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    1Dec, 2017
    How to Repair Driveway Cracks

    How to Repair Concrete Driveway Cracks

    The primary purpose of fixing concrete cracks is to help keep moisture from working its way into the cracks. A secondary benefit of fixing concrete cracks is improving the appearance of your driveway. Considering that many homes have front-facing driveways, it is a good way to help improve your home’s curb appeal. Before you begin the repair, scope out the general area and try to get a feel for what caused the crack. Concrete cracks can be caused by growing tree roots, impact damage, weight overloading, etc. The most common cause of concrete cracks is standing water, which, over time, works its way into the concrete and expands and contracts according to the temperature. Concrete is one of our most important building products but the cost for concrete driveway somehow manageable. We use it for house slabs, driveways, paving and much more.

    Before you begin fixing the actual crack, think long and hard about how you can eliminate the cause of the problem. Preventing further damage is vital to the overall success of your repair job. The methods used to fix concrete cracks depend on the size of the actual crack.

    Preparation

    • Regardless of size, the first step should include cleaning the crack to create clean surfaces that are ready to bond with the repair materials.
    • Begin by breaking off any loose pieces of concrete with a screwdriver or chisel (be cautious you don’t needlessly enlarge the crack).
    • Once you’ve cleaned the crack’s edges, use a firm wired brush to remove any remaining debris.
    • Next, remove as much loose debris from within the crack as possible. This is best done with an air compressor but if you don’t have one available, you can use a shop vac or even canned air, which is commonly used to clean computer keyboards. The idea here is to clean out all of the dust and debris from within the crack.

    Now that the crack has been prepared for repair, follow the steps below according to the size of the crack. Follow the specific directions that are printed on the packaging of whatever product you end up using to make your repair.

    Fixing Small, Hairline Concrete Cracks

    • Textured caulk, concrete sealer or pourable grout designed for repairing concrete are good ways to fix small concrete cracks.
    • If you’re using concrete sealer or pourable grout, begin by lightly wetting the crack — a spray bottle filled with water will work well (textured caulk is best applied to a dry crack).
    • With all products, completely fill the crack and use a pointing trowel to push the grout or sealer into the crack.
    • If you’re using textured caulk, provide some overfill to account for shrinkage as the caulk dries.
    • If you’re wearing thick rubber gloves, you can use your thumb to ensure that you’re completely filling the crack.
    • In all cases, refer to specific product manufacturer guidelines for application instructions.
    29Nov, 2017
    How to Renew Concrete Surfaces

    In the past, when a concrete patio or driveway started to show serious signs of aging, using a jackhammer or bringing in a bulldozer were the only repair options. Today there are more practical alternatives. If you’re thinking about installing a driveway, it’s important to consider a couple of different things like cost of new driveway Perth.

    Polymer-based cement resurfacers are formulated to transform cracked, spalled, weatherworn concrete to like-new condition. The top dressing we used, Ardex All-Purpose Concrete Resurfacer, is made of portland cement and high-performance polymers. It’s mixed with water and applied with a steel trowel, squeegee or push broom to a thickness of only 1/16 inch. One 20-lb. bag costs about $25 and covers 50 to 60 square feet. (The average concrete driveway is about 500 square feet.)

    Besides patios and driveways, Ardex can be used to resurface concrete stairs, sidewalks, garage floors, and most vertical surfaces. For our project, we resurfaced a 9 X 27-foot driveway and 3 X 18-foot walkway using six bags of Ardex. It took two people five hours to complete the job. The work isn’t particularly difficult, but the pace is frenetic. Once the water is mixed in, you’ve got less than 30 minutes to apply the concrete dressing.

    For optimum results, work on a day with low humidity, no rain and an air temperature ranging between 70° and 75°F. The surface temperature of the existing concrete must be at least 50°F.

    Fill the Cracks

    Patch all cracks, crevices, and holes in the old concrete surface. For hairline cracks up to 1/8 inch wide, mix four parts of Ardex Concrete Dressing to one part water. Force the thick paste into the cracks with a putty knife. For larger cracks up to 1/2 inch wide, use concrete-repair caulk. Squeeze the caulk into the cracks with a caulking gun, and smooth it with a putty knife.

