Contractors Filter http://contractorsfilter.com/blog Whole House Gutter Protection at a Fraction of the Cost of Other Systems Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:42:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Floods and Water Damage in your Home – What you Need to Know About Water Damage Restoration http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/243/floods-and-water-damage-in-your-home-%e2%80%93-what-you-need-to-know-about-water-damage-restoration/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/243/floods-and-water-damage-in-your-home-%e2%80%93-what-you-need-to-know-about-water-damage-restoration/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:42:02 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/243/floods-and-water-damage-in-your-home-%e2%80%93-what-you-need-to-know-about-water-damage-restoration/

The distribution of human populations close to water is the chief cause of floods, not geology or the weather. Floods from the sea can cause overtopping of flood-defenses like dikes and flattening of dunes or buffs. The worst floods usually occur when a river overflows its banks. Periodic floods occur naturally on many rivers, forming an area known as the flood plain.

The most likely appliances to flood your home and cause water damage are the water heater and washing machine, according to a study released February 15, 2005. Carried out by Safeco Insurance, the study demonstrates that one out of every 10 water-damage claims can be traced back to a fault in one of these two appliances, which are more likely than Mother Nature to cause damage in the home.

In the winter, ice dams and bursting pipes can ruin your carpets and cause water damage to ceilings and walls. An ice dam is a buildup of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof, frequently at the gutter, blocking water from draining off your roof. As a precaution against roof leaks from an ice dam, you can install a water-repellent membrane under your roof covering.

You can begin restoration efforts on your own once you know how your home insurance company intends to handle your claim. Try opening windows to air out your home and start cleaning out any excess water that remains in your home by mopping or blotting water off surfaces. You will want to get as much water out of your home as quickly as possible before the items begin to mold or develop an unpleasant mildew odor.

You may need a professional water damage restoration company, which has skilled technicians, expert cleaners, biocides, extraction, drying and dehumidifying gear, and moisture gauging and monitoring tools. You can find a certified professional by calling the non-profit Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) toll free at (800) 835-4624 or by accessing www.certifiedcleaners.com.

Flood insurance covers damage from rising ground water, not things like a broken pipe or a leaky bathtub. Still, it’s a good idea, since homeowners’ insurance only covers damage from wind-driven rain

Adam O’Connor
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/floods-and-water-damage-in-your-home-what-you-need-to-know-about-water-damage-restoration-80475.html

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/243/floods-and-water-damage-in-your-home-%e2%80%93-what-you-need-to-know-about-water-damage-restoration/feed/ 1 Features Of Temo Sunrooms http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/242/features-of-temo-sunrooms/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/242/features-of-temo-sunrooms/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:02:02 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/242/features-of-temo-sunrooms/

Do you want to enjoy the outdoor world caged within interior beauty? Free from mosquitoes, escape from bugs, nasty natural weather conditions and intense harmful UV rays? Then building a Temo sunroom in home exteriors should be your first option. In earlier days Temo sunrooms were built from simple homemade concepts of wood posts and stapled screens to surround the front and back porches for keeping out unwanted elements. But over the years, the concept of Temo sunroom has undergone fast developments and today it comes designed with screened-in-porch systems, roof systems, and advanced thermal window systems. So today Temo sunrooms are the result of an engineering wonder and creative marvel in the construction industry.

Numbered in with various facetted features the temo sunrooms are designed in a way you want to utilize them. For example, you can use it as your living room, sitting room, guest room or your kitchen, but you need to install various features that will be amply evident of its immediate use. With these new features implemented, the temo sunrooms become a far cry from the “box on a house” concept. Therefore the sophisticated look and the advanced features of temo sunrooms are amply evident of its varied usage in contemporary lifestyle.

Features Of Temo Sunrooms

Before you proceed further with your thoughts of building a temo sunroom in your home, you should be amply aware of its outstanding features. The temo sunrooms showcase in itself the wonderful wall and window systems, exclusive roof systems, and unique door systems. To begin with the wall and window system, it has internal weep system that channels the water away from the room. The exclusive indestructible exterior/interior polymer surface prevents any type of denting, scratching, chalking, fading and blocking of UV penetrations to protect the insulations.

The dual vinyl bulb seal very similar to a refrigerator seal is usually located at the top and bottom channel of the walls and windows of the temo sunrooms. This unique feature provides the luxury of making the sunrooms weather-tight and insect-resistant between walls and foundations of the sunroom. A great amount of structural integrity is promised to the sunrooms through the interlocking meeting rail and lift screens structured into the windows. These E-Z lift self-healing, puncture-resistant lift screens are removable from interior for easy window cleaning. The doors of the temo sunrooms come exclusively studded with attractive brass or French handles that add both beauty and durability to the doors. While the deadbolt lock systems provides extra security against intrusions, the welded corners and dual door sweep in the doors promise reinforced commercial strength that provide a extra dimensions of security against weather, insects and unwanted manly intrusions.

