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Trick To Get Rid Scorpion In Your Location

How to Deter Scorpions Naturally – Useful Tips

What are scorpions?

While this may be obvious, there remain some points about scorpions that help in both killing them and preventing them from coming into our homes. A scorpion bite can really sting, and actually can tingling in the lips if you are stung smartly.

Scorpions are classified as arachnids, which is a type of insect that has eight legs. Scientists classify them with spiders, mites and ticks. They hunt down other insects which makes them predators on a small scale.

While most know them to be desert dwellers, scorpions may also live in some rain forests as well. Most scorpions are not seriously poisonous to humans, however, some, like the bark scorpion, do pose a mild threat to people.

How to Keep Scorpions Out of Your Bed

Get Rid of Excess Moisture

Preventive Pest says that one of the main reasons why scorpions enter your bedroom is to look for water. Thus, make sure to keep the corners and floors free of moisture. If possible, use a dehumidifier to lower the level of humidity in your home.

Get Rid of Other Bugs

In addition to water, scorpions also look for insects, which are their main source of food. Therefore, if you find the presence of ants, roaches, or other pests in your bedroom, you should get rid of these bugs as soon as possible before scorpions find them.

Eliminate the Shelters of Scorpion

Scorpions often hide in moist and dark places, particularly during the day. Get rid of any structures around and in your bedroom that would be an ideal condition for these creatures to live and grow. Here are a few things that you can do to keep scorpions from crawling around in your space:

Store all cardboard boxes on the shelves rather than on the floor

Do not keep clutter under your beds or around the room

Keep your bedrooms and closets neatly organized because scorpions often hide in piles of clothes and shoes.

Seal Your House

Scorpions would slip through a small hole the size of a standard credit card. Thus, sealing your house, particularly those areas around your bedroom is necessary to prevent them from entering the living space. To be sure that your bed is secure, make sure to take the following measures to seal the windows, foundations, and doors:

Use caulk to seal in any cracks or holes on the walls, foundation, or walls of your house

Make sure the screen is sealed and the windows are tightly closed so that scorpions cannot climb in

Get doors sealed to prevent scorpions from penetrating

Place Sticky Traps

Those sticky traps which are designed to catch mice and insects can also be effective in trapping scorpions. You can place them around dark or moist areas of your room. Once you have caught a scorpion, keep in mind to dispose of the trap and place a new one.

Apply Cinnamon Oils

Ground cinnamon is known as a natural repellent to scorpions. You can purchase these type of essential oils and spray it around your bedroom to keep these creatures away.

Scorpions are very common pests that are found in many households. In order to avoid surprise visits from these pests, be sure to take preventative measures to keep them from getting inside of your home — especially on your bed.

Build a Natural Scorpion Deterrent Barrier to Repel Scorpions

For centuries the powerful pest repelling properties of cedar have been known and treasured as a natural and effective pest and scorpion deterrent.

We offer high quality granules made from red cedar heartwood, granules made from the center of choice and aged red cedar trees common only to East Central Texas. These granules contain high concentrates of aromatic red cedar oil, which is extremely offensive to scorpions and insects in general.

The long lasting aroma will repel scorpions, rats and snakes from your sacred area, yet has no effect on beneficial insects such as butterflies and pollinating bees.

Liberally sprinkle cedar granules in areas you wish to keep off limits to scorpions and other unwanted pests. Lay down a 6-10 inch swath of cedar granules around the perimeter of the yard, along the fence line, around the foundation, near entry areas of your home. Distribute and spread granules as a natural scorpion barrier. You’ll enjoy the pleasant aroma of cedar, scorpions won’t. This is a very low cost and effective method to create a natural barrier against scorpion encroachment.

To help avoid encounters with scorpions in and around your home follow these prevention tips:

Eliminate standing water
Seal cracks and crevices, especially around doors and windows where they can gain access to your home
Inspect cabinets, closets, and other dark places on a regular basis
Clear away brush, debris, and woodpiles from the perimeter of your home. Keep firewood about 30 feet away
Scorpions feed on other insects such as crickets. You can help eliminate crickets by turning outdoor lights off at night

Tips

You must always look under old things or things in your shed!
Checking objects you wear, sleep in, and carry is always sensible, especially when camping in scorpion-infested areas. Look inside shoes, gloves, bags, sleeping bags, tents, etc., before using or wearing and shake out any scorpions you find.
If your kid was stung, take him or her to the hospital right away.
Be mindful of the useful nature of having scorpions around. As predators, they will eat other nuisance bugs in your yard, so try to keep the balance by being careful to keep them out of your home but let them do their thing where it’s not going to interfere with your home life.
Mulch can be a hiding place for scorpions. As a gardener, you will have to make a decision between the method for keeping your plants moist and your scorpion population down. It can be done but you will need to be both vigilant and consistent. It is recommended that you do not place mulch around the house walls and that you aim to keep the soil around your house walls dry; this will act as a deterrent to scorpions. Keep your gardening away from the house area and always wear tough gloves when touching soil and plants.
There are organic pest control products available on the market for ridding your home of scorpions. Ask the relevant distributor for more information.
It is not safe to leave things on the floor by the door ! If so make sure to shake it or look inside before relocating them to another room.
Contrary to popular belief, most scorpions are relatively harmless. The sting of most scorpions is usually painful (in the realm of a wasp or hornet sting),but they are rarely fatal. However, you should be aware of the nature of the scorpions you’re living around and know how poisonous they are. And even if they’re relatively harmless, don’t take unnecessary risks, especially with children around.
The world’s most dangerous scorpions live in North Africa, the Middle East, South America, India, and Mexico.
Anti-venom is available for various scorpions, including the Arizona bark scorpion, which has a painful sting.

Use Pest Control To Control Cockroaches

Pest Control

Tips to Protect Your Home From Cockroaches

As we move into the sweltering heat of the summer, most of us try to seek the refreshing cool of the air conditioned indoors. The same goes for pests; in particular, the American cockroach. American cockroaches are generally more active when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher. What do you need to know about American cockroaches and how can you keep these unsightly pests out of your home? Check out this helpful information and our 9 steps to preventing cockroaches from taking over your home.

How can you prevent these unwanted pests from entering your home? Follow these 9 tips for cockroach prevention:

Keep it clean. Good sanitation is the number one way to prevent cockroaches.
Focus on the kitchen. Don’t leave food out overnight. Wash dirty dishes daily. Wipe up crumbs and spilled food, even in cabinets and pantries. Clean kitchen counters with disinfectant spray every night. Don’t forget the appliances. Roaches love to feast on grease and spilled food on, in, under, and behind your appliances, including your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, and under the kitchen sink.
Limit where you eat. Restrict food consumption to one room. This not only makes cleanup easier for you, it limit crumbs and spills that you might not notice in other rooms that provides another food source for roaches.
Store all food in sealed containers. Roaches can fit inside the openings of typical cardboard packages that food comes in. This also applies to pet food. Pet food should be kept in a sealed container, preferably on the back porch so as to not attract roaches into the house. Pet food bowls and containers should also be emptied every night.
Empty the trash. Make sure your trash can has a tight fitting lid and empty the trash each night. Make sure your outside trash cans are clean and kept away from the home.
Roaches feed at night. Vacuuming the kitchen floor nightly eliminates the food supply for roaches. Vacuum the other rooms in your house every 2 to 3 days, as well. This helps to get rid of roach feces, body parts, and egg sacs. These contain pheromones that attract other roaches into your home.
Get rid of entry points. Seal around utility pipes and crawl spaces. Make sure windows and doors are secure and have weather-stripping if necessary. Seal all cracks and crevices.
Remove anything roaches can use for shelter, such as cardboard and paper.
Call a pest control professional. If you suspect a roach infestation, contact an exterminator. Treatment plans can vary depending on the type of roaches you have. A pest control professional can do a thorough evaluation and set you up with a comprehensive treatment plan.

