Hamilton Building Services

How secure is your home? If you are unsure, there is some good news: There are several easy, no-tech ways to improve your home’s security for free — or next to nothing. Find out all the ways you can keep your home safe here .

A home security system can be a viable option to keeping your family safe. Take a peek at some of these helpful tips when you are searching for a home security system for your house. Image via www.asecurelife.com Contract - If you're planning to move within the next 2-3 years, be sure that you don't sign a contract that won't work with your time schedule. Mobile Access - One of the best features that home security systems now offer is the ability to check your home security system through your mobile phone. This feature offers obvious extra security, as you can easily see what's going on around your house from wherever you are located. National versus Local - When it comes to national home security systems versus local, always go national. Although shopping local has its place, when you are looking for reliable home security, you want to trust the pros who are more knowledgeable and have been around longer. Sources www.asecurelife.com

Many families like to opt to stay home for the fireworks and simply put on their own lightup display. This is a great idea if you have the means to do so, just follow these safety tips ... you, your guests and your beautiful home will appreciate the extra caution! Image via www.vvng.com #1 Never relight a "dud" firework #2 Never shoot fireworks off near a home or a car #3 Wear safety glasses to avoid pieces flying into your eyes #4 Never carry fireworks in your pocket #5 Only light on firework at a time and step away until it goes off Sources www.fireworkssafety.org

Have you ever wondered what kinds of homes people lived in way back in 1776? Check out some neat information we found while delving into this topic. Image via www.ducksters.com Most homes were single room - That's right. Most folks lived in one big room that contained everything they needed from straw beds to a big pot over the fire for cooking and boiling clean drinking water. Talk about an open floor plan! The frames of the homes were made with wood and filled with sticks. Next, they filled in those gaps with a material they called "daub," which was a mixture of clay, mud and grass. It was quite sticky so it worked out well. Furniture was pretty much non-existant. Other than a straw matress on the floor - a dirt floor, by the way - settlers may have had a bench to sit on or even a table, but there wasn't much more than that.

Image via www.constantcontact.com #1 Maintain a clean work space Remove debris and trash as you work through your building process so it doesn't become overwhelming. #2 Life and move objects properly Always bend your knees and never twist when lifting heavy objects. Use the intended equipment to avoid injury. #3 Take care getting on an off of equipment According to OSHA, getting on and off of construction equipment is the most common job site injury. Wear suitable shoes and take your time when dealing with heavy construction equipment. Sources www.resources.netting.com

We hope there isn't too much bitter cold weather ahead of us, but just in case, read up on these safety tips to stay safe when the temperature drops below freezing.  Image via www.redcross.org 1. Keep your gas tank full - If you take this precaution your gas line won't freeze, and in case of an emergency, you won't have to stop for gas. Just imagine driving in a blizzard and running out of gas! 2. Prepare a survival kit - This might sound extreme, but having enough supplies for at least 3 days isn't really all that drastic. After all, if the power goes out, you don't want to be worrying about finding a flashlight or a gallon of water. Keep basic essentials in your home and car at all times. 3. Leave the heat on even when you're gone - You don't have to crank the heat when you're away, but don't just turn it off, either. 55 degrees should be the lowest you set your thermastat so that pipes don't freeze and neither will your ...

As a responsible homeowner, certain precautions should be taken seriously in case of an emergency during the coming winter months. Skim through the tips below to stay safe this season. Image via www.redcross.org Apply salt on your sidewalks and pathways to avoid slipping and falling. Keep in mind if you have animals the salt may hurt their paws or they may ingest the salt from licking their paws, so you can buy pet-safe salt to put down for them. Knock down dangerous icicles that may be luming above you as you step out your doors. Icicles and ice in general are a concern each winter season, so be sure to eliminiate this dangerous issue from the moment you see them appearing.  Shovel snow so you have paths and walkways in and out of your home. If in case of an emergency, you'll want to be able to get where you need to be quickly.  Always have spare medications, batteries, water, etc. in house in case of an emergency. Keep pipes from freezing b...

December's here, and you can take comfort in this month's maintenance list, as it's one of the shorter ones! The colder months don't leave much work for the outside of your home, but the inside can always be maintained during the colder times of year. This month, focus on safety issues like removing icicles and checking hoses on appliances to avoid electrical fires. Image via www.amerifirst.com

Neglecting a chimney can be dangerous, and it can lead to a fire. To avoid this risk, clean your chimney regularly, and never use your fireplace if there is 1/4 inch or more of creosote built up. Closely watch this informative video to learn how to properly clean out your chimney.

Trimming the trees around your house can be a stressful event. Nonetheless, it's a necessary task that can keep your landscaping looking fresh and clean, and most importantly, it can keep you safe ! Follow these tips to help guide you through your tree trimming process. Image via www.treeremoval.com                             #1 Safety always comes first when it comes to trimming trees. Staying safe on a tree trimming site means a lot of things, so you'll want to double check that list twice, and always make sure there is someone there to monitor the situation from the side lines. #2 Prune and trim trees during the tree's dormant season for the best result. Sometimes trees or limbs need to be taken down because they are a safety concern, and that's fine. But if everybody's safe, wait until the opportune time. #3 Not all branches can be removed. If a branch is less than 5 centimeters, it's safe to cut. ...