Last of all are secrets in the roof systems of the Temo sunrooms. While the standing roof seams provide most effective protection against weather and seasonal expansions, the interlocking tongue-and-groove construction system provides structural integrity, longetivity and overall roof system. The vinyl roof cleat is designed to conceal the interior seam and provide additional seam integrity against harsh weather. The leaf guard protection blocks debris from accumulating and aids in maintenance-free gutter performance of the temo sunrooms.

Types Of Temo Sunrooms

Apart from these exclusive features temo sunrooms also promise the three outstanding Ps- performance, perfection and protection. Each of the temo sunrooms are built of superior materials that come with lifetime warranty. The temo sunrooms come in several styles like the studio rooms, solarium model style. California style and cathedral designs. The studio rooms are one of the popular designs that can adapt to almost any style home or architecture. While the studio style comes with maximum ceiling height it is ideally suited for skylights. The solariums-style temo sunrooms transfer the outdoors to indoors with their state-of-the art designs. They allow maximum exposure to the ecstatic beauty of moon, sun and stars while providing you protection from their harmful aura. The cathedral style temo sunrooms with their traditional design of gables, split-gables and step-down roof designs must be a matter of your choice.

A great advantage of a temo sunroom is that it is customized to fit your home creating a home addition of your dreams. The most popular sizes of temo sunrooms that are available are 10′x8′, 10′x12′, 10′x14”, 12′x8′, 12′x12, 12×15, 12×20 and 16×20. As per the size of the temo sunrooms, you can increase its incredible flexibility by using it as a spa, entertainment centers, exercise and working centers. The temo sunrooms have designs that help to regulate the temperature of the interior of the sunrooms in all seasons.

Get temo sunrooms in your home to unwind, relax and spend time with your family and friends.

A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/features-of-temo-sunrooms-95350.html

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/242/features-of-temo-sunrooms/feed/ 0 Can I use aluminium leaf guards (the mesh caps that go in the downspout) in copper gutters? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/241/can-i-use-aluminium-leaf-guards-the-mesh-caps-that-go-in-the-downspout-in-copper-gutters/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/241/can-i-use-aluminium-leaf-guards-the-mesh-caps-that-go-in-the-downspout-in-copper-gutters/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:34:21 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/241/can-i-use-aluminium-leaf-guards-the-mesh-caps-that-go-in-the-downspout-in-copper-gutters/ I want to keep leaves from going down the downspouts, but heard that the aluminium will interact with the copper. Is that true?

yes – it’s called ‘dissimilar metal contact’ one of the two will accelerate the corrosion process, you’ll have to use something made of copper or plastic.

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/241/can-i-use-aluminium-leaf-guards-the-mesh-caps-that-go-in-the-downspout-in-copper-gutters/feed/ 3 Does anyone know a "Gutter" guy in or around Monmouth County NJ? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/240/does-anyone-know-a-gutter-guy-in-or-around-monmouth-county-nj/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/240/does-anyone-know-a-gutter-guy-in-or-around-monmouth-county-nj/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:34:02 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/240/does-anyone-know-a-gutter-guy-in-or-around-monmouth-county-nj/ I’m renovating my house and am interested in pricing some gutter craftsmen to replace my existing gutters. Just had my roof redone, and want a quality seemless gutter system (but not HELMUT b/c too pricey) that needs little to no cleaning…maybe once a year. ANy help would be appreciated.

Why not try the online Yellow Pages?

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/240/does-anyone-know-a-gutter-guy-in-or-around-monmouth-county-nj/feed/ 1 Is it possible to hang icicle lights from your gutters if you have leaf guards? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/239/is-it-possible-to-hang-icicle-lights-from-your-gutters-if-you-have-leaf-guards/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/239/is-it-possible-to-hang-icicle-lights-from-your-gutters-if-you-have-leaf-guards/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:44:21 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/239/is-it-possible-to-hang-icicle-lights-from-your-gutters-if-you-have-leaf-guards/ The light hanger things we got from Lowe’s won’t work with the leaf guards. Are we just out of luck for hanging lights?

try paper clips. unfold them and loop them through.