Eliminate Water Sources

While it is nearly impossible to eliminate all water sources, even greatly limiting available sources will cause negative stress on a roach population. Fewer water sources to go around means that many roaches will die.

Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
Repair sweating pipes.
Before bed, stop up sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms and dry them completely with a paper towel.
Dry out the bathtub and shower completely and stop up the drain before bed.
Place wet dish rags and sponges in an airtight plastic storage bag overnight, or place them directly in the washing machine.
Pet water dishes should be placed outside overnight or be dried completely and refilled in the morning.
Wet toothbrushes should be dried as best they can and sealed in plastic bags.

Tell us what cockroaches are and some facts about them.

Dirty cockroaches
I heard they survived the nuclear explosion
They like to eat what humans eat 🙂
They can live up to a month without food, so there is no point in starving them because they clean their equipment at night.
They can live up to one week without his head.

Take Preventive Measures

Before you begin packing up your belongings, check your house for common cockroach entry points. Be on the lookout for cracks and crevices near doorways and windows that can allow the insects to enter your home. Use caulk or another sealant to close these gaps and prevent new roaches from finding their way inside your house.

Use the Right Packing Materials

Cockroaches are notorious for hiding in cardboard boxes. They can easily maneuver their bodies between the corrugation and crevices inside the cardboard. If possible, use another type of container, such as a plastic tub, to pack your belongings. These come with lids that allow them to be securely sealed, and they don’t provide areas for roaches to hide. If you have to use – or reuse – cardboard boxes, shake them out and inspect them before you place items inside, especially if you got the boxes from an outside source, such as a grocery or liquor store.

Wash Your Clothes and Linens

While it isn’t terribly common for roaches to be found in clothes and linens, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Before you move, wash these items in warm water to remove any insects or eggs that may be present. Like your other belongings, they should be packed in sealed plastic containers. You may even consider placing them inside vacuum-sealed plastic bags. If you are moving furniture or other upholstered/fabric items like curtains, you may want to vacuum them as well.

Check Your Mattress

Again, it’s uncommon for roaches to be found on mattresses, but they can hide in or near furniture, including your bed. When you remove your mattress and dismantle your bed to move, check everything for signs of roaches and remove or sanitize items as necessary.

Clean Your Kitchen Items

Kitchens are one of the most common places roaches are found in the home. For these insects, it’s like paradise. It has moisture, dark cabinets and plentiful sources of food in the form of crumbs and even garbage. When you pack, take out your pots and pans and wash everything thoroughly. Keep in mind that kitchen appliances, like toasters, microwaves and toaster ovens, may also attract roaches. If possible, place these in plastic bags and pack them separately.

Seal Cracks and Other Possible Roach Entry Points

You’ve likely heard the saying “harder to kill than a cockroach” or “as persistent as a roach”. In fact, you may have even said this yourself after trying to stomp one only for it to “revive” and skitter away.

There’s a scientific reason for this, and it’s the fact that they can flatten their bodies. That’s why they can squeeze in cracks and gaps as small as three millimeters.

As such, blocking these cracks and crevices with caulk can help kill them off. Start with the gaps under the doors and windows that lead to outside.

You should also close holes where wires pass through your walls and floors with foam or copper mesh. Be sure to insulate and cover openings of plumbing pipes too

Tips To Find Good Home Inspection

Home Inspection

How to Select a Home Inspector

Choosing a home inspector is part of the home buying process, a decision that can have a significant impact on your satisfaction with your future home. The home inspector is responsible for telling you the things you need to know about the home you are interested in. His or her ability to spot potential issues is vital for you to make an informed purchase, one you will be happy with over the long-term. Knowing how to select a home inspector becomes paramount, especially for first-time buyers.

You only need to do a quick search for home inspectors in your area to find numerous options, but as with so many professions, some inspectors are better than others. The following tips will help you find a home inspector that you can be happy with, someone you can trust to provide you with all the relevant facts about the home you want to buy.

On the other hand, some excellent home inspectors do not have great delivery when it comes to pointing out issues. Having been in business for thirty years, I have found that the way problems are communicated can have a dramatic effect on a buyer.

Some of the worst home inspectors while thorough, use scare tactics to make problems sound way worse than they are! Why do they do this? If you don’t buy the home, you’re more than likely going to call them on the next house. Real Estate agents like to call this a two for one. This is the mark of an unprofessional inspector. Yes, there are bad home inspectors just like there are bad real estate agents!

Home Inspection Tips for Buyers That Sellers Can Learn From

Now’s your chance to get specialty inspections, too.

Although home inspectors are trained and certified to assess several parts of a home, they also can specialize in what are called “ancillary inspections,” or more detailed reviews focusing on individual components.

Request documentation to prove completed repairs.

While not essential, this can help verify any amenities the seller’s advertising, such as a new roof. “If the receipts are out, I’ll look at them,” Lesh said. “I think it’s a good thing for a seller to do if they actually did have work done.”

Know when to ask for a repair, take a credit, or leave it be.

The home inspection can trigger some delicate negotiations over a property’s flaws. For each, a buyer can request that the seller hire a contractor to fix it, obtain a credit (a reduction in the purchase price) toward fixing it themselves, or let it be. Sellers can opt for either or simply reject both and negotiate from there, although that puts the transaction at risk of the buyer walking away.

Be prepared to attend the inspection and ask lots of questions.

When buyers pay for the home inspection, it’s fairly standard for them to watch the inspector at work. “The first thing I always do is I ask what their concerns are. Maybe they had an issue with a previous house, so they’re sensitive to that,” Lesh said.

Temper your expectations for a perfect inspection.

Although a home inspection report is detailed, it doesn’t cover every nook, creak, and cranny.

TIPS FOR BUYERS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL HOME INSPECTION

Using the Report

After the inspector has gone through the entire property and provided the report, take time to review it carefully and ask any questions to either your agent or the inspector so you fully understand what you’re reading. As you read the report, it’s important to remember the inspector is acting as a primary care physician, and should anything need further evaluation you’ll be referred to a specialist. If the home inspector finds evidence of mold or a pest problem, for example, they’ll recommend to you talk to a mold abatement specialist or exterminator to discuss the work needed to alleviate the problem.

Owner’s Manual

Whether this is your first home or 10th, each house offers its own quirks and there’s no owner’s manual provided. It’s highly recommended you attend the inspection, as the inspector will provide useful information throughout the process of not only the pros and cons of the property, but show you how everything works as well. An inspector will give you a plethora of information, from which way to point your air filter to where the main water shutoff valve is and how old all your major systems are. While the age and condition of many systems and appliances will be noted in the report, an explanation of how to use everything isn’t standard in written form. Bring a notepad and jot down useful information throughout the process.

