Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Guidelines for a Proper Flagstone Installation

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Flagstone is a very popular paving and landscaping material in Tucson. It is commonly used for walkways, exterior stairways, patios and pool decks. Since it is so popular, there are many contractors, masons, handymen, and laborers that will install it. However, not all installations turn out well, and the quality depends on the skill of the installer. Here are some things to look for/ask to ensure a high quality and aesthetic flagstone installation.

  • All the pieces are roughly the same size and have rounded edges. Flagstone that is scored and broken will usually have sharp jagged corners. Flagstone that is cut with a cutting tool will have smooth rounded edges and corners.
  • All the pieces need to be level. Since some flagstone pieces are thicker than others, the flagstone installation needs to sit on top of a bed of sand and the thicker pieces need to have sand removed underneath in order to be level with the thinner pieces.
  • The gap between the flagstone pieces needs to be uniform. The pieces need to be cut and laid out in such a way that the gap stays uniform. This is where most of the skill of the installer comes in.
  • The mortar in the gaps needs to be level with the flagstone and smooth with a slight indentation towards the middle. Masonry tools and a float are used to achieve this effect.
  • The edges of the flagstone installation need to be smoothly lined with mortar to prevent degradation.
  • If desired, the flagstone can then be sealed for a more aesthetic look.

The homeowner can either see the installers other flagstone jobs or agree that the above will be done for the installation.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

How to identify polybutylene plumbing in Tucson

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Polybutylene plumbing in homes has proven to be problematic with many thousands of cases of reported leaks and a class action lawsuit. In Tucson, AZ PB pipes were prevalent in new homes constructed from about 1982 to 1996. Many homeowners are concerned about PB piping and want to replace it if they have it in their homes. There are several ways to identify if a home has PB plumbing:

  • Climb up in the attic and see if there are light gray plastic pipes running. If you see them, then it’s most likely PB.
  • If you have a voltmeter and know how to use it, run a continuity check between the valve under a bathroom or kitchen sink and the ground on a nearby receptacle. If there is none, then it’s likely PB piping.
  • Look at the electrical panel and see if there is a warning saying something like “structure contains non metallic water piping, do not bond”. If that’s the case then the house probably has PB plumbing.
  • Cut a small hole in the drywall behind the fridge where the ice-maker water valve is, if you see gray plastic piping, then its likely PB.
  • Look at your home purchase info in the disclosure section. In Tucson, home inspectors identify PB plumbing when a home is sold.

If any of the above tests come back as positive, call a plumber next to confirm that there is polybutylene.

Posted in Home Maintenance, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Efficient way of obtaining remodeling bids from multiple contractors

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

When undertaking a major remodeling project, most homeowners first call one or two contractors to get a rough estimate of the project. If the homeowner likes the contractor, the contractor then hires a drafstman or an architect to draw the plans to submit to the city for a permit. Often, if the contractor has the skill he/she will draw up the plans themselves. After the plans are approved, construction starts.

There is a more efficient and failsafe method to start a remodeling project. If an independent architect or draftsman is consulted first then multiple contractors will be able to bid on and critique a project. So, first find a drafsman or an architect to draw up the plans. Then put the plans on file at a print shop that specializes in architectural drawings. In Tucson, its the Print Room at 4633 E Broadway Blvd. Its then and only then that you call the contractors.

Many contractors will be more eager to work with you since they know you’re serious about the project because the plans have already been drawn up. When talking to the contractors, tell them that the plans are on file at the print shop and ask them to critique the design. (This way, the contractor goes to pick up the plans himself and pays for his own copy.) Even if you don’t end up working with a particular contractor, they may have some ideas on improvements or problems areas with the plan.

Posted in Uncategorized, Working with Contractors | No Comments »

Online School Reviews vs. Online Contractor Reviews

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Recently we were looking at a new charter school for our second grader son. For the school we were considering we decided to look at other parents reviews of that school at greatschools.com. There we found 38 reviews written by parents on the particular school. Based on those reviews, we dropped the school from our consideration. In this case the parent reviews were very helpful.

So why is it that online reviews of home improvement contractors are not as helpful? Here are the reasons:

  • In Tucson, there’s around 1000 schools, most public. About 200-300 are charter or private, so most of the online reviews are focused on those. Thus each school has quite a few reviews to look at. In comparison, there’s at least 10,000 contractors in Tucson. On websites like Angies List most contractors have less than 5 reviews thus making them not as useful. Many good contractors have no reviews at all.
  • Most parents have had experience with more than one school, so when they write a review, they have some basis of comparison. However, many homeowners will need a particular type of contractor service maybe once every 10 or 20 years, thus when they write a review they do not have a good basis for comparison.

This is why Eugene’s List does not rely on homeowner reviews for contractor selection but on recommendation of other contractors instead.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »