Livingston Reporting - page 343

Sanity Savers Found Within Handyman Service Companies

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What happens to your home when you are beyond busy with work, kids, family and life in general?  I know my little things that need to get fixed list grows exponentially.  It doesn’t matter that I say we are coming home after the soccer game Saturday to take care of the house something always happens to ruin the plan.  Whether it is a trip to the emergency room with a swollen ankle or an impromptu call from a frantic friend that needs us to watch her kids something always comes up.  Every week I add something to the honey-do list without removing anything.  The list is growing and I find myself needing to find a solution fast.  I don’t want to start a second sheet for the growing list of home “improvement” projects or in our case maintenance.

My husband and I differ on this agreement.  He thinks we are wasting money hiring someone who performs handyman services to come into our home. I remind him though that as we fail to find time small issues are turning into large issues right before our eyes.  One case in point is the kitchen faucet.  Yes it still works, the water runs but when you use the sprayer it only shuts off when it is ready not when you want it to.  It needs to be replaced.  The longer we let it wait the longer water gets shot all over the kitchen potentially ruining the floors or cupboards.  Water damage is far more expensive to repair then the replacement of a kitchen faucet.

I don’t think our family is alone in the quest to find time to repair items.  As a parent of school aged children who are also involved in sports I find weekdays filled with homework and practice.  Weekends are full with homework projects and sports, some family time also if we are lucky.  The last thing we are thinking about is anything but keeping the house clean let alone maintained.

I did some homework on handyman services in our area.  I found a gentleman with a great reputation and many referrals who spoke highly of the job he has done for them.  With my list in hand I met with him to go over rates.  To my delight the more I had for him to do the less expensive the rate.  The maintenance on our home would have taken my husband and I an entire weekend to complete. However, the handyman came out with the right tools and supplies needed for the list of maintenance jobs our home needed and completed the repairs with a full day’s work.

I believe many people can benefit from the services a handyman provides.  Whether you are a senior citizen who just doesn’t keep up with things like they used to, a busy corporate executive who is not at home long enough to think about anything but enjoying it, or a busy parent your time can be better spent than on home improvements. I have come to believe that even though it probably cost a bit more in the long run it was cheaper to pay the handyman service guy to come out.  Consider the time you would spend repairing and maintaining your home verse the cost to pay someone to come out and do it.  Handyman services come out do the job without issue with the correct tools and are done.  When is the last time a project went that easy for you?

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

A Look Into Access Control Points And Systems

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Whether your business is large, small or something in between or you are looking to add a bit of security to your community or home access control systems such as gates can be useful.  In order to be certain that the only people entering your business or home are people you have authorized it is pertinent to create some type of substantial material boundary. Many business and homeowners find the best way to do this is using an automatic gate system.

Automatic gates include a combination of physical parameters along with an access control system which dictates who has met the requirements set forth to enter.  In basic terms a computer (access control system) has been programmed with a criterion that authorizes entry. This can be something as simple as a keyless remote that unlocks the gate and allows it to freely open.

Access control points come in many shapes and sizes. They differ based on need.  Here are a list of different option in access points and where you may find them.

  • Turnstiles – Turnstiles are found in several places that need to control how many people have access to a space at any given time.  One example of this is amusement parks.  People tend to crowd on platforms and spaces designed only for an allotted amount.  Turnstiles give the ride assistant control over the number of people allowed into the space.  This then allows them to freely load the ride and then return to the turnstile allowing a controlled number of guests in at a time.
  • Doors – Doors are commonly used in hospitals to control where the public is allowed to enter verse where nurses, doctors and hospital personal can go.  Many times you will see a door locked and either a buzzer is placed so that you can buzz to be allowed in and out.  This is common in maternity wards where visitors come and go but nurses need control to eliminate the possibility of babies leaving in the wrong hands.  Other areas are accessed through the use of card readers.  Each hospital employee allowed access in the area will have the code for that card reader programmed onto the magnetic strip on their hospital ID.
  • Security Gates – Gates can be found in several different forms and basically anywhere you can imagine access needs to be controlled and monitored.  Driveways, business lots, parking structures and gated communities are just a few of the many places security gates can be found.  Access can be controlled using many different methods of controls such as remotes, card readers, scanners or transponder systems.

