Wertheimer & Sons Inc

General Contractors

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:21:00 GMT

Your home is a lot of things — the place in which you and your family reside, the biggest investment in your lifetime, the place that contains all of your personal and valuable possessions, but most importantly, your memories. So, needless to say, a fire in your home can potentially be the most devastating disaster that can happen to you and your family. If you do not have homeowner’s insurance, this can be a serious problem. However, if you are insured, there are a series of steps that need to be taken.

The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to advise an insured homeowner how to handle the events that will unfold after a fire has taken place; (2) a series of steps to follow to help prevent ever having such a disaster.
Assuming you have been as careful as possible, which we will discuss further in Part 2 of this article, it is more than a rare occasion that a fire can happen in your home. Fires can occur due to lightening, faulty wiring, smoking in bed, Christmas tree lights, candles, gas stoves, electric heaters, and probably the most obvious cause of all – carelessness. After such a disaster occurs, the following steps should be followed:

Be sure all loved ones and pets are safe and accounted for.
Do not go back into a burning building under any circumstances in an attempt to retrieve any valuables or personal possessions.
Immediately notify your local fire department by dialing 911 where the operator will forward your call to the appropriate emergency departments.
Report the fire to your insurance company and obtain a copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy (assuming it has not been destroyed in the fire).
Read and interpret your insurance policy, which generally has three separate and distinct sections:
a) building insurance provisions, which covers the structure, attached and detached additional structures, and the grounds that surround your home.
b) contents or personal property provisions, which covers all of your personal belongings that were destroyed in the fire, including clothing, furniture, soft goods, and non attached appliances and electronics. Note: if you have valuable jewelry or artwork, this generally requires a separate policy or “rider” to insure each additional appraised and listed item.
c) additional living expense provisions, also commonly known as ALE, which provides coverage for you to rent or lease living space of “like and kind” quality to your own
personal residence until such time as you are able to move back into your home.
Now it is decision time. You need to get an estimate for building repairs, prepare an inventory of personal items, and find a place to live. At this point, you would be well advised to seek
the help of a public insurance adjuster. They are licensed and trained professionals who
can help guide you through every step of the process. They will charge you a fee, which
is normally a percentage of your insurance claim. It is my advice that an insurance adjuster
be retained, as the process can be overwhelming to handle on your own. If you do not
wish to retain a public adjuster, you can attempt to settle your claim with your insurance company claims adjuster.
Hire a licensed, professional fire rebuilder. This can easily be done by searching the internet and finding a reputable builder in your area.

In the second part of this article, we will discuss fire prevention and, hopefully, the first part of this article will never become part of your life. There are many ways to prevent a fire from ever happening in your home but, most importantly, common sense should be used. Below are some helpful tips and procedures to follow to avoid the possibility of a fire.

Smoke Detectors

There are two types of smoke detectors:

Battery operated detectors, which can be purchased at any local hardware store and simply installed by the homeowner.
Hard wired system with a battery back up. This option is a bit more complicated but much more effective. This is a series of interconnected alarms where if one alarm goes off, all alarms will sound so every member of the household and every level of the house will be alerted. Furthermore, if the electrical system in the house is damaged or destroyed, the battery
back up portion of these alarms would “kick in”, and the alarms would still function.

Fire Extinguishers

Excellent placement for a fire extinguisher would be in the kitchen, laundry room, workshop area, furnace room, and garage area. These are potentially hazardous areas and having a fire extinguisher could help prevent a situation from getting out of control.

Thinking Ahead/Planning an Exit Strategy

It is recommended that you have a family meeting, especially if you have small children, to advise them how to exit the home in case of fire. This would involve keeping all doors closed in any areas that contain smoke or fire, keeping all windows closed so as not to vent the fire, and exiting the premises from the nearest door or window opening.

Fireplaces
There are several procedures that need to be followed in order to enjoy a fireplace in your home.

Chimney or flue should be cleaned on a yearly basis.Tempered glass doors should be used in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks from coming out of the fireplace.Do not light a fire late at night before going to bed, leaving sparks or embers burning unattended.Do not leave any flammable items in close proximity to fireplace.

Furnaces, Hot Water Heaters, Space Heaters

These should be checked periodically to be sure they are functioning properly. Space heaters should never be left unattended. They are somewhat hazardous and should be used only if someone is present in the room at the time of use

Clothes Dryer

Clothes dryers create extreme heat in order to dry clothes. You should never leave your home when a
dryer is running. Furthermore, be sure the dryer is vented properly and the lint screen is cleaned periodically.

