Problems With New Houses - Home Building

The house you live in was probably a mass produced home built as part of a housing track. The track home is a rapidly built house in phases. These phases if possible will over lap the other home building trades. If possible you will have the plumbers working on the same house as the electricians and the framers. This is called fast tracking.

Fast tracking a house is building a home as fast as humanly possible. So you can imagine the pressures put on all of the people involved in building a track home.
The pace is so fast sometimes that I have seen job superintendents and foremen look like they were actually going to blow up. I mean explode from the pressure they where under.

Framing the stairs on the job was the same experience for me most of the time. Sometimes I had three jobs going at once. Think about it. At the most, I could only go to each of the jobs twice each week. That involved working on Saturday of course. This made a lot of framing foremen extremely upset. They had full time crews on their jobs always working five days a week. If I missed one day of work. I was behind for the rest of the job.

Now it rarely happened but if I did miss a day of work I had to make it up some how. The only way to make it up was by working late or on Sunday. Well most of the time I worked six days a week from 7:00 in the mourning until 5:00 at night. So working late meant sunrise to sunset. Oh did I mention that I did have a family. This wasn't easy for them either.

One time I got so far behind on a job that I was putting stairs in while they were roofing the houses. Talk about one unhappy foreman. I think you get the idea about the pressure I was under to install these stairs on time. My experience building stairs on track built homes taught me to build homes extremely fast while being proficient.
I'm not interested in working like that anymore. My life is simple now and I want to keep it that way. The next time you see a construction worker working late on a Saturday show some compassion. Maybe by reading this article you will understand some of the pressure he is under.

Building tract homes is hard on you mentally and physically.

Happy Home building.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry. Stairway Safety

Rainbow Remodeling
New Concrete Crawl Space Access

Why Use GRP For Roofing Features

Over a period of more than 20 years in the GRP roofing and architectural features industry, there have been many advances in the manufacturing process and use of GRP within the construction sector.

An abbreviation for 'glass reinforced polyester', GRP is a light, durable and astonishingly tough constructional material which can be molded and fabricated into all manner of products. GRP is a composite of a resilient durable resin with an immensely strong fibrous glass. Polyester resin is the main component and just as concrete may be reinforced with steel rods polyester resins may be reinforced with glass fibers to form GRP. The benefits of a very strong and light weight construction material are particularly relevant when designing and manufacturing structures and roofing features.

GRP has opened up many new avenues for Architects and creative designers, its unique physical properties allow it to be easily tooled, molded and manufactured to meet almost any specification. The final finish can be made to emulate any number of naturally occurring surfaces, such as timber, tile, stone or lead and because there are few constraints on size, shape, colour or finish, this can deliver great design and appearance whilst being cost effective.

One example of this is the traditional clock tower. When manufactured in GRP one side is firsthand crafted in Ash timber from which a mold toolis produced. The mold is coated with a release agent before a very durable polyester gel coat is applied and allowed to cure before reinforcing with layers of glass mat impregnated with polyester resin to achieve the required thickness. When cured the laminate is extracted from the mold and the process is then repeated. The components are then joined together to complete the body of the clock tower.

Ash timber is used for the original pattern to ensure the finished product has a beautiful realistic wood grain. Likewise one side of a roofis first dressed in lead over a timber pattern, a mold produced and four sides manufactured to give the finished product an authentic traditional appearance of a genuine lead roof but without the high cost and weight of the real materials.Another benefit of using GRP over traditional materials is that the molds can then be cleaned and reused many times over enabling identical units to be produced and in a very short space of time.

GRP is also very strong and has almost seven times the flexible strength of steel but is extremely lightweight, which makes installation much simpler than its traditional material counterparts, saving costs and helping to reduce Health and Safety issues on site. GRP structures also have an exceedingly long life span with low maintenance requirements and in a half-century of composite development, well designed GRP structures have yet to wear out.

GRP is non-corrosive and has a much longer life expectancy when compared to a variety of other construction materials. In highly corrosive environments it is the perfect choice over metal, wood, or plastic. A popular choice where exposure to harsh environments is a concern, GRP can provide resistance to ultra violet light, salt air, and a variety of chemicals and because it is chemically inert and corrosion-resistant it offers an economical alternative to stainless steel. It also offers high levels of water resistance and will not buckle or distort in high temperatures.

An amazing level of detail can be given to the molding ensuring that the original style, surface finishes, colour and even aging effects are maintained. The greatest advantage of GRP over conventional materials however is the ability to design and build large structures conceived as a whole and not as an assembly of parts which have to be jointed together. For example a 5m diameter dome requires none of the conventional support structure inside the building, enabling a large open area within the building and space directly beneath the dome. The self supporting structurecan also beeasily lifted into position and installed using minimum man power and a crane within only a few hours.

