The Benefits of Universal Design and Barrier Free Living

Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
The intent of the universal concept is simply life for everyone by making more housing usable by more people at little or no extra cost. Universal design is an approach to design that incorporates products as well as building features and elements which, to the greatest extent possible, can be used by everyone. While accessible or adaptable design requirements are specified by codes or standards for only some buildings and are aimed at benefiting only some people (those with mobility limitations), the universal design concept targets all people of all ages, sizes, and abilities and is applied to all buildings.

What is a universal design feature?
Any component of a house that can be used by everyone regardless of their level of ability or disability. Universal features are generally standard building products or features that have been placed differently, selected carefully, or omitted. For example, standard electrical receptacles can be placed higher than usual above the floor, standard but wider doors can be selected, and steps at entrances can be eliminated to make housing more universally usable.
The goal of universal design is to allow individuals to remain in the comforts of their home for as long as possible.  However, the primary reason that elderly and disabled persons leave the comfort of home is both the risk and fear of falling and becoming injured.  The most vulnerable place where falls occur is in the bathroom. As such, the most popular area of universal design is in the bathroom.

Accessible Baths
The primary objective in creating an accessible bath is the safe and secure transfer both to and from the bathing area. Depending upon the specific limitations of the individual, safety may be as simple as strategically installing grab bars for balance, or it may require a complete bathroom modification with features like barrier free showers or walk in bathtubs.  Of course many factors come in to play when structuring features into a given home, and therefore bathroom modifications are best left to professionals.  Milwaukee has several home modification contractors that do accessible bath modifications.

Waukesha Roofing Contractor Review, Part 1

I've seen a recent surge in work for both retro and new construction roof replacement and/or installation and I thought it beneficial that a review of roofing contractors in the Waukesha metro area is warranted and needed.  
To date I have been unable to find any meaningful information in the Waukesha metro area when it comes down to what to look for or expect from a local roofing contractor.


First I will start my review by noting my qualifications to author an article on roofing contractors and their credibility. 
I have been in the home improvement and construction trades for approximately 20 years, and I currently work for a reputable roofing contractor in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I am a certified GAF/Elk installer, and I perform all roof installations with the priority being workmanship and quality.  It is my policy that all customers deserve the best I have to offer.  On to the criteria.

CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

When choosing a roofing contractor there are several essential things to look for to ensure that you are both protected for the work, any liability that may arise during the process of the roof removal and installation, as well as the character and credibility of any given roofing contractor you may be considering:

• Liability Insurance

Be certain that the contractor has a liability insurance policy of a minimum of 1 million dollars.  Anything less put you at risk of liability from any accident that may happen.

• Workman's Compensation

Be certain that the contractor has workman's compensation coverage for all of their employees.  Again, this will protect you from any liability due to any accident that may happen.

• Business Affiliations

Business affiliations and memberships are important links to the community and serve to show reliability and trustworthiness of a roofing contractor.  Generally, if a contractor is a member of several local and/or national associations they are likely to be trusted and accountable for their services.  Some of the more popular affiliations might include:

1. Metropolitan Builders Association
2. National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
3. National Roofing Contractors Association 
4. Midwest Roofing Contractors Association
5. Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Association 
6. Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin 
7. Angie's List

 

Don't be afraid to ask the roofing contractor if they are a member of any affiliations and if so, which one's they are members of.  Further, you should ask if they have any negative reports filed with the Better Business Bureau.  The Better Business Bureau maintains a database of complaints filed against every business and you can determine whether the particular contractor your interested in has any complaints against them by searching the "Check Out a Business or Charity".

Roof Warranty

Having a warranty to cover the work performed on your roof is second to none, and any credible roofing contractor will offer a warranty.  However, not all warranties offer the best protection for the consumer, and there are some things you should know about the different kinds of warranties that are offered.  Moreover, what many people do not know is that the contractor must fulfill certain elements mandated by the manufacturer in order for the manufacturer to honor the warranty.  As such, if the contractor fails to install the roof in accordance to the manufacturer's specifications, the manufacturer warranty is void and you could be left with little or no recourse whatsoever should there be manufacturer defects in the material.  That is why it is so important to be certain that the contractor offers meaningful warranty coverage for their workmanship. Aside from the manufacturer's product warranty, generally there are two variations of warranties that roofing contractors offer: Prorated and Non-Prorated.     

