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Ideas For Wedding Dj

Posted on by Events

Should You Have a Band or DJ for Your Wedding Reception Music?

Can’t decide who should play your wedding tunes? Here’s everything you need to know to find the right music maker for your day.

A band has its pros and cons.

There’s nothing like a live wedding band to get a crowd excited and create a sense of sophistication. A good bandleader will play the master of ceremonies at your reception, interacting with folks on the dance floor, paying attention to the “feel” of the room and selecting music accordingly.

  • Pros: Live music is, well, live. You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a performance. Anything can happen to raise the excitement level, from an infectious horn section interlude to a moving solo.
  • Cons: Bands can be more expensive than DJs. Also, no matter how great the band, they can’t have the repertoire of a standard DJ, who can keep a huge variety of music on hand. And if you want to hear a song the exact way the original artist performed it, you may not get what you want.

And so does a DJ.

Today’s DJs are artists in their own right, offering balanced and eclectic mixes of musical styles for all ages. The songs played will sound exactly as you want them to, encouraging sing-alongs and improvisation. And, depending on the amount of equipment a DJ brings, they could take up less dance floor real estate and can be relocated with relative ease.

  • Pros: If there are a dozen songs you’re dying to hear at your wedding, it likely won’t be a problem for your DJ to find each track. Also, DJs are generally less expensive than bands. A DJ with a charismatic stage presence and excellent emcee skills can really set the mood and keep the party going.
  • Cons: On the opposite end of the spectrum, a DJ with a less-than stellar personality can be a party killer. Also, improvisation is tough if, say, your dad is dragging behind tempo on the father-daughter dance or your nieces and nephews decide to request the “Chicken Dance.”

 

PICK ONE: DJ OR IPOD

My team and I see equal amounts of both self- and pro-DJed weddings, and what I generally tell our clients if they’re trying to decide between the two is:

  • If one of your top three priorities for your wedding is “completely killer dance party” then go out and get yourselves a really good DJ. Or if you want music, but don’t care to put the time or energy into it? DJ!
  • If you’d like people who want to dance to be able to, and you’d like to dance, but it’s not one of your top priorities? Or if you have VERY strong opinions about music? Start building your playlist.

DJs have one giant advantage over iPods, which is that they have a huge selection of music at their fingertips and can adjust to the mood of the crowd immediately. A good DJ’s job is to read the crowd and keep them dancing—they have experience doing exactly this, and are able to switch gears seamlessly when it turns out your crowd is more Katy Perry than Rolling Stones (or vice versa). They can also troubleshoot technical issues seamlessly and adjust volume levels between speakers, music, and microphones (for ceremony, toasts, etc.) easily. They can also give you tips on dance floor set up, volume for different phases of the night, and the music flow for a party. They’re there to make the party happen, and the best ones are very, very good at it.

 

How many hours do I need when hiring a wedding DJ?

We get this question a lot. Ultimately it depends on if you need the DJ for just your reception or for both your ceremony and reception. Typically for a reception it’s about 5 hours but some will only do 4 hours to shave costs. If adding a ceremony then an average amount of time is 6 hours for both your ceremony and reception however we also have seen 5 hours for both to help shave costs.

If you include the ceremony then this is what’s typical of the DJ:

  1. Prelude music 30 minutes to start of ceremony as guests are arriving and being seated waiting for the ceremony to start.
  2. Processional song for the wedding party
  3. Processional song for the bride
  4. Possible music in middle of ceremony for unity sand or other similar event
  5. Recessional music for bride, groom and wedding party after being introduced as husband and wife.

As you can see there are a lot of different things to consider. Wedding ceremonies usually only need one hour for everything from the prelude music all the way to the recessional song at the end. Receptions typically require 2 hours of background music for cocktails and dinner and then 3 hours of dancing and everything in between.

 

Is it OK if Guests Miss the “Cake Cutting”?

A DJ is really more than a DJ. A good DJ often doesn’t get the respect they deserve, to be honest. A good DJ puts a lot of time and effort into choosing music that fits a particular crowd and the personalities of the people getting married.

A good DJ does research and asks questions to find out where the couple is from, what their backgrounds are… to see if some special culturally-significant pieces of music can be played at some point in the night. And they are also… the master of ceremonies, also known as a “wedding host.” Which means they tell us all what to do!

A DJ makes the important announcements throughout the evening to inform guests of what’s going on and to make sure there aren’t lulls. I have to say that I don’t LOVE that this has become a necessity for the modern wedding, and I still don’t think it’s absolutely necessary, but I understand it. What I mean is that I wish that as wedding guests (and couples), we were all MUCH more relaxed in our expectations of weddings and wedding announcements. I wish we didn’t feel like we had to follow these strict minute-by-minute timelines (and you don’t… but you’ll feel like you do) but because this is the modern expectation. SIGH, SORRY that was long-winded.

Basically, your wedding DJ will tell your guests when the speeches are happening, when to eat, sit down, when to gather for certain traditions (parent dances, first dance, cake cutting, garter and bouquet tosses), etc. If these things are important to you, it’s worth it to hire a professional DJ.

 

What You’ll Need to DIY DJ Your Wedding

Obviously, you’ll need a reliable digital player such as an iPod capable of holding enough music. We recommend that you have a playlist that is an hour or two longer than the length of your reception, which will allow you to start the music before guests arrive and have backup songs. You’ll also need a good speaker system, a mixing console, a microphone (either wireless or with a long enough cable), and a cable to connect the Mp3 player – most likely a mini-stereo to dual RCA (male) cord, depending on your mixing console.

Have a Backup Plan and a Backup Backup Plan

Along with your main digital player and its power cable, it’s a good idea to bring a second digital player or a laptop – all loaded with your music. You’ll also want to have on hand the name of an equipment rental company who does last-minute deliveries. In case no one is dancing and you need to switch directions, you’ll want that extra hour or two of music mentioned above. Odds are, you won’t need any of your backups, but the cliché of “it’s better to be safe than sorry” is especially true in this case.

Read About Selecting Long Distance Moving Companies

Posted on by Movers

Helpful Tips That Can Help You Plan Your Next Long Distance Move

Many moving companies suggest that you plan ahead before you make a long distance move to a new home. This is good advice to follow because if can help you avoid many of the hassles and nightmares that may accompany a cross-country move.

Here are some moving tips that can help you plan your long distance move.

1) Be sure to make a list of your belongings before you hire a moving company.

It’s important to make an accurate list of your belongings in advance because it can help you resolve logistics problems that might occur during a long distance move. This is the case because moving companies use these lists to help them determine the number of movers and vehicles needed to complete your project.

2) Be sure to locate specially designed containers for your breakable items.

There’s nothing more frustrating than finding your prized china in thousands of pieces after you’ve moved to a new home. An easy way to solve this problem is to use specially designed containers that can protect your breakable items. Most local moving companies sell these containers at an affordable price. As a result, be sure to ask your local moving company for more information about these containers if you’re planning on transporting breakable items.

3) Be sure to make a plan for your automobile for its long distance move.

Many long distance moving companies report that some people forget to prepare their vehicles for a long distance move. This lack of preparation can be disastrous because you could seriously damage your vehicle during the moving process without some sort of preparation.

 

How to Plan a Long-distance Move

Planning a Long Distance Move

If you haven’t cleaned your closets in a decade, don’t panic. Perspective is everything. Think of those stacked and crammed artifacts as archaeological finds that will help reveal, and sometimes exorcise, your past. It probably isn’t the labor that’s making you apprehensive anyway, it’s the time crunch. Start laying the groundwork today to make the actual moving part of your relocation go smoothly. These tips will help:

  • Know where you’re going – If you’re moving to a loft in the city, that extra bedroom set will just get in your way, and you can probably lose the cross-country skis, too. Taking your new digs into account will give you important information about what’s sensible to take with you and what isn’t. The available space, your new lifestyle and the weather will give you clues, too. If you have pets, you’ll want to find out about state and city ordinances regarding inoculations, leash laws, and limits on the number or types of pets you can keep. Start gathering important details about schools, vehicle laws, the vagaries of insurance and even the bylaws for your housing complex.
  • Develop a system – You’ll likely have items you want to keep, items you want to sell, stuff you want to give away and junk you want to trash. As you go through your belongings, organize them into these four categories. If you’re packing your belongings yourself, you should also consider taking a hint from the professionals who pack for a living. They pack items a room at a time. That way, the unpacking will go easier on the other end. If you’re looking for a frying pan when you get to your destination, at least you’ll know it’s in one of the kitchen boxes.
  • Apply the one-year rule – If you haven’t used an item in a year, consider donating it to someone who will use it. Carting around those skinny jeans and the apple corer your aunt gave you last Christmas might seem like a good idea, but the truth is that you may never revisit either of those items, and paying to transport and store them is just wasteful.
  • Get help – You might have to mount a big move on your own, but getting professional help is the best way to go by far. Professional movers know how to pack and transport a houseful of belongings with a minimum of breakage and fuss. Make sure you understand the details, though. Knowing when your new residence will be available and getting your belongings there at the right time is important. Misjudging the delivery date could be an expensive mistake if you have to ask a mover to hold your items for a few days. Insist on written agreements with your new landlord and your mover; ask lots of questions, and read the fine print. Moving is full of small details, and getting them right will make your life easier.
  • Have a schedule – Time can get away from you when you’re in the middle of a move, so put together a moving calendar or organizer to make sure you stay on target. Where moving is concerned, some chores are time sensitive and others, like packing the Christmas ornaments, can be done well in advance. Decide which is which, and make yourself a handy cheat sheet.

