General Rules for Smoke Detector Installation

Posted on November 6, 2018 by admin

There are two main types of smoke detector technologies accepted today: ionization smoke alarms and photoelectric smoke alarms. Continue reading to learn about each type of smoke detecting device, as well as, the general rule of thumb for installing smoke detection systems in your home or building.

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Smoke Alarm Technology

Photoelectric smoke alarms use light coupled with a sensor to detect smoke. When smoke enters the chamber, it causes the light to scatter, which triggers the alarm to ring. In contrast, ionization smoke alarms are designed containing a minor amount of radioactive material that ionizes the space between two electrically charged plates, which then stimulates a current to flow between them. When smoke enters the chamber of the device, the current that keeps the ions flowing becomes disrupted, which sets off the alarm.

U.S. Fire Administration Recommendation

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 96% of all homes have ionization smoke alarm systems. However, they strongly recommended to have both types of alarms installed in your home or office. That is because they each use a specific technology that detects different types of smoke and fire, giving you a faster alert and reaction rate. For instance, photoelectric smoke alarms are good at detecting smoldering fires, while ionization smoke alarms react faster to the smoke produced by flaming fires.

Tips for Smoke Detector Installation

You can purchase two different types of smoke alarm systems, but you also have the option of choosing a dual sensor smoke detector with both ionization and photoelectric technology. Once you have your chosen smoke detectors, you are ready to install them. If you are not familiar with handyman work, it is recommended to hire a licensed Indianapolis general contractor for help ensuring your systems are installed properly and up to code. If you are an experienced handyman, you will just need to follow some important rules.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests that a smoke alarm should be installed in every bedroom of the home, as well as, outside of each sleeping quarters, on each level of the home, and even the basement. On the main floors where there are no bedrooms, smoke alarms should be installed in a central area, as well as, the near the stairs to the upper and lower levels of the home.

For smoke alarms that are designed for wall mounting, be sure to install them high on the wall, but no more than a foot away from the ceiling. Ceiling smoke alarms should be strictly used for ceilings only. Avoid mounting smoke detectors within 36 inches of hot kitchen appliances to prevent false alerts. Furthermore, do not install them near doors, windows, or vents; air currents can interrupt the devices ability to detect smoke or fire.

A very important rule of thumb that is also strongly recommended by the NFPA is to have all your smoke alarms interconnected; this way, when one is set off, all others are set off at the same time, thus increasing reaction times. This can be done either by hard-wiring or wireless technology. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, it is suggested to hire a professional for help installing your smoke detector systems in your home or office.

Indianapolis Handyman Services

Residential and Commercial Remodeling
317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 for residential and commercial Indianapolis handyman assistance at the most competitive prices. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer all your questions about home remodel planning, prices, and process. And don’t forget; we guarantee to BEAT any prices quoted by our competition!

Quick Guide to Caulk Removal Around the Bathtub

Posted on August 15, 2018 by admin

The good news is that you are ready to re-caulk an area of your home that has been bothering you for quite some time. The bad news is that you have to first remove the old caulk around the tub before you can apply the new stuff, which can take some time. Now the better news is that the bad news isn’t so bad; removing old caulk can be done all on your own in just a short series of easy steps!

Continue reading to review a quick guide to removing old caulk around the bathtub, including what you should do if the job proves to be too big for you to manage.

Home Remodeling and Handyman Services 317-454-3612

What You Will Need

All of the supplies and tools you will need to remove caulk can be found at any local home improvement or hardware store. They are all reasonably priced too, so you don’t have to worry about spending outside of your budget to complete your caulking project. Here is what you will need:

🛁 Tub-and-Tile Caulk
🛁 Caulk Remover Product
🛁 Needle-Nose Pliers
🛁 Utility Knife
🛁 Putty Knife (or use the hook-end of a 5-in-1 painter’s tool)
🛁 Trash Bin
🛁 Work Gloves
🛁 Paint Brush (or foam brush)
🛁 Non-Ammoniated Bath Cleaner
🛁 Bleach
🛁 Water
🛁 Plastic Scrubbing Pad
🛁 Cloth or Rag

How to Get Started

The first step is to soften the old caulk with your caulk remover product. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions before applying the caulk remover to the old caulk.

Once the old caulk is soft, use your utility knife to slice through it, directly. Be sure the blade is fresh. Most of the old caulk should fall off easily.

Special Note: If there are extra layers of old caulk, or it is just very thick, you may need to pull it free from the joint using needle-nose pliers.

After you have removed most of the old caulk, use your putty knife or painter’s tool to rake away the rest of the remaining chunks from the joint.

