Everything you need to know about residential electrical service upgrades

Written by Ryan Hauer, Owner of Hauer Power Electrical in Edmonton

Hi everyone, and welcome to today’s edition of your Edmonton electrician. At Hauer Power Electrical our mission is to power customer service. In these articles and our videos, this is how we show that we bring customer service back to the trades.

Talking about electrical service upgrades

We wanted to talk to you about service upgrades. Often coming from a 60 amp service upgrade or a 70 amp service upgrade, it’s always a good idea to safe out your electrical system and have at least a 100A electrical service installed. If you are at 100 amps already and you want to stay at a hundred amps and change out your panel for a more safe arrangement. In that case, a service upgrade is right for you.

Sometimes your home may have grown large enough to surpass its electrical service. In these cases, we recommend a 150A or a 200 Amp electrical service upgrade. We’re here to talk to about everything when it comes to your electrical service panel upgrades.

One of the biggest concerns with the residential service industry is safety and especially electrical safety. After all, most fires stem from electrical hazards, and we want to eliminate those!

A large portion of these electrical fires is attributed to federal panels. Federal Pacific specifically. Federal Pacific electrical service panels were extremely common in the US and Canada, but unfortunately, they were a company that had performed some fraudulent and inaccurate testing. This fraudulent testing was discovered after these panels were installed in millions of homes. This is why we perform so many of these electrical service upgrades in Edmonton and area.

Circuit breakers

It’s no rare secret in the electrical trade that Federal circuit breakers are known to be a fire hazard. They are known to not trip when experiencing an overcurrent condition or an electrical fault. Among not tripping, they also are known to remain open or to remain shut. All of which can result in some pretty dangerous situations.

The whole point of an electrical circuit breaker is to trip when the wiring and devices are at risk of being damaged. After researching, it’s most common in the United States. However, it’s almost guaranteed that if your neighborhood was built before 2000, that there is a home on your block with this style of electrical panel.

The whole job of a circuit breaker is to protect the wire in that circuit. With these old Federal Pacific breakers that far too many older homes have, their circuits are not effectively protected. If too much load is placed on a circuit in the home, a fire could start when these wires become overheated.

Personally, my home was built in the 1960s, and it had this exact panel before I gave myself an electrical service upgrade. The problem with these breakers is that while some may work, and some may not, the breakers will only work until they stop working. That’s when you’re at risk of an electrical fire.

Edmonton Electrician | Upgrading Your Electrical Service for Safety

I want to start off with a scenario of why these old breakers could result in an electrical fire hazard.

If you have various appliances going on one circuit and you’re drawing more than, say, 15 amps on a 15 amp rated circuit, this is a problem. With a CSA rated electrical circuit breaker, that breaker should recognize this issue and open the circuit.

So if it’s your morning routine and you have a microwave and a toaster on one circuit without tripping the breaker, this is a problem that you may not have known that you had. Another common indicator comes around the holidays. In most older homes, the kitchen electrical has not been brought up to current electrical standards and codes. Chances are pretty good that if you’re hosting Christmas and have multiple cooking appliances on one circuit without tripping, you may have an electrical service upgrade in your future.

At Hauer Power Electrical, we do offer free in-home electrical estimates for precisely this service. If you have a panel and a Federal Pacific panel, get an electrician to give you an estimate to provide you with an idea of what it’s going to cost to get rid of that fire hazard.

Research on electrical fires

The last thing you want in your home is an electrical fire hazard. Those Federal breakers may trip, but they might not trip as well. On average, the failure rate is as high as 70% to 80%. These rates come from industry a professional named Dr. Aronstein. Dr Jesse Aronstein has said that these faulty electrical circuit breakers could be responsible for over 100,000 house fires over the last 40 years.

Dr. Jesse Aronstein has estimated that an annual 2,800 fires, 13 deaths, and approximately $40 million in property damage occur at a declining rate due to these Federal Pacific panelboards. If you see a Federal pacific or federal pioneer on your panelboard, you may want to have a second opinion on your panel, as it may not be as safe as you would hope.

One important note of the federal pacific panelboard is that In May of 1999, Schneider Electric Canada had Federal Pioneer circuit breakers sold and re-named from Federal Pacific circuit. There are two models of breakers as well that have been recalled since then. The two model names are NC015 and NC015CP. These breakers were made from August 1, 1996, to June 11, 1997, and have been recalled. Thus it is safe to say that if you have had a federal panel installed anytime before 1997, it is almost a certainty that you have non-CSA approved electrical circuit breakers in your home. If this is the case, you should contact the best electricians in Edmonton for an upgrade.

Does the breaker physically fit?

Aside from the breakers being known not to trip, they also have a physical issue as well. Commonly these breakers are known to not fit tightly into an existing panelboard as tightly as they should. A loose breaker is that when a stable electrical connection is not made, arcing occurs. With arcing comes heat, and thus follows an electrical fire.

Edmonton Electrician | Upgrading Your Electrical Service From 60 Amps to 100 Amps or More.

