Air Conditioning Issues

I manage a couple buildings that I rent out to businesses. The biggest priorities to me are making sure that the plumbing and HVAC systems work fine so my tenants are comfortable. I believe that having happy tenants is key to keeping good business.

Recently I had an issue that I was stressed about. The air conditioning in the building wouldn't blow out cold air. A couple of my tenants said something to me and they were getting a little restless. I certainly don't blame them since it was a really hot week. I wasn't really sure what to do. I called a repair man and he told me that the system was overheating so it wasn't working effectively. I did some more research and determined that I needed some rental chillers. They were able to keep my system cool and running great.

New Dog

About 6 months ago I got a dog. My family had one growing up but I had never owned one on my own. I knew it was going to be a big responsibility but I saw this dog at the shelter and knew I had to get him.

I knew I would have to get a cage, food, a bed, all the normal dog stuff that adds up but that was fine with me. It wasn't until about a month later that I ran into the biggest issue. This dog had so much energy and taking him on walks wasn't enough. He was constantly running around the house. I wanted to let him run out in the yard to tire himself out but the issue was that I didn't have a fence and I didn't trust him to not run away.

After thinking it through and saving up, I decided to have a fence built in my yard. I reached out to a Minneapolis MN fencing professional and came up with a plan on what type of fence I wanted based on my budget. While it was an unexpected dilemma, I'm glad I got the fence because now I can play with my dog outside and we both sleep much better now.

Buying a New Home

My coworker recently shared this story with me so I figured I'd share it with you guys. She and her husband were looking to buy their first house. The found one that they loved and decided it was the one for them. They knew that they'd have to fix some things up but they weren't letting that stand in the way of their dream home.

They were all set to sign but the last thing they had to wait for was the Stamford CT home inspections. They figured since they didn't see anything dangerous while they were going through the house that the inspection would go well and they would get the house. However, when the home inspector came by, he noticed that there must have been a fire a while back in the house. My coworker was worried so the inspector and her but emailed the fire department to see if they had any records of the file. They're still waiting to hear back from the fire department so they're worried that this house won't work out for them.

Painting My Building

I am a business owner in California. I feel so busy all of the time that keeping up with my building and other house keeping things seem to get swept under the carpet. I've been trying to make a better effort to stay on top of things and more organized but it's been tough to do.

Recently, some of my customers pointed out that the overhang on my building was looking worn out. I went outside to see what they meant and could see paint chipping off and it did not look like it was in great shape. I reached out to a company that specializes in overhang painting in Downey CA and they were able to come out and fix it up. I am very satisfied with how it turned out and my customers think the new paint job looks great.

Tips for Choosing the Right Fence

Building a fence on your property is a big decision. You should put a lot of thought and planning into what kind of fence you want.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on a fence.

1. One of the biggest questions you should ask yourself is what purpose is the fence going to serve? Is it meant to keep pets in your yard or do you want more privacy? 
2. Another questions you need to answer is what material you want your fence to be constructed from. This goes hand in hand with the purpose of the fence. However, it also will play a big role in the maintenance of your fence. Fence repair in Lebanon TN can be expensive depending on the type of fence.
3. Check with your Home Owners Association. Before you get too far in the process or deciding and building a fence, check to see if there are any rules in your neighborhood. Some people might not be happy with a fence that's too tall or a certain material. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to an expert in residential or commercial fencing in Meridian MS.

Keeping up with my Remodeling

My home is currently going through some major remodeling. We are adding two rooms onto our house and remodeling the master bedroom. We're currently about halfway through the process with the end in sight. I'm the type of person that normally likes to know what's going on and takes an interest in other peoples professions. While I'm sure that can be somewhat annoying to some people, it gives me a sense of security in knowing what's happening.

In the past, I've found it hard to stay in the loop on construction or remodeling projects. While the workers can give me an idea of what they're doing and the costs, timing, plan, etc., there has always been a layer of separation. That's why I was thrilled when I found this new company. They use a construction management software for home builders that not only makes their organization much better, it provides me with a way to login and see all the details of the project. It's so cool being able to follow the progress as it happens and stay in the loop with all of the details.

Water Quality

Last week there was a water main break near my home. It took a couple hours but it was eventually fixed up. While we were without water in my home for a few hours, that wasn't the part that worried me. Even though the county fixed up the break and said the water was fine, I was skeptical about the quality of the water.