With the old caulk gone, you are now ready to cleanse and disinfect the surface area. You can use a non-ammoniated bath cleaner to remove soap scum and more. Do not use cleaner with ammonia because it can produce dangerous toxic fumes when combined with bleach.

After you have removed soap scum and dirt, check for mildew. If you see mold or mildew, combine 1/3 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water, and use your paint brush to apply it directly to the affected surface.

After you apply the bleach solution, use your plastic scrubbing pad to remove any mold and mildew present. Next, rinse the area with water and dry it thoroughly with a clean rag.

Now you are ready to apply your new caulk!

What To Do if the Job is Too Big

Residential and Commercial Remodeling
317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 for Indianapolis home handyman services at competitive prices. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer all your questions about home remodel planning, prices, and process. And don’t forget; we guarantee to BEAT any prices quoted by our competition! Request a written estimate, today.

5 Ways You Can Be Your Own Handyman Around the House

Posted on March 6, 2018 by admin

With a few simple, every day, around-the-house items, you can repair these 5 things in your home!

There are some areas around the house that are commonly neglected because they are easy to put on the back burner. Things like scuff marks, clogged drains, carpet dents, squeaky doors, and nail holes in walls are frustrating and unsightly, but fortunately, they are easy to fix. And best of all, you can fix them on your own in most cases! Continue reading to learn how you can repair these 5 areas all on your own, and for with items you already have laying around the house!

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❶ Clogged Sink Drains

Regardless of personal experience, anyone can repair a clogged sink drain. On the other hand, sometimes a professional plumber is required for more serious drain obstructions, especially showers, tubs, and outdoor drains. As for a do-it-yourself approach, to repair a clogged sink drain all you need is some Effervescent tablets (i.e. Alka-Seltzer®) and distilled white vinegar.

Simply drop two Effervescent tablets of choice down the obstructed drain. Next, pour one cup of vinegar down the drain and wait 2 minutes. Finish by running hot water from the faucet at full pressure for 1 minute. If this doesn’t work, repeat the process once more. If this still doesn’t work, it is time to call a professional plumbing contractor.

❷ Carpet Dents

Dents and depressions in carpet can happen overtime as a result of foot traffic, heavy furniture, and worn padding. Unfortunately, these depressions also make carpet look older, which can make the entire room look dull and outdated. For carpets with several dents and depressions, it is necessary to have the carpet or underlying padding replaced, professionally. However, if you have just one or two pesky carpet dents leftover from rearranging furniture or some other factor, you can usually fix them yourself. And all you need is ice and patience!

Simply place two or three ice cubes on the carpet, directly on top of the dent. Allow the ice to melt and saturate for 8 hours. Next, gently lift the carpet with your fingers to recreate a flat-like surface. Then finish by vacuuming the treated area.

❸ Scuff Marks

Whether from shoes, furniture, or toys, scuff marks are bound to show up at some point in time. These black, gummy scuffs are an eye sore, and can even ruin flooring overtime if not managed properly. Fortunately, all you need is a tennis ball of some sort and a little old-fashioned elbow grease. You can use your dog’s toy, an actual tennis ball, or any other ball with the same type of felt. Just be sure it is new, unused, and clean.

To remove scuff marks, simply buff the area with your felted ball. Use gentle strokes to effectively remove black scuffs on wood, tile, laminate, and even painted walls. You can also use a melamine foam cleaning sponge (i.e. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser®) if you do not have a tennis ball.

❹ Old Nail Holes

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, and sometimes a picture needs to be taken down. Other times, a picture is a challenge to hang and requires several failed attempts. Unfortunately, all of these scenarios result in unsightly, exposed nail holes in the wall. The upside, however, is that these nail holes can be easily camouflaged with an item you use every single day of your life (your dentist hopes)!

To cover up old nail holes, all you need is some toothpaste and a ruler. If you do not have a ruler, you can use anything that has a solid straight edge, such as a credit card or trowel. If you really want a professional finish, you will need wall paint as a finisher. But to simply cover up and camouflage, just place a small dollop of toothpaste over the hole and smooth it out with your ruler. Then wipe off any remaining residue around the hole.

❺ Squeaky Doors

If you want to scurry around the house at night, or while the kids are napping, squeaky doors might give you away. In any case really, squeaky doors are obnoxious and can make a home appear old or outdated. If you have squeaky doors, the likely cause are the hinges. Fortunately, there is a simple fix for this; and all you need is some petroleum jelly (i.e. Vaseline®)!