There are several other panel brands in your home that you may also want to have upgraded due to them being discontinued or otherwise merely hard to find breakers for. Such panel brands are Sylvania, commander, Westinghouse, Novaline, etc. These panels are not necessarily dangerous, however, everything ages and fails with time, and electrical is no different.

They’re still pretty reliable panels. We always stock Siemens, and that’s what we like to replace for all of our customers. Siemens has been around for a very long time, and its breakers are quality. When we function test all of our equipment, they never seem to fail. As a plus, Siemens is made right here in Canada, so stock is never an issue, even in a global pandemic!

Consider new circiuts

Another reason why you may be interested in a service upgrade comes back to the space required to add new circuits. Some panels like square d, siemens, and Eaton have availability for slim saver breakers and space-saving tandem options. Federal pacific, federal pioneer, and Sylvania/Commander panels do not have these options.

So if you find yourself starting a kitchen renovation or installing an addition, you will require more space in your panel to bring these areas up to code with new circuits. This is another common starting point for an electrical service upgrade.

Another option is to have a subpanel installed, however with the current pandemic, finding a circuit breaker to fit your federal panel may not be so easy to source, as they are all back ordered for 2-3 months from all suppliers.

There are other ways to install an electrical subpanel; however, if you have a fire hazard for a panel, it is always a good idea to upgrade and safed out. The biggest hurdle is usually the cost, so Hauer Power Electrical offers to finance for all projects over $1000.

Edmonton Electrician | Upgrading Your Electrical Ampacity

Another Option for a quality service upgrade comes to your ampacity. An ampacity upgrade refers to when a client wishes to go from 60A-100A or from 100A to 200A or from 100A – 150A. These options all exist, as well. Often the most significant hurdle faced with these jobs is that your transformer from Epcor or Fortis is not large enough to accommodate such a massive draw. In these cases, the costs to your local utility company can be rather expensive. Sometimes, however, the transformer is of sufficient size, mostly if your home was built after 2011 here in Edmonton.

If your transformer is of sufficient size, then we at Hauer Power Electrical coordinate with the utility company, yourselves, and the local electrical inspectors to get your service up and running at the correct rated amount of power for you.

These ampacity upgrades are often required to install a hot tub, electric hot water, air conditioning, or a second kitchen suite. Without enough ampacity for all the loads needed for the home or business, the city won’t allow these additions.

Edmonton Electrician | Upgrading Your Electrical Panel

Another concern with electrical service upgrades is your electrical meter on the outside of your home. This meter must be of a specific size minimum and have a few key features to be compliant with current electrical codes. Also, the wire length inside must be sufficient for Epcor and Fortis, and the height must be compliant as well to pass inspection and restore power to the property.

Grounding. Grounding is always a significant factor in any electrical installation. If a home or business does not have correct grounding practices installed, many issues can arise. Current electrical codes may require your grounding to be brought up to code regarding your electrical service. At Hauer Power Electrical, we allow for this in our cost so that you don’t get any hidden fees after hiring us from the start.

Edmonton Electrician | Lookout for Dishonest Practices

Let’s get down to it. Service Upgrades are expensive, and if there’s one place where you want quality electrical work done, it’s at your panel. That’s why you want Hauer Power Electrical to work on your service upgrade from start to finish.

If you find a lower price somewhere and it seems too good to be true, that’s probably because it is. They’re likely trying to cut corners somewhere to get that job for that price. Our cost comes from the quality materials that we use and our experienced electricians. When we send you an invoice for our quality work performed, we wish it was all profit, but it certainly is not.

When upgrading a service, the major costs come to the cable, conduit, panel, breakers, grounding requirements, permit fees, labour, and all the little things that make the job get done correctly.

Older homes have a two-wire ungrounded system

An important note to make is regarding extremely old homes. Many older homes have an existing two-wire ungrounded system. If your home has no existing ground, then there may be new issues after upgrading your panel. Everything will be working safely and correctly.

There are two solutions for the ungrounded wires in your walls, such as GFCI use or ground fault circuit interrupters. Option B is GFCI Breakers right at the panel. These depend on which scenario is best given the conditions on-site and cost.

When an ungrounded system has poor wiring practices, a neutral or spare wire has often been used to conduct electricity in a circuit. In these cases, specific troubleshooting is required by your professional Edmonton electrician at Hauer Power Electrical.

Edmonton Electrician | Upgrading Your Electrical Service Professionally

If you could benefit from having their electrical service upgraded, give us a call at 780-935-0622. As Your Edmonton Electrician, we are here to power customer service. These informative articles are just one more way we like to reach out to you. It’s our aim to help fellow Edmontonians with their electrical. We offer free estimates to Edmonton and area, and we are happy to look at your electrical for you.

Ask about our promotion for new residential and commercial clients and contact us through our website at https://hauerpower.ca/

OR by emailing our team at [email protected]

Stay tuned! Call us if you have any questions or if you would like to book your electrical service upgrade. Have fun, and stay safe out there!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Be Part Of The Change By Becoming A Co-Owner!

