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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A REMODELER OR HOME BUILDER

Finding the right builder or remodeler for your home is a tricky and time-consuming task, but it is definitely worth it. Given the amount of money you have to spend on home construction, it is essential to get it right. The first step to getting it right is finding someone who can do it right. Here, we look at the qualities to look for in a home builder and the factors you should consider before choosing one.

Expertise and Experience:

The home builder you are choosing must have a combination of these two qualities. Expertise is about the skills that every homebuilder is expected to have before he can be called and licensed as such. The experience is how long the contractor has been building the type of home you want to build and how many homes he has built. It is essential for the skills and experience of a contractor to align with the type of home you want, or problems may arise in the construction. While it may not be a bad idea to use a new home builder for specific remodeling jobs, the home building requires certain skills, facilities, and experience that only a long time home builder can possess.

Past Projects:

This is related to experience, but you need to actually see the past works of the home builder or remodeler before you commit yourself. Most of them upload their past projects on their websites, so you can easily check it out. Even better is the fact that you can find reviews on different platforms that detail other people’s experiences with the same home builder or remodeler. Those testaments and reviews can guide you in making your decision. You can go the extra mile by visiting ongoing construction sites of the contractor so you can better understand the work process and get an idea of the homebuilder culture and professionalism.

Reputation:

When it comes to business, reputation is everything. For a home builder, a good reputation is something you must look for. The contractor you are picking must be one with a reputation for providing quality service with good customer relationships. Online reviews and ratings are a good way to determine this, but you can also use word of mouth. Ask from people who have worked with the contractor before and the people the homebuilder has worked for. Talk to someone like the home inspector who is very familiar with the contractor’s works; all these would give you a pretty good idea of whether the contractor is right for you.

Time Consciousness:

You need to pick a home builder or remodeler with a reputation for meeting deadlines. Time is one of those factors that are not negotiable when it comes to construction. Ensure that the contractor provides the start and finish date for the project, and it fits with your plan. Another aspect of time-consciousness is that the hunt for a home builder should begin well in advance of the project, so you have time to choose the best contractor for the job.

Price And Financial Stability:

There are different types of home builders with a specialty in a different type of project based on budget. Choosing the right home builder for the budget of your home is important and make sure you are getting a favorable deal. However, a deal that appears too favorable is most likely a booby trap, so check the financial stability of your home builder to see if the contractor is someone financially able to execute the project.

There are many other factors to consider, such as whether the contractor is licensed and can build in your location. The most important thing is to ask every question you can think of before committing to the contractor or remodeler.

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Different Materials For New Homes

Home is a safe place to live as a member or a family. Shouldn’t it be a home full of beautiful rooms customized by you? A new home is a home that has not been previously occupied by someone. There is so much to think about before building a new home. The features that you put into your home will be with you for years to come. Everyone becomes anxious about what kind of features one should put while building a new home.

Building a new house is an expensive venture, but can be worth it if approached correctly. It is not because of real estate prices but because of the costly building material that people worry about expenses. While building a new house, most people think about traditional construction materials such as wood, concrete, and bricks. By choosing cheap building material, it will lower the cost of building a new home. Look for alternative options before making a decision and moving forward with the actual construction of a house. The materials used should be environmentally friendly as well as cost-effective. Different unique materials for building a new home are:

PREFABRICATED PANELS

Houses made of pre-fabricated panels are first-degree earthquake resistant

It is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to build a new home. They save labor costs and time as well. The homes built with these materials are fast to construct and have watertight fittings as well. There is no asbestos or any material hazardous to the health involved in this material. Its water absorption rate is lower than in concrete buildings, therefore these materials are not affected by water.

CONCRETE SHEETS

This sheeting is also known as the cement board or Bluebeard. These sheets are not fragile like other plaster sheets.

For the exterior of residential homes, concrete sheets are one of the most popular materials. They have lots of advantages like durability, sound suppression, and insulation characteristics. These sheets get installed by nailing the wall studs into the structure.

STONE CLADDING

Stone homes are stunning, but they are not cheap to build. But to get the cheaper alternative, stone cladding is the best way. It is like a veneer that gets applied to the exterior of the home. It is typically lighter and cheaper because of the savings on material and labor. It can also mimic different types of stone finishes.

USED SHIPPING CONTAINERS

These are standardized and reusable steel boxes used for the storage and movement of materials.

Shipping containers are among the cheapest houses to build. For a roomier home, the structures get combined. They are environmentally friendly because they will go to waste if they are not used once their port life expires.

RECLAIMED TIMBER

It consists of wood that is previously logged and used for building other projects.

It is one of the trendiest and most common materials in building a new home. This timber is stylish and very reliable for protecting against various different types of weather.

BAMBOO

Along with sustainability, using bamboo has many benefits. It is one of the longest-lasting and most renewable building materials.

These materials get used in making homes and create a pleasant place to live. These homes are not only long-lasting but also provide a beautiful look.

Always get help from professionals. House construction can be tricky and bothersome. Estimate your costs before going to an agent or home builder so you know you’re getting a fair deal!

