Livingston Reporting - page 348

Handicapped Ramps: Hiring a Contractor Verses Doing It Yourself

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How should you begin is the first question most people ask when thinking about any home improvement project.  The same question should come up when talking about building a residential wheelchair ramp.  It is no easy task.  It is however a must if you have someone in your life that needs a handicapped ramp.  This could be someone who has knee joint issues, is in a wheelchair, using a walker or even parents who use a stroller.  It takes a lot of effort to construct a handicapped ramp that works correctly and is not an eye sore.

Starting the construction of a handicapped ramp should only be done after you have answered a few questions regarding the project.  Ask yourself if the structure is meant to permanently be attached or are you only in need of a temporary wheelchair ramp.  The reasons you might only need a temporary handicapped ramp installed is if a parent is only coming to stay with you in the final stages of life.  You would need the ramp to ease the transition.

Ask yourself if this is a project you should be undertaking.  Do you have knowledge of the construction field?  Are you an experienced builder?  Do you have the time it takes to commit to a project of this size or would it be best to hire a licensed handicapped ramp installer?

It is important that you take time to read and understand the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities act.  Those guidelines help set in place all of the specifications which make the ramp safe.  Have you reviewed the specifications for the slope, width, landing and handrails?  It is important that all aspects be looked into when dealing with handicap accessible ramps.

Can you construct the ramp for prime maneuverability of the wheelchair or walker?  It is important that it is easy to use and that all the building code that is enforced in your area is properly met.  If you have any question in regards to your ability to start and complete the project it is best left to the professionals.

Hiring a professional handicapped ramp installer would be the first place I would turn when my parents finally want to stop living on their own.  My dad has problems walking up and down the stairs so it would alleviate a lot of the strain on his body.  In building a ramp for our home one of my goals would be to make sure it blends into the landscape and environment of our home and neighborhood community.  Handicapped ramps that are installed correctly truly enhance the beauty of a home and add value.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Landscape Installation: Letting Nature Take Over

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Landscape installation does not need to be difficult, time consuming or expensive.  I know that is a shocking statement but there are alternatives to the back breaking hours it takes to create a design in your landscaping.  Native landscaping is not a new concept but is catching on as the economy is slowing because people do not have the money to pour into landscape installation and resort to using natural plants and materials.

For years I have spent hundreds of dollars investing in annuals that grace my garden and then occasionally make it through the harsh winter to bloom again.  It is more likely however that the next year I will find myself back at the landscaping supply store buying more the next year.  I know I am not alone in my quest for a beautiful full lawn but this year I decided that I was going to stick with what nature supplies and forgo the rest.  Plants that are beautiful and that truly grow in my back yard will be what grace my landscape design this year and for years to come.

The benefits of this type of landscaping installation are plentiful.  First, these gardens don’t need any regular maintenance.  They are already used to the amount of water and soil type for the area.  The plants will evolve along with the changes in our environment if they are truly native plants to the area.  I love the fact that I will not have to labor over the maintenance of the new landscape installation.

Another major benefit people find with natural landscape installation is that the species that are native to your area will find refuge in your gardens.  Butterflies, birds and smaller creatures will find a place among your landscape instead of your home.  The habitat will be one that is suitable for their needs and they won’t have to create an environment amongst plants that are foreign to them, possibly ruining what you have attempted to create.  A native scheme lets all creatures within the area to live in harmony.

Obviously if you have a yard that is used for children playing a section will have to be turned into a manicured lawn.  We have created a space in the backyard for the kids where they can throw the ball around, swing and play.  The area surrounding however is left natural to allow the landscape to form naturally.

My immediate family gets my quest for a more natural landscape environment.  They have lived through the expense of maintaining a garden that is just not meant for our space.  The native planting has allowed for us to explore the different plants that grow here in Michigan wild.  I loves that with the seasons my landscape changes.  It is amazing to see what comes up from the seeds left by the birds throughout the untamed yard and beautiful, colorful flowers are what we get mixed in with the native grasses.

