Home Improvement

You are more likely to achieve your landscaping goals by hiring a professional landscaper-no matter if your project is a themed garden, like an English garden design or a Mediterranean landscape design, a small garden design that only encompasses landscape planting or a complex construction project. A well-versed Houston professional landscaper will take into account not only your desires, but the specific challenges of this region: dense soil, weather conditions of the Gulf coast, drainage issues, and likely insect infestations and plant diseases.

Choosing a Professional Landscaper

Start the process by distinguishing between off-the-shelf landscaping design services and a professional designer who can capture your vision for your landscape. During the preliminaries, visit the company website and question to see a portfolio to determine if the design firm under consideration has a sense of style that complements your own. Ultimately, you want a professional who can design a landscape that reflects your home’s architecture and your lifestyle.

As you start the early discussions, be as specific as possible about what you want the end design to look like. Perhaps you would delight in hardscapes, like a well-thought-out patio design or pool design, eye-catching gates or fascinating pathways. Maybe you like to entertain, something that calls for an outdoor kitchen. Understanding these landscape elements, their relationships to each other and the open space, and interpreting them well distinguishes a Houston professional landscaper working in the top echelon.

The Process

After selecting a landscape professional and the subsequent exploratory discussions, the next steps involve meetings, site analysis, program of uses, and use of the design professional’s expertise. During the conceptual phase, the landscape professional develops the overall design and puts it onto paper. The resulting documents will show such specifics as lawn areas, plantings, areas of general use and their sizes, irrigation systems and drainage systems, landscape lighting, and the projected overall cost.

Once you have agreed to the designer’s overall layout and made general material selections, it is time for the implementation and construction phase. This phase comes with its own set of landscaping design drawings for documentation purposes:

• For permitting.
• To convey final design intent and material selections for you and the installation contractors.
• To specify materials and installation methods. This paperwork is also known as construction documents.

In the permit arena, each governing body has its own set of requirements for landscape plot approvals. Usually a submittal of the permitting package will be accepted or rejected by a committee. This checkpoint illustrates why it is vital to hire a knowledgeable professional, as they will know what information to include-items like engineered drainage plans, pool fencing layout, lot coverage ratios and specifications.

Taking the Long View

In choosing among Houston landscape designers, remember that it makes sense to use a design firm that also performs the project management and landscaping installation. Jeff Halper, landscape specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, “You want someone who not only has fantastic thoughts, but also knows local contractors and their methods of construction, the best use of materials and their availability, and overall budget development and containment. In other words, you want a landscaper who can bring you a landscape design that thrives in the Houston climate-and is on-time and on-budget.”

All Pro Trailer Superstore, located just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is now offering a groundbreaking new line of Enclosed Tool Trailers designed specifically to benefit and help Contractors on job sites by minimizing set-up time and maximizing space.

Designed with the same similarities as a Truck Body, the new Spartan Tool Trailer is a walk around work shop trailer with storage compartments and work stations that are accessible from both in and outside. “This trailer allows for a more productive work environment by being able to access tools and equipment from the outside of the trailer without having to enter in and out of the trailer all the time” states Tim Herron, Manager at All Pro “This also allows for far more usable space than a regular cargo trailer.”

“With an average Truck Body, if the Truck is broke down, so is your business” answers Herron “Our new Tool Trailer allows the flexibility of interchanging tow vehicles to be sure your always on the job and alleviates the hassle of having to load and unload tools into another vehicle while keeping your tools stored and organized.”

Spartan Tool Trailers come standard with aluminum wheels, rust resistant 3/8” FRP fiberglass reinforced plywood walls, aerodynamic fuel efficient v-nose design and translucent roofing which allows for 70% more natural light. “Spartan Tool Trailers can be custom built to your specification” remarks Herron “And can be designed with ramp doors, double doors or roll up doors and numerous locking and security systems are also available.”

There are also other numerous benefits for Contractors to start trading in their Truck Body Vehicles for a new Truck Body Trailer. With rising fuel prices and automakers downsizing vehicles as they go green, the new Spartan Tool Trailer will allow Contractors the ability to drop their portable Tool Trailers at job sites and still have use of their tow vehicle without the hassle of carry all their tools and equipment at the same time. By converting into a Tool Trailer, Contractors will also have the ability to drive lighter duty, more fuel efficient vehicles that can be alternated with personal use as well, without having to pay for two expensive vehicles at once.

“Our Spartan Service Trailers are manufactured by Supreme Corporation of Central Pennsylvania, and are ideal for home builders, re-modelers and carpenters to residential contractors, plumbers and electricians.” answers Herron “The benefits that a Spartan Tool Trailer can provide are endless and the investment in the long run can be profound.”