Our Story…

Since day one, RenovationFind.com was founded to revolutionize the home improvement industry.  The company’s mission is to weed out the unqualified contractors from the good ones with its certification program and help promote them on a highly visible platform to homeowners in search for trusted contractors.  

It was founded by a successful and battle-tested serial entrepreneur, Keith Riley.  RenovationFind.com was born while he was operating a granite countertop company, he co-founded back in 2006.  He kept meeting homeowners who were either conned of their money, shoddy work or just a horrible overall experience with contractors.  He has heard it all – from plumbers starting a job and disappearing to a full house renovation where the homeowner put down a deposit and the contractor gutted the house and then declared bankruptcy.    Being the serial entrepreneur he is, he set out to find out why it kept happening.  To his surprise, there was nothing that truly addressed the problem.  He found that the only platforms on the market were review-based and as a contractor himself, he was aware of the growing problem with fictitious reviews.  Bringing his many years of industry experience, he concluded a need to transform the industry by regaining homeowner’s confidence by introducing a research-based platform that was data-driven.  

The company’s vision is to be the #1 trusted online resource for Canadian homeowners.

We are excited to launch our FrontFundr campaign and invite you, Canadian homeowners, to become co-owners and let us transform the industry together!

Why Invest?

“To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed.  They are just a multiplier.  Execution is worth millions.”  — Steve Jobs

Since its inception in 2014, the founding team has been pushing a boulder up a steep and rigorous mountain with the focus on building a ‘true’ business model – not just technology.  The team took the idea and successfully executed it and is now a business yielding $1.0 million in ARR and they have only scratched the surface – and is now ready to scale!

One of the secret ingredients to this founding team is the married duo; Keith Riley, Founder/CEO and Vivian Riley, COO.  Their aligned passions, complementary skill sets and industry experience makes any founding team relationship strong and successful.  They share the same goals, and after years of marriage, have perfected how they work and communicate with each other.  Together with their founding partner and lead developer, Jason Coo – the idea for RenovationFind.com was executed with incredible success.  So, you can invest with confidence knowing this team can execute to generate a healthy return on your investment.  They encourage you to check out their FrontFundr campaign (NOV 19th 2020) to learn more about this winning team.  

Building a business from the ground-up is not an easy task but the company is passionate about pushing through the challenges because they know they are making a difference by helping homeowners and contractors.  They have been growing alongside with some of their contractors who invested in their mission and vision because they believe in it.  Homeowners have shared their stories on how they love what they are doing and how they have helped! So, it was only natural to open the opportunity to our supporters to become co-owners in the company when they learned about FrontFundr, an equity crowd-funding platform through which all Canadians can invest in their company for as little as $500.  Together, let’s make RenovationFind.com a household name across Canada as the trusted online resource for homeowners to find the best contractors.  

They invite you to check out their FrontFundr campaign (NOV 19th 2020) to learn more about their company, accomplishments and growth plans.

Our Traction…

The Opportunity….

• $1.0 Million Raise
• $5.913 per share
• TFSA & RRSP Eligible

We want to give you an opportunity to invest

Since it’s inception, the idea for RenovationFind was executed and has grown into a successful company.  The company has continued to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. In fact, both web traffic and sales have increased since the pandemic started. It is a proven business model. Plus, it has survived and thrived during challenging times. The team at RenovationFind has built a successful business, not just technology.

We wanted to extend an invitation to our community, homeowners, and home improvement companies that we’ve connected with since our beginnings.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Winter is well on its way, and now is the time to prepare your home for the harsh conditions it will bring with it. Investing in maintenance, properly storing summer items, and taking care of small repair projects can reduce the risk of damage and the need for expensive repairs down the road.

We have put together a winter maintenance checklist covering jobs to do both inside and outside of the home. Fall is the perfect time to tackle this home maintenance checklist, as many tasks on the list will be difficult in cold temperatures and deep snow.

Exterior Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Protecting your home from winter begins with your home’s exterior. Here is the exterior winter checklist:

Clean out the gutters

Leaves, sticks, and other debris can cause your gutters to clog. When the snow melts, the gutters can overflow, and water will start pooling around the foundation of your house. Eventually, the water will find a way into your basement. Carefully climb a ladder to clean out the gutters. Then make sure your downspouts are in good shape and lead the water at least 10 feet from the house.

Make sure your eavestroughs are in good condition and attached to the side of the roof correctly. If they are damaged or need replacing, contact an eavestrough company before the snow accumulates.

Drain and store hoses

Drain the water out of your garden hoses, remove them from faucets, and store them in the shed or garage. Then go inside and turn off the water supply to those exterior faucets. If left on, water can freeze and damage the pipes.

Shut down your sprinkler system

If your yard has a sprinkler or irrigation system, it’s time to drain and shut that down. Water left in the system will freeze and cause the pipes and hoses to crack. You can hire a property maintenance company to do this for you. You can also learn how to winterize a sprinkler system yourself to save money. You should also winterize any water features like fountains, waterfalls, or ponds.

