Helpful Home Tips
Archive for December, 2009
Purchasing a Backyard Pool
Purchasing a Backyard Pool
Purchasing and installing a backyard pool may be one of the most expensive additions you will ever make to your home. Conducting a bit of research before your purchase, could save you some money and assure you that you have a backyard pool that you will enjoy for years to come.
Your first decision about a backyard pool is whether you want an in-ground pool or an above-ground one. And, while an in-ground pool is luxurious and may add value to your home, the cost can be up to six times that of an above-ground pool. In addition, the material you choose for the construction of an in-ground pool may hike the price even higher. Your choice of materials for an in-ground pool include vinyl-lined, fiberglass or concrete, with concrete being the most expensive as well as the choice that will add the most value to your home. Make sure you choose the pool that best suits your needs as you will have to live with it for a long time.
Once you’ve selected your style and construction material, check-out the local laws governing the placement and safety requirements you must meet to have a pool in your community. These may include a fence around your pool, a pool cover, and/or a minimum light requirement to insure that others are safe when around your pool. Your contractor should be up-to-date on these requirements, but your town hall will have that information if you want to check on it yourself.
In addition to the pool itself, you’ll also want to consider the size and shape of your pool, the possibility of building a pool deck to enhance your pool experiences, the possible addition of a pool-spa, hot tub or whirlpool for your family’s relaxation pleasure, installation of a fountain or waterfall for an interesting ascetic, and pool sheds and cabanas for some shade. The choices are endless in designing your pool area, so make sure you budget for any accessories you want to add to the construction of your new backyard pool area.
Just remember that adding a backyard pool to your home is a major construction project. However, with a little planning, you’ll enjoy the process of building your pool, add value to your home, and make a long-term investment in your family’s summertime fun.
Other factors to consider are the future costs of your new pool. These costs include opening and closing your pool for each season, plumbing and maintaining pumps, lining, and equipment associated with your pool, utility bills and operating costs, and the buying of chemicals (chlorine, shock and pH balancer) to keep your pool water clean.
Blog post provided by: Alpharetta GA swimming pool plumbing service
PEX vs. Copper Piping
Does the average person really know what kind of piping is in their home? Probably not, but odds are, it is either standard iron or copper piping or PEX piping. So which one do you choose if you have a choice?
Copper
Copper (and iron) piping is the most common type of piping in most homes. It is a durable, flexible metal that is easy to install, but does require some amount of soldering skill. Copper resists corrosion and is not affected by ultraviolet rays, making it great for outside use. Other advantages to copper piping is that it provides your plumbing system with a biostatic atmosphere, making bacteria grow difficult, does not release toxic gases when exposed to fire, resists burning, is flexible enough to resist breaking in severe weather, and is recyclable. The disadvantages of copper piping are that copper piping is expensive, it may produce metallic tasting water, and it may break in locations where freezing temperatures occur.
PEX
PEX piping is a cross-linked polyethylene pipe that is durable in extreme temperatures, flexible, easy to install and less expensive than copper or iron piping. PEX piping is ideal for the do-it-yourselfer. In addition, PEX piping can be used with metal and PVC piping, has fewer fittings, less leakage, is burst resistant, and is installed with numerous shut off valves, making repairs easy to do. The disadvantages of PEX piping include its restriction to indoor use, its inability to be recycled, its potential for allowing contaminants to enter your drinking water, and its tendency to deteriorate if left outside.
So which do you choose? If cost is a factor, PEX piping is the most inexpensive choice. Otherwise, you’ll want to choose based on your situation and which type of piping works best in your home. If in doubt, consult a trusted, qualified water pipe plumber to help you decide.
Blog post provided by: Atlanta GA copper piping plumbers
Sprinkler System Installation
Once the need to water lawns ends for the season, many folks take advantage of discounts offered to install a sprinkler system for the next season of watering needs. If you are one of those folks, you’ll want to check around to find the best price and a qualified sprinkler system installation company for your system.
The design of your sprinkler system is just as important as the installation. It involves much more than installing pipe and sprinkler heads. You’ll want to make sure that your lawn is measured accurately so you’ll know what type water flow you need to keep your lawn and flowerbeds hydrated and healthy. Different pipes and flow valves need to be correctly positioned and installed to control the pressure and amount of water released to make sure your sprinkler system runs smoothly and efficiently. Your objective is to have a uniform amount of water delivered to your lawn to work for your particular yard.
While you can install a sprinkler system on your own, you may want to consider hiring a professional to do so. It is not just a weekend project and will require some expertise in precise calculation of pressure and spatial measurements to determine the placement of sprinkler heads and piping. Many homeowners have dug up entire lawns trying to figure out how and where to lay the piping. Consequently, hiring a qualified sprinkler specialist may save you money and time.
Maintenance of Your Sprinkler System
Since sprinkler systems have both above- and below ground components, you’ll need to be sure that your system is designed so that you can drain all the water form pipes for the winter so the pipes don’t freeze and burst. Most systems have a shut-off switch that enables you to deactivate it during the winter. Check with your manual or installer to learn how to do this.
About the only other maintenance problem you have to worry about with a well-installed system is clogged sprinkler heads. If one of your “pop up” heads is not working, odds are that sand or dirt is lodged in it, and cleaning the sprinkler head will solve the problem. Otherwise, you’ll want to check the pipe feeding that sprinkler head for a leak. If you have an entire zone that is not watering, check your delivery box to make sure it is programmed correctly. Your automatic time may need to be re-set. Consult a sprinkler system professional if you cannot solve the problem yourself to avoid expensive repair bills later on.
