Home & Garden

Protecting Your Family and Home From the Dangers of Lightening

 

As the seasons change, so do the elements and storms we are exposed to. This time of year, hurricanes and flooding rains are major problems we face. A by-product of these mysterious weather phenomenons is lightning. A lightning storm, also known as an electrical storm, can be extremely dangerous and destroy a home with a single blow. These erratic ribbons of energy seek to find refuge by kissing the earth with a tremendous force of energy and destroying anything that may be in its path.

 

At any particular moment, there are over 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere around the globe and 25 million bolts of lightning reach out of the sky, coming in contact with the ground, annually.

 

Watching a good lightning storm zigzag across the sky is an awesome visual experience. The ominous ness and the electrical displays are extraordinary to watch. But, these displays of dancing energy come with a destructive power that steals more lives and causes more damage than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes – combined.

 

There is a way you can help to protect your home from being destroyed by these flashes of energy. Installing a lightning protection system can provide a path for the lightning to follow into the ground and help to direct it from melting the shielding in your homes electrical system and taking out the electronics and appliances plugged into your outlets. These systems do not prevent lightning from striking nor do they attract it, but help to direct its energy out of harms way.

 

Lightning protection systems that meet the latest standard requirements are considered to be 99% effective by Underwriters Laboratories. These systems can be partially concealed on the exterior or completely concealed during construction.

 

If lightning strikes the ground, it can affect whatever is within a 60 foot radius and 10 times that area, if it strikes water and can be lethal. On average, it can strike over 50 times within a quarter-mile of your home and is the leading cause of fires in suburban and rural areas.

 

There are several factors to determine if your home is at risk:

1.      If your home is located in an open area

2.      If lightning strikes were reported or seen within close proximity

3.      If your home is located in an elevated area, like a mountain.

4.      If you do not have a system to safely direct the path of electricity into the ground

 

A Few Lightning Facts

·        A lightning bolt can travel from 25 – 45 miles horizontally prior to hitting the ground and can be from 6 to 8 miles in length.

·        The size of a bolt is about 1 – 2 inches in diameter with the surrounding light making it seem a lot larger.

·        A single bolt of lightning can become up to 5 times the heat of the sun and carries with it 1 billion volts of current and up to 20,000 amperes.

·        The Empire State Building is struck by lightning over 100 times per year.

·        Most lightning strikes occurs between 12 noon and 4 PM

 

 

In homes located where sandy soil conditions are prevalent, more elaborate systems are necessary. Sand is dryer than normal soil and does not conduct electricity in the same way that moist soil does. For areas with sandy soil conditions there is a system that dissipates the energy over more of an area than the simple lightening rod, cable and clamp system.

 

Although the rod and cable system is easier than the more elaborate systems, for the best results and to ensure that you meet the requirements for a lower deductible and discounted premium from your insurance carrier, have a licensed professional evaluate and install the best system to protect you, your family and your home.

 

To get your copy of Hector’s book,

 

What Your Parent’s Never Told You About Owning a Home

 

Visit www.americashomeimprovementcoach.com and with

 

your purchase his book you will receive 5 reports on

 

ü     Selling Your Home In Any Market

ü     Hiring the Right Contractor For You

ü     Staying Within Your Budget

ü     Looking Out For Contractor Scams

ü     What Questions Should You Ask a Potential Contractor

 

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Simple Things You Can Do to Make Your Home More Appealing

 

Not everyone can afford the cost of a renovation or a new home, but you can never go wrong when you cosmetically upgrade the interior and exterior of your home. Investing in the upkeep of your residence not only improves its appearance, but the overall appearance of your neighborhood. It can be cost efficient, simple and quick to do.

 

            On the exterior of your home, power washing the siding or brick can dramatically improve the appearance. Painting the fence, planting some colorful flowers and mulching the trees in your yard can add curbside appeal. The first thing most people focus on when approaching your home is your front door. Painting or staining your door is a simple low cost improvement that can highlight your entrance without the costly expense of replacement. Shutters are also a low cost item, pre-painted, easy to install and can change the appearance and style of a plain looking facade and enhance its charm. If your entrance walkway is in disrepair you can install brick pavers for a warm but elegant, country look. There are many styles, colors and shapes.