Simply apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the door hinges, being careful not to apply too much at one time. Work in small amounts so that you do not over-oil the hinges. As you work, move the door back and forth to assess the level of squeakiness left.

If the Job is Too Big For You…

Residential and Commercial Remodeling
317-454-3612

Think about Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Your Home

Posted on October 18, 2017 by admin

Indianapolis Handyman Service 317-454-3612

Are you aware that carbon monoxide detectors save lives? Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, invisible, and extremely dangerous in large amounts. It can literally kill humans and animals within minutes in large-enough doses. This is why it is vital for all homes and buildings to have properly installed carbon monoxide detectors for superior protection and safeguarding. Don’t risk the safety of your children, loved ones, guests, pets, and more. Take preventative action by purchasing and installing high-quality CO detectors in your home or office. Save your life and the life of another with one simple precaution.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

These detectors alert home and property owners in the case of an emergency. Without even realizing it, people create atmospheres for carbon monoxide on a regular basis. This is because anywhere gas, oil, charcoal, kerosene, or wood is burned, carbon monoxide will be present. Homes with fireplaces, barbecues, or appliances that use these examples of fuel can be prone to carbon monoxide manifestation.

Appliances that use kerosene, oil, or charcoal require regular care and maintenance to ensure they are properly functioning and safe to use. Without professional inspection and routine care, a home with such appliances can be vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. It can discreetly be released into the surrounding environment and unknowingly consumed by humans and pets. One way to protect your family from accidents involving poisonous gases is to install a carbon monoxide detector for emergencies.

A person can experience dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, headaches, and confusion if over-exposed to carbon monoxide gas. The degree of each symptom will vary from mild to severe depending on the amount of contact. Although some symptoms may be minor, CO poisoning can have lasting effects on the body. Its symptoms are so closely similar to the common cold or flu that the illnesses is often misdiagnosed and overlooked. This makes carbon monoxide poisoning even more dangerous because it is not caught in time due to an incorrect diagnosis.

If a person is demonstrating any signs or indications of CO poisoning, be sure to get the person outside in fresh air; and then call emergency medical services or bring them to the emergency room immediately. Go back into the home or building and open all windows and doors. Turn on as many fans as you can find and circulate fresh uncontaminated air in, and contaminated air out. Also, be sure all combustion appliances are powered off. Once these measures are taken, leave the house and call professionals to investigate the scene and approve it safe again.

Professional Indoor Air Quality Inspections

Call a licensed professional to provide comprehensive carbon monoxide inspections and appliance maintenance and care to ensure your home’s safety. Receive free estimates and information regarding carbon monoxide prevention strategies and more. A professional can answer your questions about safe indoor air quality and protection. They can point you in the right direction when it comes to buying a carbon monoxide detector for your home or office.

Indianapolis Handyman Services

Building Repairs and Remodeling
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Suggested Home Remodeling Ideas for New Puppies

Posted on June 5, 2017 by admin

Indianapolis Handyman Service 317-454-3612

Whether it is something you’ve wanted for a long time but you never had the right space, or you’ve finally given in to your kids’ incessant requests for a pet, adding a puppy to your household calls for some serious preparation. Not only do you need to set up and delegate a care plan among your family, you need to think about puppy-proofing the home. This is necessary for both the puppy and the structural integrity of your home. Continue reading to learn some remodeling ideas to consider when bringing home a new puppy.

Install a Doggy Door

There are many reasons why it is beneficial to install a doggy door in your home. You can teach a dog to tap at doors when they need out, but this tapping often leads to scratching, which leaves behind scrapes, marks, and other structural damages to the wall or door. Not only does a doggy door deter this action, it allows a puppy to freely let themselves out when they need to go, all without disrupting you or waking you up in the middle of the night for a potty break. It is simple to train a dog to use a doggy door, especially when they are still young. It requires professional installation, so be sure to use a trusted handyman for the job.

Replace Carpets with Laminate Flooring

Carpets retain stains, odors, dander, and more. With a new puppy around, it is wiser to replace carpets with something that is easier to clean and maintain. Laminate flooring is a cost-effective alternative to higher-end materials like hardwood, and it is low maintenance. It comes in a wide variety of colors, designs, textures, and styles, so finding a match for your home would be simple. To avoid pet messes, unraveled carpet fibers, lingering stains, and more, replace carpets with laminate before you bring home your new pup.

Indianapolis Handyman Services

Home Remodeling
317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L&B LLC at 317-454-3612 for Indianapolis home remodeling services at competitive prices. Owner and general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to answer all your questions about home remodel planning, prices, and process. And don’t forget; we guarantee to BEAT any prices quoted by our competition!