So not only does GRP save time and money in the construction of the roofing feature, it reduces installation costs and ongoing maintenance fees too, making it an excellent cost effective roofing material for today and the future.

For 20 years Good Directions has been building a reputation worldwide as one of the market leaders in the design, construction and installation of GRP architectural features including roof turrets, cupolas and exterior clocks. As well as a large standard range of GRP products Good Directions is always very keen to work with clients on bespoke projects to help them achieve their own unique designs.

Article by Paul Mordecai, Managing Director of Good Directions Ltd. http://www.good-directions.co.uk/ Based in Southampton and Derby Good Directions supply across the UK and export Worldwide.

Contractors Read This - Construction Morals

If you have an older home there's a good chance you have one by six diagonal floor sheeting and some of the knots have fallen out by now. Some of these large knots can create safety hazards for your home. Performing major remodels or whole house renovations on older homes you can run into quite a few problems with these kinds of wood floors.

One of the first things I do is remove the carpeting and padding. This exposes the floor sheeting for further examination. By the time I am done with all the plumbing and electrical repairs underneath the subfloor it seems that some of the 1 x 6 has been damaged. Your first thought of course is just to replace the 1 x 6 that is damaged and be done with it.

This is one way to approach the problem, another is to repair the 1 x 6 that was damaged and install half inch plywood over the existing floor sheeting. Please make sure the floor is level and has no humps or dips in it before you start installing the new plywood over the existing floor sheeting.

I ran into a problem like this on one job where the contractor was in a hurry to finish the flooring and chose to go right over the existing floor that was out of level. The bad part about this is when the homeowner chose to go with expensive wood flooring throughout his home. When you walked in to the front of his house you felt like you were going out to a small wheelchair ramp for about 10 feet and then of course it felt like you were going down for another 6 feet.

In order to repair this properly it would've taken the other contractor about 24 hours to repair the floor. In this case the homeowner would have been glad to pay for the repair after the fact. Sometimes when contractors mention a potential problem down the road and how much it will cost to repair that problem, most homeowners cannot see the value in the contractor's opinion at that time.

I felt sorry for the homeowner because this was not what he wanted and he was upset with the contractor but the job was done. This is my warning to any contractor, handyman or home repair specialists. When installing a new plywood floor over an existing floor to strengthen it up, use some common sense and repair the floor correctly or don't do the job at all.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in Home Remodeling

Stair Guardrail Problem

How to Weld Metal

The average person's impression of how metal is welded is that you simply fire-up a blow torch and run it along the edge of a metal seam to weld it together. Or they probably think you can just run that same torch across any kind of metal and cut through it, like in the safe-cracker movies. But the reality is that professional welding actually involves some fairly extensive knowledge, and is somewhat of an art form that takes many years of experience to master. Even so, if you are wanting to learn, you can start with a few simple techniques. Once you've mastered the basics and have a beginner's idea, you can then move on to the more complicated skills that take longer to master.

Safety Precautions

Before you ever start any project, always think about safety precautions first. Equipment and supplies can be replaced; you cannot be replaced. You may think that getting burned is the worst thing that can happen in a welding accident. However, damage to your eyes can occur from the intense light that comes from the process. Some metal welding techniques make use of high voltage electricity to create a weld, which always raises the possibility of electrocution or death if the you are careless. As you start any welding project, be sure to wear a proper helmet to protect your eyes, head and hair. And don't forget protective gloves and clothing. Lastly, be sure to read and follow all safety precautions written by the manufacturer of the particular metal welding equipment you are using.

Oxy-Acetylene Welding (also known as Oxyfuel Welding)

This is the type of welding that the average person is most familiar with, and which is often casually described as a "blow torch". However, even though oxy-acetylene welding is the most commonly-known type, it is actually the least used technique among professionals. On the upside, it is less complicated and less expensive than other types of welding. However, oxy-acetylene is less common nowadays because it is less accurate, doesn't produce a weld bead as cleanly as other methods and can result in weaker weld joints due to the slower cooling time it involves compared to other welding techniques. Even so, if you are interested in learning how to weld metal, you may want to practice oxy-acetylene welding in addition to other types of welding. It will be a handy skill to have because it's the best type to use on certain common welding projects, such as pipes or tubes, and when you have to use welding equipment to do repairing, bending and cutting.

