Property Serv LLC
765.277.2578
  • Front Page
    • EPA Rules and Renovation
  • About
  • Projects
  • Contact
  • You've Been Serv'd (blog)
  • Satisfaction

Tip of the Week

12/6/2012

0 Comments

 
Sanding drywall:  When sanding drywall seams, it's good to follow the seam instead of going against it.  It's better to go in circles, this way everything is blended and faded instead of getting that "path" from over sanding.  Use a scrap piece of lumber or something hard and flat to put under your sand paper, this will keep things uniform.  Using your hand can result in high and low spots which ultimately leads to more work.  Also if you need the seams to dry quickly, try mixing your own "mud" instead of using the premix.  The powedered mix comes in drying times of 20 minute, 45 minute, and 90 minute.  The work times aren't very long with these so keep moving!
0 Comments

Contractors

3/12/2011

1 Comment

 
I have read a few articles on msn.com lately about contractors and home projects.  These articles are good thought provokers and bring to light some good points, but maybe some that don't apply to your particular area, county, or city.  Obviously if you are doing a home remodel project on a house you plan on selling, you want to make sure the project will add value to your home as well as functionality.  If you don't plan on selling the home, then adding value may not be as important as funtionality or "want to".  It's your decision and your home, take your time and make lists. 
In these difficult times there may be some shady contractors or even fly-by-night guys out there.  If you want quality work there is a price to be paid.  Here's a good saying: "Cheap work isn't good and good work isn't cheap."  Not always the case, but something to keep in mind.  I know statistically the price of work has come down, but the price of material has not.  So you might find the contractor cheaper, but expect to pay the same if not more for material.  Many contractors out there are willing to discount their work just to get the job and there's nothing wrong with helping those in your community out.  The things I would watch out for are guys you charge not only for material used on the job, but all the material they bought and maybe even contractors who charge by the hour.  In remodeling you don't know what you are going to find behind drywall or plaster or under the floor or in the pipes until you get into it.  There's nothing worse than under estimating and over paying.  For me it's just easier to charge by the job and then however long it takes is on me.  It also may be a good idea to check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if the contractor is a member.  The guys who invest in their community are the ones you can normally count on.  Also, if something should happen to be wrong or go wrong after completion, a good contractor will come back and fix it at no cost.
There may be some unique situations also.  If you know a contractor personally or have a good relationship with one, there may be times where some "experimentation" comes up.  New systems or new materials may be introduced or maybe it's just gain some experience, the contractor may approach the home owner with this idea.  I guess the home owner may approach the contractor with this idea, who knows it's a crazy world.  If this situation does come up you ,the homeowner, could possibly get the work done for the price of materials.  Just saying, if you don't mind being the guinea pig it might be a worth while venture.
All in all, remodeling and renovation don't have to be scary or bad projects.  Make some lists, decide what you want and start asking questions.  Contractors may not have all the answers and may have questions themselves.  It's going to take time, life isn't a one hour tv show, it going to take some money, and there will be dust.  Remember, the lowest bid isn't always the best and the job will only be as good as the material you are working with.  Don't expect a million dollar bathroom for two thousand dollars.  Happy remodeling!
1 Comment

Cement

17/9/2011

0 Comments

 
Recently I have been doing some work with various types of cement, mortar, portland, and grout (yes grout is a "cement").  This made me wonder "I wonder if the average home owner knows what type of cement to use where?"  We all have seen the leaky basement that someone has tried to patch with something, but with the way it seems to have run down the wall or been thrown against it, chances are good it wasn't the right stuff.  Not all concretes are created equal.  If you have a leaky basement or foundation, you will need a hydraulic cement.  No, not the cement they put in the back of pickup trucks to make them low riders (that is how they do it right?)  Hydraulic cement is actually a cement that forms a waterproof seal, unlike the normal ready mix in a bag.  Portland cement is an example of this, very sticky, but very strong.   Also, it is better to patch a leak from the outside versus the inside, for obvious reasons.
Now, it seems every house has a retaining wall that has been standing for a hundred years.  You know the one, it's leaning over and there is grass growing between the stones.  Believe it or not these walls do serve a purpose and if you live on a hill you know exactly what it is.  These walls keep your yard yours and not some city or county road clearing project.  However, they wall can't it's job if the mortar joints are loose or missing.  Every freeze thaw cycle kills a weak joint and undermines the strength of the wall.  Filling in the gaps or replacing loose joints is called tuck pointing.  There are ready mixes available for this and (wait for it) to make "special blends" portland cement can be added.  Adding portland will give mortar more strength, more sticking power, and add some water proofing characteristics.
What about sidewalks and driveways?  Your typical ready mix is alright to use as sidewalk material, but there are better versions of the same stuff.  There are ready mixes that are more waterproof and others that are more impact resistant.  Most sidewalks are about four inches thick and most are just poured right on the soil.  I like to dig a little deeper and add a base to pour the cement on.  Soft limestone is good for this, put an inch or two down and compact it.  This gives something for the cement to grab a hold of and also forms a good strong base that should prevent cracking.  If your budget doesn't allow for the extra step then pour your sidewalk at 6 inches with a quality product for a long lasting pathway.  If you are resurfacing or adding a cap to old concrete, a step that is often skipped is etching.  Concrete must be etched for any new cement to adhere to it.  If you skip this step, after a few winters you'll be doing it again. 
I know someone out there was laughing when I said the grout was a cement.  It is, Google it.  Most homeowners have done some tile work before and have therefore grouted.  Here's a question, sanded or unsanded?  Oh, you didn't get that far in the store?  I'll let it slide this time.  Sanded grout is for joints over 1/8" and unsanded is for anything smaller.  There may be some exceptions to this such as glass tile, but this is the general rule. 
Always read the health hazards when dealing with cement, it can cause skin burns, eye and lung irritation and lung cancer.  Wet cement is caustic so where gloves and wash off cement that comes in contact with your skin. 