 

Label all your moving boxes

Some tips for planning a long distance move may not seem that important to you, but trust us – they are. A classic example is the act of labeling your moving boxes after you’ve filled them up.

  • DO NOT underestimate the importance of labeling your boxes. If you do, you will lose precious time locating and identifying all unmarked boxes after the move.
  • LABEL each box on at least two of its sides as soon as you’re done packing it. Write down its contents, destination room, and special handling instructions, if any.
  • DESIGNATE a different color for each destination room, either through the use of color markers or multicolor labels

 

MOVING DAY

Have Water Bottles On-Hand

Moving is a strenuous and exhausting process. The last thing you want is for anyone to become dehydrated on moving day. To prevent this from happening, be sure to have plenty of water bottles on-hand for your friends and movers.

Take Inventory

Take inventory of all belongings. This way you can keep track of what you have and what the movers are transporting. Check your driver’s inventory sheet as well. If anything is missing or damaged make a note of this beforehand. It may also be a good idea to take photos of fragile items such as appliances or lamps for liability coverage and insurance purposes.

Do a Final Sweep of the House

To avoid leaving anything behind, be sure to do one final sweep of your home before you move out. Don’t forget to look in your bathtubs, washers, dryers, kitchen cabinets and any other easy-to-miss spots.

Hand Over the Keys

Unless you’re planning to come back after the move to tie up loose ends, go ahead and hand over the keys to your landlord or new owners.

 

Save money where you can 

If you’re in between jobs, you might be trying to save as much money as possible during your long-distance move. If that’s the case, the best long distance moving tip for you is to try to do-it-yourself as much as you can. Whether it’s packing, cleaning, and organizing with only the help of your friends, or getting rid of as much as possible in order to save money on your moving company, you can get creative in this process. The downside is that this method takes more time. However, if you ask your friends for help, you might actually enjoy DIY-ing parts of your move.

Sewer Inspection Saves the Pocket

Posted on by Plumbing

HELPFUL TIPS ON CHOOSING THE BEST PLUMBING AND SEWER EXCAVATION COMPANY

A septic system can last up to 25 years, though this depends on how well it’s maintained as well as its design. Even so, there are times when major issues happen leaving one with no choice but to call plumbing experts. Some of these problems are so serious that it becomes necessary to inspect sewer pipe lining underground.

WATER LINE EXCAVATION

Water and sewer lines get damaged whenever soil expands and consequently causes pipes to shift. Tree and plant roots are yet another cause of trouble that makes water line excavations necessary. After a while, the roots invade main water pipes and cause breaks and cracks in the process. The pipes in your home then start draining slower, and this tells you that it’s time to seek professional help. Ignoring will only make the problem worse and you might end up paying a fortune.

CERTIFICATION

Truth be told, excavation work isn’t for every Tom, Dick, and Harry, and that’s why you need to check for certification. Serious players in this line of work will always have their documentation in order. With proper certification, you can be sure that you are dealing with people trained to handle jobs like water line excavation.

EXPERIENCE

A lot could go wrong when going about tasks such as water line excavation. The slightest mistake could set in motion other issues that could be pricey to fix. However, an experienced company knows all the dos and don’ts to ensure the job is done correctly from the beginning to the end.

REPUTATION

Professional service providers always have their clients’ interests at heart. Plumbing and sewer excavation companies are no exception and you should only consider those with a good reputation. With excellent reputation comes great reliability that ensures the job gets completed in good time. Avoid companies whose reputation is questionable.

 

Tips on choosing a Sewer Inspection Camera

Sewer inspection cameras are widely used by plumbers, contractors, engineers, home inspectors, municipal workers and other professionals for inspecting areas that are typically difficult to see, that is pipeline interiors, spaces behind walls, inside a drain and other hard-to-reach places. So, if you are thinking of purchasing a sewer inspection camera, first, you need to consider what it is you are going to use it for. Should it be water- and chemicals-proof? How much light will you need? How long should the insertion probe be? etc.

Insertion probe:

Length. It should be long enough to go from one manhole to another. The length of the probes varies from 20 to 120 meters (65.6′ – 394′). In case you need a more extended probe, you may need a reel with a stand to roll the probe, for additional comfort.

Camera:

Illumination. Since you are planning to inspect hard-to-see areas, you will need enough light to explore it. The brighter the light source, the better is the image. Search for sewer inspection cameras with adjustable, bright LED lights.

Monitor hub:

Screen. The screen should give you a clear picture of the area you are inspecting. Than wider screen and higher resolution than better. Pro models are equipped with a Daylight Readable Monitor

General characteristics:

Weight and handle. The sewer inspection camera should be lightweight and have a comfortable grip, especially if you are planning to use it for long periods.

 

CHOOSING THE BEST SEWER CAMERAS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PLUMBING BUSINESS

Every plumber or drain cleaning professional needs to have three essential tools to get the job done right: a portable water jetter, a cable machine, and most importantly, a sewer camera. Why the emphasis on the sewer camera? That’s because this equipment is essential to the accurate detection and diagnosis of piping and draining problems. Consequently, you need to equip yourself with the best sewer cameras for responding to an emergency plumbing call.

High-Tech Features

Every sewer inspection tool you use should be up to date so you can take advantage of the most advanced features. One particular quality you should look for in a sewer camera is versatility. It should be able to do any type of job without difficulty, whether you’re using it in a city’s main line or in residential sewers. Today’s most high-tech sewer cameras offer a variety of features like HD-quality pictures, lamp lights, thick cables for larger lines and battery operation capabilities. If these features sound good to you, you’re probably looking for a high-grade push camera inspection system. This handy tool may not look like much, but it can easily fit into even the smallest pipes, and allow you to save recorded footages in portable media.

Find a Reliable Supplier

Not every sewer camera in the market offers the same level of quality and set of features. Inspect each choice up close, therefore, before you decide to buy. These tools, after all, are valuable assets for your business. Find a reliable supplier who can provide you with a wide range of choices and follow-up service when you need it.

Ask for a Demonstration

No smart businessman will put down money for something he can’t try out first. Always ask your supplier for a demonstration of the equipment that interests you. This way, you will get an idea of how the equipment works and if it suits your needs.

Having quality sewer inspection equipment can go a long way toward the success of your plumbing business. Suppliers like Haaker Equipment Company can provide you with the best tools and products that you need.

 

What Your Need to Know About Sewer & Drain Inspections

Sewers and drain lines are an integral part of your home’s plumbing system, providing you with the ability to safely remove waste from the home. This may be human waste, such as from the toilet, or it may be waste water from bathing, washing hands, cooking and other related activities. This waste water washes down through the drains and into the sewer line as it leaves your property. You may not realize it but your drains as well as your sewer line need to be inspected periodically for the well-being of your property.

Why Sewers and Drains Need to Be Inspected

Sewers and drains can both become clogged or damaged, and an inspection can help you to determine the true condition of your pipes. These pipes are critical to your home’s condition, and damaged pipes can interfere with your ability to use the sewer line. Damage can also cause property damage to your home. For example, some clogged drains or damaged sewer lines can result in sewage waste spilling back into the home. This can cause an unhealthy, stinky mess as well as the potential for water damage and more. Inspecting the lines periodically is a great way to learn about potential issues that are developing before they become problematic.

Different Drain and Sewer Inspection Techniques

There are different techniques that are commonly used today to inspect drains and sewer lines. Some plumbing companies, for example, will push a snake-like device through the pipe to ensure that it is clean, and some will clean the pipes during this process. This will check for signs of a clog, but it will not be able to determine if there is a crack or leak in the pipe. Cracks and leaks are common in the pipes outside of the home, such as with the main sewer line. This is because the pipe can settle when the ground settles, or tree roots can impact it.