Winterize your swimming pool

If you have an outdoor pool, remove debris from the water and drain it partially. You can buy a winter treatment kit to prevent damage over the winter. It would help if you also covered the pool to keep out debris. Properly store all other pool maintenance equipment, such as pool toys like noodles, floating toys, and life jackets.

Have the roof inspected

Most professional roofers will offer roof inspection services. If you’re comfortable on a ladder, there are some things you can look for yourself. Check the shingles for any apparent damage like curling, peeling, or missing shingles. Inspect the flashing around your chimney and vents and make sure it’s securely fastened. You can also pop your head in the attic and look for any signs of water getting in. If you see an issue, contact a roof repair company before the snow flies.

Winterize gas-operated yard equipment

Gas-fueled yard equipment like lawnmowers, weed trimmers and chain saws need to be prepared for winter too. If they still have fuel in them, use a fuel stabilizer to help preserve the gas until the spring. Otherwise, drain the gas and dispose of it at your local eco-centre. Either of these actions will help extend the lifespan of your equipment. Once done, safely store your equipment and tools in the shed or garage.

Inspect low hanging tree branches

If you have tree branches hanging over your home, garage, shed, or powerlines, you should have an arborist trim those limbs before winter. If it’s a large branch or even a small one from an evergreen tree, snow can accumulate on the branches and cause them to come down. Falling branches can damage to your property and power lines.

Check the deck

Unless you live on the west coast, snow and ice will accumulate on your deck for several months this winter. Now is the time to prepare the deck for that. First, store your patio furniture and clear the deck of anything that will get damaged in winter weather. You should also clean and store your barbeque if you’re not planning on using it during the winter. Then wash it, sweep debris, check for and repair rotten boards now.

Winterize the air conditioning unit

Proper air conditioner maintenance will extend your AC unit’s lifespan and allow it to perform most efficiently. First, clear all debris like leaves and sticks from around the unit. Disconnect it from power, so it doesn’t try to start up in the winter. Invest in a protective cover for the AC unit to keep ice and snow off of it.

Check the exterior for potential air leaks

Air leaks are a significant culprit for heat escaping from your home and increased energy bills. Take a walk around your house and check the exterior seals on all your windows and doors. If you find cracked or missing caulking, remove it and recaulk that area. Also, check for gaps around faucets, vents, or anything else that penetrates the wall. If you find holes in the wall, you should fill them with steel wool and caulking to prevent pests like mice from making a home in your house this winter.

Get the snowblower ready

If you haven’t already, have your snowblower serviced and make sure it starts properly. DIY maintenance might mean giving it an oil change and new spark plugs, so it runs well this winter. Get out other equipment you’ll need like snow shovels, gravel, or salt. Snow waits for no one, so you want to make sure it’s prepared to get to work this winter.

Alternatively, you can arrange for snow removal services. Save yourself the effort, time, and backache and allow a professional snow removal company to take care of your driveway and walkways for you. These companies can book up fast, so if this sounds like the best option for snow removal this winter, make the phone call soon.

Interior Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Now let’s move to the inside of the house. Part of your winter checklist should include an inspection of mechanical systems, insulation, windows and doors, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Have the furnace tuned up

Annual furnace maintenance is essential to the performance and longevity of your HVAC system. Each fall, have your furnace inspected and tuned up by a professional heating and cooling company. They will run it through a multi-point inspection, clean things up, make minor repairs, change your furnace filter, and ensure everything is in top shape for the winter ahead. Regular furnace maintenance will ensure your HVAC runs at peak performance and efficiency and will also ensure it’s running safely.

Regular maintenance will also prevent significant breakdowns or the need for a premature replacement. The harder your furnace has to work, the more strain it experiences, the shorter it’s lifespan. The last thing you want is for the furnace to quit in the middle of a cold winter’s night.

Call for a natural gas inspection

While you’re having the furnace inspected, arrange for an inspection of your natural gas lines and appliances. Your local natural gas provider will often offer this inspection service free-of-charge. They’ll check things like the furnace, hot water heater, gas fireplace, gas range, and other appliances for noticeable issues and carbon monoxide leaks. A gas inspection will ensure your home is safe and give you peace of mind as you enter the colder months.

Inspect and clean the fireplace and chimney

You shouldn’t use your wood-burning fireplace or wood stove this winter without inspecting and cleaning it first. Over the summer, debris could have gotten in the chimney. Sometimes birds or squirrels will make a nest in the chimney, which can be a major fire hazard. A professional chimney sweep will clear it of all debris, including last year’s soot, nests, and leaves. Not only will this reduce the risk of a fire, but it can also reduce the risk of dangerous gases getting into your indoor air.

Once that is done, start stocking up on firewood. Try to store firewood in a dry place that is not directly against the house. If the wood you brought in has carpenter ants or other pests, you don’t want them moving from the woodpile to your walls.