Don't forget to leave comments or ask questions, we like that kind of stuff. 
0 Comments

    Author

    Craig Jones, owner of Property Serv LLC.  My goal is to better educate the homeowner and to make Richmond a better place to live.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2013
    March 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

    Categories

    All
    1900
    2012
    5
    Ability
    Adhesive
    Advertising
    Agreement
    Agreements
    Antique
    Antiques
    Asbestos
    Backsplash
    Back Splash
    Bank
    Bar
    Barrier
    Base Board
    Baseboards
    Basement
    Bath
    Bathroom
    Bed
    Bedroom
    Bifold
    Blanks
    Block
    Blueprint
    Board
    Border
    Bowls
    Box
    Brick
    Build
    Building
    Built
    Business
    Busy
    Buy
    Cabinet
    Cabinets
    Calender
    Call
    Cap
    Caulk
    Ceiling
    Ceilings
    Cement
    Ceramic
    Certificates
    Certified
    Chamber
    Chimney
    Cleanout
    Closet
    Cold
    Collectable
    Collectables
    Collectible
    Colors
    Commerce
    Commercial
    Commments
    Completion
    Composite
    Compound
    Concete
    Concrete
    Confident
    Construction
    Contract
    Contractor
    Copper
    Corner
    Cost
    Counters
    Counter Top
    Counter Tops
    Country
    County
    Craft
    Craftsman
    Crown
    Custom
    Cut
    Cylinders
    Damage
    Debris
    Decks
    Décor
    Decore
    Demo
    Dental
    Distressed
    Diy
    Door
    Doors
    Drafts
    Drill
    Drip Edge
    Drywall
    Dump
    Dust
    Easy
    Electrical
    End
    Enjoy
    Entertain
    Epa
    Estimate
    Etching
    External
    Fab
    Fabrication
    Facebook
    Family
    Fans
    Felt
    Fence
    Fiberglass
    Financing
    Fine
    Finish
    Finishing
    Fire
    Fires
    Five
    Fix
    Fixing
    Flashing
    Floor
    Flooring
    Floors
    Flower
    Fnece
    Foam
    Foreclosure
    Foundation
    Framing
    Free
    Front
    Furniture
    Garage
    Garden
    Gift
    Give
    Glass
    Granite
    Grapple
    Green
    Grout
    Happy
    Hazards
    Health
    Heat
    High
    Hinges
    Hiring
    Hobbie
    Hole
    Home
    Homeowner
    Home Remodeling
    Homework
    House
    Household
    Hydraulics
    Install
    Installation
    Insulation
    Interior
    Iron
    Items
    Jamb
    Job
    Jobs
    Kitchen
    Kitchens
    Knob
    Knowledge
    Laminate
    Landfill
    Landscaping
    Lanscape
    Law
    Lead
    Leak
    Leaks
    Leaky
    Ledger
    Life
    Lights
    Limestone
    Live
    Living
    Local
    Logo
    Look
    Lumber
    Maintenance
    Management
    Mantenance
    Maple
    Master
    Material
    Mig
    Mind
    Mix
    Moisture
    Monthly
    Mortar
    Mud
    Nail
    Network
    New
    News
    Old
    Opening
    Outdoor
    Outside
    Owner
    Owners
    Paint
    Painting
    Pane
    Panel
    Paper
    Patching
    Patterns
    Paver
    Pavers
    Peace
    Pine
    Pipe
    Pipes
    Plaster
    Plastic
    Plate
    Play
    Plumbing
    Pointing
    Porcelin
    Porch
    Portland
    Precast
    Prehung
    Price
    Problem
    Problems
    Professional
    Project
    Projects
    Property
    Pvc
    Quality
    Radius
    Rail
    Rain
    Rating
    Ready
    Rebar
    Rebuild
    Reclaimed
    Recycle
    Recycled
    Remodel
    Remodeling
    Renovate
    Renovation
    Renovations
    Renovator
    Rental
    Renters
    Repair
    Repairs
    Replace
    Replacing
    Repurpose
    Re-purposed
    Restore
    Re Store
    Re-store
    Resturant
    Retaining
    Reuse
    Re Use
    Reused
    Right
    Roof
    Roofing
    Roofs
    Room
    Rough
    Rrp
    Rustic
    Safe
    Safety
    Sale
    Sanded
    Sanding
    Saw
    Schedule
    Scraping
    Screws
    Secure
    Security
    Shapes
    Shelves
    Shingle
    Shop
    Shower
    Sidewalk
    Siding
    Sill
    Sink
    Skills
    Smoke
    Soft
    Spalted
    Special
    Stain
    Stainless
    Steel
    Stick
    Stone
    Store
    Storm
    Stressed
    Strong
    Stucco
    Stuff
    Styrofoam
    Summer
    Surround
    Sweating
    System
    Tables
    Tape
    Taping
    Tear Off
    Technology
    Thin Set
    Tile
    Timbers
    Time
    Tip
    Torch
    Trailer
    Treated
    Tree
    Trim
    Trowel
    Truck
    Tub
    Tuck
    Unique
    Unsanded
    Upkeep
    Used
    Useful
    Valve
    Vintage
    Wall
    Walls
    Warm
    Water
    Waterproof
    Water Proof
    Wayne
    Weatherization
    Weekend
    Weld
    Welder
    Welding
    Window
    Windows
    Winter
    Wiring
    Wonderful
    Wood
    Woodworking
    Work
    Workers
    Yard

    RSS Feed