Home Improvement

How Winter Affects Construction

Summary: Weather is one of many unexpected challenges that can delay your construction project.

Winter is upon us and the effects on construction projects can cause delays and problems with materials. Heavy rains and bad weather can delay shipments, in addition to any problems with man power on the site itself. The weather has a severe affect on projects that don’t plan for it, so be sure you have a construction consultant on your side that understands how weather may impact the time frame of your project.

Costs Go Up

The biggest cost you’ll face during winter is usually fuel to power your machinery. Engines must work harder when the weather is cold, but that is not the only source of shortages. Materials are also impacted by the costs of fuel, as the costs to transport materials directly impact the project manager. A structural steel expert might recommend the best time of the year to buy, or have connections to suppliers that can get you what you need in time to complete your project.

Productivity and Manpower

People work slower during the winter, and not by choice either. Roads close, cars and trucks won’t start and work is tiring out there. Productivity might be as much as half what it is during warmer seasons, and that’s in areas where the weather isn’t heavy. For places in the Northeast and Midwest, productivity can dip even further.

Final Thoughts

Winter is problematic for construction outfits, but not impossible to deal with. The project can still progress, but your time frame will feel the weather. Plan for these problems and you will face fewer disputes over elements outside your control.

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By: Lyle Charles is an expert witness for construction, and a steel fabrication expert. Consult Lyle Charles for your next commercial construction project.

How to Insulate a Front Door

Now that winter is just on the horizon, it’s a good time to walk your home and look for any improvements you can make before the weather kicks up. Most people are good about the basics, like cleaning gutters and checking pipes, but few people take the time to investigate their weather stripping. If the weather stripping on your front door begins to crack or feel brittle, it might be time to replace it.

Choosing Weather Stripping

There are multiple types of weather stripping available to you. We will discuss self-stick foam, but you also have options like a door threshold to close the gap at the base of your door. Self-stick foam has a strip that you peel off before you apply, so it requires almost no tools to install.

Measure the Frame

The first step is to measure your door frame in preparation to install the foam. Be as precise as possible, measuring the sides and top of the door. Measure the inside of the door, as this will be where the foam will be applied. Once you have the measurements, make your cuts with a simple box cutter and the foam should separate easily. Be careful with your measurements, and be sure that you’re cutting off exactly what you need to insulate the door. If you leave gaps between the insulation, you’ll let in air and defeat the purpose.

Apply the Stripping

The stripping should apply as you run your finger along the door. Begin in one of the corners, and carefully lay the stripping down as you pass your thumb or finger over it. Review your work for bubbling and squish it down with a bit of pressure from your thumb. You may also want to run your fingers over the stripping to be sure that it has securely adhered to the door jamb.

 

How and Why to Apply Weather Stripping to a Door

You can seal air leaks in your home with weather stripping. It’s a great way to cut out drafts without having to rebuild the frame of the door or window. Stripping is very inexpensive, and it’s easy to apply too. Here are some tips and instruction to help you in this project.

Weather Stripping Overview

Weather stripping comes in many forms, and it’s often overlooked when one thinks of upgrades to a home. The truth is that weather stripping insulates your home and adds another layer of protection from heat loss. Weather stripping can be applied to either doors or windows, so it’s a good idea to assess which rooms in your home lose the most heat. Start in those areas and work your way around the house.

For Doors

There are two kinds of weather stripping available for most doors. Self-adhesive foam is good for the top and sides of the door, while you will want a sweep at the bottom. The sweep must be cut to fit your door, then it can be installed by bolting it to the door itself. You will also need to trim the adhesive foam to fit the top and sides of your door.

For Windows

Windows will also require two kinds of weather stripping to be most effective. You will need self-adhesive foam to insulate the frame of the window, and V-channel stripping for the sash. It should be noted that casement windows will only need self-adhesive foam.

 

Energy Star Certification for Doors

Energy star certification lets consumers know how “green” a particular product is. There are certain requirements a manufacturer must meet to attain Energy Star certification. Here is a list of some of the factors that determine whether a door meets Energy Star’s requirements.

U-Factor

U-factor refers to the thermal transmission rating, which measures heat loss through the door. If the U-factor is lower, homes in colder climates will begin to lose heat. If heating bills are a concern to you, try out a door with a high U-value so that you can retain the heat within your home. A u-factor rating of 1.20, which is the highest rating, would provide excellent insulation for your home.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

The rate of heat gain through the door is measured as the solar heat gain coefficient. In environments with extremely hot days, low SHGC doors will allow the home to stay cool by reflecting some of that heat. SHGC is typically expressed in numbers that range from 0 to 1.

Visible Transmittance

The amount of light that comes through a window is expressed as visible transmittance. These values are also expressed on a scale from 0 to 1, but the higher transmittance number means more light is let into the home. Frosted windows, stained windows and windows with a solar covering might lower your visible transmittance rating.

Condensation Resistance

Homes that have concerns about humidity will want a door with high condensation resistance. This helps resist the formation of condensation on the interior surface of the door, thus keeping your home at a reasonable humidity level.

 

Making Sense of Your Bedding Options

When it comes to choosing bedding, your options can certainly seem more complicated than necessary. After all, you’re just looking for a combination of sheets, pillows and blankets, right (some have slightly fancier names, of course)?

Modern bedding calls for a number of different components. The basic ones that come in bedding collections generally consist of a comforter, sham, fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillow cases. Of course you can always add and subtract to this as you see fit.

The major thing you need to take into consideration when choosing your bedding is the size of the actual components involved. You don’t want spend all that time and money picking out bedding only to find you bought too big or small.

You’ll no doubt want to take style into consideration as well. Few people decorate around their bedding, so more than likely, you’ll want to find bedding that matches your room’s style. Depending on how unique your look is, you may have to settle for simply getting the color right.

In terms of the brand, it’s always fashionable to have designer bedding. However, this can also be rather expensive. Shop around and look for an equally comfortable option that’s far more affordable. Or you can be sneaky an buy designer comforters and pillow cases, then purchase the more affordable options for everything else.

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Article submitted by BeddingStyle. The website is dedicated to all things bedding and carry name brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, Vera Wang and Laura Ashley Bedding.

The Modern Miracle of Heated Floors

With winter finally here, most of us are spending our days trying to find ways to stay warm. Sadly, sometimes the inside of our own homes don’t feel up to the task. We walk around with extra layers and two pairs of socks just waiting for the first thaw to arrive. Fortunately, many of us have had our dreams answered, No, spring’s not coming early this year. However, we can now have a heated tile floor inside our own home. Continue reading to find out more about this exciting opportunity.

The system works just how it sounds. It essentially works to provide heat under your floors which then comes through, keeping your feet warm with every step. Heat rises, so our feet are often the coldest parts of our bodies. But imagine no longer needing to wear slippers while you walk around your home. In fact, you could even do it barefoot.

Electric radiant floor heat is the most favored method for achieving this result, though others exist. Radiant heat works by warming metal coils beneath the floor with electricity. The great benefit about using radiant floor heating is that it can be easily installed by you. This saves thousands of dollars on hiring someone else to handle the process for you.

While there’s not much we can do about winter being here, thankfully there’s plenty we can do about how we deal with it. Heated floors are the answer we’ve all been waiting for.

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Article submitted by EZ Floor Heat. The company is helping to popularize Electric Heated Floors by selling products that make it easy to install.

Commercial Garages Deserve Roll Up Doors

If you’re in the market for a garage door you have a lot of options these days. This is especially true when it comes to Los Angeles garage doors as the city has a much wider variety of styles. Though there’s plenty to choose from, that doesn’t mean they’ll all be right for your home. Continue reading to discover what your best options are.

If you have a commercial building, you can’t go wrong with commercial roll up doors. They’re ideal for a number of reasons. For one thing, they can me bade out of high-quality metal that will protect your property from the elements as well as potential intruders. The door’s unique roll up feature makes sure it stays flush like a wall whenever it’s closed, so you’re never losing room unnecessarily due to a bulky door.