Access control points allow admittance based on information and signal given by the person seeking entry to a reader who then continues to verify the information based on preset criteria.  If all of the criteria are met then the computer will send a signal to open and allow entry.  If the information is entered and does not match or is incorrect a signal the control point will ignore the signal and stay shut.  Often after access information is entered incorrectly after a certain number of times the machine will need to be reset by an authorized administrator.  This is for the safety and security of the people or information that is being secured by the access control point.

The access control system you need will be determined on the level of security needed.  Homes are often secured with simple automatic gates while business lots may use simple swing arm gates.  Office buildings may have simple card readers or may require biometric readers to match fingerprints for entry.  You will see the higher security the more credentials will need to be met to gain access.  A combination of them may be used for instance in government or medical situations.

SAC Fence

Roof Leak: Repairing The Shingles On Your Roof

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We looked at about twenty houses before we settled on our current home.  We fell in love with every aspect of the house.  The beautiful French doors, the sliding glass doors in the living room and kitchen, the large deck, two car garage, new roof, new windows and water heater that was only a few years old.  The only problem was that even though the roof was new there was a leak in my son’s room. We had no idea where it could be coming from.  The roof was brand new, the sheathing underneath was attached correctly and the shingles around the area were perfectly placed.  How was the water leaking in and ruining the ceiling to his bedroom?

I knew from examining the roof that it was not coming through the shingles.  The spot around where it was leaking into the room was perfectly shingled.  The next step was to examine the flashing since I knew with a new roof there was no possibility of a shingle that had deteriorated.  The next rain we had I went up into the attic to see if I could see where it was dripping in.  Instead I found a little beam of light at the top of the roof where the vent was.  I could see the water coming in and draining down the truss right into the drywall that covered my sons ceiling.

Discovering the source of the roof leak was only half the battle repairing it was the other.  I decided that the issue was relatively minor and that I could proceed by fixing it on my own.  I went out a purchase tar caulk.  After letting the roof dry from the previous night’s rain I went on top of the roof and tarred around the vent and flashing.  I then went inside to the attic and caulked the area where it was coming in.  That sealed the roof leak and so far the fix has lasted three years.

I know that not all households are as lucky as we were in discovering the source of the leaky roof and being able to fix it in a relatively affordable manner.  If you have a shingled roof and you discover a leak it is imperative that you find and fix it immediately.  Where you see the leak occurring from on the inside is the first place you will begin your search for damage on your roof.  Look for noticeable damage to the roof and shingles.  Are the shingles missing or curled?  Examine all places on the roof that meet.  For instance, vents and the chimney should all meet without gaps or breaks between the flashing and the shingles and the vent.  All roof cement or tar should not contain cracks or gaps.  A minor hole, such as ours, can cause considerable damage to your homes ceiling.

Repairing a shingle if you do find that one is damaged is pretty easy.  When curling of the shingles occurs you will need to take roof cement and place the curled end down again. Make sure only to attempt this when the shingles are warm. Warming a shingle in cold weather should only be done with extreme caution.  It requires using a propane torch with a flame spreader end.  Heat it up just enough to curl the end down and then spread a good amount of roof tar down and place the shingle.

Professional roofers, contractors, and handymen will all be more than happy to help you with this if you are unable to do it on your own.  I know going on the roof is not a favorite activity for most homeowners and should only be done when accompanied by someone who can help you if issues should arise while you are working on repairing your roof leak.  I always wear long sleeves and pants when doing any roof repair.  You never know when you are going to stumble upon a bees nest rough shingles.

Go Maher

Access Control Systems: Physical And Electronic Access Control

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Access control systems are basically the system that holds the authority over access to a general location or resource.  The term refers to not only physical access but also technological access.  For instance, if you are looking for security around a structure such as a pool you will only provide access control information to those allowed in the area through the automatic gate.  If the security is for a technologically based system access controls systems are referring to the program that blocks certain unauthorized users while allowing access to those who are allowed to have it.

