Fire prevention tips for holiday homes

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This season’s fluctuating highs and lows have caused an unusual rate of house fires in the metro and—amidst strands of decorative lights and power cords—now marks a good time to highlight some important safety tips. Here’s a quick list of precautions that will help you enjoy a safer holiday.

Treat outdoor lighting with respect.

Exterior lights often require more electricity and burn hotter than indoor lights. While many people are quick to use any extension cords they might have in storage, it’s crucial to use outdoor-approved extension cords and nothing else. LED lights also burn much cooler and more efficiently than the old-school incandescent bulbs, making them a smarter buy that lowers several risks. These are quick, easy fixes that should be heeded much like wearing a seatbelt.

Be aware of indoor hazards.

In the cold months, coziness is understandably a priority at home. Amidst the relaxation, remember to be mindful of where your heat sources are. Is your space heater at a distance of at least three feet from its surroundings? Is everything in your home—especially if you have a Christmas tree—safely distanced from the fireplace? Is all the lint removed from around your dryer? Is all of the tinsel, toys, wrapping and seasonal décor kept away from flame or heat? Did you switch off your electric blanket after using it? Also, despite its admitted use by homeowners, any fire department will tell you to never heat your home using an oven.

Wisely place and water your tree.

A high-moisture, well-watered tree is good. An under-watered tree can become dry, turning those lights wrapped around it into potential igniters. And if your tree is artificial, check your electrical connections and keep it away from flames or heat sources. And whether your tree is natural or otherwise, always remember to switch off those lights before bed.

Test your smoke alarms.

Now is a good time to ensure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Some fire departments offer smoke alarms free or at a reduced price. You can inquire about this by calling your fire department’s non-emergency number. And on that note, always make sure your home has a fire extinguisher in case of emergency.

We’ve seen—and repaired—every type of home disaster at Total Construction. So in addition to wishing you the warmest holiday season, we also wish you the safest. For additional household inquiries, you can always call our team of experts for more information. Stay turned for further safety tips after the holidays.

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

A Miracle Happens in Omaha

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Anyone who leaves town for a few days knows the simple joy of returning to home sweet home. But for one woman, it was much sweeter.

Sue V., an Omaha resident who single-handedly raised seven kids in her home, found an opportunity to finance a quick weekend trip to visit two of her sons living out of state. She’d leave Friday, return Sunday. Simple.

But not so simple, given what she knew.

Sue knew that, amidst her priorities of being a good and ever-present mother, she’d still be returning to the same deteriorating home, the same holes in her siding, and the same foundational issues. She knew that her home was falling fast into disrepair, despite recently emptying her retirement in efforts to maintain it. She knew that times were becoming tighter and money harder to come across.

But she didn’t know this: As soon as her plane left the runway at Eppley Airfield, her close friend Joyce from her church and Total Construction CEO, Kevin Jackson, marched a small cavalry onto her property to fix her house. It was a secret operation involving contract workers, construction equipment, good friends and volunteers of all ages, working dawn till dusk to restore a home to a condition as pristine as the heart of its owner.

Part of the project was fundraised among friends. But most of it was just old-fashioned volunteerism and hard work—much the case for Jackson, who donated time to the project despite it being the busiest, most demanding time of year for contractors.

The home’s foundation was repaired. Siding was restored and painted. Grounds were repaved. Qualified workers performed major professional operations while others ran caulk guns where needed. Fences were rebuilt among other things. Home was, for Sue, sweet again.

Sue arrived home late Sunday night when the darkness served like wrapping paper hiding the gift from plain sight—until her daughter reached in and turned on the porch light.

“At first I thought it was the wrong house.” Sue said. “I’ve never had a deck before.” Her friends had been waiting underneath the newly built deck in the meantime with flashlights.

“They surprised me and took me around the house. It was a miracle.”

Her astonishment continued well beyond that evening. “For well over a month every single day I walked around the house to witness it. I am so grateful.”

On a September evening shortly thereafter, Sue hosted a party to thank everyone who had helped. After all: that night, there was no home across the city that was better suited for such an occasion.

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

Mold problem? Don’t Wait. Seek a Professional Solution.

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Mold can happen anywhere in your home—just add water. With nearly 100,000 varieties, it’s no wonder homeowners might find it colonizing on wallboards, in vents, behind air conditioning units, around windows and roofs that leak, or under any carpeting that may have become wet. But when treated effectively, this notoriously resilient, airborne-prone fungus can be eradicated, and your home can be quickly restored to clean air, clean walls and even a cleaner bill of health for your lungs.

What causes mold?

Any damage to your home where moisture has infiltrated can lead to mold. Think of it like this: Plants only need moisture and sunlight, and mold only needs moisture and cellulose—a substance commonly found in many building materials. Obviously, wetter seasons of the year see greater occurrences of mold.

Is mold threatening?