Check windows and doors for leaks

You’ve already done an exterior check for leaks on your windows and doors. Now it’s time to check the interior. A drafty window can make up for nearly 30% of energy loss in the home. If your windows are noticeably damaged, you might need a replacement. Otherwise, recaulking the interior seals and replacing damaged weather stripping could be enough to seal any leaks.

If you have older windows and a replacement isn’t in the budget this year, consider covering them with plastic. While it’s not ideal visually, this DIY task can help reduce drafts and will keep your heating bills manageable as the temperature drops.

Replace batteries on smoke and CO detectors

The change of seasons is a great time to inspect your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Swap out the old batteries for new ones, and run a test. If there are any issues, replace the detector immediately.

Smoke detectors need to be on each floor of the home, and usually near the kitchen. Carbon monoxide detectors should be in or near the bedrooms and on every floor of the house. Because the windows are closed in the winter and you use stoves and fireplaces more often, it’s vital to ensure your carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.

Inspect attic insulation and ventilation

Attic insulation and proper ventilation play an essential role in stopping heat escape and preventing condensation in the attic. Without ventilation, the cold air will condense, accumulate, freeze, and cause attic rain when it thaws. This kind of moisture can damage your insulation, framing, ceiling and promote mould and mildew growth.

Improper ventilation and insulation can also cause ice dams. Ice dams occur when the heat from the home’s interior goes into the attic, then escapes through the roof. It warms up the roof and causes the bottom layer of snow to melt and freeze again. Over the winter, you can end up with a thick sheet of ice hanging off your roof. Ice dams can cause significant damage to your roof and are a safety hazard if they fall.

If you need an insulation upgrade, now is a good time to do that. Most insulation contractors will also inspect your ventilation system to ensure adequate airflow up there. Otherwise, check the insulation around your interior attic hatch. Make sure there are no gaps in insulation to keep that warm air from escaping into the attic.

Inspect your plumbing to prevent pipes from freezing

Water expands when it freezes, and frozen pipes can burst and lead to all kinds of expensive water damage problems. Inspect the accessible pipes on your exterior walls, especially in the basement or crawlspace, and insulate them if they are not already. If you plan on going away this winter, keep the heat up to ensure the pipes are kept warm.

If you are going away, have someone check on your home every other day to ensure everything is okay. Frozen and burst pipes are not covered under most home insurance policies if no one checks on your home. Typically, an insurance policy will require a check every 2-3 days while you’re away.

Get the humidifier ready

Circulating dry air through your HVAC system all winter can cause dry skin, itchy eyes, and an irritated throat. You can keep moisture in the air with an air humidifier. Many HVAC systems have a humidifier attached to them, so if you shut yours off in the summer, it is time to turn it back on. If you don’t have one, connect with an HVAC company to have one installed.

Help with your winter home maintenance checklist

You can complete many of the tasks on this winter home checklist yourself. However, some jobs will require the help of a professional contractor. For example, you should always hire an HVAC contractor to deal with any furnace or air conditioning service. For plumbing repairs or inspections, trust the help of a certified and reputable plumbing company. Or, if you’d like to save yourself the time, professional handyman services can tackle many of the projects on this list.

Investing time and money in preventative maintenance will help you maintain the value of your property. It can reduce or eliminate the need for costly repairs, replacements, and make your home safe and comfortable this winter.

If you need help with any of the items on this list, trust a certified company from the RenovationFind directory. All companies on our listings have gone through a stringent screening process, and they are continually monitored to ensure they’re keeping up to our high standards. You’ll find a list of these companies in your Canadian city below.

Find a RenovationFind Certified home improvement company in your city!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

A laneway home is a dwelling built on your existing lot, located near the back of your property. It could be a garden suite or a suite constructed above the garage. The City of Vancouver allows homeowners to build laneway houses, as long as they meet zoning and building code requirements. Not all properties are eligible for laneway homes, but that is something By Design Construction can help you determine.

The benefits of laneway homes

The main benefit of building a laneway home is to provide additional revenue. We don’t have to tell you about the financial challenges of owning property in Vancouver. It’s expensive. Rent earned from a laneway home will provide another revenue stream that can help with mortgage payments and other living expenses.

It also helps provide central communities with a diverse range of housing options. By renting a laneway home, people can live in neighbourhoods close to amenities and existing infrastructure. With an additional, legal dwelling on your property, the value of your property will increase.

Additionally, a laneway home is an excellent option for multi-generation families. You can live near your parents or grown children, or hosts visitors and guests in the suite, while still maintaining privacy. If you’re a joint family, you can stay together. Also, if you plan on aging in place, the laneway home might be a good option for you in the future.

The process of building a laneway home

Permits

The first step of building a laneway home is to contact a reputable builder like By Design Construction. Contact us for a free onsite consultation. 

From there your project will require a building permit from the city. Your custom home builder will apply for the permit, providing a design plan to the city that meets building code requirements. As experts in building laneway homes, By Design Construction makes sure your application has all the details it needs to get approved.

You’ll also need a development permit to build a new dwelling or structure on your property. Unlike a regular home renovation, this large-scale project must meet zoning bylaw requirements. The development permit is also something they can help obtain for you.

