This fish market is a part of a seaside
restaurant that we visited last Tuesday. Visitors choose seafood to be cooked
and eaten.
Jan 6, 2014
The Twin Terrors of Renovation: Asbestos and Lead
If you have ever bought a home then
chances are remodeling has entered into the picture at some point. This is
especially true with older houses whose charm could use some updating. It is
certainly worth the time and effort to bring some of these masterpieces back to
their showroom quality. However in doing so there are issues that homeowners
have to deal with along the way.
Two of the most common problems that are
found when renovating an older home are lead and asbestos. Neither one should
be handled by the do it yourselfer. It takes a licensed professional to remove
both of these items safely.
In the past asbestos was commonly used
for insulating and as a retardant against fires. This was quite common in the
50s, 60s and 70s. It was also used a great deal in vinyl flooring, roofing and
siding. Any home that is at least 30 years of age will most likely contain
asbestos in some places. That is why it is important to schedule an asbestos
inspection.
The main health issue linked with this
material is cancer. The danger posed by this threat is when fibers are released
into the air and breathed into your lungs. When discovering asbestos material
in your home, it is best to halt the renovation process and call a licensed
contractor. This type of material cannot be recycled. It is important to
contact the building authorities in your area to find out the proper methods of asbestos
removal to ensure that it is done safely.
The other major issue when renovating a
home is lead.
It is a chemical compound that was used
in the paint industry in the 70s mainly for coloring purposes. A number of
physical maladies have been linked to lead-based paint and including nerve
damage, stunted growth among children and hearing loss. The issue wasn't
discovered positively until 1978 when it was banned from use in paints.
Lead is one of the most toxic compounds
that can be taken into the human body. It can affect all of the major organ
system and will pass right through many of the dust masks that people wear when
renovating a home. That is why it is essential to contact a licensed specialist
who is familiar with lead paint removal. Renovating an older home with this
issue is not something that you should ever attempt to do yourself. When
removing any kind of paint, avoid sanding and scraping unless you have
certified that it does not contain any lead. This can help to prevent the
harmful effects that are caused by this chemical.
Lead and asbestos are 2 of the deadliest
hazards that can be encountered during a home renovation.
They are not issues that can be dealt
with by a homeowner. A professional who is trained and knowledgeable in the
abatement of these substances should be contacted to provide for the health of
all occupants. Homeowners have to do their own due diligence when dealing with
chemical compounds of this type. Renovation of older homes can be a labor of
love.
There are unforeseen expenses, issues
that tend to crop up and ideas that tend to get changed along the way. But 1
thing that should never be altered is the proper abatement of lead and
asbestos.
How to Ensure Your Home is Built Safely
When building a new home, you want to make sure the job is done right
and done with safety foremost on the builder's mind. In terms of maintaining
safety in the construction industry, three particular factors come into focus
for choosing a build: reputation, certification, and CPD points for builders.
These are all important parts of making certain that a builder will be able to
complete a project in a way that maintains your confidence.
Builder
Reputation
With the increased use of web-based business reviews, available through
many different providers, you no longer need to check references in the same
time-consuming ways it was done in previous decades. Instead, read the
builder's reviews and determine whether they have any negative marks against
their work. You might find horror stories or you might find glowing
recommendations. It depends on the builder you're researching.
Builder
Certification and Licensing
Certification is an important basic criteria. You always want to be
certain that any builder or related contractor you use has appropriate and
up-to-date certification that's relevant to the job they're doing for you. This
goes for the home builder as well as those doing any separate plumbing or
electrical work. Before selecting your builder, verify their builder's licence
and certification with the appropriate authorities in your area to be sure that
it's legitimate and has not lapsed.
Builder
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
You should also inquire about your builders CPD points. For building
professionals who hold an individual licence or certificate, builders CPD
points are a mandatory requirement. Builders must earn twelve points annually
under the current system, whether they hold a one-year or three-year builder's
licence.
CPD points for builders can be earned a variety of ways, including
seminars, workshops, training courses, conferences, trade shows, mentoring,
self study, participation on industry committees, and more. Through this
system, builders are required to keep up with important information on many
topics, including ones having to do with safety.
This additional requirement for education and training can make a
difference in terms of skill level and overall quality of work. Their recording
of CPD points and participating in qualified activities are also marks of
dedication to their profession and to the quality of services they provide
those for whom they build homes and other structures. In this respect, builders
CPD points are more important than many other factors that might cause a person
to hire them for a job.
Choosing a safe builder for home construction is important. The house
that is built for you will be where your family lives and creates their
memories for a long time to come. It's best that it's built right and built
safely by a builder you can trust.
Taking Care of a Concrete Floor
General Concrete
Cleaning
It will be easier to remove dirt and debris to a concrete floor that has
been sealed. However, you should not seal your floors while dirt or grime
remains on the surface or ground into the floor.
Polished concrete is often more resistant to ground in dirt.
A light sweeping with a dust mop followed by wet mopping will keep it clean and
shining. A microfiber dust mop is ideal for this type of floor. Without daily
dust mopping, the fine particles will cause damage to the surface of your
floor. You may use a hard surface vacuum in place of the dust mop on your
polished concrete floors.
Concrete
Cleaning with Chemicals
To clean dirt from your concrete floor,
start with a soft brush and water. If dirt or stains remain, add mild soap to
your solution. Move to a stronger soap if the dirt persists. A harsher method
of cleaning concrete floors involves using soap, water and ammonia. However,
you should only use this method after exhausting other methods, and ammonia can
damage a concrete floor that has wax layers over the sealant.
You do not have to use specialized
cleaners, but you should look for a solution that has a neutral pH and combine
it with cool water when mopping your floor. Specialized cleaners can help to
repel dirt from your concrete floors after you clean them. Older concrete
floors can return to their polished appearance with a gentle buffing.
Avoid cleaners that include
"solvents," which can cause a peeling effect on the wax of your
concrete floors. Furthermore, bleach, vinegar and cleaners such as Pine Sol are
not good for your floors.
If you find that your floor is sticky
after mopping, re-mop with water only. Using too much soap can result in this
stickiness.
Other
Maintenance
Just like other hard materials, concrete
is susceptible to scratches and scruffs from moving furniture. If you cannot
move a piece on a wheeled cart, consider felt or plastic guides for moving
furniture. It's smart to use floor protectors beneath your furniture even when
you're not moving that furniture. This can also reduce the noise that occurs
when you move chairs around the room.
Avoid plastic-backed mats or furniture
with plastic feet. Plastic can combine with the sealant that you used on your
floor and cause damage to your floor when you move the mat or furniture.
However, you should use mats to remove dirt and debris from your shoes that can
damage your flooring.
Once or twice a year, you'll want to refinish your concrete floors
because the top coat breaks down over time. Polishes such as Thoroughbred can
be applied with a foam applicator.
Jan 4, 2014
Broken Fence
The fence on one side of the Kencana Park (Bogor, West Java, Indonesia) need to be repaired.