Not always—certain molds help to age cheese to perfection—but the types of mold that grow within your home pose a risk and should not be taken lightly. If you spot any blemishes or large patches that are usually darker green to blackish in color, contact a mold remediation professional immediately to get an assessment. It’s also important to never disturb any mold growth visible on your home’s infrastructure, and never trust any DIY mold removal kits on the market, which often prove ineffective. Mold contains spores that can go airborne and, in some cases, cause respiratory health problems for a building’s residents. That’s why it’s important to address it right.

The best option is prevention.

A certified, independent contractor is usually your best bet for not just mold remediation, but also inspection and prevention before it happens. With water being a main ingredient for mold to occur, it’s smart to hire a water damage expert to provide the repairs or preventive consultation needed to help keep your home at its healthiest.

For professional remediation and repair across Omaha, Papillion, La Vista and Bellevue, you can always call the experts serving the Metro since 1987.

Out with the mold, in with the new!

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

Total Construction continues to reward $100 for successful customer referrals

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Total Construction Referral RewardsAs part of our Referral Reward program, and as a way of saying thanks after serving the Metro since 1987, Total Construction is rewarding people $100 if they refer someone to our company who then uses our services—whether it’s roof replacement, repair, restoration or remodeling, or any other Total Construction service.

Simply go to mytotalconstruction.com/rewards to refer someone to Total Construction and, if they qualify by doing business with us, we’ll send $100 your way. Not only will you receive a reward for each successful referral who works with us, but you can also rest assured that we’ll do the job right and make your references meaningful.

The referral reward program is just another way Total Construction is showing our appreciation for many great years of serving great people. Here’s to many more.

(402) 572-7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

Total Construction Services proud to sponsor the 2013 First Responders Action Day

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To help raise funds that will go to purchase 40,000 combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors that will be installed in low-income homes by the Omaha Fire Department, Total Construction Services is pleased to sponsor this year’s First Responders Action Day — a free-of-charge, family-friendly event featuring live demonstrations from the Omaha Police Department and Fire & Rescue Department.

Guests of all ages can walk among different action zones that include a skid car, bomb robot, drunk driving simulator, segway demo, horse patrol and K-9 demonstration in the police action zones; a hydrant sprinkler, barrel demo, mobile command center, firefighter gear, HAZMAT truck, firetrucks, jaws of life, fire hoses and dive team rescues in the Firefighter action zones; and for the kids, a coloring contest, games, a photo station with police officers and firefighters, a deejay, giveaways and free food in the Kid action zones.

The event takes place this Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Omaha Public Safety Training Center at 11616 Rainwood Road—just off Blair High Road and a mile and a half west of the I-680 Irvington Road exit. Map

As a local expert in repair ranging from hail, wind and rain to any other disaster brought upon the home, Total Construction Services is honored to support another team of disaster experts—the brave men and women who serve in Omaha’s police and fire departments.

This event is produced by The First Responders’ Critical Support Foundation.

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

Who’s repairing your Roof? Look for Proof.

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As this storm season unfolds, it seems that wind and hail aren’t the only culprits threatening the integrity of your roof. In a story so peculiar that WOWT investigated and aired it on their evening news, a few brave scammers are cold calling residents across the Metro and posing as Total Construction.

Of course, our job is to ensure that you receive the best roof repair and never get shortchanged by imitators providing subpar work. That’s why we’re sharing the following tips to ensure your roof receives repair from our expert craftsmen—and not counterfeits.

Ignore cold calls.

Total Construction has served the Metro for more than 25 years. We’ve built our name through customer referrals and word of mouth—never solicitation by phone. If someone cold calls you with the Total Construction name, the call is phony (no pun intended).

Get their number and try calling them back.

When you dial it, does it connect to a legitimate company? A human being with a first and last name?

Check for a tangible presence.

Ask where they’re located. Does the company have a legitimate local address? What about a company website? Does the website have real employee profiles that put a real face and name behind their service? Do their trucks and uniforms say Total Construction?

Check for awards, testimonials and credentials.

Total Construction has received the 2010 Better Business Bureau Integrity Award, an abundance of real testimonials from satisfied customers, and a license from the state. It’s illegal to do roofing work in Omaha without a license, and yet another good way to expose an inadequate roofer trying to solicit your business.

Remember, when you need expert roofing, restoration, or remodeling, Total Construction is ready to put our experience to work for you. Accept no substitute!

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com

Total Construction Accepted as builder for VA Home Loan Guaranty Program

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Total Construction is honored to partner with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in their mission to assist our servicemen and women.

The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program provides both veterans and those currently serving our country, along with their spouses, with much-needed benefits and financial backing to make home ownership more accessible. Total Construction will assist the program where needed with home repair, restoration, and building new homes.

The Department of Veterans Affairs takes good care of their own—an approach we intend to replicate as a builder within the program. We believe that providing quality construction services is yet another way to ensure the continued quality of life for those who serve our country.

Total Construction has provided the Midwest with acclaimed roofing, repair and remodeling since 1987.

402.572.7457 | mytotalconstruction.com