Selecting the right electrical contractor isn’t as easy as picking someone out of the Yellow Pages. The ramifications of hiring the wrong contractor can be financially disastrous and even dangerous.

First and foremost, it’s imperative to know if the contractor you’re considering hiring, is licensed, bonded, and has adequate general liability and workers compensation insurance.

Then, you need to determine if they are experienced in the type of work you need performed, and if they are generally considered good, honest and reputable.

The best place to start answering some of these questions is at the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and / or the Division of Consumer Affairs (basically the Authority having Jurisdiction), and of course, the Better Business Bureau.

Now let’s pretend for a moment that you have an electrical job you need done.
Not an emergency — perhaps it’s just fixing a light that stopped working.
What would you do?

Would you call a few contractors and get multiple bids? You can, but I wouldn’t necessarily suggest it.

Most people think that they should get multiple bids for every job. This isn’t the case, and in actuality, putting to bid every little job may in fact backfire.

Good contractors are few and far in between, and asking for multiple bids for a small job will only alienate them the next time around. Try looking at this from their point of view. Their time is worth probably about $100/ hr, and yet, he or she makes the time to come to your residence and provide you with a free estimate for whatever work you may need.

Typically, a good contractor will try to provide you with an “extra-competitive” bid, especially the first time around, just to make you a customer.

But how can you tell if the first contractor walking into your house is The good contractor? Some simple rules may apply here, but remember there also are exceptions to every rule.

• A good contractor will typically look the part. In other words, if he or she looks messy and disorganized, then it’s probably indicative of the type of work he or she does. Someone who takes pride in their work usually takes pride in their appearance. Some contractors may argue this point, but remember we’re talking generalities here and not the exceptions. He or she should have some type of company identification (even a shirt with a logo would do).

• A good contractor will have company cards with their company name and / or their name, telephone and license # on it.

• A good contractor will respond to your calls quickly and provide you with a free estimate (for most jobs) the same day or within a reasonable amount of time, and will take the time to explain what they will do and how they will do it.

• A good contractor will never offer to do the job without taking out permits and may even walk away from a job if the homeowner insists on not taking them. Remember, permits are additional insurance for the homeowner guaranteeing (through inspection) that the job was performed safely and correctly.

• A good contractor will never cut corners and do something unsafe in order to accommodate your budget. They will, instead, offer suggestions on how to modify your plans to meet both their code and safety requirements, and your budget. If these two cannot meet, then they will wish you good luck and walk away from the job.

• A good contractor will be happy to provide you with copies of their insurance certificates and references when asked. Try not asking for them unless it’s a decent size job.

Suppose a homeowner would like to make a minor alteration or addition to their electrical system. If the electrical system is old, then that part of the system may need to be brought up to current code standards before they can add to it or modify it.

In order to circumvent this regulation, the homeowner may insist that the job be done without permits and possibly even hire someone unlicensed to do the work.

What he or she doesn’t realize is that if their house burns down, they will very likely NOT be covered. Your homeowner’s policy probably states (very clearly) that anyone doing work on the residence has to be properly licensed and all building, plumbing and electrical codes must be followed, and work performed with permits wherever required.

If you hired someone whom you thought was licensed, but ultimately wasn’t, it still may NOT be covered because you didn’t take out permits for the work, and as far as the insurance company is concerned, it was done illegally.

If and when you decide to put a job out to bid, make sure that the work is properly specified (in minute detail) so that all the contractors are bidding on exactly the same things. Otherwise, there’s no way of telling who’s bidding apples and who is bidding oranges. Not properly specifying a job is probably the most common mistake homeowners make.

Why? Let’s assume you need to have 10 receptacles, 4 lights and 2 dimmers installed in a room.
Without specifying the exact types such as (Standard, Decora, other), amperage (15/20), location and method of use (this is used by good contractors to determine how many receptacles to put on a single circuit), types of lights, bulbs (R30, R40, halogens, etc.) and trims (for Hi Hats) standard, eyeballs, etc., wattage of bulbs (determines type and rating of dimmers used), there is no way of telling who is bidding what. And these are just some of the variables used for a fairly simple job!

