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Paving & Driveways Tips & Tricks

Archives May 2021

SLAS Asphalt versus Concrete Driveways  Which is Best

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Asphalt and concrete are the most popular types of material for paving driveways. Asphalt driveways and concrete driveways both have their unique advantages.


Asphalt versus Concrete Driveway, Asphalt paved driveway, Concrete Driveway, Asphalt Driveway

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Asphalt and concrete are the most popular types of material for paving driveways. Asphalt driveways and concrete driveways both have their unique advantages. If you live in a cold climate and are considering a concrete driveway you need to make sure the base for the driveway is heavily laid with gravel and it is compacted first. Otherwise the driveway will run the risk of cracking due to frost heaves. In addition, concrete is susceptible to salt damage, a material frequently used on roads in cold weather parts of the country. On the other hand, if you live in a warm or hot climate and are considering asphalt paving, then you need to consider the fact that asphalt can become soft in the hot sun and is therefore susceptible to ruts.

Asphalt paved driveways are typically cheaper to install than concrete paved driveways. However, asphalt paved driveways need significant more care over time to protect them. Asphalt paved driveways need to be sealed at least once every 3-5 years. Each sealing, though easily completed by a do it yourself homeowner, costs money and time. In addition, the sealer needs typically 2-3 days to dry before you can park a vehicle on it. Also, a newly asphalt paved driveway should not be sealed for at least 6-9 months, as the light oils associated with the asphalt need to evaporate first. If an asphalt driveway is sealed too soon it will remain soft forever.

Asphalt driveways do not need to be always black and concrete driveways do not always need to be off-white. Both asphalt and concrete driveways can be tinted to various colors. Check with your prospective paving contractors first to see what color options there are for your driveway project.

Asphalt driveways, if maintained can typically last 25-30 years. Concrete driveways can last even longer. However, both require a solid foundation to be laid on. If not laid on a solid foundation both will crack over time, especially in colder weather climates. Asphalt cracks are easier to repair than concrete driveway cracks.

Consideration for the slope of the driveway should also be considered when contemplating concrete driveways. Over time, concrete driveways can shear off of the foundation they are poured on which can lead to unwanted cracks.

If you are planning a new asphalt driveway and need help on how to hire an Asphalt Driveway Paving Contractor, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid sheet. The Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid sheet will help ensure that your hire the right contractor so that your driveway is paved correctly and you get the finished driveway you are looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that the installation of your driveway will be accomplished on time and on budget!

SLAS Posh Pool Table Covers  The Latest Trend In Customized D cor

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The Advantage of Using Pool Table Covers

As anyone who owns a pool or billiards table (http://www.houston-pool-tables.com/) can tell you, the decorative game table is usually considered a prized possession, as well as the focus of the room in which it is kept. Maintaining the beauty and functionality of the pool table means keeping it free of spills, stains and damage. The ongoing quality of your pool table can be significantly increased through the use of pool table cover…


table cover, pool, decoration, style

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The Advantage of Using Pool Table Covers

As anyone who owns a pool or billiards table (http://www.houston-pool-tables.com/) can tell you, the decorative game table is usually considered a prized possession, as well as the focus of the room in which it is kept. Maintaining the beauty and functionality of the pool table means keeping it free of spills, stains and damage. The ongoing quality of your pool table can be significantly increased through the use of pool table covers . Available in a wide range of styles, materials and prices, pool table covers are a wise investment for any serious pool table owner.

Types of Pool Table Covers

Pool table covers are sold in a variety of materials and styles. Regardless of your room decoration or budgetary concerns, finding a pool table cover to fit your needs is a simple process. All you need to know is the dimensions of your pool table and you’re all set. Standard pool table covers come in sizes ranging from 7ft to 9ft, but customized, fitted covers are also an option to consider. While many covers come in the traditional green of pool felt, more expressive colors and patterned pool table covers are the latest trend. To begin your search, you should decide which cover material best suits your d cor, your personal style and your budget. Typical cover materials include:

* Basic vinyl  As the most cost-effective solution, basic vinyl table protectors are available in multiple color options. Providing protection for the delicate fabric of the table surface from drink spills, leaking water and pet hair, vinyl pool table covers main feature is functionality.