• Prorated Warranty 

A pro-rated warranty is normally for a longer period of time but it does not cover the full cost of either repair or replacement. Instead the pro-rated warranty just covers a portion of the repair costs and does not replace at all. It covers a smaller percentage as the product gets older.   

• Non-Prorated Warranty

The non pro-rated warranty, on the other hand, is considered to be the most valuable form of a warranty. Although it is for a smaller duration it is still considered more valuable. Non Pro-rated warranty means that the manufacturer and/or seller will replace or repair the item at no cost to the buyer in case of some problem with the product. Clearly the best option to have is non-prorated warranty coverage for your new roof.  With the roof being the most expensive upgrade investment a homeowner can make, having anything but a full coverage [non-prorated] warranty would be unpractical and foolish.

Roof Installation and Workmanship

There are 2 primary essentials to the workmanship and longevity of any roof, new or old: a.) The shingles are fastened properly and sufficiently; and  b.) The metal flashings are sound and properly installed.  I will address these essentials separately to adequately address each one.

• Fasteners

Fastening shingles properly and sufficiently has everything to do with how long your roof is going to last, as well as the validity of the manufacturer warranty.  Needless to say, if the shingles are not fastened at the minimum requirements of the manufacturer, the warranty is void and the shingles are not going to perform as required.
One of the most common application errors that I frequently come across are both the lack of fasteners, and fasteners being placed too high on the shingle.  With the exception of 3-tab shingles, there should be a minimum of Five (5) fasteners per shingle, and the fasteners should be in the laminated nailing seam as shown in the illustration below.

  
I have seen as little as Four fasteners per shingle, and the fasteners were Two inches above the nailing seam.  Believe it or not a majority of Waukesha area roofing contractors only use 4-5 nails per shingle?


Be certain that your roofing contractor utilizes a minimum of Five, preferably Six, nails per shingle.

• Metal Flashings

There are numerous metal flashing on your house.  There's the gutter apron, D-edge, soil stack, roof-to-wall, and chimney flashings, just to name a few.
Probably the most essential metal flashing which is most often the source for leaks is the chimney flashing.  Be certain that your chimney flashing is sound, and if replaced that the roofing contractor utilizes painted metal -- NOT aluminum.  Although aluminum is not subject to rust, it cannot withstand the expansion and contraction, as well as the movement of the chimney on your home because it is too weak.
Make sure all of the metal flashings are sound or replaced as part of the roofing project.


* Please move on to part 2 of this Waukesha Roofing Contractor Review for the conclusion of my review.

Economic Adversity Is Dwindling

It's been quite some time since I have actually sat down at my PC to type some relevant home improvement content into this page...
Liberty Home Improvement is real! I am real! And yes the economic adversity has played its toll on my finances too! But I've got some good news for home and business owners who are looking to do some long-needed home improvements, or simply to fulfill their desires of updating some things. The end of the economic recession seems to be coming to the point in the road that people are beginning to feel safe and secure enough to make some home improvement investments once again. For instance.
I work for a reputable roofing contractor here in Waukesha, and uncommon to this typical time in past years retro sales are up and constant. Retro jobs consist of re-roof jobs on existing homes, businesses, etc. For quite some time this spring and early summer things were going very, very slow. But in the past month or so it has began to pick up. I must note that this is even more untypical due to the striving independent roofers and fly-by-night gigs who have been hacking away at the competition with contractors who have an overhead and generally provide higher rates and quotes. For all legitimate, licensed contractors it has been extremely tough! Many of them have been taking on work and making little, if any profit, just to have some work for their employees.
For a while there I was getting 1 - 2 phone calls a week for my One Day Roof Replacement offer, and my prices are about half of what most high-end contractors quote. I don't get rich -- believe me! I make a little profit and pay the men who work with me well for their hard work. For the in-and-out deal that I offer, it takes a lot of coordinating and quality workers and craftsmanship to make it worth my while. I put my name on the line, and I provide a 10 year non-prorated warranty. That's a 10 year liability for me -- although I know the work is good and I'm not concerned about it. My point is, I put a lot at stake and a lot of hard work goes into the quality services that I offer. Yet, I have not received a phone call for over a month and a half now... The funny thing is, that work on the other end of the spectrum (my employer) has picked up at about that same time frame. So what gives? I don't know... What I do know is that I am happy and grateful to be able to have work, and that work some where along the line is constant. I know there are many people out there who do not share this same privilege at this time and they have families, bills, mortgages, etc. But like I said. Things are picking up! So cheer up!
And most importantly, remeber that Liberty Home Improvement is here when you need us.

