What Should I Do To Prevent Busted Pipes In The Winter?

Ben Stephens Restoration Services

Winter is the most dangerous season for pipes outside the house and sometimes even for indoor pipes. Those who have been in the situation to deal with a frozen pipe know that preventing it from busting is almost impossible if you do not take appropriate measure. A busted pipe can affect more than the installation itself, and the repairs are expensive.

Pipes that are most vulnerable to low temperatures are located outdoors or in noninsulated exterior walls. Water supply pipes from the irrigation systems are also exposed to damage, in the cold season. To prevent them from freezing even at the lowest temperatures, read on the following tips.

Denver water damage specialists can restore your home after a flood due to leaking pipes

As long as the winter temperatures have not reached a constant value, your home is vulnerable to a widespread phenomenon: freezing pipes and busted pipes. This may happen not only to outdoor pipes, but also to pipes in poorly insulated buildings. A broken pipe is a nightmare which may result in flooded areas of your home, requiring the expert (and potentially costly) services of Denver water damage specialists.  So it is imperative that you take safety precautions before the arrival of winter.

Insulate the pipes

The easiest method to prevent frozen and busted pipes is to cover them in appropriate materials. In general, specialists recommend fiberglass as an insulating layer that will create an efficient barrier between the outdoor environment/ the walls and the pipes. Pipes must be covered in insulating materials before temperatures reach frost levels. Insulating the pipes comes with other benefits too: you avoid the condensation that form on cold water pipes, as well as heat losses through hot water pipes, so you save energy and implicitly money. Insulation offers a barrier against moisture, and we all know that moisture has corrosive potential that will lead to different levels of damage, over time.

Install a de-icing system

For those who own a house, the prevention of freezing pipes can be made easier by installing a de-icing system, which can cover larger surfaces, such as a parking area, a yard, or a terrace, with everything on it, including pipes, windows and roof. Such a system ensures optimum temperature and prevents freezing. Equipped with sensors and thermostats, the functioning of a de-icing system is under your permanent control and only turns on when necessary. Although such a system may seem like a big investment, you make it in the long term and it will become financially profitable. It is also an investment in your comfort and safety during the cold season.

Set the optimum temperature in the house

Indoor pipes can freeze and bust if the building has no heating source for a longer period. You must ensure a minimum temperature in the building to prevent busted pipes and additional damage.  The costs of repairing or replacing a broken pipe are significantly higher than ensuring a certain temperature in the building, during the winter, to make sure everything stays safe. If you have a floor heating system, you should not worry too much. This system eliminates the need for additional heating sources you’re your pipes will be ok.

Are Window Screens Necessary?

Ben Stephens Home Improvement

Replacement Window Denver Screens Are Important

We all know what it is like to wake up in the middle of the night and chasing mosquitos through the room. Nothing can be more unpleasant than hearing the sound they make when dreams are so sweet, or deal with their bites on your skin. Moreover, besides ruining your sleep, the next morning you realize that killing them with a rolled newspaper was probably not the best idea, because it made your freshly painted wall look grim.

The best solution to this problem is installing window screens, or a complete replacement window Denver company do it. They are safe, modern, do not affect your health like chemical insect repellents and guarantee the protection you look for.

Window screens are made from aluminum profiles and can be of two types: classic (hinged) or modern roll-up screens that can be pulled up to their protective box or down, according to your needs.

Roll-up window screens

They can be installed even on not-so-easily-accessible windows and are equipped with a cord through which they can be operated. In the upper part there is a box where the screens can be rolled up, and on the sides there are two handles, made of aluminum or PVC. The fiber from which these screens are made is resistant to sunlight and weathering, while also being non-flammable. The operating cord has a protective mechanism to avoid accidental lifting. In winter, these widow screens can be simply pulled up in their protective box, without the need for being disassembled or stored somewhere else.

They are provided with very fine mesh, which makes them very effective against all types of insects. If you want to install shutters, it is good to know that some of them are equipped with such roll-up window screens. If you already have regular shutters, you can add roll-up window screens, this type of screens being the only one that can be installed on shutters.