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Benefits of Concrete Floors For Your Business or Home

The use of concrete used widely for construction purposes, whether it is for the basement, patio, roadway, or house interior design. The concrete flooring demand can be seen everywhere around the globe. 

The reason for the high demand of concrete floors is due to its great features. It can get customized into any shape or design according to need. The concrete is the material that serves the various need of the customers.

The use of concrete floors can give your home or business a new polished look. In this article, we are going to discuss the pros of concrete flooring either for home or businesses. 

Pros of Concrete Floors:

Concrete floors are more useful than other materials. Its use may vary according to our needs.

  1. Customization

The most feature of concrete is that it can use in any shape or design. For this reason, we can see the use of concrete floors everywhere. The concrete floor can get transformed into different forms. Various color and texture can be added to flooring to give it a shiny look like tiles.

  1. Various Color Variations:

The concrete floors can get cast in different colors. It gives an aesthetic and beautiful look to our house or office flooring. Thus, a person can choose any color for the floors that best suit the home color theme.

  1. Durability:

It is long-lasting and durable, so once installed, there is no need to fear for exchange or repair for ten years. Unlike other materials like wood, vinyl, ceramic, the concrete can last long with proper care.

  1. Ease In Maintenance:

The concrete floor is easy to maintain. It can get cleaned by mopping or by applying water pressure. Unlike other materials, less care is for concrete floors.

  1. Eco-friendly:

It is friendly with no hazardous chemicals. It can save money on any other materials like carpets or wood flooring. It makes the home a safe place to live with no worries.

It is also pet friendly. The shed fur of pet like cat, a dog can get cleaned easily. It is scratch-resistant, unlike other floorings which could easily be scratch up by sharp claws of the animals. 

  1. Immune to Harsh Weathers:

The concrete flooring, whether interior or exterior it can withstand the harsh weather conditions. It can withstand different conditions like rains, heat, and cold weather. Unlike wood flooring that deteriorates with water and gets decay.

  1. Affordable:

Others, materials are expensive and hard to maintain. On the other hand, concrete is low maintenance and affordable. It is cheap to repair, which makes out life a lot easier. 

The best strategy for choosing which flooring you need research is needed. We must choose the floors according to our budget. Ask for the help of an expert or professional to get a wise opinion on which flooring to install.

The needs for different flooring can vary depending on location and money from one person to another. Always choose the flooring materials that work for you.

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Pros and Cons of Buying Concrete

As we look around, the most common material used for the roadways or pavement is concrete. The challenging thing is to pick the right material for your design or project, whether for pavement, driveways, or roads. But, before let us discuss the pros and cons of this great material.

What are the pros and cons you must remember when buying concrete? A common question, that arises in one’s mind. The customers consider the pros and cons of concrete.

First, let discuss why concrete is the best buying material for you.

Pros of Concrete:

  1. Risk-Free: 

                 Concrete is safer when it comes to the driveway. Secondly, concrete makes it easy to walk and maintain, especially having kids around.

  1. Easily Maintenance:

The concrete is easy to maintain, and it does not require regular maintenance. 

  1. Better when it comes to comfort:

                                                As concrete is more effective in extreme weather conditions. It’s the best choice for the driveways, keeping in mind that it is a commonly used area of a house. It is comfy to walk on. 

  1. Eco-friendly:

                   Concrete possesses no harm and is eco-friendly, with the fact that it is 100% recyclable.

  1. Beautiful: 

                   The concrete can be colored according to need, while asphalt is black. 

Cons of Concrete:

 There are few things which make concrete unworthy.

  1. Low Tensile Strength:

Concrete has a low tensile strength than other materials. Different materials like; fibers, polymers, etc are added nowadays to increase the tensile strength of the concrete.

  1. Low Toughness:

     Concrete cannot withstand high energy pressures as it has a limited toughness.  Its toughness is only around 1% to 2% of steel. In this way, it is not a very powerful material.

  1. Low specific strength:

The relationship between ratio and density is known as specific strength. Concrete has very low specific strength as compared to other strong materials like; steel. It can be enhanced by increasing strength and decreasing density.

  1. Requires Framework:

      At first, concrete is in liquid form. It needs a structure or framework to fit into form and to make a proper shape. This framework is very expensive. It also needs heavy labor for installation. In this way it becomes costly.

  1.  Joints are needed:

  In big projects or even in the media scaled projects joints are required to avoid cracks when it is dried and added extension.

  1. Quality control:

Concrete needs skilled and trained labor during the processes of its mixing, pacing, and curing.  For the great quality of concrete, strict, and high-quality control is required. 

Thus, concrete is the best choice for users due to its variant features. The factor that is crucial in choosing any good is durability, the cost for maintenance, and the material best fit within the budget is selected. The use of concrete material is common in most cases. The concrete pavement can reduce maintenance costs and time due to its long-lasting and endurance capacity. On the other hand, its drawback should also be considered when it is needed.

We suggest you choose the materials that provide a more feasible solution for you with the best results.