Choosing Your Inspector

Every individual involved in the home buying process must be top-notch. This is likely the biggest investment of your life and understanding what you are getting yourself into is of the utmost importance. With this in mind, be sure you choose a tried and true inspector you can trust to overlook nothing and provide your report in a timely, organized manner.

Choosing the Right Type

When you sit down with your real estate agent to prepare your offer, he or she will go over the different types of inspections you can choose from. While there are different inspection options – radon, pest and mold, among others – you first want to steal with a standard home inspection.

Choosing a qualified inspector is an important step for new homeowners – but it’s not as easy as you may think

Go by referrals

There is no national accreditation or licensing for home inspectors, so relying on rave reviews from people you trust is your best bet. Poll your real estate agent, friends, family and social networks for recommendations, and check out websites like homestars.com, which provides user reviews of home service providers in your area.

Ask for an interview

When it comes to hiring a home inspector, personality counts. A patient and experienced professional can help you make an informed decision about buying your future home, so it’s important to find someone you click with. “A lot of people don’t really interview us first, but it’s a good idea,” Meandro says. Spend a few minutes chatting with an inspector over the phone to decide whether you’ll be able to rely on that person to walk you through the pros and cons of a property.

Inquire about insurance

Look to hire a home inspector who carries errors and omissions insurance. This insurance isn’t mandatory for home inspectors in most provinces, and some qualified professionals may not carry it, but Meandro says those that do may be more seasoned experts. “Home inspection insurance is difficult to get unless you have experience in that field.”

Tag along for the inspection

It’s a major red flag if a home inspector doesn’t invite you to observe the process. “Some inspectors will say, ‘Go sit in the kitchen and I’ll come talk to you at the end of the inspection,’ but that’s not acceptable,” Meandro says. “Educating people about their new house is a major part of what we do.” Insist that you join the inspection and ask lots of questions about potential problems and what it would take to fix them.

Go with a pro

Got a brother-in-law who’s a contractor? He’ll probably do a stellar job on your renovations but he might not be the right person to hire for your home inspection. “A home inspector has to have basic knowledge of virtually everything related to a home,” Meandro says. “A contractor might not have the right equipment to look for moisture or test the electrical.” Make sure you hire an inspector with several years of experience under their tool belt.

Increase Your Professionalism From the Moment You Arrive at a Home Inspection

To begin an inspection, it’s absolutely critical that you arrive on time. As a matter of fact, I like to arrive about 15 minutes early. Why? I want to show the customer that I value their time. That means if they’re waiting for me, I’m going to be concerned about how they’re going to begin to feel about me. So, I’m here early. The second thing that’s really critical about a home inspection: to look professional is to bring equipment that’s clean. Don’t bring a ladder that you’ve been painting your bedroom with last night. Bring a clean ladder. Bring clean drop cloths. Bring clean booties. Keep in mind that these people haven’t bought the house yet, but they’re most likely going to. You want to show respect to their new home. You don’t want to be walking around their carpet, leaving things behind.

Make sure, again, that as you come up to the door and knock on the door, give people time to come to the door. You’d be amazed. They could be in all other parts of the house, and it’s going to take them a while to get there. What you don’t want to do is to come in and surprise somebody. Boy, that’s embarrassing. It can be, again, very, very bad for the customer relationship issue. What I like to do when I get here early is I begin to prepare my report. I begin to fill out things that are kind of general comments, the style of the home, the type of the shingles, and things like that prior to the customer getting here. The other thing that I would encourage you to do as we go throughout the house for the entire inspection is: digital photography is really in the marketplace now. It gives you a little bit of an edge, being able to explain to people what you’re looking at, what you’re seeing, and what’s good and what’s bad.

Remember that you can overuse digital photography. So, don’t make it a showmanship attitude. Make it a, “I need to show somebody something.” Communication is the number one key to the success of a home inspection. If I can both in writing and verbally explain myself well to my customers, I just won the battle, and I haven’t even started the inspection yet. The more you can prepare before the customer comes here, the less you’re going to be inconveniencing them. That’s just good business, and I encourage you to do that. I would also encourage you to, one more time, just check their name so that when you do get out and greet them, and they should be here in a few moments, you’ll be able to call them by their first name. Boy, that’s just great marketing.

The Benefit In Useing Payroll Service For Your Company

Accounting

What Do Online Payroll Services Offer?

Payroll processing: Online payroll services automatically calculate how much employees should be paid each pay period. The systems account for wage rates, shift differentials, overtime, holiday pay and taxes as well as Social Security and benefit deductions. They then make payments to employees by direct deposit, prepaid debit cards or paper check.
File and pay payroll taxes: These services can withhold employee taxes, file quarterly payroll tax reports, and pay tax withholdings to the proper local, state, and federal agencies. They also issue employee W-2 and 1099 forms at the end of the year. Some services offer an error-free guarantee. If a mistake is made, these payroll companies will correct the error and pay any fines or interest incurred.
New hire reporting: Many payroll services report new hires to the government on your behalf.
Integrations: Online payroll services integrate with a variety of payroll-related programs businesses are already using, such as accounting software, time and attendance systems, and human resources software.
Paid-time-off management: Many of these services manage paid time off by tracking how many vacation and sick hours employees have earned and how much they’ve used. Some payroll solutions even facilitate the time off request and approval process.
Employee self-service: Typically, employees can access the online system to view pay stubs, PTO balances and year-end tax forms.
Mobile access: Many systems offer mobile apps or mobile-friendly websites that let businesses manage and run payroll from smartphones or tablets.
Payroll reports: Detailed wage and labor reports from your service can provide a deeper look at how a business operates.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PAYROLL PROVIDER

TIMING OF A PAYROLL CONVERSION

Deciding when to implement a new payroll solution is important. If you are considering a mid-year conversion, Quarter 2 is a good time to start the process. Another option is to convert at the end of the year. The ideal time to begin a year-end conversion is October so it doesn’t conflict with any year-end processing you need to handle.

DATA CONVERSION

When considering a conversion, it’s important to also look at whether the payroll system is unified with core HR and attendance. When payroll, core HR, and time tracking data are stored in a centralized database, this provides many benefits.

DATA INTEGRATION CAPABILITIES

Many companies have existing business investments for benefits, such as general ledger software, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and retirement packages. The ability to integrate these existing systems with an online payroll system is a huge benefit as all of the data is accurate and up-to-date.

PAYROLL TAX COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

With payroll tax compliance rules constantly changing, it’s crucial to utilize a payroll provider with a tax compliance department that will help manage these updates. Once conversion is complete, a tax compliance team should update your payroll tax tables each year, and help with year-end processing.

DATA CONVERSION

One of the most important steps of the conversion process is migrating company data out of your old system and into the new system accurately. To ensure your data will be accurate, make sure the following tasks are performed.

How to Choose the Right Payroll Service

How much do I know about payroll?

If you aren’t a payroll expert, you need an easy-to-use software solution. Payroll software automates a complex process, and the point of automation is to free your time, not take it up.

Which basic features should a payroll software have?

First, let’s go over the key parts of running payroll. Running payroll is the process of entering the hours employees worked during a pay period, calculating their gross wages, determining deductions, and giving employees their net pay.

How much do I want to spend?

Deciding how much to spend on payroll is challenging since many factors go into the cost. To get started, learn what other businesses spend on payroll services.

What payroll software charges should I worry about?

Don’t buy payroll software until you check for contracts, additional fees, reviews, and free trials.

Which platform will I run payroll from?

Because you can purchase online or desktop software, identify where and how you’d like to run payroll.

Easy Tips For Choosing The Best Payroll Software Services

Analyze Features offered by Payroll software services

It is important that you first analyze what kind of functionalities the software has to provide to you. The payroll system you are looking at should be accurate and able to clock in the correct timings for each employee. Apart from that tax deduction, record keeping, and scheduling of processes are features that should definitely be a part of your payslip software.

Find whether the software is Cloud based

During 2016-2020 Technavio has fore-casted the growth of global cloud based payroll software solutions market at a CAGR of 6.94%. This gives a fair idea about the possibilities of customization and expansion available to us. Businesses need to work 24*7 and without any restrictions of time and place. Looking for payroll on the cloud which has the above benefit would make it easy for the manager to approve even basic requests from wherever he is at that moment.

Integration with other business processes

It is important that you look at the larger picture when you decide particular payroll software for your business. You may outsource your payroll functions to an outsourcing firm but still, it is critical that the small business payroll software you choose matches well with your business processes.

Optimize use of Budget

Payroll software cost is one of the important factors that you should keep in mind while making your choice of software. However, do not make the mistake of making it the most important criteria for selection. This is because buying low-cost payroll management services may save you some money but its use would involve a lot of other administrative expenses.

Security to be paid due attention

As per Cyber security ventures, global ransom ware damage costs will reach exceeding proportions to the count of $5 billion. This figure is exceedingly high in comparison to $325 million in the year 2015. Payroll solutions involve a lot of sensitive data in terms of employee’s salaries and their performance reviews. Security of your data would be completely dependent on the kind of payroll software you select. Your choice of HR software solutions should be one that is able to create encryptions at different levels.

Tips for Choosing the Best Payroll Service for Your Business

Self-Service

If you don’t want to be fielding all sorts of questions from your employees, you’ll want to ensure that the payroll company you choose has employee self-service. If your employees can log in to view their own payment and tax info, then they won’t need to ask you.

Pricing

The other important thing to look at before trying out a payroll service is how much you’ll be paying. This is especially important for small businesses that don’t require as extensive service as larger companies.

Reputation

How do you find out if it’s going to be easy before signing up? Look at customer reviews online. There’s no better way to find out how easy and functional a payroll service will be than listening to previous customers. Read Google and Yelp reviews to find out what you’ll be dealing with.

Look at Ease of Use

The whole reason that you’re outsourcing payroll is that it’s time-consuming. The service that you choose should be easy to use. If it’s a payroll company, they shouldn’t ask too many questions because they should know what they’re doing.

Figure Out What Your Needs Are

The first thing you should do is figure out exactly what you need. If you’re a small company, you might be able to get away with using a simple application that quickly does payroll for you like Patriot or Intuit.

The Best Tips To Make Commercial Painting

Painter

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR PAINTING TIPS

Painting your business all by yourself is a tough job and the work done can never be compared to getting it painted by a professional. They have years of experience and know various tips and tricks to do the job better.

These professionals follow a three step process:

Prep
Prime
Paint

PREP

Cover the Floor Edges with a Tape
Use blue painter’s tape and cover the floor edges with it while smoothing it with a putty knife. This will secure the tape closely to the edge and the paint will not bleed underneath the tape. Avoid using masking tape as it leaves a sticky residue behind, which is hard to scrape.
Lay Drop Cloths
A canvas sheet makes the best drop cloth as it easily absorbs the paint and does not let it bleed to the ground. Avoid using plastic sheets as paint can easily slip off of it.
Tape Fixtures
Cover the bulbs with plastic bags and tape them. As for any old water stains, spray the areas with a stain killer.

PRIME

Sanding
Use a sanding sponge to roughen the hard and smooth surfaces. Sanding also removes all the bumps form the previous paint job so that the new coating is applied smoothly. The roughened surfaces help the paint adhere better.
Fill the Dents and Cracks
Instead of using tape to fill the cracks, use plaster of Paris or painter putty. These two materials stick faster than tape.
Caulk the Cracks
Use caulk to seal the gaps between the doors to have a clean finish. Instead of using the caulk directly, buy a caulk gun with a thin nozzle so that you can stick the nozzle in the gaps.
Use a Primer
A primer is a diluted alcohol paint solution that covers all the bad marks. It helps the paint to bond with the wall.

PAINT

Roller Rules
Use a nine inch roller for painting the walls. A roller size bigger than this will be hard to handle and may create stray lines due to a wobbly hand. Before you start painting, wash your roller in the dish washing liquid to get rid of the excess fibers.
Buy Glossy Paints
Compared to flat paints, glossy paints are stain resistant and require less maintenance. The walls can be cleaned easily with a sponge due to their slippery surface.

Tip #3: Buy Paint Extender
Professionals apply at least two paint coats on every wall. A paint extender dries slower so you get more time to apply the second paint coat without any ugly lap marks.

Tip #4: Use a Scraper
The key to smooth lines is to finish one wall and then scrape the corners with a screw driver. This will give you a line where the roller cannot reach and you can finish the corners with a paint brush.

Commercial Painting Tips: Interior Painters, Colors and the Work Place

Remarkable commercial painting tips relate to the colors of the surface walls in the office or the work place. For most of us, painting walls is a usual task that commercial painters (particularly the interior painters) do. There is the corresponding or selected color applied. Unknowingly, it triggers a vibe. The color has an effect on the performance of the employees. The effect is for all in the work place. This includes skilled (or blue-collared) workers as well as executive and administrative (or white-collared) workers.

There are various colors and hues that create a distinctive and positive atmosphere in the office and the work. The color is selected from the type of work place, too

Blue is associated to the serenity of the ocean: It is classified one of the cool colors
Blue tends to reduce stress at work
Green typically prompts for tranquility amidst chaos: It is another cool color
Green boosts a positive conduct
Amazingly, green also helps minimize eye strain for someone staring at the wall of this color
Red initiates excitement in an amiable environment: It is grouped to be among warm colors
Red stimulates action on the tasks that need to be done

Choose the Right Colors

While you want your business to catch the eye of potential customers, be careful to select colors that will attract attention without being overpowering. Having one bold-accent wall can really make a statement, but remember: less is more when it comes to very bright colors. By selecting a calm color palette, you can avoid overwhelming your customers. Adding bold color through pictures, pillows, and other small elements are temporary and less expensive ways to add a pop of color.

Planning and Budget

Knowing your available resources and creating a solid budget for your painting project can provide clarity between you and your contractor. Your budget needs to be realistic and based on both your goals and how much you can afford to spend. Additionally, it’s important to consider the cost of doing the job during work hours or after hours, since after hours can be costlier, while disrupting business operations could affect your long-term productivity as well. A skilled and experienced contractor will help you plan the best strategy for completing the job with the most convenient schedule and efficient manner for your business operation. They know what issues can arise and how to avoid or address them quickly and effectively.

Factors When Choosing a Commercial Painting Company

The price isn’t the only thing you should look at when choosing a reputable commercial painting company. You should also look at the following information, which you can get by asking.

Experience

The contractor should at least have a few years under his belt for you to ensure that he knows what he’s doing. Contractors who have been in the industry for a while will already have seen most of the problems. If they encounter a problem, they’ll know how to handle it.

This is more important if your project has high stakes. However, we also don’t mean you shouldn’t give the newcomers a chance. If the risks are low and a new contractor has already collected good reviews, why not hire them for a lower price?

License and Certifications

The contractor also has to have the proper license and certifications to operate. Ask for these thing

First to make sure you’re dealing with a legal business.

The painting company must have general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. These protect their employees should something happen to them while working inside your property.

A reputable company has no problem showing you the documents to prove they have these things.

Guarantee

What type of guarantee do they provide? They should offer some sort of hassle-free guarantee. You can cash this in if you find a problem with their workmanship after the project.

Most will have a warranty, but that doesn’t mean claiming it won’t be a headache. It depends on their professionalism and customer service.

Tips To Make A Self Roof Repair

Roofing

Roof Repairs – How to Handle Them

You would think that repairs would generally be easier than installing a new roof – well sometimes they are – but often they can be very tricky indeed. Most are temporary in nature but they can be done properly.

The first step in fixing a leak is to find out exactly what is causing the leak. Finding this can sometimes take longer than doing the actual repair! Basically, if the roofing contractor is not totally sure he found the cause – he probably didn’t and any work that was done was done in vain.

Finding the exact cause of the leak cannot be understated in importance. But doing the repairs properly is also very important. Non-standard repairs such as waterproofing materials or loads of sealant on metal roofs is a bad idea and can often end up making the problem worse or create a new problem. Sealants have their place, but the average roof repair man or handyman will tend to go overboard so it is important to get someone who knows what they are doing.

The other thing to consider is cost. Yes, a roof repair will generally be cheaper than a roof replacement or but why not get a quote for both. You may find that a roof replacement or re-roofing is only the cost of a few repairs – and given that most repairs only last a few years, and a new roof will actually add value to your home, it may be worth just changing the whole thing and never worrying when it rains anymore.

How to Find Roof Leaks

When you’re trying to track down a leak, start by looking at the roof uphill from the stains. (Plus: here’s how to clean roof stains.) The first thing to look for is any roof penetrations. Items that penetrate the roof are by far the most common source of leaks. In fact, it’s rare for leaks to develop in open areas of uninterrupted shingles, even on older roofs. Penetrations can include plumbing and roof vents, chimneys, dormers or anything else that projects through the roof. They can be several feet above the leak or to the right or left of it.

If you have attic access, the easiest way to track down a leak is to go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence. There will be water stains, black marks or mold. But if access is a problem or you have a vaulted ceiling, you’ll have to go up onto the roof and examine the suspect(s).

What type of situations require a roof leak repair?

In most instances, the roofing system was compromised due to a weather event, animal or fire. Mother Nature is an incredibly strong opponent for roofing systems. Winds that exceed 50 mph have the force to tear shingles from the roof and expose the substrate. Trees limbs will be torn off trees and tossed about like toothpicks, penetrating the structure. Lightning can strike and literally blow a hole through the roof. Raccoons and squirrels love to chew through rotted wood and create sizable holes in the roof. Fire, of course, will decimate anything in its path.

The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide to Roof Repair

Working on a roof is very dangerous and must be handled with extreme caution. If you are uncomfortable and don’t feel safe, it is always worth it to hire a contractor.

Take a look at the following guide to mendable roof damage, then check for yourself or call a professional to see if yours is an easy fix.

Damaged Flashing

Flashing is the material that protects the crease between fixtures like chimneys or skylights and the roof. It is usually made of sheet metal or plastic. There is also flashing for the venting pipes under your roofing material. If the flashing is cracked, loose or worn, the area around these fixtures will be vulnerable to rain and moisture.

Solution: ($20) Remove and replace with new flashing. Some surrounding materials, such as shingles, will need to be lifted away for removal and installation.

Worn Sealant

A sealant is used with flashing and around the edges of skylights. Cracked and aged sealant will not be able to do its job, resulting in a leak.

Solution: ($6 per tube of flashing sealant) Re-caulk or apply new tar. You will likely need to remove surrounding materials temporarily, to effectively apply the sealant.

Punctures

Weather, falling branches and animals can create significant holes and punctures in your roofing material. These repairs are best handled by professional roofers, as they involve more steps and may demand reframing part of the roof itself.

Solution: ($300-$1,000 labor and materials) After your roofer has done any necessary reframing, they will install a layer of sheathing, then felt paper followed by shingles. You may be tempted to cover the hole with a temporary material or, if it is small enough, seal it up with roofing caulk, but this will only allow moisture to seep through and create larger problems.

Damaged Vent Boot

This component seals the area around your vents against moisture, much like flashing seals other parts of your roof. A damaged vent boot could be the source of your leak.

Solution: ($10-$20 materials) Remove and replace the vent boot. This will involve lifting away surrounding materials, as well as nailing and caulking the boot.

Damaged or Missing Shingles

It is common to discover a few damaged or missing shingles, as a number of external factors act against them.

Strong weather blows them off or pries them loose.
Their protective surface granules wear away.
Animal activity cracks and breaks them.
Hail cracks and breaks them.
Ice dams and pooling water weigh on them.

Solution: ($30 per bundle) Remove the old shingles and replace them with new ones. In the case of ice dams and pooling water, once you have replaced your shingles, you’ll want to be proactive to prevent future damage. Remove snow to prevent ice dams and keep your gutters clean for proper drainage.

Corroded Vertical Slits

The slit between each roofing tile is a vulnerable area and can easily corrode. As water runs through these slits, it exposes the underlying roofing materials more and more.

Solution: ($30 per bundle) Replace the corroded shingles as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Leaks and aesthetic damage can usually be fixed without overhauling your entire roof. However, there are times when installing a new roof is a wise investment—such as before listing your home. You should have your roof inspected for quality if it is 20 to 25 years old or if it is leaking in multiple places.

Protect as Best You Can

If your home has been damaged during a storm, you will want to minimize damage to the interior as much as you can. Try to cover any holes in the living area with plastic tarps or other waterproof materials. If the hole is vast, you may need to place buckets or other containers under the hole to collect water until the storm subsides. You should call a professional roofer as most of them have 24/7 emergency lines, but keep in mind they will not send someone out during the storm as that would be unsafe for their employees. Do not try to climb on the roof yourself to repair the damage.

The Right Reason To Make Mold Inspection

Home Inspection

Factors to Consider When Looking for a Mold Inspection Company

Health and Safety

This is the final and most important factor. Health and safety is very vital. The inspection company has to give you assurances that they will conduct the work without any alarming health and safety concerns. The company should therefore assure you that they will use proper safety gear, face masks and gloves in the inspection process. In addition to this, they should seal off the working area to curb the mold from spreading throughout your home. When mold spreads to other parts of your home, it can be a great health concern, as your loved ones will be at risk of exposure. Your desired mold inspection company should implement a wide range of safety measures to promote safety while doing the work.

Price and Pre Testing

The price of mold inspection varies from company to company. It is good and prudent for you to get quotations and compare them before choosing and settling for one. Some companies insist on pre-testing mold but this is not important, as it escalates the prices. Professionals who insist on doing these tests only want your money and to ultimately drain your bank. It is also not ideal for you to choose quotations that are exceedingly low hence; this should be a major red flag. Only quacks charge very low prices, as they are not properly trained but just merely experimental.

Insurance

It is vital to hire an inspector who has insurance that duly covers them. This protects and guards you in case there might be any possible losses. Insurance is therefore very important, especially pertaining to liability if any accident happens in your house. This also applies when there is sub-contracting. Such contractors also have to be well trained and insured as well. They ought to bear documents or credentials clearly depicting the same.