Benefits:

  • These screens must not be dismantled in winter, but only rolled up in their box
  • The material is protected from weathering and wear, providing long-lasting resistance
  • Roll-up window screens can be customized even in large sizes
  • They provide a high level of protection against insects, easy operation and great versatility
  • They can be added to window shutters

 

Hinged window screens

Hinged window screens represent the classic protection against insects. You can quickly mount and disassemble them even if you are not a professional. This type of screens is ideal for both window and door protection. They can be designed to match any window size, because they have a simple structure. Also, the construction process and the strength of the materials eliminate the risk of breaking, bending or other defects. These screens have a very neat appearance, which is preserved over time, despite the use or the action of the sun and wind. The cost of acquisition is also affordable.

Other practical benefits include:

  • Easy installation and operation
  • Outwards opening, saving space in your home or office
  • Their structure allows installing them on any type of window frames, without changing them in any way.

Increasing Your Roof’s Durability with Roof Coating – An Efficient and Affordable Solution

Ben Stephens Uncategorized

Increasing Durability On A Commercia Buildingl roofing San Antonio

The application of a suitable coating on your roof is the best way to enhance the longevity of your roof, to prevent minor issues, such as smaller cracks as well as to improve the roof’s thermal performance. If you are currently browsing efficient and affordable solutions to prolong your roof’s lifespan, here is how you can benefit from using the right roof coating product.

The Types of Roofing that Can Be Coated

Most, but not all roofing materials can be coated. Clay, cement, wood and slate are special materials that offer superior durability, but are not suitable for being protected with additional coatings. Most other materials, including metal, EPDM, PVC and most types of built-up roofs can be efficiently protected with coating materials available on the market. Roof coatings can be applied not only on the first layer of roofing material – coating products are suitable for being used even if your roofing consist of two layers already.

How Roof Coating Protects Your Roof

Roof coatings offer high-level protection against many roofing issues and challenges. Here are some of the features offered by coating products:

  • Thermal protection – roof coating products can efficiently reduce the harmful effects that wide temperature variations have on roofs. Roofs expand when they are exposed to high temperatures and they contract when the temperatures drop. The commercial roofing San Antonio materials are designed to be able to stay strong despite these movements, but very wide temperature variations sustained for too long can lead to the premature aging of the roof – an issue that can be efficiently prevented with the right type of elastic coating;
  • Protection against water – some roofing materials, such as PVC are not very sensitive to the presence of water, but others, especially metal, can be severely damaged if exposed to water for too long. The slope of the roof also determines how sensitive the roof is to water – flat roofs tend to be more prone to water ponding than sloping roofs that allow the water to run down on the sides. Most roof coating materials, especially silicone and rubberized products, ensure a high level of protection against the harmful effects of ponding water, such as the appearance of rust and corrosion and preventing leaks and premature aging;
  • Partial or complete application – roof coating products can be applied on the entire roof surface or only in sensitive areas, such around the roof penetrations or on the flashing.

How to Take Care of Your Roof Coating

Before applying the coating on your roof, make sure that the roof is clean and intact. Start the process with a detailed inspection to reveal any problems that require your attention, then address the issues that have been detected to restore the roof and clean the surface to be treated. Apply the roof coating of choice according to the product instructions – you will need either a spray can or a roller to spread the product and some coating products also need the surface of application to be primed beforehand, but the manual will contain all the information that you need for proper installation. You will also need to maintain your roof coating – the process involves inspection, cleaning and the re-application of the coating in the areas that need correction.

The Advantages of Using Storage Containers for Moving

Ben Stephens Moving and Storage

portable storage Denver option

Using portable storage containers for moving is the best and most comfortable way to load all your belongings quickly and safely for the road and an excellent solution that makes unpacking much easier – here are a few of the major benefits of the large metal boxes.

