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Nice Construction

213 N Tioga St #6861
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Nice Construction

213 N Tioga St #6861
No reviews yet
30 years of experience

We have many long-term customers that own homes or commercial properties in and around Ithaca. Some of our customers prefer us to work on a time and materials basis, and some prefer to have a bid. As the business owner, I am always the one to show up to look at and estimate a job. I have many long-term employees, and I also bring in specialists(architects, structural engineers, interior designers, etc.) on a as needed basis. We work out billing details for each project; for smaller bidded projects we typically do half down and then the last half on completion. For larger projects we break it down into more payment stages so our clients don't ever feel overextended but also so we have enough funding to operate in an efficient manner. We can carry financing on projects, yet typically that happens more frequently with commercial work. Payment plans are available. We offer a returning client discount.

We have many long-term customers that own homes or commercial properties in and around Ithaca. Some of our customers prefer us to work on a time and materials basis, and some prefer to have a bid. As the business owner, I am always the one to show up to look at and estimate a job. I have many long-term employees, and I also bring in specialists(architects, structural engineers, interior designers, etc.) on a as needed basis. We work out billing details for each project; for smaller bidded projects we typically do half down and then the last half on completion. For larger projects we break it down into more payment stages so our clients don't ever feel overextended but also so we have enough funding to operate in an efficient manner. We can carry financing on projects, yet typically that happens more frequently with commercial work. Payment plans are available. We offer a returning client discount.

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

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.

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.

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.

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.

Even if you invested in the cost of a gas shut-off valve for your oven and other appliances, it’s a good idea to add a seismic shut-off valve as an extra safety measure. 

Gas shut-off valves for appliances are manual, meaning someone has to cut off the flow of gas. This leaves room for error, as you might not be home or might be too distracted to think about gas lines during an earthquake. An earthquake valve is automatic and will protect your home from gas-related disasters in the event of an earthquake.

The Interlaken, NY 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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