Construction

Jason-McLaughlan

The Importance Of Fencing Your Property

RalphSlaske
Jason-McLaughlan

After putting the finishing touches on your interior room décor and also fixing up every part of your home that’s exposed to the elements, you may think that you’re finally done. However, you may have overlooked an element that could turn out to be crucial.

Take a look around outside your front door and see if you notice something. If it’s starting to feel as though you just have an undefined space there and would like to change that, you may very well need to set up a fence.

Many housing experts such as Jason McLaughlan support homeowners setting up their own fences because they could turn out to be valuable additions to your home.

In this article, we will discuss the different reasons why it is important for you to set up fencing around your property.

1. Fences Help Secure Your Property

The number one reason why setting up a fence around your property is a good idea is because it will provide additional security to your home. The fence will serve as an extra barrier that gets in the way of people who may be thinking of trying something illegal.

Fences are even more important to your security if you have young kids. You can’t always keep an eye on your kids while they’re playing in your yard. The fences will at least ensure that they are on your property at all times. Also, even if they like to run around a lot while they’re having fun, you don’t need to worry about them wandering out on to the street thanks to the fence.

2. Fences Offer You Better Privacy

Whether or not you like your neighbors shouldn’t really factor that much into your decision to build a fence. Protecting your privacy is always a smart move and you can do that better by setting up a fence around your property.

Check with the city ordinances in your area and then set up a tall fence that will comply with them if you want to protect your privacy better. Fences will also help you better establish your property lines. Having established property lines using the fences you put up will come in very handy if you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to sell your home.

3. Fences Will Help You Create a More Peaceful Home Environment

When you get home after a long day at work or even if you’re just staying home to enjoy a relaxing weekend, the last thing you want is to be disturbed by loud noises.

You can’t control what your neighbors do though. There could very well be times when your relaxation plans are coinciding with their party plans. By building a fence around your property, you can significantly reduce the amount of noise you have to deal with. Zillow notes that a solid 8-foot fence can reduce traffic and ambient noise by around six to 10 decibels.

With a fence surrounding your property, you can enjoy peace and quiet regardless of whatever your neighbors have on the agenda.

A Recommendation for When You Should Have Your Fence Built

If you’re now sold on the idea of setting up a fence around your home, Angie’s List has a recommendation for when you should have it built. According to the site, getting your new fence installed during the fall or winter is a good way to save up on money and the project may also be completed faster.

Since most contractors are busy during the spring and summer, you will deal with less competition if you have your fence built either during the fall or winter. Contractors may even offer you some incentives to get you to sign off on the projects.

Building a fence around your property can be beneficial in so many ways. Plus, if you time it right, the project doesn’t even have to put a huge dent in your bank account. It’s time to have that fence finally built so that your home can be officially completed.

Should Home Builders Use a General Contractor, or Specialty Companies

Should Home Builders Use a General Contractor, or Specialty Companies

RalphSlaske

Home building projects can be a logistical nightmare. A number of individuals have to work on a construction project at any given time. There is always a significant chance of the project collapsing because of disorganization. Individuals need to make sure that they structure their home-building projects accordingly. Deciding between a general contractor or specialty companies to handle a project is an essential part of this structuring process. 


Scope of project



The scope of a project is often the most important factor in determining whether or not a special or general contractor is used. Special contractors often have licenses to do a particular area of work. They may be problems that can exclusively be solved by trained electricians, masons, or carpenters. But only a small group of problems require specific specialists. Jobs like dock construction or updating dock accessories require a wide range of individuals. These jobs may need painters, electricians, or carpenters who may all need to use facilities or electricity. 

These specialists have to start and stop working at particular times. In some instances, working on a project at the wrong time can end up ruining that project. A specialist who requires water of any kind should not be working on an area at the same time as an electrician. General contractors are sometimes needed to balance all of these individuals and schedule them at the right time. Most general contractors have experience in different fields and in managing large teams of individuals. They may have years of expertise but only one or two specific licenses in particular areas. 


Expertise



An individual’s expertise can help determine which type of contractor would be needed. A person who is well-versed in construction may be able to organize a group of specialists and have them work in a productive, timely manner. They may be able to simply look at a job and be able to figure out what is working and what is not. Such expertise is only gained through years of hard work and training. 