Accessibility

The companies that offer portable storage containers for rent also provide delivery services, so you can get the unit that you need delivered to your doorstep. You can rent the container for as long as you want, so you don’t need to rush the packing process – you can take as long as you need to wrap and pack everything safely and to move everything into the container in an organized way that makes unpacking easier at the destination. When you are done packing, the container provider will send a vehicle to pick up the container and to take it to the destination that you specify, so besides enjoying the benefits of comfortable packing and unpacking, you can avoid the hassle of having to drive a large vehicle over a long distance as well.

 

Just the Right Size – Not More, Not Less

Storage containers come in a variety of sizes, so you can easily choose the containers that fit your needs perfectly. Most portable storage Denver providers give not only information related to the size of their boxes, but also easy to understand descriptions about the storage requirements that each of their units fit. 16-foot containers, for example, measure 16’× 8’× 8′ and are the best choice for packing in the contents of a 3-4 room home, 12-foot units of the same height and width work best for a house that has 2-3 rooms, while 7-foot boxes can accommodate the contents of one full room comfortably. You can also choose square boxes or other dimensions, it all depends on how much you want to pack.

Versatility

Portable storage units are suitable not only for moving the contents of your home – they can be used to transport your company archives or the contents of your commercial facility just as efficiently.

Resistance and Protection for Your Belongings

Storage containers are made from durable and resistant steel panels that are assembled using frames made from reinforced steel for even more strength. The boxes are perfectly weather resistant, too, so you can be sure that no weather will harm your things while they are traveling to your new home.

Safety

If you need safe transport for your corporate assets or your company documents, steel storage containers can guarantee the highest level of safety for your sensitive and important belongings.

Most storage containers are lockable and the container provider guarantees that only you will have the key to the container’s lock, so you can be sure that your assets will stay safely locked even on long journeys that last several days or more.

Straightforward Budgeting

With storage containers, you don’t need to worry about hidden or unexpected costs. You will be informed about the rental costs that you have to pay when you sign the lease agreement with the rental company and you can be sure that the initial amount will be the final amount as well.

DIY House Painting Tips – How to Refresh the Look of Your Home Inside and Outside

Ben Stephens Home Improvement

Tips on Applying Fresh Paint

Applying fresh paint is the best and most convenient way for refreshing the looks of your home inside and outside, but if you feel overwhelmed by the tasks, here are a few DIY house painting tips to help you.  If not, a good Denver construction company will tell you the importance of hiring painters who are detailed and pay close attention, so as not to get paint anywhere but on the walls and floor boards, and the same for exterior painting.

Planning

Choose a sunny period for your painting project. Rain increases the amount of humidity in the air, which influences the way the paint and the primer behave both inside the house and on the exterior, makes drying time longer and can ultimately give you less than perfect results.

Preparing the Space

If you are painting inside, remove the furniture from the room you want to paint or move the furnishing items to the center of the room and cover them. Cover the floors with foil, use protective tape on any surface that you want to stay paint-free and remove the covers of the electrical outlets and the light switches as well.

Exterior painting is messy as well, so make sure you protect your landscape during the process by covering the ground and the bushes in the area to be painted.

How to Prepare the Walls

Walls need to be prepared to accept the new paint, inside as well as outside. Paint does not stick evenly to uneven, dusty or greasy surfaces, so cleaning your walls is a very important step. Scrape the old paint, then ensure the smoothness of the surface by running sand paper on it. You will need to correct cracks, holes and other damage as well:

  • if you are planning to paint siding panels, inspect them for chipped or rotten parts, replace damaged components, then sand the repaired surface;
  • if you will be painting inside, inspect the wall for cracks and correct them by applying some caulk, then smoothen the wall.

When the wall is sufficiently smooth, wash it with some soap and water, then rinse the surface as well and let it dry before you paint it.

Choose the Painting Products Carefully

You need the best paint and primer that you can get. While choosing the products to be used on the outside, make sure you buy paint that is resistant to the weather, is not affected by temperature variations or by harsh direct sunshine. For the inside, also choose the best paint you can get, especially if you are planning to use a darker color because dark hues are more sensitive.

Be Careful When You Mix the Paint, too

The best way to ensure that the color is consistent on all walls is to mix a large quantity of paint in one go. The process is called boxing and it is the method used by professional painters.

