The General Contractor

We are pleased to announce the launch of Production Construction & Remodeling, LLC, a Columbus Commercial Remodeling contractor, who specializes in office remodeling, tenant improvement, handyman services and project management for businesses in the Ohio area.

Inexpensive Alternative

Vinyl siding, even with all the high-end options still remains cheaper than both wood and stone siding. When you choose to buy vinyl siding you have many options for both low and high quality materials. It is strongly suggested that you choose the highest quality materials you can afford as this will lead to the longevity of your vinyl siding. Some things to consider when choosing options include, the cost of house wrap or tarpaper, Styrofoam backed vinyl siding, and the cost of installation. These are all things that will increase the total cost of your vinyl siding, however they lead to increased efficiency and longevity; while still coming in at a lower cost than other alternatives.

Highly Durable

Although there is no question that both stone and brick are the most durable siding options, when choosing something that is inexpensive vinyl will always come in first. Vinyl never needs repainting, and when you buy new vinyl siding you’ll find that its pigment is completely baked into the vinyl; not just the surface. Therefore any dance stings or scratches and be invisible. Vinyl is also more durable, and stronger than wood siding. It lasts much longer than both aluminum and wood siding.

Maintenance Free

There is zero maintenance associated with vinyl siding. When you buy vinyl siding its pigment is baked in and thus never needs repainting. It will never chip, is very dent resistant, and whether his extremely well.

The Perfect Choice for a DIY Homeowner

If you are a weekend warrior, or just an ambitious homeowner installing vinyl siding could not be easier. Depending on the size of your house it can be done in a day or a few weekends. The materials are light, easily cut, and most importantly easily installed. Vinyl siding requires no special tools, or even a high degree of skill. When you buy new vinyl siding it will come with the instructions necessary for easy installation. In fact because vinyl siding uses an interlocking mechanism to lock the panels in place you need a little more than a hammer and nails to install it.

Easily Adaptable to Nearly Any Building Style

Because vinyl siding is patterned after wood siding when you decide to buy vinyl siding you will be offered the same choices that are available in wood siding. This includes architectural elements such as soffits, fascia, and corner boards. The sky really is the limit when choosing an architectural style for your new vinyl siding.

Vinyl Siding Buzz

Vinyl siding was not always well received by the public, in fact it was looked at as a tacky and inexpensive solution for covering large amounts of houses. Nowadays however because vinyl siding has taken on so many exciting new looks and characteristics this attitude has completely changed. It is now considered a very modern architectural element that can be adapted to fit many styles.

You can also find more information on Metal Siding and Vinyl Siding Manufacturers.homesidingreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about home siding review.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Faulkner

Guardian Roofing recently unveiled a program that will help Tacoma area homeowners in the area potentially save thousands of dollars in unnecessary roofing expenses. Guardian Roofing goal is to inform homeowners of the high probability that their existing roof may be costing them money.

“Our Money Monster Program is designed to alert homeowners to the likelihood that their attics may be poorly ventilated, which leads to problems such as roof warranties that are null and void much earlier than they should be, higher utility bills, and the possibility of early roof degradation and damage,” said Aaron Santas, owner of Guardian Roofing.

Statistics show that nine out of 10 roofs are not properly ventilated. While this statistic alone may not cause the average homeowner alarm, the consequences of improper roof ventilation should. The problems that develop from improperly vented roof systems include manufacturer warranties becoming void, dangers of mold and mildew growth inside the attic, shingles that literally “fry” on the rooftop, higher utility bills, and even damage from “ice dams” in climates that get a lot of snow.

Guardian Roofing Money Monster Program outlines the following problems that develop due to inadequate ventilation:

• Voided manufacturer warranties: many warranties include clauses that list “inadequate ventilation” as a condition that renders the warranty null and void. “Unless a homeowner knows how to calculate how much ventilation their roof system should have in order to meet a warranty, they have no real way of telling if their roofing warranty is in danger of being rendered worthless,” commented Santas.

• Higher than necessary utility bills: when air in an attic just sits there due to poor ventilation, it heats up during the hot summer months. That means it affects the temperature of the inside of the home as well, forcing the home’s air conditioner to work harder to cool the inside of the home. That translates to higher energy bills and possibly having to replace the air conditioner earlier than usual.

• Mildew and moisture problems: according to the EPA, when humidity levels in an attic rise above 50%, condensation can build up and that moisture can provide an ideal place for mildew or mold spores to grow. These conditions can present hazardous health issues for the family living inside the house.

• Roof damage including “fried” shingles: improper ventilation often results in a roof becoming hotter both under the surface and above the surface, which results in degradation of the shingle material. Not only does this type of damage nullify any warranty on the shingles, but it also can create problems inside the home due to leaks caused by the failure of the shingles.

• Ice dams: in cold climates that receive a great deal of snow, ice dams form when warm air in the attic melts snow on the roof. “This snow slides down toward the roof’s edge and refreezes, building up an enormous weight and damaging the shingles at the edge of the roof, as well as the gutters, and causes leaks which can lead to further expensive damage inside the home,” said Santas.