* Heavy vinyl  If you typically have frequent guests and provide entertainment in the room where your pool table is located, you might want to consider a heavier vinyl cover for added durability.

* Cloth  While cloth pool table covers don’t offer as much protection as vinyl, they do provide a more aesthetic presentation. Typical fabrics include crushed velvet, suede and satin type material that add a luxurious element to your game room. Cloth table covers are available in many different colors to suit your palette and can also feature pool-themed patterns.

* Leather/Leatherette  Top-of-the-line pool table covers are those fashioned from leather and leatherette materials. Featuring both durability and good looks, leather style pool table covers add elegance to any room.

Customized Pool Table Covers and Other Options

Aside from the vast array of standard pool table covers , you also have the option of having a customized pool table cover created to fit your table. You can select the material, the color and the proportions and the cover will be created to exact specifications. The fitted corners of a custom pool table cover provide additional protection for the wood, as well as decreasing the chances of the cover slipping off. Your pool table is an investment, don’t let careless treatment ruin the beauty and use you can get out it for years to come.

SLAS Ask for Professional Help When Removing Bats from Your Home!

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Did you know that eating up to 600 mosquitoes each in an hour, bats are the best insect control there is? There is little in nature more invigorating than watching bats flutter about at dusk, occasionally dive-bombing the insects that annoy us so much. Even so, very few of us are willing to let bats make their homes in our homes, apartments, or other buildings.


commercial bat control, get bats out, bat control, bat removal, pest control bats, bat guano clean up

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Did you know that eating up to 600 mosquitoes each in an hour, bats are the best insect control there is? There is little in nature more invigorating than watching bats flutter about at dusk, occasionally dive-bombing the insects that annoy us so much. Even so, very few of us are willing to let bats make their homes in our homes, apartments, or other buildings.

Unlike mice, bats do not chew holes in buildings. They really dont have to! It takes a space less than an inch wide for a bat to easily come in or out of a building. So holes to the roof or walls are not damage caused by bats. Rather, there are more insidious risks of bats inhabiting our spaces like: the spread of disease, the bat mites and the structural damage (because of their urine and dung).

Ignoring the bat control (humane, live, professional) problem, it will not go away. Bats will not go away. Instead, they will proliferate and cause more damage over the years. Also, it is highly recommend that you avoid handling the bats yourself. If you must, please keep in mind that bats are legally protected! Killing them can result in large fines. Second, two percent of bats carry rabies. Bats mouths and teeth are very small, and a bite mark may not be detected. Any contact with bats should be treated as a possible exposure to rabies. If you exclude them effectively, they will try to find their way back in over the next several nights (be aware of windows that are not properly screened). Bats are persistent, driven by instinct.

Even a professional bat removal (exclusion, extermination, performed by a technician with years of experience, can result in bats ending up inside the building or house. Also, remember some bats do migrate – other species hibernate in their nest. Sealing up your house in late fall after you think they’ve migrated should only be done if the species has been confidently identified. Otherwise, you and the bats will have a surprise next spring.

The most logical route to go is calling a professional pest control bats company. A professional in this area will know just how to find the holes bats use. He will then get bats out (house, building, school, warehouse, attic) by inserting specially designed doors in the holes that allow the bats to leave, but not re-enter. After a few days, when he is sure the bats are all excluded from the building, he will close up all the holes so that the bats (and any other creatures looking for a cozy home) will not be able to enter. At that point, the bat guano clean up (histoplasmosis, danger, toxic, safe, disease) and urine and the control of the bat mites can be completed, making the area available and safe for removal and repair of any damaged property.

It is possible that your local pest control company does some bat work ‘on the side’. Bat exclusion is a very specialized niche – much different from regular pest issues. To safely and properly handle bat work, a company must work from ladders and/or manlifts. Knowledge of construction standards and codes is important to prevent sealing up areas incorrectly that allow a building to vent properly.

By calling in a commercial bat control (removal, exclusion) professional, the owner has saved himself the hassle and expense of hiring exterminators, the risk of exposure of his employees to disease, and additional expense of further property devaluation.

In the end, bats are wild, persistent animals. There is no substitute for experience!

SLAS Portals To Safety And Savings

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Savvy homeowners are discovering they can open their home to safety and a wealth of other benefits with the help of impact-resistant windows and doors.


Portals To Safety And Savings

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Savvy homeowners are discovering they can open their home to safety and a wealth of other benefits with the help of impact-resistant windows and doors.

The same technology that helps protect a home from a hurricane can also help prevent a burglar from breaking in, significantly reduce outdoor noise, block 99 percent of UV rays and cut energy costs.

The laminated glass in impact-resistant windows and doors is incredibly difficult to penetrate, deterring smash-and-grab break-ins. The products aren’t guaranteed to stop a burglar but they can be a key part of a multi-tiered security strategy recommended by experts.

“Customers tell us they value all of the added benefits, but the security aspect is especially important,” said Cara Klein of PGT, manufacturer of WinGuard Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors. “Some homeowners cite busy schedules, which leave their homes vacant for extended hours, or protection for a vacation home, and others just appreciate the extra peace of mind.”

Arguably, time and visibility are burglars’ worst enemies, so a good strategy is to slow them down and cause them to draw attention. Some tips: Install motion detectors, but make sure you can see them go off from inside your house. Plant roses or thorny shrubs beneath windows to make them less inviting and keep landscaping trimmed so there’s no place to hide.

Of course, if after beating your windows and doors with objects such as a crowbar, propane gas tank and even a concrete pillar, burglars still can’t get in, then you’ve definitely outsmarted them. That was the case for a couple in Florida with WinGuard. They arrived home to find burglars had tried to break into nearly every window and door.

“I wish I could have seen the point where they [the burglars] threw up their hands and said, ‘The heck with this house. I’m never coming back,'” said homeowner Martha Thomas.

The company’s windows also stood up to an attempted break-in at a vacation home in North Carolina. Again, a crowbar was the weapon of choice. Now, homeowner Robert Frank jokes that he plans to install an alarm not to keep burglars out, but just to help him make sure all of the windows are shut. “As long as our windows are closed and locked, no one should be able to get in,” said Frank.

SLAS Asbestos Test  Searching The Hazardous Substance

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Asbestos is used as a building material due to its lightness and durability. It is hazardous to health because asbestos particles in the air form lung depositions and increase the risk of respiratory tract diseases including mesothelioma cancers and lung cancer. The asbestos test is performed on Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) that have asbestos percentage ranging from zero to hundred percent. Laboratories do the asbestos test through polarized light microscopy at an EPA …

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Asbestos is used as a building material due to its lightness and durability. It is hazardous to health because asbestos particles in the air form lung depositions and increase the risk of respiratory tract diseases including mesothelioma cancers and lung cancer. The asbestos test is performed on Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) that have asbestos percentage ranging from zero to hundred percent. Laboratories do the asbestos test through polarized light microscopy at an EPA approved testing laboratory.

The asbestos test is done to find the various forms of hazardous asbestos in our surroundings. Chysotile, Amosite and Crocidolite are the commercially viable forms of asbestos. Anthophyllite, Tremolite and Actinolite are less commercially viable. Chysotile (white asbestos) constitutes a major portion of buildings in the United States while Amosite (brown asbestos) is given second preference and Crocidolite (blue asbestos) is used for specialized high temperature applications.
Sampling for Asbestos Test

The role of asbestos test lab is to advice on the amount and procedure of taking samples and the use of right container for asbestos testing. This is very important because the wrong use of sampling process may release asbestos particles leading to increased exposure risks. Hence, it is necessary to take the help of qualified asbestos professional for sampling.

