Contractor Tips Blog

Sep
12

Timing Belts

Timing belts, which are used to move the camshaft or shafts within an engine in a precise manner, are used in a wide variety of domestically and foreign manufactured equipment.  As with other mechanical items, the periodic maintenance of the timing belt is required to keep the machinery running properly without disrupting the company’s daily operations.  In the case of timing belts, the maintenance required is to generally replace the belt before it can fail, which can cause damage to the machinery. 

Timing belts include standard timing belts, metric timing belts or V-Belts.  Standard timing belts are manufactured for equipment manufactured in the United States and to United States based or imperial measurements, while metric timing belts is manufactured for equipment manufactured outside of the United States and to metric measurements. 

Many manufacturing facilities have a combination of American made and foreign made machinery, so it is quite common for facilities to have a need for both standard and metric belts.  The last type of timing belt is the V-Belt, which is used to drive the wide variety of exhaust fans being used in every manufacturing facility in the United States to remove the air from the manufacturing area.  As the air is removed fresh air is brought into the air and the air is constantly being replaced. 

An experienced manufacturer and supplier of thousands of different types of standard, metric and V-Belts, will be able to assist in finding the correct product.  They will be able to supply the correct product quickly and economically, as well as provide assistance on any timing belt issue!

Sep
12

Commercial Hoses

Commercial hoses and various accessories such as couplings and fittings are used on a wide range of equipment in industries such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture and construction.  The equipment used in these industries is “mission critical” to the successful daily operations of ever company.  Commercial grade hoses will occasionally need to be replaced, due to failure or due to periodic preventative maintenance, where the hose is replaced during regularly scheduled maintenance. 

Commercial grade hose products include discharge hoses, hose couplings and fittings, hydraulic hoses and hydraulic fittings.  Discharge hoses are often attached to pumps in the mining and construction industries, to either remove water or place concrete.  Hose couplings and fittings are as critical to the proper installation of the hose on to the equipment and are made of a wide variety of materials including brass, stainless steel and PVD. 

Without the correct coupling or fitting it would not be possible to attach the commercial grade hose to the equipment.  Hydraulic hoses are used on every piece of equipment utilizing hydraulic systems.  These hoses operate under high pressure and carry hydraulic fluid from a holding tank to the hydraulic piston.  Hydraulic fittings are used to make a mechanical connection of the hydraulic hose to the equipment.  As there are thousands of different types of equipment using hydraulic systems, there are thousands of hydraulic fittings.

An experienced manufacturer and supplier of thousands of commercial grade hoses products including discharge hoses, hose couplings and fittings, hydraulic hoses and hydraulic fittings, will be able to assist in finding the correct product.  They will be able to supply a wide variety of commercial grade hose products quickly and economically, as well as provide assistance on any commercial grade hose issues!

Aug
28

Home Automation

Posted in Home Automation

Imagine the ability to control your home remotely from your laptop computer or smart phone.  Imaging the ability to view your home in real time while on vacation half way around the world.  Imagine the ability to turn on and off specific lights or electrical appliances, such as an oven, on the way home from your job.  Imagine the ability to be able to regulate the temperature in your home as you are driving home.   Imagine the ability to receive updates from your home security system while away on vacation or on a business trip.  Imagine the ability to turn on your irrigation system while out of town.  There is no need to imagine a day when this will be possible, as it is available today with home automation! 

Home automation is possible due the extensive use of “structured wiring” in today’s homes.  This wiring, which is separate from the electrical wiring, allows the home to become “digital”.  Even older homes built without this wiring can have it easily retrofitted by a qualified, licensed contractor that specializes in home automation.  One of the greatest things about home automation, besides the convenience that it provides the homeowner and their family, is the efficiency that these systems provide.  Ultimately this efficiency saves money! 

Contacting a qualified, professional contractor that specialized in home automation s the first step in taking advantage of the conveniences and efficiency that home automation provides.  They will be able to design and install a system that meets your needs as well as your budget!

 

Aug
28

Home Theaters In Finished Basements

Posted in Home Theaters

Anyone considering finishing out the basement in their home should consider a integrated home theater system, which is an absolute must for any one creating a family recreational area or the ultimate “man cave”!  A fully integrated system will provide years of enjoyment for you and your family. 

One of the biggest advantages of having an integrated home theater installed prior to the basement being finished, is the ability to design the system based upon the proposed layout.  When done early on in the process, the designer can make adjustments to the design of the space to maximize the performance of the home theater system, as well as the enjoyment of the system by the owner. 

