There are a number of contractors in the remodeling and rebuild trades. How do you know which one to choose based on skills and costs?

First of all, they should all have experience and photos of the work they have finished. Secondly, they should be able to give you 3 references. Thirdly, they should be able to give you a tight estimate of costs and time.

Large projects require a general contractor to direct and supervise the different skill areas. A remodeler is similar but specialized in areas such as converting a window to a door, installing a fence, and bathroom remodels. A handyman is for projects such as drywall repairs, refurbishing doors and cabinets, installing a fan, repairing outside areas such as damaged soffits and deteriorating fascia board.

If you are in doubt, email the Guild and we can assist you in choosing one of our customer service oriented contractors. Click here for a quick form to save you time on finding a contractor.

Over the following 15 years, the HVAC industry will need to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Many manufacturers will stop using R410a refrigerants in order to accomplish these objectives. R-454B will be used in new cooling systems as of January 1, 2023. Your system most likely used R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer permitted for import into the US, if it was installed prior to 2010. It is very expensive even though it is available. Manufacturers will stop producing if your system is newer and uses R410A refrigerant in 2024, and replacement costs are anticipated to rise significantly.

With negative effects on the environment, air conditioning demand has skyrocketed worldwide. HVAC helping the environment. In order to reduce greenhouse gases, the Environmental Protection Agency was mandated to address hydrofluorocarbons, also referred to as HFCs. In December 2020, President Trump signed the AIM Act into law.

You might not need to worry about the most recent required type of refrigerant if your HVAC system is serviced and maintained. However, it might not be a simple process to add refrigerant to your HVAC system when it runs out or needs repairs starting in 2024. The new R-454B cannot replace the older refrigerants if your system uses R-22 or R-410A.

The real estate market is insane. Instead of dealing with the chaos, many homeowners have chosen to remodel and update their homes. One of the most well-liked remodeling projects is new flooring, which significantly alters the appearance. You must prepare for the unexpected whether you hire a seasoned flooring contractor or complete the project yourself. These issues may have an effect on your contractor’s ability to handle them as well as the overall cost and timeline.

“It’s important to keep in mind that problems can happen at any point during the installation of hardwood flooring, even if your contractor has a fairly simple plan. Before installing the hardwood flooring, your sub-floor may require significant repairs or even replacement if it has some damage.”
—Mike Soto, President Soto Flooring

Research, vetting references, and asking the right questions are all necessary when selecting a reputable flooring contractor. It’s crucial to have experience, but don’t forget to ask the contractor about their business history. Check with your state licensing board, Google, Chamber of Commerce in your area, and Better Business Bureau. Ask how warranties handle unforeseen problems after the current floor has been removed when comparing them. Create payments based on milestones or a time schedule.

Mold or mildew might be present when the floor is taken off. The concrete slab or sub-floor might be missing in some places. With the installation of new flooring, there may be numerous unanticipated issues without tearing up an existing floor. Unknown problems like moisture problems from slab cracks, uneven and damaged concrete, sub-floor deterioration, asbestos flooring removal, and door cutting are a few examples of those that can alter the budget and time-frame estimate.

Installation of flooring is a time-consuming process with many steps and guidelines. Floors that occasionally fail due to an unforeseen problem are typically caused by human error, such as skipping a step in the installation instructions, forgetting to prepare the sub-floor, and simple application errors.

At Garage Door Solutions Inc., we have seen a lot of unusual and strange problems with garage doors. However, there are 3 main items we run in to that need to be addressed,

1. Broken Springs
   They need to be replaced quickly since they an important part of the doors operation.
2. Off Track Garage Doors
   Catch it before the door develops more problems
3. Broken Hinges
   The door’s hinges need to be kept rolling, serviced and clean

We’ve seen every garage door problem you can think of. We’ll be more than happy to get your garage door back on track.

The Washington Post reported on Friday, September 9, 2018, that 2,800 fires and an estimated 13 fatalities are brought on by Federal Pacific panel breaker malfunctions annually. When the electrical wires were moderately overloaded in 1983, the Consumer Product Safety Commission looked into the Federal Pacific Panels with Stab-Lok breakers and discovered that 51% of them did not trip.

“Working in commercial electrical contracting, we don’t encounter many Federal Pacific breakers – which are far more prevalent in older residential buildings. However, when we have run across FP breakers, the defective rate is very high. These breakers do not trip at the rated amperage, which are a significant hazard and could result in damage to persons or property.  Whenever feasible, we recommend that customers make the choice to replace them with more reliable components.”
—Jimmy D. Robertson III, P.E. Director, Electrical Solutions of Oklahoma, Inc.

A circuit breaker that complies with current safety standards must be used in place of your Federal Pacific panel or Stab-Lok breakers. Even if your circuit breaker has been in good working order for a long time, it might still not trip. The likelihood that a Federal Pacific Electric( FPE) circuit breaker panel will malfunction and catch fire rises if you install Stab-Lok circuit breakers in your home.

If your home was built between 1950 and 1990, it might have a Federal Pacific circuit breaker. There is a risk to safety with these breakers. Federal Pacific Electric falsely asserted that their breakers met particular National Electrical codes and UL safety standards( UL489) but were actually defective, leading to a class action lawsuit that was filed in 2002. Stab-Lok breakers may have flaws and be prone to electrical fire or malfunction up to one in four.