Follow the safety precautions if you are doing the sampling for asbestos test on your own. Switch off any heating or cooling system and spray fine mist of water containing a little detergent on the suspicious material. The spray of detergent water prevents spreading of asbestos particles. Wear disposable gloves before handling the material. Take recommended sample amount using a small knife or any sharp object and place it in a clean airtight container indicating the date and place of sampling. While taking the sample of asbestos test, cover the surrounding area with plastic sheet and clean with a damp paper towel after sampling. Carefully dispose the material according to the state and local procedures and patch the sampled area with a duct tape to avoid further release of asbestos particles.

SLAS Portable Generator Safety Tips

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Portable generators are great to have when the power goes out. But when using a generator, there are three dangers that you need to


portable generator

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Portable generators are great to have when the power goes out. But when using a generator, there are three dangers that you need to know about in order to avoid them. They are electric shock, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, and fire.

When using a generator there is a chance of getting electrocuted. Make sure to keep your generator dry and if it rainy or wet don’t use. Operate your generator on a dry surface under an open, roof-like unit. Don’t touch the generator unless your hands are dry.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning occurs when you inhale your generators toxic exhaust. Most important, is to never use a generator indoors. This includes: inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space or any partial or enclosed area which is connected to your living space. Using a fan, or opening windows and doors is not enough to prevent CO build-up.

Finally, preventing fires while using your portable generator can be done easily. Propane, gasoline, kerosene, and any other flammable liquids should be brought outside for storage. All containers should be properly labeled.

Don’t store fuel near any fuel burning appliance like a gas water heater. Invisible fumes can move along the ground if fuel is spilled. It can then be lit by the appliance’s pilot light. Lastly, turn your generator off and wait for it to cool down before refueling. Spilt fuel could ignite on a hot engine.

SLAS Portable Air Conditioners Review

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When most people think of portable air conditioners, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to portable air conditioners than just the basics.


Portable Air Conditioners

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When most people think of portable air conditioners, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to portable air conditioners than just the basics.

With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site.

The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home.

A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier.

In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used.

Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need.

The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about portable air conditioners.

SLAS Asbestos Roof Tile: Steps To Avoid Health Hazards

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Introduction:

Asbestos rooftile is basically an Asbstos contaminated roofing material. It is made up of natural minerals that are fiberous in nature.Fiberous quality of Asbestos was considered useful in various building materials. For examplePipe insulation,floortile, and fireproofing. Other roofing products such as shingles,tars,pitch and roof tiles were also prepared with the help of asbestos.

Dangers of Asbestos Roof Tile:

Asbestos roof tile are hazardous for hea…

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Introduction:

Asbestos rooftile is basically an Asbstos contaminated roofing material. It is made up of natural minerals that are fiberous in nature.Fiberous quality of Asbestos was considered useful in various building materials. For examplePipe insulation,floortile, and fireproofing. Other roofing products such as shingles,tars,pitch and roof tiles were also prepared with the help of asbestos.

Dangers of Asbestos Roof Tile:

Asbestos roof tile are hazardous for health because asbestos particles released from the tiles could cause respiratory health hazards.These health hazards occur when respirable fibres are released into the air and then inhaled in your body. Materials that contains Asbestos are divided into two categories Friable (able to be reduced to a powder by hand pressure) and non-friable . Usage of NonFriable asbestos containing materials is not that harmful because , they do not release dangerous asbetos fiber into the air. This class of materials does not relase fibers unless you impact them mechanically with the help of tools, drills and saws.

Protection Steps:

Five steps of protection are helpful to prevent asbestos fiber release during removal of asbestos roof tile. At the first step, roofing materials must be mixed with non-friable materials (tar, pitch, asphalt). This mixing hardens the asbestos fibers, prevents their release, and avoids inhalation. The second step includes the safe methods of removal wherein only hand made tools like shovels and hammers are used to strip the roofing material from the building. Third step recommends that asbestos should be made wet before disturbing it. Fourth step of protection covers how the materials are handled during and after removal. Fifth step says that workers removing the roofing materials should be trained and certified in accordance with an EPA recognized training program.

