Sunday, October 18, 2015

The Steps To Take When Designing And Building Your Residential Landscape In Pensacola Fl

A residential landscaping project can look amazing and be a great investment. Whether you're revamping an existing yard, or landscaping for new construction, this overview will help you understand what’s involved. The process of landscaping your yard can be broken down into two phases: design and construction.

The designing phase consists of research, idea gathering, and planning. During this phase you, the homeowner, will work closely with a landscape designer or architect . Together you will address design considerations such as the desired purpose for your yard, what features will be included and what landscaping style to use.

Designing Your Landscape

1.     Get ideas for purpose, desired features and style (internet, books, magazines)

2.     Complete a design questionnaire

3.     Set a budget

4.     Meet with possible designers/contractors

5.     Choose a pro

6.     Planning meeting and site evaluation

7.     Plan review meeting

8.     Final plan approval


The construction phase consists of the actual building process. At the end of construction, after testing and cleaning, your yard will have been transformed into a space that's ready for you to enjoy with friends and family.

Landscaping Construction

  1. Review construction estimates

2.     Demolition of unwanted surfaces and structures (if necessary)

3.     Grading (ensures proper drainage)

4.     Swimming Pool (excavation & construction)

5.     Run utility lines (water, gas, electric)

6.     Install irrigation system

7.     Build walls (retaining, perimeter, seating)

8.     Construct hardscapes (patio, deck, paths)

9.     Install outdoor living elements (outdoor kitchens, fire pits, etc.)

10.   Planting

11.   Testing systems (irrigation, gas, electric)

12.   Final cleaning and walkthrough

Friday, October 16, 2015

12 Step Carpet Cleaning Process In FL

• Step 1: Pre-Inspection
Do an inspection to identify soiling conditions, carpet construction, and potential permanent stains. 

• Step 2: Pre-Vacuum
Your carpet is pre-vacuumed with a commercial vacuum to remove bonded, insoluble dry soil. 

• Step 3: Furniture Moving
Sofas, chairs and tables will be carefully moved. Larger pieces of furniture, such as beds and dressers are left in place under our regular pricing structure. Furniture will be protected with disposable blocks and tabs. 

• Step 4: Pre-Spot
Some spots are pre-treated for maximum cleaning success. 

• Step 5: Pre-Spray
Traffic areas are pre-treated with a biodegradable traffic lane treatment. 

• Step 6: Pre-Agitate
Your carpet will be pre-groomed with a carpet groomer or rotary cleaning machine (depending on soil level) to further loosen traffic area soil. 

• Step 7: Extract and Rinse
Once the soil has been loosened, our truck-mounted hot water extraction cleaning process will thoroughly flush the carpet pile. Pressure and heat are regulated to prevent the carpet from being over-wet. 

• Step 8: Neutralizer
The pH is balanced on every carpet and fabric cleaned. This is one of the most important steps according to the manufacturers of carpet. It is accomplished during the extract & rinse process or a post spray will be applied. 

• Step 9: Post Spot Treatment
Potential permanent stains, as identified by the technician, may not be removed. 

• Step 10: Post Groom
The carpet pile is set in one direction to aid the drying process. 

• Step 11: Speed Dry
High velocity air movers are placed on the carpet to minimize the drying duration. 

• Step 12: Post Cleaning Inspection
Our technician will walk through your home with you to point out the cleaning results and make sure that you are completely thrilled with the work.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Seven Steps To Replacing A Roof In Pensacola Florida

Roofing replacement is more than just nailing down shingles. Whether we’re replacing a shingleslate or metal roof, surface preparation is always the same.

#1 – Property Protection

Our first job is to assure that your entire property is fully protected while the roofing replacement is in progress.  This includes siding, walls, plants, bushes, etc. We use tarps and protection plywood.

#2 – Removal of Old Roofing Material

All old shingles have to be completely removed in order to inspect wood decking.

