Category: Guest Blog Posts

5 Swimming Pool Maintenance Mistakes To Avoid

Posted on by John Conde

A commercial swimming pool often needs a lot more maintenance and care than your average backyard swimming pool. Sometimes, this is due to the massive size of the pool, while other times it may be because of how frequently it used by a large group of people. Whatever the reason may be, maintaining the swimming pools can help organizations and business owners save a lot of money in the long run. Here are 5 common maintenance mistakes that one should avoid when dealing with a commercial pool.

Adding chemicals during the day

Adding chemicals to the pool during the day is perhaps the most common swimming pool maintenance mistake. Chemicals, including liquid chlorine, work a lot better if you add them after sunset. Keep adding chemicals during the day and you will find that they are not as effective as you had hoped. Also, the chemicals you have added will not last for too long and will have to be replenished often, casing maintenance costs to go up. Add chemicals during the night and you will find yourself spending a lot less money on purchasing them.

Letting the pH levels soar

What is the point of adding chlorine to the pool if it isn’t allowed to do its job? In order for chlorine to be active, the pH level of the pool water has to be within a favourable range. As a rule of thumb, never let the pH level go above 8.0. This is the extremely common in commercial-sized swimming pools where pH levels tend to soar. If the pH level hits 8.5, the chlorine is only 10-15% active, which makes adding chlorine to the pool water an exercise in futility.

Backwashing filters too often

The filters in a swimming pool work best when they are clean. However, in the name of maintenance, the DE and sand filters are often over-cleaned. This is one scenario where it is actually possible to have too much of a good thing. As long as the needle in the pressure gauge is sitting on ‘clean’, there is no need to backwash the filters; the backwashing won’t do any good and you’ll just end up wasting a lot of water. When the pressure goes up by 8 psi, that’s when the filters should be backwashed.

Not running the pumps long enough

In an effort to save money on power bills, it is not uncommon to run the pumps for short durations. However, though you will be saving on electricity, the swimming pool will suffer. Circulation is crucial for ensuring a good swimming pool and not leaving the pumps running for long enough is a major oversight. Generally, leave the pump running for an hour for every 10 degrees.

Failing to maintain chlorine generators

Ignore cleaning the chlorine generators for too long and it will end up damaging the salt water system cells. If the cells get corroded or calcified, the will not generate chlorine and you will have to spend a small fortune to get them replaced. Clean the cells regularly to prevent calcification and check them at least once a month for signs of corrosion.

Avoid these 5 common gaffes and your commercial pool will be perfect for a long time to come.

Author of this post, Ashley Parker is an architect who specializes in landscape design. Her latest achievement is the award-winning design of a giant garden and pool area of a luxury hotel. She collaborated with commercial pool builders to incorporate an infinity swimming pool as a part of the design. Her hobbies are writing and cycling.

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Preparing Your Home For Water Damage Restoration

Posted on by John Conde

You could have gone through all the proper steps to take preventive measures against water damage in your home through regular maintenance, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out to your advantage and now you’re stuck with a mess. Even if you just bought a new home It doesn’t have to take a big rainstorm and consequent flooding to result in water damage. Your home may have the misfortune of encountering burst pipes or suffering from unknown leaks, and before you realize it, you must act quickly to avoid further destruction from rot and mold. The good news is that with proper cleanup and water damage restoration you can salvage your home and personal belongings.

Identify the Source

Identifying the source of infiltration is the first step to managing water damage. If you come across stains that lead you to discover water draining down walls or dripping from the ceiling, your problem probably lies in a faulty roof that needs immediate repair. Hopefully, you can detect a burst pipe or leak from the sound it makes and determine the need to shut off your home’s water supply right away.

Dry Out Items

Assessing the damage before you jump into cleanup mode is imperative for water damage restoration. As you go through the house noting exactly what needs to be tended to, you should be working to circulate air and dry out all areas exposed to moisture with open windows, fans, and dehumidifiers. All household items need to be dried out to conclude if there is irreversible harm.