Regulations for Asbestos Roof tile Removal:

According to OSHA regulations all persons working with asbestos containing materials should wear respiratory and other personal protection equipment during the removal process. There are diffrent state and even federal regulations that regulate the removal of asbetsos roof tiles and other asbestops containing materials.

SLAS Asbestos Removal Process

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Learn about the asbestos removal process and safeguard yourself against contracting mesothelioma.


Mesothelioma, asbestos, cancer litigation, cancer

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Asbestos has long been known to be tied with mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer that spurs the development of tumors on linings surrounding vital organs. Asbestos, while not used in construction today, is still known to be contained within numerous old structures, among them schools and older factories. Although not dangerous in a non-agitated state, its still a bit worrisome knowing that many buildings still contain the dangerous material, whose fibers can be dispersed into the air during lackluster constructions projects or accidents (such as fires or earthquakes).

If you know your home or your business structure contains asbestos, it might be time to remove it. The asbestos removal process is quite lengthy and complicated. Special steps are taken to completely eliminate the possibility of asbestos fibers being release into the air. If such an event would occur, the asbestos fibers would put everyone in the immediate vicinity in danger of contracting mesothelioma. This fibers are difficult to detect as they are microscopic and arent accompanied by any particular taste or smell. The dangers that the removal process entails have recently been subject to controversy. Many are against removing asbestos from older buildings as a result of the problems which could ensue as a result of improper removal.

Many companies worldwide have already taken the initiative to remove asbestos from older buildings. Even the government has been involved in contracting with companies to remove asbestos. The controversy surrounding removal is not likely to subside anytime soon. However, people will soon need to begin understanding that the risks involved in removal may far outweigh those involved in keeping the asbestos as-is. In the end, it is the choice of a the specific owner of a structure whether he or she wishes to remove the asbestos that may be contained within the structure. While this decision is not always straight-forward, it is agreeably necessary.

SLAS Portable Air Conditioner  A Recommended Cooling Option

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A portable air conditioner is different from a window air conditioning unit. You can move a portable air conditioner from one room to another. A portable air conditioner gives you the option of mobile cooling. Moving it is not a problem as it has small wheels and can be easily maneuvered in and around the house.

The pros and cons of a portable air conditioner are as follows:

The Pros
1.You do not have to make a hole in your wall for a portable air conditioner. In addit…


air conditioners,air cooling

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A portable air conditioner is different from a window air conditioning unit. You can move a portable air conditioner from one room to another. A portable air conditioner gives you the option of mobile cooling. Moving it is not a problem as it has small wheels and can be easily maneuvered in and around the house.

The pros and cons of a portable air conditioner are as follows:

The Pros
1.You do not have to make a hole in your wall for a portable air conditioner. In addition, it does not spoil the view of your window.
2.No need to buy or mount a separate air conditioner for each wall as this can be moved from room to room.
3.Is much cheaper than a central air conditioner.

The Cons
1.It is definitely noisier than a ductless air conditioner as it is a self-contained unit and the compressor is within the main unit itself.
2.Slightly higher in costs. The difference is slight.
3.The hot air must be vented outside via a pipe or through the door.

Energy Efficiency and Other Costs
A portable air conditioner is as energy efficient as a window air conditioner. Recent developments have increased the EER (energy efficiency ratio) of portable air conditioners to 12 whereas earlier anything up to 6 or 7 was considered good. If you choose an air conditioner with an energy star, it means that this meets the standards set by the US environmental Protection agency.

You can buy a standard unit for around $300. If you pay more, you can get more energy efficient varieties. So even if you pay more now, you are going to be saving a lot of money via you energy bills. Therefore, it is a good bargain in the end.

What capacity do I need for my bedroom?
Although a company representative will visit your place and advice you on the type you require for your bedroom, it is still better to have a bit of information on the same. You can buy a one having a capacity of 8000BTU for a room having an area of 300 sq ft.