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/239/is-it-possible-to-hang-icicle-lights-from-your-gutters-if-you-have-leaf-guards/feed/ 3 My gutter drain pipe is thick with mud from the ground to five feet high. How do I clean it out ? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/238/my-gutter-drain-pipe-is-thick-with-mud-from-the-ground-to-five-feet-high-how-do-i-clean-it-out/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/238/my-gutter-drain-pipe-is-thick-with-mud-from-the-ground-to-five-feet-high-how-do-i-clean-it-out/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:44:10 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/238/my-gutter-drain-pipe-is-thick-with-mud-from-the-ground-to-five-feet-high-how-do-i-clean-it-out/ The bottom was behind a bush, my wife noticed the bricks behind the pipe were dark from wetness over time. The weight of the pipe had pulled it down from the extension at the top and water was draining onto the house. I’ve elevated the bottom of the pipe, pulled out the roots that have begun growing into the bottom, and I’ve poured hot water down the gutter from the roof to loosen and melt whatever dirt I could … but it’s still ‘plump’ from the middle of the drain pipe to the bottom. Any ideas ??

A combination of roof shingle fines and airborne dust/leaves has accumulated in the downspout. There are quite a few feet of it since it was heavy enough to separate at the top. If you live in an area where it freezes this material has frozen, expanded and either opened the manufacturers seal or has cracked the tube. In either case you must replace the tube – not worth cutting out the cracked section, if you could find it, since new tubing usually is sold in 8-10 foot lengths.

If you are certain the material has not frozen then try pushing a hose into the tube FROM THE BOTTOM- not the top. The material will dislodge slowly at first and then in a rushing mass. Water in the top simple compacts the material and can make it very difficult if not impossible to clear the tube.

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/238/my-gutter-drain-pipe-is-thick-with-mud-from-the-ground-to-five-feet-high-how-do-i-clean-it-out/feed/ 6 How may I attach strings of Christmas lights to my roof gutters? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/237/how-may-i-attach-strings-of-christmas-lights-to-my-roof-gutters/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/237/how-may-i-attach-strings-of-christmas-lights-to-my-roof-gutters/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:10 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/237/how-may-i-attach-strings-of-christmas-lights-to-my-roof-gutters/ I bought a box of the popular plastic hangers, but they won’t work with my gutters — that have a leaf guard screen attached to them.

how about "S" hooks?….

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/237/how-may-i-attach-strings-of-christmas-lights-to-my-roof-gutters/feed/ 6 How do I clean out leaves which clog the gutter downspouts connected to an underground cistern? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/236/how-do-i-clean-out-leaves-which-clog-the-gutter-downspouts-connected-to-an-underground-cistern/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/236/how-do-i-clean-out-leaves-which-clog-the-gutter-downspouts-connected-to-an-underground-cistern/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:49:58 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/236/how-do-i-clean-out-leaves-which-clog-the-gutter-downspouts-connected-to-an-underground-cistern/
put a screen over the gutters to prevent the leaves from going in now get a ladder and take them out by hand wear gloves

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/236/how-do-i-clean-out-leaves-which-clog-the-gutter-downspouts-connected-to-an-underground-cistern/feed/ 2 Is aluminum or plastic better for rain gutters? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/235/is-aluminum-or-plastic-better-for-rain-gutters/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/235/is-aluminum-or-plastic-better-for-rain-gutters/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:30 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/235/is-aluminum-or-plastic-better-for-rain-gutters/ I know aluminum has gone up in price. I know very little about gutter material. Durability, leaf guards, etc. I am on a limited income, and need the most and best for my few bucks. Thanks Lee

Go with aluminum seamless gutter ,plastic only comes in 10 ft lenghts so you would have more seams which means more chances of it leaking
A easy formula to figure out whataluminumn gutter will cost is and it goes by linear footage so measure your house where gutters would go and then add 12 LF for each downspout you will need about 4 and you have the total and if you call a contractor they will give you a free estimate but it should cost you about $2-$3 a Linear foot
everyone is hurting for work so get a couple bids and go back and forth for the best price
Also leaf guard is expensive about $4 a LF look for similar products that are cheaper
hope this helps

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/235/is-aluminum-or-plastic-better-for-rain-gutters/feed/ 5 While cleaning out my Gutters here in North Central FL, I came across an albino Cockroach or Palmetto Bug? http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/234/while-cleaning-out-my-gutters-here-in-north-central-fl-i-came-across-an-albino-cockroach-or-palmetto-bug/ http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/234/while-cleaning-out-my-gutters-here-in-north-central-fl-i-came-across-an-albino-cockroach-or-palmetto-bug/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:18 +0000 contractor http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/234/while-cleaning-out-my-gutters-here-in-north-central-fl-i-came-across-an-albino-cockroach-or-palmetto-bug/ Would it have been worth saving for Science? I don’t live too far from University of Florida so I was just wondering if I come across it again.

Almost any species of animal can occasionally be albinistic. I don’t know the frequency in that particular species. I’m sure it is uncommon, but I suspect not a great rarity. Still, if you talk to someone in the entomology department of a university, I suppose they might be interested.

]]> http://contractorsfilter.com/blog/234/while-cleaning-out-my-gutters-here-in-north-central-fl-i-came-across-an-albino-cockroach-or-palmetto-bug/feed/ 1