The Best Sewer and Drain Inspection Method

The better method to use when inspecting a drain or sewer line is a video inspection method. With this method, a camera will be inserted into the drain line and through the sewer line. The plumber will be able to view the pipe from the interior, and this includes the entire length of the pipe. Many areas of the pipe may be hidden in walls, a concrete foundation or underground, so the ability to see inside the pipe is a true benefit. If damage is found, it can easily be pinpointed so that repair work can be completed quickly

When to Schedule a Sewer and Drain Inspection

The best time to contact a plumber to schedule a sewer and drain inspection is once per year. This will help you to keep your home in the best possible condition and will alert you to any possible signs of damage that require repair work before they turn into major issues for you. However, it is important to schedule an inspection if you believe that there may be something wrong with your system. For example, your toilets and drains may all be sluggish, and you may worry that you have a clog in the main sewer line. An inspection can tell you what you need to know.

 

Why a Sewer Inspection Is Critical Before Buying a House

Most home buyers today wouldn’t think about closing their purchase without getting a general house inspection. That’s particularly so with older homes, but many also elect to have new buildings examined by an independent third party. Inspections are excellent insurance for discovering existing and potential problems. Unfortunately, most home inspectors fail to examine the sewer lines, which can turn out to be a critical and costly mistake.

Why Inspectors Overlook Sewer Systems

Inspectors might overlook the sewer system for two reasons. One is that the vast majority of a sewer system is underground. It’s out of sight and out of mind. The second reason is that most home inspectors don’t have the specialized equipment or knowledge necessary to do a proper sewer line inspection

This isn’t a slam against house inspectors. Far from it. Many inspectors are extremely competent and have a vast amount of general building knowledge. It’s tough to be an overall expert when you consider just how many pieces there are in a home’s systems. Just the plumbing system alone is extensive, and good inspectors know what plumbing features to check before buying a home.

Sewer Repairs Can Be Extremely Expensive

You might wonder, “Do I need a sewer line inspection before buying a house?” The answer is yes. A sewer inspection should be a mandatory part of your house inspection checklist. When considering what inspections to get when buying a house, do not overlook the sewer line. In fact, getting a sewer inspection is one of the most important home inspection tips for first-time buyers. Sewer line inspections are cheap, but sewer repairs can be extremely expensive. Why spend the money on a repair when you could have avoided with a simple inspection?

The Worst-Case Sewer Line Scenario

Consider this worst-case scenario. After months of shopping, you’ve finally found the home of your dreams. It’s a heritage home and at the top end of your budget, but appears to be a good deal. You’ve done your due diligence and hired a home inspector. The report came back with a clean bill of health, and you happily move in. But, three months later, you have a problem.

Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Naturally For A Pest Free Home

Posted on by Pest Control

HOW DO BED BUGS REPRODUCE AND HOW OFTEN?

Stopping the spread of bed bugs can be a difficult task, although new studies on bed bug reproduction are exploring how to reduce the frequency of mating. To understand how bed bugs spread, it is helpful to understand their mating habits.

HOW DO BED BUGS REPRODUCE?

On average, female bed bugs lay about one to seven eggs per day after a blood feeding has taken place. However, the mating process can sometimes be difficult for the female bed bug. Frequent mating can cause injury. As a result, female bed bugs do not necessarily produce more eggs with increased mating sessions. Instead, a female bed bug is more likely to travel away from her original location to an area where she can guarantee a food source and a lack of mates. With lack of disruption and access to food, a female bed bug can lay many eggs.

HOW MANY EGGS CAN A FEMALE BED BUG LAY?

On average, a female bed bug with access to regular meals will lay anywhere from 200 to 250 eggs during her lifetime. Because mating causes scarring, a female that has mated multiple times during a short period will lay fewer eggs than a female who has had time to recover from the reproduction process. The need for females to protect themselves from future mating sessions has helped to increase the spread of bed bugs.

Pregnant female bed bugs are more likely to travel in an attempt to avoid being mated with again. A single pregnant female can cause an infestation of more than 5,000 bed bugs within a six-month period.

THE BED BUG REPRODUCTION CYCLE

Bed bug eggs take approximately six to 17 days to hatch. Hatched eggs are called nymphs. A nymph is not able to reproduce until it has fully matured. The length of time it takes for a nymph to mature depends on temperature. Eggs can hatch and become mature bed begs in as little as 21 days in warmer temperatures. It can take more than four months for the same process to occur in cooler temperatures. Nymphs can begin blood feeding as soon as they hatch. A single female bed bug can mate with any of her offspring after a nymph has fully matured.

REDUCING THE BED BUG REPRODUCTION CYCLE

A 2010 study conducted by Vincent Harraca from Lund University in Sweden revealed an alarm pheromone released by nymphs, and male bed bugs when approached, to prevent prowling males from attempting to mate. Mature males will attempt to mate with any bed bug that has recently fed. The fact that male mating is non-productive in propagating the bed bug population has inspired scientific research, which resulted in the discovery that immature nymphs and male bed bugs release a fear pheromone to prevent a mating attack. In the future, scientists hope to use this pheromone to reduce mating overall and lessen infestations.

 

Bad news: Bed bugs like the smell of your dirty laundry

Bed bugs are upsetting for a multitude of reasons. For one, they are tiny, flightless creatures that live only in crevices and holes, but that have somehow managed to spread across almost the entire planet. For another, well…we’ll get there. Let’s start with the colonization.

No one really knows how bed bugs travel. Much like the Black Death, they seem to crop up everywhere without any obvious signs of direct transmission. But this is not the Middle Ages. We are living in a post-germ theory world. So a group of intrepid entomologists at the University of Sheffield embarked on a quest to discover where these critters are hiding in an effort to stop them from infiltrating your mattress. They published their findings in Scientific Reports this week.

As is the case with most journeys, their quest began with clean clothes and ended with dirty ones. See, these scientists had a theory: it’s not just humans that bed bugs are attracted to, it’s the smell of a human. Bed bugs, along with mosquitoes and ticks and plenty of other blood-sucking creatures, find animals to feed on by detecting the carbon dioxide they exhale. Researchers who study these bugs can actually collect wild specimens by leaving a chunk of dry ice (which is just frozen carbon dioxide) out in the woods for an hour or two. When they return, it’s surrounded by vampiric critters. The gas indicates that some living, breathing thing is around packing a fresh supply of blood.

 

The Clan of the Common Bedbug

Comparison of DNA from Cimex lectularius varieties demonstrates that even though they are all of the same species, their lineages have diverged substantially. Booth and Balvín found 14 different lineages (haplotypes) of Cimex lectularius among their bat-biting subjects and 7 different lineages among the human-biters. That all ancestral bedbugs in the species started out their parasitic lifestyle on bats is suggested by the marked biodiversity of the bat-bugs, compared to the very limited diversity among the human-biters. Thus, once the varieties diverged, they apparently followed very different paths.

The DNA from human-biting bedbugs suggests a lot of inbreeding. Such a “founder effect” occurs when a population descends from a small group of isolated individuals. Genetic diversity is minimized. This “founder effect” is what we would expect if a few ancestral bat-biters sampled available humans where their paths crossed—perhaps in caves—and then reproduced exclusively in the new niches people provided.

 

MEDICAL IMPACT

After identification of bedbug bites, skin and infectious transmissible diseases are the 2 main medical concerns of human contact with the bedbugs .

Hosts are usually bitten at night. Because bedbug saliva contains anesthetic compounds, bites are painless and usually not felt until several hours later. Other compounds are also injected: anticoagulant factors (eg, factor-X inhibitor), vasodilatory compounds (such as nitric oxide), and proteolytic enzymes (eg, apyrase), which are all substances that participate in the ensuing local hypersensitivity reactions .

The typical skin lesion is a pruritic erythematous maculopapule, 5 mm to 2 cm in diameter, with a central hemorrhagic crust or vesicle at the bite site, similar to arthropod bites. Atypical forms vary from asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic to purpuric, vesicular, and bullous lesions. The bedbug-bite distribution frequently follows a line or curve Lesion numbers range from several to many, depending on habitat-infestation intensity, and are preferentially located in unclothed zones. Sometimes, the eruption mimics urticaria Exceptional anemia  or anaphylactic reactions have been reported. Lesions resolve spontaneously within 2–6 weeks, but permanent postinflammatory hyperpigmentation may ensue .

 

A GOOD GUESS.

At normal room temperatures (72°F) and with ample feeding opportunity, bed bug nymphs require about a week for development of each instar between molts. Each molt leaves behind exuviae, the “shed skin.” In small infestations, these exuviae can be used to estimate a timeline. This method is limited, but can be useful under the right circumstances. For example, if a fourth instar bug is found alone in a mattress tuft along with some fecal spotting and three graduated exuviae, a reasonable guess would be that it has been using that harborage for at least two to three weeks.

Eggs take about 10 days to hatch at 72°F, so if you find hatched eggs attached to furniture, they’ve been there for at least that long. Newer eggs can be collected, and upon hatching provide an estimation of when they were laid.

