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Stains on concrete are not only unsightly, but can also weaken the surface of your driveway. For outdoor cleaning, a pressure washer is fast and efficient, and uses less water than a garden hose. A cement driveway cost Perth can be calculated with the number of area of your driveway.

Pressure washers are portable and can run on either electricity or gas. The engine powers a water pump, which is fed by a garden hose. The unit pressurizes the water so it comes out with greater force than a garden hose alone could muster.

The cleaning power of a pressure washer is determined by combining its water pressure (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI) with the amount of water used to clean a surface (measured by gallons per minute, or GPM). To calculate its cleaning power, or CP, multiply a pressure washer’s maximum PSI rating by its GPM flow (CP = PSI x GPM).

That much pressure is designed to strip substances away from surfaces, so be careful when using a pressure washer. It can just as easily strip away a plant as a stain. Above all, never point the spray wand at a person as it could well cause injury.

Skill level

• Intermediate

Time required

• 2-3 hours for cleaning and sealing, plus several days for drying and settingMaterials
• Degreaser/cleaner
• Tarp (optional)
• Painter’s tape (optional)
• Driveway sealant

Tools

• Broom
• Pressure washer (also available to rent)
• Pressure washing-formulated detergent (check machine instructions)
• Garden hose
• Rubber boots, gloves and safety glasses (recommended)
• Paint roller and extension pole

Step 1: Prepare the area

Clear the surface of your driveway of any loose material, particularly stone and dirt. If your driveway abuts any walls or doors, you may want to cover them with a tarp and some painters tape. That will protect the finish from accidents or flying debris. Take a few moments to determine which end of your drive is the highest and what direction water flows when it runs across the surface.

Step 2: Degrease the surface

Applying a degreaser will loosen stains in the concrete, allowing you to pressure it away. Some pressure washers have an attachment tool for applying degreaser. Otherwise, scrub the degreaser into the concrete with a stiff-bristled brush or push broom.

Step 3: Ready the pressure washer

If your pressure washer came with instructions, be sure to follow those as they will be specific to the model you’re using. Generally speaking, though, you’ll need to connect the spray wand to the washer using a pressure hose, and the washer to a water supply using a garden hose. Different nozzles are available for different purposes. For applying the detergent, use the low-pressure nozzle; for rinsing, use the high-pressure nozzle, but do not use the high-pressure nozzle on brick surfaces.

Step 4: Clean the concrete

It’s finally time to fire up the washer. Start at the higher end of the drive and work your way in the direction of water flow. Pointing the spray wand at the surface of the drive, depress the trigger and sweep the nozzle steadily back and forth across the concrete, overlapping each stroke by several inches. Once you’ve applied detergent to the entire surface, let it stand for a quarter of an hour or so. You may need to rewet it occasionally to make sure that it doesn’t dry out.

Step 5: Rinse the concrete

After 15 minutes, switch to the high-pressure nozzle and set the pressure washer to its rinse mode. Repeat the sweeping pattern you used before, washing away the detergent and using the spray to lift any grime or stains you find. Make tighter sweeps to lift heavier stains. Be sure to rinse away all of the detergent.

Step 6: Seal the concrete

After the concrete has dried completely, apply a sealant to help ward off future stains. Using a roller with an extension poll, coat the surface of the driveway with a concrete sealant. Allow the surface to set a full day before using the driveway.

Reliability, hiring and termination costs are persistent problems in the electrical contracting industry. Thorough screening, testing and interviewing techniques can help prevent reliability issues. The question is, do you have time to do all of these things and maintain focus on the job site? Make sure emergency electrician Brisbane all work carried out is safe and to the best standard.

First review a list of functions your company must do to hire, maintain and retain an employee. Place a cost on each item using the time value of the person who must handle each separate item. For example and simplification, your office manager earns $15.00/hour and spends a half-hour a day dealing with employee issues. The time value is $7.50 to perform that function. Do this for each item listed below and come up with a daily total amount. Divide the total by 8 and determine if you are performing the functions cheaper than the staffing company can. Most electrical contractors can not because they are set up operationally, not administratively.

If you need a guideline to compare costs, most staffing companies charge a very small amount on top of each hour billed; use 5-7% as a general rule. Keep in mind this includes all labor burden costs including state/federal payroll taxes, worker’s com, liability insurance, payroll processing, etc (see list for the rest).

