Local-construction.net Blog

The EPA Lead Rules and the Contractor

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By now you are probably aware that in April of 2010 the EPA instituted new rules that affect the way contractors need to deal with homes built before 1978. These rules will significantly affect the way you go about remodeling an older home. The first thing you need to be aware of is that contractors who are performing work they are not certified to perform can be subjected to fines of up to $37,500 a day.

Laying Tile on an Uneven Floor

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To lay tiles on an uneven floor, you will first have to create a smooth, even surface. This is traditionally done using what is called a mud bed or a wet bed. It uses a mixture of sand and cement to create a smooth surface that is as hard as concrete, but not quite as strong. This is the type of floor that is underneath all tile shower floors. The items you will need for this project is as follows:

The Importance of Professionally-Installed Electrical Upgrades for Your Home

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Electrical system upgrades are an important part of every homeowner's maintenance plan. Upgrades to the core electrical system, including components like electrical panels, breakers, plugs or outlets, and wiring, promote efficiency and maintain the safety of the home. Other additions, such as attic fans and ceiling fans, not only provide energy savings but can also be decorative. Installation of an electrical generator provides an important backup in emergencies, ensuring that the various electrical systems of the house continue to receive power when the outside electricity source has been interrupted. Any or all of these upgrades can be important to the average homeowner, and a professional electrician should be hired to evaluate any home's need for upgrades or additional components. A professional electrician will provide these upgrades and install any additional components in a safe and proper manner, in compliance with local codes and regulations.

5 Easy Steps to Resealing a Blacktop Driveway

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When a driveway needs resealing, it will be obvious: The surface isn’t as black and shiny as it used to be, there are some cracks and even potholes, it just generally looks worn. These are signs that shouldn’t be ignored; it’s not a matter of esthetics, it’s about preventing a major expense. If you let a blacktop surface go without maintenance too long, it can become so weathered, worn and torn up that a complete replacement needs to be done. And that would cost a lot more than resealing it.

Bulletproof Doors and Windows Provide Safety, Function, and Beauty

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Bulletproof doors and windows can provide protection from criminals and attacks for businesses, or even private individuals at home. A building’s windows and doors are often the most vulnerable during an attack. Transparent windows and doors provide visual access to a business or building’s interior, the contents and people inside. People unprotected by bulletproof windows and doors might be eliminated as an obstacle before it is even known a crime is being committed.

Boiler Plumbing Questions and Answers

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We take for granted the unobtrusive white box on our wall that is the modern boiler. That is until the day we push the button or turn the knob and nothing happens. Then we panic at the thought of being without hot water or invariably, when it stops working during the winter months, we panic at the thought of being without hot water and heating. There are a number of surprisingly simple reasons why boilers refuse to work, so simple in fact that it's often more hassle making the trades person their obligatory cup of tea than to fix it yourself.

Heating and Cooling with Passive Solar Techniques

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Solar passivity is much discussed among the avant-guard of renewable energy experts. But what is it, exactly, and how is it used? This article aims to answer a few basic questions about the passive solar concept, and show small ways to incorporate it even in your current home. Those looking into building a new home may discover that they wish to dig deeper into passive solar constructs, and include many more aspects of solar passivity in their new homes.

How to Install a Cement Board Underlayment?

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Cementboard is an underlayment material that building professionals recommend you use if you are installing a floor made from materials such as natural stone tile and some ceramic tile. These types of tile need this kind of material to draw moisture away from the tile and grout. Cementboard is a denser material than plywood, and it is essential to use under tile floors in rooms where chances are good the floor will get wet, such as bathrooms.

How to Paint Like a Pro: Tips for Amateurs

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If you're a typical DIYer, you've probably decided, at some point in your life, that some room in your house could do with a new paint job. If you decide to leave the paint color the same, all you have to worry about are things like taping and moldings and windowpanes. You know, the easy stuff. But what if you want to change the color? Then what? Now you're getting into the murky realm of Interior Decorating, where people get degrees to tell them when, if ever, it's okay to put blue and purple in the same room. (True blue and royal purple, for example, should never go in the same room. But powder blue or baby blue look very nice with a soft lavendar...)