• A good contractor always uses first-class, contractor-grade materials and never uses anything else, regardless of budget. They will usually price and give you the higher grade items automatically. This is where they get in trouble when bidding with other contractors. Someone else may be using approved but inferior materials, which would enable them to come in considerably lower than the good contractor. They probably know that you’ll have problems with the items installed sooner rather than later, but don’t care because it falls beyond their warrantee period (if they even have one).

• A good contractor will take into consideration how the receptacles are being used (such as computers, entertainment equipment, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and automatically factor in (price) dedicated lines for these items, even though current codes may allow all of the receptacles to be wired on a single circuit.

Other contractors won’t, and will therefore be able to do the job cheaper. Of course, when you start tripping breakers because the new receptacles are overloading the circuit, there won’t be anything to do about it, because it didn’t violate any codes at the time, and more importantly, you didn’t specify it.

But how could you specify it? You’re not in the electrical field, and you assumed the contractor would know better and factor this in.

Well, you’re right. The good contractor already factored it in, but you gave the job to the other one.

Are you starting to get the picture about the dangers of multiple bids? Very often, you don’t end up with the good contractor.

That’s a pretty typical bidding scenario, and it’s obvious why people are intimidated dealing with contractors. Make the wrong move and it can spell big trouble.

Anyway, if you do bid the work, try to have it properly specified perhaps by an architect or engineer. A good rule of thumb would be, if you get multiple bids, always pick from the middle up, and never, ever pick the lowest bid.

When you’ve finally selected a contractor, ask them for a copy of their insurance policies, and make sure everything (including start and end dates on larger jobs) is in writing.

Very often smaller contractors work out of their own house or garage, and many do not carry workers compensation insurance. This may or may not be a factor. If they have a helper with them or send someone else to your house to do the work, it becomes a huge factor.

Without this insurance policy, you (the homeowner) are 100 % liable for any accidents their workers may incur. Additionally, many contractors have only enough general liability insurance to satisfy state regulations, but nowhere near enough to pay for your house if it burns down.

Finally, a last note of caution; as with everything else in life, “you get what you pay for “.

In other words, don’t let price alone be the determining factor when hiring an electrical contractor. Remember, if a plumber messes up, you’ll have a flood, if an electrical contractor messes up you’ll have a fire or perhaps even worse.

Good Luck.

Resources

This article was written by John Frezados and published on
electrician-electricalcontractor.com www.electrician-electricalcontractor.com , which is a website dedicated to providing industry, trade and employment information for electricians and electrical contractors. The article was part of a series of articles at electrician-electricalcontractor.com/electricalcontractor.html www.electrician-electricalcontractor.com/electricalcontractor.html , written for Electrical Contractors, to help improve their methods of operation and profitability. John Frezados is a Mechanical Engineer, a Licensed Master Electrician and Certified Electrical Instructor, and has over 20 years experience in the Electrical / General Contracting fields. He currently spends his time writing, teaching and consulting in the Electro-Mechanical Contracting and Engineering fields. He has authored numerous books and courses, such as “The Electrical Contractor’s Blueprint for Success” and “Custom Estimation Systems for Electrical Contractors” and teaches certified continuing education courses (listed at ccesllc.com www.ccesllc.com ) for Electrical Contractors.

With slipcovers it’s simple to transform a tatty old sofa and arm chairs and give them a fashionable new image. Furniture slipcovers are specially constructed pieces of fabric that are designed to fit directly over the top of your existing upholstery. They use elastic or ties to keep them firmly in place, which means it’s easy to remove them for washing or if you just fancy a change.

Ready made slipcovers are affordable to buy and are considerably less expensive than the alternative of having your seats reupholstered. They come in various sizes to fit most standard sized chairs, sofas and loveseats. There are also slipcovers that are made to fit other types of seats in your home, such as recliners, ottomans and dining room chairs. Ready made slipcovers have come a long way in recent years and can look very elegant, particularly those made from stretch fabrics, which have a tailored-looking fit.

If you’ve got an awkward shaped piece of furniture, having a custom slipcover made to measure is an option to consider. This won’t be as cheap as buying a ready made one, but should be worth it to get a custom fit. There are loads of different slipcover fabrics to choose from, so you should be able to find something that fits in with your home’s style and décor.