Outsourcing your human resources function eliminates the need for:

Placing job ads, handling phone calls from ads, processing job applications,checking references,performing criminal background checks, scheduling and paying for drug testing (if required), scheduling and conducting interviews, controlling Worker’s compensation insurance costs, maintaining liability insurance on employees, paying for office staff human resources training,
employee handbook development, safety program development, administration and injury reporting, payroll administration, mailing checks and setting up direct deposit accounts, payroll tax accounting – weekly payroll and annual mailing of W-2’s,
time tracking of field employees (electricians), offering and administering health and savings plans, worker’s compensation claims processing, processing unemployment claims, handling court ordered garnishments, paying attorney’s fees if a suit is filed against your company, addressing and processing NLRB issues, dealing with and paying for other post-employment obligations (wrongful termination suits, HIPPA notifications, etc)…and all of the other time consuming costs not mentioned above that chew into your bottom line!

What many electrical contractors do not take into consideration is the amount of time away from production and the amount of time their office staff devotes to recruiting, hiring and maintaining each employee on the payroll. This is a variable cost outsourcing labor solves.

Going back to the numbers, variable costs are costs that can be varied flexibly as conditions change; like the number of electricians you need to carry on your payroll at any given time. The point made here is that labor is a much more flexible resource than capital investment. Outsourcing labor provides you and your staff with freedom away from time consuming human resource functions. The time you save is better spent marketing, dealing with customers, suppliers, and focusing on the work at your project site.

Spend time to add up the time and cost of the listed functions involved in hiring and retaining electricians. Ask a staffing company to provide you with a cost breakdown of their hourly charge for each electrician’s skill level. Keep in mind staffing companies cover all the costs you would and charge a nominal account administration fee (the fee is normally much less than what companies spend on the list of HR functions). Compare the costs. Remember to consider the intangible benefits of reduced liability, time savings and increased freedom to focus on your customer.

Most contractors will agree that for any given electrical contracting project, outsourcing is cost effective. One key point that must be emphasized is outsourcing labor is not a “one size fits all” solution to controlling variable costs. Businesses that are comfortable where they are do not make good candidates. On the other hand, a business that wants to grow while maintaining tight control over variable costs makes an excellent fit.

We can never predict when an employee will decide to leave a company but, we can control what it will cost to replace that person using effective outsourcing strategies. Keeping the right mix of permanent and temporary employees is the key to controlling the priciest variable costs in our industry – labor. Outsourcing electricians allows you to control variable costs that are discussed in the next few paragraphs.

As you are aware, variable costs are the costs directly linked to the tempo of operations in electrical contracting. They are called variable because they vary with the size and workload of the business. This means that the more projects bid and won; the more labor, material, etc. costs will rise. The more labor costs rise, the more employee-related administration costs go up.

This, of course, is in contrast with fixed or overhead costs. These costs are those that are incurred regardless of whether or not your company works one or ten projects. These costs do not vary as the pace and size of your operations change unless a dramatic change is made. Variable costs are project specific, whereas, fixed costs are associated with the entire company. Office leases/mortgages have to be paid no matter what is produced or in what numbers. Hence rent or a mortgage is a fixed cost.

Consider a situation where you determine your electrical contracting service yields a 25% contribution margin. Your figure can then be used to determine whether variable costs for your project(s) can be reduced. You can choose to bump up the price of materials and/or reduce your labor costs.

Material pricing adjustments is the easy part. Labor costs are not. To attract and retain quality electricians, you must pay more than the competition, offer benefits and training.

Remember your bottom line or net profit is determined by how you decide to spend each penny of your contribution margin on fixed costs. We know you can control your fixed costs by deciding on how much to spend on vehicles, equipment, tools, phone service and all the rest of your business needs

But, what is the true cost to attract, hire, manage and retain a qualified electrician for a three month project and what is the cost to hire a permanent/full-time employee? You probably know the answer, the cost is the same. It is the replacement cost of the employee that will eat into your bottom line after you conduct all of your human resource or human capital management functions in-house. And what price do you place on the expenditure to bring someone new into your company? And what does it really cost to replace that person? The answer is simply the cost of time – your time, your staff’s time and all time removed from project related activities.

Learn more about outsourcing electricians [http://www.strategy-construction.com] at Strategy Construction’s Web Site.

Mike Widner is Director of Strategy Construction Company in Colorado Springs, CO. His background is in manpower management and human resources management in the construction industry. Over eight years, Mike performed several personnel realignment projects for the US Air Force and currently focuses on helping electrical contractors control labor costs using outsourcing techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mike_Widner/29255

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We possibly could not ever imagine living without the continuous supply of electricity such is our dependence on electrical energy. From providing lighting, cooling and heating to powering all of our electrical appliances, electricity has become part and parcel of our daily lives. However, we should not forget that if it is used incorrectly, it can injure or even put human lives in danger. If you want to make sure that your electricity is safe ensure also that you have a contact for 24 hour electrician Brisbane.

Indoors

Our homes totally rely on electric energy to supply us with food, light, entertainment, heating and cooling. A lot of accidents involving electricity happen in homes and the major areas of worry are mentioned below.