Often a great indicator of how long an infestation has been around is the number of adult bed bugs present. Generally it takes at least seven weeks for a bed bug to grow from an egg to an adult, so there should be no new adults from eggs during that period. Therefore, if many adult bugs are present one can reasonably assume that the infestation has been there for more than seven weeks. The assumption here is that the infestation started from only a few bugs and there have not been additional introductions during that time.

Led Electrical Lighting Efficiency And The End Of The Incandescent Bulb

Posted on by Electricians

things to consider before buying LED bulbs

The reasons why are compelling — they last much longer than incandescent bulbs, provide interesting features and can save you money on your electricity bill. Besides, many incandescent bulbs — like the 100-watt incandescent — are being phased out, so eventually you’ll need to make the switch anyway.

Forget what you know about incandescents — your watts are no good here.

When shopping for bulbs, you’re probably accustomed to looking for watts, an indication of how bright the bulb will be. The brightness of LEDs, however, is determined a little differently.

Contrary to common belief, wattage isn’t an indication of brightness, but a measurement of how much energy the bulb draws. For incandescents, there is an accepted correlation between the watts drawn and the brightness, but for LEDs, watts aren’t a great predictor of how bright the bulb will be. (The point, after all, is that they draw less energy.)

Choosing the right color LED

You can always count on incandescents providing a warm, yellowish hue. But LEDs come in a wide range of colors.

As shown off by the Philips Hue, LED bulbs are capable of displaying an impressive color range, from purple to red, to a spectrum of whites and yellows. For the home, however, you’re likely looking for something similar to the light that incandescents produce.

 

How to Choose the Best LED Light Bulb for Any Room in Your Home

Every room in your home is different.

You likely have heard that sunlight gives us energy, but did you know that light bulbs work in a similar way? Bulbs that emit blue light waves produce serotonin, which makes us focused, awake, and alert. Bulbs that don’t emit blue light waves allow for our brain to produce melatonin, which makes us relaxed, drowsy, and ready for a good nights sleep.

Lower temperature bulbs produce warm-whites, similar to a fire, while medium temperature bulbs produce neutral-whites, and higher temperature bulbs produce cool-whites or mimic daylight.

it is also a common misconception that the brightness of a light bulb is measured in Watts. Watts actually measure energy usage, while Lumens measure brightness.

LED Lighting for Bedroom Use

In our bedrooms, most of us want the atmosphere to be relaxed, calm, and peaceful. Avoiding blue light waves in the bedroom will keep your circadian rhythm from confusing the light in your bedroom with the natural light outside. This allows your brain to produce the melatonin needed for a comfortable sleep. Are you a nighttime reader? If you have a bedside reading lamp or plan on buying one, soft blue or neutral tones are better for reading specific fixtures, since the cool-white color creates a high contrast with the page

LED Lighting for Home Office Use

When lighting a home office, we want to make sure that the lights are maximizing our ability to be productive in the space provided. Putting cool-white lights in the office that mimic daylight will increase serotonin production keeping you focused, alert, and energized. Make sure to choose a place that won’t create unwanted glares on your computer screen. You may also want to consider LED Desk Lamps which offer great task lighting and the ability to switch color temperature on demand.

 

Things You Need to Know Before Switching to LEDs

We all know that LEDs are way better for the environment than their incandescent forefathers. But that doesn’t mean you’ve been convinced to make the switch. If you’re still teetering on the fence between LED and incandescent

Making the Switch to LEDs Is Easier Than You Think

To get the benefits of LED without replacing all your existing fixtures, all you need to do is replace all your incandescent screw-in lightbulbs with screw-in LED bulbs. Just make sure that you replace your incandescent bulb with a comparable LED that will match the performance of the previous bulb.

LED Lights Last And That Will Save You Money

At first, it might not seem like LEDs are going to be a lucrative switch. They are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but the prices are dropping. And the way you should really think about it is that LEDs are more of a long term investment. So, while the upfront cost might be a little higher, the payback time is worth it. For example, if you spent $15 on a 60-Watt equivalent LED bulb, the payback will be within a couple of years.

At the end of the day, the technology behind LEDs–the diodes themselves, heat sinking and so on–allows them to extensively outlast incandescent bulbs. Some LEDs can last two decades (or even longer) with average use before they begin to dim, as opposed to an approximate two year life for incandescents. LEDs also experience more of a gradual decline than the sudden burnout experienced with incandescents.

LEDs Use Up A Lot Less Energy

The big picture: LED lighting converts 95% of energy consumed into light, unlike incandescent bulbs, which convert only 10% of energy for light. The 90% of energy remaining is wasted as heat.

 

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO LED LIGHTING IN RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION

LED lighting solutions are on the rise. There are more LED products and alternatives available on the market already than there ever have been for traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL), energy efficient bulbs.

While some LED products might just look like any other light bulb or fluorescent tube, the variety of products, new terminology introduced by the lighting industry and the fact that LED’s are a different technology from what we have been used to for decades can make the switch to LED lighting quite challenging.

Why make the change to LED?

Besides being much more energy efficient than incandescent and CFL options, thus able to provide significant energy savings, they last much longer, don’t contain Mercury like CFL’s and provide a lot more options for brightness and light appearance (warm vs. cool).

Terminology

When buying traditional incandescent light bulbs, all we needed to pay attention to was the bulb shape, wattage which indicated the brightness of the bulb and the screw base size to make sure it fits into the lamp

Brightness:

First off, we have to let go of the misconception that wattage equals brightness. While for incandescent bulbs wattage and brightness had a direct correlation, this is not true for LED products and since LED’s consume much less power (Watts), it’s impossible to compare brightness of an incandescent and an LED bulb based on wattage.

 

How do I choose a quality LED lighting manufacturer?

Now a days selecting right LED Lighting manufacturer is getting increasingly complex because of ever increasing vendor base. I have been working as LED Light sourcing consultant for last 5 years and I would like to share few of the pointers out of my experience when you shortlist vendors

Manufacturing setup – This is the most basic criteria to evaluate. You can check for his set up in terms In-house component Mounting equipment, Aging equipment, Photometery and Electrical testing equipment, Packing and Printing equipment, Assembly line, Automation etc. Capacity, quality and maintenance of equipment is critical factor

Processes – Do they have documented and auditable processes for product development, manufacturing, testing, trouble shooting etc?

Manpower quality – What is the strength and quality of manpower in Design, Quality, Production, Administration ?

Sourcing – Do they source components from reputed and established vendors? Process of vendor selection etc

Top Reasons And Ways To Get Rid Of Rodents

Posted on by Pest Control

Easy Tips For Preventing Mouse & Rat Infestation

Remove current rodent occupants

There are two methods for getting rid of mice and rats: trapping and baiting. For trapping, use snap-style traps, which are designed to kills rodents quickly. For baiting, be sure to use tamper-resistant bait stations that hold the baits in place and keep children and pets out. Place both traps or bait along common pathways where you find droppings and gnaw marks. Ledges, fence rails, and foundations are typical paths.

Seal up your home

Close up all holes along your exterior using recommended rodent-proofing materials. Pay particular attention to doors, windows, and vents.

Eliminate outdoor access

Trim back overhanging trees that enable rodents to hop onto your roof. Also, keeping your trees properly pruned gives rodents one less place to hide from predators.

Clean up that yard

Remove piles of debris, clutter, and garbage from around your yard. Plant shrubs and bushes at least 3 feet from buildings. These spaces provide safe habitats for rodents

Remove outdoor food sources

Gardens and fruit trees can be a real draw for rodents. If you have fruit trees, regularly remove dropped fruit from the ground. Keep the tree pruned to prevent hiding spots for rodents. Apply a rat guard to your trees by securing a piece of sheet metal 2 feet high around your tree’s trunk. In the garden, keep it free of rotting food and hiding places. Plant members of the mint family in and around your garden to deter. You can also spray predator urine (such as fox) around the perimeter of your garden as a deterrent. Typically, you can find this at your local garden store in both powder and liquid form

 

How to Get Rid of Mice

Find Their Patterns

Mice are active mostly between dusk and dawn, but you can spot evidence of their activity anytime. That lovely sight of mouse poop is often your first sign—each mouse drops up to 75 of the little black pellets a day!

Choose the Best Mouse Traps

The classic snap traps and modern electronic traps capture mice and make sure they’re gone for good. Snap traps are the least expensive, and they’re reusable or disposable, your choice. With an electronic mouse trap, you don’t have to see any mice or continuously check traps—an indicator light lets you know when one has been caught. If you’d prefer to get them out of your house unharmed, you can use live mouse traps that let you release them far from your home. After the pests are gone, set up PestChaser® rodent repellers that emit ultrasound waves you and your non-rodent pets can’t hear, but that drive mice away.

