How to Select a Concrete Contractor

There are many things to think about when it comes to finding a concrete contractor for your project, from the initial concept to the actual building work. Of course, some of the things that need to be considered before making contact are not specific to concrete repairs or paving projects. With technology and the ease of the Internet, it is easier than ever to find concrete contractors in your area. The key is how you go about choosing a concrete contractor and getting the best results for your construction project. Here are several tips on how to choose a concrete contractor:

How to Select a Concrete Contractor

There are many ways to find good concrete contractors, starting with word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, as well as searching online. The most important thing to remember is that hiring an individual is far different than hiring a company. Individual concrete contractors can offer a wide range of concrete services at affordable prices, but it is important that you consider the quality of the work that you are comparing. If you require both durability and quality, then you will probably need to employ two or three concrete contractors to complete your construction project.

The concrete patio and driveway experts are those with a verifiable experience in this field, whether they have been in business for decades or just starting out. You can usually find these individuals by talking to your local building officials or by looking through the phone book under “driveway contractors”, “concrete contractors”, or “patio and driveway specialists”. Expert concrete contractors would also have their own website, where they display their portfolio.  On their website, such as Pro Orlando Concrete Contractors site, you can often see photos of their work, and they may even provide you with a free estimate – as they should, since they know what they are talking about!

If you want to hire concrete contractors on a regular basis, then you might need to do some checking. As mentioned previously, concrete contractors may be licensed, but this does not always mean that they have the necessary experience to meet your needs. Always ask for references, and make sure to talk to several of them. Ask about the concrete contractor’s experience, as well as their response time, their insurance, and other important details that you need to know when hiring someone to work on your property.

You need to keep in mind that concrete contractors may be licensed, but they may not have experience in your type of job. Therefore, it is important that you consider the quality of their work, as well as their response time. It is also important that you take a close look at their references, as this will give you a better sense of their reliability. However, if you must use price alone to hire a concrete contractor, make sure that you ask them about their experience as well.

There are several aesthetic concrete contractors out there that may not actually have a state stamped license. You might think that this is important, since this would mean that they have the necessary training and experience to perform the job that you require, however it is not true. When dealing with aesthetic concrete contractors, you should always consider more than just their license. Check out the quality of their work, their testimonials, as well as the website and business address to make sure that they are indeed a legitimate company.

The Tree Trimming Basics That You Should Follow

If you have not been tree trimming for some time now, there are certain tree care and trimming basics that you must learn. These basics are important if you want to keep your tree healthy and strong for a long time. Trimming a tree is like cutting a portion of it off. You can use a tree trimming basic for this to accomplish a perfect trim. With a tree trimming fundamentals in hand, you will be able to trim your tree by following the simple yet very effective steps that you can check out below.

tree trimming basics

When tree trimming, it is all about the landscape, it must start with the landscape. You have to figure out how you will want your landscape to look. If you want it to appear very sophisticated, then you should go for high hedges that will cover part of your landscape. On the other hand, if you want it to look very natural, then you should opt for low hedges that will allow air to flow freely through them.

When tree trimming, it is also very important for you to choose the right tree pruning tools. There are different types of tools that you can choose from and the best thing that you can do is to start trimming with the wrong tools. This will make the process of pruning easier. This will help you achieve more impressive results.

Another thing that you should consider in tree trimming is the new growth. With new growth, you have to cut off at least some of the old growth of the tree. This will help you to prevent the tree from getting into trouble when it grows in the future. When it comes to cutting off new growth, make sure that you will be using a hedge trimmer. This tool will make it easier for you to cut branches without damaging the tree.

The last thing that you have to consider in tree trimming is about the shape of the crown. The best thing that you should do when it comes to tree pruning is to divide the tree into two. This will help you make it easier for you to manage the size of the branches. The first division should be done before the new growth starts. The second division should be done after the new growth has finished growing. You should always take a lot of care when it comes to this part because if you prune the tree too early, it might result in the loss of the mature trees’ leaves.

These are the tree trimming basics that you should follow. Keep in mind that trimming must be done in a proper way in order to ensure that you will be successful. It will also prevent your plants from suffering from deficiencies. Always remember that pruning is not just about cutting down branches.

If you need professional help, call Budget Tree Service Bentonville at 479-888-8041.

How to Plant a Tree

Adding trees in your yard is a lifelong investment. This investment’s fate depends on how you take care of it and how you planted it initially, and if you even chose the right species. Planting a tree correctly gives it a healthy start and helps it reach its full potential despite environmental and natural factors available.

Planting a Tree

Tree Selection

Choosing the right species of tree is fundamental for the project’s success. It should be based on the location and the goal you want the tree to offer. Select a tree that will blossom in your region, and make sure it has plenty of room to grow on your property.

Location for Planting

Planting the tree in the right location will save you from unanticipated future issues. Learn the needs of your trees, especially its height when it matures. Do not plant near any fixed building or power line to ensure they do not interfere with them down the line. Root invasion can lead to costly damages if not addressed earlier.

Planting Technique

A lot of people make the mistake of just digging a hole and placing the tree into it. This usually results in the tree not being able to establish itself properly in the ground, which makes it susceptible to falling in the face of a storm or high winds. The best technique is to cultivate the soil in a circular motion in the area where you plan to plant the tree. Dig a hole in the plant’s container diameter and depth. Throw away weeds and grass from the site. Help loosen the soil by cultivating it.