One of the most fascinating facts about the Irish Construction industry is that there is no legal requirement for a construction company to hold any from of construction insurance! In fact, the only insurance an Irish contractor is legally obliged to have is basic motor insurance on his/her motor vehicles!

Although there is no legal requirement under Irish law for a contractor to hold adequate Construction Insurance it is extremely vital that adequate cover is in place.

One of the most vital reasons is the high injury & mortality rate on Irish Construction sites. One major positive of the recent construction boom is the fatality per thousand ratio has fallen in recent years although it is still at an unacceptable level.

For example, in 2001 28% of workplace fatalities were Construction related and the Irish Construction industry is consistently second only to the Irish Agriculture& Forestry Industry.

As many primary contractors require their subcontractors to hold Construction Insurance the reality is that although Construction Insurance is not a legal requirement it is usually a prerequisite to obtaining work on the majority of the countries construction sites so the need for construction insurance is a necessity in everything but law!

Although Construction Insurance is quite a complex field the four main areas of cover are as follows:

• Public Liability Insurance

• Employers Liability Insurance

• Contractors All Risks

• Personal Accident

Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance [PL] provides cover in the event that the policyholder is sued by a third party who feels that they have suffered injury or loss as a result of the policyholders negligence (lack of care).

Consider the following examples where Public Liability Insurance will provide cover:

• You run a plumbing company. One day you are called to an office to sort out a problem in their kitchen. Accidentally, you burst a pipe, and flood the office. Your client then makes a claim against you for the hurt to their carpet and computer systems which have been hurt by the water.

• You are a building contractor. While walking along scaffolding one of your men drops a piece of equipment which falls to the street, injuring a passing pedestrian. The pedestrian makes a claim against your firm.

Obviously these are very simplified examples and we haven’t discussed the complexities of Products Liability/Liability Law/Duty of Care etc but it should provide a basic understanding of Public Liability Insurance.

Employers Liability Insurance

Employers Liability Insurance [EL] provides cover if any of your employees suffer physical injury or death, and it is proven that as an employer you acted negligently and subsequently could have prevented their loss. If they then choose to pursue you for compensation the insurer will pay the cost of the claim.

Consider the following examples where Employers Liability Insurance will provide cover:

• You run a carpentry company. One of your employees loses a finger while using a chop saw and decides to claim against you for his injury

• You are a scaffolding contractor and are erecting scaffolding around an apartment block. While erecting the scaffolding one of your employees falls and suffers severe bodily injury. He decides to claim against your firm.

Please note that Public & Employers Liability is offered ‘hand in hand’, that is when arranging construction insurance you will need to arrange both Public Liability & Employers Liability Insurance together [Also known as Combined Liability Insurance] as Employers Liability Insurance is not available on a ‘Stand Alone’ basis..

Contractors All Risks Insurance

Contractors All Risks insurance (also known as Contract Works insurance) is an insurance policy specially designed for builders and a number of other trades working at a contract site. Contractors All Risks insurance can include cover for contract works, own plant, hired-in plant and employee’s tools. The main part of the contractors all risks insurance is the contract works section which provides cover for the property being worked on (e.g. new house, etc.). But, cover for the existing property is excluded (e.g. the existing structure when building an extension) and must continue to be insured under its own insurance cover.

Consider the following examples where Contractors All Risks Insurance will provide cover:

• You are a building contractor and are building a house for resale. So far you have spent €200,000 on materials and labour. The property catches fire and is ruined before it has been completed. • You are groundwork’s contractor and are presently digging foundations for a new housing development. Naturally you leave your excavator on site until the contract is completed but one night your excavator is stolen.

Personal Accident Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance [Also known as Income Protection Insurance] is highly recommended for a sole traders, business partners and company directors as a combined liability policy does not cover any injury caused to a sole trader/business partner while it is extremely hard for a company director to sue his/her own company. A policy can be tailored to your exact needs and policies include a tax free monthly benefit, a lump sum [capital benefit] and hospital cash.

Consider the following examples where Personal Accident Insurance will provide cover:

• You’re a self employed carpenter with no employees. You cut your hand and are unable to work for eight months. As you have Personal Accident cover you receive a tax free benefit of €1,500 after one month and continue to receive this amount until you return to work.

• Although Personal Accident/Income Protection insurance is no substitute for full time earnings it will provide you with an income if you are unable to earn and it will reduce your financial worries at a time when your recovery should be your number one priority.

