22Sep 2021 by admin

Fall Maintenance Checklist for Your Home

Tips

Today is the first day of Fall. As the season begins to change, it's time to start preparing your home for the winter weather. Tackling a few fall maintenance tasks for your home now can help you later in the season, so you can enjoy the fall colors. Most of the tasks can be done by the homeowner or if you'd rather hire a professional to handle them, it is well worth the expense. Outdoor Fall Maintenance for Your Home Clean the Gutter and Spouts This is an ongoing fall chore that you shouldn't overlook — clean all those wet autumn leaves from gutter spouts before the blockages damage your gutters. Your plumber's snake is a great tool for pulling clumps of wet leaves out of clogged downspouts.…

06Aug 2021 by admin

6 Stages of a Construction Project

construction

For every construction project, there is a process that needs to be followed to ensure a successful outcome. They vary based on size, budget, and completion date. Below are the 6 stages of a construction project and what you should know about them: 1. Concept Conception typically begins with the client. Depending on the project, the conception stage might vary. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months or more. 2. Design Now it’s time to talk about the design. This is still a preliminary stage and designs can change. Once the design is approved, the bidding process begins. There are normally four different steps within the design stage. 1. Feasibility – All of the objectives of the project need to be outlined. Several…

15Jul 2021 by admin

Tips for Designing Your Home Office

Tips

Whether your home office is a remote workspace or a designated space for running a business, your office should be designed to be functional and comfortable. An efficient home office should have three activity areas: • Work Center – includes your workspace, computer, printer/scanner, and other frequently-used office products. • Reference Center - includes industry books, binders, manuals, and materials. • Supply Center -includes office and paper supplies, such as paper, stapler, paper clips, and more. When setting up hardware, be conscious of access to drives, trays, and cords. Don't block access to drawers or take up legroom with tangled cords. Don't forget to label the cords that connect different components to each other, as well as the cord to the electric supply. Bundle wires together to cut down on…

24Jun 2021 by admin

Summer Safety Tips for Contractors

Tips

Summer in the Midwest is a wonderful time of the year. The days are longer, and the weather is warmer — the busiest construction season of the year. It is also a time when general contractors and subcontractors need to add extra safety practices for their crew from the dangers of summer. Heat-related illnesses, such as sunburn, heatstroke, and dehydration, are major concerns for employees working outdoors. They can lead to fatigue and could cause human error and pose a safety risk. And a lack of hydration can cause heat exhaustion. Symptoms include excessive sweating, nausea, dizziness, clammy skin, and headaches. Without treatment, heat exhaustion will set in when the body’s core temperature reaches 104 degrees and can lead to death. Keep Your Workers Hydrated Provide your workers with…

26May 2021 by admin

Construction Materials, Jobs, and More

News

The cost of construction materials and services accelerated again last month according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Some contractor’s materials are delayed. Association officials urged the Biden administration to roll back tariffs and quotas on imported construction materials that are adding to costs and availability problems. Prices for Construction Materials Surge Prices for materials used in construction have surged in the last year. Items with especially steep price increases over the past year ranged from lumber to metals to plastics. According to Associated General Contractors of America, lumber and plywood increased 85.7 percent from April 2020 to April 2021. But according to Business Insider, lumber prices rose by more than 250% in the last year. The National Association of Homebuilders said the increases added more than…

30Apr 2021 by admin

Transform Your Backyard Into Outdoor Living Space

Tips

Are you thinking of transforming your backyard into an outdoor living space? There are a lot of factors to consider when designing your outdoor living room—space, climate, and budget. There are plenty of ideas that can enhance almost every outdoor area. It’s easy to maximize outside living spaces with these design tips! Create an Outdoor Living Room Comfy chairs and sofas, a place to set your drink, and an emphasis on family and friends gathering are really all it takes to create an outdoor living room. But when it comes to patio furniture setup ideas, having multiple areas for people to sit is one of the best. This can make your backyard seem bigger, and it helps create separate areas for entertaining. Plants and outdoor rugs can create more…

23Mar 2021 by admin

What are the Advantages of Building a Home?

Albrite Building Services

Last month, fewer than 17,000 single-family homes were listed for sale in the Chicago area, the lowest number since 2008, according to Midwest Real Estate Data. A year ago, there were 32,600 homes listed for sale in February 2020. There are so many buyers and not as many homes for sale. Because of the lack of inventory, home sales and prices are surging. More than 7,000 homes were sold in the Chicagoland area in February, up 14.7% from February 2020. The median sales price rose 12.5%, according to the Illinois Association of Realtors. People are saying that there are not enough homes on the market that suits their needs. Buyers love variety, and there is not an assortment of homes to choose from. Some homebuyers are looking to have their…

26Feb 2021 by admin

Interior Design Apps to Help you Budget and Plan

Tips

These interior design apps help you brainstorm, budget, and plan your next renovation or room design for the home or office. Use technology to get creative with your next interior design project. Renovating your home, office, or even building a new addition, is best done with some planning. Fortunately, plenty of apps are available for your smartphone or tablet to help with the design, planning, professional consultation and even buying stages of freshening up space. Houzz has a great reputation for helping people plan for home remodeling and design, as well as providing access to a network of professionals and home decor products. The Houzz app offers access to your saved idea books and 3D virtual room staging. App users can also participate in discussions with other users and professionals…

30Dec 2020 by admin

Redesigning Your Office Space

Albrite Building Services

Redesigning your office space is always an exciting project but starting something new isn’t always easy. Redesigning an office involves careful planning and a budget. Businesses often wonder just how often they should be thinking about redesigning their office. While many things in life should be done in very routine intervals, office redesigns don’t fall into the same category. Instead of thinking of it in terms of how long it has been since your last redesign, it’s more important to look for other signs that it might be time to reconsider the design of your office. Does Your Office Space Reflect Your Brand? If a client visits your office for the first time, what kind of impression do they get from your office space? If companies design their office…

30Nov 2020 by admin

Albrite Building: New Home Builder and Remodeling Company

Albrite Building Services

More residents are moving out of Chicago and looking to build a new home in the suburbs. Others are purchasing homes and remodeling the kitchen, basement, and office space. Albrite Building is a new home builder and remodeling company located in the western suburbs. As working remotely continues for many businesses, city folks are weighing the risks of being in densely populated areas. Spending extra time at home and wanting more indoor and outdoor space is certainly sparking interest among city folks. Data shows a trend of moving to the suburbs. According to Zillow, there is a current surge in the larger cities’ high-end listings in some larger metro areas. The increase in these homes going on the market indicates more homeowners may be ready to make a move out…