Most slipcovers are made from fully machine-washable fabrics, which means they are easy to keep clean. This is especially good news for households with pets or children. It means you can just throw your sofa slipcover in the wash if it gets dirty. Popular materials include cotton twill, denim, faux suede and chenille. There are many pretty colors and patterns to choose from as well, so it’s possible to give your furniture a totally new look and coordinate it with your décor and color scheme.

Decorating with slipcovers is a quick, simple and economic way to give your seats a new lease of life and give your home an instant makeover.

Julie Turnbull has a keen interest in interior design and has contributed to

Security cameras are useful in improving the safety of residential and business buildings. Home security camera systems have gained phenomenal popularity over the years. With spectacularly enhanced digital imagery and moderate working costs, the use of security cameras has become quite widespread. The use of security camera systems is no longer limited to banks or department stores but is increasingly being used for residential security also.

Home security camera systems let you keep track of children at play and simultaneously can keep an eye on the front door. They vary in their appropriateness and operation, and it is imperative that the proper selection is made based on individual requirements to ensure their effectiveness.

While choosing a home security camera system you must decide on the area to be observed, and the camera should be located at a suitable distance in order to focus on the preferred area. In case there is a need to mount the camera on a wall or structure, a mounting bracket can be placed at the predetermined spot, and the position of mounting screws can be indicated.

While opting for a wired system, the camera and monitor should be connected in accordance with instructions. Care should be taken to not expose the wiring, so the home security system cannot be sabotaged. And always remember to keep these gadgets out of reach of children.

Another crucial issue that should also be given adequate importance is the number of cameras that one would like to employ in the home security camera system. Some systems have room for only one or two, whereas other systems offer more. There are also camera systems which incorporate microphones, allowing you to hear and see the required object at the same time.

e-HomeSecuritySystems.com Home Security Systems provides detailed information on Home Security Systems, Wireless Home Security Systems, Home Security Alarm Systems, Home Security Camera Systems and more. Home Security Systems is affiliated with i-HomeSecurity.com Wireless Home Security Systems.

If you are looking for a high quality board for almost any project around your home, you should consider medium density fiberboard. Fiberboard is a strong material that is used in many capacities. Medium density fiberboard is a versatile variety of fiberboard. It is strong, but also easy to work with. Read on to find out what kinds of projects you can use medium density fiberboard for.

One of the most popular uses for medium density fiberboard is affordable furniture. You probably already have a wide variety of fiberboard in your home. This is because most furniture purchased at department stores is made of fiberboard. Medium density fiberboard is especially useful because it is strong, but also light. Once the desk, dresser or coffee table is constructed, a shiny veneer will be pressed on the outside to give it a fashionable look.

Another great use for medium density fiberboard is the construction of cabinets. While some companies still offer solid wood cabinetry, fiberboard cabinets are actually more affordable and environmentally friendly, making this a popular cabinet choice. They are also easier to hang than traditional wood cabinets because medium density fiberboard is strong and lightweight at the same time.

You can use medium density fiberboard around your home in a number of ways. If you are looking to build furniture, a dog house, or another type of simple wood structure, fiberboard is a great choice. It is less susceptible to insect infestation than wood and it is less likely to swell or buckle, making it a great choice to use outdoors. And it a very affordable alternative to solid wood.

Medium density fiberboard also makes a great art material. It is great for painting; you can use many different kinds of paint to create a look that is original and fun. You can also shape it, since it is less dense than other fiberboards and wood. You can cut holes into it and sculpt it into any shape you desire. Then add a touch of color for something really special to put in your home.

Masonite boards are used in many ways. One of these ways is to use them in the place of siding on your home. masoniteboards.com/” target=”_blank Masonite boards are also used in furniture and cabinet production. If you are looking for a high quality board for almost any project around your home, you should consider masoniteboards.com/medium_density_fiberboard.html” target=”_blank medium density fiberboard. Looking for a sturdy way to decorate and transport your masoniteboards.com/cake_decorating.html” target=”_blank cake decorating creations? Consider purchasing masonite cake boards. Cake boards made of durable masonite are stronger and easier to use than traditional cake boards.