I reached out to a local Pittsboro NC water treatment systems expert for their opinion. They came to my house and ran several tests on my water. I thought that the test might take a while and this would be a long process but they were able to do the tests right at my home and assure me that it was safe to drink and use the water. I was very satisfied with their service and would not hesitate to call them again if I need anything.

Safe Installation

I never really thought that I would ever need a safe for anything. However, a family member recently passed away and I inherited some things of great value. For a while I just figured I'd be fine hiding them in my drawers or in other places in my house where I've kept valuables in the past.

However, about after a month I found myself constantly worried that I would come home one day and they would be missing. Their value is not nearly as important to me as the fact that they're a family heirloom. I thought about possibly buying a safe but didn't really know where to start. I reached out to some friends who have safes and they recommended having one professional installed in my house. I reached out to a local Estero FL safe installation professional and he was able to install one in my house. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

New Gutters

My son recently started college and I did realize how much we were going to miss him around the house. I assumed that I would be fine to take over the responsibilities he was handling like mowing the lawn and taking out the trash and for the most part I've been fine.

With that being said, there is one thing that I can't do myself anymore and that is clean out our gutters. I used to be fine going up on the ladder but now my wife and I don't think it's a great idea. It was great having my son around but he had no issue climbing up.

I knew I was going to have to do something about this problem, I just didn't know what. After talking to some neighbors and friends, I learned about new gutters that were better at keeping debris out and eliminating the need to climb up and clean them out. I reached out to a company for gutter installation in Kenosha WI and they were able to install new gutters to my home. I'm very happy with how they turned out and I would recommend them to anyone in a similar situation to me.

Making the Most of Your Garage Space

As you go through the home design process in Washington DC, don't forget about your garage space. The garage is often overlooked when remodeling or redesigning a home. However, it is a great space that can be used for a variety of different things. To help you decide what you want to do with your garage space as you remodel your home, here are a few ideas of creative ways to use the space:

• Guest house. Create a guest house in your garage by adding some bedroom furniture, décor, and lighting fixtures. We recommend keeping all of these things fairly consistent with the rest of your house so it really transforms the space into something new. This will allow your guests a little more privacy and a space that is their own when they visit.
• Recreation room. Kids and teens in your family will appreciate a space that is all their own. Put some comfy chairs or a couch in your garage for them to hang out in. For entertainment, you could add a TV, ping pong or foosball table, or even a pinball machine!
• Art studio. For the more creative, utilize your garage space as an art studio. Set up an easel for painting, some tables and chairs for crafts, or even a stool and pottery wheel! Whatever your preferred medium, your garage is a great place to work in peace and quiet.

Leaky Roof

After a storm, my roof began to leak. It was such a mess so I immediately called my local roof repair in Fairfield CT to come help me out. They came out ASAP and fixed the leak! I can't thank them enough for being there in my time of need. I suggest you give them a call if you ever have an issue with your roof!

Better Safer Than Sorry

I felt that my roof was old and I really didn't trust it if there were to be a storm. I called my local roof inspector in Fort Myers FL for their input. They came out and said my roof was safe for now but that I should have it looked at in a year if there hasn't been any major storms. However, they also said it's better to be safe than sorry and that if I felt unsure, to give them a call! I really appreciate their help and advice. I will certainly take them up on giving them a call in the future!!

New Room

Recently we decided that it'd be best for my parents to move in with me. I thought they were getting too old to live on their own and it'd be nice to have them around to help watch my kids. What could go wrong right?

After a few weeks, it became clear that there wasn't enough room in our house to accommodate everybody. Having my parents around is really nice, but there needs to be more room for everybody. I reached out to an expert in home additions in McLean VA and Home Additions in Kensington MD for some opinions on what we should do.

We ended up having 2 rooms added on to our house which could be my parents' own wing of the house. This way they could have some more privacy and my family could have a little more separation. It ended up being a great decision for everybody in my house.

Dryer Vent

If you've ever experienced getting your clothes out of the dryer only to find them still damp, you know how frustrating it can be. I live with three roommates so it felt like someone was constantly doing laundry. What made it even worse was that the dryer wasn't working great so it always took multiple cycles for our clothes to dry.

