16 December 2009

Frederick Maryland Home Painting

6 Painting Mistakes Made in Frederick Maryland


There are many aspects involved in getting a great paint job. Detailed prep, advanced products, and skilled craftsmanship are a few items that ensure a longer-lasting paint job. Below are some items to avoid that occur all too often. Mistake Number One: Inadequate Preparation. A quality paint job starts with high performance surface preparation. Professional prep includes anti-mildew power washing, removing loose and peeling paint, countersinking nail heads, priming new wood, ...

Detailed prep, advanced products, and skilled craftsmanship are a few items that ensure a longer-lasting paint job. Below are some items to avoid that occur all too often.

Mistake #1: Inadequate Preparation

A quality paint job starts with high performance surface preparation.

Professional prep includes anti-mildew power washing, removing loose and peeling paint, countersinking nail heads, priming new wood, caulking around doors and windows, sealing areas, and removing and replacing any bad wood prior to painting.

Mistake #2: A Thin Application

Most paint jobs don’t make use of an advanced peel-stop sealer. The sealer delivers a more protective first-coat than primers or paint. Most paint jobs use conventional primers or paint for a first-coat. They are not formulated to resist cracking and peeling.

Mistake #3: Taking Too Long to Finish

Many painters are understaffed and run from job to job. Make sure your paint company is regular in their schedule and stays on the job until completion.
Mistake #4: Painting in Poor Weather

Peeling, thin areas, bubbles, and cracking can be the result of applying the paint when the surface was not clean and dry. Make sure your contractor doesn’t give you a rush-job.

Mistake #5: Bleeding and Stains

Bleeding and stains usually don’t show up until after the crew has finished. Naturally occurring tannins and oils in your wood will discolor the paint unless they are properly treated.
Mistake #6: Using Standard Primers & Paint For The First Coat

As your home’s exterior weathers, it expands and contracts. Primer and conventional paint are not very flexible and they crack. For superior performance and better value, use a first-coat Sealer that provides exceptional adhesion and resists cracking and peeling.

This article was provided by Marathon Painting Pros. Marathon Painting Pros is a national network of painting contractors that have higher standards of craftsmanship and utilize advanced sealers and paints for a longer-lasting finish. Marathon is a member of the Painting and Decorators Contractors of America. To have a Marathon Pro review your home, call them at 1-888-425-6345 or visit www.marathonpainting.com.

Read article at HomeRenovationGuide.com

Google Frederick Maryland Home Remodeling


Google Frederick Maryland Home Painting


06 December 2009

Montgomery County Maryland Building Permit Fast Track

Montgomery County Maryland Remodeling "Fast Track Process" building permits

Department of Permitting Services -

On August 1, 1996, County Executive Douglas Duncan signed into law a bill creating the Department of Permitting Services (DPS). The mission of DPS is to provide the highest quality of public service while insuring compliance with Montgomery County development and construction standards.

Simply put, anyone who wants to develop land or build something on it in the County has to obtain a permit from DPS to do so. In essence, DPS enforces standards that control what goes on before, during and after construction. Also, zoning matters, such as whether or not a business activity is being conducted in a residential area, whether or not someone has built something too close to a property line, or whether or not someone may sell flowers in a public street are regulated by DPS. DPS does not get involved in disputes between business owners and their customers, between tenants and landlords, or between homeowners and their neighborhood associations. Other County departments may be of assistance in matters like these.

Some of the specific services provided by DPS include the issuance of street-grading, storm-drain, sediment-control, well, septic, building, electrical and use-and-occupancy permits; the licensing of electricians and vendors; and the inspection of building, road-construction, and land-disturbance activities. DPS is a coordinating agency for approvals from other agencies (such as Fire and Rescue, WSSC, MNCPPC, State Highway Administration) for permits that we issue.

DPS/Building Construction - Residential Walk-Through DPS Home
WHAT IS THE RESIDENTIAL "FAST TRACK" PERMIT PROCESS?

The residential fast track or "walk-through" process is an abbreviated permit review and approval process developed to expedite (in most cases, over-the-counter) building permits for minor single-family-dwelling one story additions/alterations and for construction of accessory structures. Single-family dwellings include one-and two-family detached dwellings and townhouses that are up to and including three stories above grade plane and all their accessory structures.
WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS QUALIFY FOR THE "FAST TRACK" PROCESS?