Blog post provided by: Alpharetta Ga Sprinker System Specialists
Grout Installation and Repair
Cracked grout is one of the most common problems encountered among homeowners with tile floors in homes with tile flooring in bathrooms and/or kitchens.
Excessive water or polymer additives in your grout mix that result in weak grout structure is the most likely culprit if you have cracked grout. Liquid in grout mixtures will inevitably evaporate (as it is designed to do), but too much evaporation will leave tiny holes in your grout, making it vulnerable to cracking. In addition, if the glue applied over your mortar is insufficient or too thinly applied, when the glue dries and contracts, the glue (also called thinset) may pull away from the tile and leave gaps of air under your tile. If you hear a crunching sound when you walk over your tile flooring, you are hearing pieces of mortar that are lodged beneath your tile. This event will eventually result in cracked grout, followed by cracked tiles.
Strong grout is a result of the timing of cement hydration at the time of original installation. Part of the curing process, cement hydration (the reaction of water with cement) is critical in determining the strength of your grout. Adding water after the cement hydration has begun is a recipe for a disastrous tile installation. Make sure you contract with a competent tile installer from a Bathroom Remodeling or Kitchen Remodeling company to eliminate having to worry about tile problems in the future.
If you have cracked grout problems, the sooner you take steps to fix the problem, the better; so try to repair cracked grout promptly to avoid evitable cracked tile later. The longer you wait the more expensive and extensive the job will be. Cracked grout only gets worse with time. And, if your grout is in really bad shape, your best option is to replace all the grout to insure that your tile does not crack and result in the destruction of all the tiles in that room. A typical grout replacement involves the stripping and reapplying of the grout, followed by a curing process and application of a sealant. While replacing all your grout seems like an expensive endeavor, it does come close to the expense of retiling your entire floor.
Blog post provided by: Marietta, GA Plumbing specialists
WHEN AND HOW TO FIX YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO FIX YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY, BUT FIRST YOU MUST KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR DRIVEWAY. PROPERLY MAINTAINING YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY IS CRITICAL TO THE DURABILITY AND LIFE OF YOUR ASPHALT PAVEMENT SURFACE. YOU CAN DO THIS BY CRACK FILLING AND SEAL COATING EVERY 2 TO 4 YEARS (DEPENDING WHERE YOU LIVE, THE TEMPERATURES AND OXIDATION OF THE SUN WILL CONTROL THE LIFE OF THE SEAL COAT). CRACK FILLING THE LARGER CRACKS (1/4” AND LARGER) IS IMPORTANT TO SEAL OFF THE SURFACE WATER AND PREVENTING IT FROM PENETRATING THROUGH THE SURFACE AND INTO THE UNDERLYING BASE.
IF THE SURFACE OF THE ASPHALT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF DISTRESS OR DETERIORATION, IT IS TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO PREVENT FUTURE COSTLY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. MAINTAINING YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY BY MEANS OF SEAL COAT OR INSTALLING A MINOR ASPHALT OVERLAY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT SURFACE. THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE SUCH AS MAJOR CRACKING HAS OCCURRED – IF YOUR ASPHALT DRIVEWAY ALREADY HAS SIGNIFICANT CRACKS – YOU SHOULD CALL A QUALIFIED ASPHALT DRIVEWAY REPAIR COMPANY TO FIX YOUR DRIVEWAY.
SIMPLE RAVELLING OF THE EXISTING ASPHALT PAVEMENT SURFACE CAN BE COVERED WITH A SEAL COAT AND THE PAVEMENT RESTORED KEEPING THE CHEMICALS WITHIN THE ASPHALT. KEEPING THE CHEMICALS WITHIN THE ASPHALT WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT SURFACE AND CAN BE DONE BY EITHER SEAL COATING OR APPLYING A SMALL ASPHALT OVERLAY OVER THE EXISTING ASPHALT. THE EXISTING ASPHALT SURFACE MUST BE STRUCTURALLY STABLE ENOUGH WITH NO AREAS OF DISTRESS TO HANDLE THE ASPHALT OVERLAY. SIMPLY INSTALLING AN ASPHALT OVERLAY OVER AN AREA THAT HAS MAJOR CRACKING WILL LOOK GOOD FOR A WHILE, BUT COVERING UP THE PROBLEM WILL REFLECT THROUGH THE SURFACE OF THE NEW ASPHALT AT A RAPID RATE. DAMAGED AREAS MUST BE REMOVED AND REPAIRED PRIOR TO ANY ASPHALT OVERLAY.
IF THE EXISTING ASPHALT SURFACE IS SEVERELY CRACKED AND DAMAGED ENOUGH THAT THE ASPHALT SECTIONS ARE LOOSE OR POTHOLES ARE FORMING, THESE MUST BE REPAIRED QUICKLY BEFORE THEY SPREAD EVEN FURTHER. ALL ASPHALT PAVEMENT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS THUS CREATING CRACKING OVER TIME. IF THESE CRACKS ARE NOT FILLED WITH CRACK FILL OR SEAL COAT IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE PROBLEMS START TO BEGIN WITH THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT STRUCTURE. WATER INTRUDES THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE BASE ROCK MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE ASPHALT TO SEVERELY CRACK AND EVENTUALLY FORM POTHOLES.
Post Provided by: Asphalt Driveway Repair Atlanta GA - Ace Paving & Maintenance