Another advantage is the ability to run properly sized wires in the walls and ceilings behind the drywall.  There is nothing worse than seeing wires running exposed on any home theater system, no matter how good the equipment is!  In addition, the home theater contractor can utilize flush mounted speakers on both the walls and the ceiling to provide maximum performance, without the need for floor-mounted speakers!  Finally, they will be able to locate the equipment in discreet areas so that it is not visible, which detracts from the “clean” look that people are looking for in an integrated home theater system. 

A qualified home theater contractor that is licensed and insured will be able to design and install a home theater system that meets you and your families needs, as well as your budget.  Their qualified technicians will be able to properly pre-wire the system prior to drywall installation and install the equipment as soon as the space is completed.

Aug
28

Finished Basements

One of the most cost effective additions to any home is easily achieved by finishing the basement.  The key is to finding a qualified finished basement designer who is capable of first designing a unique plan that meets the needs of the homeowner and their family.  In addition, the plan should maximize the use of the space and be affordable, as everyone has a budget to meet!  The next step is to find a contractor that is able to execute the plan, while meeting the budget, applicable building codes and the schedule.  It is now possible to use the same company to provide design services, as well as to do the actual construction on he space.  These “design build” services are becoming more and more popular in residential remodeling work, as it is a “win –win” proposition for both the homeowner and the contractor. 

The design of the basement will be based upon the needs of the homeowner, the available space, their budget and applicable building codes.  A company that provides both design and construction services will be able to provide instant feedback to the designer on costs and constructability issues.  Ultimately this interaction between the design and construction divisions of a design build company benefit the customer by providing a high quality product, which is within budget and exceeds the expectations of the homeowner. 

A qualified finished basement contractor who is licensed and insured will be able to provide both design and construction services on your new finished basement which will help ensure that the project is completed on time and on budget!

Aug
28

Kitchen Remodeling

Posted in Interior Design

One of the most dramatic of all home improvement projects is a complete remodeling of the kitchen.  A professional kitchen remodeling can also add a great deal of value to any existing home, as in today’s world, people want gourmet kitchens that are well thought out, functional and have sufficient space to act as a gathering place for the modern family. 

An experienced kitchen remodeling contractor who offers both kitchen design and kitchen remodeling services is an alternative that should be seriously considered by any homeowner considering such a project.  Kitchen remodeling projects are fairly complex projects with long lead times on such things as kitchen cabinets and countertops.  In is critical that these items be ordered correctly before the projects starts in order to avoid delays. 

An experienced kitchen designer will be able to correctly prepare drawings that will allow the contractor to order the cabinets with confidence that the layout and dimensions are correct.   Often delays in kitchen remodeling projects are the result of design issues due to the lack of experience by the designer.  An experienced contractor will have the ability to accurately schedule and execute the project, while minimizing the amount of time necessary to complete the kitchen remodeling.  They will have access to the best and most experienced subcontractors in the marketplace as well.  In kitchen remodeling nothing beats an experienced firm that offers both kitchen design as well as construction services! 

A qualified and experienced contractor that is licensed and insured will be able to make your dreams reality.  They will be able to provide both design and constructions services to complete the kitchen remodeling project on time and on budget!

Aug
28

Paver Driveway Maintenance

Posted in Paver Driveways

Driveways constructed with either concrete pavers, tumbled marble pavers or clay brick pavers are extremely durable and generally only require minor maintenance to keep them looking new.  Often the paver driveway maintenance required is limited to fixing low spots or areas that have heaved.  Occasionally, specialized cleaning may be required as well, in order to remove stubborn stains. 

One of the more common repairs is resetting the pavers due to settlement.  In most cases, pavers are set on a combination of a stone base and a layer of sand, both of which are set on existing soils that are sufficiently strong enough to support a driveway.  While the stone and sand are compacted prior to installation, some settlement can occur over time.  Often this is the result of an unusually heavy vehicle, such as a large delivery truck or a tractor-trailer combination, driving on the pavers.  The repair is simple as the impacted pavers are removed, with additional sand being applied and then leveled off.  The pavers are then reset and tamped into place to create a level surface. 

Heaving of pavers does not occur as much and is generally the result of prolonged freezing temperatures or tree roots.  Heaving can also result in the case of expansion due to heat.  As with low spots, the repair is simple with the first step being the removal of the pavers in the impacted area.  The excessive amount of sand is removed and then the pavers are then reinstalled.  The entire are is then compacted using a plate tamper.  The installation of an expansion joint may also be required. 