Electrical Hazards

It is best to invest in having an electrician come to your home and install additional outlets wherever needed. Extension cords can be very hazardous, as the wires can become frayed and can cause a fire. GFI’s (ground fault interceptors) should be installed in bathrooms and kitchens. It is also advisable to have your electrical service (circuit breaker panel) updated so that you have a minimum of 150 amps coming into your home.

Gasoline/Flammable Liquids

These items should be placed in a shed or container at a safe distance from the home. Never keep these items in your garage or an area attached to the house, as they are hazardous and can also be a cause of spontaneous combustion.

Smoking

Aside from the fact that smoking is hazardous to your health, it can also be dangerous if smoking while in bed or if cigarette butts are left in an ashtray before they are completely extinguished. Furthermore, never empty an ashtray into the garbage containing cigarette butts that are still hot or have any burning embers.
If the above procedures are followed and diligently adhered to, you will greatly reduce the risk of having to endure the tragedy of a home fire.

Residential Doors

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:19:00 GMT

There are many different types of doors that are used in residential construction. Each door is specifically designed for a purpose. Below is a breakdown of each category of door use.

Entry

Steel and fiberglass doors are very popular options. Both options are insulated, maintenance free, and provide good security. There is also a vast selection of different glass insert designs available for both doors. Depending on the space available, each door can be ordered with matching sidelites. Steel doors come in white and can be painted any color. Fiberglass doors can be ordered in different wood stain finishes. Both door options are very affordable and can create a custom look to the entry of a home.

Custom solid wood doors can be ordered in a variety of options such as oak, cherry, mahogany, etc. A variety of glass options can be chosen to customize the door. The downside to these doors are they will require maintenance over the course of their life and can become very expensive depending on the design choices.

Interior

There are many different designs to choose from for interior doors.

The most commonly used door for bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets is a 6-panel hollow core textured masonite unit. The texture is meant to create a wood grain look on the door.

Solid wood doors in many designs can also be used, however, not recommended if the doors are to be painted. The natural doors are built using many pieces of wood, which expand and contract with the weather and temperature. The natural doors do not paint as well as masonite doors and require maintenance from the expansion and contraction. There is a significant cost different from masonite to solid wood.

French doors are wood doors with grids dividing the complete face into equal size glass. These doors provide a decorative look for dividing two rooms, such as a porch/sun room from the house or a living room and dining room.

Closets with door openings too large to accommodate a single swinging door, have three different functional design options.

Bypassing sliding doors – two doors overlap in the center. Each door slides either left or right to allow access to the closet. This is a good option in a small room because the doors do not swing out into the room. The downside is sliding doors only allow access to half of the closet at a time.

Bi-fold doors are two doors hinged in the middle and connected to a track on top. When open, the two doors fold in half at the hinge and slide to one side. This option allows for most access to the closet with very minimal protrusion into the room. The downside is bi-fold doors tend to fall off their tracks often.

Twin doors are two single standard swinging doors that meet in the middle of the closet. This option is the most elegant style and provides complete access to the closet. The downside is the doors swing into the room, which requires a decent amount of space to be left open so the doors have room to operate.

Fire-Rated

The fire rating of a door is how long it will take for a fire to burn through the door. In a single family home, the only door required by code to have a fire rating is access to an attached garage. Fire-rated doors are also required in multi-family dwelling entry doors and apartment entry doors within a building.

Insulation

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:18:00 GMT

The purpose of insulation is to help maintain the internal temperature of a home or building, allowing the structure to be energy efficient. There are various types of insulation each made for specific purposes. Insulation is measured by an R-value, which stands for the measure of resistance to heat flow through a given thickness of material.

Building code for new residential construction in the state of New Jersey is requiring Batt insulation. Batt insulation is insulation with paper on one side that acts as a vapor barrier between the exterior walls and ceilings and the interior living space. The paper should always be facing the interior when installed. R-15 Batt insulation is used for exterior walls, which is the thickness of a 2×6. R-38 Batt insulation is used for exterior ceilings or roof, which is the thickness of a 2×12. In the case of reconstruction, New Jersey Building Code allows R-13 for exterior walls, which is the thickness of a 2×4 and R-30 for ceiling and roofs, which is used for the thickness of a 2×8 or 2×10. For older home construction, that may have 2×6 for ceiling joist or roof rafters, there is an R-19 and R-22 that can be used.