Testimonials and Experience

Testimonials and experience are essential factors to consider. They help ensure that you do not settle for mold inspector who is actually a rookie. The testimonials could be by word of mouth or you can find them in the inspectors or company’s website. This therefore implies that you have to enquire about the company and any possible recommendations. It ensures that you settle for a company that will exceed your expectations.

Certification

You should do extensive research before settling on a certain mold inspection company. Most companies have websites and the “about us” page reveals whether they are industry certified or not. The mold inspection field might appear to be hugely unregulated. However, check whether they have certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration.

What You Should Know Before Hiring Mold Removal Help

How expensive can I expect removal to be?

-Price of mold removal depend on the size of the job — they can often be over $1000. But, some mold professionals out there exaggerate the amount of work that needs to be done, driving up the price. If you think a quoted price seems high, we recommend getting multiple quotes to compare.

However, if you get a quote that’s shockingly low, that’s also a big red flag. Companies that don’t do things properly are the only ones that can charge shockingly low prices.

Mold professionals are licensed and skilled tradesmen, just like a plumber or electrician, so you can expect to pay more for a mold company than a regular handyman. Keep in mind that mold professionals have high overhead costs, such as high general liability and workers comp insurance, which also factors into their price.

Wanna keep things really cheap? Do it yourself! In some cases, minor mold problems (less than about 10 square feet of mold) in places like a bathroom corner can easily be handled by a handy homeowner with a free weekend afternoon and a few basic supplies from the hardware store. For more information, see our previous post on the subject: Do I need a Mold Remediation Professional?

-No need to take a wrecking ball to the entire house at the sight of a little mold. You can keep the price down by focusing just on the area where there is visible mold. For example, mold on drywall in one corner of the room only needs cut out and replaced in that corner. Yes, the rest of the room (and maybe adjoining rooms) should be cleaned, but only damaged drywall needs to be cut out and replaced.

I See Mold. Do I Really Need a Mold Professional?

When should a mold inspection and mold testing be considered?

When visible mold is not present, but the smell of mold is. Here a mold inspection and mold test can reveal whether there is indeed elevated mold, and where it is located.
There have been plumbing leaks or water issues and there is a suspicion that elevated mold may exist in the air and/or behind walls.
Post Mold Removal Clearance Testing to ensure that the previous mold issue has been resolved and mold counts have returned to levels found in normal environments of the same type.
Health Concerns: In some cases, a doctor or the patient has a health issue that they cannot pinpoint the cause but seems to be related to mold symptoms (coughing, sneezing, headaches, etc). Here, a mold inspection and test may help to confirm whether the doctor’s or patient’s suspicions that a mold problem exists.
For real estate transactions for the protection of Buyers and Sellers.
Landlord/Tenant disputes as to whether there is a mold problem.
Someone thinks they see or smell mold but are not sure.
Someone is interested in a general Indoor Air Quality test of their environment.

Tips to Protect Yourself During Mold Inspection

Do Your Research

Experts say homeowners should not underestimate the importance of checking referrals, references or credentials. While some certifications reflect extensive training, others, like ABC’s “The Lookout” uncovered, do not. ABC News anchor Cynthia McFadden received her certification as a mold assessor after taking an honor system test, paying $49.95 for the certificate and purchasing a book for approximately $34.00.

Slower Is Better

Experts warn homeowners should be wary of inspectors that reach a conclusion too quickly. Every investigation should include a thorough visual inspection looking for signs of mold and moisture, a history of your home’s problems, the health of its occupants, as well as moisture and temperature readings. An entire home could take approximately one to three hours, depending on its size.

Tests Do Not Hold All the Answers

According to the EPA, “in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary,” but testing can be a tool in detecting hidden mold. However, some government agencies say remediation should not be based on test results alone. Experts say to be wary if an inspector does nothing but test for samples and bases mold remediation on sampling alone.

Don’t Think Extreme

Inspections should start with the least intrusive approaches first. Mold inspections can be like peeling an onion: If signs of mold or moisture are indicated, then an inspector may have to become more invasive and peel another layer. Mold inspection is a step-by-step process that is based on what you see.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANY

Ask the Right Questions

The first thing to look for in a mold remediation company is whether or not they stand behind their work. What kind of warranty does the company offer? Octagon Cleaning & Restoration offers a 5-year warranty on its high-quality, specialized cleaning services for all residential and commercial properties that it remediates.
Next, ask if the company if it is insured and licensed. Look for a company that is fully licensed and has the proper certifications to perform the job as required. The staff should be trained and highly experienced. Mold remediation requires a high degree of expertise. The person actually overseeing the work on your property should be able to communicate with you through the entire mold remediation and removal process each step of the way.
Finally, a company’s certification is just as important as its reputation. Octagon Cleaning & Restoration is IICRC certified—the industry standard. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), is the institution that sets the standards and certifications for the inspection, cleaning, restoration and installation industries. More importantly, these are the standards that insurance companies adhere to.

Tips To Find The Best Veterinarian

Health

Steps to Finding the Perfect Vet

Know your pet’s needs in advance

Before you start visiting veterinary practices and asking questions, make a list of priorities for you and your pet. This will help you ask the right questions as you narrow down your options.

How to start (and narrow down) the search

Once you’ve zeroed in on what you want from a veterinarian, it’s time to actually find a few candidates. Good old fashioned word-of-mouth is the best place to start.

Schedule a tour

Once you’ve found one or two potential vets, plan a facility visit without your dog to get a feel for the place itself. Any reputable veterinary practice will be more than happy to show you around and make you feel welcome.

Ask the right questions

When you visit a veterinarian’s office for the first time, in addition to getting a feel for the facility, you should ask plenty of questions to give you a full picture of their practice. You may write down a few specific questions based on your list of priorities, and you should also ask the following questions.

Once you choose a good vet, be a good client

Establishing a good veterinary routine for your dog depends on finding a vet you trust to provide the best possible care. However, it’s not a one-way street; as your dog’s guardian and advocate, you have a responsibility to support the client-vet relationship. Keep in mind these steps to being a good veterinary clien.

How to Find a Good Vet

How to Find a Good Vet: Word of Mouth

Referrals are one way to find a good vet. Referrals from friends and acquaintances are the best way to find a vet. Ask specific questions to those giving referrals: How long has your pet been seeing this vet? What were the health problems and how were they treated? What were the costs?

How to Find a Good Vet: Convenient Location

Another way to find a good vet is the location. After checking your phone book for local addresses, remember that not all vets handle all animal species. And to call himself a specialist, your vet must have additional training in an area of expertise such as ophthalmology, and be approved by the licensing body in his province. Vets aren’t allowed to use advertising that implies superiority, such as “best in town.” If you have any questions, call your provincial veterinary medical association.

How to Find a Good Vet: Make a Short List and Visit Clinics

One way to find a good vet is to visit clinics. Arrive early, sit in the waiting room and chat with other clients. Look for a well-organized office with a cheerful receptionist. Your pet might wind up having more contact with the support staff than with the veterinarian, so everyone you meet should inspire confidence. Animal health technologists or veterinary technicians have a college diploma allowing them to work under the supervision of a veterinarian and to carry out almost all types of animal care except diagnosing, prescribing drugs or performing surgery.