We tried every setting possible on our dryer and nothing seemed to work. One day we decided that we had had enough and called an expert to have them come check out our dryer. Thankfully, the expert was able to come out and determine that the issue was with the ventilation. I had never thought about that before but he told us that the dryer vents can get clogged with dust and lint. Not only does this reduce the effectiveness of the dryer, but it can also be a fire hazard. The expert was able to clean our vents and our dryer worked great, much to the joy of my roommates.

If you have any questions about dryer vent cleaning in Hawaii, don't hesitate to call an expert.

New Fence

Thankfully Biloxi wasn't hit too hard from the hurricane recently. Watching the news and seeing the severity of the storm did however get me thinking about my property and how it would handle a storm as bad as Matthew.

One thing in particular I made a note to check on was the fence around my building. Fences can be destroyed easily by hurricanes and other storms. In addition, if part of my fence got uplifted or broke off, it could easily damage other parts of my property. After examining my fence, I determined it was definitely time for an upgrade.

I reached out to a local Biloxi MS commercial fencing expert to take a second look at my fence and see what he thinks. He agreed that it wasn't safe and helped me figure out a plan for getting a new fence. The whole process went really smoothly and I'm glad that I took the time to do this.

Raise The Roof!

My husband and I decided finally bite the bullet and add on to the back of our home. We wanted a room with high ceilings and a large window to add sunlight since our home lacks natural light. We contacted our commercial roofing in Laingsburg MI to get the job done and that they did! We couldn't be happier with the turnout!!

One Tree To The Next

I had a lot of trees in my back yard that were overcome by a destructive fungus. I had them cut down and removed by my local stump removal in Ann Arbor MI so that the infected trees would not harm the ones that were still healthy. My only regret is that I didn't call them sooner! I firmly advise you to give them a call as soon as you think a tree on your property is showing signs of being unhealthy.

Heating Issues

Up here in Michigan, the weather has started to get pretty chilly. Unfortunately, when I first tried turning the heat on in my office, I was greeted with a loud rumbling noise instead of warm air. Needless to say, that day wasn't fun for my employees.

A decided to do some research and ended up calling a local Lansing MI commercial mechanical contractor. Thankfully, they were able to diagnose and fix our heating system. This was the first time that something like this had happened to me as a business owner but fortunately we got the problem fixed quickly and everyone was happy.

Common Tile Mistakes

Laying down tile floors can sounds like a fun DIY project to some people. While we always love when people try to tackle projects on their own, laying down tiles is a task that is easy to do incorrectly. Thankfully, a company that specializes in tile flooring in Chesapeake VA has provided some common tile mistakes.

• Not preparing the surface: Preparing the surface before you lay down tile is extremely important. Make sure the surface is clean and free of any debris. You also need to make sure that the surface is smooth. Skipping this step will make the rest of the process extremely difficult and can derail your effort early on. 
• Using the wrong adhesive: There isn't one adhesive that works for all projects. When buying adhesive, you should factor in the size and material of your tiles. Cost shouldn't be the sole factor when choosing an adhesive. 
• Grouting incorrectly: There are a couple different ways that grouting can go wrong. The first is grouting too early. You need to make sure the adhesive is set, so a safe guess is waiting 24 hours. Other common grout mistakes is mixing with too much water or not applying the grout smoothly. Use a smooth edge or a squeegee to make sure the grout is applied evenly and smooth.

Basketball Injury

I recently signed up for a rec basketball team with a few of my friends from college. I hadn't played in a while but I figured it'd be a good way to get exercise and see my friends every week.

Unfortunately, my season didn't last very long. During our first game, I went up for a layup and landed kind of awkwardly after colliding with someone. I sat out the rest of the game because of pain in my back. I figured if I rested for a few days then the pain would go away and I would be fine to play again. However, after the pain persisted for a about a week, I decided to go see my local Severn MD chiropractor.

Thankfully, my chiropractor was able to quickly diagnose that one of my vertebrae was twisted and recommended a physical therapist who was able to work it back in place over time. I'm normally someone who waits a while before seeing a doctor, but I'm glad that I went in early this time. Overall, everyone I worked with was great and despite the pain in my back, the entire process was great.

