Hope you find this blog informative when looking for home service ideas!!
Choosing the Best Painting Services
How to Pick the Best Painting Contractors – 7 Questions You Must Ask
When it comes to home improvement projects, painting is one of the most popular ones. It’s affordable, and a super simple way to add new life to a room. And while there is likely no shortage of painting services in your area, not all contractors will be worth your time and money.
With that being said, here are 7 questions you must ask before hiring a painting services contractor.
How Long Have They Been In The Painting Services Business?
Painting is a trade that has a very high turnover rate. For the best possible experience you should hire someone who has been in business for a minimum of 3 years.
Do They Have Employees, or Work With Subcontractors?
If a painter has direct employees, meaning those individuals receive a paycheck from the painters company, that means they should be covered by the contractor’s general liability insurance, as well as workers’ compensation.
If they are subcontractors they will need to have their own insurance. Either way, make sure you get a copy of proof of insurance for both the painting contractor, and any subcontractors that are being used.
Are They Properly Licensed?
Most states will require a painting contractor to have a state issued license. You want to make sure you work with a contractor who has all required licensing. You should also make sure they have all required insurance coverage.
A reputable contractor will have no problem showing you documents as proof of their proper licensing.
How Do They Prepare?
Before hiring a contractor, ask them what kind of preparation work do they do? This may sound a little silly, but a contractor’s preparation work will tell you all you need to know about the overall quality of their work.
A good contractor will never skimp on the preparation work. They will ensure the job is done the right way from beginning to end.
What Is The Cost For Painting Services?
For most people, price is usually the biggest concern. While you don’t want to overspend, you also shouldn’t look for the cheapest painter in town. Unless of course they are one of the best in town.
You want a contractor that is skilled, experienced, properly licensed, properly insured, and yes, affordable.
Is There a Guarantee?
A reputable contractor will always offer a guarantee on their work. Be sure you fully understand all guarantees and terms before hiring a contractor. You should also get everything in writing so you can protect yourself in the event something goes wrong.
Do They Have References?
Again, a reputable painting contractor will have references. They will also be happy to share the references with you. And please, don’t just take the references and do nothing with them. Take the time to reach out to a few and find out what type of experience they had with the contractor in question.
One Final Tip on Painting Services
Always get more than one bid. The general recommendation is that you get at least 3. You should ask each contractor the same exact questions. Each bid should take no longer than a week to receive. If it takes too long to receive a bid, you should disregard it. One professional painting contractor you should contact for a bid is South Shore Painting Contractors.
Once you have received the bids, take the time to carefully review each one. Look at the prep times, materials being used, cost, and proof of all needed documentation.
Before making your final decision, take a few minutes to call a few references. Use those discussions to make your final decision.
Once you know who you want to work with, you can call and award them the project. Make sure all of your expectations are known upfront. This way you can avoid paying for something you didn’t want. If you’re looking for ideas to make your home stand out more, see our window cleaning post.
Hiring a Window Cleaning Service
What to Know Before Hiring a Window Cleaning Service?
Hiring a professional for window cleaning may sound a bit unusual. But to maintain the right vibe in both your office and home, window cleaning is vital.
This job requires a higher degree of attention, risk, and dedicated skills that should not be performed by the untrained. Thus, there’s no harm in leaving the job to the professionals. But how do you hire the best window cleaner?
This mini-guide contains questions that you may need to ask before hiring a professional window washer.
Why Should I Have Clean Windows?
Windows work as the exterior and interior faces of buildings. They are exposed to climatic variations. For this reason, they need periodic maintenance and cleaning. Below are the primary reasons you should clean your windows.
Risk and damage prevention
Building managers who periodically maintain, and clean windows can discover structural problems. This helps them in avoiding any critical damage. Let’s take an example. If you clean windows regularly, you can easily perceive if the waterproofing of the windows is deteriorating or not. Moreover, professionalwindow cleaners can help you to detect cracks quickly.
Don’t forget; cleaning is not enough! It’s necessary to observe and report anomalies, as well.
Valuation of the building and its units in the real estate market
One of the main aspects that value property is its perceived beauty. A building that has clean and well-maintained windows raises rental prices for apartments or commercial rooms. It may also help you close the deal if you are selling.
How is window cleaning done?
Professional window cleaning services sometimes involve climbing, rockers, scaffolding, or even simple hydro jetting to clean the windows. However, the choice of technique depends on the building material, structure, and type of construction.
Therefore, to define how cleaning will be done, it is necessary to evaluate some vital parameters.