Unfaced insulation is Batt insulation without the paper backing. This is mainly used for sound barrier in multiple family dwellings. It is commonly used in apartment buildings, but also used in 2 or 3 family houses. Installation of unfaced insulation is the same as Batt insulation, but is only installed on interior walls and ceilings.

Exposed insulation is not healthy to breathe in, as it is made of fiberglass. If insulating an unfinished area, such as an attic or basement with no intentions of finishing the walls or ceilings, a foil wrapped insulation must be used. Foil wrapped is completely encased insulation to protect from breathing in the fiberglass.

Older built homes with no insulation and most likely plaster walls can use a process called blown-in insulation. This is done by making a hole at the top and bottom of each bay of the exterior walls. A hose is inserted into the hole and a machine blows loose insulation into the wall filling the entire bay. The advantage of blown-in insulation is it prevents having to demo wall and moldings throughout a house or building, especially if trying to preserve custom antique molding and trim. The disadvantage is all the holes will have to be repaired and rooms will have to be painted.

Foam board insulation is generally used in two scenarios. The first scenario is basements with firring strips nailed to the foundation walls. Firring strips are only ¾” thick, which does not allow for batt insulation. Foam board insulation can be glued directly to the foundation walls between the firring strips. The foam board carries an R-value of 1 to 3 depending on the thickness of the foam used. Although the R-value is not nearly as high as the other forms of insulation, it is also not as necessary because the concrete foundation walls themselves provides a certain level of insulation that wood framed walls do not provide, especially if the foundation walls are underground.

The second scenario for foam board insulation is on the exterior of a house. In new construction, before installing the siding, a moisture barrier house wrap is applied to the plywood sheathing. This does not carry an R-value; however it is not necessary because the interior walls will have the highest R-value necessary. If installing vinyl siding over wood siding, a foam board insulation is used first. The foam board serves two purposes. The first purpose is to raise the R-value of the walls because they are most likely insufficient unless the interior of the home was renovated. The second purpose is to create a level surface on the exterior of the house for the siding to be properly installed.

All of the information provided is based on current New Jersey State Building Codes. It is important to verify your state building code before beginning a home improvement project. Each state operates independently and codes are constantly being changed and updated every year.

Ice Damming

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:16:00 GMT

Here in the northeast we are once again approaching winter. With the extreme weather patterns we have been experiencing, a serious problem known as ice damming has become prominent. Ice damming is a condition where water will seep into the house around the edges of the ceilings near the roof line. This condition is not visible until it is too late and the damage has already been done. This problem is caused by extreme weather changes where the gutters are clogged or frozen with ice and then warm weather ensues. The warm weather melts the ice, and the water has nowhere else to go but to seep in under the edges of the roof line, causing damage in the rooms situated below the roof line. This may require the removal and/or replacement of insulation and sheetrock, in addition to repairing damage to the structure, ceilings, walls, moldings, and trim. This situation may be caused by lack of proper maintenance due to gutters not being cleaned or because of damaged or faulty gutters. This may result in your insurance company denying coverage causing you considerable out of pocket expenses.

Steps to be taken to avoid the possibility of this problem are as follows:

Existing Roof

Be sure to have gutters and leaders cleaned by a professional once all leaves have fallen after the fall season and before the cold temperatures of winter arrive.
Installation of a solid gutter guard with weep holes. This will prevent ice from forming inside the gutter. There are many products available on the market. We suggest you research these products and select one that is both versatile and cost effective. The cost between gutter guards can be extreme.

Installation of New Roof

Be sure to have a product known as weather watch or ice shield installed. This is a roll roofing product that is rolled horizontally under the shingles and prevents melted water from backing up and running into your home.

Hopefully, this information will be helpful in preventing any potential problems during the cold winter months.

Insurance

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:14:00 GMT

If you are the owner of a single family residence, your home needs to be protected with a comprehensive insurance policy. This policy is called a “homeowner’s policy”. If your home is severely damaged or destroyed, it is important for you to be able to interpret and understand your policy. Your home can be damaged by a multitude of disasters including, but not limited to, flood, storm, water, tree, tornado, and fire damage. The first step is to read your policy or call your agent to be sure your policy covers the damage. Your homeowner’s insurance is a multi-faceted policy that generally contains three, and possibly four, components. Below we will explain each of these components in detail.