Pick Bait Wisely

Mice are strongly attracted to high-calorie foods, such as peanut butter, hazelnut spread, and chocolate. In winter, mice build nests with materials like cotton balls, dental floss, yarn, and twine, so they work as bait too. The food that mice have been feeding on in your house, whether that’s pet kibble, birdseed, or candy, may be the best mouse trap bait.

Place Traps in the Best Places

As the rodents primarily travel along walls, you want to set your mouse traps at right angles to walls, with the bait and trigger side closest to the wall. Set a trap every 2 to 3 feet along the walls where you’ve noticed evidence of mice activity. Wear protective gloves when handling mouse traps and bait to keep mice off your scent. (If they sniff out your presence, they may avoid the trap.)

Check and Reset

Look in on your mouse traps the first morning after you set them, and every morning after. Studies show you are likely to catch more mice on the first night you set out traps than on any subsequent night. Be sure to set a lot of mouse traps from the start, so you can capture as many as possible quickly.

 

Rat-Trapping Tips

Rats are one of the most unwelcome yet pervasive creatures that coexist with humanity. Even though no one wants rats around, they gravitate naturally to human dwellings

Considering the toll rats have taken on human populations for centuries, rat traps have long been a necessity, whether in an urban, suburban or rural setting. If the battle between man and rat is being fought on your property, it is crucial to learn the most effective trapping tools — as well as the best bait for a rat trap — in order to win this war. With the following 15 tips, you will have all the facts you need to catch a rat in any situation.

Place Rat Traps in the Right Places

Rats instinctively use walls and fences as guides. Therefore, they are unlikely to roam into the center of a room or yard. As such, traps are usually most effective when placed along a wall and in a low-light setting. Traps are most effective when hidden along paths where rats are most likely to travel.

Bait Traps According to a Rat’s Diet

The best bait for a rat trap could all depend on the species of rat you’re trying to catch. Different species eat different types of food. For instance, black rats are herbivorous creatures, but brown rats are omnivorous by nature. Black rats, which scale trees and enter homes through coin-sized holes in attics, find peanut butter irresistible. Brown rats, which typically rummage through garbage and snake their way inside homes via tiny cracks, can be tempted with a smelly cheese.

Teach Rats to Trust Traps

Even though rats have tiny heads, they are not as naive as people often assume. A rat will be suspicious of new objects in its environment. This applies to rat traps, which could fail to lure prey if placed cold turkey out in the open.

 

TOP TIPS FOR KEEPING RATS AND MICE OUT OF YOUR PROPERTY

HAVE YOU HEARD AN UNEXPLAINED SCRABBLING IN YOUR LOFT, SEEN NIBBLED BITS OF PACKAGING AROUND THE HOUSE, OR FOUND DROPPINGS IN YOUR LARDER?

The long nights are upon us, Christmas is just around the corner, and we are all turning the heating up a little bit higher. This is the time of year you will find you are sharing your home with rodents.

Avid readers of my blog will remember a couple of years ago I received a call from my partner telling me a mouse was in our Christmas tree. Nobody’s house is immune to these pesky little rodents but there are some things you can do to deter a mouse or rat infestation.

Keep food in sealed containers. Rodents love a free and easy meal. This will often be the thing that first encourages them into your property. If you keep your food sealed and hidden, they won’t be encouraged.

Look after your rubbish. Good rubbish management is vital. What we think its inedible, a rodent will think is a banquet. Make sure you employ good bin management, with all foodstuffs being placed in bags in durable bins with lids.

 

How to Get Rid of Mice with Natural Ingredients

Don’t be deceived by Ratatouille, house mice aren’t as friendly (or as clean and sanitary) as Remy. They live in dirty places such as sewers, and that’s how they carry germs and disease into the house

Use coffee powder to match the strong smell of mice

This one material is almost in every house. But why does it have to be coffee powder?  It turns out that mice have a sharp sense of smell, to trace the tracks it leaves behind. Similarly, black coffee powder has a sharp aroma disliked by mice. Hence, it will avoid areas that smell like coffee powder.

Repel mice with Noni Fruit

Another way to repel mice is to use noni fruit, also known as Indian mulberry, among other English names. Apart from its health benefits, this fruit can also repel mice.

Don’t get dumped! Sprinkle your eggshells in rat-infested corners

When making scrambled eggs or omelets in the morning, eggshells are immediately thrown away. But now, you can use it as a rodent repellent at home. When you have an ample amount of eggshells

Rodents hate garlic, just like vampires

Vampires aren’t the only creatures that can not stand garlic. Mice run from it, too. Besides preparing garlic, you will also need to prepare gauze to make a garlic wrapper

Innovations In Pain Management

Posted on by Health

The specialty of chronic pain management

What does a pain management specialist do?

A pain management specialist is a physician with special training in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all different types of pain. Pain is actually a wide spectrum of disorders including acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain and sometimes a combination of these. Pain can also arise for many different reasons such as surgery, injury, nerve damage, and metabolic problems such as diabetes. Occasionally, pain can even be the problem all by itself, without any obvious cause at all.

What should I look for in a pain management specialist?

The most important consideration in looking for a pain management specialist is to find someone who has the training and experience to help you with your particular pain problem and with whom you feel a comfortable rapport. Since many types of chronic pain may require a complex treatment plan as well as specialized interventional techniques, pain specialists today must have more training than in the past, and you should learn about how your pain physician was trained and whether he or she has board certification in pain management.

How can I be referred to a pain management specialist?

The best way to be referred to a pain management specialist is through your primary care physician. Most pain physicians work closely with their patients’ primary care physicians to insure good communication, which in turn helps provide the optimum treatment for their patients. Patients are also often referred by specialists who deal with different types of pain problems. Back surgeons, neurologists, cancer doctors, as well as other specialists usually work regularly with a pain physician and can refer you to one.

What should I expect during my first visit to a pain management specialist?

On your first visit to a pain management specialist, he or she will get to know you and begin to evaluate your particular pain problem. This will usually involve a detailed history, a physical exam and review of tests that you have had performed. The questions you are asked and the physical examination will focus on your particular problem, but your pain physician will want to know about past and current medical history as well.

Often you will be given a questionnaire before your first visit that will ask detailed questions about your pain problem, and you will probably be asked to bring any imaging studies (such as X-rays, computed tomography [CAT] scans, or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans) or other tests that have already been done. You should know before your first visit whether or not a procedure is anticipated. If so, you may need a driver to take you home

 

Tips for Finding a High Quality Pain Management Team

Understanding interdisciplinary pain management

This consists of a team of doctors or health care providers that work with the individual suffering from pain. They use various strategies, interventions, and measurements for self-management which is designed to provide a complete program including communication, assessment, education, treatment, and a follow-up.

Team members vary depending on the program; however, the primary goal is the same which is to assist you in living your life to the fullest. The patient is the top most priority so without the patient’s willingness to participate in the program; there will be nothing in the program that would help him or her to get better. So, the way to success is to be active in the said program

Interdisciplinary pain program

Numerous facilities and practices are available at pain clinics. Here, they do address the particular problems causing pain; however, a complete package is not offered that is required for a person to make progress

The program should provide the patient with the much needed psychological, emotional, and physical components. Therefore, the first step for anyone considering this program is to have a meeting with the team to see whether he or she is comfortable with them or not.

Being uncomfortable with the team would only act as a hindrance to the patient’s progress. The following things should also be remembered when you search for pain programs

 

Pain Clinics – What Are They & What Do They Do?

These are some of the questions we get asked at American RSDHope regarding Pain Clinics. So many patients have no idea what a Pain Clinic is because until they developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome they never had any need to go to one. This will give you some ideas of what a Pain Clinic is

Typically, a pain clinic is a location where doctors offer solutions to intractable pain. Conditions that generally respond well to pain clinic services are arthritis, back pain, and cancer. In addition, migraine headaches, shingles pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome pain frequently respond favorably to pain clinic treatments. Many primary care doctors refer their patients to pain clinics when they have exhausted other methods of pain relief

Generally, pain management that is offered at a pain clinic include a combination of therapies. These treatments include medications, physical therapy, and nerve blocks. In addition, massage therapy is often an effective treatment for pain relief, swelling and stress. Not only does the pain clinic treat acute pain, it also performs diagnostic services to determine where the pain is originating

A pain clinic is a health care facility that focuses on the diagnosis and management of chronic pain. Some specialize in specific diagnoses or in pain related to a specific region of the body. Also called pain management clinics, pain clinics often use a multidisciplinary approach to help people take an active role in managing their pain and regaining control of their life. These programs are focused on the total person, not just the pain.

