’s presence is necessary before during and after fumigating and aeration to allow occupancy. But dry wood termites need wood penetrating fumigants. For subterranean types, following manufacturer’s instructions is essential which include pouring pesticides into holes drilled at regular intervals around the infested area.

Flys, mosquitoes and bugs are controlled by chemicals prallethrin, and the normally available rat poisons. But don’t use them without expert advice.

Choosing an Expert
You need an expert when buying real estate at far off places or when pest controlling the entire home. Keep these points in your mind when choosing one.
1. Take neighbors’ recommendations based on their satisfaction level
2. Taking hasty decisions won’t help as you need professional expertise; look for one by checking with their past clients
3. Check their authenticity, whether they are registered by the local authorities or are they members of National Pest Management Association etc.
4. Check what the guarantees cover and get things in writing
5. Check for legal restrictions on commercial applicators; call Environmental Protection Agency for confirmation.
6. Beware of those who offer huge discounts. After all you want value, not price.

I know my apartment has termites, I have seen them and they are eating all the way through the drywall and paint. I informed my landlord and so far he has not done a thing about it. Meanwhile I just bought some nice furniture, the table are made of wood (it is stained) and the framing of the couches is wood. Is there a way I can protect my furniture other than moving it out?