While a house fire may be one of the most preventable disasters to happen to a home, a wildfire can be one of the least preventable on a small scale. Prevention of wildfires requires that a large number of people do what they can to make sure that the wildfires that do start are not manmade, but this awareness is only just now starting to catch on. When the fire is creeping toward your home, you are not likely to care what caused it, only what you can do to slow it down and in fact, there are a few different things that you can do to minimize the damage.
You may enjoy living in a more rural area, but you are at a disadvantage when it comes to wildfires because this is where they begin. One of the bad things about living in a rural area is that fire departments are not as prevalent, so the response to your home may not be as quick as you need it to be.
If you are contemplating having a home built for you, have it made of fire-resistant materials. Houses with an exterior made of brick, stone, or even metal will resist catching on fire much more than those that have exteriors made of wood or vinyl siding.
The most important exterior surface of your home is the roof. This is the largest surface area on the exterior of your home and it should be made of fire-resistant materials instead of the traditional wooden or oil-based shingles. Everyone knows that oil catches on fire very easily, so if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, you may want to have another roofing material put on your home. Something else to do with your roof if a wildfire is nearby is to wet it down with the garden hose. This will give a little extra protection against the firebrands that are being carried in the air by the wind. Wetting the exterior walls of the house and wood decks is also a very good idea.
Do not allow any dead vegetation to build up in the yard. This includes grass cuttings, sticks, dead plants, and leaves. If a wildfire starts before you have a chance to get these dead organic materials cleaned up, all you can do is soak them and the rest of the yard with water via the hose and hope for the best.
Trees should also not be located close to the house, especially if the branches hang over the roof.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Nevada Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Texas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors companies across the united states.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Hiring a Contractor to Build Your House
When you want to build a new home, you have to go through quite a few things to get it just right. You have to find the property that you want the home built on, find out what the cost of running electricity and water to the property will cost, as well as telephone lines, among other costs. Figuring out just what kind of home you want to build is also a problem, particularly if you are not the only one that is going to be living in the home. After you do all that, the next step is hiring the right contractor and determining what kind of materials you want the home built out of.
Select at least a few different licensed contractors to choose from first and get three or more different bids. This will give you a few options and will give you a general idea of how much it will cost to build your home. Make sure that the contractor’s license is current and that there has not been any claims filed against it. Get a list of references from each of the contractors you are considering and call as many of them as you can. Visit their homes and ask if you can view the property and determine the quality of the work. You should not worry about this too much, since most new homeowners really enjoy showing off their new home. Ask if they have had any problems with mold or water damage due to faulty construction and factor this into your decision on whether to choose that contractor.
When asking for a bid on a building project, you should give every contractor that you are considering the exact same set of building plans and materials. Giving them different sets of plans will be pretty pointless, since you only have the money to build one home (we assume).
When you finally do choose a contractor, you need to ask when they will be able to start and about how long it will take them to complete the project. Also obtain copies of any insurance policies that they have (and they should have them, if not, do not hire them) and store them in a job folder that you will use to keep track of payments and other important project-related information, such as a copy of your contract.
The bid on the project should be broken down to each specific aspect of the building of the home, such as the framing of it, the electric system, the plumbing, installation of drywall, molding, and etcetera.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Nebraska Flood Damage cleanup and other states and cities such as
New York mold remediation companies across the united states.
Select at least a few different licensed contractors to choose from first and get three or more different bids. This will give you a few options and will give you a general idea of how much it will cost to build your home. Make sure that the contractor’s license is current and that there has not been any claims filed against it. Get a list of references from each of the contractors you are considering and call as many of them as you can. Visit their homes and ask if you can view the property and determine the quality of the work. You should not worry about this too much, since most new homeowners really enjoy showing off their new home. Ask if they have had any problems with mold or water damage due to faulty construction and factor this into your decision on whether to choose that contractor.
When asking for a bid on a building project, you should give every contractor that you are considering the exact same set of building plans and materials. Giving them different sets of plans will be pretty pointless, since you only have the money to build one home (we assume).
When you finally do choose a contractor, you need to ask when they will be able to start and about how long it will take them to complete the project. Also obtain copies of any insurance policies that they have (and they should have them, if not, do not hire them) and store them in a job folder that you will use to keep track of payments and other important project-related information, such as a copy of your contract.
The bid on the project should be broken down to each specific aspect of the building of the home, such as the framing of it, the electric system, the plumbing, installation of drywall, molding, and etcetera.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Nebraska Flood Damage cleanup and other states and cities such as
New York mold remediation companies across the united states.
Information on Water Damaged Paper Materials
When you have a large amount of books and papers in your home, knowing how to salvage these items in case of a flood or hurricane is a good idea, especially if these items are old or of any particular sentimental value. Most cellulose-based materials react basically the same way to water: they absorb it. But, depending on what exactly the material is made out of, how old it is, and what condition the paper was in before it was submerged into the water. Knowing as much as you can about your book collection, particularly if it contains antique books or other paper materials, will help you be able to save these items should a catastrophe occur.
