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Thaddeus Ruyer, Architect

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Thaddeus Ruyer, Architect

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29 years of experience

Full service Architecture, Engineering and Planning Graphics Design, Signage and Store Front Kitchen, Bathroom, Additions and General Remodel Real Estate Adivisory and Consulting, Forensics Consulting

Full service Architecture, Engineering and Planning Graphics Design, Signage and Store Front Kitchen, Bathroom, Additions and General Remodel Real Estate Adivisory and Consulting, Forensics Consulting

Avatar for SSG Pools

SSG Pools

4.00(
20
)

SSG Pools

4.00(
20
)
Customers say: Quality work
50 years of experience

SSG, or South Shore Gunite Pools, is New England's largest pool builder. We offer building, renovation and maintenance services to residential and commercial clients throughout New England. Headquartered in North Billerica MA, we have been setting the standard for gunite construction and quality swimming pools since 1975. We are shockingly unique in the way that we build, eliminating the uncertainty of relying upon subcontractors and operating with fully in-house employees. This strategy allows us to take full responsibility for our client's projects.

"Hired this company for summer 2019 to open/close and clean weekly. In the month we used SSG, the pool was not cleaned properly once. 25 tiles were damaged mysteriously upon open, there were leaves and dirt left in the pool the entire time and we have not been able to use the pool yet. We expressed our disappointment and gave them more than enough chances to rectify things. They didn't. Pictures attached are from our pool and spa today - after the tech "cleaned" and left a bill for over $200. Absolutely horrible. Terminated contract."

Lynn S on June 2019

SSG, or South Shore Gunite Pools, is New England's largest pool builder. We offer building, renovation and maintenance services to residential and commercial clients throughout New England. Headquartered in North Billerica MA, we have been setting the standard for gunite construction and quality swimming pools since 1975. We are shockingly unique in the way that we build, eliminating the uncertainty of relying upon subcontractors and operating with fully in-house employees. This strategy allows us to take full responsibility for our client's projects.

"Hired this company for summer 2019 to open/close and clean weekly. In the month we used SSG, the pool was not cleaned properly once. 25 tiles were damaged mysteriously upon open, there were leaves and dirt left in the pool the entire time and we have not been able to use the pool yet. We expressed our disappointment and gave them more than enough chances to rectify things. They didn't. Pictures attached are from our pool and spa today - after the tech "cleaned" and left a bill for over $200. Absolutely horrible. Terminated contract."

Lynn S on June 2019

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

Grounding is a great first step to prevent electrical shock, but you can take it further with GFCI outlets and AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters). In particular, AFCIs help protect against the type of electrical arcs that cause fires, like if a mouse chews on a wire or your laptop starts overheating at the wall. These are required in some areas of your home.

Generally, the retrofitting process can take two to four weeks. Your contractor will let you know if staying in your home for the entire project is feasible. However, most people are able to remain at home. If your home is undergoing earthquake rehab, it's more likely that you'll need to leave until work is complete. Your earthquake insurance may cover boarding costs if your home is deemed unsafe.

Many homeowners want to know whether earthquake retrofitting is tax deductible. Because it’s often considered a capital improvement, you usually can’t deduct it. In some cases and locations, you may qualify for tax incentives, but you’ll need to talk to a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about your specific circumstances. You may also be able to find grant money for seismic upgrades, which can lower the cost of your insurance premiums and save money over time.

A home with proper earthquake retrofitting can sustain minimal damage in earthquakes of up to 7.0 magnitude, although risks are higher based on how close and deep the earthquake is. A home closer to the earthquake epicenter will sustain greater damage, especially if the earthquake is closer to the surface of the Earth, but retrofitting can help minimize the risk of injuries.

According to the Earthquake Country Alliance—a public and private alliance in California that works to improve earthquake and tsunami readiness—reports that unreinforced masonry, such as stone, bricks, and hollow clay tiles, is more susceptible to earthquake damage. The mortar between bricks isn’t as stable as other building materials and methods.

The Westbrook, ME homeowners’ guide to earthquake retrofitting services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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