Top 3 Tips for Choosing a Fencing Contractor

Top 3 Tips for Choosing a Fencing Contractor

Exterior perimeter fences need to be replaced about once every 10 years. The job is quite labor intensive and requires deftness and skills particularly with accuracy and alignment. If one post is askew, not only will the aesthetics be off but property lines can be effected as well, opening up the possibility of a lawsuit. For this reason, many people choose to hire third party fence building contractors when it comes time to replace their old ramparts. Here are some tips to follow when selecting a fence building contractor.

Post Removal

One of the areas that differentiates the work done by an individual versus a third party is attention to detail. After all, an individual who works on their own house will do their best to make sure the job gets done correctly. Unfortunately, many contractors are only concerned with getting the job done quickly. One of the ways third party fence building contractors cut corners is by not completely removing wooden fence posts. Instead, they will break the posts at ground level and simply dig separate holes for the new posts. This is because wooden fence posts can be a challenge to remove. Many are set in concrete which requires a jackhammer or backhoe to be removed correctly. This means time and a great deal of back breaking effort to remove the wooden posts. Alternatively, the contractor can just break the post at the base and dig a new 12 – 16 inch hole which saves them a great deal of labor.

Overall Cost

Depending on the length of the fence and quality of the wood used, one side of normal size lot’s exterior perimeter fence can range from $500 to $1,500. Several things that will determine the cost includes if a gate will be included, the slope of the land, the ease of soil removal and the price of wood/ nails/ concrete in the respective area. A lower price is not always the best bargain. Make sure to check the Internet for reviews of companies. Previous customers will often times leave detailed reviews about their experiences. Choose a contractor that is both trustworthy and honest when it comes to appraisals.

How Long Will the Project Take to Complete?

Finally, the last main area of concern should be how long the project will take. Remember, a high quality job with adequate post removal will take longer than a contractor that just breaks the posts off at the base. The quickest projects can be completed in one day if corners are cut and there are enough people working on the new fence. Although the final result may not be the highest quality, it may be the best alternative for persons with pools in the backyard, territorial dogs or small children. On the other hand, a contractor that completely removes old posts and sets the new ones with precision and care may take several days to complete the entire perimeter.…

Tips For Building a Good Neighbor Fence

Tips For Building a Good Neighbor Fence

Establishing boundaries between neighbors is an essential way to show respect, for them as well as for ourselves. A variety of fence styles exist to fulfill the need for boundaries, but one in particular was specifically created to show respect for one’s neighbors: the Good Neighbor fence.

A Good Neighbor fence combines equality with cooperation. Whereas most cedar fence designs feature boards affixed to one side of the supporting rails, resulting in a uniform “good side” and a less attractive back side, these fences have boards that alternate on each side of the rail for a fence that looks the same on either side.

Advantages of Good Neighbor Fencing

Most homeowners cite privacy as their primary reason for building a new fence, and six-foot privacy fences have become staples in many communities. A Good Neighbor fence combines the seclusion of a privacy fence with additional benefits.

Looks equally good on both sides. Deciding who gets the good side of a cedar fence can be a point of contention between neighbors. Some neighborhoods even insist that homeowners build privacy fences with the smooth side facing the neighbors, which makes your home look more attractive from the street. With a Good Neighbor fence, such squabbles become irrelevant.

Allows wind to pass through. The gaps between boards allow wind to pass through your fence, which gives it extra resilience against powerful gusts.

Building Tips for Good Neighbor Fencing

Just like any other home construction endeavor, installing a Good Neighbor fence takes careful preparation. The more planning you do before building, the better your project will go. Here are some tips to help you out:

Discuss it with the neighbors. A Good Neighbor fence is all about showing thoughtfulness towards your neighbors. The first step in building your fence should be to discuss your plans with those who share your property lines.

Understand property line regulations. Check into your city and neighborhood fence construction codes to determine which ones are relevant for your new cedar fence. Some cities require property owners to split maintenance and costs when building a fence on a shared property line. If you want to retain full control over your fence, consider building it a minimum of two feet within your property boundary.

Design your fence. There are plenty of options for personalizing your fence, including choosing the height and the width of the gaps between boards. For example, you can overlap the boards to create extra privacy.

Consider maintenance. All cedar fences require regular maintenance in order to get maximum life from them. To increase your fence’s longevity, choose high-quality cedar for the boards, use pressure-treated posts and rails, and treat your fence with a weather-resistant finish. you’ll need to retain your fence every few years to keep it protected from the elements.

