Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

As affordable commercial contractors, we know the ins and outs of your home perhaps better than you do—which is why we want to help you make sure you are prepared for an emergency! Read A Real Advantage Construction’s tips for preparing for possible emergencies and rest easy.


Gas Leak

First thing’s first: if you or anyone in your home smells that unmistakable rotten-egg odor and can’t identify its source, get out of the house immediately! That is the basic rule of gas safety, but there are other things you can do to make sure your home is safe:

• Don’t hang anything heavy on your gas pipes

• Make sure the gas connections to your gas appliances aren’t cracked or frayed

• Consider installing a natural-gas detector

Smoke Alarms

Mount a smoke alarm on every level of the house and make sure they are located outside of each bedroom. Here are more tips:

• Test the batteries of your smoke alarm once a month and replace them once a year

• If your smoke alarms are connected to the household electrical system, test them monthly as well

• Buy new smoke alarms every decade

• Even if you’re annoyed at the noise it makes when you burn dinner, don’t disable your smoke alarm!

• Dust or vacuum alarms on a regular basis

Making Your Old Deck New Again – Part One

The first day of summer is tomorrow (June 21), which means it’s time to get your deck prepped for summer parties! Follow A Real Advantage Construction for tips on whipping your Staten Island, NY deck into shape in no time at all. Divide this project into two weekends to make sure the wood is dry before you apply stain.

Four steps for transforming your deck:

1.       Make repairs

a.       Inspect the whole deck, paying special attention to parts that are in direct contact with the ground.

b.      If the tip of a screwdriver can sink into a joist or post, you have rot—which means you have a major renovation on your hands.

c.       Inspect the deck-to-house connection, as screws and bolts can loosen and rust.

d.      Lastly, check for cosmetic damage to ensure the wood on the railings and decking are secure. You don’t want a splinter to ruin your next family bar-be-que!

2.       Clean the deck surface

a.       Your deck should be cleaned annually. Assuming your deck has been regularly maintained, it should be able to be revived using a deck cleaner.

b.      As affordable commercial contractors in Queens and surrounding areas, we always stress that you wear eye protection and gloves while working with concentrated chemicals. Be sure to protect nearby plants as well.

c.       If you have tough stains that won’t budge, use a pressure washer. You can rent one for around $70 per day. 

Stay tuned for part two later this week!

{Photo Credit: Ame Rainey}