People in our neighborhood have taken awhile to grow on the idea.  At first they were concerned with an abundance of critters living within the habitat that had been created.  Now though they realize that the critters are living safely in our space and leaving their vegetation alone so it is a win for all of us.  We did not even find ourselves having to spray for mosquitoes this year.  Instead lemongrass, marigolds and catnip are growing throughout the yard.  All of these natural growing plants are right there in my backyard naturally repelling mosquitoes.  That is landscape installation that I can live with.

Bladerunners Landscape

Engineering Services: Plotting a Career Path

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In determining a career often young people think very general.  My daughter often says she wants to be a teacher but never thinks into what field she would further her education in.  The same goes with doctors, lawyers, engineers and technology.  When thinking about careers we need to encourage our teenagers to start thinking about exactly what areas of life interest them.  If they think engineering is where there interests lay then they should dig deeper to decide the field of engineering that interests them before starting their college programs.  If they really love being outdoors a career as an environmental engineer would play better into their interests then biomedical engineering.

We will take a look into some of the engineering services field below.  Generalizing the field of engineering into subcategories will often help to spark interest in on field over another for teens preparing to further their education.

  • Telecommunications Engineering:  This type of engineering specializes in systems such as; phones, computers, fiber optics and automatic tellers.  They are specialist in the field of communication whether it is between a car and a bank teller or businesses working with each other from opposite sides of the world.
  • Electronic Engineering: This type of engineering services offers a chance to work with systems that are designed for the capture, storage, analysis and transmission of information. They do this by designing a mechanism that makes use of electrical energy that is able to operate and control portions of everyday life.
  • Aerospace Engineering: This type of engineering would be perfect for someone who is interested in the space and technology field.  They design, create and control aircraft, space transportation and momentum systems.  These engineering services are used by airlines, civil aviation and governments.
  • Environmental Engineering: This type of engineering is perfect for a person interested in working with issues that affect the world we live in environmentally.  They study, asses and correct issues impacting the environment.  This includes air, water and soil and the conservation and use of natural resources.
  • Material Engineering: This type of engineering services involves the manufacturing, structuring and handling of different substances be it metal or not.  This field is very diverse in terms of working conditions.  You could find yourself in a foundry, steel/aluminum, plant or even research companies that use different alloys.
  • Biomedical Engineering: This type of engineering is for all those who want to work within the hospital industry but are not interested in the patient care side of the field.  These people have a diverse job.  They can be fixing machinery such as CAT scanners, pacemakers to assisting surgery teams with artificial limbs.  They help to improve the quality of life of individuals.
  • Civil Engineering: This type of engineering services is dealing with the everyday structures we use in the convenience of our everyday lives.  Bridges, overpasses, roads, railways and water systems are all possibly areas that civil engineers will work in.

Engineering is just one field where the breakdowns in study are vast and varied.  Each time my daughter discusses her plans for college and pursuing a degree in the field of education we discuss the many aspects of this field of study.  She needs to think about what age group she would be interested in and what subjects she would want to specialize in.  Choosing a career is a difficult think to think about when you are just finding yourself out of high school.  It is important that we guide our children as much as possible in making choices that will help their better good in the long term.

SRCMI

Handicap Ramps: Simple Solutions for Aging in Place

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Keeping a person that is aging safe when they live alone is a key concern for many of us as our parent’s age. It is important for them to stay in their homes for as long as possible.  I can’t blame them for wanting to stay where the memories are.  It is comfortable and familiar.  Moving would be strange, unfamiliar and many older people do not handle change well.  All the more reason to alleviate the issues they have regarding aging in place as they arise.

The first thing we had to deal with as my parents got older was how to handle the steps to get inside their home.  The main area we needed for them to access was the area within the garage so that they could easily get to their vehicle.  We had a specialized handicap ramp contractor come in and evaluate the area.  He said that we needed to remove the steps going up into the house because they were incredibly steep.  He then said that a metal ramp was the best fit for the area.  It would be durable and offer extra grip for them to walk on it now and for walkers or wheelchairs later.

He also sold us on the handicap ramp for the front porch for safety reasons.  For instance, if the garage were to catch on fire they would need another way to exit the house.  The front porch would house a handicap ramp made from wood that would blend in to the existing landscaping.  This would keep the neighbors happy and my parents safe.

We did more drastic changes to the areas in the house that needed them.  We installed a chair lift for them to get into the basement.  No one wants their elderly parent climbing the stairs.  It was also important to remove the tub and toilet and add handicap accessible equipment throughout the bathroom.  The extra railings would be beneficial for offer stability.  We added a seat to the shower and a removable shower head for access to the shower even when help might not be around.

It was important to keep the memories around the house but to remove the clutter that canvassed the home.  This was a bit harder as they saw this as ‘the end”.  Instead I reminded them about the safety issues we were addressing and how the memories will live on even without every scrap of paper and such that recorded the event for them.  I did remove the sharp end and coffee table sin the living area and replaced them with ones that were shaped like a circle.  I would still worry about them falling just not hitting a sharp pointy end table.

When I looked into resources in our area I was shocked to find all types of senior benefits that were out there with a little work that I could find that would benefit them.  A volunteer service is in the area that offers opportunities for volunteers to assist the elderly with yard maintenance and handyman services.  This is helpful in keeping a bit of the autonomy they crave.  My parents can call and schedule a volunteer to come out to help clean or maintain the house.  This way they are not always relying on their children.

I am sure the handicap ramp and bathroom are just the start of many age in place remodels that will have to be done as my parents age.  Hopefully for us, their children, they will continue to be mobile enough to get around unassisted and still have the zest they have now. It is funny because their bodies have definitely aged but I still see their minds working as if they were in their forties.  They still give me a run for my money playing Euchre and Scrabble.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Gate Operator: Understanding the Mechanics of Gates

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A gate operator is a motorized piece of equipment that is used to release and secure an entry/exit gate.  Gates are common at parking garage, at the end of driveways and industrial business centers.  Basically if you want an added bit of security at your home or business an entry/exit gate is used. Often gates are used with attendants in order to collect tolls or to monitor traffic in and out of a structure.

There are two different types of gate operators in use today, automatic and electric.  Automatic gate operators offer the convenience of having a gate without using a high voltage power source.  Automatic gate operators work using solar energy.  This is important for many clients who do not have a power supply readily available.  A good example of this would be a long, remote driveway.  For some automatic gate owners it is all about using natural resources that provide renewable energy and are cleaner for the environment.

Electric gate operators are motorized by a mechanical arm that is used to open and close the gate.  A circuit is used that sends signals to the gate from an access control which tell it to open or close.  Access control systems can come in many different forms.  An access control can consist of a remote control, and intercom system, an entry keypad or even sensors.

Gate operators are used on many different styles of gates.  Two of the most popular types are swing gates and slide gates.  The style that you choose will depend on personal preference and the space it is intended for.  Swing gates tend to be more intricate and stylish but require a lot of space to extend open.  Where as a sliding gate opens horizontally along the fence using only the space that is currently occupies.

In understanding gate operators it is important to know how the technology has advanced.  In previous years installing gate operators took a good amount of time.  This coupled with their large and unattractive presence often made automatic gates too industrial looking for most homes.  Today most gate operators are installed so inconspicuously.  They can be mounted either above or below the actual fence.

Some models even allow for underground installation.  Underground installation of gate operators is a nice option because it allows the gate to function as a piece of landscaping without having the systems operating it in full view.  It adds the mystery element of how the gate is actually opening and closing.

One thing to remember when having a gate system installed is that the gate operator system needs to be made of weatherproof materials.  It also needs to be free of any materials that could corrode with your areas different elements.  Different temperate climates make it necessary to research gate operators that function well in your area.

The United States varies greatly in climate from rain, wind, heat and cold so it is important to know that a top gate operator system in Michigan might not be the best bet for a system in Arizona.  Your gate installer will be able to provide detailed information to make sure the product meets your areas requirements.

Gates are becoming an ever popular trend among home owners and home owner associations.  It provides security and allows the owner to have control over the people who are able to access the homes.  They also are an attractive piece of landscaping that can be used to increase the value of your property and decrease insurance rates.

SAC Fence

Creating a Landscaping Design Especially for Your Family

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Coming up with a creative landscaping design for your yard is a dilemma for many home owners.  There are several different options when thinking about the design of your space.  The first thing to consider is what the space is going to be used for.  You will need to come up with a budget.  This will help in determine what goes into the space.  It is also wise to think about the existing environment.  Things such as the amount of light that is currently available or if the soil is really dry all play a part in what can be installed in your landscaping design.  This is all a key part in making sure the design coordinates with the space.

Pleasure/Relaxation Area: This space usually begins with a deck or patio area.  It is important that the area be kept neat and free of sources that would draw flying bugs.  Mosquitoes will surely ruin any area meant for relaxation.  Landscaping designs that play into ones desire for quiet often include privacy fencing and elements such as hammocks and comfortable outdoor furniture.  Another luxury that could be included in a landscaping design meant for relaxation is an outdoor patio fire pit, hot tub or a pergola.

Recreational Area:  A space to be used for recreation and playtime should start with a good base of grass.  Often recreation landscaping designs include a play space and swings.  My neighbor built a raise space off to the side of his lawn for a tournament style horse shoe pit.  It is not a typical pit.  It is a stylish space that has amenities such as cup holders, horse shoe holders and a score board.  Other forms of recreation spaces that are popular are swimming pools and spaces for volley ball, croquet and bocce ball.  In the ground fire pits are also popular where they are large enough for a group of people to sit and enjoy s’mores.

Special Garden Area: These areas are becoming ever popular for landscape designs specifically for a purpose.  Fairy gardens are popular as well as butterfly/hummingbird landscape designs.  It is also really fun to turn your backyard living space into a sustainable garden. You could include herbs and vegetables that you could then swap with neighbors.  My neighbor has a special space in her yard that is set aside just for her to grow flowers that are able to be cut and placed into vases throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.  She calls it her cutting garden.  Visitors to her home call it a sanctuary.

Miscellaneous Area: This includes all areas that are built out of randomness and have developed into a landscape design in your backyard environment.  Spaces such as dirt bike paths and spaces your children carve out especially for them.  My daughter built a gnome area and my son has added dirt piles to his paths through the woods.

Your backyard landscaping design is something only you have total control over.  Make your yard somewhere that you enjoy spending time in.  Make it a special “vacation” area that your family and friends can enjoy with you and spend time doing the things that make you happy.  Landscape designs are meant to be something uniquely you.

Bladerunners Landscape

Landscape Services: Proper Care Required When Installing Weed Barrier

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Installing weed control in your home’s gardens is a hassle in landscaping that is already established.  Homeowners may choose to employ landscape service companies to come in and handle the challenges that go along with the installation of weed barrier.  It is not a difficult job however choosing the correct materials, prepping the land and securing the weed control are all areas that are equally important when doing this type of job in your landscaping.

Landscaping services are provided by most companies who also are employed to mow lawns and trim hedges.  You will want to check with them to see if adding weed barrier is part of the services they provide.  If so there are certain things to check before they begin the installation of weed barrier to your landscaping.

Make sure that the company is installing weed barrier for weed control that is made from a thick fabric.  Some companies use plastic sheeting.  This is not appropriate for gardens in which plants will live.  It will not allow the oxygen or water to get through to the plants roots.  It also creates an environment that does not allow for breathing which in turn creates mold and fungus.  You need to look for a fabric that does not easily tear with your bare hands.  Thinner weed fabric barriers will break down sooner allowing weeds to pop up in your landscape design.

