Electrical Contractor May Be Needed

Years ago, homes and apartments were designed to handle the electrical needs at that time. Think back before the microwave, before the phone charger, the computer, and all the other power needs we have today. Properties were built with a power supply that is less than standard today. It is not uncommon to see homes with a 100 AMP main breaker or apartments with 30 AMP breakers. In these properties the number of outlets are limited, some kitchen only have one outlet! So what can a home owner do to upgrade their power supply?

Let's make sure that we can not just keep adding to the existing power source. Adding outlets, lights, disposals, etc. will only put a greater burdan on the electrical supply. This means tripping breakers, and even electrical fires. You do not want to add to what you have without increasing the power supply.

It would probably be best to contact a qualified electrician to upgrade your electrical supply to the building so that you can adequately make inprovements to your property. Put together a list of what kind of improvements you would like and discuss these with the contractor for his professional opinion. Many contractors will be more than happy to meet with a property owner that is sincere about doing some improvements to their building.

Good luck in all your home projects.

Check Your Roof And Gutters For Leaf Build-Up

The leaves have started to fall from the trees around your home, now is the time to check for leaf build-up. You can probably see the roof top from the ground.

Are the leaves piling up in the valleys of the roof? Do the leaves fill and top the gutters? This may be a good time to correct this issue. If the rain water can't get to the gutters and downspouts, water will be flowing over the top and possibly creating new problems around the house.

This is something that a homeowner can do themselves, you will need a few common items to do the job. A blower or small rack to clear out the valleys comes in handy. The gutters will need to be scooped out by hand or purchase a scooper designed for gutter cleaning.

If you've neglected doing this for a while the gutters may be filled with moist decomposing debris. It can be a smelly mess, gloves and a mask may help.

Of course there are business that do this sort of thing. Look up gutter cleaning in your local area for help with this.

Good Luck in all your home maintenance projects.

Is Your Tile Roof Ready For The Rainy Season?

While doing a regular annual inspection of this roof, I discovered several broken and missing tiles. Last years storms caused tree limbs to fall onto the house damaged the concrete tile roofing. Luckily we had some matching tiles that made the repairs unnoticable when completed.

Broken roof tiles initially may not show signs of leaking right away. However, constant water flowing under the tiles will probably cause much more damage if left uncorrected. This is something that a homeowner can do themselves, or have a qualified roofing contractor do a visual inspection of the home. Either way, it is important to regularly inspected roof tiles before it is leaking inside the home.

New Paint Can Change The Whole Room

A new coat of paint can change the whole look of a room. You don't need to get to fancy, or hire a decorator. Pick up some colors from your local paint or hardware store and brush on some sample areas. Ask your family and friends what they think of the colors. You may be surprised at their response, they may have some good suggestions themselves. Heck, you may be able to convince them to help.

Shur-Line 500 Premium Paint Edger
How To Paint: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners Covering Watercolors, Acrylics and Oils

My Kitchen Cabinets Are Falling!

I had gotten a call about a problem with the upper cabinets in the kitchen of an apartment. "The cabinets are falling off the wall" the manager said. I thought that was going to be a over-exageration, but promptly got to the property. Must to my surprise - the kitchen cabinets were falling off the wall!

Apparently, the original installer used 6 nails to hold the cabinets to the wall; three missed hitting any wood framing and over time, the remaining three slipped from the weight. The tenant literally had a wood box holding the cabinets up.

We pulled all the original nails, lifted the whole cabinet system and secured the unit to the walls with 3" screws at the top and bottom of each cabinet section.

Replace Dual Pane Windows - General Contractor May Not Be Needed

I had the opportunity to replace some dual pane windows here in Placerville, Cameron Park, and Sacramento recently, it was easier than I expected. As a general contractor in Placerville, I have never been called to replace the dual pane window itself. Usually I get calls to change out the entire window, frame, siding, etc.

I am here to tell you that replacing the dual pane glass is much easier than expected. You will need some simple tools - screwdriver, tape measure, etc. It certainly is not brain surgery. In the worse case, bring the parts to a glass shop and have them finish the work for you.

If, however, you do manage to do this yourself, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars. And if one window has failed, surely others will fail in the future.

Here is one of many web sites to help you with the dual pane window replacement.

Good Luck.

Improve the value of your home with a new shower enclosure.

Got a call about improving some residencial showers in a home.

The bathrooms were a little outdated, in need of repair, and some improvements would add value to the home in the long run. Sometimes it is difficult to justify the cost of the improvement. If this is the case, maybe sitting down with a realtor, or contractor, and get an objective assessment of the added value of the improvement is necessary.

Sterling CI2900A-32S/W Economy Shower Kit Corner Entry 32" x 32" x 72" Bypass Hammered Glass with Wh