~Ben Nystrom, 2010…

Hiring A Home Remodeling Contractor

Finding a contractor is a headache in home repair, causing the most anxiety of all phases. In a contractor you are looking for someone trustworthy who puts effort in a good job and charges a decent price. Unfortunately, contractors cannot offer guarantees. However, do your homework and you can improve your odds, finding a winning home remodeling contractor can take a ton of weight of your shoulders and relieve you of that throbbing headache.
The Overseeing General Contractor
General contractors are the people hired to oversee your project, responsible for managing every aspect of the project. Purchasing material, hiring sub-contractors is all included in the expectations of a general contractor. Usually, a contract is signed between the contractor and the party needing work performed, in order to ensure payments only be made to him. At that point, the contractor is responsible for being sure the sub-contractors and suppliers get paid. The general contractor act as a general in the military would, you can go to them if you have any concerns.
How to Find a Reputable Remodeling Contractor
Common knowledge tells us to get at a minimum three bids on the project. Most people would say ask around at your local hardware shops like Lowe’s or Home Depot and consider the word-of-mouth candidates. Ask your friends and family, even neighbors about remodeling contractors they have used in the past. In this field it’s important to believe in your instincts, consider if the contractor respond back to you promptly did they show up early or on time to your appointment? In meeting with the contractor pay attention to see if they answer questions with elaboration ask for references, lay out the expectations of the job. After the meeting has concluded ask yourself if the communication between the potential client and contractor was where it needed to be? Most importantly, you need to be sure that you can be comfortable speaking directly to this person throughout the entire process of your project you will be communicating back and forth.
Bidding
When asking contractors to bid jobs make sure you provide an identical scope of work with your plans, also include a materials list. You want every contractor to receive identical plans, otherwise they will be bidding upon different basis then you will have inaccurate bids for comparison which probably wont work out well for you. The remodeling contractor should send you bids in writing that contain itemized labor charges and a list of material.
References
When your contractor submits their references, put forth effort in checking the credibility of the reference, call and find out if it is okay that you do a drive by to take a look at the work personally. Before signing the contract, it would be a good idea to check up on how this person conducts business. Run a background check, you probably don’t want a person who is a known burglar in your house. Confirm the contractors worker’s comp as well as the liability insurance, be absolutely positive that the contractor does not have multiple lawsuits against them.…

How To Build A Dog Run With Dog Fence Panels

How To Build A Dog Run With Dog Fence Panels

Today it is possible to simply make a single trip to most any hardware, and many pet stores, and find a complete package to install a dog run. By using pre-made fence panels you will find it a very doable project since you won’t have to build it piece-by-piece.

When choosing the materials for the dog run fence panels, you’ll want to make sure you find those made of sturdy materials. This way, your pet will be protected from injuring itself on the panels, and you’ll be assured they will hold up well enough to keep your dog from breaking out. Keep in mind many dogs have some very impressive jumping skills.

It used to be that most dog run fence panels were pretty much a standard fare made of sections of galvanized steel and posts. It was always possible any loose wiring could cut a dog kept inside. Today, there is more flexibility offered as panels are being made with more woods which offer more support and just look better.

It is suggested by most that the overall length of the dog run fence panels allow for plenty of space. You will find it more beneficial for your dog if it is longer, and maybe more narrow, rather than a larger square shape. Dogs like to be able to run for exercise.

The best part of having the choice in buying pre-built dog runs is all you really need to do is decide what proportions make sense for your situation. Then simple hand tools are all that should be required to complete the project.

It is always important to take into consideration the materials that’ll be required to make sure the dog run fence panels will hold your pet securely. Of course, the downside is that obviously your dog will not have access to as much space as would otherwise be available to them.

The best choice would probably be installing an electric fence system which would allow the full use of available space for your dog to run in freely. However, dog fence panels are a solid alternative when a little planning is done first.…

Laminate Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Lots of people don’t want to deal with the hassle of remodeling their kitchen. They don’t like the way it look but they’re not willing to put in the time, effort, and money it takes to redo the most popular room in the house. But it doesn’t have to create problems in the most trafficked room in the home and it definitely doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s possible that your kitchen just may need some new cabinets. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to fork out thousands of dollars by tearing out all the old cabinets and putting in new ones. You could just look into some cabinet refacing to find the look and change the feel of your kitchen. A great way to do this without hurting the pocket book too much is using laminate surface for your cabinets.
If your cabinets and shelves are in good condition then you don’t need to worry about tearing them out, purchasing new cabinets, and having them installed as well. When you tear them out it also adds an extra burden on preparing food in your kitchen and puts you out of a kitchen for a certain amount of time. That’s why a lot of people find that their shelves and drawers are in good condition so refacing the cabinet faces, drawer fronts, and cabinet hardware may be the only things that you need replaced. There are a variety of options to do this with but the least expensive and may be the most durable is laminate.
Since the cabinets will not be torn out you will not lose any down time in your kitchen. You just need to choose the type of laminate cover you want on the outside of your cabinets and drawers and then also choose the hardware to go with. The handles and knobs can also make the difference in the look of your kitchen. If you are happy with the layout with of your cabinets you can add little things to make them more efficient by adding cookie sheet dividers or silverware separators in your drawers.
Laminate covers are much less expensive than solid wood or stainless steel cabinets. This will help in your overall costs of remodeling your kitchen. Your cabinet refacing project can be affordable but still allow you to change your kitchen enough through using the laminate surface for all your drawers and cabinet needs.…