    Mask Expansions

    Large concrete slabs are typically divided into sections by expansion joints, which help control cracking. The ½- to ½-inch-wide joints are usually filled with asphalt-saturated felt, a wood 1×4 or plastic channel. These joints must remain exposed to allow the slab to expand and contract; don’t cover them with the cement top dressing. Mask each expansion joint with a strip of duct tape.

    Mix Concrete

    Use a 650-rpm, ½-inch drill motor and a heavy-duty mixing paddle to mix the concrete dressing to a smooth consistency. Pour 2½ quarts of water into a clean 5-gallon bucket. Add a 20-pound bag of the dressing and mix continuously for two minutes. Lift out the paddle and stand it in a bucket of clean water.

    Spread the Dressing

    Pour the dressing onto the slab and immediately spread it out. Meanwhile, have a helper mix the next batch. For small areas, like walkways and stairs, spread the dressing with a flat steel trowel. Press down hard to force the dressing into every crevice.

    Texture the Surface

    Carefully draw a medium-bristle push broom across the wet areas to create a textured, slip-resistant surface. If you notice any bare spots, add more concrete dressing with a trowel, and brush the area again.

    Spreading on Large Areas

    For larger areas, such as patios or driveways, spread the dressing with a long-handle squeegee. Press down hard to fill all surface imperfections. Follow up with the push broom.

    Finish up

    Pull up the duct tape from the expansion joints immediately after sweeping the surface. The surface can be walked on after about two hours, but don’t drive your car on it for at least six hours. After 24 hours, protect the new surface with a clear, waterborne masonry sealer.

    28Oct, 2017
    Prepare to Become an Electrician

    Understand what the job entails. Electricians work in a variety of settings, including homes, businesses, schools, hospitals – any type of facility that needs electricity to function. Electricians may find themselves working in extremes of heat and cold, indoors and out any time of year. Electricians may also perform electrical work on trains, airplanes, ships and vehicles. A quick response times from 24 hr emergency electrician Brisbane to ensure your safety will always be our priority. Electricians’ work includes the following:

    • Reading blueprints, or technical diagrams of a work site’s electrical wiring.
    • Connecting wires, circuit breakers, and outlets, and replacing or adding wires, circuit breakers, connections, and fuses.
    • Using specialized equipment, including oscilloscopes, ammeters, ohmmeters and voltmeters, to perform their work.
    • Working as part of a team in coordination with the construction project manager, homeowner, or building manager of a work site.
    • Knowing and following building codes and regulations to ensure buildings are wired safely.

    Have an aptitude for electrical work. Electricians are adept at diagnosing problems and using good judgement and the right techniques to solve them. Electricians have the following traits:

    • They are detail-oriented. Electricians know that glossing over details in a wiring project could at best result in non-functioning wiring, and at worst create a dangerous situation.
    • They have strong manual dexterity. Electricians work with small tools and parts that must be handled with care and precision. They often have to climb ladders or enter crawl spaces to perform their jobs.
    • They are flexible. Electricians are comfortable working at many different sites, under a variety of conditions. They are able to effectively communicate with managers and members of construction teams.

    Talk to electricians. If you’re serious about becoming a licensed technician, contact electricians in your area and set up informational interviews.

    • Ask if you can shadow them or help out on a project to experience a day in the life of a technician.
    • Seek a master or licensed electrician willing to take you on as a longer-term helper. This will give you the opportunity to gain some knowledge and experience in the field.
    • Ask for recommendations on trade schools and certification programs in your area.

    Fulfill the Educational Requirements

    Obtain a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Most electrician trade schools and apprenticeship programs require this level of education.

    Attend a trade school or vocational school. The courses offered at trade and vocational schools provide important preparation for entering an electrician apprenticeship program.

    • You’ll learn about electrical theory, circuitry, mathematics, wiring, motor controls and other knowledge important to the trade.
    • Consider taking electrical engineering courses online as an alternative to taking them at a local college or university.
    • Some electrician programs include an apprenticeship program. You will have to complete an apprenticeship program in order to get certified, so a combined coursework/apprenticeship program might be a convenient option.