Driving down the street, you might notice a discrete camera system attached near a traffic light. Closed circuit television (CCTV) is used to monitor traffic congestion in the area. This technology has aided traffic patrol to monitor the heavy flow of vehicles in certain areas and make adjustments to eliminate the congestion. The cameras also notice road accidents, and emergency units can be deployed to the area without anyone reporting the incident. These cameras are especially useful on highways when an accident has disrupted the flow of traffic. The problem is reported immediately and law enforcement officials are called to the scene to direct and enable the flow of traffic

While driving, you might notice some CCTV modules installed at intersections. These cameras are set to capture plate numbers should a traffic violation occur, such as running a red light or speeding. The camera is set to pick up images, i.e. take photographs, if someone drives through the intersection after the traffic light has changed. First a special sensor sends a signal to the camera and the plate number is then captured. A different sensor is also used for any of the speeding violations. If someone happens to be driving faster than the designated speed that is posted, a signal is then sent to the camera, which captures the plate number of the offender’s car or vehicle. In both of these scenarios, the camera image is then sent to a machine that prints out a photo of the violation and billing is sent directly to the offender’s home address, even if someone else was driving the vehicle.

i-CCTV.com CCTV provides detailed information on CCTV, CCTV Cameras, CCTV Systems, CCTV Surveillance Systems and more. CCTV is affiliated with e-WirelessSecurity.com Wireless Internet Security.

Here in the Pacific Northwest where many people burn wood for heat there are many scary and unsafe chimneys and wood burning appliances. I would like to believe that just about anyone could guess that a chimney and wood stove or fireplace will, eventually, require cleaning, maintenance and service. That advice applies to masonry and the assorted metal chimneys.

I want to believe that people can figure this out, but that obviously is not the situation. Recently I was witness to a neglected masonry chimney. The black, oozing creosote was an inch thick and caked inside from the top clear down to the homemade, and inefficient, wood stove below. The system was cranking nothing but waste products up the chimney. Creosote is flammable, so it is important to clean and maintain a chimney.

It seems that most people with wood stoves, fireplaces and pellet stoves do not pay enough attention to them. Lots of people make the situation worse by burning green wood that is not seasoned. The average consumer might take these basic systems for granted but they are dangerous to life, limb and property if they are neglected. As a home inspector, who does not work on chimneys or wood burning appliances but sees many of them, I know that it is important to have such devices cleaned and serviced by a specialist on a regular basis. In fact the National Fire Protection Association has stated that a Level 2 chimney inspection should be part of every sale or transfer of property. The scope of this inspection is intrusive, well beyond any inspection done by a home inspector, and is performed by a trained and licensed chimney professional.

Steven L. Smith, owner of King of the House Home Inspections, is a licensed structural pest inspector and a certified home inspector in Bellingham WA. Smith is the program coordinator for the college level home inspection training program at Bellingham Technical College. To contact Steven Smith, please call 360-676-6908 or his Email address is mailto:steve@kingofthehouse.com steve@kingofthehouse.com

Canister vacuums are electrical cleaning devices shaped like a canister and are the most commonly used vacuuming devices in domestic households, hotels, and offices. These devices have replaced broomsticks and mopping clothes in many households as they are fast and cleaning is achieved at the press of a button.

Canister vacuums are classified based on the wattage capacity of electrical motors used inside these devices, which is normally within the one thousand watt range. They provide enough suction power to clean household items such as rugs, carpets, electronic systems, sofas, cushions, and other paraphernalia. It is important to have a canister vacuum that does effective cleaning without damaging the surface of rugs and carpets.

The basic components present inside most canister vacuums include electrical motors, suction fans, garbage collection bags, and protruding suction pipes. The pipe’s end is designed to fit different types of attachments required for cleaning inaccessible and hard to reach places such as sides of sofas and backsides of drawers and cupboards. Long cables provided with these vacuums enable users to cover a large area before plugging the cable into a different socket. The undercarriage of some of these vacuums have steel mounted, smooth running castors, which makes it stable and easy to maneuver around obstacles such as stairs.

Other features may include blower function in which the electric motor is rotated in the opposite direction for blowing air outwardly. This helps in blowing dust and other garbage from nooks and crannies where suction nozzles cannot work. The blown garbage is then collected using the normal suction process. Some canister vacuums also have automatic shutdown function that shuts off the vacuum in case of overheating and power fluctuations.