Great Ways to Shop at a Kitchen Store

If you love your kitchen, you could probably wander through a kitchen store for days. In your mind, you’ll be trying out tile, countertops, and cabinets in your own kitchen, preparing for yet another remodel. This isn’t always a healthy or smart way to shop, though, especially if you ever want to actually get that remodel done. Before you head to the kitchen store the next time around, try one of these shopping methods to help you complete your trip more quickly and get to the remodeling part even faster.
On some trips, you really do just need to look around. This is true if you’re getting ready to do a kitchen remodel but aren’t quite sure what you want to do. In this case, take a notebook. If the store manager will let you, take a camera to snap some pictures, as well. If you’re going to paint your kitchen, grab some paint chips from the hardware store to take along, as well. On this trip, all you’re doing is gathering ideas and taking notes on the colors, textures, and particular items that you like best. Make sure you’re descriptive enough that you can actually remember what you were looking at when you wrote down your notes!
Once you know what you need, it’s time to start making lists before your next trip to the kitchen store. If you’re like a lot of people, your remodel will go in stages. You’ll probably head to the store more than a couple of times during a full remodeling session. Think through all the things you need to do and the order in which you need to do them. If, for instance, you’re painting your cabinets and replacing countertops, you’ll probably need to rip out the old countertops and then paint the cabinets before replacing the countertops again.
Either way, at this point, you should be going into the kitchen store armed with a detailed list of everything you need. Write down measurements, quantities, and as much other information as you can. This way, you get just what you need, and you don’t have to come back to the store when you aren’t ready to be back there quite yet. This will make the remodeling process work more quickly so that you can get your kitchen function and beautiful before you know it.…

Are You Enjoying Your Daily Bath?

Are You Enjoying Your Daily Bath?

Having a refreshing bath is perhaps the best way to relax and end a hot and sultry day at office. However, to refresh yourself properly, your bathroom should be outfitted with proper bathtubs and sinks. Most people do not pay proper attention to the bathroom when designing the layout of their house. If this task is left in the hands of women, they will pay more attention to the kitchen which is their domain. The stark fact is that the bathroom, along with the bedroom, and the kitchen, is one of the most important parts of your house. All members of your household spend time in the bathroom to relieve and refresh themselves.

Keeping this in mind, one should not avoid designing their bathroom properly. If you are unsure about which bathroom design is suitable for your family, you can check out various illustrated magazines. There are also many sites on the internet which can assist you to select proper and useful bathroom installations. The word proper is being used since many people tend to mismatch the different installations of a bathroom. The end result is that these installations stand out like a sore thumb. Then there are people who end up wasting money by opting for different and mismatching bathroom accessories.

They could have saved lots of money and could have provided a decent ambience to their bathroom by opting in for a suitable bathroom suite. Before you opt in for special installations, it is wise that you select a proper colour scheme for your bathroom. Once you have completed this task, it is time to pay a visit to any reputed bathroom supplier and tell them what you want. They are your best guide and shall provide you with various permutations and combinations for your bathroom, keeping your budget in mind. You will be surprised to note that outfitting your bathroom with proper accessories and a suitable bathroom suite is not too costly.

However, you should ensure that you select a well researched architect as well as a renowned bathroom supplier to ensure that the end result is befitting for your family. You should also have a decent idea of what needs to be installed in your bathroom. This depends on the requirements of the members of your family. Your wife might require a special bathroom vanity mirror for her make up needs. Do not forget that this is a one time task and that you will be burdened with additional expenses if you try to change installations once the bathroom has been outfitted.

Take your time and plan properly before you start constructing the bathroom. If you still have any doubts in your mind, seek the assistance of any renowned bathroom supplier. They are your best bet and they shall be able to provide you with the best layout for your bathroom. Most of them also have specialized architects in their payroll who specialize in bathroom designing and installation.…