Access controls systems surround our everyday life.  At airports personal are only allowed access into parts of the airport that passengers are not.  They obtain access through a card reader which is just one type of access control systems.  Think about your daily routine.  When you access your ATM or enter your vehicle though a key pad or remote control your life is become more convenient because of access control systems that surround our daily lives.

Computer technology in doctor’s office is just one area where security and access controls are imperative.  The office must maintain confidentiality between the doctor and the patient and records cannot be accessed by just anyone. This is why you will find that information a nurse or physician enters in about you is only accessed with a swipe of a card which allows permission to access the files or a code that is entered to access information.

There are two different types of access control systems physical and electronic.  Physical access is granted because of who you are, when you need access, and where you need access too.  Devices such as keys and locks allow physical access.  As technology increases physical access is dimensioning and moving towards electronic systems.  These systems help alleviate the problems that exist with physical access such as the loss of a key and that it is hard to place restriction on the key holders access.  Electronic access allows access based on a number of criteria that if met allows access to that person.  It also helps stop people from accessing information or facilities.

This is true of our cottage association in the winter months.  Access to the cottages is only granted to administrators of the association with the correct code pressed in the access box.  You have to contact them if you need to go to your cottage within that time.  The facility is protected by a gate access system that will not grant permission to those who are not allowed to be there.  However during the spring, fall and summer we all have our own code to enter the facility.  This allows the association to keep track of who is coming and going at all times.  I love the automatic gate and access control system because I can let my kids play freely on bikes and with others without the worry of strangers entering the association.

Our world is changing and because information is becoming of a more and more sensitive it is important that we guard access to our records and physical spaces.  I never leave home without locking the doors and I never sign into my computer at work and walk away.  They are safety measures I am willing to take to ensure that my personal space and information are kept that way.  How has a control device saved you from exposing too much of yourself?

SAC Fence

Aging In Place: Accommodating Aging Parents

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As our parents age we become the caregivers to them.  With this new title we have certain responsibilities one of them being to help them in their quest to age in place.  This requires us to go through their homes and to assess their needs.  These needs will change as their health needs transform and it is our duty to help assist the remodels that are needed. Any home can be converted to meet the needs of aging adults.  A remodel of this magnitude needs to be planned for and executed on a need basis.  If your parents are able to age in place without the need of a wheelchair ramp then why would you expense this?

What accommodations can you look for as your parents continue to live in their own home to make sure their needs are met?  What each aging in place remodeling job consist of will be dependent upon the mobility and needs of those it needs to provide for. Below is a list of remodeling suggestions that might come in to play as you plan for and begin your parent’s age in place remodel.

1)      Doorways should be able to accommodate items such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes and scooters.  Doorways should be widened to at least thirty six inches, the average size of a wheelchair. The doorway floor space should be clear for at least four feet on either side for maneuverability.  Doors should also have handles that make for easy entrance and exit.  This allows for them to grasp on to the handle without having to apply pressure and turn it.

2)      The house should be all on one floor for aging parents.  Ranch style homes are more convenient for aging seniors.  Then there is no need to worry about parents using the stairs if there aren’t any.  If stairs in their home is unavoidable look into stair chair lifts.  This allows them to glide up the stairs with the use of a chair tat glides up and down the stairs.

3)      All carpet should be redone with either hardwood or carpet with a short pile.  This will allow for ease of mobility for wheelchairs, walkers and canes.  Also eliminate thresholds leading in and out of all rooms.  Many older people will tend to shuffle their feet and getting rid of thresholds eliminates the threat of tripping.

4)      Bathrooms should either consist of a walk-in tub or a shower that does not contain a threshold.  It is also important to add extra support so that hand rails can be used and braced properly.  The bathroom should be ample in size to accommodate a walker or wheelchair. Facets should be considered for their ease of use and the water temperature should be adjusted to prevent scalding.