 

            The interior of your home may need a new coat of paint. You may want to consider some of the new color schemes available at your local paint or home improvement store. New carpet in the bedrooms or new rugs over a freshly scraped and polyurethaned hardwood floors in your living room and dining room can be a refreshing change. Upgrade the interior trim and add ornamental crossheads above the doorways. If you desire more light, have a larger window installed where you feel the interior can be enhanced by exterior views. Maybe it’s time for new kitchen appliances or modern bathroom fixtures. From new garage doors to installing a new lighting fixture, there are many things you can do to make your home more appealing without spending thousands of dollars.

 

Take a walk around your home and imagine what it would look like if you made a few minor changes. Just make yourself a list in the order you feel a repair or change is needed. These projects can be a lot of fun for you and your family and time together, well spent.

 

To get your copy of Hector’s book,

 

What Your Parent’s Never Told You About Owning a Home

 

Visit www.americashomeimprovementcoach.com and with

 

your purchase his book you will receive 5 reports on

 

ü     Selling Your Home In Any Market

ü     Hiring the Right Contractor For You

ü     Staying Within Your Budget

ü     Looking Out For Contractor Scams

ü     What Questions Should You Ask a Potential Contractor

 

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Finding the right home improvement company to update or renovate your home doesn’t have to be a stressful and disheartening process. Yet most homeowners have no idea where to start because they are bombarded with bad press about contractors who are dishonest, inexperienced and downright unreliable. Homeowners today are wary of who they can trust.

Home Improvement Complaints and Scams:

“With lower-rate mortgages tempting homeowners to trade up to a bigger house, or to refinance and expand or repair their existing home, we’re finding that construction and home improvement activity is way up, and with it is the number of complaints in those areas,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez. (Consumer Affairs, January 2006)

Home improvement is one of those terms that can mean just about anything, even if you consider a digital camera memory card. Home Improvement is nothing but giving your home a makeover. Home improvement is a rewarding process; completion of a project, whether big or small, comes with a satisfying feeling of achievement. Many people embark on house refurbishment by focussing on a single room that need the most attention; however, many people find themselves in projects on a much larger scale. Home improvement is the way to go when you want to add value to your home. After all, every individual wants their home to look beautiful and classy. Home improvement is necessary from time to time. However, due to lack of finance, it is not always possible. Home improvement is the resort for you, if your home is your personal hideout. Home improvement loans can aid you realize this plan. Home improvement is predominantly triggered by the desire to own a comfortable home. Home improvement can be slightly difficult, if your financial position is tight and is one of only a handful of shows in production to use a test audience. Home improvement is no longer as it used to be. It has become a lot more thorough, time consuming, tough and elaborate process, is all about making things simpler. A lot of people do tasks everyday that they do not need to do if only they addressed the problem in a different manner. Home improvement is not as difficult as it may seem. There are several small touches that can make your home look like that perfect house on the corner without breaking the bank or your back. Home Improvement is the finish home alleviation resource.

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We at G. N. Home Improvements Limited are a small family run business providing a vast range  of home and building services.  We specialise in reconstruction, refurbishments and new build homes.

We have all fully qualified tradesmen under one roof, (Electricians, Plumbers, Plasterers; Joiners; Bricklayers; Painters and Decorators) so we can offer you a full service across the board  improvements.  We even offer a Landscape Garden Service and fitting kitchens and bathrooms are a speciality.  You name it we’ve got it covered.

We are UK based and 80% of our clients return for a further service after giving them a 100% job satisfaction.  Our services has taken us to Europe on several occasions to build homes, fit kitchens, bathrooms, supply new windows and doors reconstruct and decorate homes and we are proud of the  Quality of work we give.

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