Get Painting

Use a roller with a telescopic handle to make the process comfortable. Paint from the top downward to avoid drips and streaks.

If you use these DIY house painting tips, your painting project will surely be successful – who knows, maybe you will even have fun doing it all by yourself or with some help from friends.

 

Finding Jobs in Denver CO – Who Is Offering the Best Positions?

Ben Stephens Business

2018 business innovation

2018 has become an extremely exciting time for anyone trying to find good jobs in Denver CO. Whether you’re interested in jobs that can give you a better chance at building your career from the ground up, or you want a job that will provide you with a few months of well-paid work before you move on to another place, there are enough options for everyone here.

Architect and Engineering Careers

There are a lot of different types of jobs in Colorado that you can consider, but few are better paid and more sought out than those in architecture and engineering. Architecture might require a lot of knowledge and schooling, but it’ll definitely provide you with a great upper hand over other job seekers. Denver is short of architects, just as it needs more construction laborers, so the jobs you can find in the construction industry – especially as an architect – will surpass the salary level for the same types of positions in nearly any other state.

As an engineer, you can consider work at a small contracting company or at a large construction firm. There are a lot of openings due to the many commercial construction projects still underway in Denver, so you’re sure to find a few great opportunities.

Business and Finances

Are you an accountant or business analyst? Or maybe you want to consider an internship before becoming a finance adviser or marketing specialist. Regardless of the jobs in Denver CO that you aim for when it comes to the business and finance sector, you can usually get a lot more than you’ve bargained for.

The local market is filled with hundreds of jobs in these areas, and if you don’t have experience you can still find an internship or entry level position, even if that’s not always available in other areas.

IT and Communications

As an IT specialist you can typically find work just about anywhere you go. However, in Denver you can find some of the best IT and manufacturing companies in search of computer experts. IBM, Oracle, Global Technology Resources and Quantix ProTech are just a few of the best known companies situated in Denver that will pay you a lot more than in other areas.

Call centers and online marketing firms are also looking for IT and communications specialists, including trainers and team players who have experience on supervising and management positions.

The Construction Industry

Construction companies have been hiring heavily in Denver over the past 5-10 years. New construction projects are still underway as the city is expanding, new commercial areas are being developed and better housing is provided for segments of the population in need of lower-cost real estate solutions.

Whether you’re a masonry expert, an electrician, a construction manager, or you’re just trying to start out in the industry on an entry level position, you’ll find some companies will even go the extra mile trying to hire people with other backgrounds. In most cases, if you’re up for working hard and interested in learning about the industry, you’ll have no trouble whatsoever finding a job in construction in the Denver area.

What Are the Main Advantages of Granite Countertops and Their Use?

Ben Stephens Home Improvement

There are many experts who praise the advantages of granite countertops. Aside from the fact that their price is average, so you don’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on them, granite countertops are highly practical, durable and aesthetically pleasing. If you’ve made up your mind to get a granite countertop for your indoor or outdoor kitchen, most granite countertops Denver experts will tell you that you made the best possible choice you can make.

Granite Countertops and Their Aesthetic Appeal

kitchen counter granite samples

Whether you want to buy them online or locally, granite countertops will stand out in every type of setting. You might find yourself stopping in front of a counter display, and you’ll be instantly drawn to an intricate and almost artistic countertop design that will inevitably turn out to be granite.

The one-of-a-kind, natural surface is what will first capture your attention. No two granite countertops are the same, and when you look closely you can find some beautifully woven shapes that mix hues of gray, black and brown with stunningly relaxing shades of light gold, white, orange and caramel.

There are both lighter and darker granite designs you can choose from, and the variations are virtually endless. You can spend days looking for the ideal granite counter, and you’ll still wonder whether better looking choices might be available – chances are the answer is yes.

Finally, the smooth, glistening surface and the beautiful colors of a granite countertop never fade away. In time, chips might appear, however, the counter is likely to last for decades before any noticeable damage shows itself. Ultimately, if properly taken care of, these products last indefinitely.

As you will see, however, granite is not all about appeal. The advantages of granite countertops stretch far beyond and into the realm of the most practical and efficient countertop designs you will find on the market.