Loosen the Root Ball

When you have dug a hole and cultivated the soil, remove the root ball from the container carefully. Use your hands to loosen outside roots at the bottom and sides of the root ball. Ensure the root ball is unharmed while loosening the soil around it.

Place the Tree

Carefully place the tree in the hole where the trunk meets the roots at about 1 to 2 inches above the ground. Make sure to plant the tree at the proper depth because it will have a difficult time developing due to lack of oxygen.

Remove the Stakes

Over-staking is another common mistake when planting a tree. You don’t have to re-stake a tree if it is established enough to support itself up. If the tree needs assistance, you can use stakes and ties. The stakes should be placed on opposite sides of the tree, ideally 18 inches from the trunk. The ties should not be too tight to allow the tree to move freely through winds.

Remove weeds and grass from the soil before you backfill the hole with it. It is unnecessary to add soil amendments.

Finishing Touches

  • Make a circular berm at the base of the tree’s circumference to help preserve water and deliver it to its roots.
  • Water the tree generously after planting. Doing this will assist its development and make sure it is established in the soil.
  • Spread mulch at the tree’s base to lock moisture in, insulate, and protect the newly planted tree from weed and grass.

For tree care tips and professional tree service, call Matt with Sarah Tree Service Schaumburg, 22 E Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194, (847) 582-0763.  

Photoshoot: Dodge Ram Pickup

We had the awesome opportunity to shoot with one of our good friends who owns a Dodge Ram Pickup. They wanted to get some cool pictures of their truck for their office at work. A lot of our clients are truck and car enthusiasts and really appreciate having their vehicles shot.

We took some pictures like the way we describe them in our one post, about how to shoot vehicles a lot better.

Here is how one of them turned out.

Ram Photoshoot

The great thing about this Ram is that it had some amazing aftermarket body parts. It had the painted OEM ram fender flares, it also got the silver and black running boards which make it a lot more aggressive.

This shoot turned out very well, and we got some awesome shots of it.

We shot it closer to sundown to get a more dramatic feel in the horizon. We also had to drive out to the country to get a more suitable environment to shoot in. The composition in this picture is spot on I think and gives the truck a very nice and appealing look with its stance.

Nailing your photo composition can be hard at first if you haven’t shot vehicles before, it’s hard to get a feel for what looks nice and what looks good. Check this post out here, for some tips on ways to improve your photo composition.

Overall the shoot was a success and the client was happy. We got a couple of rolling shots that are printed and are ready to be mounted on his wall. Its always good to see your work being shown off and being enjoyed.

Top Accessories all Photogs Should Have

Photography is an expensive hobby, you can spend thousands of dollars on new lenses alone. There is no shortage of things you can buy when it comes to this hobby or career. Here is a list of the top accessories all photographers should have.

White Balancing Tools

A great and handy tool to have whenever you’re shooting is having a white balance tool. Most cameras you can buy have an auto white balance function that works automatically. Pros or serious shooters rather manually configure the WB. There are white balancing tools available. These tools allow for WB control items in pictures that the photographer can dial in to.

Memory Card Wallet

If you are like us than you probably have multiple cards on you all the time. Having a memory card wallet is a lifesaver when it comes to organizing and separation. Here is a pro-tip, when it comes to memory cards, keep a range of different sizes. The reason for this is to just in case your card gets corrupted, you have other backups. Check out some memory card wallets here.

Camera Bag

Bags are important for photographers because it keeps your camera and lenses safe and insecure. Camera bags come in all different shapes and sizes. All our photographers use the Incase DSLR Pro Pack.

Tripod

If you don’t have a tripod then you are missing out on a lot of good styles and photos. Tripod are great for multiple different types of pictures.

Tips for Shooting Better Vehicle Pictures

Taking photos of cars and trucks is one of our specialties, it has become almost second nature to us. Just like all things, it requires proper practice and patience. We would like to share some tips and tricks we use to get the best car and truck pics.

Pick the right time to shoot

One of the most common errors a lot of beginners do is not knowing the right time to have a shoot, this goes for any type of photo as well. The best time to shoot is just after sunset. Use a good tripod to ease the entire process.b8

Look for reflections

One of the things I hate to see in car pictures is unsightly reflections in the paint of the vehicles. Make sure you look around and look closely at the truck or car and make sure there’s nothing in the reflection. You want to make sure there is no tress or buildings are any other distractions that can show in the vehicles paint. Also, make sure you are not in the reflection as well.

Rolling Shots

Rolling shots are some of the best car and truck pictures you can take. Rolling shots are captured by, shooting the vehicle out of another moving vehicle. Make sure to adjust the shutter speed to 1/100th of a second. If you do this you will get a nice picture that has a blurred background but a clear vehicle. More info on how to capture the perfect rolling shot here.

Vehicle Color

When trying to capture the best vehicle picture you need to keep the car or truck color in mind. Some colors act really different with direct sunlight, so test and play around with the amount of light you want in the picture.

Background

Another thing I really hate is seeing horrible backgrounds in truck and car pics. One key thing when taking a picture is making sure the background matches the car or truck you are shooting. If you are taking a picture of an offroad truck, don’t take it in front of a play structure or something.

Action Shots

Another cool shot to take is action shots. One of the things I like to do when shooting offroad trucks is getting out into a dusty dirt field or muddy field, and get the truck to whip up so dust or mud. This makes for an awesome shoot and really shows off the capabilities of the truck. Or if you’re shooting a sports car, get the car to do some drive-bys, to showcase the speed of the car. Stand by the side of the road and wait for the car to zoom past you. It will make for a nice blurred pic.