Type of building coating
The most common types of coating are:
- ceramics
- glass (mirror)
- tablet
- wood
- concrete
- steel plates
It’s crucial to observe the coating, as it is the main item that will determine the product and the technique to be used.
- Dirtiness
The more dirt, the more hours of work and more products will be needed – and the more complex the window cleaning process will be.
- Height of the Building
Scaffolding can be used in buildings up to 40 meters high, and industrial climbing is more recommended for buildings that exceed this limit. Therefore, the height of the building determines the technique used by the cleaning professional.
- Accessibility
Another window washing factor is accessibility. Some buildings already hold attachment points for rockers. Others offer support points for industrial climbers. However, some builders were not concerned with the maintenance and cleaning of the windows and hinder the access of professionals. All of this must be considered in planning. You may need to install some of this infrastructure if you are to hire a window cleaning service.
Another vital factor to consider is the pedestrian and vehicle traffic below the windows that you’re going to clean. Ideally, a window cleaning service will isolate the area to prevent objects, chemical materials, or water from falling on passers-by. If you are thinking about basement windows see our Basement finishing post.
Commercial and Residential Window Cleaning. Are they the Same?
Well, no. They aren’t the same. The commercial buildings experience colossal traffic. For this reason, the windows of a commercial building accumulate a lot of dirt. On the other hand, the residential building’s windows accumulate less dirt, but they can be ornery enough. Due to this reason, the commercial and residential window washing can’t be performed in the same way.
There is a lot of nuance in hiring someone for residential window cleaning, or commercial window cleaning. Having a good idea of what a window cleaning service provides, it will help you determine if the cost is worth the benefit. This guide was designed in order to help alleviate some of those questions and give you a bird’s eye view of window washing. If you need professional window cleaning in South Shore MA try Shore Shore Window Cleaning.
Basement Finishing Ideas
Basement Finishing – 5 things to Consider Before you Start
Have you been thinking about basement finishing or remodeling? For many homeowners, the basement is nothing more than extra space for storage. But did you know that space can be used in a much more effective way? By remodeling the lower level of your home which we often refer to as basement finishing, you can transform it into something the entire family would love to hang out in.
Some great basement remodeling ideas include turning it into a home theater room, a playroom, a basement office, or even a craft room.
No matter how you choose to transform the space in your basement, one thing is for sure, a finished basement can add immense value to your home.
With that being said, here are a few things you will want to consider when it comes to basement finishing.
You May Need Building Permits for Basement Finishing projects
Before starting your remodeling project check with local officials to see if any building permits are needed. This is especially important if you will be doing plumbing or electrical work as both will require an inspection.
Consider Natural Light Sources for Basement Remodeling
If it’s possible, plan to have windows and doors that supply the basement with natural light. All openings will need to be cut out before any other work begins.
Be sure to seal off the rest of the home before you start cutting. Doing so will prevent masonry dust from spreading throughout the home.
You should also have a building professional inspect all surrounding walls to ensure they are able to handle the increased structural load.
Ensure You Have Good Drainage
The last thing you want in a finished basement is a moisture problem. And while most homeowners will opt to install a dehumidifier, doing so will cause more harm than good.
The key to preventing moisture build-up in a finished basement is to ensure there is good drainage. The bathroom and kitchen should have good ventilation. During the warmer, more humid months, avoid opening the windows.
Install vapor retardant between interior stud walls and floors, as well as between foundation walls and floor slabs.
How Will The Ceiling Be Finished
It’s very common for homeowners to use drywall ceilings in their basement. And while drywall is a great option, there is one big problem, it tends to flake very easily. Over time you will find that it looks more like a jigsaw puzzle than an actual ceiling.
A better option would be drop ceiling tiles. The great thing about drop ceiling tiles is they can be easily moved. This makes it a lot easier to access things such as electrical hookups or plumbing pipes.
Have an Escape Route
All finished basements must have an escape route. It is vital people can easily get out if something should happen.
While building codes are different in every city, many require egress windows as a matter of safety. Egress windows are designed to make it easy for occupants to escape from a room in the event of an emergency.
Building codes require all egress windows be large enough for a fully equipped firefighter to be able to get through. Hinged outside access doors are also a great option if you are unable to install egress windows.
A Final Word on Basement Finishing
When it comes to finishing a basement the biggest challenge you will run into is figuring out how to work around obstructions. The most common obstructions are water pipes, plumbing drains, electrical wires, and heating ducts.
If you have no experience with this type of home improvement project it would be best you leave it to a professional such as Basement Remodel South Shore. They will be able to help you come up with a basement design that fits both your budget and the unique design of your space. Also, if you need professional painting see our blog post on painting ideas.