It may be applicable for a company with construction professionals that is looking to expand dock construction or dock accessories. But bringing in specialty contractors may not be effective for an individual looking to invest in real estate or build their dream home. They do not have the experience in managing people or gauging materials necessary for building a house. These individuals should turn to general contractors in order to prevent fraud and massive cost overruns. 


Free time



Free time is essential for making a choice between a general or specific contractor. Individuals with a limited amount of free time cannot juggle a group of specialty contractors. They cannot be tasked with the job of checking in on specialty contractors, making demands, and dropping those contractors when they are unable to perform at the level that a company or individual needs. These individuals are too busy working at the jobs that they are specialists in. Some individuals may be able to stop by a job site after work or during a lunch break. But this approach is only workable in the short-term. For longer projects or projects that are dozens of miles away, a general contractor is needed to keep up with the site and report back to the person in charge of construction on a regular basis. 


Conclusion



The decision between specialty companies or a general contractor is an important one for any individual. They must balance their time needs and budget with the demands and scope of the project. They must also perform extensive research into the specialty and general contractors in their area. Hard work and careful planning are essential to allow any home building project to succeed.

How New Canaan’s Woodworkers Can Learn From Douglas Knight

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Woodworking is a wide business industry that can involve engineering, interior design and even art aspects in people’s lives. Having said that, woodworking remains a strong industry with a large demand, especially for people in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Douglas Knight New Canaan, a woodworking entrepreneur, shares his insight about the woodworking industry. He explained the benefits of having custom wood furnishings and items in your home:

  • Ensured quality – when you inquire about woodworking services, you can be assured of the quality of the material that was used. Some woodworking businesses also give the option of picking the type of wood you want your item to be made from, such as oak, maple, willow, etc.
  • High customization – some customers want one of a kind pieces to add to their collection. Affluent individuals in New Canaan would highly prefer these types of products. The ability to choose which design you want to place in your home is a plus.
  • Durable – the best thing about furniture and items made from wood is that they can last you a lifetime. Given the high-quality work of custom wooden items, you can be assured of products that are durable, classy, and can be a timeless addition to your collection.

Douglas Knight New Canaan shares his woodworking business in New Canaan, and how locals entrepreneurs and workers can learn from him.

How New Canaan’s Woodworkers Can Learn From Douglas Knight

 

  1. Integrating technology and skilled craftsmanship

Technology is a great feat for the woodworking business. Now, people don’t have to spend too much time refining pieces of raw materials. This costs too much in terms of time of completion and labor. Douglas Knight found a way to integrate technology by assigning machinery to the refining process of wood. Once the rough edges are cut, he assigns skilled craftsmen to place in specific details according to the design given by his customers. This combination of contemporary and traditional techniques makes it possible for him to have a quick turnaround time but still have the intricate quality of human work.

  1. Giving the customers a variety of choices

For Douglas Knight, woodwork isn’t just about one area such as home decors or small trinkets. He preferred to expand his business to cater to customers who need all types of woodwork items such as tables, chairs, cabinets, home decors, and even vintage toys. He explained that his initial strategy was to start with a single focus. Mr. Knight’s business became popular because of his woodwork furniture. He went further to expand his business by including other items that customers demand. Mr. Knight went to design conventions to introduce his new products in New Canaan. The best way to make your business grow is to increase your choices over time.

  1. Watch out for the trends

Although Mr. Knight prides himself on his classic woodwork furniture and home decors, he keeps a keen eye on the trends when it comes to these products. He noticed that people enjoyed having minimalistic furniture and items around the home. He also introduced a series of minimal-style home items apart from his classics, and there was a positive response. The younger demographics preferred this style, and he was happy to serve both the younger and older population of New Canaan. His advice to woodworking entrepreneurs is that they should learn to stay grounded with their roots, but always keep an eye on the popular trends.

  1. Nothing beats quality

The reason why people choose woodwork items is that of its quality. It’s not about the price, and style can be secondary. People often choose wooden items because they can last for a long time and can even be an item of value to be passed on to future generations. This is why Mr. Knight puts quality first above all his operational systems. He prefers to purchase raw materials from the best local producers and top exporters. He makes a regular inspection at his warehouses and workshops to make sure that all personnel are following his guidelines. Quality is what allowed Mr. Knight’s business to rise to fame, and he believes that this is what New Canaan locals are still looking for his products.