Machinery & Plant Insurance

Machinery & Plant Insurance is normally arranged on a case by case basis and provides Accidental Hurt Fire & Theft Cover on Machinery. This policy is normally taken by contractors who wish to cover a specific number of items.

Health & Safety Executive

In Ireland the HSE [Health & Safety Executive] have the ultimate authority over Construction Sites and have the ability to close a site if they feel it is a safety hazard. Their primary initiative is the ‘Safe Pass’ – a one day site safety training programme.

Who needs to do Safe Pass awareness training?

Safe Pass is a one-day safety awareness programme aimed at general construction workers, craft workers and “on site” security personnel in the construction industry. The aims of the programme are to:

• raise the standard of safety awareness in the construction industry

• ensure that site personnel after completing the one day awareness programme can make a positive contribution to the prevention of accidents and ill health while working on the site

• maintain a register of personnel who have received training

• provide participants with a FAS Safe Pass registration card, indicating that the holder has attended a formal course in health and safety awareness

Under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006 Safe Pass / Safety Awareness Programmes applies to -

(a) craft and general construction workers,

(b) persons undertaking on-site security work, and

(c) persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the Minister.

For more information on Irish Site Safety please visit the website of the Health & Safety Authority www.hsa.ie while for more information relating to Irish Construction Insurance please visit the website of Keystone Insurance www.keystone.ie, Ireland’s premier supplier of Construction Insurance

It has been found out from top leading comparison sites that when you are taking home insurance policy you do not place only the cost into account but you should also consider other vital factors, as it has been learned that customers may be putting themselves at risk of being under-insured if what they consider is only the price rather than reading the small prints making sure for what you are covered. Instead of the insurance companies, some times customers even find themselves settling bills after an accident.

The pay-back rate is very vital considering some financial uncertainties; not withstanding people need to consider seriously that at the event of any happenstance and there is no adequate insurance coverage, it may be much more expensive to recover from the situation. This now made the comparison sites and a well loved high street building society inform people thereby making them know why they need to get the full benefits of their home and renters insurance coverage. The comparison sites concluded that they would recommend home owners to compare the home insurance policies and whatever their coverage is before making the choice of taking the cheapest that can be found.

Even in the United Kingdom, homes that make cheaper rates (instead of quality) their main focus could also be at risk of being under-insured. Analysis now shows that there is no one perfect policy that satisfies all needs; truth is you get the best value for what you pay and not for all.

Where To Get the Best Service Online? Here: Preferred Home Insurance Deal

Workplace accidents can ostensibly occur in any work atmosphere, with the responsibility for providing a safe working environment resting on the shoulders of the employer. But, construction sites seems to offer a more hazardous locale than other workplace environments, such as a store or office setting. This need not be the case, and construction accidents can be easily prevented by putting into place rigid and enforceable safety practices at all construction sites. For example, the general contractor and all subcontractors should be required to make and maintain a reasonably safe work site, with warnings of any dangers inherent in the site and the work to be done there. There should also be an emphasis place on the hiring of careful employees, with coordination of job safety as well as supervision to ensure compliance with all safety specifications. Additionally, all site workers should be adequately trained in the proper operation of all equipment on site and the site itself must be managed in keeping with all legal standards in order to prevent any construction sit accidents.

Even with precautions and adherence to safety practices, construction site injuries can still occur due to the inadequacy of these provisions. Accidents involving defective or collapsing scaffolds can result in construction site accident cases; falls off of or through roofing structures; electrocutions; falls off of ladders; defective machinery such as cranes, hoists, conveyors, tractors, and forklifts; malfunctioning construction equipment or other tools; and the collapse of floors or walls. The kinds of construction site accidents often result in serious injury and can sometimes even result in death. In fact, thousands of construction workers are injured or killed in construction site accidents each year.

Construction Site Accidents and Workers’ Compensation

Virtually all significant injuries suffered in construction site accidents give rise to workers’ compensation rights. The Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits to workers who are injured on the job. Unfortunately, Workers’ Compensation alone may be insufficient compensation especially in the case of very serious and catastrophic personal injuries which happen often in construction site accidents. The rights are dependent on the interpretation and application of several complicated laws and individual circumstances of the construction accident.

But, these limited workers’ compensation rights may be supplemented by legal actions against others who have responsibility for various activities on a construction site including construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers, etc. When a construction site accident occurs, the owners, architects, insurance companies and manufacturers of equipment can be held responsible for inadequate safety provisions.

As an example, in many construction undertakings, several different contractors are involved. Full hurts can be recovered if any contractor other than the direct employer has responsibility for the injuries. Likewise, if a defective tool, machine, or other product causes injury, an injured worker can be fully compensated.