#3 – Roofing inspection

Any soft, wet or rotted wood needs to be replaced to create a solid base for your roofing structure. This is very important because only when you have a solid base for your roofing structure your shingles will stay intact.

Also, wood sheeting needs to be inspected to make sure that it is attached to the roof rafters correctly. They install new shingles without re-nailing the old wood decking. We re-nail whole wood decking, so that the roof is fully secured.

Roofing Guide

#4 – Preparing the roof surface for shingles

  • Drip Edge Installation – After wood decking is prepared we install drip edge at all edges of the roof. Drip edge is a piece of metal bend at 90 degrees to prevent rain from getting underneath roofing material on all edges.
  • Ice and water shield installation – Next step is installing “ice and water shield” which is a special type of roofing underlayment. Ice and water shield sticks to the wood decking which prevents any water leaks. It must be installed at the bottom of the roof and at all roof penetrations (chimneys, pipe flanges, roof connections, etc.).
  • Roofing felt installation – After ice and water shield is applied, the rest of the roof needs to be covered with roofing felt. Roofing felt prevents shingles from sticking to the wood. We always use heavy duty #30 roofing felt.

#5 – New roofing installation

We start laying out the new roofing material after the above steps are completed and the base is ready.

#6 – Site cleanup

We clean job site daily. We believe that we have to leave our job site cleaner than it had been before we came in.

#7 – Final inspection

Each roofing replacement project includes a meticulously performed post-roofing inspection. We want to make sure that your roof replacement is done correctly and that it meets with your complete satisfaction.

 

Air Conditioning Installation How To Get Started

Buying a new central air conditioning system can be a expensive investment. Once you make the important decision about the system and the professional you trust to deliver, you want to be sure you understand the steps involved in your air conditioning install.

Did you know the Department of Energy estimates that more than half the energy you use each month goes to heat and cool your home?

Here we review some basic installation procedures that are common to most systems. We also offer some insight on choosing the right contractor and the right system for such an important home improvement project.  

Basic Installation Procedures

 The installation process will be different for each job, depending on your HVAC contractor, the type of unit you purchase and your home's unique needs and features. However, there are some basic procedures you can count on when having your system installed. Becoming familiar with the process will help you understand the work going on in your home, so you can ask questions along the way. Here are some general installation steps that you should expect from your contractor:

1.   Dismantle and haul away existing air conditioner materials, and clear all related debris before starting the new install.

2.   Acquire proper permits and schedule required inspections from the city where you live.

3.   Install new ductwork (if indicated in proposal), or prepare existing ductwork for use with the new system. 

4.   Properly position and place outdoor air conditioning unit.

5.   Make proper and safe connections and determine the correct sizing for the electrical and refrigeration lines and piping.

6.   Install a new thermostat or reuse the existing thermostat. 

7.   Charge and start the new system according to manufacturer specifications.

8.   Conduct a post-installation check or inspection before final inspection.

Understanding these general procedures will help you to stay involved as you add comfort to your home with a new central air conditioning system.

Choosing the Right Contractor

You will be placing a great deal of trust in the contractor who installs your air conditioning system. Proper air conditioning installation requires some complex calculations, proper training and years of experience. You want a contractor who stands behind their work and is going to be around years from now to service the system.

Before signing an agreement with any company, verify the following:

·         They are licensed with the state and city for heating and air conditioning work.
·         They carry both general liability and Workers' Compensation insurance.
·         They can provide names of satisfied customers from your area.
·         Their technicians are factory-trained and certified by the product manufacturers.
·         They are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and have no unresolved complaints.

They should be able to show you copies of all certificates and licenses.

You should be satisfied that you understand the work to be done and that you approve the costs to be charged.

HVAC may also be of interest

http://acrepairpensacola.us

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Pensacola FL Air Conditioning Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at its best performance by having a professional contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

  • Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
  • Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
  • Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
  • Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
  • Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

  • Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
  • Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
  • Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

  • Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

  • Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.