  1. Make the right connections

Mr. Knight’s woodworking business didn’t just start growing by itself. He recognized that he needed great connections with people in the local area. This included home depot shops, furniture stores, and even the local home goods stores. He promoted his top sellers and eventually he made into New Canaan’s retail scene. He believes that being confident about your product allows you to make the right connections to get your business in a larger market.

If you are considering a business in woodworking, consider these tips from Mr. Knight. He has solid insights on the effective practices that can surely make your business in New Canaan grow.

 

How Floridians Can Protect Their Homes From Costly Mold Damage

RalphSlaske

 

As a homeowner in Florida, you don’t want to be in a position where you have a mold problem. Cleaning up mold blooms can be very expensive and if left unattended, it can cause health problems to your family. For instance, an extensive elimination of a mold problem can cost you up to five figures; that is how expensive a mold problem can get. To help you prevent, combat and control mold in your home, professionals who eliminate mold would like to share 7 important aspects they use to prevent and control mold problems.

Elimination of clutter

Be very conscious of the clutter around your house. Clutter around your house prevents the flow of air and prevents the aid of the HVAC system in circulating air around your house. Professionals know that draperies and furniture cause condensation when they block the supply grilles. The moisture that is condensed creates a microclimate that allows the growth of mold in your house.

So, mold professionals advise homeowners to dispose of the things that are not in use. Avoid blocking the grilles and air vents with furniture to help air in the house to circulate freely. When the day is humid, use fans to keep the air in your house flowing.

When the AC is on, shut the doors and windows

When your doors and windows are open, you are wasting money because the air conditioning is escaping and humid air is being allowed into the house. This causes molds because of the condensation that forms. Therefore, mold professionals advice you to keep the windows and doors closed while the air conditioner is on.

Additionally, when you are on vacation or at the office, you are advised to let the temperature of your home stay at approximately 80 degrees. In most cases, people tend to set their thermostats to 85 degrees or turn off the AC when they are not in the house. When this happens, the net result is a rise in humidity and temperature which creates a perfect environment for the growth of mold.

Control the climate in the house

Mold usually appear during the humid hot summers when the temptation of playing with the air conditioner is apparent. If you set the thermostat high, the air conditioner will not dehumidify the air well; if you set the thermostat low, you will create a cold microclimate that will cause condensation. To avoid these extremes, set the thermostat at approximately 78 degrees.

Monitor your humidity levels

If you install an indoor humidity monitor, you will be able to keep track of the levels of moisture in your house that essentially fall between 35-50% relative humidity; in areas which are very humid, when the summer season comes, your humidity monitor will read levels around 55%.

If your humidity levels get to 60%, you will have to look for the moisture source; if the humidity goes to 70%, you will start to see certain mold species emerging. To be able to keep track and prevent mold formation, purchase a humidity monitor that goes for around $20 for the basic models, and around $200 for the more sophisticated ones that have tons of added features.

Evaluate your AC

If your humidity monitor records readings of approximately 60%, professionals advise you to ensure that your AC is working properly.

  • Is it set to the correct temperature?
  • Does it have an on and off cycle on a periodic basis?
  • Does your AC blow cold air at some point in time?
  • Are the coils of the AC clean?

Make a regular inspection of the white condensation drain pipe that is located on the side of the AC unit to ensure that it is dripping on a regular basis. If it is not doing so, the pipe may be blocked causing water to accumulate either on the floor or in the unit. In case of any doubts on the proper functioning of the AC unit, call an HVAC professional.

Check for sections with still water

If the AC is working just fine, professionals like to look for areas where clearwater is stagnant or places with chronic dampness that increases the humidity inside your house to provide the perfect environment for mold growth. They also check for dampness or puddles around pumps, water tanks, refrigerators, freezers, windows and basement doors. They also check for clearwater dampness in crawl spaces and ensure that they eliminate these water puddles.

Add a dehumidifier

You can remove excess moisture from the air if you have a dehumidifier. You can purchase one for the entire house at a price range of approximately $1,100 to $1,800. You can place the dehumidifier to attach to the furnace of your house and treat the air that circulates in the house. A dehumidifier is a great asset to have if you live in a highly humid environment.