So Here Are the Advantages…

  • As mentioned, granite countertops last for a very long time. Aside from this, they are also virtually indestructible. You can subject them to fire, heat, long term water exposure and sharp surfaces on a regular basis, and it’ll take a lot to get them to crack – literally.
  • Because of their durability and impressive resilience, granite countertops rarely need repairs or maintenance work. They just have to be cleaned regularly, and they should be fine.
  • Cleaning them will never be a problem. Mild dish detergent combined with warm water will eliminate any lingering traces of food and any stains.
  • They are extremely sanitary, so they’re a perfect choice for the kitchen. Bacteria, fungi and mould will not be a problem, and neither will any pests or insects.
  • Unlike other countertop materials, granite is entirely eco-friendly. If you throw it out, it’ll just be another piece of stone, and its presence won’t affect the surrounding environment.
  • Granite is virtually made to add value to your home. Because of its aesthetic and practical benefits, you can expect the price of your home to go up slightly if you change all your countertops to granite. Moreover, granite doesn’t depreciate its value in time, so you can expect their price to keep getting higher as inflation progresses.

As you can see, there are many advantages of granite countertops we can speak of. Buying them will effectively ensure that you get an excellent quality product that will last you a lifetime.

The Factors that Influence Metal Building Prices – Aspects to Consider for Budgeting

Ben Stephens Construction

If you are a first-time buyer of metal construction, you might want to know more about the factors that determine metal building prices – here are some useful details that can help you make an informed decision about the size and the type of the metal building that suits your goals as well as your budget.

Commercial Factors

There is no standardized price established for each building size. The quotes offered by metal building manufacturers for the same product can be dramatically different, depending on the quote provider’s sales figures, the current demand for their products as well as on the promotions they are currently running. Steel buildings Denver prices can fluctuate not only from one manufacturer to the other, but also across quotes provided by the same manufacturer on different dates. These differences are usually due to the fluctuations in the current availability and price of steel – when demand is high and supply is limited, the price for the raw material will go high, but the situation can change from one day to the next.

Geographical Distance

The proximity of the manufacturer that you choose also influences the price that you will pay for your metal building. Your steel building will be manufactured in the supplier’s factory, then it will be transported to your site to be assembled. As steel buildings consist of large panels, the transport of the building components is usually expensive, especially over large distances.

Size and Building Design

blue steel building

Steel buildings vary both in terms of size and in complexity. As a general rule, the larger the building and the more complex the design, the higher the overall price and labor costs are also higher for more complicated constructions. The design features that add complexity to the construction include the incorporation of special doors and windows, such as skylights, mezzanine levels, insulation and the adding of design features such as exterior cladding.

The Type of Supplier

You can buy your steel building through a broker or directly from the manufacturer. Brokers are middlemen who charge a fee for being intermediaries between the customer and the manufacturer, so their fees obviously add extra costs to the overall price of your steel building.

Turnaround Time

Steel building prices are influenced by the turnaround time as well – if you need the building to be delivered very fast, you may be required to pay extra for the expedited service.

The Building Process

Who will erect your metal building will also determine the overall price. You can reduce labor-related costs by assigning your own crew to the construction project, but if you don’t have the necessary workforce, you will have to hire a company that specializes in assembling steel buildings, which will add extra expenses to the overall costs of your metal building.

When you are working on budgeting for your upcoming metal construction project, make sure you factor in all the aspects that influence metal building prices – your estimate can be perfectly accurate only if you prepare it on the day you sign the contract with your building provider, but you can still get a rough idea about how much the project will cost you in the end.