“All of these roofing dangers can be avoided with a proper attic inspection,” added Santas. An attic inspection by Guardian Roofing includes a detailed review of the dimensions, installation techniques, and current condition of the roof. “Our detailed 17-point Attic Attack Assessment will give you, the homeowner, an idea of whether or not your warranty is still valid and can save you major problems down the road,” added Santas.

Attaché Painting today announced the launch of www.AttachePainting.com as an information portal for Boston area home owners to find information about painting and house washing concerns. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of home painting tips the website is anticipated to quickly become Boston’s primary resource web site for interior and exterior painting.

Future plans include educational guides on selecting a contractor, professional advice from expert painters, and a question and answer forum for Boston homeowners.

The web site will be an invaluable resource for Boston area homeowners in finding accessible information to address their painting needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.

Ngoc Truong, president of Attaché Painting stated, “Our goal for the website is to be the best home and family resource guide for assisting all homeowners in the Boston area,” “The depth of knowledge and resources www.AttachePainting.com offers is unparalleled.”

I am visiting Washington D.C. this week and as i was strolling through the city I began thinking about all the great political debates that have happened in this district over the past few hundred years. It reminded me of something I must tell you, that can mean the difference between you thriving or barely surviving in the company you work at.

What I am going to tell you may seem like just common sense and just a good idea, but you would probably not be surprised that more careers in the sales and service industry have been destroyed by the politics in the companies they work for than anything else I can think of.

What do I mean by company politics? This phenomenon rears its ugly head in many ways. Most times it starts with your participation in company gossip or bad mouthing other behind their back.

You would think that gossip in the contracting industry would not be a problem since most men view gossip as something only women do. However, a study of gossip by Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC), a nonprofit think tank in England, found that 33 percent of men indulge in gossip every day or almost every day, compared with 26 percent of women.

One of the biggest ways to begin your involvement in a political company scandal is the trap that is laid when you are approached by a fellow employee and they start talking bad about other employees behind their back.

For the average person, this may seem harmless. Believe me it’s not. Here is the danger of even listening to one employee talking bad about the other:

1. If you listen to this talk and say nothing, you are implying that you agree with them. Whether or not they have a point or if you do agree with them, you as a professional cannot be drawn into an issue without both sides being present to represent their point of view.

That fact that you listen to gossip, can be interpreted as your endorsement of their point of view.

2. To keep listening to company gossip will make you the “go to” person whenever someone wants to start trouble with another employee. People who always in on the latest gossip are generally viewed as untrustworthy.

People figure that if you would talk bad about someone with me right now, what will happen in the future when we have a disagreement together? That’s right, they probably will think you are gossiping about them.

3. The person who is being badmouthed cannot learn what they are doing wrong since they are not hearing about the issue and will continue to do whatever caused the problem in the first place. There will not be a functional ending to the problem and so the company and the employee will never improve.

4. It wastes you precious time on things that do not serve your customers or make your sales any better.

How much extra time do you have? Enough to listen to a bad mouthing gossip session? You could spend that valuable time prospecting new customers or calling old clients to ask for testimonials or referrals.

What should a high performance professional in the contracting trades do? Well first think about why you may be drawn towards gossip instead of being repelled by it. Ask yourself these questions when being compelled to gossip with the guys:

1. Am I trying to find a way to feel connected to this person?

2. Am I frustrated with something else and need to confide in someone?

3. Am I anxious and looking for a way to feel more in control?

4. Am I bored and need something productive to do?

5. How is my listening and talking about the other person helping them?

These reasons and more are why we are drawn to gossip. Gossiping starts with our own poor self-esteem and our search to find someone, anyone that we can feel superior by comparison. You know, “At least I’m not as bad as that guy,” type of thinking. This dysfunctional behavior will never elevate you over others.

What will elevate you above the others is if you are seen as an agent of positive change that others look to for common sense and not a shoulder to cry on.

What should you do when approached with gossip? The answers are easier than you think. Do yourself a favor and make the decision to NOT gossip now so that you automatically know what your response will be next time so you don’t have to think about it.

Here are some things you can do or say when approached with gossip:

1. Can I keep a secret? I’m really not comfortable with that burden no.

2. I’m uncomfortable talking about this without Jim present. Why don’t we talk to him about it and get his side of the story?

3. What happened when you talked to him about this directly?

4. Have you told him this yourself? Why not?

5. What is your source for that information? How do you know that’s accurate?

6. It sounds like you’re upset and anxious about this. Why don’t we both talk to him and let him know how we feel?

7. John, I just won’t talk about this unless Jim is here to defend himself.

Avoid being the gossip “go to” guy around the shop. Be an agent for positive change and someone who helps other become successful and not one who tears others down.

Don’t waste time on intramural scraps between other employees. Leave politics to the politician’s.

Joe Crisara
www.contractorselling.com

We are pleased to announce the re-launch of Best Electric, a Fort Myers Electrician who provides both residential and commercial electrical services in Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties in Florida.

We are pleased to announce the Virginia Contractors Directory, for homeowners looking for home improvement services. From everything from power washing to security systems to home remodeling, MEA Marketing can offer Virginia homeowners a referral service as well as home loans.