Secure your Garage and Boost Home Security

When you and your family are away from your home for an extended time, thieves who periodically case your neighborhood will take notice. Of course, not all neighborhoods fall victim to thieves, but many easily can. One of the most common entry ways into your home is through the garage. In any case, there are a number of ways you can add extra security to your garage door. Perhaps you're wondering if any is needed since you can't manually open a garage door opener system from the outside.

However, thieves can quickly slide a hanger wire over the top of the door, hook the emergency release lever, and yank it. This releases the door from the opener system just like pulling the release cord does. A quick fix is connecting the release lever with the trolley using a plastic zip tie. But do you really want to trust the security of your home to a plastic zip tie? This solution is well known, and many thieves have likely devised methods of defeating it. You should certainly use this method when you're around your home, but you might want to consider more secure methods for when you're away for an extended time. Here are some methods recommended by an Estero FL locksmith.

The T-Handle Locking System

The T-handle lock has a T-shaped handle on the outside of the garage door with a key operated lock. Unlocking it with the key allows you to twist the handle. The twisting action pulls on a cable system on the inside of the door. The cables then pull two bolts free from the vertical track and the garage door is now free to open. This is not the most secure lock because many models have easily picked locks. In addition, skilled thieves can insert a hanger wire under the door, hook the internal cable, and pull on it.

The Slide Lock

The slide lock is a simple latch that slides through a metal box attached to the door's inside surface. By sliding the latch into a pre-cut hole in the vertical track, the door is locked. You can secure the system by placing a padlock through a hole at the end of the latch. This prevents it from sliding back. The complete system is inside the door, and no amount of hanger wire tricks will defeat it, especially when it's padlocked.

A Word of Caution

You shouldn't use the T-handle lock, slide lock, or any other separate manual locking system when your garage door opener system is powered up and connected to your garage door. It's almost inevitable that at some point, you, a family member, or a visitor will try to use the garage door opener while the door is manually locked. This will damage your door and the opener system. It only takes a moment's distraction or forgetfulness for this to happen.

Instead, only engage the manual system when you're about to leave on a long trip. Disconnect the power from the garage door opener to prevent you from accidentally using the door opener system when you return. After unlocking the manual lock, you can then reconnect the power to the garage door opener.

Making sure your garage  is secure is an important part of your overall home security. With that being said, there are other ways to get into your home. It is important to make sure that your entire home is secure and that you feel protected against intruders. To make sure your house is safe, or if you have any questions about security, you should contact an expert in security systems in Yonkers NY.

New House, No Fence

I moved to a new home that has a great yard for my dog, Franky, to play in. However, it's missing one important thing... a fence! Franky is a good boy but I don't quite trust him to roam freely in the yard. I did my research and called my local fences in Bluffton IN. Franky and I love the final result and certainly recommend you give them a call!

Highly Recommend!

I'm a business owner and couldn't be more impressed with my local commercial roofing in Charlotte MI. I love the work they did and it was a pleasure to cross paths with them. I highly recommend you give them a call if you're looking for a professional commercial roofing company to get the job done.

Don't Delay Cleaning Your Gutters Any Longer!

Our home's gutters were past due for cleaning. My husband and eldest son said they would clean them and it never got done so I decided to take matters into my own hands! I called our local gutters in Chesterfield County VA to come out to the house and get the job done.

Our gutters are so clean now! Come to think of it, I'm glad my husband and son didn't take the job on themselves because it was much safer having a trained professional complete the job.

From Patio to Deck

My family and I love our backyard! Our backyard patio, however, not so much. Our patio has seen better days (that we enjoyed!) but it's time to upgrade. My husband and I called our local deck contractor in Fort Worth TX and love what they came up with! We recommend you give them a call, you won't be disappointed!!

What's up with the Washington Monument

Recently, I took a trip to Washington DC and toured a lot of the different monuments and memorials. A few of my favorites were definitely the Lincoln and FDR memorials. I thought the city was a really cool place and it's definitely a trip I'll remember for a while.

That being said, there was one downside to the trip. One thing I really wanted to do was go up the Washington Monument. However, I disappointed to learn that it's currently indefinitely because of elevator issues. While I get that stuff like that happens, I guess I just figured that a city that focuses so much on tourism would be able would be able to find a Washington DC elevator modernization company that would be able to fix the situation in a timely manner.

Despite that, I still consider the trip a success and definitely want to spend more time there in the future.