    Enter an electrician apprentice program. Most states require at least two years, and in most cases up to four years, of apprenticeship with a master or licensed electrician before one can take the examination to become a licensed electrician. During an apprenticeship, one earns the title of journeyman electrician. Many apprenticeships combine hands-on experience with classroom instruction. Some organizations that sponsor or provide apprentice programs through local chapters include:

    • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
    • National Electrical Contractors Association
    • Independent Electrical Contractors Association
    • Associated Builders and Contractors

    Study the National Electrical Code. In order to get licensed to work as an electrician in most states, you will have to demonstrate knowledge of the National Electrical Code, which lays out laws, regulations and other information about safe practices.

    • After you receive your license, most states will require continued study of the National Electrical Code. You may have to attend seminars or classes addressing updates to the Code.

    Become a Master Electrician

    Get a state license. Most states require that you get a state license in order to practice as an electrician. The license is granted after taking an exam to demonstrate knowledge of the National Electrical Code and local electrical and building codes. In order to take the exam,

    • Candidates must show proof of working as an electrician and having completed an apprenticeship program. State requirements typically call for four to seven years’ experience in the trade prior to taking this test.
    • You must complete an examination application and submit appropriate fees before taking the exam.

    Find a job. Now that you have your state license, you are free to work as an electrical contractor in your state. Choose to work with a company of contractors or operate independently.

    • Job search websites have comprehensive job listings in the field of electrical work.
    • Go to job fairs to talk with companies hiring electricians.

    Get certified. Choose from a variety of specialized certifications to enhance your career. Certifications vary by state and will help you pursue work as an electrical administrator, a telecommunications contractor, or a specialist in an area like instrumentation.

    • Conduct research to determine what certificates may be beneficial to your career as an electrician.
    • To obtain certification, you will have to demonstrate experience and proficiency in the area you choose by taking an examination.
    28Oct, 2017
    Using SEO Techniques Effectively – Tips To Show You How

    The web is kind like a confusing maze.The following article will give you succeed. SEO services Sydney drive more sales by building your online presence and getting targeted traffic to transform your website into a powerful lead-generating channel for your business.

    When publishing content, it is usually better to have multiple short articles on similar topics than to have one extremely long article. Long pages are weighed less than shorter ones weigh more.

    Coding is an important element in search engine optimization if you are using SEO.For example, if you have JavaScript and the code isn’t done well, search engine spiders cannot index it.

    Pay-per-click approaches can be great ways to practice affiliate marketing. This is the easiest service to provide to affiliates, so the pay is correspondingly modest, but the total pay can add up quickly.

    Pick a domain name that is full of your desired keyword in it. You want to make your site easy to find when customers are trying to look for it in the web. Not everybody will come to your website from the advertisements, many will come from product searches.

    You should be patient when performing SEO to increase page rank. You can not see any huge traffic overnight.It will actually take a while if your site is brand new sites. Just as with an offline business, it will take time to build your name.

    Add a site map if you want to get more traffic. A site map can link your website easier to navigate.

    Blogging on your presence in search engines. This in turn will increase your site.

    This tag should be thirty words or less. Never go over 100 kilobytes on this sort of page.

    Research information about keywords before you know what to write. Learn which particular keywords will be best for you build your website. Keyword research will allow you to understand what search terms people use to navigate in your categories.

    Your site should always be easy on the eye for comprehension and simplicity to read.

    Keep your site focused on a dozen keywords or phrases that really capture the essence of what your site is about. Use analytical tools to determine which keywords will bring you the most traffic.

    Captions are important to the SEO tool. This means that if you have a lot of newspaper articles or photos linked up to your site, using captions that are filled with keywords can improve traffic and visibility.

    The takeaway message from this paragraph is that Google looks for keywords in alt tags, so keywords included in these tags will improve page ranking.

    The first sentences in your webpage should use words that are also usable HTML meta descriptor tag. There are search engines that use this kind of thing instead of tags to tell people what your page result. Bad content here can hurt your efforts.

    A great tip about optimization is to include current events and topics that have relevance to your offerings.This is important because you can draw in a whole new group of people who may not be familiar with your topic. This also really makes your site to be more informative to your readers.

    If you’re using a server that’s shared, make sure your web host isn’t on any spam blacklists. If not, it could negatively affect search engine exposure for your site.