J&K Heating & Cooling today announced the launch of www.JKCooling.com as an information portal for Central Florida home owners to find educational information in regards to their heating and air conditioning systems. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of home improvement tips the website is anticipated to quickly become Central Florida’s primary resource web site for home improvement.

Future plans include educational awareness guides on heating and air conditioning in your home, professional advice from expert contractors, and a question and answer forum for Central Florida homeowners.

The web site will be an invaluable resource for Central Florida homeowners in finding accessible information to address their HVAC needs for their home. Not only will the Central Florida website be addressing home safety, but also new energy efficient solutions, that will benefit homeowners in the duration of owning their home.

Tim Holtsclaw, president of J&K Heating & Cooling stated, “Our goal is to offer the most educational information for Central Florida homeowners by providing them with informative and professional articles and resources, which will make www.JKCooling.com a portal worth visiting and using to better make homes safe and energy efficient.

Your kitchen needs a makeover and the transformation starts and ends with the cabinets. But how do you know if your cabinets need to be entirely replaced or if just a refacing will suffice? To reface or to replace—that this the burning kitchen cabinet question. The answer lies in the current condition of your existing cabinets.

If the cabinets that are already installed in your kitchen are of poor quality, are not opening and closing properly, and/or are laid out in a fashion that doesn’t appeal to you, then you may want to think about starting from scratch by replacing them. If, on the other hand, your existing kitchen cabinets are well made, properly functioning and well positioned in the room, consider taking advantage of a kitchen cabinet reface. It may save you the bundle you need to devote to other kitchen makeover touches.

Either way, when choosing where to purchase your new kitchen cabinets or kitchen door refacing, look for a cabinetry company that provides a wide array of finishes. Maple, oak and hickory kitchen cabinets are durable and give your kitchen that rich, earthy look. Softer but warmer, cherry and birch kitchen cabinets lend a natural knotted appeal to the room. And for those who would prefer easy cleanup in a more modern flavor and in their choice of color, laminate kitchen cabinets fill the bill.

Deciding whether your kitchen cabinets need to be entirely replaced or a new door reface will do is a task best left in the hands of a built-to-order cabinetry expert. These professionals can not only advise you on the best course of action for your kitchen cabinets, but they can also recommend the material that will turn your kitchen makeover dreams into a reality.

As the world’s leading manufacturer of built-to-order cabinetry, KraftMaid leads the way in offering an almost endless selection of door styles, finishes, functional storage solutions and decorative enhancements that allow you to customize your home to suit your style – and your lifestyle with cabinetry “made just for you.” Visit KraftMaid at http://www.kraftmaid.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Rowe

A deck is an extension of your home’s living space and where you will spend much of your time during the summer months. Consequently, it needs to be treated and cared for as much as your home’s inside rooms.

Most important to the care of your deck is regularly sealing it. This is particularly true if you want your deck to maintain the natural color of the wood.

Sealing a deck is critical in order to preserve the life and look of the wood. The sealant preserves the beauty of the natural wood by protecting it from both water and sun damage.

When to Apply the Deck Sealant

In order to preserve the natural wood look for many years, I typically apply the sealant every year. Also, I usually apply it in late summer/early fall as I live in New England. I do this because of the concern of snow lying on the deck for long periods of time during the winter months. My concern is in the acidity of the water in the snow. By putting on a sealant just prior to snow season, I can provide peak protection against the prolonged damaging effects of the acid contained in the water. In hotter climates, where there is less snow, I would suggest applying the deck sealer in late spring.

Clean the deck prior to Sealing

First, remove all of the deck furniture off of the deck.

Prior to sealing it is then best to power wash the deck and let it thoroughly dry. You may need to use a stiff bristly brush to get off any material that is not being removed by the power washer. Pine pitch frequently requires the services of this tool. There are also a variety of products offered by sealant manufactures that can also assist in the deck sealant preparation.

After power washing it may take 24-48 hours, or even longer, for the deck to thoroughly dry, pending weather conditions. Make sure the deck is completely dry prior to applying the sealant. Otherwise the sealant may not be appropriately absorbed into the wood’s surface.

Once the deck is dry, and you are about ready to begin sealing, use a leaf blower to remove any debris that may have fallen onto the deck’s surface since you power washed it. If you do not have a leaf blower, than simply sweep the deck.

Sealing the deck

First, the deck sealer should not be applied if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and if rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours. Otherwise the sealant may not absorb properly, nor dry properly.

Using a brush apply the sealant around all the deck edges and posts. Once the edging is complete, use a sprayer, brush or roller to apply the sealant to the deck surface. Make sure that the sealant is firmly pressed into the wood surface to maximize the penetration of the sealant into the wood.

Typically only one coat is recommended by most deck sealers.

Though most manufactures suggest the deck is ready for walking on after 24 hours, I would recommend waiting a little longer if the weather has not been ideal for drying conditions.

Once the deck is dry, return the deck furniture and enjoy the beauty of your deck for another year.

Me_Donovan@comcast.net
http://www.homeadditionplus.com
http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan’s formal education and profession have been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Donovan