Blog & Tips | Rapid Repairs

Jan 08 Comments Off

Are You Protected Against Lightning?

Posted by Rapid Repairs

Lightning Myths and Risks:

Have you ever thought lightning never strikes twice, crouching down outside makes you less vulnerable to a lightning strike, or if you get struck by lightning, you hold electricity? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration clarifies these myths are not necessarily fully accurate. Lightning is mother nature’s circuit maker to neutralize large potential differences in electrical charge, things that keep the energy away from structures, such as lightning rods and not using electrical equipment, are risk reducers.

Oct 19 Comments Off

The 4 Most Important Things to Consider When Hiring a Contractor:

Posted by Rapid Repairs

Need a contractor? This can be a very difficult decision to make; especially since it involves your most prized procession – your home. Where you go to find a qualified trust worthy contractor can be a daunting task. Do you go to Google, see a truck on the road or at a neighbor’s house, get a referral from a friend or family member, etc, can sometimes be over whelming and it is human nature to want to get multiple quotes on things you need done. Then the real hard part of the decision making comes on which one to choose. I know we all want to the cheapest price for the best quality of work. In our experience cheap prices equate for cheap work. On the other hand, a Value Price for the most of the time equates to a great job for the money paid.

According to “Project Impact” from the Charleston County Area, there are several things they recommend (and we do too) you do to vet out a contractor:

Do not automatically choose the lowest bidder – Why; goes back to the old saying “if it’s too good to be true, it must be”.
Deal only with licensed and insured contractors – you can verify if someone/company has a license by going to: https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/Contractors/Contractor.aspx?div=69&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Be sure the company you deal with has worker’s compensation – this will help you mitigate any risks if the contractor gets hurt on your property. Ask to see a copy of this insurance
Make sure the company you are dealing with has been in business for at least 15 years. With the recession in 2008 – 2010, many contractors couldn’t sustain their business. Many of them got into the industry due to the housing boom in the mid-2000s. With the market back in full swing, many unlicensed tradesmen and newly created companies are now entering the market. This can be dangerous for a homeowner.

Remember that Rapid Repairs is here to help you with all of your handyman, home repair and commercial repair & maintenance needs.

Give us a call at (843)905-3929.

Aug 30 Comments Off

The 2 Critical Things Every Home Owner Should Know About Their House

Posted by Rapid Repairs

After 17 years in the home repair industry in Charleston, SC, we have certainly seen many interesting things in the field. Some of the worst situations that can cause the greatest damage revolve around plumbing and electrical issues. With that said, in our opinion we think there are many things a homeowner should know about their home, but there are 2 things that we feel every homeowner NEEDS to know.

Nov 15 Comments Off

Racked Windows

Posted by Rapid Repairs

Check diagonals to see if window is square. i.e.: if window is “racked” then one diagonal will be longer than the other and the window will not open and close properly.
Insulated glass usually has a glazing bead on the outside but sometimes it is found on the inside or with no glazing bead and the frame must be disassembled to remove and replace the glass. Some glazing beads are triangular in shape and is removed by depressing the bead to unlock it. (Often this type of bead becomes brittle and cracks when removed. After reinstalling glass if the plastic glazing bead has cracked and new bead cannot be located then caulk new glass in with a high grade butyl caulk.) The flat glassing bead is removed by forcing it away from the stile or rail. The short beads must be removed first.

Nov 15 Comments Off

A Thank You That I Could Not Make Up

Posted by Rapid Repairs

Hello,

My name is (removed for privacy) and I want to thank you for your quick service yesterday. Mr. MacArthur quickly arrived at my house and fixed a water pipe leak. He was really like a super hero for my kids and me, because the home warranty service would not fix the leak. Their plumber charged me for coming to the house, but would not cut through the wall to reach pipes. Nothing was fixed and he quickly left. I don’t know what type of residence has exposed pipes, but then again, I am not knowledgeable on this subject. What i appreciated most was the sincerity to help me, shown by the person i spoke with on the phone and by Mr. MacArthur. He was very diligent with the task and wanted to ensure it was fixed properly. I understood any cost i would bear for the service, because he made sure. However, payment was not his focus. My husband is on his way back from a deployment in the Middle East, and i am not so smart about repairs. I was overwhelmed and Mr. MacArthur was so patient with me. Lastly, i am so glad you advertised in the Jewish Voice! I was reading it that same morning and later remembered seeing your ad. With the leak fixed, I was able to turn the water back on in the house and prepare our Sabbath dinner. So, I thank Rapid Repairs very much. Sorry this was long.

– A Valued Rapid Repairs Customer