The video today is going talk about water damage and some emergency steps that you would like to do when a situation like that happens. The first thing to remember is that usually it catches you by surprise. No one sends you an email saying that tomorrow you are going to have a water damage situation. It could be that you came back from a vacation and you found the water damage. It could be that you walk down to the basement after few days or a few weeks of not being there and then discover the disaster. Or it can just be that you wake up in the morning, put your feet down on the carpet and wow, your feet are wet. Well the situation is not nice. No one likes it. It?s usually a disaster. So, a few emergency steps that you would like to do in order to do the right things the first thing is you want to stop the source of water leaking into your house.

If it?s putting a bucket somewhere, underneath the leak. If it?s a pipe that burst and you can switch off the valve ? the local valve if you don?t know where that is or you can?t find it than just switch off the entire water source for the house. Second thing you want to take you to take care of is electricity. Obviously everyone knows that electricity and water don?t mix. It?s very dangerous and it can be a disaster too. If there is any power source close to the water source you want to see eliminate that and switch off that area and again if needed just switch off the entire electricity to the house. The third thing you want to look after is your furniture in some areas the furniture in some areas the furniture is already wet. So, obviously you want to take care of that, but also remember that water travels very fast. It travels underneath the carpets through the pad obviously on wood floor and tile and wets your furniture. So, you want to take care of that. That?s it. Once you have done these 3 steps, you are ready to call the insurance company.

Now, the insurance companies are usually very busy, especially when the pipes burst all over town or when there is heavy rain. And a lot of customers are calling the insurance company. But you want to take care of your situation very fast, because when stuff is wet it takes 48-72 hours for mold to start growing and you want to dry your house by then. So, when you call the insurance company, you want to ask three main things. One ? are you covered? The second thing ? what is your deductible? And, the third thing you want to ask is, how fast they can come out and take care of the situation. Now the insurance company usually operates in two ways; First, they send out an adjuster to first evaluate the situation and only then they will take care of the situation. And the second way for them to deal with the situation like this is to tell him to take care of it by yourself.

In the meantime, and then they already follow up and see what to do with it. In that case, you call a water damage restoration company. Just remember one thing ? You are the customer and you decide who?s going to be working with you. So even if the insurance company sends out the company that they usually work with, it?s not the final say and they don?t to make you work with them you can decide and find someone that appeals to you and that you feel comfortable with. Well, that?s it for now, guys. Thank you very much.

Interested in hiring a professional drywall repair service in Arlington, TX or surrounding areas? Give us a call at (214) 761-8363 and make an appointment today!

We are continuously discovering new things that pose a threat to our health. However, there is one many people are not aware of, yet it is a common problem in most households. Radon is a gas that occurs in nature.

This gas cannot be seen due to the fact that it is colorless, tasteless, and does not have a scent. Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause different types of cancer to develop in those who have had a long-term exposure to this gas. Since radon is a gas that you breathe in, it usually takes a toll on the lungs and causes the most harm here first which can result in lung cancer. As frightening as that can be, it can be removed by a professional.

How Radon Enters the Home and Why You Need A Professional

Once you've consulted with a professional, how the radon enters your home will be the first step along with radon testing to determine the severity of the situation.

There are several ways radon can enter the home. Cracks in basement floors are usually obvious signs of where the radon is coming through. However, other things that are much harder to find such as loose fitting pipes and spaces in construction joints can cause leakage as well. Typically, radon works its way through the basement up through the floors of your home or office. The basement tends to have the highest amount of radon due to it being closest to ground level.

How a Professional Will Remove It

A ventilation system may need to be set up in your home to filter out this harmful gas. Before the ventilation it is best to open all doors and windows to help fresh air circulate. How the process is done will depend on the individuals case since every case is different. It is always best to consult with a professional rather than attempting a DIY project.

Attempting and failing at removing the radon will continue to expose everyone who lives in the home or anyone who works in the office even longer. A professional can remove the radon and help prevent it as well. This service is offered to both residential and commercial homes and buildings. It is best that every building have a radon testing since there are no symptoms until it's too late.