The next thing you will want to ensure your landscape services company does is overlap the weed barrier by at least 3 inches of overlap.  This ensures that weeds don’t find their way through these potential portholes of freedom.

Another area of concerns is the outside corners.  It is important for pins to be used to hold the weed protection in place as you work.  Corners are often neglected because the initial cut was made before checking to make sure the weed barrier had not shifted and the corners were still covered.  It is also important to secure the points of intersection to keep them from shifting when applying ground cover.

Once your initial landscape weed barrier is installed it is important that your landscape services company installs a thick groundcover.  Ground covering should be applied thick enough that the groundcover is not peeking through. Sunlight will cause the weed protection to break down over time.  You will want a thick base coat of mulch or rock to be laid down initially and will then want to keep the area fresh by reapplying ground cover each spring to keep the covering thick and the weed barrier covered.

It is important that your landscape services company install the barrier leaving an opening that allows the plants to breath.   The last thing you want is for the weed barrier to choke the plants.  In order to do this correctly the company will use a technique that involves cutting an x pattern in the spot on the weed barrier where the plant will sit.  They will then take the access and fold it back and cover the spot with ground cover.

It is important when dealing with landscaping that you don’t just jump in.  Research the proper way to handle situations in your landscape and then execute.  If you do it the other way around you will tend to throw a lot of money away in plants and materials that are of little use.

Bladerunners Landscape

Land Surveyors: Solving the Mystery of Land Boundaries

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Exactly what do land surveyors do?  I see land surveyors on the side of the road all of the time.  I know that they have to do more than just stand out there behind a transit waving their arms at invisible people.  There sole purpose can’t be to set up the orange cones and road blockades that make it so we have to merge into one land while traveling at seventy miles per hour.  I know the simple definition but understanding why what they do is important is not.

Land surveyors by definition are the men and women who plot boundaries to land; generate maps and documents with official depictions of property.  They also help manage the improvement of raw land.   Looking into the history of our nation you will see that land ownership is one of the core values people in America.  Not only is the ownership of the property important but also the idea of personal space.  This was particularly important in the development of farming.

Land surveying has become much more precise and calculated in modern times.  Tools are used such as computers, accurate gauges and tools, mapping techniques to collect and evaluate information when in the field.   When they have appraised the situation and evaluated the land they will use markers to mark off the appropriate boundaries.  These are not just opinions based on how they feel that day however are facts that take into account knowledge of the law, evidence that had been gathered, local, state and federal laws and prevailing practices to establish land markers.   Many people classify land surveying as an art form that involves science and data interpretation.

It is also important for land surveyors to decode what is meant by other people.  The phrases authors of deeds often use have to be deciphered and turned in to language that is not as confusing as the legal lingo that is often used in land descriptions.  Land surveyors are detectives who look at the clues laid out in front of them and the ones they have discovered and solve the mystery of land boundaries.

Despite all of the modern day advances in technology we still need land surveyors to use their expertise to map out boundary lines.  Whether you are purchasing a new piece of property and need to mark off the lot or installing a fence to your current home it is important to have the correct boundary lines.    You might be best friends with your neighbor but it is guaranteed if you put your fence on his land that friendship won’t ever be the same.  People value each morsel of land like they value each member of their family.

SRCMI

Fire Restoration: Fixing Your Home After a Fire

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People will offer you all kinds of unwanted advice throughout your life. Getting married they give you all kinds of marital advice mostly unwarranted.  When you are pregnant they give you all types of advice about parenting.  Most of the time the advice is unwelcomed and far off base however people are more than happy to give it.

The same happens when you have a disaster with your home.  Whether water, fire or storms damage your home the experience will be met with all types of people giving you advice on how to go about restoring your home.   Really the only advice you should turn to is that of a professional in the business.  Here are some tips I took from my personal experience when our home was damaged by fire.  The fire restoration process was not as awful as it could have been because of a bit of fore sight and a lot of luck.

