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Reflective Barrier-Type Roof Sheathing and Fires

If your house has any of the several reflective barrier-type roof sheathing products applied, you should be aware of the information in these two articles written by McDowell Owens Engineering, Inc., USA.

Unusual-Behavior-of-Radiant-Barrier-Materials-in-Fire-Causation

Reflective-Radiant-Barriers-Article-II

How to file a Texas property tax protest — and why you must

Take some action for a change and shake things up at the tax man’s place:

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2017/04/20/file-texas-property-tax-protest-must

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional for Your Home Improvement Project?

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional for Your Home Improvement Project?

Yes, do it yourself home improvement can be fun, as well as can save you money for renovation services provided by professionals. But there are some factors which you might want to consider before grabbing that toolbox and starting your home improvement. In some cases, it is recommended that you leave the work to the professionals because repairs of your mistakes can turn out to be more costly than hiring builders to complete your renovation in the first place. Also, safety is another matter which you should take seriously before attempting a DIY home improvement project. For example, do you know what safety footwear would you need for your next home improvement job. According to the footwear website My Bootprint knowing the hazards and how to avoid them is a must. Dangers include slipping, breaking a toe from a falling or rolling object, suffering electric shock.

So, here are some factors which you may want to consider when facing the dilemma of hiring a professional or doing it yourself:

• Do you know what materials and tools you need for completing your project – the quantity, quality, and type?
• Do you have the skill set and experience to complete the job by yourself? For electrical work, plumbing, roofing and some other complicated tasks you may seriously want to consider hiring a subcontractor or licensed professional to do complete them. You can stick to simpler tasks such as painting and others.
• Do you know how long this project will take you and do you have the time and the energy to complete it by yourself? This, of course, depends on the numbers of hours you work or other time-consuming activities you perform on a daily basis. Your age, health, and fitness level are also crucial for determining whether you have the energy and stamina to do it yourself.
• 

  Are you ready to handle the legal issues, such as getting permits and licenses, as well as – are you aware of what your local regulations and rules for home improvement are? If your answer is no, then you may want to hire a professional to handle the permits and licenses and to make sure that the renovations or reconstructions are done in accordance with all local laws.

• Is the task dangerous, can it kill you and can it destroy your home? If the answer to these questions is “yes”, then make sure you hire a professional to do the job safely and efficiently.
• If the job is done poorly it could affect the value of your property. Badly done work reduces the price drastically, so keep this in mind as well.
• Make sure that the price of your labor is worth it. Calculate your hourly “wage” for the DIY job, and make sure that hiring a professional won’t be cheaper.
• Always keep in mind that if you make a mistake during your renovation, getting it fixed by professionals can be costly. Even more expensive than hiring them to do the job in the first place. So, do consider this risk as well before proceeding to DIY renovate.

Please, keep in mind that picking between hiring a professional or DIY innovation work is not just a matter of saving a few dollars. It is also a matter of time, your safety and the safety of your home so pick wisely.

Written by M.Pierce – Mike is an outdoor enthusiast, footwear fanatic, and coffee-addict. He runs two websites dedicated to quality footwear – My Bootprint with special focus on work boots, and Shoematters.com – a site focused on comfortable footwear for different activities.

Immigration Reform and the Leadership Gap

Home builders need to step up to the plate and lead the way to real immigration reform.

https://www.probuilder.com/immigration-reform-and-leadership-gap

Yet Another Texas Builder Ripoff

Bella Vita Custom Homes Bites the Dust Leaving a Trail of Damaged Homeowners

http://kxan.com/investigative-story/shattered-dream-homes/

Going Postal . . .

Client Farhan Khan sent this link to me today. I thought you ought to be made aware.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/mckinney-homeowners-frustrated-over-lack-of-mail-delivery/258652358

Dream Homes Turn Into Nightmares

http://abc.go.com/shows/nightline/episode-guide/2016-11/16-111616-new-home-heartbreak-when-dream-homes-turn-into-nightmares

Another Texas Ripoff Builder

I’ve been preaching about Texas builders for decades. It’s nice when the media occasionally chime in on the same frequency. People don’t believe anything if they don’t read it in the newspaper or see it on TV.

Luxury Homebuilder Ripoff

When Builders were Carpenters – and Trusted

Nowadays builders are nothing but corporations or job site managers (construction expediters). Once upon a time builders were first and foremost carpenters. Only when they rose to the top of that venerable profession were they considered builders. Times have certainly changed.

When Builders were Carpenters

Uses Of Metal We Don’t Often Think Of

Uses Of Metal We Don’t Often Think Of

We all know that precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum have uses in jewelry, and more common metals are used in things like construction and in building machines. However, there may be some ways metals are used in your everyday life that you don’t even notice. Here are five ways you use metals every single day without thinking about it.

1. Electronics

You probably know that your phone has some metal in it; the exterior might even be made of metal completely! What you may not know is that metal is what allows all of your electronics to function, phone included. Without it, there would be no computer, no television, no cellular phones, and no refrigerators.

Because metal is so great at conducting electricity, more common metals like lead and copper are widely used in the production of electronics. If copper did not exist, who knows how technology may have evolved?

2. Medicine and Body Functionality

We need metals in our body, though when applicable to the body they are normally called minerals. They help our brains communicate with the rest of our bodies through the nervous system as well as help us absorb oxygen into the bloodstream.

Minerals like sodium, magnesium, and potassium are essential to our functionality, and are all technically metals! These minerals are used in a wide variety of medicines, but especially in vitamin and mineral supplements. If you ever eat a deliciously greasy burger and need to pop an antacid, remember that you owe your heartburn relief to metal.

3. Farming

If you eat regularly, you rely on metal every single day. The agriculture business was expanded ten-fold when tools like tractors were introduced, which (surprise) are made of metals like steel and iron. The efficiency formed by these new tools is responsible for affordable food. Even small-business farmers need metal tools for moving the soil and planting seeds. These metal tools are durable and make the farming process a lot more efficient.

4. The Bullion Market

Metals are an important factor in the economy as well. Many people choose to invest their money in metal stocks and can end up making fortunes off of it. Because of metal’s versatility, it is always in demand, giving the economy stability. It is considered one of the safer options for investors because of how much we use it in everyday life. Some countries’ economies completely depend on their metal exports!

5. Lighting

While lighting could technically be considered an electronic because electricity has to flow through it, the role that metal plays in lighting is actually a little different. Artificial lighting is completely dependent on metal; tungsten is responsible for a light bulb’s ability to give off stable light. When the tungsten filament is heated up, it gives off light that you can use to brighten up your home, your car, and your workplace. These filaments are connected to other metals that conduct heat well enough to make the tungsten give off light. In turn, these are connected to other metals that allow electricity to flow through the light bulb.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Federal Steel Supply, Inc., a leading supplier of carbon, alloy and stainless steel pipe, tube, fittings and flanges.