Although pain clinics differ in their focus and offerings, most involve a team of health care providers that can help you with a variety of strategies to manage your pain. These health care providers are likely to include doctors of different specialties as well as non-physician providers specializing in the diagnosis and management of chronic pain. These providers may include psychologists, physical therapists, and complementary and alternative therapists such as acupuncturists or massage therapists. Together, they will put together a pain management plan for you

 

Know Your Pain Treatment Options

Whether your pain is from arthritis, cancer treatments, fibromyalgia, or an old injury, you need to find a way to get your pain under control. What’s the best approach to do that?

The first step in pain management is scheduling an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause of your pain and learn which pain management approach is often the most effective for it. There are many different pain management options available: You can find the right treatment combination to get the relief you need.

Why Do People Experience Pain Differently?

Pain is real and it’s physical — there’s no mistaking that. But pain is measured and specific to one person based on that person’s perception of the pain, and that’s why everyone’s pain is different.

Pain Management: Treating Mind and Body

Scheman stresses the importance of approaching pain both physically and emotionally and addressing “people as entire human beings.” So while chronic pain medication can be effective and important for pain management for many people, it isn’t the only tool available when it comes to pain treatment, and it shouldn’t be the only tool that’s used.

Medications. “There are a lot of medications that are prescribed for pain,” says Scheman, although she notes that opioids (narcotics) and benzodiazepines may not be the best options. Those treatments “have their own problems, and there are no good studies on using opioids for long periods of time for the treatment of chronic pain.”

 

How To Find Pain Management Doctors Near You

How To Find Pain Management Doctors Near You

Finding pain management doctors near you can be an exhausting task. From recommendations from friends to reviews online, there are so many options for finding one. But, once you’ve found a few you like, how can you narrow down the results to find the one that best suits you? More important, how can you find a doctor that can help you relieve your chronic pain? (And, as we’ll discuss later, how can you make sure you’re the best advocate for your pain as well?)

Talk to your insurance

Your insurance company may have different requirements for finding a doctor in your network. They may require a recommendation from your primary care doctor. Or, they could have a list of out of network and in network providers where you can start your search. Starting here — on the phone with an insurance consultant — is often your best bet for reducing a headache at the end of your search

Ask your primary care doctor

Your primary care doctor likely already knows some of the symptoms and problems you’re experiencing. Talk to them to get more information about what could be causing your pain. If they think it’s appropriate, ask them to recommend pain management doctors you could try in your area. They can also steer you towards great pain management doctors or pain management clinics they’ve worked with in the past

Talk to friends and family

Another important step may be talking to friends and family. Personal opinions are invaluable when finding the best pain management doctors near you. While online reviews or insurance company recommendations may be skewed, your friends or family have your best interests at heart. They can also be more telling when it comes to things like office environment and service, the pain management clinic cleanliness, and how quickly appointments can be scheduled.

Be the CEO of your health

Pain management can feel like a full-time job. Tracking medicines and doctors’ appointments, researching new therapies to replace those that aren’t working, and all the other tasks associated with having a chronic medical condition can easily consume most of your time.

Must Learn How To Setting Laminate Flooring In Your Home

Posted on by Flooring

Laminate Flooring Buying Guide

Laminate in an incredibly popular flooring choice for homeowners across North America. Offering durability and a wide range of style options at wallet friendly prices, laminate flooring will help you transform the look of your home or place of business. Still, deciding on the right laminate is a big decision—and one you don’t want to get wrong. Check out our laminate buying guide to better understand everything you need to know about this type of flooring

There are two types of laminates . One, known as DPL, or Direct Pressure Laminate, the other known as HPL, or High Pressure Laminate. With the HPL process, the backing and top wear layers are treated separately and then fused directly onto the core, creating a very strong floor suitable for very heavy traffic.

HPL laminates consist of the same four layers as in Direct Pressure Laminate, with the fifth layer being a special high-strength paper. HPL flooring is generally more expensive than DPL flooring but many residential applications won’t require this type of floor. To better understand which laminate is right for you

You’ll need more than just the planks of laminate to complete your floor. Underlayment, moldings, transition pieces, trim, even adhesives will need to be part of your installation. Make sure your vendor has all these pieces ready for your job.

You’ll need the right moldings and trim to finish your floor. Ask your flooring retailer if they have pieces that match the laminate you are purchasing. At BuildDirect, many of our laminate flooring options have coordinating moldings available. Paying attention to the smaller details will make your new floor look even better

 

Laminate Floor Buying Guide

Durable laminate flooring looks like real hardwood (without the cost), and is available in many different styles, including oak, walnut, hickory and maple. Laminate is also a great do-it-yourself floor project.

Laminate flooring is a synthetic product made of several layers that are sealed together in the lamination process. Designed to be affordable and durable, laminate flooring consists of four distinct components

Wear Layer

The wear layer helps resist scratches from daily wear, creates an easy-to-clean surface and maintains a fade- and stain-resistant appearance

Décor Layer

The décor layer is a printed image that recreates the natural look of wood, tile or stone.

Core Layer

The core layer gives laminate its structure and dent-resistant properties. Laminate flooring is much more resistant to dents than real hardwood flooring

 

How to Determine Laminate Floor Quality

Laminate floors are designed to look, feel and even sound like real hardwood without the hardwood price tag, and many laminate products also last longer and wear better than the real thing. The wide range of laminate flooring materials on the market can seem overwhelming, especially if you have never installed a laminate floor. To select a new floor that will serve you and your family well for years to come, don’t be afraid to look closely and ask questions. The more you know about the material you choose, the more likely you are to get a good-quality product.

Ask the salesperson about the product’s grade. Laminate floors are graded for quality on a three-level scale: good, better and best. Products with higher grades are likely to be more expensive, so you might not be able to make your decision on this factor alone

Look at a sample of the floor installed in the store. Check the alignment of the boards and look for gaps or unevenness. Good-quality laminate floorboards should lock together seamlessly and create a flat surface

Examine the floor sample to see if you can spot the repeating pattern. Higher-quality laminate floors have patterns with enough variety that they look natural. If the floor looks machine-made, it is of lower quality

Ask the salesperson if the material is direct- or high-pressure. While both processes create functional flooring, high-pressure laminate is a newer technology and often of better quality.

 

Pro Tips and Tricks for Installing Laminate Flooring

Taper both sides of the room

When figuring out the size of your starter row, you also have to make sure the walls are parallel. You may find yourself installing laminate in a room that is 6-inches narrower at one end than at the other. That means you’ll have to rip a severely tapered last row and it’ll look ugly. Unless one side of the room will be forever covered with furniture, you’re better off splitting the difference and tapering both the first and the last rows so neither side will be so noticeable.

Which tape should you use?

All underlayment seams need to be taped. It’s tempting to use whatever tape you find in the pickup, but don’t do it. Some packing tapes and house wrap tapes are too rigid and may cause an annoying crinkling noise when they’re stepped on. Use whatever tape is recommended by the underlayment manufacturer, or buy an underlayment that has built-in seam tape.

Start with a smooth subfloor

Laminate floor systems do not function well on uneven surfaces. Before starting any flooring work, inspect the subfloor. Crawl around with a straightedge to find any areas that are more than 1/8-inch high or low. Subfloor seams are the usual suspects

How to cut laminate flooring

Cutting laminate with a miter saw is a noisy and dusty affair. And walking back and forth to your miter saw isn’t very efficient. Why not cut the planks with a laminate shear—quietly and cleanly—right where they’re going to be installed?

Where to start installation

Installing flooring around doorways is one of the thorniest issues you’ll deal with. Simplify it by starting on the wall that has the most doorways. Of course, you’ll still have to undercut jambs and trim, but it’s a lot easier starting at a doorway than ending up at one.

 

How To Choose Laminate Flooring: A Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to flooring, there are several materials that will confront you, each with a promise of being a good choice. Among others, however, one of the options that can be taken into consideration would be laminate flooring. The latter is popular not only because of its aesthetic appeal, but also because of its durability, versatility, ease of maintenance, and affordability. However, these benefits can be enjoyed only if you choose the best option available on the market. With this, keep on reading and we will provide you with more insights on how to choose laminate flooring.

Types Of Laminate Flooring

The first thing that you have to do is to choose which type is preferred. Engineered wood is the perfect choice if you have the budget and if you prefer a natural appearance. It has a thin hardwood on the top, which might make it prone to dents and scratches. Through sanding and refinishing, however, its original appearance can be restored. This makes it longer-lasting compared to its counterpart. The second option is a plastic laminate. This is lower priced and the ideal choice in an area that often gets wet. They can withstand moisture, as well as high traffic areas.

