Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Everybody knows that slippery ice patches and snow buildup on walkways or stairs can be really dangerous. And nobody wants to put family, friends or visitors at risk every time there is snow or ice in front of his house or business.

Salt will slowly damage masonry work and nearby plants, and it gets carried into the house as people come in, damaging entry-ways and carpet floors. While it can be an option in some circumstances, using Warmup heating systems to de-ice walkways and stairs is a much friendlier alternative to salt.

How does it work?

Electric snow-melting products used in heated driveways are a applicable to landings, stairs, walkways and pathways, access ramps and loading docks. The transmitted heat energy keeps these areas free from snow and ice.Youll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are providing safe ingress and egress to the building.

Our snow-melting cablesare designed to install in a variety of surfaces, and can be laid in mortar, sand or crushed gravel under stonework or landscape pavers. From bluestone, to limestone and traditional pavers, our cables and mats can operate effectively up to under 6 of material.

Lay the cable directly on the concrete structure using the provided spacing clips, or tie the cable to the rebar and lay over the gravel base in the wood casings.

Designing your system

Calculate the total square footage of the landings (top/bottom) and the surface of every step. Ignore the risers at this point unless they are substantially off-standards (7). Use the total square footage and compare to our cable sheet [link] at 3 spacing to select the right product.

Your cable will need to route into a 1 flex or solid conduit to a junction box for connections, either indoors to a USETO2 controller, or outdoors for a selection of our DS-Series controllers.

How much does it cost?

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Heated Stairs And Walkways

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By Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com columnist

Home Entryway Design Ideas

Time: 03:29

See many of these entryway design ideas put into practice on a number of residential projects.

The entryway to your home should welcome people like open arms. There are many ways to create this warm embrace with concrete, both underfoot and as an architectural accent. Concrete is often maligned as being a cold, austere material. Yet it's anything but. Through the use of color, texture, shape and pattern, concrete can be made warm and inviting. Here are 10 ideas for using decorative concrete to create an attractive, beckoning front entry to your home. Be ready for lots of visitors!

All great entryways begin with a welcoming walkway that ushers visitors to your front door in grand fashion. With concrete, the decorative options for entrance walks are endless. Stamped or stenciled patterns, engraving, exposed-aggregate finishes, colored concrete, and concrete staining are just a few of the ways you can enhance your sidewalk design. To give your front entry even more allure, consider widening or flaring the concrete sidewalk or making it curvilinear rather than straight.

Solid Rock Concrete Services in Gravette, AR

If you already have a plain gray concrete walkway or sidewalk leading to your home, but it needs a major facelift, you can often rejuvenate it with a colored and patterned concrete overlay. You'll be amazed at the transformation, while avoiding the expense and hassle of ripping out your existing concrete.

See these design ideas for concrete walkways:

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Entryways- Designing Your Front Entryway and Walkway - The ...

If you own a home and have a yard, your outdoor space probably includes some sort of path -- from front sidewalk to front door, around the side of the house, or out to the backyard. You can rely on a basic from-here-to-there walkway, or you can upgrade yours with ideas that are beautiful and practical. The first step is to choose your material -- one that complements your house and landscape design. The options are varied: brick, gravel, cut stone, or flagstone, for example. If brick is your choice, you'll want to find a style and pattern that's a good fit for your home and garden; wander through our gallery of ideas. Shape, texture, and design are factors in every pathway, no matter the material. Look to our galleries for more inspiration on cut stone, flagstone, gravel, mixed materials, and stepping-stones. If you want to install the path yourself, you can get it finished in a weekend or less with our step-by-step guide to a flagstone, gravel, or paver walkway. If you're really into DIY, you might want to take a look at casting your own stone steps; they're pretty and a perfect reflection of a can-do personality.

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Walkways - Better Homes and Gardens

Advice and installation help at the John Bridge Tile Forums

How to build and tile steps and walkways (sidewalks)

John P. Bridge, May, 2001 (Revised December, 2009)

Way back in the day, I spent about 6 months of my apprenticeship training studying step/stair building and layout. One of the points that was constantly emphasized was that stairs are a hazard to your health a necessary one but a hazard no less. There are certain conventions that are essential to a safe and eye-pleasing step project.

Think about it. When you walk you tend to build up a cadence where, unless something inhibits you, each step taken is about the same as the previous one in length and speed. The same tendency is in force when you are ascending or descending stairs or steps. If all the steps are not the same height and width, it tends to throw you off balance, and this can lead to a serious mishap.