How to Find a Good Vet: Services & Treatment Areas

One way to find a good vet is to be sure of the type of service you need. Do you prefer a small clinic with one or two veterinarians, or large premises with specialists and diagnostic tools like ultrasound and endoscopy equipment? Is round-the-clock nursing available if your pet has to stay overnight? Would you prefer a practice that specializes in your type of pet; an all-cat practice, for example?

How to Find a Good Vet: Emergency

When looking for a good vet, make sure you know what type of service you will receive in emergency situations. Some vets still make house calls and offer emergency services after regular hours. Increasingly, especially in urban areas, you’ll be directed to a 24-hour emergency hospital. When your pet is struck by a vehicle, accidentally poisoned or suddenly immobilized, minutes could save its life.

How to Choose a Veterinarian

Ask for Referrals

Your friends probably aren’t vet-evaluating experts any more than you are, but they can tell you whether the vet or the techs in an office manhandle the animals or coax them into cooperating, whether the office returns calls promptly, and how good the vet is at explaining health issues.

Check Qualifications and Expertise

DVMs and VMDs are the general practitioners of the veterinary world. But you’ll find many who treat only “small animals” (a label that stretches to include your 130-pound Mastiff). Also, some vets work mainly with dogs, or cats, or “exotics.” A species-limited vet can be a big plus. Doctors for humans work with just one species, of course, and can usually use words to communicate with their patients. A general practice vet, on the other hand, has to cultivate knowledge about several species, and not one of his patients can say to him, “Doc, it’s a chronic burning pain and it started last Tuesday.” So it can be a big plus if your vet limits her practice to a few species, or just one.

Get a Tour

Call in advance, explain that you’re a prospective client, and set a convenient appointment – you don’t want to show up in the middle of an emergency, or at a just plain busy time. The whole clinic should be clean, of course. Do cut them some slack if a sick animal just vomited, urinated, or defecated, but overall the place shouldn’t reek. On your tour, keep a sharp eye out for the surgery room or suite. It should be squeaky clean, not used for storage or as a hangout for the office cat. If there’s a surgery taking place, you won’t be going in, but take the opportunity to make sure the office practices good sterile technique. Look for a full gown, mask, and gloves, not just a scrub top.

How to Choose a Veterinarian

Don’t Wait

The worst time to look for a vet is when you really need one. Even before you get a pet, a veterinarian can help you decide which type is best for your family’s needs and lifestyle.

Ask Around

Do you have a friend who loves her pet as much as you do? Find out where she takes him. A personal reference can be more reliable than review sites, especially if the pet owner’s standards are similar to your own.

Check Credentials

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredits clinics that show that they have the highest standards of care. You can visit its website to find an accredited facility near you.

Schedule a Visit

Once you’ve found a practice you like, request a meeting with a veterinarian there to discuss any questions you have. Write them down before you go. A few things to consider:

Finding the Right Vet for Your Pet

When Should I Look for a Vet?

Guardians seek out new vets for a variety of reasons, including a recent adoption or move, concerns about a current vet’s quality of care or treatment for a pet’s specific health problem.

How Do I Look for a Vet?

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) evaluates veterinary practices on the quality of their facilities, staff, equipment and patient care. Search the organization’s website at www.aahanet.org for a list of accredited vets in your area.

How Do I Decide Which Vet Is right for My Dog?

Here are some things to consider when selecting a vet:

What Questions Should I Ask When I’m Selecting a Vet?

Although your questions may vary depending on the reason for your visit, you can use the following list as a guide:

What If I Have Problems with My Vet? Can I Switch?

Don’t worry about leaving your current vet if you have concerns about the quality of care. Most veterinary practices, like all businesses, expect clients to come and go. Before you leave, remember to ask for a complete copy of your dog’s health records to be mailed or faxed to you or your new vet.

Tips To Find The Best Dui Lawyer

Legal

Win Your DUI Case With Efficient DUI Lawyer

When Do You Need a Lawyer for a DUI/DWI Charge?

Driving under the influence is considered a crime in every state. So, DUI charges are handled in criminal court. You have a right to represent yourself in criminal court. But most defendants either hire a private lawyer or are represented by a public defender appointed by the court.

Getting a Lawyer’s Opinion About Your Case

It’s difficult for someone with no legal experience or training to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a DUI case. DUI law is complicated and constantly changing, and the facts of every case are unique. So, getting the opinion of an experienced DUI lawyer can be valuable.

Most DUI lawyers give prospective clients a free consultation. But even if you have to pay a small fee, it’s likely money well spent. Bring your police report and any other case documents you have to the consultation to make the best use of your time. It might also help to bring a list of questions you want to get answered.

You don’t have to hire an attorney you consult with. But meeting face-to-face is a good way to gauge whether things could work out with an attorney you’re thinking of hiring.

Tips For Hiring The Best DUI Lawyer In 2020

In the year 2012 alone, over a million drivers got arrested for driving under the influence of either narcotics or alcohol, a rate of 1 arrest for every 165 licensed drivers across the country. A DUI arrest is quite a stressful experience. However, it’s crucial to keep your composure enough to deal with the circumstances as best you can. One effective way of making the best of the situation is by hiring the right DUI lawyer.

Be Honest With Yourself About Your Circumstances
Do Not Try To Represent Yourself
Think Twice About Public Defenders
Start Forming Your List Of Potential Candidates
Take Advantage Of Free Consultations
Always Tell The Truth
Be Prepared To Ask Your Own Questions And Write Down Answers
Consider The Firm Size
Narrow Down Your List Based On Comfort And Confidence
Make Your Decision When You Have Time To Think About It

Ways to Defend Yourself Against DUI Costs

Ketosis from Atkins-style diets or diabetes

Conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia or low carbohydrate diets (i.e. Paleo or Atkins-style diets) can trigger Ketosis.

Ketosis is a normal metabolic process triggered in your body when it doesn’t have enough carbohydrates from food for your cells to burn for energy.

Without sufficient carbohydrates, your body will burn fat cells instead and produce ketones. For people with diabetes, ketosis is typically a sign of not using enough insulin.

You may be wondering:

“What do ketones have to do with DUI?”

When ketones are eliminated from our bodies through breath and urine, they convert into alcohol. This mouth alcohol can cause breath testing instruments to read inaccurately high BAC levels.

DUI with no proof of driving

One of the key elements needed to prove you were driving under the influence is that prosecutors must prove you were driving the vehicle.

Proving DUI with no proof of driving can be a challenge for prosecutors:

If Police found you in a parked car
If your car was in an accident, but no one saw you actually driving the vehicle DWI

No probable cause for the DUI stop

Police DUI stops must be supported by reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Traffic stops are temporary detention by Police and considered a “seizure” under the 4th Amendment.

For DWI stops, the most common reasons Police provide are drivers exhibiting NHTSA driving impairment patterns, speeding or running stop lights.

Faulty and Unreliable Breath Tests

The DUI breath tests used in San Diego have many flaws. These tests are subject to some of the following problems:

Improper use by the police
B. Physiological Conditions (gastroesophageal reflux disease aka GERD)
C. Instrument Malfunction
D. Failure to observe the defendant prior to the test.

DUI breath testing is the most common way to measure a defendant’s BAC but it is not always an accurate because of the fact that a DUI breath test doesn’t directly measure the amount of alcohol in your blood. It measures the amount of alcohol present in your breath and converts that amount to determine the amount of alcohol in your blood. As a result, DUI breath testing is susceptible to a variety of outside influences that can generate an erroneously high BAC reading.

Charged Based on Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests, such as walking in a straight line, are notoriously unreliable. Many factors can lead to inaccurate results. For instance, if you’re on a slope that could cause some people to appear off-balance when they’re not. Noise from cars going by can make officers think a person either isn’t cooperating or is too incoherent to follow their directions when really the person just didn’t hear them. There are so many things that make field sobriety tests unreliable that being charged just on the basis or mostly on the basis of your field sobriety test results is usually easily defendable in court.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

This is a defense you might never have heard of before. Did you know that all electronic devices, or nearly all, are susceptible to radio frequency interference? AM and FM radios, police radar units, dispatch stations, and other equipment that police officers use all throw off interference that could disrupt the results of the breathalyzer test, since most breathalyzers are also electronic devices. RFI interference, then, might also be a defense your attorney uses to help defend you in court.

There are other reasons you might be able to defend yourself against a drunk driving or DUI charge, as well, including police misconduct. However, it’s important to know that a DUI charge is never a trivial matter and always requires the expertise of a DUI attorney in your area. Make sure to seek out a qualified and experienced DUI lawyer who can help defend you against, and possibly overturn, your DUI charge. Your future depends on it.

Choose The Best Hardwood Flooring For Your Floor

Flooring

Tips For Choosing The Right Hardwood Floor Colour

One of the first things you want to keep in mind is the colour of your furniture and decorations. The reason behind this is because you do not want the colour of your wood floors to match the colour of your furniture and décor. Matching everything will make the room look cluttered. You should go for colours that contrast with each other.

Beautiful flooring is something desired by many and when you have a large open area, the main element of that area is going to be the flooring. You should consider deep colours for your open rooms as this will allow the character of the floor to shine through.

If you have a small room that is limited when it comes natural lighting or the room already has darker coloured walls, you should choose lighter coloured wood flooring. Flooring that is too dark will create a sense of doom and gloom within the room.

Scratches and dents in your hardwood flooring are likely to happen in high traffic areas and areas where pets and kids play. If you want to be able to conceal these imperfections easily, choose a natural colour wood floor that does not have a glossy finish. The scratches and dents will look like they belong and no one will know the difference.

When it comes time to choose your hardwood flooring colours, always ask for some wood samples and compare them in your home. You will be able to hold the samples up to your walls and compare it to the colour of your furniture. Without samples, you will not have an idea of how the flooring will look in your home and you may be surprised come installation.

How to Choose the Right Hardwood Floor

Types of Hardwood Floor

When considering how to choose a hardwood floor, first consider the two main types of hardwood — solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. Both types of flooring have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on where your home is located and how much foot traffic your hardwood floor will be subject to.

How to Choose the Right Type of Hardwood Floor for You

When thinking of the how and why of choosing your hardwood floor, first think about your lifestyle and the degree of distress it will undergo. Is there the potential that your floor could be dented and scratched on a regular basis? Do you want the flexibility to change up the stain color at a moment’s notice? These are all questions you should be asking yourself.

Since solid hardwood can be sanded down repeatedly, this means dents and scratches can be easily sanded out, and there are no limitations to the number of times you can refinish your floors.

Engineered hardwood

While it is possible to sand down some engineered hardwood floors, it can be risky since their top layers are so thin. This thin layer is also easily dented and scratched. That said, engineered hardwood does have its benefits, especially in terms of versatility. The man-made interior helps prevent warping, making it a much better choice for damp areas like basements and laundry rooms. Engineered hardwood also tends to be slightly less expensive than solid wood, ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot. You can also save money on installation when it comes to engineered hardwood by choosing lock assembly or by floating your floor over a moisture barrier.

Tips For Choosing The Best Wood Floor Color For Your Home

Selecting the Material

Before you can choose the best wood floor color, you need to select the proper material. That includes its hardness. The Janka Hardness Scale rates wood’s hardness. As we explained in the blog, a wood’s hardness is determined by the amount of force needed to drive a .444 inch diameter steel ball to a depth of half the ball’s diameter. The amount of force this takes, measured in pounds-force (ibf), becomes that species’ hardness rating. In simple terms, the higher the rating, the harder the floor. Strand-woven bamboo and eucalyptus are at the top, rated 4,000-5,000. Douglas Fir is at the bottom with 690.

Choosing the Best Wood Floor Color

Now that you know a little more about the hardness factor, you can start considering your future floor color. The size of the room and how much sunlight it gets matter.

The Finishing Touches

After you select which material is best for your home, choosing the best wood floor color will be easier. But, using samples to gauge your choices will take time.Don’t rush the decision! Hardwood is an investment that will last decades. You also shouldn’t trust just anyone with your investment. You need a professional installer that specializes in hardwood.At District Floor Depot, we’re members of the National Wood Flooring Association. That means we hold ourselves to a higher standard than other flooring specialists. From start to finish, your flooring needs will be in the best hands.

How to Choose the Right Hardwood Floor Color

Start With the Basics

There are two basic factors that go into what hardwood floors looks like, says Patrick Bewley, vice president of marketing at California-based flooring brand Duchateau. First is the grain, which is determined primarily by the species of wood. Then there’s the finish or stain, which creates the color. “Our advice is to start by selecting the color range that is most attractive to you—the one that speaks to you and the space,” he explains. “Then, you can look at various grain patterns and surface treatments within that range and find the one that you feel works best with the selected color and your other design elements.”

Undertones Matter

Just like with paint colors, it’s crucial to consider the undertone of your flooring. Most designers warn against anything wood finishes that skew very red or orange, which have a tendency to look dated. But that doesn’t mean that you should steer completely clear of warm undertones. In fact, says Bewley, one of the biggest trends in wood flooring right now is a warm take on of-the-moment gray. “These new tones mix the coolness of gray with warmer undertones, creating high livability along with an on-trend look,” he notes.

Think About Upkeep

You might love the look of a certain type of wood flooring now, but think about how it’ll hold up—and how much effort you’re willing to put into keeping it pristine. As a rule of thumb, says Bewley, “harder woods, such as European Oak, are a good choice for high-traffic and kid-centric spaces, whereas softer species, such as walnut, are better suited for lower-traffic areas.”

How to choose the best wood flooring

WHICH WOODEN FLOORING BOARD WIDTH AND LENGTH?

Should you choose narrow floorboards or broad ones? Small lengths – think parquet floors – or long ones? Narrower boards tend to look more traditional than broader ones, while parquet boards, once reserved for period properties, are a hot trend for contemporary spaces, too.

WHICH WOOD FLOORING IS THE MOST DURABLE?

Hardwoods, such as oak, maple and cherry, are among the most durable species, making them ideal for long-lasting looks in a busy household. However, they also the more expensive wood flooring choices.

WHICH WOOD FLOORING FINISH IS BEST: PAINT, OIL OR VARNISH?

Most wood flooring will come factory pre-finished, which means its colour and lustre will be as you saw them in the showroom, and should be guaranteed to remain just so for some time. You can, however, buy unfinished boards for painting, varnishing or oiling yourself at home.

WHICH IS BEST: SOLID WOOD OR ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING?

Solid wood flooring can be refinished repeatedly; engineered wood flooring can only be refinished a limited number of times, dependent on the thickness of the top veneer.