You can also go for a portable dehumidifier that costs approximately between $15- and $200, and you can use it on occasions where you often experience musty smells and dampness.

Contact a professional

If it gets hard to spot a moisture problem, or you have no idea how to correct an issue, call a mold professional. Ensure that you go for mold professionals who are resected in the industry and have adequate experience; this will help you to prevent a mold problem or sort out a mold problem before it gets worse.

 

5 Benefits of Staging a Construction Site With Luxury Furniture

5 Benefits of Staging a Construction Site With Luxury Furniture

RalphSlaske
Construction sites are never pleasant to look at. They are dirty, messy, and oftentimes covered in order to prevent an eyesore in its vicinity. Although some construction sites are hard to cover up, there are quite a lot of instances where you can find ways to create a pleasant space during a construction period.

According to JMD Furniture, one of the unique ways to stage a construction site is through the use of luxury furniture. Luxury furniture does not only exude an ‘elegant’ appeal to your potential customers, it can also function as a permanent piece in your establishment once construction work is done.

In this post, we will be looking into some benefits of investing in luxury furniture for staging your construction site.

5 Benefits of Staging a Construction Site With Luxury Furniture

1. A good distraction from the construction mess

A common tactic to cover up construction sites would be the use of tarpaulins and temporary walls with printed graphics. However, this still serves as an eyesore to most people. If you are a business owner who wants a better way to distract people away from the fact that there is construction going on, you can make use of fancy=looking benches, table tops, and even arches to create an inviting look in your construction site. The goal is not for people to focus on the work in process, but rather to distract them by making use of visually-appealing furniture pieces. A good idea would be to make use of both a wall cover added with luxury furniture. For example, you can use an attractive pattern to cover up the plywood, and add some catchy phrases such as “coming soon”. You can place luxury furniture in front of the wall that looks like a movie seat. This is a fun way to incorporate the “movie house theme” when staging your construction site.

2. Creates anticipation for the establishment

Another thing that luxury furniture can do when staged in your construction site is the anticipation it creates. If you are not convinced, put yourself in a potential customer’s shoes. Let’s say you walk by a construction site with plain plywood and a sign that says “under construction”. Would that interest you? What if that same scenario happens, but the construction site is set up with wonderful pieces of seats, side tables, and lamps? You would definitely by curious and come back again to see what the site is all about. A wise business owner knows how to attract buyers even when the store isn’t opened yet.

3. Can be used as a long-standing furniture after construction

If you are looking for a long-term investment, staging your construction site with luxury furniture is the way to go. Whether your look is antique, modern or novel, there are several furniture customization companies that are willing to work for businesses with unique ideas. Aside from its staging purposes, these luxury pieces can also be used as a way to furnish and decorate your office or store. In order to maximize this dual purpose, make sure to invest in furniture that can be used within your future constructed space. For stores, you can invest on luxury shelves and benches, and for offices, you can invest in high-quality reception desks.

4. Sets a statement for the look and feel of your establishment

The type of furniture you will be using during your construction site staging can also be the starting ground of how you want your store to look and feel. For a more modern style, you may want to invest in the glass and metal luxury pieces. For vintage and classical looks, wood and ceramics are the way to go. Who knows? If you don’t have an interior style set for your store, these luxury pieces can also serve as your go-to inspiration once the dirty work is done.

5. A good marketing tactic to improve foot traffic

Luxury items are always a cause of the commotion. Whether people are just curious or want to take a picture of themselves around your construction site, having elegant pieces will gain your business some attention. This is a good marketing tactic to help you reach potential people who may not otherwise have the chance to pass by your store during its construction stage. A good idea would be to create construction stage where people can take pictures and give a specific hashtag they can use to post on social media sites such as Instagram. This will create a buzz in the online community about your future establishment as well.

JMD Furniture believes that luxury furniture doesn’t have to be expensive all the time. Aside from customized luxury furniture, business owners can also inquire about clearance sales and discounted items in e-commerce stores and physical retailers. Do your research before investing in any luxury item, and make sure that the furniture store is a reputable one.

Financing Challenges Many Construction Companies Face And How to Deal With Them

RalphSlaske

Every construction company has daily charges and long-term expenses that have to be catered for. With this need to address the charges also comes stalled projects that could not get fully financed due to the lack of enough money or issues with clients not submitting the needed amounts on time. When you are facing slow client payments, you need to consider alternative methods to keep key projects moving, otherwise it might prove difficult to keep the business afloat. If you are among construction companies that have financing challenges, you need to take this word from an expert to help your business claim its ground. Here is how to deal with the challenges.

Addressing slow owner payments

Generally, construction projects are expensive investments and owners have to submit the required monetary support for the projects to proceed. But this is not always the case as some of them opt for slow payment while others realize too late that they did not prepare adequately. Once the facility is constructed, your company incurs a huge short-term cost with the benefits expected being long-term. This creates a situation where most owners cannot get money to pay in one lump sum, which leads to slow client payments that could lead to financing problems for the company.

To address this challenge, you might want to consider factoring. This is where you invite factoring companies that buy your accounts receivable and give you immediate access to cash. What factoring does is take delinquent accounts off the liability list of your company, and this allows you to meet any cash-flow needs you have without the need to apply for a loan. It will help solve your problem more smoothly and within a shorter period of time.

Interest charges on loans

Construction companies that are suffering from large financial problems often don’t have the credit required to cover the payment delays. Most contractors lack sufficient capital assets, and this triggers loan companies to view them as a credit risk. Large projects come with a bigger interest due to the risk involved, and premium charges in this case can lead to a bad debt and financial pitfalls for the company.

This is where the advice of debt experts like Nationwide Debt Reduction Services comes in handy. Instead of opting for a loan to finance the project, you might also consider factoring, which is a boost you won’t need to repay. Don’t add debts when the company is already struggling to find a solution.

Cost overruns

Each construction projects comes with its pitfalls and some of them are costlier than others. In the event the unexpected occurs, expensive delays can be experienced and in worse cases losses. For costs beyond the original estimate, you need to come up with a better way to finance them as this is where loss of money occurs most. The best solution is to steer clear of expensive cost overruns by ensuring problems are addressed as soon as they show up and reviewing estimates carefully before embarking on the project.

Drops in demand

Those who have worked in the construction industry can tell that demand can be cyclical in nature and the market can drop or rise from one year to another. What this does is create financing problems that construction companies have to face because the flow of income is not steady yet expenses remain high. If your construction company finds itself in a business slump, you should consider getting a quick cash float that should cover the daily expenses of the business until the next peak arrives. Selling outstanding accounts receivable to a factoring company could be a solution to help lift the pressure to repay off. For more support, talk to experts like Nationwide Debt Reduction Services.

Why Software Analytics Is Important In The Construction Industry

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Big data analytics have come as a viable tool in the construction industry that experts are now embracing to lead better teams and to strategize for increased efficiency. The ability to sift through a lot of information to get results that are relevant is beyond most human skills, but with software analytics, this is made easier and faster. Construction companies, therefore, are able to save a lot of time by sifting through large amounts of data to get relevant information that can help them to implement different actions. This allows them to lay more focus on events and projects that matter than worrying about IT issues.

Problem solving

One of the biggest incentives for having software analytics is that construction companies are able to solve complex problems with Ad Hoc Reporting. For these companies to be successful in their problem solving processes, they need to collect the right data and in an organized manner that is searchable. Software analytics allows them to accomplish this effectively as the data returned is accurate and sifted for errors, which again eliminates the need for construction companies to spend a lot of time trying to validate data.

Risk prediction

Additionally, big data offers you the unique ability to gather insights that allow you to make improvements to your systems to prevent risks. You can easily detect errors before they happen and finding opportunities for optimization that is focused on the future is easier. You can get long-term improvements if you use software analytics. The accuracy at which software can give information is beyond human capabilities and this could be the reason most companies that use software analytics have been seen to achieve better results than their counterparts that don’t use analytics.

Performance evaluation

You also want to know how your company or its departments have been performing over a specified period of time. It could take a lot more time to implement this process if one chooses to follow traditional methods, but with software analytics, you get real-time results when monitoring performance. You could even make adjustments to the software to receive reports after every specified period of time, so you are informed about changes in different parameters in a more dynamic manner.

