A growing number of homeowners have embraced DIY projects, and that is great. Doing things yourself reaches you valuable skills and can provide a sense of accomplishment. However, not all home improvement projects are suitable for a layperson, and those involving electrical components lead the list. While you may feel comfortable changing an existing light fixture or replacing an outlet, larger electrical projects like these are usually best left to trained electricians.

1. Service Upgrades

If you have an older house, then your electrical capacity may be limited by its service panel. Any home renovation project or addition of fixtures will require a careful balance against how much room you have left in the panel. With the number of devices in use in most households, that can quickly become a problem. Before you run out to upgrade the service yourself, consider hiring a pro for the job.

Licensed electricians will know what permits are needed for electrical installation services New Jersey and the exact process for having the service disconnected, upgraded and reconnected, meaning you’ll be without power for a shorter period of time.

2. Running New Wiring

The same rule goes for having new wiring run in a home. Unless you know the exact requirements of your local zoning office, you could spend a lot of time and effort installing wires that don’t meet building codes. This can apply if you are adding an addition, renovating a portion of the house or if your home has aluminum wiring and you want to convert it to copper.

3. Generator Installation

Backup generators can be a great investment. Small, portable units that can provide power to a few appliances or charge your laptop can be run by almost anyone. However, if you want a whole house generator that is wired into the home’s electrical panel, you’ll also want to hire a contractor to ensure it is done correctly.

DIY projects are great, but some work is best left to professionals. Work with a reliable contractor if you need an electrical service upgrade, are changing wiring, or want a whole house generator installed.…

Floor Sanders – Tread Carefully Here – A Bad One Can Ruin Your Beautiful Wooden Floor

Choosing the right professional floor sander is incredibly important. That’s lots around and some are a lot better than others. Remember that your wooden floor is incredibly valuable and will have an extraordinary history if you live in an older villa. Imagine how many generations have walked or danced on this floor of yours. How many different dress styles your floor has seen. With this in mind it doesn’t take too long to take the top surface off your floor whether its done well or badly, but if its done badly, there’s no undoing it, it’s ruined forever.

So, if price is a factor to you, remember that generally the cheapest isn’t usually the best and will probably be the start of something disastrous. However, that’s not to say that the most expensive is the best either. But, if you have a friend, who is a home handyman, or, a friend recommends a home handyman, take this tip cautiously. He may be great at pruning roses, but if he’s never sanded a hardwood floor, just say no.

Floor sanding equipment is available at hire stores so the handyman may convince you that he can obtain the right equipment. Still say no. This equipment is well used by a lot of different people each weekend – having a go, and getting into all sorts of trouble with it. The main machine is a rotational sander that operates rather like an electric motor mower, except that the sanding disc is permanently down on your floor. The result when an inexperienced operator starts it up is that the sanding disc at speed can dig into your precious floor and cause an instant and ugly groove. The only way to cover this up is with false plastic wood, which never looks the same colour, so, you’ll probably end up with a carpet over this part of the floor forever.

Other mistakes an inexperienced floor sander can make is to be overly cautious on the timber floor. The result of this is that if he hasn’t sanded off the probable three to four coats of top coat polyurethane, then when you go to varnish your new floor, if he hasn’t got all of this off, then you’ll get dark patches where it still lays, so, it will just mean that you’ll have to have it sanded all over again.

So, hopefully this has convinced you to hire a professional floor sander. If this is the case don’t be scared of asking for references and credentials. There isn’t a training program as such like the plumbing or electrical trade, for floor sanders but if they can’t produce credentials as to past work then I would be very suspicious about this and wonder why. If they’d put a card in your letterbox, it could be that they are off to the hire shop to hire some second rate equipment.

So hiring …

Wind energy is a renewable form of energy and trending upward in both usage and efficiency for homeowners and businesses alike. Like solar and geothermal, wind is the future of energy. It’s not only clean, but unlike fossil fuels, wind will always be present and easily captured. Wind turbines catch and harness the wind and are used with great frequency by many countries across the globe, both on and offshore. Before a wind turbine is erected, though, data must be collected and analyzed to ensure that the chosen spot will meet the criteria for a successful installation.

Wind Speed

Wind speed and direction are of paramount importance when considering turbine placement. With wind resource assessment services an anemometer would be used to measure the behavior of the wind over time. In an assessment, this data gets collected to establish whether there is enough stability in the wind patterns to justify the placement. An average wind speed of nine miles per hour is generally considered to be enough to support and justify a wind turbine, assuming that other criteria are equally as favorable.

Air Density

The denser the air, the more power can be generated by a wind turbine. Air density is measured with a barometer and, as with wind speed, the data must be collected over time. It is important to discover how the atmospheric conditions of a particular location would help or hinder wind collection.

