How to Choose Quality Construction Materials

Choose quality materials that will remain reliable for a lifetime.

When designing a commercial construction project, the quality of materials can affect everything from cost to life span. The building owner will also expect the construction to use materials that he specifies, and will not look favorably upon overages and delays. How a project manager balances this key aspect of construction will determine the outcome of the project. Here are some tips for choosing quality materials.

Find Multiple Suppliers

The first hurdle to overcome is your supplier. Different suppliers will offer competitive pricing on whatever their specialty may be. They have suppliers of their own that they order from, and these suppliers offer different prices and projections for delivery. That’s why it’s crucial to talk with suppliers early and give them a time frame for your project. You not only need a competitive price, you need the timing to be right as well.

Invoice Everything

Create a paper trail for every aspect of the project. One of the first things a construction claims consultant reviews during a dispute is paperwork verifying all of the orders, and that they were delivered on time as specified.

Verify Materials

Upon arrival, verify that everything you ordered arrives to you as specified. If you’re in doubt about something serious, hire an expert. A steel fabrication expert can be called in to verify the integrity of steel, to be sure that your materials will last the specified time. It’s better to pay for that reassurance now than the legal repercussions of failed steel down the road.

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: Lyle Charles is a steel fabrication expert witness for construction litigation. Contact Lyle Charles Consulting if you require construction mediation, or assistance settling a construction dispute.

Article Written by : Home Interior Advices

Stylish Ideas for Fencing Your Pool

Article written by : Wa Paint – Home Improvement News, Resources and Tips

Whether you’re installing a new swimming pool or simply upgrading an old one, your pool is most probably the centerpiece of your backyard, the place where family and friends gather to have some fun in the sun. For this reason, the pool is the perfect place for a surrounding landscape with lush trees and plenty of flowers.

Although your pool area is a great place for landscaping and decorating, don’t forget that you also need a fence. A pool fence is the responsible way to protect children and adults from drowning in your pool or spa. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s national Pool safety campaign reinforces installing a fence pool as one of its many safety steps. But just because you need a fence, it doesn’t mean it should take anything away from the beauty of the landscape.

There are many stylish pool fence ideas designed for safety as well as aesthetic purposes. Enhance your pool area with these tasteful fencing ideas that create a safe environment for the whole family.
Frameless Glass Fencing: What better way to fence your pool without sacrificing style than installing a frameless glass fence? Virtually indivisible, a frameless glass fence is the perfect addition to a sleek minimalist-style pool area.

A frameless glass fence is flexible and versatile. It can be installed nearly anywhere, including sloping sites. It can be deck mounted or core drilled into concrete or paving. The gates are hung directly on glass, which means you don’t have to add unsightly posts. A frameless glass fence is also easy to maintain. Water and dust can flow under the glass, which reduces the accumulation of trash and grime. Maintaining the fence simply requires routine cleaning of the glass.

Combination fencing: If you don’t want purely frameless fencing options, consider combination fencing. This option is more affordable than frameless glass fencing, but still offers a sleek look that can be tailored to fit your landscaping needs. Combination fencing comes with a variety of choices, which means the final product will be unique. The glass fencing portion of the fence can be used to maintain a beautiful view and also to block wind and noise.

In addition to fencing options, you can also consider glass for the swimming pool walls. Glass swimming pool walls lets in natural light, widens small areas, and offers a sleek and modern look. The final design is up to you.

When to Hire a Construction Consultant

Summary: A construction consultant is useful for commercial construction projects.

A construction consultant fulfills an important role, but hiring one isn’t viable for every project. You won’t need a consultant when you make an addition to your home, but something that will take longer than a month to coordinate will require outside help. There are several advantages to securing a consultant, so hiring one should be considered before you begin commercial projects.

 

Planning Phase

Construction advisory services excel at helping companies plan large projects. Their job is to assess the personnel, materials and needs on the ground to develop a plan that all parties can agree to. They take into account weather and other factors that affect your project, and they have suggestions on methods to reduce costs as well.

Consultants can handle everything from materials acquisition to claims analysis during disputes. Those who are experienced can also act as expert witnesses, able to testify to the conditions on the ground after a thorough review of a dispute.

Mediation and Disputes

A construction consultant can also act as the mediator in a dispute that arises during a construction project. Their knowledge in the field of construction makes them ideal parties to help find a resolution for professional disputes, as they can accurately assess the level of fault attributed to both parties.

They can also testify to the quality of materials used, which is important in disputes that arise after projects are completed. Faulty steel doesn’t show signs of wear until a few years after the project is closed out, so witnesses are needed to verify whether the degradation of materials is natural.

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Lyle Charles is a construction consultant with experience in steel fabrication. Consult Lyle Charles to make your commercial construction project more efficient.

Ideas for Refinishing a Door

Refinishing a door is one of the most satisfying and achievable projects that anyone can do. Even the most originally beautiful wood door will suffer after years of facing the elements. With pre-planning and assembly of tools you need, plan to start early and enjoy the fruits of your labor by late afternoon to early evening. Ask a friend to help in taking the door down to refinish it. Some doors are quite large and heavy! Here are some ideas for refinishing a door:

Tools

Consider your hands, eyes, and skin before starting a refinishing project. Make sure you’ve got goggles, rubber gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear.

Plan to use a work bench or a couple of sawhorses to stabilize the door while you’re refinishing it.

Remove stain or old paint

Start with a light coat of remover. A two-inch bristle paint brush should work well. Wipe remover from the edge of the door as you apply it. Some removers drip. Paint removers shouldn’t be allowed to dry so, as the solution is absorbed by the wood, continue to apply more until the wood is visible. Most paint removers should perform the job in about thirty minutes. Use a scrubbing brush to remove any finish that isn’t automatically dissolved in this step.

Sand, stain, and seal the wood

Use fine grit sand paper to remove all traces of the finish. Then, use a natural stain to restore the beauty of the wood. Use a foam brush, working one section at a time. Wipe any excess with a paper towel, rubbing in the wood grain direction. If applying urethane to add shine, do this right away. The stain doesn’t need to dry first. Optionally, use stencils or appliques to give your door a custom look.

Rehang the door

The results of your handiwork are complete, so it’s best to ask your friend for assistance in rehanging the door. Then, stand back and admire your work!

 

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ETO Doors offers a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty on every door it sells. ETO Doors is dedicated to total customer satisfaction. See ETO Doors reviews for every door online at their website.