1)      As soon as the fire trucks arrived on the scene the fire chief reminded me to call my insurance agent.  This is an important first step as he was able to come out and immediately start assessing damages and getting us set up in a hotel for the weeks to come.  It is nice to have a helping hand that is on your side with you at the fire.  In my opinion it is always best to hire an insurance agent who is local that can actually be on hand when you need them to be.

2)      Thankfully I had a metal lock box in the garage with all of our papers with information pertaining to our home, insurance policies, birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license and whatever is important for your family.

3)      You will need to hire a professional fire restoration firm. Don’t go with the first person suggested to you through your agent.  Ask for a few referrals meet with them and continue working with the company that best fits with your family.

4)      Once you are allowed back in the dwelling it is important to circulate the air flow.  Make sure windows and doors are kept open at all times when you are in the home after the fire and after the home has been given clearance to be in.

5)      Before a fire hits make sure you have a picture diary of your home on file with your insurance company.  We did not have this.  We literally had to piece together our belongings room to room after the fire hit.  It was an incredibly difficult process that made us lives through the fire over again.

6)      It is important to remove belongings from your home or cover them with plastic.  All clothing should be laundered.  All food should be removed and thrown out.  Never eat anything that has been involved in a fire.  It is essential to remove all items that are damaged and throw them out.  It is important to keep items you wish to restore and hand them off to the fire restoration firm.

Be patient with the fire restoration that will take place in your home.  You want a thorough job done and life back to normal as soon as you can I know however patience and perseverance are needed for the job to be done correctly.  It is never an enjoyable process to go through but is necessary in fire restoration.

TCI Restoration

Blinds Between The Glass: Benefits In Replacement Windows

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How can a homeowner address the need for curb appeal, preserve energy and add value to their home with one investment?  I know many of you think this is a trick question.  That can’t possibly be done.  However, replacement windows can do this for them.  The fact is that the investment in replacement windows can easily be seen with the savings in heating and cooling bills within just a few years.

There are several reasons homeowners should look into replacement windows for their homes.  The following will have you thinking about replacement windows for your home.

The most important reason for purchasing replacement windows is to preserve energy.  If you have drafty windows this leads to the loss of resources.  It is basically cutting up dollar bills and watching the float out the window.  If you are stuck in this situation know that replacing the windows will eventually even out cost wise with decreased energy bills.  The savings is noticeable.  It is also worth investing in double pane windows if you live in a climate that is known for hot summers or cold winters or both.  Another nice feature that is helpful in reducing energy costs is windows with blinds between the glass.

Replacement windows are also nice to look at.  They add a curb appeal that allows your home to appear younger than it is.  Many homes appear older than they are because of aging windows.  Not only do they add beauty but also block out noise and increase natural light into your home.  If you are looking into selling your home new windows can greatly increase the resale value of your home.

Replacement windows offer safety from climate situations.  New windows can prevent leaks and protect your home from damage caused from extreme weather conditions.  Windows with blinds between the glass are nice to protect the interior of your home form damage caused from the sun.  No one wants faded carpet and furniture from the sun.  They can also help decrease noise pollution from outside.  Windows with blinds between the glass coupled with interior curtains would basically sound proof your living environment.  This situation would be helpful in combating excessive noise if you love close to a free way or train track.

It is easier than ever to order replacement windows for your home.  Companies have become more efficient and are offering services that range from measuring, sales, installation and follow up care.  In purchasing new windows for your home research window replacement companies and the deals they offer.  Free installation isn’t free if the price is wrapped into the cost of the window.  Also, if you can get double hung windows with blinds between the glass for the same price as single hung windows why wouldn’t you look into that company further for your replacement window needs.

Don’t allow yourself to fall prey to gimmicks when researching out the best deals for windows.  Replacement window companies are known to use scare tactics in up selling windows in climates that might not need the upgrade.  Make sure you are a knowledgeable consumer and get the best deal the company is willing to offer.

Heatkeeper