Some materials can absorb anywhere from 10 percent all the way up to 200 percent of their original weight in water. Any papers or books that were made before the year 1840 can absorb some fairly large amounts of water, up to around 80 percent. These older materials are also very sensitive to mold growth after they have been under water for some time.
The majority of the damage to books is the block of papers that make up the pages of the book becoming partially or wholly detached from the binding of the book. This happens because the water that was absorbed by the papers and the cardboard binding causes them to swell up and the glue used to bind them together no longer holds the pages in their intended places. This is usually noticed once the materials have already started to dry out by themselves and the humidity in the local environment falls under 70 percent.
If the books that you own are old and are made of leather or vellum, these can usually be salvaged as long as you use some carefully controlled drying techniques. Very old leather and vellum materials should not be mixed up with other newer materials of the same nature, since new leather covered books are usually chemically treated in some way.
When you start trying to dry out your books and papers after a flood is over with, the first thing that you need to do is try to stabilize the area as far as humidity. The humidity should be lowered to around 65 percent and any standing water that still exists in the home should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible. If the humidity outside is lower than it is inside, opening the doors and windows should also help.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Montana Flood Damage Cleanup
companies and
Water Damage Restoration" companies across the united states.
Some materials can absorb anywhere from 10 percent all the way up to 200 percent of their original weight in water. Any papers or books that were made before the year 1840 can absorb some fairly large amounts of water, up to around 80 percent. These older materials are also very sensitive to mold growth after they have been under water for some time.
The majority of the damage to books is the block of papers that make up the pages of the book becoming partially or wholly detached from the binding of the book. This happens because the water that was absorbed by the papers and the cardboard binding causes them to swell up and the glue used to bind them together no longer holds the pages in their intended places. This is usually noticed once the materials have already started to dry out by themselves and the humidity in the local environment falls under 70 percent.
If the books that you own are old and are made of leather or vellum, these can usually be salvaged as long as you use some carefully controlled drying techniques. Very old leather and vellum materials should not be mixed up with other newer materials of the same nature, since new leather covered books are usually chemically treated in some way.
When you start trying to dry out your books and papers after a flood is over with, the first thing that you need to do is try to stabilize the area as far as humidity. The humidity should be lowered to around 65 percent and any standing water that still exists in the home should be gotten rid of as quickly as possible. If the humidity outside is lower than it is inside, opening the doors and windows should also help.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Montana Flood Damage Cleanup
companies and
Water Damage Restoration" companies across the united states.
Mold On Your Property
Mold growing in our homes can cause a lot of damage to both the home’s structure and to our health and it typically grows in areas of our homes that are dark, damp, and/or warm. Any combination of these three can cause mold to grow, but the areas most often affected are kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. Food, carpet, wallpaper, and closets are also affected, but generally to a lesser degree unless they are located in or near the aforementioned rooms.
Mold causes damage to the air quality of your home and even though we are exposed to mold on a daily basis without much harm to us, high quantities of mold spores in the air that we breathe can be very hazardous to our health. It tends to aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, and allergies. Common symptoms of mold exposure in homes usually include sore throats, very dry coughing, blurry vision, sinus congestion, sneezing, and other respiratory problems. If you think that there is mold in your home, you should conduct some mold testing either on your own or by using a professional and contact a physician as soon as possible.
Molded wallpaper can also become a problem. When located in a warm environment, vinyl wallpaper has the ability to trap moist air behind it and this will create a breeding ground for mold. Mold eats at the drywall behind the wallpaper, the adhesive on the wallpaper, and also the wallpaper itself. Removing the wallpaper and the drywall completely is usually the only way to solve this problem, especially if the mold has been growing there for a long time and the infestation is extensive. Drywall is porous and cannot usually be completely cleansed once mold infects the whole depth of the board.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms should have steam vents installed so that steam has a place to go. These vents direct steam and hot air outside and away from your home so that moisture does not become absorbed by your walls and ceilings.
Carpet mold is a big problem in flooded areas and as soon as you can, damp or wet carpet must be taken up completely. Carpet cleaning will generally not kill mold infestations, so it and the padding underneath it must be removed and thrown away.
Wearing mold contaminated clothing can cause skin rashes and other irritations, so cleaning these items or throwing them away is recommended. Borax and hydrogen peroxide in the washing machine should do the trick, but the clothes need to be soaked in this mixture for a while before washing. Then, they should be washed a second time after having also soaked a second time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New York Basement Water extraction and other states and cities such as
new york city mold remediation companies across the united states.
