Posts Tagged ‘contractor’

Epoxy paints have been in the market for many years.  As these are quite sturdy, and durable apart from offering resistance to oils and greases, they find a wide application in industrial floors. But in the past few years it is being used by homeowners also.

Homeowners use epoxy paints for garage floors and basement floors.These paints can cover dull, gray concrete and provide you with easy to clean surfaces. Some of the many advantages of having epoxy floor paints are that they have a long life, are waterproof and don’t get rusted while offering resistance to heat, salt and acid.Major advantage being it is inexpensive for many homeowners. If your floor has spots that are always wet or sweats then you shouldn’t apply concrete floor paint because there is too much moisture coming from underneath and the paint won’t last very long.

Epoxies are classified into three categories, namely, 100% solids, solvent based and water based.  The strongest ones being the 100% solids and are the most expensive that need to be handled by experts only. The most often used epoxies for industrial applications are the solvent based category. They comprise of 40-60% solids. Application of solvent based epoxies on the floor of your garage or basement makes it necessary to keep your floor ventilated.

You have to go to industrial supply stores to find them.The cheapest type is the water-based epoxies. Because of their strength they are recommended for being used for residences.They are conveniently available at any home improvement store. There is quite a vast range of available colors.

Some manufacturers offer computerized color matching also.
Generally the manufacturers claim that these epoxies are good for external applications only. And, that is right for some of the stronger coatings. For some, living in unkind weather it may be worthwhile to explore the possibility of using acid based or acrylic concrete stains before zeroing in on the use of epoxy concrete paint.

The first step before you apply epoxy paint on your garage floor, is to prepare the floor.Most of the epoxy coating failures i have witnessed are as a result of wrong or little surface preparation.  First of all you need to scrub the floor with a hard brush and then clear the rubbish so generated.  Next, you should use a mild acid for scrubbing of floor for a thorough cleaning. This technique is also called as acid etching.

The process of acid etching is followed by scrubbing of the concrete floor, using a warm soap solution in water and clearing it away.At the end of it all, you may still be left with certain water soluble impurities that need to be rid of by scrubbing the floor with a de-greaser and rinsing it off with water.The mild acid does not remove grease and oils from the garage floors. It’s of utmost importance to check that rinsing water is not stuck on the garage floor, for if it remains there, you have to repeat the exercise once again.

After doing these, the garage floor should then be left overnight to dry. The epoxy floor coating applied should be of uniform consistency. You should also see that humidity level is within the acceptable limits ,else the coating may form blisters or get discolored. Two to three coats of the paint are usually adequate.

If you do a proper install of epoxy paints, you a assured of years of service and if you maintain the surface regularly you can further its lifespan.

There are more and more home improvement referral services across the US. These businesses are getting some good profits because of the people who spend their time looking for contractors who are able to do the work right.

It really doesn’t take much to start. This referral service is going to take you a usual 40 hours per week and a small investment in money. Even in the first business year these entrepenuers will see the money coming in.

Which types of businesses you would like to refer is the most important question you need to find answer for. This can include gutter cleaning and replacement, remodeling, building additions, fencing, lawn maintenance, and many others. Remember, all though you may like to paint a client may not like it or have the time. And this means that there is no business that should be overlooked.

You will need to call the local, county and state government offices when you choose the type of contractors you would like to include in your referral business. For every type of contractor you have, make sure you have all the requirements and regulations regarding insurance, bonding, business registry and licensing. And this is just a first step in building your list. It is good to have a policy which would exclude all contractors from your list in case they do not meet the government regulations.

By knowing these requirements and using them, your home improvement referral business will gain credibility with your clients. The contractor will not be on your list at all in case they do not meet these requirements. It makes the client feel more sure the job will be completed professionally and correctly.

If you only deal with the contractors that were recommended by their previous customers, you will get a good credibility and build trust with your clients. But the screening process does not end here. Recommendations are no longer enough.

Once a contractor is recommended to your home improvement referral business, you need to check out his or her service. You will need to explain what your referral service is all about. Many contractors will give you the needed information happily. This is your home improvement referral service business and you can take it wherever you want.