Arc Welding

The most common technique used these days is "Arc Welding". If you're learning how to weld metal, you will definitely need to practice arc welding. Rather than using a gas torch, arc welding involves using high voltage electricity passing into the piece of metal. In Arc Welding, a spark (or "arc") jumping across from one piece of metal to the other causes enough heat to melt metal and form a weld. This process is more desirable in most cases because it is more accurate and produces a cleaner, stronger weld. Within the category of "Arc Welding" there are actually several different methods to choose from, depending on the type of metal welding work you need to do.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) may be best when you have large welds or metal welding in unusual positions, where a rough weld is acceptable. With this method, the electricity runs through an electrode rod (or "stick") which actually melts, producing the welded joint. On the other hand, MIG Welding, also know as Metal Inert Gas Welding, or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), may be better if you are involved in a metal welding project that requires more speed. With this welding technique you don't use rods that you have to keep replacing as they melt. Instead, you use equipment that sends the electricity through a metal tip that doesn't melt, and a separate piece of continuous wire is fed to the tip which melts and forms the weld. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) Welding is somewhat similar to MIG welding, but is better when working with thin materials where you need a high-quality weld and speed is not important. As you learn you will also hear of other methods, such as Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), Plasma Welding, etc. But don't worry too much about remembering all of the various techniques. Just focus on one method at a time and get to the point where you are comfortable that you know how to weld with that method before you learn something new.

Other Welding Methods

Although you will primarily be concerned with Arc Welding and Oxy-Acetylene Welding as you learn how to weld, you might hear about other types and wonder what they are, such as Resistance Welding, Energy Beam Welding and Solid-State Welding. Don't let that overwhelm you right now. Many of those welding methods are primarily useful in large, specialized industrial applications and don't really affect you as you learn how to weld.

Conclusion

Hopefully you now know a little more about the basic concepts that will be important to you as you learn how to weld. As you can see, although there are numerous methods, each with it's own unique set of equipment, procedures and purposes, there are actually only a couple of basic methods you need to remember and practice. To get started learning, start practicing with an inexpensive arc welding setup. Get yourself a machine and just start experimenting with it on some scrap pieces of metal (after reading all instructions and taking all safety precautions, or course). Figure out what works, and what doesn't. You will soon begin to develop a style that is most comfortable for you. Also, get yourself some oxy-acetylene equipment and try that type, too. With a lot of practice, you will become a good novice fairly quickly and will be able to master just about any common project you may encounter.

Want to know more about welding? Visit my blog at http://WeldLikeTheWind.com

Home Building Concrete Epoxies

When concrete epoxies first came out I was working on a church remodeling the sanctuary. We were building a set of stairs that was two steps in height and 75 feet long. The steps were going to get a hardwood covering along with the rest of the sanctuary flooring.

I had used redheads in the past and noticed that over time these redheads would loosen up. I could never figure out what caused the redheads to do this. Was it the concrete that was expanding and contracting or was it the steel redheads contracting and expanding.

Either way I can never figure out what was up with the redheads. Another name for a redhead would be an anchor bolt. Red Hed is actually the company's name that makes the anchor bolt used to fasten materials to concrete or masonry surfaces.

Finding out that Simpson building products had made any new epoxy and all it required was drilling a hole 1/16 of an inch larger than the all thread you were going to use . After drilling a hole you would clean it with a plastic brittle brush. This brittle brush was pretty strong but it was not made from metal like I have thought. I was thinking it would have been a nice metal wire brush.

After drilling and cleaning the hole you would insert the proper amount of the epoxy into the hole you had drilled out with a masonry bit. As you slid the cut to size all thread bolt into the hole the epoxy would ooze out of the whole. This would tell you there was enough epoxy in the hole.

After that I cleaned the leftover epoxy off of the wood that I had inserted the all thread into to remove the extra epoxy that had oozed out. I waited 24 hours and the next day came to work with my electric impact wrench and wanted to put this epoxy to the ultimate test.

I put the washer and nut on the all thread and started to torque the heck out of it. As I was tightening the nuts and washer it started to work its way into the wood.

I was simply amazed after 24 hours the epoxy had held that good.

That was then and today Simpson epoxy requires drilling a hole an eighth of an inch oversize and filling it with epoxy. I still can't believe and to this day am a firm believer in concrete epoxies.

Read the instructions, clean out the holes properly with the recommended brush, insert the proper amount of epoxy, and rotate the all thread slowly into the hole as the epoxy starts to ooze out of it. Do not touch or move the bolt for the next 24 hours.

Concrete epoxies are here to stay and will keep improving as time goes on.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as

well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on a great Building and Remodeling Library and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

Visit us and get more information on building and remodeling your homes in San Marcos Remodeling

Linoleum Edge Lifting

Metal and Slate Roofing Benefits

You have known for a while that your house could use a bit of a makeover and it makes sense to start at the top and work your way down. Plus, fair weather is approaching and the rainy season is coming up quick. It makes sense to move towards a new roof.

While the most popular choice in roofing material has always been shingles, more and more homeowners are considering metal roofing and the many benefits of slate roofing materials.

Before you make an important decision about the cost of this kind of roofing, as well as its pros and cons, you have to be sure to let the experts weigh in.Your contractor will be an invaluable source of information as you go about making your choices.He or she can give a pretty good picture of the benefits of a slate roof.In fact, many roofers can now offer you all of their green friendly roofing options and outline the cost and energy savings structures of each type of material. Metal and slate roofing are popular green friendly roofing materials for many reasons. One main reason is that they are completely natural and abundant. As a roofing material choice slate and metal are popular because they canhave a classic, elegantand beautiful appearance. These materials can be formed, styled, printed, colored and stamped to provide your roof with the look that matches your home.

In fact, it doesn't really matter if you are trying to live in a more green fashion or not, no one can dispute that one of the advantages of metal and slate roofing is energy efficiency.Studies have been done that suggest homeowners with this type of roofing can save up to 40 percent on their energy cooling bills.That fact alone pretty much makes up for the initial higher costs of slate tile or metal roofing. In terms of drawbacks, the higher price tag is about the only con there is to picking either of these options. However, if you plan on staying in your home for more than just a couple of years, you will more than make up for the initial cost in energy savings.

Another benefit of slate and metal roofing you can't overlook is its ability to stand up to the elements. Naturally, roofs with shingles are designed to last as well.The biggest difference is that shingles last between 10 and 15 years, while slate roofing can last more than 17 and metal can last up to 40 years.Durability is another feature that makes the slightly higher cost of slate and metal roofing worth the investment.Talk to your contractor about the many ways slate roofing materials can benefit you, your energy bills, and your home.

In this upcoming roofing season be sure to evaluate the options that your local roofing companies will provide. Ask about the green friendly materials and install processes. It will save you money in the long run and save the environment as well.

Contact Information:

Aaron Klimchuk
Director of Operations
aaron@leadstormmedia.com

Why Hire a Paint Contractor - Home Remodeling

Often the best option a homeowner will have when remodeling their house is to hire a contractor to do the work for them. This way they will get professional work at a good price and will not stress over the project, as many homeowners choose to do the work themselves and find themselves stressing out over it. When the homeowner is left to relax or focus on other projects, they often feel good about the remodel and the experience becomes a positive one.

A paint contractor is trained thoroughly in the craft of exterior painting and is motivated to provide their clients with the best work possible. This often translates into an excellent finished product that the homeowner can be proud of. Not only will the project go by quickly, but the homeowner will sacrifice no quality with the hastiness a paint contractor can finish the project. Being experienced in the field, contractors are skilled at finished the project in a timely manner and with excellent craftsmanship. Homeowners are happy they called a contractor, as many have had negative experiences when trying to take on large home improvement projects alone.

When the homeowner goes at it alone, they often sacrifice the finished product. While they may enjoy the outdoors and working with their hands, what they get in the end is seldom worth the perks exterior painting may offer some homeowners. Even if they get the chance to bond with friends and relatives while they assist them in their remodel, being unsatisfied with the final product often does not make the experience worth it. The finished product is usually what the homeowner cares most about, so this is what should be considered when considering the options the homeowner has for exterior home painting.

Many paint contractors offer homeowners with affordable work that will leave them completely satisfied. Homeowners go into a project with a vision of what it will look like when finished. When the final product is far from what they had envisioned, they often feel unsatisfied or annoyed. The closer it is to what they had imagined, the more pride they will feel. When homeowners are left to their own devices, they often come up short of what they are striving for. A contractor often is the key to getting what they want and finding a formula that works for the project.

Realizing the value of a paint contractor is often the first step in hiring their services. Professionalism brings a good deal of confidence to the jobsite, confidence that often means excellent craftsmanship and beautiful results. Not only do homeowners get to rest easy knowing their project is in good hands, they are also able to focus their attention on projects that may require less professional attention. This can make a remodel move faster or can allow the homeowner to save money in other areas that may not be so complicated that they require the work of a contractor. The benefits a paint contractor brings to the jobsite are enormous and homeowners should surely take advantage of their skill.

More information on http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/resources/college-works-painting/ College Works Painting is just a click away.

Starting With Simple Things