Saturday, February 21, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Some inexpensive tips to do when the weather becomes very cold.
Some inexpensive tips to do when the weather becomes very cold.
#1 Foam Insulation – Easy to find and use, this flexible foam tube wraps around almost any pipe. Just make sure to buy the right size tube for the pipe you are trying to insulate.
#2 Window and Door Seals – Burning incense and tracking the smoke’s path is a simple trick to find cold air drafts in your home. If you locate any drafts, apply door sweeps and weather stripping where possible. When weather stripping is not appropriate, caulk or an outdoor grade foam sealant will be effective at fighting the cold. Also keep garage doors closed to keep the cold away from water supply lines.
#3 Attics and Basements – These are two of the biggest offenders when it comes to fighting drafts that can freeze pipes. Your attic should have at least 12” of insulation between rafters to keep the cold out and the heat in. In your basement, any pipes near outside walls should have insulated wrap.
#4 Outside Faucets – Unless you have a frost-proof faucet outside your home, you’ll want to turn off the water leading to your traditional metal faucet and open the tap to drain any water left in the pipe. This will prevent it from freezing and causing damage.
#5 Heat Tape –Pipes that have frozen in the past or are particularly prone to freezing can be wrapped in electrical heat tape that is thermostatically controlled to prevent freezing.
It is important to remember to follow all manufacturers’ instructions when using any of these products. Some simple additional steps you can take to prevent freezing are to open any cabinets, keeping any harmful cleaners or chemicals away from children, to allow warm air in. The second is to run a trickle of water from the taps at the highest and lowest points of your home. Remember to check under the sink to see if your hot and cold water have separate pipes, if so you must run a cold and hot trickle just be safe. Lastly, keep your thermostat at a constant to avoid any temperature dips in the evening when pipes could be at their coldest point. We recommend holding steady at 65 degrees especially if you will be travelling away from the home. A slightly higher heating bill is always cheaper than a burst pipe.
In the unfortunate event your pipes have frozen, turn on the taps, try to warm the affected area with a hair dryer, and call for service. If the worst should happen and your pipe has burst, immediately shut off the water at the source. It is also a good idea to make sure everyone in your household knows where the on/off valve is located beforehand.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Q&R Home Improvements LLC Kitchen and Bathrooms
How best to effectively communicate remodeling projects with your builder.
How to Communicate Effectively with Your Remodeling Contractor
5 Tips on Communicating Effectively with Your Home Remodel Contractor—
Use these five tips when you talk about remodeling with your contractor in order to accurately convey your vision and your family’s needs.
1. Be Honest About Your Budget
Even if you don’t know how much remodeling projects should cost, you probably have a pretty good idea in mind of what you can afford to spend. Be honest and open with your contractor about this figure. Some people are reluctant to share their budgeting information with their contractors because they are afraid that doing so will drive up the cost of the project. However, a reliable, trustworthy contractor will never charge more for a project simply because you said you had the money available. He will, however, use the figure to make sure he isn’t recommending materials or remodeling elements that you can’t afford.
2. Use Pictures Instead of Words
Sometimes, photos are a more effective way than words to communicate what you’re hoping to achieve during your Jersey shore home remodeling project. Tear out pages from magazines, create a Pinterest board, or find photos online that showcase what your dream home looks like. When you show these photos to your contractor, he’ll have a much better idea of what you want and will also be able to make recommendations that suit your taste.
3. Explain How You’ll Use Each Room
3. Explain How You’ll Use Each Room
In addition to knowing how you want each room to look, your contractor also must know how you’ll be using every space in the home so that he can design and work with function in mind. Share your daily routine with your contractor and let him know how often you use each room and which areas of the home get the highest traffic. Families, for instance, often spend more time in their kitchens than single people do, and so a contractor might recommend using an extra big refrigerator or adding additional storage space for dishes.
4. Give As Much Detail As Possible
Once you have a clear idea in mind of what you’re looking for, be as detailed as possible with your contractor. It’s always better to communicate more often than you need to than to have an out-of-touch client and contractor relationship. Make sure to work with a contractor who is interested in what you have to say and who cares about making sure the details of your project are just right.
5. Discuss Your Project Regularly
Schedule regular meeting times with your contractor to discuss the progress of your home remodel and to find out if there are any delays or questions you need to address. The best home remodeling contractors will make the effort to talk with you and to maintain communication in whichever manner is most convenient for you. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your contractor and build an open, positive relationship.
Q&R Home Improvements LLC is a premier Monmouth County Home Remodeling Company. We are committed to providing quality and reliable home services.
Robert Koseyan - Principal
Q&R Home Improvement LLC
732-620-0444
Friday, January 16, 2015
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Q&R Home Improvements LLC Custom Projects
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