Clean and Sanitize

Floors, walls, furniture, and personal items will all require different treatment solutions. Anything that can withstand bleach, including drywall, plaster, and tile, should be washed a couple of times and completely dried out again to get rid of any traces of mold. A steam cleaner should be used immediately on soaked carpets and upholstery. Clothing can be laundered or dry cleaned, and any books, papers, or important documents can be freeze-dried if there are no signs of mold growth. Any unimportant damaged items you find that you can really do without should be thrown away.

Recheck and Reseal

Once you’ve dealt with the urgent matters straight away, you should begin to take new action to minimize further damage. Check for any leaks that can occur around windows, doors, and through roofs and reseal openings or replace shingles. Seal cracks in walls and the foundation, inspect all plumbing, and look for termite destruction in wood structures.

It is always best to bring in a water damage restoration professional to fully evaluate the situation and advise you on things that just aren’t salvageable. Mold is especially difficult to eliminate in carpet and furniture. If not treated properly or if kept when they should be tossed, these items can cause significant long-term health problems. Although you won’t look forward to the money it will cost you, due to weakened materials and rotting, water damage restoration may involve necessary renovations to ensure your home stays strong and standing.

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6 Garage Upgrades That Can Help You Sell Your Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

There are many aspects of a home that can be updated to help it sell your home for more money. One area that may get overlooked is a garage. Most garages are attached and can be used as extra square footage. If a garage is not updated to the current condition of the house, then it may be a problem for potential buyers. There are a variety of upgrades that can be made in a garage that can help sell a home. Review a few upgrades that should be made before a home is listed on the market.

Lighting

The lack of lighting in a garage is not good when trying to sell a home. Lighting is important to buyers as they want to have good illumination when the garage door is closed. If a garage has few fixtures for lights, then the addition of new lighting will be a good upgrade. The best option to use for lighting will be compact fluorescent bulbs. These use less energy and last longer than standard bulbs. The lights in a garage can also be updated to LED task lighting. This is a new type of lighting that is being used in a home.

Flooring

A garage floor that has oil stains and looks dirty will need to be updated. The best option for flooring is an epoxy paint or stain. Another option is to install rubber tiles or mats around the perimeter. Making a garage look like updated can easily be done by simply cleaning and resurfacing the floor. Paints for use on a garage floor can be found at a local hardware store or a home improvement store.

Storage

Additional storage for a home can be added in a garage. One way to do this is to add cabinets and wall organizers for yard equipment. The addition of a pegboard with hooks for hanging tools can also be a good upgrade in a garage. Another option is to add shelves to any unused wall.

Doors

Garages on the side or front of a home will be facing the road. This means that an old door will kill the curb appeal of a home. Old-looking doors are not beneficial when trying to sell a home. One way to update a garage door is to repaint or replace it. Garage doors made of aluminum will need to be replaced with a new door. A wooden garage door may look much improved with a new coat of paint.

Walls and Ceilings

A garage that is completely updated will typically have a finished ceiling and walls. Finishing a garage is a great selling point as it will be insulated. This is a huge selling point when a home is located in the areas of the country that have cold winters. Another benefit of finishing a garage is that that space will look clean and provides a clean slate for future customizations. A garage that looks unfinished may be seen as a reason for buyers to offer a lower asking price.

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What is Quantity Surveying And Role of Quantity Surveyors

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

 If you have been a part of several construction projects, either as part of the team or as a client, you may have heard about quantity surveyors.

Have you ever wondered who these quantity surveyors are and what their role is in the construction project?

Quantity surveyors are important parts of any construction project because they are basically responsible for seeing how much a project is going to cost the construction company, whether it is a few thousand dollars or several million dollars.

The origins of this profession can be traced back to the 19th century when measurers were employed to prepare a schedule for any building project and quantify all labor activities, construction materials, and other similar expenses and resources. With this schedule set as a fixed minimum, various builders put in their own quotations or tenders. The measurers were often specialist tradesmen from the guild.

