Custom Crawlspace Replacement Doors

New for 2012 Custom Covers Inc. has launched the “Crawlbrella “ series custom size crawlspace replacement door.  This is a permanent replacement option for homeowners with rusted out crawlspace doors that no longer fit and is the perfect finishing touch to an encapsulated crawlspace.

The doors are constructed using a sturdy welded aluminum frame, ½” polymer material with a choice of 3 color options, rubberized weather seal and have a choice of flange or recessed mount.    

The polymer is UV & weather resistant.  All doors come with a grasp handle for ease with removal and are padlockable.

This style of door is fabricated from the homeowner’s custom measurements and can be made to any size.

To view this custom crawlspace replacement door and request an estimate for replacing your crawlspace door visit us on the web at www.customcoversinc.com

Gearing up for the New Year, removing and preventing mold helps to reduce allergies!

Now that the holidays are behind us and the dead of winter is among us, homeowners tend to direct their attention to home improvement projects for the New Year.

A project to consider in 2012 is cleaning up the crawlspace.  Damp crawlspaces provide the ideal place for mold growth.  Continued exposure to mold spores is the trigger to a variety of allergic reactions.  For asthma sufferers, this constant exposure may be enough to trigger attacks year round.

While musty smells are sometimes disregarded, this can be a sign that water is present in the crawlspace allowing mold spores to grow.

This project may involve hiring a licensed contractor to perform the cleanup, inspect the foundation and repair any cracks where water is being allowed to enter.

Keep in mind, inspecting your crawlspace access door for proper fit and function, installing an exterior area wall and proper fitting cover, or purchasing a cover to fit your existing exterior area wall, can also help to eliminate moisture and elements from entering the crawlspace area.

Homeowners that take the necessary steps to clean up the crawlspace area by removing existing mold, and put barriers in place to minimize future mold growth, will be on track for healthier lives in 2012.

Happy New Year!!

Polycarbonate Sheeting – vs. - Other Building Materials

Polycarbonate sheeting is a type of building material used to replace acrylics, metals, wood etc. and can be used in a variety of applications.  This product is often referred to as Lexan®or Makrolon®, which are among the most popular brands of polycarbonate sheeting.

Polycarbonate sheeting is highly durable, dimensionally stable, and extremely impact resistant and offers greater light transmissions than many types of building materials.

One of the biggest advantages of Polycarbonate is its impact strength.  Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable, making it extremely safe to use in areas where parts may be exposed to impact.  This material is often used as an alternative to glass in doors and windows, over exterior window wells, in showers or may be found in sporting areas, where it is used to protect spectators from hockey pucks or flying balls.  When exposed to repeated heavy blows, the material tends to cold form rather than shatter.

One of the disadvantages of Polycarbonate sheeting compared to other building materials, polycarbonate sheeting tends to be fairly expensive, driving up the final cost of the produced product.  

Purchasing a high end product built using polycarbonate, however, will over time save the consumer the cost associated with replacing a lesser product more frequently, or the time and cost associated with the upkeep and maintenance necessary when using some other types of building materials.

Spring Is Almost Here!

Finally, it has been a long winter!  It’s nice to know spring is just around the corner.

Spring is my favorite season.  I can start cleaning up the outside of my house and look forward to the renewed life in my gardens. 

Spring, however also means the potential for heavy downpours and some areas more frequently than others.

Homeowners with basement window wells that are uncovered or are covered with an open style cover in place (steel grate, rebar, or lattice) should make checking and removing any accumulated debris a priority.  Ensuring your well is clean and free of debris will allow the drain (typically located in the bottom of your well) to function properly during this season when rain is likely.

Perhaps your home has a crawl space instead, and is equipped with a sump pump to aid in water removal.  Spring is the perfect time to check that the sump pump is functioning and removing water properly.  Homeowners should also inspect the crawl space door for proper fit and closure.

Create a home improvement to do list for yourself.

Replace that worn out crawl space door. Purchase a crawl space well cover that is custom designed and fabricated to fit your existing crawl space well. The cover needs to fully enclose your area wall and door.  A proper fitting cover that is designed using polycarbonate material will eliminate the constant changing weather exposure your crawl space door endures. 

Is your crawl space hard to access? Purchase and install a crawl space well package.  This allows homeowners to enlarge the area wall on the exterior of the house for easier access.

Clean out that basement window well one more time, and then purchase a polycarbonate basement window well cover.

This simple home improvement will free up some time, eliminate constant maintenance, add aesthetic appeal to this open exterior hole, provide safety and allow you to focus on the more enjoyable spring projects.

Have a wonderful spring!!

Tips on how to find the best deals cheap on whatever you're looking for!

1. Do a search on Yahoo, Google or Bing for the product (Laptop, Computers, Electronics Etc...) reviews and also the Consumer Products Protection sites like (consumersearch.com or consumerreports.org).

2. Search by product model and name go to manufacturer website for detailed product information.

3. Talk with your friends or coworkers, sometimes people you know can help, most families have a GEEK or two.

4. Look online, at all the daily deals websites & coupons sites, online comparison shopping websites there are so many to help with the best shopping deals online today, this will save you some time searching through all the consumer electronics and computer websites.

5. Social Networking websites like Twitter, Face book, and MySpace are great to get some actual people that already have purchased the products.

6. Local newspaper classified ads and online classifieds under For Sale and Shopping sections. Most up to date deals can be found on the internet daily, all retail department stores advertise online and in the newspaper for the best deals cheap.

Stewart's Bargain Bin

Home inspection prior to purchasing your new home

So you have found your dream home and have decided to make an offer. Most people shopping for a new home fall in love with the inside of the home because this is where they will spend the majority of their time. Very few buyers actually take the time to inspect the exterior of the home.

The exterior may harbor hidden dangers to your family and future cost to you that possibly could have been negotiated for repairs, replacement or fixing prior to purchasing the home.

Make sure you take the time to walk around the exterior of the home and take into consideration things that may be safety issues, that need repairs or replacing in the near future.

You may be purchasing a home with a basement that has daylight windows and exterior window wells. Are the window wells covered with a protective cover that will prevent someone from falling into the well and being injured?

Does the home you are purchasing have a crawlspace? Did you inspect the crawlspace entry door? If the door is not working properly, rusted out and will not remain closed, this can be a costly repair. The crawlspace may already be harboring costly repairs that you are not aware of.

To be on the safe side it is always best to have a home inspection done prior to purchasing a home. This can be helpful in determining how safe the home is prior to purchasing, and what problems need to be addressed.

It is important that you take into consideration the safety of your dream home first, especially if you and your family plan to live in the home for a long time.