Roof maintenance should be an invaluable part of your home’s regular maintenance, though sadly it is oftentimes neglected or overlooked. Over time, these minor dents, cracks or leaks will give way to more serious damage which will leave you with only one course left to do, hire a roofer. As you go out to search for roofing contractors, it is crucial to know that not all who claim to be professional roofers are the real thing.

Roofing scams have been reported across many states and the most common victims are those who are often unassuming such as the elderly, handicapped, or single mothers. This is why roofing experts have always stressed the importance of checking on the licenses and company backgrounds of your Oklahoma City roofers before hiring them.

How to Avoid Being Scammed: Information is key to avoid falling prey to these unscrupulous pretend roofers. The more you know about professional roofers, the more you will be able to differentiate the real one from the pseudo contractor. As per the Roofing OKC website, the red flag signs of a potential roof scammer includes:

1.Limited Offer Promos – Most con roofers lure in their customers via their limited time offer, this promotional ruse which gives customers an unbelievably low price is a simple way to pressure clients to sign the contract and hand over their down payment.

Photo By: Tom Godber

2.Outright Payment – If a roofing contractor asks you to pay more than 10% of the total estimated cost, then be very cautious as you might be dealing with a fly by night roofer.

3.Questionable References – A good way to verify the credibility of a roofing contractor is to ask for a list of their past and current clients. If a roofer denies you this privilege, then move on to the next roofer on your list. If, on the other hand, your roofer gives you a list of references that are not from your area, then be very wary and opt for a trusted local contractor instead.

If it is time to have your carpets cleaned you may have no idea what it is going to cost. For the most part, carpet cleaners in your area should be very close to the same prices. However, there will be some cleaners which advertise very low prices and others who price their services way above everyone else. What are the reasons for some of these extreme price differences?

If you have ever seen ads in the paper touting carpet cleaning as low as seven dollars a room than you are probably looking at a bait and switch ad. It is not possible for a professional carpet cleaner to arrive at your house, set up their equipment, clean, tear down equipment, and travel to the next job for this kind of price. There’s simply too much overhead involved with the cost of fuel, cleaning solutions, marketing, and a plethora of other expenses. These ads do one thing and one thing only; they make the phone ring. Many of these cleaners will confirm these prices on the phone; however, once they are in your home they will begin an aggressive campaign to sell more services. Many of these cleaners can be very intimidating and homeowners will simply give in to their prices instead of asking them to leave.

Photo By: David Bruce Jr.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are many very high quality cleaners who have much higher carpet cleaning prices than their competitors. These local carpet cleaners will usually set a high standard of quality for their cleaning. Many of them will even include extras such as sanitizers and carpet protectants in their prices. These cleaners will usually deliver outstanding quality because most of their business will be built on referrals. By charging a higher price they can spend more time in the home concentrating on delivering a great cleaning.

So, next time you need to hire a carpet cleaner do not be afraid of a cleaner charging a higher price. It may save you money and headaches by using a quality cleaner instead of taking a chance on a bargain.

If you are looking for a cheaper option, one other idea is to rent a steam carpet cleaner and do the job yourself. Once you get the hang of using it, it is a fairly simple process to clean your own carpets and it is usually fairly inexpensive to rent the machine. One word of warning though, it will provide you with very good exercise so be prepared for some fairly energetic movement once you turn the machine on and begin cleaning.

With winter comes  below zero temperatures.  A responsible homeowner prepares for this in advance.  One task that you cannot afford to neglect is winterizing your water pipes.  Frozen pipes are inconvenient; they cut off water supply to affected areas and they can create a lot of damage should they burst.  Experts from Atlanta plumbing companies recommend insulating your water pipes to make them less vulnerable to freezing.  In addition, experts from Boston plumbing companies provide advice on how you can prevent pipes from freezing in temperatures that are significantly below zero.

• Both indoor and outdoor pipes should be insulated with a moulded pipe sleeve, especially if they cannot be drained through a shutoff valve.  A moulded pipe sleeve is made out of Styrofoam, and is rather easy to install.  Pipe sleeves are available at most hardware stores and they come in various sizes to fit around different pipe diameters.  Simply fit them over the length of the pipe and secure with foam insulation tape, especially around gaps and angles.
• Bathroom and kitchen water pipes that are installed against an outside wall are vulnerable to freezing.  Keep cupboard doors and cabinets open to allow heat to get to these pipes.
• If you will be leaving your home unheated for a day or two, drain all water lines before you leave so that they do not freeze.  Turn off the water supply at the main valve and open all faucets to remove any water left within the pipes.  (Do not forget to turn them back off again though, so that they will be ready once you restore the water supply upon your return.)
• If you will be staying in your house during very cold weather, you can further prevent water lines from freezing up by letting faucets run at a very slow trickle.  This will be sufficient to keep water moving within the pipes so that they do not freeze.  Just make sure that you open cold water lines; allowing hot water to run continuously will run up your energy consumption.

Following these simple tips will ensure that your plumbing and pipes stay in top shape during the cold winter months. No need to worry about burst pipes and expensive plumbing repairs, instead you can rest assured that you have done all you can to protect your pipes from freezing over this winter.

Trying to find a good plumber in Marietta GA can be hard to do. Relocating to a city where friends and family are nowhere in sight can be a little scary. The most difficult task for some people is trying to learn where anything is. This means pinpointing exactly where the hospital is located, without guessing.

The same is true for new residents who are looking for a high performing school to put their children in. They want to move in a neighborhood or town where everything is completely visible. Looking for a pharmacy when medication runs out is like looking for a specialist to treat a rare blood disease.

Finding a top notch plumber in Marietta GA is just as important. Plumbing is a serious matter, and should not be taken likely. When a toilet backs up and water pipes burst, that is no laughing matter. That is the time to call the plumber. This is only devastating if there is only one serviceman, the office is closed, and there is no emergency telephone number.

That is not the worst thing that can happen. The absolute worst thing that can happen is for the owner out of town for two weeks. Being prepared for emergencies is one of the best ways to get the help that is needed. Water logged furniture, busted pipes, and overflowing toilets are unsafe and unsanitary. These conditions are health hazards and should be dealt with immediately.

In most cities all emergency numbers are located on the inside cover of the local telephone directory. Before relocating to Marietta GA pinpoint all necessary offices. This will save time and money. Look for only qualified and certified personnel. Plumbing is a serious business and should not be taken likely; anyone who needs to hire a professional in this line of work should consult their local directory.

Many individuals settle in a small town and when they need to find a professional they do not know where to locate one. The main thing to know is great plumbers is located all over the country. However, locating a friendly plumber from Raleigh is not difficult. There are ways to go about finding the perfect company. Picking one out of the blue is not practical. Do not take a chance.

Locating a qualified plumber requires research. For example, looking at online posts, and reading what past customers have to say will help in making a decision. There is more to dependability than just a name. There are other things to seriously think about.

The business should have a good rapport with their customers. This is a very important fact when searching for a reliable plumbing service. No one wants to waste money. That is why hiring a good plumbing service is essential. A company that has a firm reputation in the city and in the state, and is highly regarded is a good choice.

Moving within the state is great ideal. Individuals can affordable reliable service at an discounted prices. The telephone book has many listings of certified plumbers from Raleigh. They also include their areas of expertise for customers to quickly find the right service provider. A company should not be chosen solely on the way their name sounds, that is a very unprofessional attitude.

When someone comes out to complete minor or major repairs it is important that know exactly what they are doing. Hiring someone who is not competent is can be a horrible mistake. When they come out to perform these repairs they need to be done perfectly. Many companies have the option of including their service call fee in their overall price this can help customers save money.

There are two benefits you can get from adding proper and ample insulation to your ceiling. One, you get a warmer and more comfortable home during those cold winter days and nights to let you have your well-deserved rest after a hard day’s work; this is true since almost half of the heat lost from a home occurs through the roof. Two, it lessen the amount of heat that enters your home during those hot summer days; this is also true as the roof can let in a huge amount of heat without the insulation to reflect it.

Basing from these statements, it is safe to say that it is more economical to invest on a proper ceiling insulation rather than having your utility bills reach a skyrocket high because of a fiendish heater spurting fire during winter and a hale-surging air conditioner during the summer. With a suitable insulation on your ceiling, you’re sure to enjoy every hour you spend in your home.

To ensure you get the comfort you need, use only Celotex Insulation. What’s good about it is that it offers its products and services in a package so that you immediately get a discount compared to when you buy an insulation product and have someone else do it for you. When you purchase their package deal, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of hard-earned money.

Celotex has been around, continuously refining its craft for eight decades. It is unparalleled by its competition and no existing company can ever match its innovations and services. They have a wide array of products from the thinnest (12 millimeters) to the thickest (200 millimeters). Everything they have ranges from ceiling, wall, attic, and floor insulations. Those are basically everything you need when constructing a new home or when doing some renovations and improvements for your abode.

Insulating your ceiling gives you huge benefits. It is certainly worth every penny, especially if you’re living with little kids, elderly, or members of the family in a fragile state of health. These people will have issues in their body thermoregulation. That is why it’s wise to assist them by providing a suitable environment. Covering your house with sufficient Celotex insulation is like putting a blanket to your entire home that will keep every member of the family cozy during winter and pouring gallons of SPF 1000 sunblock as shield from the heat of the summer.

Celotex “knows insulation inside and out.” With eight decades in the business, they sure would.