Top Ten Tips for Laying Concrete

Top Ten Tips for Laying Concrete

There’s no requirement to be intimidated by laying concrete – it becomes an easy material to do business with and incredibly versatile. The only thing to consider is that it’s hard to correct mistakes that have got made them, so always plan carefully before you begin. Our top ten tips should aid you in getting an excellent result.

1. Don’t lay new concrete over old concrete

Laying new concrete over old concrete will result in merely one thing – cracks. Before laying new concrete you have to completely separate the existing concrete and compact the surface.

2. Always use clean sand and gravel

Don’t attempt to save money by scraping up some gravel from your old driveway or pinching a certain amount of sand through the beach – always buy clean products from your local building product supplier. Even small amounts of foreign matter can ruin a full batch of concrete.

3. Be stingy with water

Too much water in your mix will weaken your concrete, causing it to shrink as it hardens. See the tip below about judging as soon as your mix is correct – don’t forget it’s better to increase the water when you need it than to take it away.

4. Concrete can burn

The concrete mix can burn your epidermis whether or not this enters connection with it, so dress sensibly in long sleeves and long pants and wear gloves as well as strong boots and safety goggles.

5. Judging a workable mix

A good concrete mix needs to be dull in appearance – a ‘shine’ to your mix probably means that there’s too much water inside the mix. To judge whether your mix is simply too wet or too dry, draw a shovel tip too much of the mix to go away a few …

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Top 10 Questions to Ask Your New Home Builder

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your New Home Builder

You’ve thought we would please take a big step and turn your dream home into a reality. Congratulations! Building a home can be a very rewarding experience.

One from the initial decisions you have to make before participating in the exciting means of transforming up your eyes into the truth is selecting the right builder in your case. Not just any builder are you going to do. You want to discover the builder which includes experience building the type of home you wish to buy, along with a builder that is certainly committed to working together with you every step of the way.

The answer to creating the house of your dreams is usually to ask a lot of questions ahead of the process ever gets started. The salesman is not only there to market a home but is also a valuable source of information.

What sort of questions in case you ask? The most obvious first questions are “How much will it cost?” and “When will the home be finished.” Also, this list of questions supplies a useful kick-off point to help you ask your most significant questions.

1. What is a good plan design for your needs? Be prepared to list your top needs, desires, and must-have’s.

2. Is there flexibility within the floor plan? Can a bedroom, bathroom, fireplace or covered patio be added in?

3. What are the standard features? Is everything I see inside your model home a standard feature?

4. How do you equate to other builders? Why are your prices higher/lower?

5. After I sign anything with the salesman, that’s my “go-to” person? How do I contact this individual?

6. Are there any additional fees concerning the home or development?

7. What form of warranty is provided?

8. How many years contains the …

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How to Deal With a Home Contractor

How to Deal With a Home Contractor

One of the very stressful things a family group can perform is usually to choose to remodel their house. It is essential you are sure that what exactly you need done when you talk with anyone. You may want to start using a designer or architect before you decide to ever speak to a contractor. In this article I will present you with some pointers when choosing a contractor.

First, you would like to do some study in picking a contractor. Ask relatives for names of contractors they have addressed and trust. Look inside classifieds and make appointments to interview different contractors. Make sure you request references and where you can meet with the clients and see the task which was done.

Second, since you have some names that you simply feel you can depend on, get bids face to face. You will be very surprised how different the bids might be. You don’t always wish to go along with the lowest priced or perhaps the most expensive doesn’t mean it will always supply the best work. You need to guarantee the job is going to be performed correcly in a timely manner.

Third, now you have selected a contractor be sure to possess a written contract spelling out all of the job that would be to be done and all of the products to get used and purchased. You do not want any surprises after the position. You want them to also guarantee that the job will likely be done promptly. You want a starting date and an approximate finishing date. Before the task is started you want to ensure your contractor includes a certificate of insurance. Protecting from all of that could get it wrong.

Lastly, in case you have thought we would re-model your own home you …

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How to Estimate the Building Cost of Your New Home

How to Estimate the Building Cost of Your New Home

Estimating the building charges are probably just about the most frequent questions you’d like to learn if you are planning to develop your new house. However, fat loss for anyone to resolve this question accurately without first knowing your requirements and requirements about the house and considering a few other factors like the quality of materials to be utilized, the price tag on your house plan, the service charge of the property builder and the like.

The very first thing to do is usually to get hold of your local home builders. Set a gathering with these to inquire about personally to the usual price you pay for your home similar to the size, style, features and quality towards the home you desire to develop. They will tell you just how much it will cost for every square foot of your home construction. They will also supply you with a good estimation of the amount your house might cost.

Aside from asking some home builders near your home, try doing a search online for some websites that feature house and land packages and display properties for sale. Try also checking several new properties for sale in your town or community to give you estimation about the cost of the square footage of the house. Then compare your gathered information for the price provided by your home builder to determine which of which have good prices. However, you should not just be focused about the expense of the dwelling cost; instead take also into account the house construction’s quality and value. Check for the type of material used and find out when they are durable and resilient. Always remember, that it is better to invest for any new house with a higher price but excellent over a cheaper house though less …

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Benefits of Concrete Construction

Benefits of Concrete Construction

Have you ever thought of spending a little extra on the investment of a CONCRETE home? Well, think about this… Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, etc. have demolished thousands of homes, while concrete homes remain standing after the devastation. Natural disasters that we have no control over could easily take away that roof over your head. However, with a concrete home, your investment is well protected. In essence, you get what you pay for… Spend a little more now on a concrete home that is sturdy and reliable; Save more over the lifetime of the home.

The many other benefits of concrete construction include:

Strength

 Ability to withstand hurricanes, floods, and other serious weather conditions, concrete acts as a barrier to these elements and natural disasters.

Beauty

Concrete offers design flexibility with size and shape. Large or small, round or squared, a concrete home can be designed to your liking. Also, designs can be easily stamped into concrete to create beautiful patterns.

Fire Safety

Recognized by insurance companies as being the safest form of construction when threatened by fire, concrete slows the spread of flames. In turn, it minimizes damage caused by fire and could potentially save lives.

Water Damage Prevention

Due to its solidity, concrete has a great resistance to water damage and leakage.

Insect Resistant

Insects are less likely to infest solid concrete structures, in comparison with wood-framed homes.

Quiet and Comfortable

Acting as a barrier to sound, concrete homes are quieter than wood-frame counterparts. Concrete also prevents air leakage, which keeps homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Environmentally Friendly

Ingredients of concrete (water, aggregate, and cement) are abundant in supply and take a lesser toll in their extraction than other construction materials. Processes are energy efficient with minimal waste.

Long term cost savings

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