Tags » ‘electrical’
April 16th, 2010 by admin
If you’re looking for a new home, you know that home buying is exciting and stressful in equal measures. A property purchase might be the largest investment you ever make, so it is important to invest wisely. One advantage of buying a newly built property is that the wiring should meet the electrical, communication, and entertainment needs of today’s lifestyles, as well as being adaptable to future developments.
Before buying a new home, ask for details of the home wiring infrastructure.
- Wiring configuration. “Daisy-chain” wiring, where the wiring is run from one room to the next, is not appropriate for modern home wiring. All outlets should be wired directly from a centrally located structured wiring box.
- Electrical wiring coverage. Check how many electrical outlets the property has and where they are located.
- Surge protection. New homes should have a whole house surge protection network that includes transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) devices at the service entrance as well as point-of-use TVSS devices located behind major appliances, PCs, and entertainment centers. This is critical to prevent damage caused by surges in power such as those from lightning or from a faulty component on the circuit.
- Home telephone wiring. Each telephone outlet should be connected to the central panel by a unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable. All telephone wiring should be Category 5e (Cat5e) cable comprised of 4 twisted pairs of “solid” copper cable. The structured wiring panel inside the house should be connected to the Demarc box outside the property by a Cat5e cable. Each telephone outlet should be connected to the structured wiring panel with a 4-pair Cat5e cable.
- Home data wiring. A modern home needs a local area network (LAN), which enables all computers in the network to share other devices such as a printer, and allows data to be stored centrally so that each workstation does not necessarily need its own hard disk, and stored data and application packages can be retrieved from any workstation. Wireless offers convenience but does not have the same level of speed, security, or reliability offered by wired home data networks.
- Video distribution. Any TV source should be viewable in any room of the house. RG6 coaxial cable should connect all video sources to the central structured wiring panel and two RG6 cables should connect to each TV location. TV and Internet outlets should also be available at the video locations to allow for pay-per-view or other services.
Remember, even if you do not have a high-tech lifestyle, you may want to sell your home one day. Having a full structured wiring package makes your home much more marketable in the future because the home wiring can be adapted to incorporate new technologies with minimal disruption.
About the author: Karin has worked as a freelancer for over ten years, writing informatively about a wide range of subjects. She has a PhD and a background in education and research.
Easy Basement Renovations & Other Home Renovation Ideas
View post:
Home Wiring: Top Tips on What to Look for In a New Home
March 10th, 2010 by admin
Bringing extra light into a basement is a tricky but worthwhile project. If you’re planning a basement renovation, consider the many ways to enhance your lighting options.
The first place to look is the windows. Many basements have small windows that limit the natural light flowing through. When finishing a basement, look for ways to add good-sized vinyl replacement windows and enlarge the ones you have. Even a few extra feet of window space helps.
While some homeowners can add drywall or install flooring in a basement on their own, it’s often best to leave window installation to a professional. This is particularly true if the project involves expanding window openings and heavy carpentry work.
If you’re lucky enough to have a walk-out basement, where part of the space is raised above ground level, you have plenty of options. Otherwise, look for places where an extra window would brighten the space.
Basement Renovation: Check the Outside
The outside of your foundation is another place that can limit light flowing into the basement. If you have thick bushes right against the basement wall, plan to cut them back during your basement renovation.
When you’ve exhausted natural light options, turn to artificial lighting. A basement renovation often includes upgrades to the electrical system, so this is the time to do it. Maximizing the livable space should also include making it more comfortable and visually appealing.
Focus When Finishing the Basement
Many people like the focused light from canned lighting, while others prefer track lights. In both cases, the lights can be directed to shine on specific areas, such as a pool table. Talk with an electrical contractor about getting the right amount of light. You can always add dimmer switches and turn them down if needed.
After the windows and lighting are in place, you can use decorative options to further brighten your basement renovation. Light colored paint, carpeting, or vinyl flooring can be a perfect complement to the other changes you’ve planned. Glass blocks often give the impression of extra light coming into a basement, too.
When finishing a basement, think about all the things you don’t like about the current space. Chances are you could benefit from added light. By taking a few steps to bring in light, you can transform the basement into a bright, open setting as appealing as your first-floor space.
