Ontario Electrical Safety Code for a Safe Electrical Renovation Project

November 13th, 2022 by dayat No comments »

If you want to upgrade the electrical system of an old home, consider an electrical renovation project. But, ensure that the licensed electrical contractor complies with the 2015 Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Hiring an expert will ensure that you avoid code violations, if any.

Take nothing for granted.

Today,Guest Posting homeowners take electricity for granted. With a flip of switch, you can turn on the lights, charge electrical appliances and heat food in the microwave. It is very simple and convenient. But, remember that a lot of effort goes into making electricity available to you. And, it is imperative that you ensure safe usage of electricity. A safe electrical system is necessary for every home. It becomes all the more important for old homes because it contains old wires and outdated technology.

Have you purchased an old home recently? Have you inherited an old property lately? If you wish to live in an old home, you will have to consider an electrical renovation project. It will enable you to upgrade the electrical system of your home and make it safe as well as energy-efficient.

Whenever you consider the possibility of an electrical renovation project, do not forget to think about safety. If you do not ensure safe installation of electrical wires and equipment, you will violate the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) publishes the technical document every three years. It governs all kinds of electrical wiring projects as well as electrical installation projects in homes and commercial properties.

2015 Ontario Electrical Safety Code

ESA published a new safety code for the homeowners of Ontario in order to consider several changes that were made in the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC). It includes major changes to the following sections:

>>Renewable energy,

>>Hazardous locations,

>>Electric heating,

>>Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs),

>>Non-commercial docks,

>>LED in residential occupancies,

>>Supply connectors for recreational vehicles, etc.

Will the New Ontario Electrical Safety Code affect your Electrical Renovation Project?

According to the law, every electrical renovation project that a homeowner undertakes after May 5, 2016 must comply with the requirements of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. So, discuss everything related to legal compliance with your electrical contractor before starting the work.

Do not consider any electrical renovation project as a DIY job. Faulty wires and damaged circuits can result in loss of life. So, it is better to rely on the expertise of a licensed electrical contractor to do the job for you.

Common Electrical Code Violations

An ESA inspector will determines whether your electrical renovation project complies with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. If he finds any violation of the safety code, he can issue you a Defect Notice. Here a couple of violations that can put you on the wrong side of the law:

>>Ungrounded receptacles

>>Unapproved connectors

>>Defective electrical panel

>>Improper installation of electrical wires

>>Use of outdated technology

>>Unsafe electrical maintenance techniques

>>Overloaded circuits

>>Outdated electrical devices

>>DIY electrical renovation projects

Expert at your Service!

If you receive a Defect Notice from ESA, do not worry. The authorities will provide you with a timeframe to correct the electrical defect. But, it is important to remember that correcting the defect is not a DIY job. Consult a licensed electrical contractor in your area to help you out. Before hiring a contractor, make sure that he understands everything related to the new Ontario Electrical Safety Code and has experience of correcting the defects properly. It will ensure that you do not have to face any problem with the authorities in the future.

If you do not consider the current Ontario Electrical Safety Code, opting for an electrical renovation project can become a noose around your neck. So, comply with

Concrete Driveways Better Than Asphalt Driveways?

September 13th, 2022 by dayat No comments »

This article is on concrete and asphalt driveways. Goes over the pros and cons of both asphalt and concrete driveways. Giving you the information you need for your very own driveway.

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Your Minnesota driveway is an important aspect of your home, especially here in the cold region of Minneapolis. As qualified concrete driveway contractors, one question people ask us a lot is “Should I have a concrete or asphalt driveway?” They both have advantages and disadvantages and we will take a look at some of the differences and compare them.

Cost:

Concrete: Higher because of the level of durability. A concrete slab is poured thicker and is stronger and therefore it costs more.
Asphalt: usually costs less than concrete, which is surprising as the material cost is dependant on oil prices and we all know how those have been rising. Sometimes the rising costs of oil raise the cost of an asphalt driveway to that of a concrete slab.

Durability and Maintenance:

Concrete: Much more durable than asphalt as a concrete installation can last 2-3 times as long as an asphalt installation. Virtually maintenance free for many years as long as you keep extremely heavy traffic off of your Minnesota concrete driveway. Concrete slab repairs are more expensive than asphalt repairs and usually must be completed by a qualified Minneapolis concrete driveway contractor.
Asphalt: Has a tendency to crack even without heavy traffic on it and must be sealed every 3-5 years. Repairs are cheaper than concrete slab repairs but they are more frequent as well. Only lasts about half as long as a concrete slab installation.

Finishes:

Concrete: A concrete driveway can have finishes applied by a Minneapolis concrete driveway contractor and these finishes include broom swept, exposed aggregate, stained and stamped concrete for a variety of looks. When a Minneapolis concrete driveway contractor stamps concrete, it can have the look of brick, slate, flagstone or cobblestone.
Asphalt: One plain finish, unable to have any of the concrete slab finishing techniques applied to it by a concrete driveway contractor. It can be mixed in different colors although the most common is black. You can go with an ivory color if you wish to have a lighter color.

Climate:

Concrete: A concrete slab will hold up well against hot weather but is not as strong against extreme cold conditions.
Asphalt: Handles extreme cold without cracking but in warmer weather it softens and turns sticky.

A concrete driveway contractor can work with you to ensure that your Minnesota driveway is suitable for the surrounding terrain. If the concrete driveway is going to be too steep the land can be graded by the Minneapolis concrete driveway contractor to make the driveway more suitable for driving and parking. You also should consider extreme weather conditions as a concrete slab will freeze and can become icy in the winter months. You don’t want a driveway that is too steep, you might see these conditions frequent in the area you live in, especially if you have a long driveway. Minneapolis concrete driveway contractors can work with you to make sure your driveway ends up the best it can be with the land available.

If you decide to choose asphalt because of its advantage in cold weather then a contractor will work with you in that area as well. Asphalt can be applied over most existing material where concrete must be applied to a well-graded form with gravel under it. However, applying asphalt to an existing cracked driveway or concrete slab is only going to be a temporary fix as the asphalt will begin cracking later on.

Maintaining a concrete slab is much easier than asphalt. The concrete slab should be pressure washed whenever you notice dirt or fungus buildup and you don’t even need a Minneapolis concrete driveway contractor to do this, you can do it yourself. Do this and you will have nice looking concrete driveway for years. Asphalt must be resealed every three years and you will most likely need to hire a contractor to do this work for you.

Our overall outlook on the differences between an asphalt and concrete driveway is that they both have advantages and disadvantages over each other, but that asphalt is more of a cheap quick fix, while the more durable concrete driveway is more of a long-term investment in quality.