Today’s quantity surveyors work closely with architects, engineers, building owners, financiers, accountants, builders, insurance underwriters, subcontractors, and solicitors. Surveying requires a deep knowledge of the costs involved in small and large construction jobs and performing the roles of a quantity surveyor as mentioned below.

Role of quantity surveyor

Before the project

a. Studying feasibility of the project

b. Estimating to define the budget of the project

c. Analyzing the effects that design changes may have on the project budget

d. Refining the budget for greater cost accuracy as the project design takes shape

e. Preparing Bills of Quantities, if tenders are needed

During the project,

a. Keeping the cost of the project in control and within the budget specified

b. Assessing the progress reported by the contractor

c. Assessing delays or changes in the project reported by the contractor

d. Procuring specialist labor and subcontractors for carrying out specialist works

e. Negotiating and settling accounts with various parties involved in the project

f. Reporting and forecasting monthly costs

g. Negotiating monthly payments and making agreements for the work that has been done so far

After the project:

a. Calculating the final project cost

b. Preparing tax depreciation reports for property owners and company investors

c. Assessing and filing of witness reports for helping settle building disputes, if any

As you can see, a quantity surveyor’s role goes beyond just managing the daily running costs of building and construction projects and keeping them in line with the specified and approved budget. The surveyor also deals with forecasting future project costs and values, forming sub-contracts, and much more. The vast responsibilities of a quantity surveying job have led to greater demand for properly qualified candidates with related degrees from registered universities.

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10 interior design trends that will mark 2013

Posted on by John Conde

Each year brings its trends and this year is no different. We have singled out a few of them that will excite every good interior design lover and which we will surely talk about in 2013.

What are the trends that will mark 2013 when it comes to interior decorating?

1. A new relationship between man and interior design

Society has changed fundamentally over the last few decades, which has greatly influenced all aspects of life, including interior design. Today, men spend more time at home; help with housework and children, which is reflected in the arrangement of the interior space in which they reside. Simple details, less garish colors, the prevalence of white, black and gray, functionality above all – are just a few examples of the growing male dominance in interior design.

2. Teamwork

A more recent phenomenon is that some spaces are decorated in team. This brings better ideas, designers are more efficient and faster – while one deals with the skeleton space, the other is responsible for the lighting effects, and the third for the final touch.

3. Do it yourself

The desire to express yourself is increasingly present in homes around the world. Most people want furniture and decorations that mean something, and that will, ultimately, make their space more personal. Whether the old chairs that you re-fixed, or that you just pulled out of the basement the candlesticks and turned it into a great little detail on the table, creativity is welcome and is increasingly spreading among people.

4. Textures and types of materials

In the past, people didn’t pay much attention to the material the furniture is made from or what the surface feels like when they touch it. But today the situation is completely different. People are looking for material that is comfortable to touch and encourage warmness, which in turn revives the ‘home’ feeling that they want.

5. Stripes everywhere

They encourage dynamism and enter energy into the space. Just as in the previous example, everything is welcome – from carpets, upholstery, wall decorations… it is important to have stripes.

Source: Blogs.babble.com

6. Embroidery and knitting

Too bad we didn’t learn a few things from our grandmothers, because our home would now look more ‘bright’ and playful. Knitting and embroidery is the latest trend in 2013, whether it’s a colorful rug, basket or blanket.

7. African Influence

More modern households began to show a tendency toward African influences, considering them as exotic and dynamic details. Carvings and handmade ornaments certainly are trends that have already impressed the most sceptical fans of beautiful interiors. African influenced decorations will fit beautifully with wooden or timber blinds.

8. Floral patterns on a white background

Flowers are IN again, only this time with the addition of a white background. Such details bring a touch of romance and raise the whole area. Try with wallpapers, photographs – an effect that you will get will be great.

9. Writing on the wall and ceiling

Simple, original, creative … What more needs to be said?

10. Green walls

Life in the countryside is one of the most popular trends this year. Not only it is healthy and provides a feeling of freshness to space, but acts elegant and original. Whatever you choose, whether green panels or framed green screens with lighting effects or plants is something that will certainly raise and refresh your home.

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