Electrical Appliances

Our homes are packed with electrical appliances – from microwave and toaster to refrigerator and television set, but there are safeguards that need to be adhered to prevent the danger arising from electrocution.

• Ensure appliances like computer monitors and television sets that produce heat have sufficient inches of clearance all around for good air circulation.
• Refrain from pushing anything into an appliance like the toaster.
• Prior to cleaning appliances, switch them off and unplug.
• Switch off appliances like ovens, air conditioners, heaters etc. while leaving your home.
• With wet hands, never touch any electrical appliance.
• Don’t fold an electric blanket in order to store it because the wires may crack or bend.
• Check the appliances at regular intervals for defective or broken plugs, cords and switches and change them or get them repaired at once.
• In case, you discard them, ensure that they can’t be used by anyone else.

Lights

Although lights seem to be gentle, they are quite capable of inducing electrocution. While handling lights of any type, the following tips should be adhered to remain safe:

• To avoid overheating, always use a light bulb with the right wattage.
• Prior to changing a light bulb, always switch off the light.
• Refrain from using wet hands to change a light bulb or to touch a light switch.
• Get the plates detached by a certified electrician in case tiling is being performed around the light fittings or switches.
• Don’t take out the plate around the light while painting a ceiling instead cover it.

Cords

It is through cords that we are able to connect appliances to the power supply and this also needs to be handled with good care. Following are the safety tips for electrical cords:

• Completely loosen up the cords prior to use to avoid overheating.
• At all times, take out a cord from the wall at the plug because pulling on the cord itself is not safe.
• When using extension cords for outside use, make sure that the extension cords are rated for outdoor use and ensure the connections are shielded from the weather.
• Yes, extension cords must be used as a temporary solution only and ought to be placed around the walls to avert tripping and it should not be placed under the rugs or carpet.

Wet Areas

Electricity and water don’t mix and so in wet areas extra caution should be observed, which include the following:

• While working in wet areas such as the laundry, wear rubber-soled footwear.
• In the bathroom, disconnect and safely store electric shavers and hair dryers every time they are not in use.
• In the bathroom, avoid using portable electric heaters.
• Refrain from using extension cords in wet areas unless intentionally designed for such use.
• To avoid splashing, keep stereos well away from the swimming pools and spas.

Power Boards & Adapters

• We tend to use so many appliances in our day to day lives that a single power outlet is often not adequate; however, care should be taken while using double power boards or adapters.
• Don’t piggy-back a double adapter because it can induce an electrical fire.
• Ensure the power board has the correct amperage to support the appliances that are plugged into it; however, never overload a power board with too many appliances.
• It is recommended to use power boards always with inbuilt safety devices like overload switches.
• Inspect power boards at regular intervals for signs of discolouration or scorching and change at once if detected.
• Make sure power boards have sufficient ventilation to shield from overheating.
• It is recommended to switch off the power boards from the wall outlet always if they are not in use for any time duration.

Outdoors

Electricity can be a dangerous outside the home too and care should be taken here too. Following are the major areas of concern.

Hidden/Concealed Wires

Wires that you can’t see at all pose a greater danger than overhead power lines. In such situations, the following tips should be observed.

• You should call 1100 prior to digging any type of hole or ditch in your backyard, as there may be underground power cables passing through.
• Try to find out where the electrical wires are before drilling into the walls, especially around the power points and light switches.

Power lines

Overhead power lines hold enormous voltages, thus special care requires to be taken around them. Adhere to below-mentioned safety tips around the power lines.

• Make sure there are no overhead power lines in the area before installing an antenna, raising a ladder or putting up a boat mast.
• In the area surrounding the powerlines, the tress should be trimmed by professionals and preferably should plant low-growing vegetation in such areas.
• Ensure that near overhead power lines, your children don’t climb trees or fly kites.
• Suppose, you’re on your roof for whatever reason, just remain away from the power lines that connect your home to the grid.

Prevention

Prevention is better than cure goes the saying! Shield yourself from all the potential electrical accidents by following these simple rules:

• It is recommended to use the services of a certified electrician always.
• Don’t ever try for DIY electrical work; not only it is illegal but also it can lead to electrocution or fires.
• It is recommended to change all old ceramic wire-type fuses with switch-type circuit breakers.
• To detect possible risks, get a licensed electrician to perform an electrical safety audit of your home or business.
• Install safety switches or RCDs (Residual Current Devices). They will cut power flow in one thousandth of a second during an emergency, which aids in preventing electrocution.
• To make sure safety switches are in good working condition, test them every 3 months.

Although electricity has the potential to kill, we can live safely using it provided we apply common sense and also teach our kids to do the same. Electricity can continue to be a great assistant in all stages of our lives.

If you need the services of a 24/7 emergency electrician in Sydney, right away get in touch with Service Today on 1300 859 383.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Addison_C_Johnson/2138659

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