One nice feature about a commercial roll up is that you can put a vinyl screen over it. This way, when you open the door, the screen stays put and you’re able to get some air circulation into the facility without worrying about bugs getting in or other vermin. This is especially beneficial if you have employees inside working. The air circulation will work to cool them down nicely.

Though you have a number of doors to choose from, you can’t do better than the roll up version if you own a commercial garage.

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Article submitted by Main Garage Doors. The company offers traditional garage doors as well as more stylish options like glass garage doors.

Alternatives to Traditional Fan Coils

Traditional air conditioning was certainly successful in its time. In fact, for a long time, it was certainly the best option available. The problem is that’s simply no longer the case in many instances. Modern living has offered too many luxuries that simply make the old was superfluous. Keep reading to find out more.

One reason why the typical home-based air conditioning system is dying out is because it’s simply not cost effective. How often does a home need every room cooled? Not that often, when you think about it. For this reason, many are turning to portable cooling alternatives. You simply introduced the machine to the room that needs cooling and it handles the rest.

The great thing about this system is it’s so cost effective. Use it until your room is cool and then turn it off for a while, if you like. Because it only cools the rooms you need, you’re not wasting money on every other room in the house.

For those who are looking to make the transition, there are rental portable air conditioner systems available to test them out. Another benefit is that these units can actually be moved outside. If you have a patio you’d like to enjoy more often, pull the unit out there, sit back and relax. You can enjoy the beautiful weather on your terms.

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Article submitted by movincool. The company offers a portable air conditioner that works far better than traditional systems for keeping any area of your home cool, even the outside.

How to Choose Bedding for Your Kids

When you think of bedding, you probably imagine sheets and comforters, pillow cases and even duvets. You imagine all kinds of things that are meant to keep you comfortable and your bed looking great. However, when choosing bedding for your children there are a few extra things to take into consideration. Keep reading to find out what those are.

First, you’ll want to be sure you know the size of your young child’s bed. These are fairly standard, but some options deviate a bit, so you’ll want to make sure you buy bedding that can cover it. Obviously, it is better to buy bedding that is too large than too small, as the former can either be physically adjusted (for those of you who can hem) or simply tucked under the mattress as necessary.

Some of your children might display allergies, in which case you’ll want to look into hypoallergenic options that will cater to their needs. Young children can be especially sensitive to allergens and this age group really needs their quality sleep.

Lastly, there is usually a noticeable difference between girls bedding and boys bedding. For the most part, allow them to choose whichever they like the most. As long as the above standards are met, allow them some freedom to choose the type of bedding they like best will only go to make them happier.

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Article submitted by BeddingStyle, The company offers a number of the top brands in all things bedding, from queen comforter sets, to duvets and pillow cases.

An Introduction to Floor Medallions

Though the floor in your home may not seem as deserving of attention as some of your walls, there’s still plenty you can do with it to garner positive attention. Besides hardwood, marble and other options like cork, you can use medallions to give your floor a unique aesthetic. Keep reading to find out more.

Simply put, floor medallions are decorative designs that are fitted into your room’s floor. They can come in stone, marble and tile. The most common types are circular in shape featuring a symmetric design. Other common shapes include squares, ovals and rectangles.

Inside the shape are specially cut pieces of the aforementioned materials designed to make geometric and floral designs. Starbursts and stars-like patterns are popular choices.

With a wide array of materials to be used, designs to utilize and colors to choose from, just about every type of home can benefit from the look of floor medallions. They can take an already good looking floor and really up its profile with a stiff shot of elegance.

Whether you go with marble, stone or tile medallions will be a point of preference. Generally, people use the same material for the medallions that they did for their floor. So a marble floor would generally make use of marble medallions.

While walls can be painted and adorned with all kinds of decorates and ceilings can feature no shortage of fixtures, don’t leave out your home’s floors. Medallions are a great way to make them look amazing.

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Article submitted by Medallion Depot. The online store sells tile, marble and stone medallions.

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