Construction companies that keep large amounts of data would find it challenging to assess their performance in the absence of analytics software. Knowing project profitability and efficiency is important when making decisions and these are reports you will easily get with software analytics.

Track assets and construction equipment

Apart from leading experts in decision making processes, software analytics also helps in the monitoring of construction equipment and assets. Construction companies spread most of their assets and equipment geographically and this could be a source of disaster if not controlled. You need to know which equipment or asset is where, so having a monitoring system that keeps records and gives information about assets and equipment is necessary.

Simulation

The more data you have, the more potential you have to make remote predictions about construction site limitations and possibilities, and this could help you to plan accordingly.

On the Benefits of Streamlining Certain Aspects of the Construction Process

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proposable construction process

 

There is a lot that is demanded of all construction professionals throughout the process of building a home, including a tremendous amount of paperwork concerning permitting as well as a wide range of other requirements that may differ based on the specific geographic location. Due to the time-consuming nature of some of these requirements — paperwork or otherwise –many builders are consistently on the lookout for any way possible to streamline their operations without having to sacrifice the quality of the construction.

Proposable.com’s templates — including everything from a software development proposal to straightforward sales proposals — may provide a means through which construction professionals can use their time more efficiently with regard to this critical component of the initial building process. For professionals that find it difficult to remain attentive to the sales proposal process while also working on meeting all of the other various professional responsibilities that demand their attention during the actual process of building a home, a comprehensive sales proposal system may prove to be an ideal solution for streamlining their business operations.

Of course, streamlining the sales process also means that builders are able to devote more of their attention to meeting the specific needs for their clients, something that is especially critical for custom homebuilders. Any opportunity in which it may be possible to streamline certain processes that enable a more client-centered approach should be recognized as incredibly valuable for so many reasons.

Value-Adding Home Improvement Projects Not Always Associated With Curb Appeal

RalphSlaske

David R Gray Jr home improvementThere is a multitude of reasons why homeowners take on all kinds of home improvement projects, with many citing a simple desire to improve the quality of their surroundings while others just enjoy spending a weekend working with their hands in order to create something unique. Though the reasons are quite varied, homeowners are most likely to at least reference the fact that the projects they undertake will add value to their home in some way.

As David R. Gray Jr. would likely point out, this common form of reasoning often leads homeowners to select projects associated with aesthetic improvements, especially when it comes to curb appeal. Curb appeal projects do offer a significant return in terms of the real estate value added, but homeowners should be careful not to overlook the sizable return on investment made possible through a host of other possible options.

Installing insulation in an attic is perhaps the best example of a value-adding home improvement project that is commonly overlooked, but it is one of the few projects that result in an immediate increase in real estate resale value of well over 100 percent of the cost of the project. While installing attic insulation may not seem like the most enjoyable weekend project, it is certainly one of the best when it comes to adding value to a property.

Applying Behrman PR Strategies to Home Improvement Projects

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Regardless of the size and scope of a home improvement project, the strategies utilized at every stage of the project will have a sizable impact on the degree to which the final result is deemed a success. While it is not all that common for public relations and brand building strategies to be applicable to home improvement projects, there are many aspects of the Behrman PR strategy that can help anyone carrying out any such project, independent of whether they are a homeowner completing a minor project or a professional contractor tasked with carrying out a major one.

Nancy Behrman, the founder of Behrman Communications, has enjoyed a distinguished career in the public relations industry and recently celebrated her company’s 30-year anniversary, which is why her insight and expertise regarding PR strategies is so widely respected among her industry peers. In fact, it is those specific PR and brand building strategies that are believed to potentially yield an exceptional benefit for those in the home improvement industry or those simply seeking to complete a home improvement project in a manner that is indistinguishable from the efforts of a professional.

According to those who have applied some of the strategies utilized by Behrman’s immensely successful public relations and brand building company, the results they were able to achieve were deeply reflective of the brand building company’s reputation as one of the most creative and insightful companies operating in the industry today. Due to the fact that the Behrman PR strategy is known to rely on a detail-oriented approach that evaluates the individual goals of each client in order to yield the greatest potential impact, the application of these strategies in construction projects has proved to be incredibly valuable on a number of distinct and critical levels.