Building Coverage. This applies specifically to the structure of the building. The entire dwelling, including all attached items (furnace, hot water heater, stove, HVAC system) are protected. It is essential that you are insured for at least 80% of the value of your home in order to avoid a penalty known as co-insurance.
Contents Coverage. This applies to all of the personal property in your home, including “plug in” items, such as microwaves (if not built in), refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, dryers, and computers. Of course, all of your clothing and furniture are covered. You may need a “rider” or additional policy to cover valuables, such as jewelry, artwork, and collections (coins, stamps, cards). Your contents coverage is generally 50% of your building coverage.
Additional Living Expense (ALE). This entitles you to be paid for your living expenses for a reasonable period of time that you are displaced from your home if it is not habitable. You are also entitled to be compensated for additional expenses such as food and utility bills. These expenses are limited to additional expenses over and above what your pre-existing expenses would have been.
Additional Coverage. This would pertain to additional structures located on your property, such as a detached garage, shed or above ground pool. Once again, it is necessary to check with your agent to see if any of these items are covered.

Flooring

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:12:00 GMT

If you have a home that was built in the 60’s or 70’s and have not done any serious renovations or decorating, you probably have a variation of floor coverings. Linoleum in your kitchen, a thick pile carpet or even a shag carpet in your bedroom or family room, and vinyl tile in your den. In the redecorating process, there are currently many options to choose from. Below we will list several choices with some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors come in a vast array of designs and colors. Natural hardwood is installed in an unfinished state and then refinished and stained to accommodate any décor. Oak is the most popular hardwood, however, mahogany, teak, yellow pine, and many other woods are readily available. Hardwood has become the flooring of choice in quality homes in all rooms, including kitchens. Bathrooms generally still have tile floors. Keep in mind that hardwood floors will show signs of wear in heavy traffic areas and areas that get wet, such as near a kitchen sink.

Engineered Floors

Engineered floors are basically pre-finished hardwood floors to be used the same as unfinished hardwood floors. They are factory stained and finished. Generally, they have a harder finish than floors refinished in the home. The disadvantage is that they cannot be easily repaired or refinished if damaged.

Laminate Floors

Laminate floors have become very popular in the past few years. They come in a variety of “wood like” and “patterned” finishes. They are more durable than hardwood, less expensive, and easily installed. It is an excellent alternative to hardwood for both home and commercial applications.

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile is the successor to ceramic tile. Ceramic tile has been the main surface on bath floors since indoor plumbing. It largely replaced vinyl tile kitchen floors post 1970. Porcelain tile while appearing to be similar to ceramic tile has a few qualities that ceramic tile does not have. It is stronger, and the color goes through the tile rather than a thin veneer finish. It also appears to have more of a stone like quality. Generally, it is more costly than ceramic tile.

Carpet

Carpet is still a popular choice especially in bedrooms. There is a multitude of styles and colors to choose from. We recommend a relatively low pile carpet with a tight weave and dense pad. A plush carpet with a thick pad will show wear much sooner.

Vinyl Floor Covering

Vinyl floor coverings, which include vinyl tile, linoleum and congoleum, are still available, however, they are not the most stylish or versatile. An upgrade to ceramic or porcelain tile would be a wise investment due to the durability factor. For a little more money you can improve the quality of your floor covering and your home and get additional years of usage.

Natural Stones

Natural stones such as granite and marble are very attractive options. These would be used mainly on kitchen floors, entry hall floors, bath floors, and shower floors. They will, of course, enhance the beauty of your home. However, there are two disadvantages to natural stone. The first is the extreme cost as compared to alternative flooring options. The second is that natural stone is porous and needs sealants to maintain the natural finish.

Fire Damage

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:11:00 GMT

A fire is something that no one would anticipate having in their home. Not only are you dealing with the damage sustained to your property, you are also dealing with several other components as well. They are:

Fire/structural damage
Mold
Smoke damage
Water damage

Fire

Fire damage is the obvious damage to the structure, ceilings, walls, and trim. This would simply be burnt building materials that need to be replaced. Any licensed contractor would be able to do this, but preferably a fire rebuilder who is experienced in fire reconstruction would be advisable. There are certain facets and elements in fire reconstruction that a common builder would not be familiar with.

Mold

In order to extinguish the fire, the building will be soaked with an extreme amount of water. The building will then need to be boarded up and secured and utilities turned off as a result. The lack of ventilation and the moist environment are a perfect breeding ground for mold. When mold forms, a licensed mold remediation specialist would be required in order to remove and eliminate the mold. This is done through moisture testing and treatment with special chemicals and biocides.

Smoke

Areas that are lightly damaged by smoke do not necessarily need to be ripped out, but need to be treated. There are special chemicals used to clean off the smoke and additional stain killers are applied to seal areas to prevent stain and odor.