    Think as a consumer when you are coming up with tags to include. Find out what the common terms are that people use for your product or service.

    The first paragraph should have your keyword written twice. After that, place your keyword as much as possible in the following 200 words, without it being obvious to the reader through the next two hundred or so words.

    This will let users access your site from prior bookmarks. You might also redirect pages and these will bring users to the new site.

    Search engine optimization is a type of marketing.This method requires you to use specific keywords in your site content in order to secure higher rankings on search engine rank. This will get people your site when they preform a search.

    Using keywords in your structure and content will increase your ranking on most search engines other than Google or Yahoo!.

    If your website is for a business, getting the owner or CEO active on the site it will help boost your traffic. People like hearing from the company.

    There are tons of fly-by-night SEO and internet marketing businesses out there who charge high prices for bad work. Research former clients of these companies and read testimonials about what other people have to say about their services. You will be happy you did this.

    You are going to need to have web analytics running as you begin your SEO program. This software can help you to identify which methods are effective and failure of your strategies.

    Even if the content in your articles is based around the same topic, topics or pages are about the same general subject, the titles and names should each be unique and interesting. The most important words in the reader are the first one or two.

    Be sure to take the time to use the above advice. Through patience and diligence, you will achieve goals you had hoped for.

    5Oct, 2017
    Why You Should Consider Having Concrete Driveway Paving For Your Home

    Concrete is one of the best options to choose from when it comes to selecting a good driveway paving material for your home. This durable and incredibly versatile material is not just limited to creating buildings or houses, but can be harnessed to provide a smooth, pleasant driveway experience upon driving off or coming home. Gone are the days of living with a drab, boring walkway or driveway when choosing concrete, as there are a number of ways you can trade in the plain look for a textured one, something that not all driveway materials can offer! Nevermind the cost for concrete driveway as long as you are happy and contented of the outcome.

    Having your driveway paved with concrete isn’t the cheapest option available, but this hardy material more than makes up for it with amazing benefits. The overall costs would still vary depending on factors such as the size of the driveway and decorative options. Why not take a look at the solid benefits and fantastic design options of a concrete driveway?

    Benefits of a Concrete Driveway

    1. Easy To Maintain

    Concrete, when laid out on the ground, makes up for a big slab of driveway material for you or your guest’s cars to travel on. This inherent property makes it easier than other types of material to be cleaned and maintained all throughout the years. The lower upkeep and repair costs of concrete make it less of a headache in the long run.

    2. Strong and Durable

    A concrete driveway is famous for being easy to maintain, but it doesn’t stop there. It is very durable and its excellent strength keeps it from breaking up or chipping away from everyday use. No matter what vehicle you or your family members might have, you can be sure that a concrete driveway can handle a thousand pounds of weight day in, and day out. They can even keep their structural form intact longer in cases of natural disasters like flooding and earthquakes!

    3. Aesthetic Appeal

    Gray concrete can be transformed into more pleasant-looking materials that will fit and look great with any type of home. It is strong enough to withstand a transformation or stamping into many attractive patterns like cobblestones, natural stone effect, random interlocking and european fans. You can also color it to resemble a more expensive material such as pavers and different stones, while keeping within budget and ensuring a strong driveway for years to come.

    Driveway paving with concrete can be personalized with stamped concrete, or otherwise known as textured to look like flagstones, bricks, wood or tiles, producing an authentic and expensive look and feel. You can also stain a driveway to stay in line with your home’s overall theme. Etching it can alter the appearance of concrete to produce a more detailed effect. Exposed aggregate is one of the oldest and still the best way to change your driveway’s look according to your needs. Homeowners who prefer a one-in-a-million driveway design can hire contractors to groove or saw their driveway into any imaginable pattern!

    Whether you are needing a driveway that will last as long as your home, a driveway that matches the color and style of your beloved abode, or just want a driveway material that is versatile and easy to maintain, you can never go wrong with concrete. It has all of the best properties of all the other driveway paving materials, and much more.

    Lifestone Paving is an innovative Perth company which has been transforming the landscaping of Perth homes since 1995. They are specialists in Driveway Paving which is strong, durable and attractive.

    You can find out more about our product at this link: http://lifestone.com.au/driveway-paving.

    Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Lisa_Pannier/2100383

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