Sometimes paver maintenance will include the removal of stubborn stains for the face of the pavers.  The paving contractor specializing in paver maintenance has access to a number of specialized cleaning solutions and techniques that are often successful in removal of the stain, without damaging the surface of the paver.  In the event that the technician cannot remove the stain, they can replace the stained area quickly and economically. 

A qualified licensed and insured contractor that specializes in paver maintenance can perform the maintenance quickly, economically and with little to no disruption to your home of business.

Aug
28

Advantages of Paver Driveways

Posted in Paver Driveways

Tired of sealing your asphalt driveway every year?  Tired on looking at the stains on your concrete driveway?  If so, a new driveway constructed with pavers is a great long-term driveway solution, as they require very little maintenance and repairs of damaged areas is very easy.  In addition, to being a very stable surface because of the interlocking characteristics of the pavers, they add a great deal of character and value to any home or business!  

There are a wide variety of options available for new paver driveways including concrete pavers, tumbled marble pavers and clay brick pavers.  Each type of paver has dozens of shapes and colors available, such as Ivory Shell Stone, Burnt Oak Dry Mix and Tropical Blend Grey Mix.  In addition, they can be installed in a number of patterns, including 45 degree Herringbone, 90 degree Herringbone, Basketweave, and Symetry Diamond patterns to mention a few.  There are many more colors and patterns available with something being available to every budget!  In the event that repairs are needed at some point in the future, the damaged area is simply removed and new pavers are installed.  As the pavers are very durable, most of the repairs are related to the staining of the paver from oil or other fluids leaking automobiles. 

A qualified, licensed and insured contractor, who specializes in the design installation and repairs of paver driveways, can complete the project quickly, neatly and economically.  Do not let that asphalt or concrete driveway detract from the appearance of your home or business any longer!

Aug
28

Low Pressure Roof Cleaning

Have you ever noticed black stains on residential or commercial roofs?  If so, it is more than likely mildew stains, which have built up over time due to the weather and the exposure to the elements.  Often the heavy presence of trees around the structure promotes the growth of the mildew, especially on shaded sections of the roof where the sun is unable to dry out the roof properly after rain events.  These stains really detract from the appearance of the home or business and can shorten the life of asphalt shingles.  However, low pressure roof cleaning will remove the mildew and restore the appearance of the roof. 

A qualified pressure washing contractor who specializes in low pressure roof cleaning is critical to getting the job done without damaging the roof or the interior of the building.  The contractor’s trained technicians will first apply a special non-toxic cleaner to the roof, which effectively treats mildew and other stains on the roof.  After the cleaner has been given time to work, the technician will then use low pressure water to clean the roof, taking care that water does not get under the shingles, as well as making sure that the shingles are not damaged in the washing process.  Interior water damage of ceilings is likely if water gets under the shingles!  In addition, traditional power washing of a roof will more than likely damage the roof, especially when done by an inexperienced technician. 

A qualified licensed and insured pressure washing contractor who specializes in low pressure roof cleaning can complete this work economically and quickly without damaging the home, building or the landscaping.  Often this service is combined with traditional power washing services of the remainder of the home or business, leading to a significantly improved appearance!

Aug
28

Pressure Washing

Often, owners will find mildew, dirt and other stains gathering on fences, pool decks, wood decks, sidewalks, driveways, vinyl siding, Hardiplank siding, gutters and window and door casing.  These stains are unsightly and detract from the overall appearance of your home or business. Nothing does more to improve the look of a home or a business than having the exterior surfaces pressure washed by a professional Alpharetta pressure washing contractor on a regular basis!  

There is more to pressure washing that meets the eye.   A combination of the right equipment, as well as the proper cleaning solutions and cleaning techniques being performed by an experienced technician, is key to properly cleaning the exterior of the home or business, without causing damage.  It is very easy to cause permanent damage to the building products being cleaned due to the very high pressure that the equipment delivers the water. 

An example of this would be when inexperienced person attempts to pressure a wood deck, they often gouge the wood with the water.   Another example would be a water being directed full force on a window frame and water getting into the home causing water damage to the floor.  This is a very common issue, as windows are not designed to keep water out when directed at them under this much pressure.  In addition, incorrect cleaning solutions can cause damage to plants found around the structure.  

A professional residential and commercial pressure washing contractor that is licensed and insured can complete this work quickly and without damaging the components of the structure quickly and economically!

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