Water

As mentioned above, a great deal of water will be used to put out the fire. This can result in flooding of basements and damage to hot water heaters and furnaces due to being submerged in water. Also, there may be hidden damage above ceilings, behind walls or below floors that is not immediately visible, but can potentially cause future problems with peeling paint, buckling of floors, and mold growth.

Windows

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:09:00 GMT

Windows have become a major factor in both building a new home and the renovation of an existing home. There are three factors to consider before choosing the type of windows you purchase for your home. Keep in mind that in today’s home it is quite often an enhancement to use several different types and styles of windows. The three factors are aesthetics, functionality, and climate.

Aesthetics

This encompasses many shapes, styles and sizes of windows. Eyebrow windows are narrow, half moon shaped windows that are generally located above a square or rectangular window or used solely to fill a space in a peak or vaulted cathedral ceiling. Grids are another decorative item that can radically change the look of a home. Grids are either diamond shaped or square. They can be used on all windows or used sparingly for accent. They can be used on both top and bottom sashes of double hung windows (which we will discuss later) or sometimes on side lites on pictures windows, leaving the picture window without grids for a clearer view. Windows can also be shaped with angle tops to conform with the angle of a peak or roof line.

Functionality (or types of windows)

Double hung windows contain two vertical sashes that are both operable – the top can be lowered and the bottom can be raised.
Casement windows are crank out windows that open either left to right or right to left.
Awning windows also crank out, but these are generally stacked vertically and open from bottom to top simultaneously.
Sliders are horizontal and simply side from left to right or right to left.
Hoppers are generally located in a basement and open manually, hinged at the bottom and open at the top.
Dead lite windows are simply stationary sashes that are not operable.
Bay windows contain a large picture window in the center and two side lites, either double hung or casements. Bay windows are three-sided and protrude from the structure with a window seat located on the interior at the bottom.
Bow windows have the same characteristics as the bay windows as far as the protrusion and window seat, however, they are rounded and not three-sided. They generally contain a series of casement windows, some operable and some not.

Climate

Climate is the final concern. The first priority is to purchase an insulated window. It will have double pane sashes with a vacuum in the center. These are designed to keep hot air out in warm weather and cold air out in cooler weather. There are various gases that can be injected into the vacuum between the panes to create a greater barrier between the temperature changes from within the home and the outside. There are also various types of glass and tinting available that can further protect your home from the elements and keep your furniture from getting damaged from the sun rays. It is also advisable to purchase a window with a vinyl exterior. This will save on the cost of future maintenance and give your windows a longer life before needing replacement.

Roof

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:06:00 GMT

On a residential sloped roof, there are generally 2 styles of fiberglass shingles that are used; 3-Tab and dimensional. 3-Tab shingles were created first. Each sheet contains three individual shingles of equal size. When installed on a roof, the style is identifiable due to slits between each individual shingle, allowing for the full shingle to be viewed from the ground.

Dimensional shingles were created after 3-Tab shingles. A sheet of dimensional shingles is the same size as 3-Tab, but contains five individual shingles per sheet consisting of different sizes overlapping one another to create a more dynamic look. There is no difference in effectiveness between the two styles other than appearance.

Roofing is measured in terms of squares. One square is equal to a 10’x10’ area or 100 square feet. Both styles of shingles are sold in packages containing one-third of a square. They are also installed the same way.

When installing a new roof, work must begin at the bottom and continue toward the peak. The top half of a sheet of shingles contains lines of roof tar. This is where the nails are applied to secure the shingles. Nails should never be applied into the bottom half of the shingle as this will cause a leak in the roof . The next row of shingles are installed as such that the shingles themselves overlap the top half of the row below, covering the tarred area and the nails. There are two reasons for this:

#1 – To cover the nails in order to prevent leaks.

#2 – In hot weather, the tar on the sheets of shingles melts causing the overlapping shingles to glue themselves down.

In the past, new roofs were installed directly on top of the old roof. This was done with as many as three, four, or even five layers of roofing. Today, the building code only allows for up to two layers of shingles. If two or more layers of shingles currently exist on a roof, they must be stripped off down to the plywood. The newly installed roof becomes the first layer. In the future, a second layer of roofing may be installed on top.

In some cases, the original layer of installed roofing maybe cedar shingles installed directly to the framing of the roof. In this scenario, the cedar shingles must be removed and new plywood installed in its place before installing the new fiberglass shingles.