Besides the usual tips on how to select construction and maintenance contractors, here’s a few ‘advanced’ questions you should before deciding on hiring one.

1. Do they offer warranties?
Nothing is perfect so it’s good to know that they have your back covered just in case they commit an error in their work or if there are unexpected defects on the materials that they used.

2. Do they follow construction codes?
You might to do some research on this because different states have different building/construction codes. Building codes are meant to set a standard of safety to that aims to protect the general public.

3. Ask if their construction liability and workers compensation insurance are in order.
Because accidents can happen anytime.

Sources:
windowcontractorsdc.com
wikipedia

A short note about replacement windows. Modern  technology has allowed us to get superior windows compared to the windows of old. Here are some advanteges of new replacement windows:

1. The materials and processes used by new windows are simply better than old windows and this translates to less repair and maintenance costs for new windows.

2. Old windows have a high probability of bending out of shape over time and this can cause drafts to make their way into your home’s interior.

3. Frequent usage of windows can wear out old hardware.

4. New windows are available in a wider range of styles that and can  be custom built or fitted into any home.

Here’s a glossary of plumbing terms for all you homeowners out there (although this is still a work in progress). Brought to you by the beautiful people over at DC plumbing contractors. Go visit their site if you live near the capitol and need some plumbing works done on your home.

Plumber - Someone who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing systems. The most famous plumber in the world are the Super Mario Bros.

Pipes - a hollow cylinder of metal, wood, or other material, used for the conveyance of water, gas, steam, petroleum, etc.

Fixture - A receptacle or device from which water is dispensed and/or drained, such as a bath, toilet, or faucet. Warning: these are not glory holes.

Sump Pump - a suction pump for removing liquid from a sump (water collecting pit that are commonly found in basements)

Sewer - favorite hangout of pizza-eating-mutant-ninja-turtles and some outcast mutants. Sewers are actually artificial conduit for carrying waste materials and rainwater.

Septic System - small scale on-site systems designed to safely dispose bilogical sanitary waste. These are used on houses that have no connection to the public sewer system.

Septic Tanks -is a vital component of the septic system. The term septic refers to refers to the bacterial environment that develops in the tank and which decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank. For a detailed info, check out how stuff works

Hey there guys! We’ll be taking a short break from home improvement topics and talk about renting small offices. I just noticed that a lot of people, mostly entrepreneurs and freelancers, are now working from home thanks to technology. They do this mostly because they save money on rent, as well as saving both time and money on commute.

However, these same entrepreneurs or freelancers that setup a home office will quickly want to move in or to acquire a separate office space once they achieve some level of success. These people admit that although they save money by working from home, they are usually distracted by all the stuff and their family at home. Working from home can also arise to privacy issues (you wouldn’t want a stranger knocking on your door at midnight) and it does not convey a professional image for some people.

The answer is to rent out keyman or executive office spaces. These are usually a one room office perfect for a one man team or a company with remote workers. It’s cheaper than a traditional office space so it’s perfect for those starting out or on a budget and most are located in prime business locations to give you a more professional image.

Chris is remodeling! I knew this site shared some remodeling tips years ago but then I forgot all about it. I was cleaning up my bookmarks a few days ago and they had a message on their front page that said: “true to our name, we’re remodeling our site”

I then visited the site again today and saw that it’s already up. I don’t know if the real Chris is still the owner, but they pretty much use the simplistic design. Don’t let the layout fool you as the information they share in the site are one of the best home remodeling ideas around. However, I think the renovation is still ongoing as they were some pages that I was able to access hours ago but are now gone.

Just like in any real DIY projects, renovating your own home is not just a one-time gig, but a process of continuous improvement and work.

Hey all! Happy thanksgiving! I came across this site while on thanks giving holiday break: roofingdc.com.

I think it’s a great resource site for all dc homeowners who are about to embark on a roofing project. It’s essentially a mini-directory of DC roofing contractors listing contact info of companies, while also providing some information on how a homeowner can do his due diligence when selecting a contractor. It’s for dc residents but everyone should definitely check this out.

Go eat that turkey and don’t forget to thank your tools for all their hard work!

Choosing a painting contractor in Bethesda MAryland is quite tough. A quick look at the yellow pages reveal several contractors to choose from. However, what is listed in the yellow pages about these painting companies are not really helpful since the yellow pages only give a limited amount of information.

Fortunately for us, the internet has given these great painting contractors in Bethesda a rich venue to showcase their work and their services.

Visit www.paintersinbethesda.com for an unbiased look at painting services in the locale.