Planning

The planning and design stage of your laneway home build will be fun! Working with experienced designers, you can start putting together the layout of your new dwelling. The plan will include everything from mechanical systems, framing, and drywall, to the finishing touches like flooring and countertops. The builders will use these plans as a roadmap as they embark on the construction phase.

Construction

Now it’s time to get to work. With over 15 years of home building experience, By Design Construction will fully manage your laneway home building project. Custom home builders will hire, manage, and schedule every trade that will work in your home and take care of obtaining materials and supplies needed to get the job done. By maintaining open communication with you throughout the process, you’ll always know what is happening with your building project.

At any point, when it is safe to do so, you can request a walkthrough of your building project. This will allow you to see progress and ask questions along the way. Any issues that come up will be remedied quickly, so you can start using your laneway home as a rental suite or additional living space for your family.

Contact By Design Construction for a FREE onsite consultation today.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Home automation is all about living comfortably and saving time. A single computer controls your entire house, programmed exactly to how you need it to work. It knows when to turn the light on and off as you need it or set up an entire light scene to set the ambiance. It knows what temperature to choose when you’re in the room, and it turns it off when you are not there. Everything is managed perfectly, according to your specifications.

Tech Connect Solutions in Vancouver offers a range of smart home technology and systems. A highly advanced home automation systems will give you time-saving comfort, luxury, and convenience. They are not cloud-based, so your data and information are completely protected. Keep reading to learn more.

Everything is controlled by a central computer

Home automation combines all the components of your home into one central system. This allows communication to happen between every system in your home. Systems include your thermostat, window coverings, lighting, audio and video, windows and doors, locks, cameras, switches, and appliances. It acts as the brain of your home and brings everything together. Essentially, it creates a home that knows how to take care of itself.

You’ll save a lot of time

This kind of home automation can save you from doing over 50,000 tasks at home a year. It might seem like something small, like adjusting the thermostat multiple times a day or manually turning on lights, but it all adds up to more time to enjoy life.

Unparalleled energy efficiency

Home automation has an intelligent energy management system. You can have your smart home automatically control the temperature in your home, room by room. It can sense when someone is in the living room and can control the temperature there. That means less wasted energy in rooms that are vacant. It knows when you’re away from home, turning down the heat, and then turning it back up again when you return.

The lighting can also be set to increase energy efficiency. Lights that are left on will turn off automatically if the room is empty. You can have lights come on and off during different parts of the day to match your habits at home. Light control can deter intruders by making it look like someone is home when you’re away. Plus, home automation can provide fantastic lighting moods pre-set to your specific needs.

If you have solar panels, some systems offer intelligent energy management. It will switch between the electrical grid or the energy generated from your solar system. It will also turn off energy guzzlers and direct the sustainable solar energy where it’s needed most in the home.

Home security can be built-in

Automated home security products can be included with your home automation system. Choose from products like motion sensors, door and window contacts, water sensors, cameras, and other features. Enjoy pin-pad front entry, or use an encrypted NFC Key Fob or a button on your system’s phone app. It allows you to lock and unlock your doors remotely. Read more about smart home security.

Home Automation in Vancouver

Smart technology to simplify and boost your lifestyle is what Tech Connect Solutions proudly provides. Their services are there to make your life easier, your home safer, and keep your bills down. Their services include home automation, security and surveillance systems, home theatre systems, and more.

Contact Tech Connect Solutions today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Ready to put your house on the market? Not so fast! Before listing your home, it’s important to properly prepare your home for sale. By staging your property perfectly, undertaking general maintenance and following some of our other tips, you can easily increase the value of your home, make visitors fall in love with your property and encourage a quicker sale. 

First impressions count. 

The entrance of your home will be the first thing potential buyers will see when they arrive at your property, so it’s essential to have a well-maintained exterior. A 2019 survey by Homeowners Alliance revealed that the most important features for kerb appeal include well-maintained windows, a roof in good condition as well as a tidy front garden and pathway. 

Related: How to give a home kerb appeal.  

Declutter and make it shine. 

Declutter, organise and clean. Presenting a tidy, uncluttered and organised space it’s key for buyers to appreciate the space that your home can offer. Plus, by decluttering and playing with furniture placement, you can make small rooms look bigger. 

Related: How to make your small room look bigger.  

Repairs, replacements and revamp. 

Are your lights flickering? Do your doorknobs feel loose? Do your walls feature some unwanted cracks? Have a team of professionals come by your home to see what needs to be done around to ensure your home is in tip-top shape. The Handy Squad offers a variety of property maintenance services and, as experienced professionals, we can easily spot a small issue that might turn into a costly repair. 

Go neutral. 

Swap that busy wallpaper for some neutral-coloured walls. Remove the wallpaper and then paint the walls in neutral tones, so future buyers can more easily picture it as their potential home. You want your home to meet different tastes, so going neutral is the easiest way to do this. 

Related: How to remove wallpaper.  

Pay attention to smells. 

