Odd Remodeling & Repair Job Requests

At ConstructionDeal.com, we get a lot of people posting their jobs with us.

Most are pretty normal, but some are downright strange.

So far, this has been my favorite:

"I need a plumber to come over and remove my neighbor's head from my toilet.

Apparently, you're not supposed to give a woman with hair longer than 2 feet a swirly. Who knew?"

Do You Have Toxic Mold?

Here's a little trick to tell if you're dealing with mold in your home. If you have a small patch of black, green or gray colored spots, Frank Foreman, of NO ODOR, Inc., has a smart tip to determine whether or not it is mold: put some hydrogen peroxide on the growth and watch the reaction.

Almost everyone has one of those brown bottles of the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in their medicine cabinet, so he suggests putting it in a clean spray bottle and spraying the colored spots.

If the solution runs down the wall and there is no reaction, then the spots are not growths of mold (it could possibly just be dirt.) Since mold is a living organism, when sprayed with the hydrogen peroxide, there will be an oxidation process. If you hit it and the growth starts to foam up with white foam, then you know you are dealing with mold.

Read the complete Mold Article in our Resources Section of our site.

If it turns out you do have mold and need a mold inspection or removal, use ConstructionDeal.com. Simply tell us about your project and get 4 quotes - at no cost. There's no obligation to hire any of our mold professionals.

technorati tags: toxic mold, mold, black mold, mold removal, mold remediation

How To Install Things - Looking for a Stud?

This post has been permanently moved to http://contractorequotes.com/improvements/looking-for-a-stud/

Sharp's Microwave... Drawer?

I saw this little item in a remodeling magazine the other day. It's a microwave, that can be placed under a countertop, and it opens automatically. It says it comes in 24" and 30" models. You can also put it under a cooktop or wall oven. It says it can hold a 9" by 13" plate. It has an Auto-Touch control panel that is angled so it's convenient and easy to use. Click Here for Sharp's Microwave page.

I'm not sold on it. I think it might be too low (I'd have to get on my hands and knees to look through the viewing window) and difficult to use. But... it could be a great space saver in a small, tight kitchen. It would really free up counter space.

What do you think?

As far as I can tell, the Sharp unit costs about $900. That doesn't include installation. It comes in white, black, and stainless steel.

I've also found a similar microwave from KitchenAid. It's not necessarily a drawer, but it does have a pulldown or drop down drawer (similar to a standard oven.) As a built-in microwave, it could be considered more comfortable than the Sharp unit.

If you need to find a kitchen appliance installer for your microwave purchase, consider ConstructionDeal.com. Simply submit a request and get 4 quotes from appliance pros. There's no cost and no obligation.

technorati tags: sharp microwave, microwave drawer, kitchen upgrade, new microwave

Weather the Storm: Flood Insurance

With the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina upon us, and with a new season of storms moving in, it's important to remember something that most homeowners forget: flood insurance.

Most insurance policies do not specifically cover flood damage (usually only rain damage from water that enters from the roof and windows.) Also, check with your insurance supplier soon - most policies only cover a homeowner who has taken it out at least 30 days before disaster strikes.

Check out FEMA's FloodSmart page, which is the official site for the National Flood Insurance Program.

If disaster does strike, don't forget to use ConstructionDeal.com to find a local Water Damage Restoration Company.

It's a fast and easy way to find local professionals. Simply submit a request and get 4 quotes the same day - at no cost.

There's no obligation to hire any of the qualified restoration contractors in our network.

technorati tags: flood insurance, flooding, flooddamage, water damage, restoration, FEMA,floodsmart

How Does ConstructionDeal.com Help Me?

"So... what can your site, ConstructionDeal.com, do for me?" you ask.

Here's the short version -- we'll help you find a contractor (and save you time and money doing it.)

Here's the slightly longer version -- Let's say you have a remodeling or repair project and you need a professional to help you do it. From help building a new house all the way down to stopping that faucet leak in the kitchen. You have a few options to find an expert - you can ask a friend or family member for a referral.

You can pick up your yellow pages and thumb through to find a few companies that have a pretty ad. Or, you can use a service like ours.

"How does ConstructionDeal.com save me time and money?" you follow up. You're tricky that way. Always asking the good questions.

If you rely on the referral from your friend or sister-in-law, you end up calling only one company. That company might not do the type of work you need. And, you'll only be talking to ONE company. That means you'll get only ONE bid on the job. You might pay too much.

If you have to pick a few random companies from the phone book, you have to spend time calling them all up, qualifying them over the phone to make sure they can do the job, and then you have to wait for follow-up calls. You might even need to pull a few more names out of the book and call those up. Takes a lot of time.

What our site does is this -- you submit your remodeling project under the correct category. You provide an accurate description of what the project involves (thus, qualifying the contractors), and then you sit back and wait for them to call you. Nice, huh? You'll get 4 quotes from service pros the same day - sometimes within minutes.

Anyway. That's what we're all about. Matching you up to contractors. If you need some work done, post your project -- at no cost -- and decide on the best bid from all the contractors, to have the job completed. Simple.

If you don't need anyone right now... be sure and bookmark our page.

"Thank you," you say.

You're welcome.

technorati tags: construction, home improvement, remodeling, renovation, constructiondeal,construction deal, contractor, referral