Construction: RCC

Ben Stephens Reinforced concrete
Construction: RCC

Reinforced concrete is what construction workers refer to when they use the term concrete. Reinforced concrete is a mix of concrete and a reinforced steel cage. The steel adds the adequate amount of tension to the structure while the concrete helps to absorb the pressure and weight of the structure. To make reinforced concrete, an expert is usually consulted. There is an entire section under construction workers called concrete mix designers, who expertise in the field of making the perfect concrete for the site. Based on the dimensions given by site engineer, a mould is created with the cement to accommodate the steel structure. The steel structure is in the form of an enclosed cage, which looks somewhat like a cage. This cage-like resemblance is the reason why the steel structure is called the reinforced cage. Once the mould is finished, the structure needs to be enclosed in concrete. This concrete needs to the right mix depending on the specifications given by the site engineer.

reinforcement in Concrete

The mix contains sand, stone chips and cement, this mix is inexpensive and can be manufactured on the site. In a cement maker, the ingredients of the mix are put in along with water. Once the concrete is ready, it is poured over the erect cage and allowed to dry. It takes about a month for the reinforced concrete to set, and this is why most construction sites keep the structure covered. Water plays a key role in this whole process; it is applied on the structure to ensure that the concrete cures and the application of water is because water induces chemical reactions to occur on the surface of the concrete.

Reinforced concrete is measured in the strength it has; there are three standard mixes in the market. They are M20, M30 and M40, so what this means is that the site engineer requires the concrete mix designer to create the concrete according to the specified strength. So for example, M30 would represent that the concrete has a strength of 30 Newton per square millimetre. The two other specifications that will be given to the concrete mix designer is the flow index and the maximum aggregate size of the stone chips. So this is how the instructions will look like stiff M20/30 N/mm2 which means that the site engineer wants the strength of the concrete to be 20 N/mm2 with an aggregate stone chip size of 30mm and that the concrete should be stiff and not too runny.

The reason why reinforced concrete is utilised so abundantly in the construction world is that it is inexpensive and can be produced on site easily.

The Construction Industry.

Ben Stephens Construction Industry
The Construction Industry.

The construction industry involves the sector of national economy engaged in preparation of land and construction, alteration, and repair of buildings, structures, and other real property. It is an urban industry. Since, any establishment is a subject to erosion and needs to be updated with the progress in technology, the construction industry is one of the most thriving industries. It is further divided into three broad categories:

Construction Involving Heavy and Civil Engineering: these involve the construction of large projects such as bridge, road, etc.

General Construction: The construction works that involve building of real estate ones such as residential or commercial real estate assets, etc.

Construction Projects Involving Specialty Trades: These constructions chiefly involve building up of specialized items namely, electric related works, works on woods, etc.

The Future of Construction Industry:

As Science and Technology progresses, the future of the Construction Industry progresses with it. There are many developments being made as the construction industry is a booming one. Some of the most noteworthy progress in the industry include:

Construction Software: The construction software empowers the whole construction process by ameliorating the communication between the different parties involved in a project. One of the elements that have made construction software so indispensable has to do with the fact that it allows for the real-time exchange of information between the various project agents. This means a significant decrease of budget miscalculations and task delays.

construction-site-tablet

Augmented and Virtual Reality: Augmented and Virtual Reality provides the construction managers with a bird’s eye view of the whole project, thus helping them to make their plans for the future. The virtual projection of the project prevents them from making any sort of mistake and that helps them in maintaining their budget by eliminating the chances of any mistake. In addition to this, researchers add that projects that use Augmented and Virtual reality provide a two-fold safety net whereby the workers, while engaging with the project, are safe and the end result, that is, the establishment is safe for its inhabitants.

Next Generation Tools: The next generation tools include devices, robots and software. They can reduce daily strain and provide an additional element of safety on site. However, these robots are still far too expensive for the benefit they provide at the moment.

New Workforce Type: Since the industry is a promising and rapid growing one, it attracts the skillful and educated youth. The construction industry is now using the best of the available technology. Because of this factor the construction industry is now seen as something which will provide long-term career options for a new technological savvy workforce. The younger generation is well-known to the technologies that are being developed with time. By the time they are ready to enter the industry, they will be a pro at the technology being used in the industry. As a result, the industry will have an all new tech-savvy workforce which will be equipped to design the future.

All this is but a glimpse into the future of the construction industry. Construction software has surely played a crucial role in this change and for many, it is expected to be the basis on which the rest of the changes in construction will eventually be established.