Mold causes damage to the air quality of your home and even though we are exposed to mold on a daily basis without much harm to us, high quantities of mold spores in the air that we breathe can be very hazardous to our health. It tends to aggravate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, sinusitis, and allergies. Common symptoms of mold exposure in homes usually include sore throats, very dry coughing, blurry vision, sinus congestion, sneezing, and other respiratory problems. If you think that there is mold in your home, you should conduct some mold testing either on your own or by using a professional and contact a physician as soon as possible.
Molded wallpaper can also become a problem. When located in a warm environment, vinyl wallpaper has the ability to trap moist air behind it and this will create a breeding ground for mold. Mold eats at the drywall behind the wallpaper, the adhesive on the wallpaper, and also the wallpaper itself. Removing the wallpaper and the drywall completely is usually the only way to solve this problem, especially if the mold has been growing there for a long time and the infestation is extensive. Drywall is porous and cannot usually be completely cleansed once mold infects the whole depth of the board.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms should have steam vents installed so that steam has a place to go. These vents direct steam and hot air outside and away from your home so that moisture does not become absorbed by your walls and ceilings.
Carpet mold is a big problem in flooded areas and as soon as you can, damp or wet carpet must be taken up completely. Carpet cleaning will generally not kill mold infestations, so it and the padding underneath it must be removed and thrown away.
Wearing mold contaminated clothing can cause skin rashes and other irritations, so cleaning these items or throwing them away is recommended. Borax and hydrogen peroxide in the washing machine should do the trick, but the clothes need to be soaked in this mixture for a while before washing. Then, they should be washed a second time after having also soaked a second time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New York Basement Water extraction and other states and cities such as
new york city mold remediation companies across the united states.
Sump Pumps and Flooded Basements
If you have ever had a flooded basement, then you know that the cleanup process can be both expensive and can take quite a while. Drying out a basement completely can take days or weeks and replacing the damaged carpet and furniture can cost thousands. Installing a sump pump is the best thing that you can do to defend your basement from floods.
Flooding in your basement is typically caused by soil that is so saturated with water that the water starts to seep through the concrete walls. What sump pumps do is pump water out of the lowest part of the basement before the water reaches the level of the rest of the floor. When the water level in the basement rises up, the excess water is pumped into a sump pump hole and after it reaches a critical level, it starts to pump it out of the home through a pipe and away from the foundation.
Flooding can also end up causing problems with the plumbing, rotting wood, or a damaged foundation. These will all reduce the value of your home greatly and all water damage can lead to mold growth, which is a problem all to itself. Installing a sump pump into the basement can save you all kinds of money by safeguarding your basement belongings from flooding.
When you do install one, you need to check it regularly to be certain that it is working correctly. Do this by removing the cover and slowly pouring water into the tank. The float in the tank should rise and trigger the pump to start. When the pump turns on, the water level inside the tank will quickly go down and the float will trigger the pump’s shut off. This is how a sump pump should operate normally.
Most problems with a sump pump’s operation are related to the float. The float could be getting stuck on something inside the tank if the pump does not activate as it should. Repositioning it should probably fix the problem, but if it does not, the float may need to be replaced. The pump should turn completely off when the water level goes to the very bottom of the tank and if it does not, then a new float will be needed.
Some homes even have backup sump pumps, but if you keep an eye on the one that your home already has or the one you just installed, you should be fine. If excess water flows into your sump pump, it may completely shut off. Foreign objects getting into the pump will also cause it to malfunction.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold inspections and other states and cities such as
north carolina mold inspections companies across the united states.
Flooding in your basement is typically caused by soil that is so saturated with water that the water starts to seep through the concrete walls. What sump pumps do is pump water out of the lowest part of the basement before the water reaches the level of the rest of the floor. When the water level in the basement rises up, the excess water is pumped into a sump pump hole and after it reaches a critical level, it starts to pump it out of the home through a pipe and away from the foundation.
Flooding can also end up causing problems with the plumbing, rotting wood, or a damaged foundation. These will all reduce the value of your home greatly and all water damage can lead to mold growth, which is a problem all to itself. Installing a sump pump into the basement can save you all kinds of money by safeguarding your basement belongings from flooding.
When you do install one, you need to check it regularly to be certain that it is working correctly. Do this by removing the cover and slowly pouring water into the tank. The float in the tank should rise and trigger the pump to start. When the pump turns on, the water level inside the tank will quickly go down and the float will trigger the pump’s shut off. This is how a sump pump should operate normally.
Most problems with a sump pump’s operation are related to the float. The float could be getting stuck on something inside the tank if the pump does not activate as it should. Repositioning it should probably fix the problem, but if it does not, the float may need to be replaced. The pump should turn completely off when the water level goes to the very bottom of the tank and if it does not, then a new float will be needed.
Some homes even have backup sump pumps, but if you keep an eye on the one that your home already has or the one you just installed, you should be fine. If excess water flows into your sump pump, it may completely shut off. Foreign objects getting into the pump will also cause it to malfunction.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold inspections and other states and cities such as
north carolina mold inspections companies across the united states.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