Customers need to assess their vacuuming requirements and select a canister vacuum that has all the features required for effective cleaning operations and is available at affordable rates.

z-Vacuums.com Vacuums provides detailed information on Vacuums, Industrial Vacuums, Leaf Vacuums, Commercial Vacuums and more. Vacuums is affiliated with i-vacuumcleaners.com Upright Vacuum Cleaners.

Repairing scratches in hardwood floors are easier than you may be thinking. Depending on how many scratches there are, sometimes a simple repair kit will make the necessary fix in short time. If the damage is noticeably bad throughout the room, you may have to sand the floors.

Scratches can originate from a variety of items; shoes, moving furniture, dropped items, and other accidents. Many people feel scratches and dings add character to their hardwood floors. One of the main reasons for scratches in hardwood floors comes from moving heavy furniture, with no pads underneath the legs to protect the floor. Even animals with nails can leave their marks.

You should take some preventative steps to prevent yourself from creating the task of repairing scratches in hardwood floors. For example:

You should consider soft paw caps for dogs or declawing your cats, which will make sure their nails wouldn’t scratch the floor.

Either purchase pads that stick to the bottom of furniture or consider hiring a professional mover to carefully move your furniture.

Thanks to the ever-growing advancements in repairing scratches in hardwood floors you now have better options. A repair kit can help in fixing minor scratches. Repair kits come with different applications for any color of wood flooring from the lightest to the darkest and are generally easy to apply. Complete instructions come with the kit.

If there are multiple scratches, you may need to sand and completely refinish your floors. Repairing scratches in hardwood flooring using this method can be quite labor and time intensive. Sanders can be rented to remove the old finish. Next, you would have to thoroughly clean the floor before you re-apply finish. This is a very important step, as the application of the finish over a dust-laden floor can result in poor quality results.

Once you are ready to apply the finish, be sure to follow the specific directions for the product you’ve chosen. Most will require multiple applications to ensure a good long-lasting finish.

Repairing scratches in hardwood floors when the entire floor must be refinished can be quite a task for a do-it-yourself project. There are many professional refinishers available. As with any home improvement project, if you choose to hire a professional, get more than one quote and compare services of each company carefully.

Wood floors are a beautiful asset to any home. Taking these few steps to bring the old floors back to life will be very well worth it. After all, hardwood floors can last as long as the home if they are properly maintained.

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of reliableremodeler.com reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based reliableremodeler.com/remodeling_ideas/ home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

Most homeowners have certain standard tools for repair of household items, and a welder just wouldn’t be on that list of what is “typical”. Considering my experiences, I think a lot of homeowners should re-think that standard. Several years ago I bought a small 120 volt arc welder to fabricate parts for my 1936 Chevy Pick up. In spite of the fact that the cost was fairly affordable when I bought this welder to work on my hot rod pick up, I still wondered whether it would really be worth the expense. I had never owned or used a welder and I just didn’t know much about such things. Boy was I surprised - What a great idea it turned out to be!

Sure, it did just what I expected in fabricating parts for my truck, but it has also helped me fix and repair dozens of things around the house. As an example, my wife had an old coat rack that was made of wood and cast iron – it originally belonged to her great grandmother, but the iron part had cracked and broken. I took it to a guy to fix it, and he wanted $300. I thought it was crazy to spend that kind of money, so I bought about $5 worth arc welding rod specially made for cast iron, a can of flat black paint and fixed it myself. A few weeks later the handle on my workshop vise broke – I would have had to throw it away, but with a bit of welding, and its as good as new. From my camp trailer, to hand tools, broken stuff for the family and friends – I’ve used my welder a hundred times.

That’s why I recommend purchasing one so freely. I’ve easily saved enough money to pay for the cost of my welder many times over. So many things around the house that I would have had to just throw away are practically good as new. Home workshop, arts and crafts, automotive repairs – all are applications that I’ve used home welder to work on. It just opened a whole new world of potential projects I could complete. I admit I’m kind of a tool junkie, but a welder is just something that most homeowners wouldn’t think of.

Different types of welding equipment are available, some are powered by 220V wall power, some welders have their own generator to create their power. Different technologies include Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welders which feed a continuous wire into the welder, and use a flow of argon gas to keep the metal from burning or oxidizing too quickly. TIG welders (Tungsten Inert Gas) use a non consumable tungsten electrode and a bare uncoated hand held welding rod.