5)      Kitchens have separate aging in place issues all together.  Think about adding timers that are wired throughout the house for when the stove is on.  Allow the stove to only be on for a certain allotted time before the timer buzzes.  This will ensure that the stove does not get left on.  If your parent is having a hard time getting around the kitchen area and providing meals hire someone to come in and cook and freeze meals that can be easily stored in the freezer and heated in a microwave.  Another option is services such as meals on wheels which offer warm meals delivered to seniors in need.

6)      Make sure closet accessories are lowered so that clothes can be easily accessed.  Drawers should be on gliders with stops so that drawers are never accidentally pulled out on to someone.

As always are main concern is for our loved ones.  We take their care personally and only want the best for them.  Most aging in place seniors are set against moving into assisted living facilities until they absolutely cannot survive on their own any longer and even then are often resistant.  These changes should be done gradually as this will help the senior in your life to adjust to the aging process and to their newly acquired special circumstances.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Equipment Loans: What Works For Your Business

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You have decided to open a business.  Whether it is a computer repair shop, a restaurant or an auto plant you are most likely not going to have the capital to pull off opening without signing loan or lease paperwork multiple times.  It is important to understand when leasing or asking for the funding form a bank is a better option.  This comes in to play a lot with equipment loans.

Do you outright purchase the goods or do you lease them from someone else?  How does it affect your finances?  Are the terms of the lease better than or equivalent to the loan payment and interest?  Pros and cons of both options will way in other decisions you need to make regarding the company so look into the details carefully.  The general rule many business owners follow is this: If the item will increase in value over time pay cash or take a loan out to make the purchase but if it will decrease in value you should lease it whether or not you have the cash available to purchase it.

When leasing an item such as a car, which will depreciate as it ages you will find the lease has terms that need to be followed and met.  This mostly helps because the financial burden will be spread to a later date.  This is helpful in starting up a firm because you are not required to have the capital up front.  With a lease much of the financial burden comes at the end.

When you purchase an item often by pursuing a loan you are taking more control over the item. This comes in to play with large items such as buildings.  When you purchase a building you take a loan out often requiring a financial down payment and then acquire the property with the loan agreement.  It is essentially yours.  You accept any increase or decrease of value for that purchase.  Purchasing an item with a loan is helpful if you expect that the item will last for an extended period of time.  This was you are not paying for it many years down the road when your business is established.

Equipment also changes frequently that is why you will often lease items that change frequently needing your company to upgrade often.  Phones, computers, cars and trucks are all examples of items that depreciate and will need an upgrade frequently.  These pieces of equipment are all examples of items it is most often better to lease than to purchase.  They wear out and frequently need to be updated because of that or advance in technology.

You will find that when looking into equipment loans and/or equipment leases that it comes down to two basic arenas – 1) cash on hand and available to spend and 2) what you qualify for.  If you don’t have the cash or the twenty percent to put down which is often needed in an equipment loan than you are going to be leaning more towards leasing until the revenue in your company picks up. Additionally if you can’t qualify for a loan because you are just beginning this venture you will be looking into leasing equipment until you can prove to financial lenders that you are a solid business risk.

Anyhow you look at it there are advantages and disadvantages.  Tax professionals might lean you one way or another so before going forward with any business decision no matter how big or small you might think it is bring in your financial gurus for their opinion on the subject.

Ask 4 Funding

The Benefits and Drawbacks To Doorwalls

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We purchased our home three years ago.  The one thing that drew us to the home is the doorwalls.  We have two large doorwalls on the main wall leading in to our home.  One is in the living room and one is in the dining room.  They are opposite a large french door.  The light in the home along with the openness of the space and a large deck were all we needed to determine we could make this place a home.  The only thing that could have made it any better is if the existing doorwalls featured blinds between the glass.

There are benefits and drawbacks to any home.  The same is true with any feature within the home.  Doorwalls are one of those features people either love because of the advantages they provide or hate because of the disadvantages.  One thing I know is that doorwalls offer the features of windows and doors which add to their attractiveness to me.