Examples of qualifying projects are:

* Small additions, such as one story garages, sun rooms, decks, and dormers


* Alterations, such as remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, finishing an attic or basement, or re-configuring a floor plan


* Minor structural repairs or replacement


* Detached accessory/miscellaneous structures, such as fences and retaining walls, sheds, pools, and antennas

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

A completed building permit application must be submitted. The application must be accompanied by two copies of the site plan, as appropriate, and two copies of the construction drawings in sufficient detail to show the nature and scope of the proposed work. The plans must be prepared in accordance with Home Improvement Guide and Additions and Alterations Plan Submittal Guidelines

NOTE: Deficient permit applications and plans will be rejected and returned to the applicant with an explanation of the supplemental information or corrections needed for approval. Rejected permits may be processed with original application at a later date.
WHEN WILL THE PERMIT BE READY?

Most fast track permits can be issued "while you wait." Permits for more complicated projects are taken in and processed as soon as possible. Actual processing time may vary according to the volume/complexity of plans in the process.

Read More at the official Montgomery County Maryland Government website:
http://permittingservices.montgomerycountymd.gov/dpstmpl.asp?url=/permitting/bc/nfrwt.asp

Provided by Maryland General Contractor
BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com
Maryland Home Improvements by BT Martin Contractors
7130 Rock Creek Dr, Frederick Maryland

301 253-1068

23 November 2009

What Makes A General Contractor Different From a Regular Contractor?

When you need work done to your home or business you generally know you need a contractor to do the work. Most people shop for a contractor by searching Google. You'll see a variety of contractors, this post is to help educate for your quest.

What Makes a General Contractor Different from a "Regular Contractor"?

Wikipedia has this definition:

A general contractor is a group or individual that contracts with another organization or individual (the owner) for the construction, renovation or demolition of a building, road or other structure. A general contractor is defined as such if it is the signatory as the builder of the prime construction contract for the project.

A general contractor is responsible for the means and methods to be used in the construction execution of the project in accordance with the contract documents. Said contract documents usually include the contract agreement including budget, the general and special conditions and the plans and specification of the project that are prepared by a design professional such as an architect.

A general contractor usually is responsible for the supplying of all material, labor, equipment, (engineering vehicles and tools) and services necessary for the construction of the project. To do this it is common for the general contractor to subcontract part of the work to other persons and companies that specialize in these types of work. These are called subcontractors.

General contractors conducting work for government agencies are typically referred to as prime contractors. The responsibilities of a prime contractors working under a contract are essentially identical to those outlined above. In many cases, prime contractors will delegate portions of the contract work to subcontractors.


What is the Association of General Contractors?
The Association of General Contractors (AGC) is America's oldest and largest trade association.

The AGC was organized in 1919 to address problems discovered during World War I. "The original purpose of AGC was to have a mechanism to mobilize the industry in an emergency situation," said Raleigh Roussell, President and CEO of QUOIN, the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of AGC. "WWI was the first time America was truly called to mobilize on a global scale and some parts of this mobilization just didn't work well. One of the areas where this was a big problem was the construction industry. In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson went to the country's leading construction firms and asked them to create an organization to address this, and AGC was the result."

Since then, the AGC has evolved into the primary voice of the construction industry in Washington DC. They coordinate with OSHA, EPA and other government agencies on regulations, lobby politicians to influence legislation and participate in judicial actions that affect the industry. The national organization maintains a staff of 85 people in Alexandria, Virginia to support its 35,000 members nationwide.

The AGC is also represented by 100 local chapters around the United States. The Dallas Chapter, the first AGC Chapter in Texas, was formed in 1924; the Fort Worth Chapter was established one year later. "There was always a need for the local groups, doing mostly labor-oriented activities," said Roussell. "That's why there were separate chapters in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston . . . each local chapter was initially just an individualized, community group. Historically, the local organization had a focus on labor issues. The national organization had a focus on dealing with federal agencies and political issues."

For more information visit http://www.agc.org/




Provided by Maryland General Contractor

301 253-1068



BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

Maryland Home Remodeling by BT Martin Contractors
7130 Rock Creek Dr Frederick, MD 21702
Maryland Home Improvement Commission #83244

11 November 2009

BT Martin Contractors – Maryland General Contractor » Hiring a General Contractor in Maryland Can Save You Time and Aggravation

Author: Edie Mindell
Reality shows are fun to watch and a great source of entertainment. But there is a big difference between watching some guy on TV swing a hammer, or rip out some kitchen cabinets to actually doing the work. It’s not a matter of being able to do the work. It’s more about the experience of someone who has been in the specific trade and knowing what to do in different situations.

Think of it this way. If you needed to have some dental work done, would you go to someone who likes the thought of wearing a nice lab coat, or someone who has gone to school and continues to stay current with the new technologies in the dental field.