Bad smells can put off potential buyers from considering your property. Don’t just lit up a candle to cover smells either, get to the root of the smells and take care of them. Bad odours could be a cause of damp, blocked drains, pets and more. 

Don’t forget the garden. 

Make your home more appealing by giving your garden some much-needed attention. Get rid of tall weeds, cut the grass, plant some colourful flowers, fix broken fences and give your garden shed a new lick of paint. 

Related: How to decorate a small garden. 

If you need an extra pair of hands getting your home ready for sale, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team by calling 0800-0 12 12 12 or request a quote by filling out our online booking form. Our handyman in London can carry out general handyman tasks you might need. Plus, we have our other tradesmen can complete a full range of home-related tasks. 

The post How to prepare your house for sale during lockdown appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Short answer, yes. At the Handy Squad, during the November lockdown, we remain open for business as the new government guidelines allows us to trade as normal, provided that we continue to follow the government’s guidance on working safely during COVID-19 in other people’s homes.

This includes:

• • • Maintaining social distancing whenever possible.
    • Hand washing and surface cleaning.
    • Keeping the activity time involved as short as possible.
    • Limiting the number of workers within a confined space to maintain social distancing.
    • Working materials should be assigned to an individual when possible. If they need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest number of people.

Whether your water tap has been dripping constantly not letting you get a good night’s sleep, or your radiator hasn’t been working properly making your home cold during these cold and chilly nights – our team will be able to help.

You might be a homeowner or renter that needs the help of a professional to repair flickering lights or broken doors. There is no need to search any further if you “can hire a handyman during lockdown?” because the Handy Squad will be able to give a helping hand.

We believe that it is important to work safely during this pandemic to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees and customers. For this reason, as per government guidelines, “no work should be carried out in a household which is isolating because one or more family members has symptoms or where an individual has been advised to shield – unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household or to public safety.”

If your home, office or commercial establishment requires essential maintenance, get in touch with our team today on 0800-0 12 12 12 or request a free quote by filling out our online booking form.

The post Can you hire a handyman during lockdown? appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Does your heart skip a beat hearing about $20,000 remodeling budget? Despite financial restrictions, do you still want a fresh and new bathroom for your home? You don’t need to break the bank, or take out a sizable personal loan, to remodel to revive your old bathroom.

Here’s some tips to take on a remodeling project for your bathroom with a limited budget.

Paint vs Tiles

Some want to splatter tiles all over their bathroom: floors, walls, shower stalls. However, tiles can easily become a considerable cost, especially if you’ve hired a contractor to install them.

If it is at all possible, avoid applying tiles anywhere besides the floor. A good alternative to adding color and renewal to your bathroom would be to put a fresh, new coat of paint on your walls. You can also repaint cabinets, shelving, and the door to change the atmosphere of your bathroom.

Refinishing/ Touching-Up Your Tub/Shower

Replacing your tub or shower stall is an expensive aspect to your bathroom remodel. If it isn’t completely necessary to replace your tub, don’t do it.

If the issues with your existing shower or tub are purely cosmetic, such as yellowing, cracks, and nicks, refinishing it is an easier, and far cheaper, alternative to replacement.

If you don’t need either a replacement or even a refinishing, you can also attempt to spot fix your tub or stall with easy over-the-counter products.

Being Smart with Plumbing

Plumbing is an important aspect of a bathroom renovation that needs to be considered carefully. If you aren’t familiar with plumbing, and aren’t particularly savvy with tools, your smartest decision would be to simply hire a plumber.

However, there are some basic plumbing jobs that, with a little research and possibly a YouTube video or two, can be done by yourself. Installing a toilet, for example, is a relatively simple job once you know what to do.

If it is at all possible, avoid moving plumbing in your bathroom to change the layout. This job is complex and can be exceedingly expensive to do.

In general, you should assess the work you want done in your bathroom and make an educated decision as to whether or not you can pull off a DIY plumbing job, or if you should play it safe and hire a professional.

Updating Fixtures

One aspect of your bathroom that can be exceptionally easy to update is the fixtures. By changing the fixtures, you’ll be able add a refreshing feel to your same, old bathroom.

Little things, that can add a new flare and refreshing feel to your bathroom, are fixtures such as:

• Light fixtures
• Towel racks
• Shelving
• Drawer handles/knobs
• Faucets
• Shower heads

Buy Used

Though there is a stigma behind used products, vintage and refurbished features can be of the same quality as new ones. Resources such as Etsy, Craigslist, and local thrift stores can have used mirrors, shelving, faucets and shower heads, and various other fixtures.

Thrifty items can be considerably cheaper than ones bought new from a big retail chain. Many of these used items are already refurbished before they’re sold. Others, that need some love, can be refinished with some cleaning and a fresh coat of paint.

Conclusion

If you’re taking on a project such as a bathroom remodeling, a simply deck remodeling, or something more complex like a kitchen remodeling, Handyman Connection is the perfect resource for services. Located in the areas of Los Angeles, Altadena, and Pasadena, they can be contacted at (626) 744-0402.