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The Importance of Recycling

Nowadays, the population is rapidly increasing day by day the increase in population, is directly proportional to the needs of the masses. To fulfill the demands of the growing population, industrial products are rising at the same rate. The industries are fulfilling the necessities but at the same time, they are damaging the ecosystem.

We should strive for ways to reduce the impact of land pollution. It is not only affecting the environment but also the natural habitat devastating the Eco-system. Some countries like Germany and Sweden are acting to counter the situation. Now, we have to question ourselves. Can we bear the changes occurring as a reaction to these? Or what would be the end result? It gives rise to various unknown diseases along with affecting mental health.

Recycling is a process of converting waste products into useful things. It depends on the ability of the material to regain its original raw shape before it was converted to the product.

Recycling is the only way left to save the world from dying.

Deforestation is on the rise, to fulfill the growing need for paper and wood. We have got limited resources that are fading into the one time used junks. It is very crucial for us and our environment because the waste which we and our industries are creating is polluting our homeland at an exponential rate. Respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and lung cancer, etc.are the byproduct of this waste. These wastes especially chemical waste are making our land infertile. When the waste is dumped in the land or water bodies and not discarded properly it reaches to the agricultural land through irrigation and as a result, our agricultural industries suffer. To avoid the agricultural land to be barren; we must take a collective step to stop this calamity.

      Moreover, industries are creating smoke which increases greenhouse gases and causes global warming. This may result in the melting of glaciers and ultimately the occurrence of heavy floods. Harmful gases and greenhouse effects can be avoided by recycling. It reduces pollution and global warming and as a result, saves our mother nature. The recycled paper will stop or will lessen deforestation, which leads to a clean and green environment and hinder the habitat destruction of many species.

     Recycling provides job opportunities for the majority of the population. Many people get employment in these industries. It helps in uplifting the living standard of the citizens of the country.

     Recycling preserves natural resources because for making new products from raw materials a huge amount of energy and efforts are consumed. But by recycling less energy is needed. 

      Most of the waste products are not biodegradable hence they can’t be decomposed turning into dirt heaps. Our land is filled up with garbage and trash, so to preserve our land for the next generations recycling is an ultimate solution. As our future generations rely on us whether we can save nature for them or not. 

     So we need to recycle the used products for a clean, green, and well-balanced society, in which not only the humans are free from troubles but also every living creature. It will keep our ecosystem balanced and save our beautiful mother nature from every disaster.

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How to Structure Concrete Correctly

Concrete is prepared from four main ingredients; Portland cement, sand, gravel, and water. It is very important to get the concrete structurally right. The structural precision of the concrete requires suitable water quantity, the right amount, and placements of rebar, compression strength above the required amount, and tension support on the right places provided by rebar. The compressive strength of concrete is referred to as the amount of weight it can carry without breaking. The tension strength means the amount of stress that it is put through without breaking. Concrete has a compression strength of 4000 pounds per square inch, but it has 10 percent of tensile strength which is not even close to the requirements of buildings. For this purpose steel bars known as rebars are added to the concrete structure to provide the necessary tension in the building. 

The addition of water in the cement mixture is highly important. The purpose of water is to hydrate the cement, and slightly thin the mixture. Too much water might weaken the concrete building while too little will not let the concrete mixture flow properly.  The water is required around 30 to 45 % of the actual material for the hydration of cement. If the water is added to much in the mixture, it will stay in the mixture and evaporate once the structure is created, it will then escape leaving voids in the concrete structure. That is the last thing anyone wants. However occasional voids still occur in concrete but are not a worrisome problem.

The rebar and concrete share the burden of working together. Hence it is necessary to accurately place them otherwise the tension of concrete will not be supported and it may crack. Column footings can prevent this from having rebars in their tension side. The tension side varies structurally. If the slab needs supporting its tension side is at the bottom of the column footing. If it is a large building or a skyscraper the tension side will be on top of the column footings. Also, the concrete coating around the rebar prevents it from corrosion.

Expansion and contraction must be kept in mind for the correct concrete structure. If concrete and rebar are not paid attention with respect to the process of expansion and contraction while building a structure it can break the structure completely. 

 The size of rebar should be accurate with respect to the structure i.e. its height, weight and diameter.

To find out if one has the rightly structured concrete, there are quite a few testing processes for this purpose. The concrete slump test is one of them, which tests the workability of the concrete. By workability, it means to rest the density and flow of the concrete mixture. A right concrete mixture will flow properly and will fill the form correctly, leaving as little voids as possible. The wet concrete is placed in a steel cone form and placed on a non-absorbent surface, with the wider portion of the cone being down. The steel cone form is then lifted off, allowing the wet concrete to slump down a bit, depending on the mix design. A dry mix may only slump 1” to 2”. Normally specified slump is around 4”. Slumps of 6” to 7” can be achieved through the use of high range water reducing agents (super-plasticizers).  Or you can simply purchase a ready mix concrete mixture.

We have one of the best concrete companies on island in Honolulu and we would love for you to visit us at https://www.honolulu-concrete.com where we always put the customer first!