Benefits

  • Space Savers: Doorwalls use less space than doors because they eliminate the area needed to open and close the door.  This means that things can be placed close to the doorwall without interfering with the function of the door.  This is great for living spaces when you need all the space you can get out of the room.
  • Illusions:  Sliding glass doors make your space appear larger and give it the open air feel smaller living areas need and bigger areas room to breathe.   Doorwalls also lets the natural light in which gives a warm feel to the space.
  • Doorwalls are very easy to keep clean.  You need just a bottle of Windex and some paper towel unlike regular doors which require maintenance in the form of weatherization.  This could include caulking, staining or painting.
  • Doorwalls also do something no other home feature can do without sacrificing the homes efficiency and that is bringing the outdoor feel in.  The large open doorwall lets the scenic view of your landscape in without losing heat or air conditioning.

Drawbacks

  • Window Treatments: This is in the drawback category for me only because I have animals.  The main type of window treatment is vertical blinds. The animals love to run into them, bending them all up, just to look and see what is outside.  At night we close the shades so this always poses a problem.  The solution would be to purchase doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass if you have pets living with you and you want to avoid this problem.
  • Sun Damage: Often if doorwalls are left open and you are in an area that gets a lot of sun the furniture in view of the door will fade.  This is also an issue for the flooring.  The best thing to do if this is the case with the placement of your doorwall is to use throw rugs and to place furniture out of direct sunlight.
  • Replacement Parts/Maintenance: Screen doors off of doorwalls often need to be replaced and if the seal in the actual doorwalls break or a crack develops it is costly to repair.
  • Cleaning doorwalls to me is a benefit but for those of you that live in states with unbearable cold and heat might not agree.  You do have to physically go outside to clean them.  Also, it is sometimes difficult to completely clean out the tracks.  They can become littered with debris ranging from dead bugs to dirt debris and will need to be kept clean.

There are many benefits and drawbacks to the different features within your home.  Doorwalls are no different.  When choosing the features within your home you really need to consider your wants and needs.  Your family will be the ones to live in it and enjoy the benefits and drawbacks to your choices so you need to be happy with them.  In the long term I would like to purchase replacement windows and doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass.  I would totally love the luxury of not having to worry about my kids and cats tearing up the window treatments.

Heatkeeper

Kitchen Remodeling: Living Through The Misery

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Living through any type of remodeling job is most likely going to turn your life topsy-turvy but none more so than a kitchen remodeling job.  Whether you hire the job out to the professionals or you attempt it on your own the job will require much patience from the point of your family.  You will need to adjust several areas of your lifestyle to get ready for the inconvenience that you are about to experience.  Here is a general guide to living through your own kitchen remodeling job.

  • The first tip I can give you is to prepare yourself. Pretend you are going on an extended camping trip and get ready for the adventure.
  • Prepare your home by setting up a small kitchen area.  Use this space for a microwave, coffee pot, toaster, single burner and possibly a little electric grill.  Mini fridge’s area a perfect substitute for a large fridge to house items such as milk, lunch meat and yogurt.  Little items that can be used to create a meal or a snack.
  • Pack up the kitchen items you will need in clear storage containers.  The rest can be packed and stored.
  • Purchase all things disposable.  Cups, paper plates, bowls and plastic utensils that can be thrown away are a very handy thing to keep on hand.  You will not have use of a sink to wash things so the more things that can be pitched or recycled the better.
  • Shop often.  Do not purchase large quantities of food.  You will not have a space to store it. if you have a deep freezer you can prepare ahead of time for the kitchen remodel by freezing portion size meals and warming them as needed.
  • Keep dry goods on hand such as peanut butter, nuts, crackers and munch able type foods for those late night snack cravings.
  • Grilling is always a handy option during a project of this magnitude.  You can always eat out or invite yourself to dine with friends at their home.  Offer to bring the main dish.  This option is a good one as long as you keep in mind that they don’t want to have you over every night no matter your situation.
  • Make sure your contractor leaves the sink in place for as long as possible.  It is possible to function like a normal family for the most part with a sink, mini fridge, grill and single burner.
  • Make sure you take into account all the dust and noise that the construction job will create.  Animals are not going to react well to this environment.  It is also important to cover other belongings with sheets to prevent issues as you do put your home back together after the kitchen is complete.
  • Remind yourself often that this is only a temporary situation and that your marriage is a long term commitment.  Remodels are often stressful on families and can bring out the worst in us.
  • Prepare for the long term.  Many families and contractors do not supply a reasonable estimate in regards to the time commitment that people are actually looking at for a kitchen remodeling job.