Waukesha Roof Replacement In One Day

If you are a Waukesha County Home or Property Owner and you are in the market for roof replacement, Liberty Home Improvement and Construction can fulfill your roof replacement needs and have the job done in ONE DAY. That's Right -- COMPLETE ROOF REPLACEMENT IN ONE DAY!
Whether your roof needs a complete tear off, or simply a re-roof, it can be accomplished in one day without any sacrifice to material or workmanship quality.

Depending upon the size of your home, Liberty Home Improvement and Construction provides complete roof replacement in one day by organizing a team of professional, skilled roofers to come in and handle their business! For the customer this means a substantial benefit in the inconveniences attendant to the normal roof replacement process. Most roofing contractors generally send 3 or 4 roofers to a job and the process takes anywhere from 3 days to a week... Not so with Liberty Home Improvement and Construction... One day: In and out, the jobs done with quality workmanship and professional installation.

Not only is the inconvenience less obtrusive on you, the homeowner, but our prices are substantially lower than roofing contractors because our overhead is very, very low! Low overhead means savings for the customer! Remember, there are very few places that can offer COMPLETE ROOF REPLACEMENT IN ONE DAY at the cost and with the quality we offer!

Our One day roof replacement comes with a non prorated workmanship warranty to protect your investment.

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

Home Improvement Expert Seeking Work

Hi. My name is Scott and I am a carpenter by trade. I live in Waukesha, Wisconsin and I am searching for work; either side jobs or full-time employment.
I am highly skilled, articulate, responsible, and I enjoy helping people fulfill their home improvement wishes.
If your roof leaks or is otherwise ready for replacement please do not hesitate to contact me for all your roofing needs.
I offer many affordable home improvement remodeling options and I would be pleased to provide you with an estimate for the options you wish to choose for your home.

Please visit my website: Liberty Home Improvement And Construction

Skilled Carpenter and Roofer

I'm a skilled carpenter and roofer in the Milwaukee/Waukesha metro area looking for work.
Is there is anyone who needs a handyman, or someone to do a project for their home?

Does Your Home Need Some Loving Care?

Are you contending with ice damming and need repairs/preventative measures?
Are your windows drafty and inefficient?
Do you need a new entry door?
Does your roof leak?
Are you short on space and ready for that new addition?
Maybe you are looking for a kitchen and bath remodeling expert?
Perhaps your looking to install a home security alarm system, or maybe your thinking about installing some Home Lighting fixtures to upgrade or enhance the features of your home. Rest assured that there are no limits to your options when you consider Liberty Home Improvement and Construction for your home improvement needs.
If your a Waukesha resident looking for carpeting for your home or office, Waters Color and Design Carpeting is my recommendation.  Waters offers quality carpeting and superb service!  They have a beautiful showroom with displays that exhibit all the features of carpeting that you might ever need to know.  
Bathroom cabinets are another one of our specialties! 
Bathroom cabinets are always the center point in any bathroom. Whether you live in a small house or in an expensive mansion, it is not complete if the bathroom is without one. Not only used for aesthetic purposes, bathroom cabinets also serve as a practical storage area. With those seemingly endless supplies of toothbrushes and paste, shampoos, conditioners, cotton buds and even sanitary napkins, bathroom cabinets must have enough storage space to accommodate them all.  As such, it becomes important that you choose the right bathroom cabinet for all of your needs.

If your in need of do it yourself guidance for your Home Construction Projects, The Home Construction Shop offers step by step instruction and advice to help you with your home construction project. And remember that having the right tools to do the job is just as important as using quality materials. As such, when it comes to doing your own woodworking projects nothing matches the innovative features of the ultimate Pocket-Hole Jig by Kreg Tools. Woodworking projects can often times be the most complex part of any home improvement project, so be sure that you have the correct tools.

Please do not hesitate to call. I have the necessary experience and skills to help you. References are available.