The post 5 Tips to Remodeling Your Bathroom on a Budget appeared first on Handyman Connection.

When we think about improving our home’s energy efficiency, we think of upgrading our insulation. While a new layer of highly thermal, upgraded insulation blown in the attic can help, it must be combined with a good ventilation system to be worth the effort and cost.

Arctic Shield Insulation in Calgary is a reputable insulation contracting company. They can help you with an insulation upgrade, offering a wide range of insulation products. They share more information about why new insulation in the attic should be paired with adequate ventilation.

Ventilation in the winter.

Ventilation can also help keep your home warm and protected in the winter. One of the biggest issues we have in Alberta is condensation and moisture build up in our attics during the cold months. Even if you have moisture barriers keeping it from seeping in from the outside, that moisture will find its way in from the inside of your home. How? Through bathroom vents, hood fans and even light fixtures on the ceiling.

When moisture builds up, it can lead to mildew and mould. Over time, it could even start to rot the wood in your framing. In the worst cases, you could get attic rain. This is when condensation builds up, freezes and accumulates. Then when things heat up, it melts and rains down all over your attic. A well-ventilated attic with new insulation will prevent and eliminate this problem. Read more about attic rain.

If you’re investing in new attic insulation, the last thing you want is for it to get wrecked because of bad air flow. Proper ventilation and upgrade insulation can also help prevent ice dam problems. This is when warm air from the home leaks into the attic and warms the roof bed. The snow melts, the freezes, then melts, and so on. Eventually, you can end up with a huge slab of ice on your roof, hanging over the eavestroughs and causing all kinds of damage.

Ventilation in the summer.

In the summer, it makes sense to have proper insulation in your home. You want to lower the attic temperature to decrease cooling costs. If you’re air conditioning is working hard to also cool the hot air coming down from the attic, your costs will be sky-high. Moving that hot air out with a ventilation system that promotes airflow is also important to summer energy efficiency.

That airflow will even act as a cool protective layer from the heat outside. Even if you have upgraded insulation, it won’t be able to do it’s job without that ventilation system. In fact, some insulation can even retain solar heat throughout the night, having the opposite effect you want.

Insulation Contractors in Calgary

Arctic Shield Insulation Ltd. provides you with multiple insulation choices including blow-in, batt, and Arctic Shield. We have an energy efficient solution to all those problem areas of the home like attics, walls, basements, and crawl spaces.

Do you need an insulation and ventilation upgrade before winter?

Contact Arctic Shield Insulation Ltd. today!

Click to Find >>> Insulation Contractors in Calgary.

 

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

When was the last time your commercial building got a facelift, and not just an exterior one? Interior renovations are just as important, not just for appearances but also for value and productivity. That’s why, if it’s been many years, it may be time to consider a renovation.

Hibco Construction in Edmonton is a professional commercial and residential construction company. They share some ideas to improve and upgrade your commercial building:

Install large(r) windows

Bringing in more natural daylight is always a welcome addition, especially in an office space. Not only does it help brighten the space and add an energetic feel, but it’s also proven to boost productivity. Exposure to sunlight encourages the release of serotonin, a mood-boosting hormone in the body. Having a nice view of the outdoors also helps, since plants and greenery have the same boosting effect. As for value, natural light means less electricity, so lower electrical bills as well. Choosing energy-efficient windows as well will help lower interior heating and cooling costs too.

Rethink the colours

Colours can be overlooked when planning update renovations, especially when the old look is tried and trusted. Still, the right blend and shades play a major role in overall mood, tone, productivity, and appearances. You want to create a welcoming and inviting space for old and new clients while still appealing to employees. For example, Yellow is an energetic shade and likewise boosts energetic moods, so it’s a great choice for a meeting room. If the colours of your building are tired and lacking energy, consider rethinking the look. It’s also a great way to use colours from your brand, but give it a new and improved look.

Retrofit the plumbing

When was the last time your building’s plumbing was addressed or upgraded? It’s a good time to consider one now if it has been more than a few years. As a two-in-one renovation, you can save more on water bills and improve appearances. Dual flush toilets or low-flow faucets are beneficial additions in high-traffic washrooms. Updating the appearance also shows the value and care for customers and employees alike. Once finished, your overall property value will also go up as a result.

Address the simple areas

Often, it’s the major areas and rooms in a commercial building that see renovations or improvements. While this is great for high-traffic locations, the smaller areas are overlooked as a result. These include hallways, small corner rooms, or empty spaces without a purpose. Taking the time to consider both your employees’ and clients’ needs will help give function and use to these areas. Adding more storage to declutter spaces, widening the hallways, or adding new comfy seating, adds back new appeal and functionality. While simple changes, they do a lot to add just as much value to your overall renovation.

Commercial Renovations in Edmonton

Hibco Construction is a company that prides itself on high-quality work and high standards in all that they do. They have years of experience, skill, and knowledge to guarantee every project provides what you need. From residential to commercial work, they can help with any project.

Contact Hibco Construction today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com