Thickness Of Laminate Flooring

This is one thing that is often ignored by many people, in spite of its importance. It is better to choose a thicker laminate, which means that it is going to withstand wear and tear. It can also resist bending and can reduce noise. Take a look at the AC rating of the laminate flooring to decide which one is best for your needs. AC1 is ideal for bedrooms and other spaces where you expect minimal foot traffic. AC2, on the other hand, is for medium foot traffic. AC3, meanwhile, is for high-foot traffic portions, such as the kitchen. AC4 and AC5, on the other hand, are ideal for commercial areas

Aesthetics Of Laminate Flooring

The design and overall look of laminate flooring will also be an essential consideration. In this case, consider the colour that you want, which should complement the interior of the space where it will be installed. More so, you also have to take a look at the texture, which will greatly impact the way it looks. You can choose high-gloss if you prefer it to have a mirror finish. You can also consider hand-scraped, which is pressed and looks like true hand-scraped wood.

Where To Buy Laminate Flooring

At the end of the day, the most important thing that should be taken into account would be the reputation of the seller of laminate flooring. Make sure to read reviews and consult with what other people are saying. By choosing a reputable seller such as The Floor Shop, you can be confident about the quality of the product being offered, as well as installation. They should also have an extensive warranty coverage, which can provide you with peace of mind. You should look at multiple sellers and do your research thoroughly before coming to a final decision

Tips To Do Self Drywall Repairs

Posted on by Painter

Tips for Working with Drywall

We’ve hung and patched and primed and finished our fair share of drywall. Check out this compilation of tips for working with drywall to make your next build or repair easier

Use Setting Compound for Big Holes

It’s fine to fill screw holes and other small wall dings with patching compound, but for dime-size and larger drywall repairs, and for holes that are deep, it’s best to use a joint compound that sets up by a chemical reaction. These are available in powder form with setting times ranging from five to 90 minutes. The reaction starts when you mix in the water, and the compound hardens in the specified time. The five-minute version is nice because you can buy the powder in a convenient 5-lb. box, and the compound hardens quickly, so you can apply another coat right away. Remember, setting-type compounds are harder to sand than regular patching materials, so make sure to strike them off flush to the surface when you fill the hole. You’ll find setting-type compounds wherever drywall taping supplies are sold.

Make a Dent for the Patching Compound

When you remove a nail, drywall anchor or picture hanger, there is usually a little ridge of old paint or drywall sticking out that’s hard to cover with patching material. The solution is to make a dent over the hole, and then fill the dent. Most good-quality putty knives have a rounded hard plastic or brass end on the handle that works perfectly for making the dent. The rounded end of a screwdriver handle or the handle of a utility knife will also work. Press the handle against the hole and twist it slightly while applying pressure to dent the surface, or if you have good aim, use your denting tool like a hammer

Cover Cracks with Repair Spray

Stress cracks usually show up around window and door openings. The cracks are the result of framing movement and are hard to fix permanently. But using spray-on crack repair is a good way to at least extend the life of your repair. The spray forms a flexible membrane over the crack that can stretch and relax as the building moves.

Rent a Drywall Lift for Ceiling Work

If you have to drywall a ceiling, don’t hesitate to rent a lift. It’s well worth the daily rental fee and is by far the best way to get a ceiling up without back strain. Drywall lifts break down into three parts and fit easily into a midsize car. After you reassemble it, release the catch on the wheel and crank it up and down a few times to make sure it’s working smoothly. Then lock the lift and hoist one end of the drywall sheet up to the support hook—finish side down. Now lift the other end of the sheet up and slide it onto the second hook as shown. Lift slowly and smoothly—abrupt or jerky handling can pop the front edge of the drywall off the hook.

 

Tips for Patching Drywall

Before you paint a wall you have to prepare the surface, which inevitably involves patching. It’s one of the most important steps. But sometimes it takes more than just a can of spackling and a small putty knife to get good results. Here are some wall patching tips and products that will help you speed up the job, avoid problems and end up with a flawless wall.

Use Self-Priming Filler

Patches made with traditional patching materials need to be primed with a sealing-type primer before painting. Otherwise the patched areas could show through the finished paint job as foggy spots. But if you patch with a self-priming patching material, you can avoid this extra step. There are several brands; just look for the words ‘self-priming’ or ‘with primer’ on the container.

Use Setting Compound for Big Holes

It’s fine to fill screw holes and other small wall dings with patching compound, but for dime-size and larger drywall repairs, and for holes that are deep, it’s best to use a joint compound that sets up by a chemical reaction. These are available in powder form with setting times ranging from five to 90 minutes. The reaction starts when you mix in the water, and the compound hardens in the specified time. The five-minute version is nice because you can buy the powder in a convenient 5-lb. box, and the compound hardens quickly, so you can apply another coat right away. Remember, setting-type compounds are harder to sand than regular patching materials, so make sure to strike them off flush to the surface when you fill the hole. You’ll find setting-type compounds wherever drywall taping supplies are sold

Make a Dent for the Patching Compound

When you remove a nail, drywall anchor or picture hanger, there is usually a little ridge of old paint or drywall sticking out that’s hard to cover with patching material. The solution is to make a dent over the hole, and then fill the dent. Most good-quality putty knives have a rounded hard plastic or brass end on the handle that works perfectly for making the dent. The rounded end of a screwdriver handle or the handle of a utility knife will also work. Press the handle against the hole and twist it slightly while applying pressure to dent the surface, or if you have good aim, use your denting tool like a hammer

Cover Cracks with Repair Spray

Stress cracks usually show up around window and door openings. The cracks are the result of framing movement and are hard to fix permanently. But using spray-on crack repair is a good way to at least extend the life of your repair. The spray forms a flexible membrane over the crack that can stretch and relax as the building moves.

 

Tips for Hiring a Drywall Contractor

Drywall is paneling used to make interior walls and ceilings. When done right it looks smooth, like one surface, rather than all the individual panels. That’s why it’s important to hire the best drywall contractor for the job, which sometimes isn’t the cheapest. However, if the wall is warped or it’s easy to see the panels, then you won’t be as happy with the result. Here’s a list of tips to help you hire the right drywall contractor for the job

Looking for a Drywall Contractor

You know you need a good drywall contractor, but starting the search can be difficult. A good way to start is through referrals. Asking friends, partners, or contacting the AWCI (Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry) can give you a good place to start. Another way to search for businesses is on the internet. There you can request quotes and look at reviews and photos and ask for referrals. Once you’ve narrowed down who you’re interested in, you can start interviewing potential drywall contractors.

Interviewing Drywall Contractors

It’s important to ask the right questions of anyone who might do work for you. Questions shouldn’t just be how much they think the job will cost, ask questions about the company. Questions about the age of the company and the company history are relevant to any work you will have done. If the company has a recent bankruptcy, then you need assurances that the job can be completed. You should know what licensing they have if they have insurance, who pulls permits, and how they resolve disputes. These questions give you a view of the legitimacy of the drywall contractor. These questions let you know about the business, but you also need to know about the job and how they operate

Contract Negotiation

Once you’ve decided which drywall contractor to hire it’s time to negotiate a contract. It’s important to have a couple of things in the contract. The first is to have the estimate or actual price in the contract with clear language as to which it is. If possible get an itemized estimate or actual price at the time of signing. This lets you know exactly why you’re being charged and what you’re being charged. And if the price changes over time, you can see where it changed and why

These tips and questions will prepare you for hiring a drywall contractor, that way you hire the best company for the job. It’s important to remember that the cheapest bidder might not be the best company for the job. Because drywall is one of those elements that everyone notices if it’s not done well. And it’s worth having the job done right the first time.

 

Tips For Hiring a Drywall Contractor

Like painting, drywalling is a very labor-intensive technique. In addition the drywall installer and taper has to be skilled because any imperfections will be picked up long after the painters have left. This is why a great emphasis should be placed on hiring the right drywall contractor for the job.

Drywalling is actually two separate jobs. The first part is the sheetrock installation which entails cutting, shaping, putting the panels into place and then fastening them. The second part includes taping the seams and then sealing both these and the screw heads with drywall compound. This latter process revolves around coating and sanding these surfaces until the walls and corners are smooth and you can’t tell where one sheet begins and the other ends

Preparation

If you take a look at a finished wall in any home it looks like a seamless flow of color which is only interrupted by the corners. And these looked like they have been hewed from a single block with a precision saw blade. Only your previous knowledge of building will tell you differently. However, the drywall job is only as good as the framework to which it is fastened

Hiring the Drywall Contractor

As nothing is more infuriating to a homeowner than to see bulges and rifts on a finished wall you can’t hire just anyone to drywall your home. There are ways to find out the ones who will do the best job. A drywalling company can cost in the realm of $25 to $45 per hour per person for sheetrock installation and drywall taping so they are not cheap. This is why you have to follow a few guidelines

Finding a Contractor

This can be accomplished through a variety of places like the internet, home building stores and word-of-mouth. Usually home building places are good because they know the credit history of all the contractors and can give you an idea of who is trustworthy. Web sites like HandyAmerican.com can provide you with detailed information about contractors rated and reviewed by your neighbors

 

How to Repair Drywall

Drywall is relatively simple to install and easy to repair. It’s also easy to repair badly, which can leave a lumpy mess that declares “shoddy” to anyone who enters the room.