The end result will be worth the effort.  The family will be able to enjoy a newly updated space to enjoy together and your home’s value will increase.  Budget for some new utensils and pots and pans that will make mom happy and trust me the whole family will be thankful to.

Jason Foldenauer Construction

Landscape Design: Trendy Landscape

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Landscaping design trends seem to ebb and flow through cycles where naturalism is in one year and the next year well manicured lawns are all the rage.  Personally I feel landscaping should reflect your personal style and be unique to each homeowner.  The inside of your home should reflect who you are why the outside shouldn’t also is beyond me.  The perfect place to begin exploring landscape ideas is by taking a “Sunday drive” exploring options of other people’s landscape design that you like and don’t like.  Make sure to document with photos and descriptions so that when you are staring at your own home you are able to visually see what you desire.

Money is tight everywhere right now.  Personally my budget for landscaping needs is very small but I still want the space to look and feel like me.  In order to do this I went for a ride in the canoe.  We are fortunate to have a beautiful river in our backyard to help accentuate our landscape design.  I was so inspired by people’s creativity.  The houses were all beautiful and the landscape of each home seemed to directly reflect the home and what I imagine the people inside were like.

There were several trends that I noticed in the homes along the river.  They all seemed to make sense to me.  People were conserving rain water, growing gardens and lit up with natural lightening. The landscapes were simple yet elegant, resourceful yet de-cluttered and beautifully natural.  Here are the things that caught my eye the most.

  • People reduced the amount of grass they needed to cut by placing large “gardens” throughout the lawn.  I saw bird house gardens, rock garden, weed gardens that were full of beautifully colored weeds and one hose which had a tire garden.  It was so neat and resourceful giving definite personality to the lawn.
  • Many gardens were full of Michigan native plants.  Being close to the water I saw many yards with cattails, loosestrife, lilies and other weeds that grow naturally with water. Many new weeping willow trees were spring up and I could tell people weren’t bending over backwards to make their lawns beautiful they just were naturally.
  • I saw several rain water collections going on within the landscape designs.  People had large containers made out of different materials that were linked to the gutters inconspicuously that would trap water for use later in the garden.
  • Many neighbors had large vegetable gardens, tomatoes, beans, squash and melon made their lawns and gardens look fabulous while also being resourceful and help to feed their families.
  • Lightening was also huge.  Solar lights and hanging garden lights illuminated the area without the use of an energy source saving money and the environment.  Often spotlights were used to emphasize trees and larger ornamental grasses.
  • Many landscape designs defiantly served a purpose.  The tire garden that I loved definitely did double work as a play/climbing area.  Hammocks were placed between two shade trees for a nap area and one yard even played double duty for a place to practice yoga. Their yards said something about their personalities.
  • Another thing I really liked is that our neighbors all incorporated the natural critters into their landscape.  Bird house, bat houses, and squirrel feeders were abundant.  Along with hummingbird feeders, butterflies, birdbaths and toad houses scattered through people’s yards.

The one thing that is truly noticeable is that people really used the resources available to them and accentuated upon the details.  It was a great site to see.  Many of the landscape designs were low key and maintenance looked routine.  I was glad I took that trip down the river because instead of bringing in land fill and building a break wall I am going to enjoy the natural landscape that surrounds my home and make it my own with the finer details.

Bladerunners Landscape