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Owning a DeWALT cordless drill can truly be a liberating experience. No longer will you have to strain, bang knuckles, waste time, or ask neighbors to borrow their cordless drill. With all of the things you have in store for your new drill, below are four ways you can use it for things you may not have thought of.

Rust Be Gone

DeWALT drills are suited for more than just drilling holes in wood and screwing screws. Do you have surface rust on cars, boats, ladders, or other metal items? Purchase a wire brush attachment and take care of rust quickly and efficiently. You can buy other sanding attachments for similar projects. These attachments will allow you to get into tight to fit places your fingers can?t get into.

Decorate the Right Way

Do you have framed pictures all over you home which you have been meaning to hang? Let's face it, hanging pictures properly is time consuming and not fun. Using sticky as seen on TV fads do not work.

Purchase a wall anchoring kit and do the job right the first time. An anchoring kit will make short working of your picture hanging choirs. Be sure to purchase anchoring kits for both drywall and cement. Do you have a brick fireplace mantel you would love to hang granddads shotgun over? With a DeWALT, a concrete drill bit, and a concrete anchor, now you can.

Wax on Wax Off

Still waxing your car the old fashioned way? Most people now used wax-infused soap to wash their cars, but we all know it?s not the same. You can make short work of buffing the wax off of your car with an auto detailing attachment. You can cut the time in have and have your car looking top-notch in no time.

All in One Chef Tool

As you can see, attachments will allow you to use your DeWALT cordless drill for a number of tasks. It is important to keep in mind, be sure to read instruction manuals thoroughly as improper use may void any warranties.

With this in mind, you may feel a need to get creative in the kitchen with your DeWALT drill. For this, there are also many attachments to choose from. For instance, you can whisk your scrambled eggs in seconds flat with an egg beater chucked into your drill. In addition, there are also grain mills and coffee grinder attachments. The possibilities are simply endless and are only limited by your imagination.

Now you will be the one having to turn down all of your neighbors from borrowing your drill.

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Occidental has been in business since 1980, manufacturing the best American-made tool belts using the best possible materials available. Their Pro Leather Tool Belts are designed and produced in Sonoma County, California, all their Best Belt pouches, tool belts and bags proudly carry the Made in the USA label. Constructed from the best available grade of top-grain leather, the belts are then treated with a proprietary combination of oils and waxes, preparing each belt for all the demands of heavy duty, outdoor construction. Copper rivet reinforcement, functional design and work flow maximization are all standard features of their tool belts, ensuring they'll stand up to anything you throw at them. Though they are more expensive than other tool belts, these features alone make a big difference in your productivity on a daily basis. Here are some of the best, most functional Best Belt tool belts to consider for your daily work:

The Pro Framer Tool Belt Package

This efficient and practical tool belt was designed with the help of professional contractors. As you work with this belt, the handcrafted leather will form to your grip. It stores upright for easy access and the main bags are reinforced with copper rivets for long-lasting durability. This 8.5" by 15.5" by 8" tool carrier has three separate sections with a total of 45 pockets, including a removable tape pocket and two Oxy Tool Shields. A durable rafter square holster is attached as well as a substantial side zipper bag for small items and additional smaller fastener bags. It weighs in at 5.4 pounds and is also available in left-handed configuration.

Leather and Nylon - OxyLights 7 Bag Framer Set

Otherwise the same as the Pro Framer Tool Belt Package, this belt is constructed with leather and industrial nylon for a lighter-weight value version of the original leather system. The main bag corners and the leather tool holders are reinforced with their OxyRed leather for added durability. It has tool holders that are placed based on your dominant hand to improve work flow and features shaped and padded double-ply tool bags created from abrasion-resistant nylon. The OxyLight Framer package weighs in at 4.1 pounds.