The type of welder I recommend for home use is a simple stick electrode - arc welding set up, which uses a rod covered in a flux to weld and can be plugged right into a standard wall outlet. During welding with this type of equipment, the vaporizing flux protects the metal. The arc is very high temperature and the metal virtually sprays off the end of the rod. The flux on the rod which does not vaporize, fuses into a molten glass which protects the metal from oxidation while it is cooling.

For the average home owner, a simple 120V unit, is probably best. No special modification to provide 220 V power is necessary, and the price is quite reasonable (I paid about $150 for mine).. The 120V unit is only good to weld up to about 3/16 inch steel. If you are doing heavy duty welding and heavy fabrication, you need a larger unit. However for 99% of the typical homeowner applications, I find the 120V unit is really sufficient. There are low cost MIG units that can run on 115V home power available for slightly more than the stick type arc welding units, but with MIG you also need a cylinder of compressed Argon to provide the inert gas, and that adds to the price a bit.

Welding supplies are available locally in most areas. These are the shops where you can purchase different types of welding rod (you can only use small diameter rod with a 120V unit). Different types of rods (or wire for MIG type units) are used for welding on different types of steel or iron. I also bought an upgraded welding mask at my local welding supply shop.

Anyway, I consider my little home arc welder one of the best purchases that I have ever made and I heartily recommend it to other homeowners. I’m not a welding equipment dealer, but I like my tools and this has been a good one to own, not to mention that the cost was very affordable. If you want to consider fabricating home metal craft projects, doing home and auto repairs, metal arts and other similar types of projects, I really think that it is a very worthwhile purchase. I know I wouldn’t be without one.

For More information on using a welder for repairs around the home, check out the authors website at:
nevada-outback-gems.com/welder_components/welder/affordable_welder.htm nevada-outback-gems.com/welder_components/welder/affordable_welder.htm

For More information on the author’s recommendations on Tools for the Homeowner, check out his web page at:
nevada-outback-gems.com/welder_components/tools/hand_tools.htm nevada-outback-gems.com/welder_components/tools/hand_tools.htm

Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He has a degree in Mining Engineering from the Mackay School of Mines in Reno, and has worked for precious metal mining companies conducting both surface and underground operations. After working in the mining industry, he has continued his interest in mining as an individual prospector. His information web page can be viewed at:
nevada-outback-gems.com nevada-outback-gems.com

DVDs need to be stored in a proper manner to protect the electronic data stored on the discs surface. The data stored on a DVD can easily get corrupted due to heat, excess moisture, magnetic currents, and dust particles. DVD storage cases are designed to provide protection from these extreme conditions. Users can buy empty DVD cases for storing recorded DVDs, which are available in different types and designed to suit specific user requirements.

Empty DVD cases include jewel cases that are rectangular in shape, made from special plastic and are available as single and multiple storage cases. Some of these can store around six DVDs in a single case. The inside of these cases contain thin plastic trays for holding multiple DVDs. Empty paper sleeve cases have an outer layer of paper and an inner layer of plastic. These are used as envelops to mail DVDs to different parts of the country. Empty Cardboard DVD cases are similar to paper sleeves but use a thicker paper based material for added protection. They are also used for distribution purposes.

Empty vinyl sleeves look like plastic sleeves but are made from material that is chemically very different from plastic. A thin foam sheet is placed inside this sleeve for added protection. Empty C-shell plastic cases are made from plastic and store one or two DVDs.

Empty metal DVD cases are made from lightweight, corrosion free, and glossy metals or metal alloys such as aluminum and tin. Metal cases do not buckle under pressure and are designed for rough use. These cases are available as single and multiple DVD storage cases and some of these can store up to sixty DVDs. Some of these have the lid attached to the case whereas others are available with a removable lid and a separate body.

All these DVD storage mediums are priced differently. Apart from commonly available empty DVD cases, many companies offer customized services that allow users to design their own DVD cases as per their needs.

e-DVDCases.com DVD Cases provides detailed information on DVD Cases, Portable DVD Cases, Portable DVD Player Cases, DVD Storage Cases and more. DVD Cases is affiliated with e-inwallspeakers.com In Wall Speaker Wire.