John Zatwarnytsky

If you take a look at your roof, you’ll likely see one or two vent pipes protruding from it. These pipes are normally waterproof, effectively preventing rainwater and melted snow from penetrating the roof and treacherously making their way into the attic. However, as with anything on your roof, vent pipes are also subject to wear and tear. Once they become the source of a leak, you may need to call in professionals from a leading Delaware roofing company like Homecraft® Inc. to come and fix them for you.[…] Read More

In a May 30 article by Bill Bregar in plasticsnews.com, a market report on the window sector shows the continued improvement in home rebuilding for 2012, and it is believed that the growth will continue until 2015. In fact, it is expected that the market for residential windows will grow 15 percent for this year.[…] Read More

Summer, along with the sunlight and heat that it provides, is almost done, and all that’s left to look forward to for the rest of 2013 is cold weather, most likely ranging from cool, windy days to freezing days of snowstorms. In the City of Wilmington, winter temperatures can sometimes drop to -12°C, with the record low being -26°C. If you don’t start preparing your house to survive these extreme temperatures early on, you might end up welcoming the new year shivering in your living room or climbing up the roof to temporarily patch up leaks caused by ice dams.[…] Read More

State organizations advocating safety in the workplace pool their resources yet again to mount a nationwide campaign for the prevention of falls in construction sites. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the CPWR-Center for Construction Research and Training, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be leading the federally-funded effort to cover all US construction firms, including major Delaware roofing companies. The initiative was re-launched amid persistent reports that falls remain the top cause of injuries and fatalities in small residential construction sites.

Just like in 2012, when it was introduced, the national campaign for falls prevention will focus on raising awareness among construction industry movers, shakers, and insiders. Workers and employers will be provided information on safety and reminded time and again about the importance of protective gear while on the job. State safety watchdogs have strongly suggested harness-wearing and the use of retractable anchorage systems and lifelines (among others), particularly among more vulnerable employees like roofers who work at heights.

“Too many times we hear the phrase, ‘it was an accident.’ We know these incidents are preventable, which means that hundreds of fall-related deaths and thousands of injuries can be prevented. Our years of data collection consistently show that falls constitute one-third of all construction fatalities, which makes falls the leading killer of construction workers,” explained CPWR executive director Pete Stafford.

For his part, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health Dr. David Michaels said construction activity has increased over the years because of economic growth. The downside of this is the influx of workers that are not up to the task and do not have the necessary skills and experience for it. He believes seasoned Delaware roofing contractors and other construction owners in other states could change such grim statistics.

“Falls are the leading cause of death in construction so it is vitally important for employers to provide the right equipment and properly train their workers in a language they understand so they can do their jobs safely. Falls can be prevented and lives can be saved by planning ahead to get the job done safely,” Michael reiterated.

For companies involved in construction like Homecraft Inc., the renewal of the fall prevention initiative is always a welcome development in the industry. After all, as important as the projects such companies take are, the lives of their workers are even more so.

The tables have turned; it is now the homeowners’ turn to rate the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Their verdict: BBB is doing a good job in its advocacy of promoting ethical business behaviors and practices in the United States and Canada. The level of trust being accorded the non-profit institution is relatively high that people pull up information from its website before making a decision about which contractor or builder to hire.

According to a Build Zoom survey, BBB is considered one of the top consumer methods by those planning to renovate roofing in Delaware or other parts of their residential properties. Remodeling projects may involve sprucing up any part of the home. The poll’s close to 600 respondents were asked to rank eight methods—in terms of trustworthiness and authority—in determining which ventures stand out for scrupulous business ways within their own industries.[…] Read More

The Bowne House in Queens, NY, is undergoing a major restoration project. The Queens Tribune reported that the work on the 17th-century house started on April 1, 2013 and is estimated to finish in June 2014 at a cost of $3.2 million. The renovations will involve installing new shutters and doors along with steel columns, fixing the drainage system, restoring the old sidings, and putting extra reinforcement on the ground floor.

A home improvement company that lands a contract for restoring a historic house may be sitting on a potentially good project to add to its resume. Newark, Delaware itself has a lot of them, having been founded by Scottish and Irish-Welsh settlers in the 1690s, and has an education circuit that eventually produced some of the Declaration of Independence’s architects. Although some historical houses within the 12-Mile Circle may not be as old as the Bowne House, siding contractors in Newark, DE like Homecraft Inc. can still come in and make a difference.[…] Read More