Adjust to Fit Series

This series of high grade leather tool bags have a full range of adjustment options. In addition to the exceptional tool and fastener organization, you've come to expect from the Occidental Leather series, these tool belts can also be adjusted from pant waist size 32 to 40, making it great when you need to layer up in the winter and strip down to the basics in the summer. They also offer specialty Adjust to Fit models for electricians, framers, finishers and other building specialists.

Belt-Free

If you prefer to get your tools closer to hand, the belt-free carrier system is an organization system that's worn on the shoulders. Using a vest that distributes the weight along your chest, shoulders and torso, these carriers are a great option for contractors dealing with lower back and hip problems. They are built using the same high-quality materials and attention to detail you've come to expect from Occidental.

If you're ready to invest in the highest quality and functionality for your next tool belts and tool organizers, buying an Occidental tool belt will ensure you get years of productive, efficient use out of it.

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Photo Credits: Occidental Leather

Energy efficient structures are currently in high demand, and while this lofty goal can be accomplished with solar panels and triple glaze windows, these approaches are not always viable for low-budget projects. The easiest and most effective way to amp up a building's energy efficiency rating is to take basic steps to prevent thermal bridging, one of the main causes of increased heating and cooling bills.

Thermal bridging occurs when the space outside of a structure is warmer or colder than the heated or cooled area inside.áThis is often caused by poor structural design and incorrect use of insulation. The result is a great amount of energy needed to reach an ideal heat setting. Over time, this increased energy usage can prove quite costly.

Thermal bridging is relatively easy to avoided, provided thecorrect materials and building process are utilized. Building contractors are advised to keep the following suggestions in mind so as to minimize this costly phenomenon:

Choose Insulation Materials Carefully

Often, when asked about the best way to keep a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, the individual lacking construction expertise will recommend insulation. While this person would be correct in his or her assumption that insulation in the primary solution, the solution is not that simple.Different types of insulation can vary widely, both in terms of price and quality. Although higher quality insulation may initially seem more costly, it creates the potential for significant savings down the road. However, for the contractor working with a limited budget, certain types of insulation may be out of the question.á

In the past, most contractors and building designers relied on simple fiberglass rolls for insulation. While this is still a viable approach, today's contractors are willing to consider a much wider array of potential insulation materials. Polystyrene insulation has recently seen a surge in popularity, thanks, in part, to its fire-retardant abilities. However, a number of construction experts have expressed concern surrounding the potential environmental hazards of polystyrene. Rock wool serves as an excellent alternative, particularly as it comes highly recommended by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. Although rock wool is reasonably affordable, cellulose may be a preferable material for projects involving heavy budgetary constraints.á

Another important consideration surrounding insulation is where, exactly, it will be placed. Attics and upper floors often possess insulation requirements far more stringent than those attached to lower levels and basements. Thus, insulation with a higher or lower resistance to heat flow (often referred to as R-value) may be needed depending on the specific location of concern.

Alternative Solutions For Thermal Bridging

Quality insulation should be the chief technique used to minimize thermal bridges, but this approach can also be supplementedáwith a number of alternative solutions. For example, fiber reinforced polymers, in addition to strengthening beams and slabs, may also minimize heat transfer. Likewise, polystyrene boards can be installed as a quick and relatively inexpensive solution when insulation changes are not available.á

A common, although somewhat more expensive solution to thermal bridging involves the strategic use of stainless steel instead of carbon steel may reduce heat transfer. This technique can quickly prove costly, which is why contractors with limited budgets are advised to limit stainless steel use to targeted locations. Applying stainless steel bolts to areas in which thermal bridging is of major concern may prove sufficient when the use of higher R-value insulation is not an option.

Ideally, a thermal bridging resistant structure will include a targeted combination of approaches, including the overall use of quality insulation, as well as steel reinforcements and fiber-reinforced polymers where necessary. This multi-faceted approach to insulation will allow for greater energy efficiency, and, over time, a significant reduction in both heating costs and carbon footprint concerns.

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Sources:

http://www.naima.org/insulation-knowledge-base/health-and-safety-aspects.html

http://www.modernsteel.com/Uploads/Issues/March_2012/032012_thermal_bridging_March_insert.pdf

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