It’s best to do a repair with three or four thin coats of compound–if possible leaving sanding for just the last coat. Also, “the most important thing with a repair is to build the joint out wider than you would normally,” says drywall contractor Rick Schwartz, who serves as secretary treasurer of Marietta Drywall in Marietta, Ga. The key is to leave a wide and very shallow slope on all sides, he says.

A drywall repair toolkit is simple. It consists of flexible knives in 3-, 6- and 8-in. widths, an inside-corner knife, a utility knife, a hammer, a screwdriver, a drywall saw and a drill. Some repairs also may require a hand sander, a hacksaw, a nail bar and a level. Chances are good that you already own these. As for materials, drywall compound, mesh tape, paper tape, drywall nails and screws take care of most repairs

Watch The Weight

If you have several large repairs to do and you’ll be buying a sheet or two of drywall, be advised that a sheet of regular 1/2-in. drywall weighs about 1.7 pounds per square foot. That means a 1/2-in. 4 x 8-ft. sheet weighs a bit more than 54 pounds (a 3/8-in. sheet weighs almost 45 pounds). If you stand it on edge and it falls over, someone–especially a child–could get hurt.

Beware Of BucketsFive-gal. compound buckets pose a drowning or suffocation hazard to small children–when they are new and filled with compound, or later after they are cleaned and used for car washing and other jobs

Tips To Find Good Commercial Cleaning

Posted on by Cleaning

TIPS AND TRICKS TO FINDING THE RIGHT COMMERCIAL CLEANING COMPANY

Talk to business owners you know

Whenever you are looking for decent goods or services, one of the best ways to go about it is to get referrals from people you know and trust. Ask them what kinds of cleaning services they need and where they found the commercial cleaning company they use. You should ask more than just if they like working with the company but find out where and how they found them and what the process to find them was like.

Go with someone who is local to you

Given the number of commercial cleaning companies you have to choose from, you should be able to go with one that is located near you. If the company is headquartered near you, you may be able to get a faster response if you need something done quickly. For example, if you have a problem and need a special clean up done right away, you might be able to get the cleaning company to your location sooner than if they are a franchise with a headquarters states away.

Talk to a few commercial cleaning companies

Before you hire a commercial cleaning services company, it is important to take the time to talk to at least three. While you are doing that, you should make sure you get detailed estimates from all three. It is important to get the quotes in writing so that it is easier to compare and contrast. Another reason is that once you have contracted with a commercial cleaning company if you find they are not doing things as proposed or you have other issues, you can refer back to the paperwork you were given.

Ask them all about the kind of insurance they carry

You need to make sure they have the appropriate amount of workers’ compensation and liability insurance. You should ask them about it but you also need to do what you can to verify everything that they tell you. If they do not carry the right amount of either kind of insurance, you can be on the hook for a lot if something should happen. Any amount of time you spend checking on this will be worth it when you gave greater peace of mind once you have signed on with a commercial cleaning services company

Ask about the cleaning products they use

ou should seek out a company that uses green cleaning products. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor pollution levels can be anywhere between two and five times greater than those outside in a home. This difference can be even greater in businesses. One way to make your workspace healthier is to hire a commercial cleaning company that uses healthier products.

 

Tips to Finding the Best Office Cleaning Services

Proof of Insurance

Let’s start with the basics – proof of insurance is one of the first things to look for prior to moving to other considerations. Liability insurance protects you against costs that may be incurred in the case a cleaner becomes injured at the workplace

Excellent Reputation

Professionals in the field need to have a big number of satisfied clients. The happiness of former customers stands as evidence of effectiveness and quality. Look for online testimonials – they can provide a lot of important information

Flexibility and Customization

Every business has highly specific cleaning needs. Whether your office is a small one or the company employs hundreds of people, you have to make sure that the office cleaning services you’re interested in can be customized.

Variety of Services and Cost Considerations

Some offices have much more specific cleaning needs than others. Cleaning companies that offer an array of services will be much better prepared to address these needs than cleaners who specialize in just a few basic processes.

Ease of Communication

This is a factor that some business owners underestimate. Ease of communication is incredibly important when choosing a service provider. Make sure that the cleaning company you intend to partner up with understands your needs and is ready to communicate thoroughly to maximize benefits for the client.

 

Tips For Finding The Perfect Commercial Cleaner

Find Someone Who Is Qualified And Experienced

The first thing that you should look for when it comes to choosing the perfect cleaning company for your commercial needs is their qualifications and experience. While cleaning isn’t necessarily a job which requires a lot of qualifications, they certainly help, and they can provide proof that the cleaner in question is well equipped to handle your work.

Where possible, you should always work with commercial cleaners who have a well established company and who have been in the business for a decent amount of time. Find someone who has qualifications relating to the type of building you have – commercial, residential or industrial – and who has decent cleaning equipment and materials

Find Out About The Company’s Cleaning Policies

Depending on your views and the type of business you have, the policies of a cleaning company may or may not be important to you. If you are looking for environmentally friendly cleaning service, you should always ask about a company’s green cleaning policy. Find out what sort of chemicals they use, and ask them if they are willing to use non-toxic chemicals and cleaning methods when working in your building.

Read About Their Reputation & Past Reviews

A cleaning company’s reputation can speak volumes about the quality of their work and how they are likely to perform in the future. If a company has a good reputation that has been built through years of hard work, then they will probably do a good job cleaning your building. However, you should be wary of companies who have a weak reputation or who haven’t been in business long.

If you want more information about a company’s past performance, then a quick internet search will usually turn up a range of reviews from past customers. Choose a cleaning contractor with good past reviews and who worked well for past clients.

 

Five Tips To Consider When Choosing A Commercial Cleaning Company

Look for an Experienced, Well-established Commercial Cleaning Company

Well established and has been in the cleaning industry for several years and which possesses the experience, workforce, and skills required to provide a thorough cleaning

Find Out More About the Services the Cleaning Company Provides

Apart from vacuuming and dusting, what other services does the company or companies you are considering provide?

Find Out More About the Company’s Policy on Staff Training Requirements

The cleaning company you are considering should be one that offers its new staff comprehensive training, prepares its workforce to use the latest cleaning equipment and materials, and continually educates them on the latest health and safety protocols and new cleaning techniques.

Examine their Standards and Certifications

It is imperative to ensure that the cleaning company you are considering holds the highest certifications and maintains/adheres to stringent standards of cleaning excellence such as the Sunshine Quality Assurance Program. Also, make sure that the company is fully insured and bonded

Find Out If They Are Committed to Green Cleaning

Green cleaning refers to taking a more holistic approach to cleaning and caring for buildings, those inhabiting them, and the environment at large by using materials and practices that are health-and-eco-conscious

 

tips for hiring a commercial cleaning company

Do they have experience?

If you hire an experienced cleaning company, you can be confident that the job will be done to the highest standard possible. Whist a new company may show potential, it’s just not worth the risk. An established business means that they have built up a good reputation, treat their cleaners with respect and will have a good client base who trust their services

Do they understand your business?

Are you responsible for a Doctor’s surgery, call centre or based in an office? It makes all the difference to how the facility should be cleaned. Tell your prospect cleaning company, so they can understand how to best approach the cleaning regime. The type of building that your business operates will affect the cleaning company you should hire. There are a few things that the cleaning company will need to know. For example, the square footage, types of flooring, number of rooms etc

What should the cleaning schedule look like?

How often do you need your workplace cleaned? And what times would be the most convenient for your business? Schools are often cleaned every afternoon ready for the next morning. Whereas sports centres might be first thing in the morning before opening or in the night after closing. If your business operates 24 hours, then you can pick a quiet time

Can they clean to the right standard?

It’s important to your cleaning company to know what’s important to you about your workplace. Why are immaculate cleaning standards important and what impact will it have if standards were to slip? Hygiene and safety are key in schools and hospitals to keep pupils and patients safe from injury and illness. 710,000 patients a year are infected from dirty wards. Make sure they are ready to clean at the standard you need.

What work environment do you want to create?

What kind of environment do you want to create for your employees and/or customers? It’s so important to create a positive working environment. Reception and client facing areas need to be welcoming and calm, whereas offices need to be clean and organised to help with productivity. Check out the benefits of a clean office here. We love to hear our clients talk with passion about their workplace. If something is important to you – then it’s important to us and our cleaners.