A good rule of thumb when building a series of steps is called seven-eleven. No, thats not a convenience store chain, its a stair-building convention. The front of the steps or risers are about 7 inches in height, and the tops of the steps or treads are about 11 inches in width. Now this is not a hard, fast rule, but it should always be taken into consideration when a project is planned. In my opinion risers should never be higher than 7 inches, and treads should never be narrower than 11 inches. A step that is about 6 to 6-1/2 inches high and 11-1/2 to 12 inches wide is just about ideal in my book, whether you are building one step or a hundred. People have gotten used to this norm through decades (centuries) of climbing stairs and steps.

Once again, though, although there is leeway in the height and width of steps, all steps in a series must be uniform. The height of the risers cannot vary by more than 1/4 inch, and the width of the treads must be constant to within 1/4 in. On commercial tile projects the tolerance is usually less than 1/8 in.

Do not build steps in tread widths that cause people to take more than one step per tread. A normal person should be able to walk up or down a series of steps without breaking stride. A tread width of, say, 16 inches or more might cause a persons foot to land on the edge of the tread, half on and half off. The foot tends to slip or tilt toward the next riser, a sure recipe for disaster, especially when walking downward. When ascending such steps its very possible someone might trip on a riser and fall forward.

In outdoor construction, nothing is level. All surfaces are tilted somewhat so that rain water doesnt collect on them. This includes steps, whose treads should be pitched ever so slightly toward the front. In the width of a 12 in. tread, a 1/16 to 1/8 in. pitch is ideal just enough to keep water from collecting but not enough to cause a slip. It should go without saying, but Ill say it anyway step treads absolutely must be constructed from materials that will provide plenty of grip for the feet. Brick, rough stone, and non-slip quarry tiles are good choices. If your steps are to be simply concrete, finish the treads with a fine broom.

Steps in Conjunction with Walkways

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How to Build Steps, Walkways and Handicap Ramps | Tile Your World

Cities we serve: Noteable Atlanta neighborhoods (Inside I-285 AKA "The Perimeter") Ansley, Brookhaven/Ashford, Buckhead, Candler, Chamblee, Chastain Emory/Druid Hills, Grant Inman, Kirkwood, Little Five Points, Midtown Atlanta, Morningside, Piedmont Park , Virginia Highlands. Fulton County: Alpharetta, Atlanta, College Park, Dunwoody, East Point, Fairburn, Fort McPherson, Hapeville, Palmetto, Red Oak, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Union City, Vinings. Barrow County: Auburn, Bethlehem, Statham, Winder. Cherokee County: Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Lebanon, Nelson, Waleska, Woodstock. Clayton County: Conley, Ellenwood, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow, Rex, Riverdale. Dekalb County: Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Redan, Scottsdale, Stone Mountain, Tucker. Forsyth County: Cumming, Lake Lanier. Cobb County: Acworth, Austell, Clarkdale, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Marietta, Oak Grove, Powder Springs, Smyrna, Vinings, Woodstock. Douglass County: Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Winston. Fayette County: Brooks, Fayetteville, Inman, Peachtree City, Tyrone. Gwinnett County: Berkeley Lake, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Norcross, Snellville, Sugar Hill, Suwanee. Henry County: Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, Stockbridge.

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TrimArts - Professional Finish Carpentry, Trim and Stairs in ...

Our Mission Statement

We take pride in offering our customers "Quality Work, a Quick Response, at Reasonable Rates".

Each employee at our company takes part in our goal to perform safe, efficient, and excellent tree service. Kaily's Tree Service, ensures the highest tree care standard for our customers, and promises to put your needs first. Your trees and property are in the hands of well trained and qualified tree care professionals. Our estimators have years of experience in the tree care business, and can evaluate your trees and make recommendations with confidence.

Please take a moment to view the photos of our fleet of tree care equipment. For more information, or if you have a question about Kaily's Tree Services , please contact us. more...

At Kaily's Tree Service, we love what we do and it shows. Our dedication is reflected in the quality of our services, in the smiles of our many happy customers, and of course, in the healthy and beautiful trees that youre likely to see in the area. more...

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Nashville Tree Service | Nashville Tree Removal | Nashville Trees ...

Call 512-310-8789 today for a tree service estimate.

Brents Tree Service is an Austin tree trimming company that you can count on to provide the highest quality tree service in Austin, at the most affordable prices. Our goal is to go beyond our customers expectations, and we do it right the first time for all of our customers.

We go the extra mile to make sure your Austin tree service gets the time, attention, personnel and equipment that is needed for a quality completion. Our 23+ years of experience in Austin tree trimming has steadily built our reputation as the most trusted and affordable Austin tree care service.

We have knowledgeable and dedicated professionals.

