Step-by-Step Instructions for Installing Pre-hung Doors

If you’re building or renovating a home, installing your own doors is a great way to save a little money. Many builders and homeowners prefer pre-hung doors because they are convenient and fairly easy to install. Unlike a slab door, a pre-hung door is already attached to the frame. All you need is a rough opening to install it in, a few tools, and a little bit of know-how. Although slab doors are a little less expensive to purchase up-front, pre-hung doors can save you time and effort during the installation process. Following these steps will help ensure that you install your pre-hung doors correctly:

1. Gather Your Tools

Pre-hung doors can be quite heavy, so you should recruit at least one other person to help you install them. Before you begin, gather up the following tools: tape measure, finish nails, shims, hammer, nail punch, utility knife, circular saw (or jigsaw), level, and screwdrivers. You may not need the circular saw, but it will come in handy if you need to trim your doorjambs. Wood putty is important to have on-hand when you are ready to hide the nail holes in your installed doors.

6 Tips for Making Your Construction Site Safer

Working as a construction worker is almost similar to being a superhero. Each day you are entrusted with the responsibility of bearing heavy loads and using expensive equipment. Squatting on scaffolds and riding in cranes puts you so high up in the sky that you have the feeling you are flying. What makes your job extraordinary and enjoyable can also put a lot of stress on you. If you don’t take care, you can incur injuries while working. Here are some safety tips to follow to avoid common injury and stress on the construction site.

1. Lift objects properly

As a construction worker, backaches are your primary enemy. It is easy to get injuries while carrying heavy loads, but you can avoid this hazard altogether. Always bend your knees so that you don’t twist to the side while lifting. For a better balance, put one foot in front of the other.

2. Use ergonomic portable and high-powered tools

Tools are meant to make your work simpler. You may not realize it, but frequent use of poorly designed tools can make you develop conditions such as trigger finger, white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis. Even powered tools can make you develop serious problems due to their excessive noise and high vibration. Thus, as an employer or supervisor, ensure the tools you select for your workers have a long trigger and low vibration levels. For the hand tools, safety coordinators or employers must select those that require less force and don’t put a strain on the hand when held tight. The hand tools must also be balanced, and not conduct electricity or heat.

The Three Elements of a Good Contractor

If you are considering renovating any part of your home, the first step to getting a project started is to find the renovation contractor you will be working with. How do you go about finding the right contractor for the project? You will have to do your research and make sure that you understand the bidding process. Here are three elements of a good contractor that you should always look for.

Licensing and References
Before you contact any contractor for a bid on your renovation project, it is extremely important to understand the licensing requirements in the area where you live. Then you will be able to check any potential contractors to see if they meet all of the local requirements to do the work your are requesting.

Along with licensing, you should also try to get a couple of references from people who have used them on their own renovation projects. This will give you a first-hand experience on how a typical project will go from start to finish.

Getting a Detailed Bid 
Bids can vary widely. Even the term 'bid' can mean different things to different contractors. To clear up any confusion, a good contractor will let you know whether the bid is a fixed price or an estimate of the work. This will help you with your budget and help to maintain an honest relationship between you and your contractor. To get your renovation budget in even better shape, you can ask your contractor for an itemized list so that you know the breakdown of the total cost.

Checking on Suppliers 
Another way to tell if you are hiring a quality contractor is to ask where your contractor is getting his materials for each job. Then you can go directly to the supplier to make sure that your contractor has a professional reputation within the industry. If a contractor is fair, pays his bills on time and is courteous to his suppliers, you should have no problem with your own renovation project.

While taking estimates, it is important to see how well you and the contractor communicate. If they are difficult when answering questions, the process of working with them may also become difficult.

Home Project Continues this March

slowly building a second home.

Goodbye February!  Hello March! I was not so feeling good when I woke-up this morning. I was having a headache and  good to know I am feeling very better now. I am not really a coffee drinker but I decided to drink a very strong coffee to ease the  pain in my head. I believed, caffeine really helps in getting rid of headache. I already tried it a lot of times and it works.

Just an hour ago, I was chatting with my family back home. The chat was especially about the home project that is going on in my home country. I guess, I am already slowly getting ready for my come back. Not really now, but in the years to come..when things get better and I already have the resources I need to be backed home for good.

The home project started last year in November. This is quite a big project. The construction of  another house was put into reality. Last year in summer, already I started working. I told myself, I want to build another  home near the city and with the salary I get, I want to see something from it.   This home project is not in a hurry. Hopefully in 3-5 years,  the house will be finished.

Thanks to the decision of buying a lot near Cebu City.   During that time, the price of the land was still  affordable. As of now, the location of the property is  getting more expensive because there are already a lot of houses, apartments and subdivision in the area.

Thanks to the trusted brother who is managing the construction. Without him, this will never be possible. Thanks also to the siblings from the USA, who are also helping especially with the finances.

Hopefully in the next vacation in the Philippines, we don't need anymore  to stay in a hotel in Cebu City.  This home project  might be partially finished. I hope, it  is  done when we go there for another holiday.

This time, I have to avoid shopping to invest more for this realty project. By doing it, I can have something for the future especially when I go home for good.

Cheers and I wish everyone a fruitful and wonderful month of March. God bless us all!