Patricia's Construction and Contracting Blog: Tips for Novices to Experts

  • Where Asbestos Could be Hiding Around Your Home

    11 November 2016

    If you are shopping around for a home or you already live in an older home, you might want to test it for asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous composition of fibrous minerals like chrysotile, amosite and tremolite. It was once used because it is fire-resistant, long-lasting and durable, but it has been proven to be hazardous to your health, even being linked to certain cancers. Here are some areas where asbestos might be hiding, from the soil to the tiles.

  • Understanding the Different Cooling Tower Fill Types Available

    21 October 2016

    There are several different types of cooling tower systems out there, but one common attribute they all share is that they use a type of fill that will need to be replaced at some point. Cooling tower fill is primarily meant to cool water as it circulates through the system. The types of fill commonly used in modern cooling towers can be primarily be classified as splash or fill. Either of these types of fill may be utilised in towers of both counter-flow and cross-flow configuration.

  • The Farmer's Dilemma: The Energy Efficient Dairy Farm

    1 August 2016

    With increasing energy prices and an increased focus on carbon emission in Australia, dairy farmers face immense pressure to cut on energy cost. While there are a lot of fixed cost you can't reduce such as animal feeds and veterinary bills, with a few improvements on energy inefficiencies, you can control your energy costs, stay competitive and at the same time shrink your greenhouse emissions. By reducing your energy bill, you can save a substantial amount of money which you can plow back into your farm for increased production and future use.

  • Electrical Emergency? Save Lives With These 4 Quick Actions To Extinguish A Fire In Your Home

    26 July 2016

    Safety is at the helm of everything you do in your home, especially when you have less mobile toddlers or seniors living with you. In the event of a fire emergency breaking out because of faulty electrical systems, jagged wires and burnt outlets, you can save lives by undertaking these quick actions to extinguish an electrical fire in your home. Call an emergency electrician immediately once the fire is extinguished to ensure it doesn't happen again.

  • Don't Underestimate the Importance of Hiring Professionals for Excavation Work!

    12 July 2016

    Unless you're simply using a hoe in the garden to create small rows for seeds, you want to leave earthmoving of any sort to an excavator. Before you start digging up your property to install new plumbing pipes or even for a small built-in pool, note why a professional excavator is the best choice for this job. Condition of the subsoil Don't assume that the dirt you walk on is the dirt you'll need to excavate when you start digging; the subsoil underneath your topsoil can be very different in its overall consistency, and this can make excavation that much more difficult for you.

  • Keep It Clean, Keep It Green: Protecting Synthetic Grass From Southern Winters

    11 July 2016

    Whether you use it for sport, relaxation or simply making a lawn that your dog won't dig up overnight, synthetic grass can be a practical and surprisingly attractive choice for low maintenance outdoor surfaces. However, synthetic grass must be protected from inclement weather in much the same way as real lawns, and the cold, wet winters that hang over Australia's southern reaches can do a lot of damage to your turf.

  • Top Air Conditioner Problems and How to Handle Them

    11 July 2016

    Comfort is paramount in every home, both during the warm and cold season.  An air conditioning unit creates a fresh and comfortable atmosphere in your home when blazing temperatures hit during the summer. There is nothing worse than having the unit blitz out on you without when you need it most. Luckily, like any other system, common air conditioner problems can be easily fixed. Sometimes, you may not even need an HVAC contractor to fix it for you.

  • A Few Factors to Remember When Choosing a Winch for Your Jeep or 4WD

    5 July 2016

    If you take your jeep or four-wheel-drive vehicle off-roading, you need a good winch. This can pull you out of mud or sand, or help you to get up and over steep and rocky inclines. However, like all other accessories you might choose for your vehicle, there are many different types of winches on the market, and they all offer some different features that may or may not be what you need for your vehicle.

  • Things to Consider Before Installing Porcelain Tile

    30 June 2016

    If you are looking to have new flooring tile installed in your home, you might want to consider porcelain tile. This type of tile is similar to ceramic, but it is fired at higher temperatures, therefore it has a lot of durability and unique finishes. Here are some things to think about before you decide on porcelain tile for your home. Poreclain Tile is Very Durable An excellent benefit to choosing porcelain tile is that it is highly durable.

  • Follow These Tips When Painting Your Commercial Entry Door

    30 June 2016

    If you want to paint the entry door of your commercial building, it can be a simple enough process. It just takes following the right steps and using the right products. If your entry door is made of wood, the following tips will help you get it prepared and painted. Remove and Clean the Door Before you do anything else, you need to get the door ready. While it is optional, removing the door from its hinges is recommended.