March 5th, 2010 by admin
Among the more energetic basement remodeling ideas floating around now is the use of a qualified basement remodeling contractor to build a suitable space for a home gym. Basement waterproofing leads the list for completing this basement renovation the right way. Can you imagine breathing in dust and mildew while amping up your heartbeat on a treadmill?
If your basement has adequate drainage, lighting, heating, ventilation, waterproofed floors, pipes, and walls, you might consider completing the gym transformation on your own. But in most cases, you should call in a qualified basement remodeling contractor to design, bid, and complete the project. There are plenty of benefits to finishing a basement.
The Health-Related Basement Renovation, Simplified
Having a basement gym is a great idea. It can increase your home’s value and bring the workout to you. No driving to the gym on hot or wickedly cold mornings. No membership fees. No excuses.
Before you do anything, can you claim that your basement is dry enough? It may not suffice to install a dehumidifier alone. Have a remodeling contractor conduct a thorough inspection. One thing you may not want, despite how appealing it may be, is a carpet for your basement gym. Instead, consider concrete floors or rubber flooring with adequate padding when finishing a basement.
Even outdoor or tough carpeting may show its wear under the stress and weight of workout equipment, and you may spend more time working out the mildew problem than you do working off fat.
The first step is to determine your workout routine and equipment needs. Are you going for cardio or installing a weight room, too? If your space is too confined for a treadmill or elliptical trainer, perhaps a stationary bicycle will do. Is the electrical supply adequate to power gym equipment, new overall lighting, task lighting, alternate heaters, air conditioners, fans, stereo equipment, televisions, water coolers, refrigerators, etc.? A good basement remodeling contractor can help you answer these questions.
You don’t necessarily need a huge basement to consider adding a home gym. Even a small basement can benefit from some fun basement remodeling ideas.
More Basement Renovation Considerations
Is there room, ample electricity, and plumbing to add a bathroom stall or small shower? Or, do you want to add a hot tub or sauna? Perhaps you’ll just put in a small workout room and segment other sections of the finished basement for laundry, a children’s gaming center, or basement office.
After your basement renovation is finished, it’s time to furnish your new space. When it comes to workout equipment, you can always shop for used gear to help cut the overall basement renovation cost. You can add better-quality treadmills or weight sets when you know that you’ll use the gym.
December 5th, 2009 by admin
One of the most important parts of building or renovating a home is the work of the electrical contractor. The last thing you want is a problem with your wiring or even an electrical fire. When you are choosing an electrician, keep the following tips in mind.
- Know exactly what you want. You can make life easier on yourself and your electrical contractor if you know what you need from the very beginning. Are you hoping to “go green” with your renovations? Do you live in an older house that needs serious rewiring work? If you can guide your electrical contractor through what you want, the professional can then guide you through what it should take to get there.
- Listen to recommendations. Your neighbors, family members, friends, and even colleagues at work have probably dealt with an electrical contractor at some point. Who would they recommend? Once you start asking questions, you may find certain names pop up again and again.
- Do some serious research. Make a list of contractors, and then narrow it down. The best professionals should expect you to examine their reputation, so give them a call and ask if they have a list of former clients you can call. Most states require electricians to be licensed, so make sure those requirements are met, and don’t forget to check with the Better Business Bureau.
- Get a firm estimate. When you’ve narrowed down your list of electrical contractors, get estimates from each. A firm estimate can give you an idea of cost for parts, labor, repairs, and any other work that might be necessary to fulfill your electricity needs.
- Make the hire and then get out of the way. Check every aspect of the estimates and contracts to make sure you understand all the fine print, and then do what you can to make the job easier. Make sure the workspaces are cleared of any household items. If furniture may need to be moved, do it before the contractor shows up. The less “extra” work a contractor has to do, the faster the job should get done and the faster you can experience the warm glow of new lights.
The best electrical contractors got their sterling reputations by working many jobs over a period of years and delivering excellent work each time. Many of the best will be listed by contracting websites, such as Reliable Remodeler. Take your time and do your homework to find the perfect electrician for your particular job.
About the author: Shannon Dauphin is a freelance writer based near Nashville, Tennessee. Her house was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her hobbies.
Read the rest here:
Five Tips for Choosing the Best Electrical Contractor
|