So while watching a professional on the TV do a make-over on a house seems to be a call to action, there are many reasons NOT to jump in the family mini van for a trip to your local hardware store.
Many people have no idea about the different construction materials available. Just because you have been in a Lowes or a Home Depot doesn’t mean you have the best material for the job. A lesser quality or wrong material used in a job can be lead to shoddy workmanship and possibly future problems down the road.
Renovations and construction is more of a strategy than just gathering up the materials at Home Depot at the contractors entrance. There is a process and order of the various activities. And most homeowners have no idea what that specific order should look like from a scheduling standpoint. There can be a tremendous cost in time, money and stress from either over-ordering or under-ordering the proper materials.
The real question a homeowner who is considering doing the work himself should ask himself is ” How much is my time worth”?

Is it worth having their family inconvenienced by having a construction project stalled for months? Is it worth the arguments? Is it worth the money spent on materials which are still sitting around? The simple answer is NO!

An experienced general contractor is the answer to most construction and renovation projects. A general contractor normally has a chosen crew to do the various jobs which need completion. In other words, let’s say you needed a garage built. The general contractor has people in his rolodex which he can call who specialize in building garages. Or any other type of project, like kitchens baths,roofing windows and so on.
The general contractor also assumes the liability for a job. With his reputation on the line, you can bet he will surround himself with the best tradesman he can. He will use people who are insured. In other words the general contractor is looking out for the homeowners best interest.
In summary a general contractor will be able to get the job done faster and less expensively than the average homeowner. And pay for himself over and over again!
Article Source: ArticlesBase.comHiring a General Contractor in Maryland Can Save You Time and Aggravation
BT Marting Contractors Bethesda Maryland Custom Painting http://btmartincontractors.com

301 253-1068

Maryland Custom Painting Contractor serving Bethesda, Potomac and Howard County for 30 yrs. We are fully licensed and insured, with excellent references available upon request. Our team of quality-conscious professionals will address all of your home improvement concerns, treating your home and property with high regards.
We understand… the importance of completing the projects in a timely manner without interrupting your daily life.

Provided by Maryland General Contractor

09 November 2009

Find the Best Commercial Painters For Your Business in Maryland

Painting is vital to the look of any business, as they say first impressions are lasting impressions. The right look and feel of how your business is reflected from the inside or outside can leave a lasting impression on new clients or returning clients. In this regard it is best to use the services of a professional to get the job done effectively and efficiently. Before going out and hiring the services of a commercial painting professional every business owner should consider the following before hiring the services of one:

  • Knowledge: This is a very important aspect to getting what you are paying for. There are many textures, paint, and styles that a good painter will know about. A good painter will know what kind of paint to use, when to use it and how to use it. These things are not to be taken lightly because you don’t what to have to pay for the same job to be done twice.
     
  • Clients: The customer base of a commercial painter will tell you a little bit about that company and how they are going to perform. Obviously companies who use these services will go to the best in the industry so a company’s client list will help you understand how well the quality of work is going to be.
     
  • Professionalism: Is important because the professionalism of a company will not only be reflected in their quality of work but will also be a direct reflection of your company because it is a direct reflection of the type of people you employ. For example, a commercial painting company that can maintain a clean work environment will directly affect how your business if viewed by customers and clients.
     
  • Reputation: This is the cornerstone of any business to business relationship. Finding out whether or not the painting company is worth it. Reputation and the old adage “my word is my bond” can go along way for a business to maintain a long lasting customer-client relationship. A good reputation will go a long way.
     
  • Safety: Painting is by no means a safe profession. There are many aspects to painting safely such as ladder safety, respirator safety, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and so on. You must ensure that a painting company follows all the rules of safety standards.
Painting isn’t as simple as taking a paintbrush and slapping some paint on a wall. It takes meticulous care and a large amount of attention to detail. Good commercial painting professionals know that painting is an important job not only to build their reputation, but also to help build the reputation of the company for whom they are painting.

 

A good quality paint job is important for businesses because it leaves a lasting impression on clients or business professionals. Painting should not be underestimated and only a fully qualified experienced commercial painter should be hired for such a job.

 
For more information on commercial painting click here.

 
To see some shining examples of work done by a Maryland Commercial Painter.

 
Provided by Maryland General Contractor

 

 

 

03 November 2009

BT Martin Contractors - Maryland General Contractor

BT Martin Contractors is Maryland Premier General Contractor servicing all areas of Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Southern Pennsylvania. Visit us at http://www.btmartincontractors.com/

Provided by Maryland General Contractor