CARBON STEEL: THE STRONGEST STEEL

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Steel is probably one of the main materials used in constructing commercial buildings, and housings. Because of its incontestable durability it has been brought into play ever since. Like other materials, there are other sorts of steel; each has a varied usage and purpose. 

The strongest and most resilient type is the Carbon steel. It is jam-packed with a variety of metallic elements such as iron, Manganese, and carbon; the latter is the one that prevents the steel from breaking down, and also the main hardening component. It is the preferred material for threading pipe pieces. Also, carbon steel’s malleability is outstanding so it can be crafted into the form of your liking. Because of its durable and bendable attribute, it is frequently utilized by constructors in pipe fitting jobs in most residential and business construction projects. It is therefore the standard option in pipe fitting jobs because it is durable and at the same time economical. 

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_steel 

TYPHOON SENDONG DAMAGING CONSTRUCTION SITES AND BUSINESSES

Photo: taken by hygienematters @ flickr.com

It was reported that the recent typhoon that hit the Philippines, particularly in Cagayand de Oro and some parts of Iligan, had reached an estimated amount of hundred million (Php 100M) worth of damages to the small and medium businesses, according to the DTI (or the Department of Trade and Industry).  That includes the a number of factory equipment and amenities. Also greatly affected by the typhoon Sendong were food manufacturing plants in the city.

The assistant director of DTI, Ms Linda Bonia, alleged that some construction service companies in Iligan city were washed away by the typhoon along with the vehicles in some parts of the city. A lot of buildings and infrastructures in both Iligan and CDO city were   heavily devastated, affecting the homes and the livelihood of the residents. The DTI immediately took an action and tapped up some government agencies to offer loans to the small businesses who were affected by Sendong.

Choosing the Right Flooring For Your Home

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A home is something we consider a place we feel relaxed and comfortable. And renovating is one way to transform your home to the paradise you have always wanted to live in. Renovations include the walls, doors, and the floorings. In this article, I will give you tips and information about the ideal type of floorings for the different areas of your house. 

First, we go to the part of the house where you spend most of your private time – your bedroom. When thinking about bedroom overhaul, most likely you would want to personalize it. Depending on the type of “look” you want your room to achieve, you can pick a dark and light colors stripe for your own room, if you’re a boy; and opt for lighter shades or any of your favorite colors and materials if you’re a girl. It can also be any flooring you want it to be. Be it tiled, carpeted, cork, or wood.

As for the kitchen, a practical look, yet, neat and nice looking flooring would be a fine choice. See to it that you pick a covering that can protect your floor from water (or any spills during food preparation). It should also be strong enough in case of strapping impacts from big utensils, kitchen appliances, and the likes.  Nonetheless, to guarantee the customers they have adequate flooring materials, they provide a little spare flooring, usually the contractors include an approximate of 8% bonus square footage of the bought home flooring merchandise.

photo from sxc.hu

The living room is where we consider the receiving area in our house, meaning this is the part of the house where you walk in and out. Plus this is where most of the heavy appliances and furniture are displayed. Flooring contractors, as a rule, advice homeowners to choose a durable type of flooring that can bear all the bustles in this part of the house. For the living room, you might want to use hardwood flooring . 

Home Rennovation

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Improving one’s home is probably one of our plans as we grow older, live on our own, or build a family. We know deciding to do this can be pricey and can sometimes be beyond our budget but we still include it in our plan because we have our own reasons. I listed the most common and basic reasons why we decide on upgrading our abode are as follows:

First off, our dwelling place is normally where we should feel safe. No one would want to live in a place that looks like it would collapse anytime. Safety in your home is a priority. Fixing the ceiling that drips water when it’s raining, putting the wring in place, etc. We want our home to be a place where we can relax, feel comfortable, and most especially feel secure.

Also, a house renovation raises its value and its salability. Not that you would be selling your house. But remember that houses are an asset and its price increases over time how much more if home improvements are done.

Photo from flickr.com

Changes in our lives always happen. When we or one of our family member ages, we would want to provide them a place where their needs can be within their reach (i.e. stairs, bedroom on the lower ground, safe bathroom, etc). There might come a time that you will be using a bigger car, or buying another one and your garage might not be enough for two. So settling for home renovations might be the solutions to these lifestyle changes.

These are just some of the common practical reasons why people opt for home improvement. It may be costly but it is still an investment be it for ourselves or for our loved ones.

Construction Platforms

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When we talk about constructions, we cannot get away with the fact that platforms are particularly important especially when trying to access elevated areas to work on (e.g. second floor, top floor, etc). Depending on the use and availability, there are many platforms we can use like boom and scissor lifts, truck and van mounted platforms. 

 These platforms should at all times be situated appropriately to its area where it will be used. It should be strongly set on the ground and must not be positioned in areas where passing people or moving cars pass to avoid accidents. Weather isn’t something that we usually worry about in construction platforms because they are well-built. They are structured in a way that even if a strong wind blows its way to where it is positioned, you can be sure that it will still be in good condition the following they where you left it. The only problem is the construction operations during this bad weather. Make sure that you are not ON the platform when that happens to avoid injuries and accidents. Remember that it’s better to leave the work (and go back as soon as the site is safe for work) than putting your own or others’ lives at risk.

Cause of Unsafe Structures in the Philippines

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Corruption in the construction business is not anymore an uncommon issue today. See for example the earthquake incidents in Haiti and Chile where many families and business are greatly devastated. It was said that the construction qualitiy of the houses and skyscrapers were questionable. 

Shifting to a local view, the likelihood of the Philippines getting struck by a calamity similar what happened in Chile and Haiti is highly possible. The DPWH or the Department of Public Works and Highways accounted that only 60 infrastructures in the whole Metro Manila are unsafe.  However, Mr. Felino, an architect and urban planner in the country, thinks otherwise. He believes that the damage   would be comparable to what happened to the mentioned countries.

He deemed that the extensive corruption from the construction industry would be the main cause of the dangerous, unsafe infrastructures built in the country.

The citizens are advised at all times to be all set in cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis. Everyone, as much as possible should be equipped with awareness of the necessary building safety guidelines and dealings.

Sentiency to ones environmental risk is a plus, like knowing if you are residing in a flood-prone area; or if you are within the 5 meters range from the fault line; and choosing a trusted construction service comapny. These things are often miss, but it will definitely save not one but many lives.

Reference: http://www.philstar.com/article.aspx?articleid=729143&publicationsubcategoryid=200

Tips For A Safe Construction Site

As part of the crew of a construction site, having a smoothly running work place during the building job is fundamental in providing a stress-free, less hazardous environment. Although this isn’t your main concern, but the safety and wellbeing of everyone should be looked upon.

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You can do this by making the construction site safe, clean, and less hazardous as much as possible. One way to attain this is by clearing the area free from trash and unimportant scraps. This isn’t a one man job, though. It would make a difference if everyone would be involved in this responsibility.  If possible, review all the safety rules, guidelines, and policies in the working area.  

Also, making sure that the equipment for the construction project is complete and intact from the small tools to the big machineries. That also includes checking each of the gears if they are working properly and are of good standards. The aforementioned tips isn’t something to be taken without due consideration. These may be trivial compared to the overall project but “safety first” that’s what they say. We do not want to have anything to do with fines and lawsuits, do we? When you take care of our construction site; you also take care of our crew, equipment, and your business’s reputation.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_site_safety