Data Estimation

At the end of the day, a cost analysis must be performed, based on collected data. Calculations, based on the data, are used to determine wind energy yield. If it is decided that installation placement is cost-effective and will be productive, the wind turbine goes up. As the average lifespan for a wind turbine is about 20 years, it is imperative to perform the necessary due diligence so as to determine not only what size turbine to install, but also potentially how many.…

Tankless water heaters are becoming a more popular choice for homeowners, and for good reason. Not only do they provide an endless supply of hot water, but they’re also more efficient and eco-friendly than traditional water heaters. If you’re considering installing a tankless water heater in your home, it’s important to hire a professional to do the job properly. Here are just some of the benefits of hiring a professional for tankless water heater installation Grants Pass-located.

1. You’ll Get Quality Advice on the Right Equipment for Your Home

One of the things that make tankless water heaters such an attractive option is their flexibility; while some options are more economical than others, there is a solution for every budget. The great thing about hiring an expert to do the installation is you’ll be able to take advantage of their expertise when it comes to finding the right unit for your home. They can assess what size and type of tankless water heater will best suit your needs and your home’s specific layout.

2. Installation Goes More Smoothly

The process of installing a tankless water heater isn’t necessarily complicated, but it does involve quite a few steps. A professional is more than capable of completing the job and minimizing any disturbances within your home. They’ll know exactly what permits to obtain and how to best plan the installation so as not to cause disruption. They’ll also be familiar with the best places to install the unit and how it should be connected.

3. They’ll Save You Time and Money

One of the biggest benefits of hiring a professional for tankless water heater installation is they’ll save you time and money. You may be a busy individual with no time to spare even during weekends. If you are, then having a plumber come over is your best bet. They’ll be able to complete the installation within the shortest time possible and get out of your hair so you can get back to your busy life.

By hiring a pro, chances are you’ll save some money too. Since they’ll be able to do the process with minimal to no mistakes, that means a lower risk of having to call them back and pay more. If you do it yourself, you risk errors that may cost you more to fix.

Not only does hiring a professional to do your tankless water installation save you time and money, but they’ll also provide you with advice on how best to use the unit as well as tips on how to maintain it. You’ll be glad that you hired an expert!…

Sub-Floors: A Key to Long-Lasting Hard Flooring

You decided to install new flooring in your dining room. You invested with an eye toward long term value and chose a fantastic hardwood. You have removed the worn out carpet and pad. The contractors who will install the gorgeous maple planks for a reasonable price, but you agreed to install a sub-floor yourself. So now what do you do?

What is a Sub-Floor?

A sub-floor rests between the top layer and the floor base material such as cement. The sub-floor fills two needs: it creates a sound cushion or dampener, and it provides a stable surface for the top flooring level-the one on which you walk, sit and place your furniture-without stress damage to your beautiful main layer.

Sub-floors are important when considering any kind of hard surface floor. Carpeting can and does muffle sound; hard floors echo and can amplify sounds, depending on other acoustic factors. The sound dampening contribution is almost imperative with tile, laminate or hardwood. What type of sub-floor used is influenced by whether the upper layer is solid, expands or floats.

Some types of bare flooring require a solid, stable base. Others require a floating base. Match the type of sub-floor material to the upper layer to account for connection requirements and adaptability as well as base material needs.

Types of Sub-Floor Material

The first step in preparing or installing any type of sub-floor is determining what materials work best with the upper floor layer. What works well with floating laminate may not suffice for ceramic tiles, for example.

One of the more common sub-floor materials used for sound dampening is called gypcrete, a material that looks much like concrete and is applied in much the same manner. Although it is relatively easy to install, it does not allow direct connection or fastening of the upper floor. Use this material as an acoustic buffer only and install another thin sub-floor to which you can securely attach the upper material if needed.

Wood sub-floor options include planking or solid sheets, such as plywood. Know if one is better for your upper hard flooring and install the appropriate composite.

Plastic sub-floors vary from thin sheets of plastic to interlocking pieces. Plastic is often used with tile and in areas where water damage is a concern.

Cement backers, different from gypcrete, are slabs that screw directly into the floor joists or to concrete, providing one of the most stable and solid types of sub-floor material.

Oriented Strand Board is an engineered wood that nails or screws into the floor joists, creating a solid base. It can also securely interlock to create a floating sub-floor.

Summary

Save your new or newly revamped hard floor with proper sub-floors. Before you install any type of flooring, inspect the current sub-floor and repair or replace it with appropriate materials and construction to extend the life and value of your home improvement dollar.…