A major key to our success and your satisfaction is the staff who work for Brents Tree Service. Many of our employees have been with us for over 10 years. We are knowledgeable, trained and very experienced in the Austin tree removal industry. Our employees are insured, experienced tree climbers, and are capable of protecting your trees along with your personal property.

We bring personal attention to every job.

Before the job we listen carefully to your needs. We always provide our estimates in-person so that you know exactly what we need to do to get the desired results. While the job is in progress it is closely monitored by our superintendents at every property. Every job is personally inspected by one of our Quality Team Members to verify that it meets our high standards and your high expectations. Once a project is completed by us, our Customer Service Manager Jerry Brents, personally calls each customer to check and see if we have met or exceeded your expectations. We never ask for payment until you are satisfied! That is our guarantee! Call us at 512-310-8789 or email us through our website to experience our exceptional customer service. We value our customers and thank you for visiting our website!

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Tree Trimming & Tree Service | Brents Tree Service

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862-926-7577 or 973-696-9922

Welcome to North Jersey Tree Specialists, L.L.C.! Our goal is to ensure the complete satisfaction of every customer. While offering friendly, knowledgeable service at competitive rates. We here at North Jersey Tree Specialists, know that you have a choice of nj tree service companies in the area and we appreciate your consideration. Our hope is that you'll feel confident in our ability to meet all of your expectations and know that our customers are always our number one focus. Please take a moment to browse through our site to learn more about our company and how we may help you with all your nj tree service needs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!!!

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Crepe Myrtles come in a variety of colors and sizes. Often called 'The Lilac of the South', these hardy plants can be used to beautifully outline a driveway or mark off a property line. They are perfect for adding color to any landscape, planting one or two near a patio, to provide shade on a long hot summer day and enjoy the blooms long into the fall months. Their versatility and easy maintenance make them a popular summer flowering shrub or tree. Even with the hardiness and versatility of these plants, mistakes can be made, but, just as easily remedied.

Crepe Myrtles really need a sunny location in well-drained soil. Once a newly planted Crepe Myrtle is established (usually after the first growing season) it can stand some abuse. They should be pruned once a year, in late winter. February is usually the ideal time to prune and prepare for the current years growth.

After they have bloomed and shed their flowers, they set seed. These seed pods appear at the tip of the branches and sometimes weigh the limbs down causing them to sag a little. At this time, by using a sharp pair of clippers, cut off the seed pods. You will soon see new buds appear and get a second bloom. Please don't make the same mistake I have been making for the past eight years. I let the seed pods fall naturally to the ground and ended up with a new growth of little Crepe Myrtles in their surrounding flower bed. Being unfamiliar with these trees, I thought the seed pods were new flower buds. Not so. They are larger than the flower buds and very hard. It is even sometimes possible to get a third or fourth bloom from your Crepe Myrtles, if the temperature remains warm and you continue to remove the seed pods after each shedding.

As mentioned before, you should prune or cut back your Crepe Myrtles in late winter, (around the end of February or early March). If you have chosen to plant the shrub form, it can be cut back to about 18-24 inches. But, this form really does not have to be pruned at all. Actually, if not pruned, the shrub seems to bloom much fuller. The tree form is a little bit different. You should wait until you see the first signs of growth then cut them at about a foot higher than the initial growth. This will give your tree some height and allow it to keep the tree form.

Remember, these shrubs and trees, once established can take some abuse. So, if you have made the mistakes I made, by not removing the seed pods and by cutting/pruning just any old way, there is still hope for your plant. Simply cut the plant all the way to the ground. It will grow back quickly and you can begin a proper regimen of treatment and very soon begin to enjoy those beautiful flowering trees and shrubs nicknamed, 'The Lilacs of the South'.

Source: http://www.cohlmia.com

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Crepe Myrtle Trees and Shrubs: How to Care for Them - Yahoo Voices ...

Thursday October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween! I was busy finishing up the last of these profiles after passing out candy to tots. I keep hearing that snow is coming soon, but all it has done is rain and hail. I'm sure it will show up soon enough and I'll be longing for spring to arrive.

New articles for the month:

I will be adding many more growing profiles over the coming year. Email me if you have any that you would like to see written.

Monday October 28, 2013

It's time for another dose of Mystery Monday fun. I am loving all of the guesses coming in from different sources. Last week's shrub was the Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium). The winners are Cheryl and Jeff (via blog comment), Mary Ann (via email) and Cheryl (via Facebook). Congrats to all!

Your clues for this week:

Good luck in guessing this week's mystery shrub!

Monday October 21, 2013

It's time for Mystery Monday again! The winners for last week's tree were Jomo (blog comment) and Timothy and Mike (over on Facebook), so congratulations!

See more here:
Selecting and Growing Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape