There’s something infinitely satisfying about completing DIY projects around the home. You did the research, got the necessary tools and equipment, and the results are as professional as those you’d have got anywhere else. However, there are some areas where it’s wasteful, and even downright dangerous to try DIY. Let’s check it out.

Plumbing is a mind-boggling ability that requires broad expertise and knowledge. Most experts use those skills and make a special effort to fix complex issues. Still, there are some tradesmen who try their best to trick individuals through various plumbing scams. 

It’s most useful to know the basic disturbing signs and distinguish a tradesman's swift tricks. Read further to find out how to spot and avoid those frauds.

Incomplete Agreements

Don’t consent to a partial arrangement as you give your plumber a chance to vanish. The result may be a job left half done. And that feels bad, especially when you’ve pre-paid some cash.

Always request a quote for the projects and demand for your invoice for payment.

Cheeky Imposters

Some scammers dress in plumbing garbs and try a door-to-door approach to gain access to your property. They often insist on offering free plumbing, diagnostics, and “expert” advice.

Fake plumbers may attempt to ask for your money for extra costly fixes. On some occasions, they plan a straightforward robbery.

No Proof of License

A trusty plumber should always give you a proof of license if required. If they seem somewhat hesitant to show you a permit, maybe they don't have one at all.

Do not trust the neighborly plumber, regardless of how important your issue is. He most likely lacks the expertise and can’t produce a valid license. You definitely don’t want to pay twice when the project goes wrong.

The “Bait and Switch” Trick

Diagnosed with a kitchen plumbing disaster where you have to dump “old” pipes for new? Plumbing scammers can exploit this and charge over the top costs for the best materials. In reality, they use lower-quality options and still hold to the extra cash. Request a list of materials to dodge this trick. Give the list to an expert and discover how much the items truly cost.

Low-cost materials may not withstand as much as costly alternatives. Inspect for brand reviews and evaluations. You are free to request a detailed invoice and check if the plumber uses the right items for the job.

Silly Baits

Remember to ask for a hard copy of your signed agreement, alarm the experts. You should always request a recipe for any plumbing work.

Prices Based on Financial Status

Your plumbing job could get much more expensive when you live in a well off the neighborhood. 

Shady plumbers may raise their rates higher just because of your financial status. Make certain to get quotes from as many tradesmen as possible. It would give you an idea of how much the work may cost.

The typical plumbing fake will charge crazy low but in-person only. At the same time, reputable companies use video consultation and survey software to estimate cost in minutes..

Altering Estimates

Bad plumbers love that trick. 

They won't give you a written estimate. Instead, the scammers calculate expenses on the go. They can even grant you a stunning offer on the phone. And if you take it, the plumber gives you a dull promise of a hard-copy estimate. Sadly, it never comes. Don’t get surprised if the cost gets higher than what you’ve agreed on, so never trust a verbal agreement!

A similar trick is agreement changes out-of-nowhere. The plumber may also charge you for extra work that never happened. Keep track of the process.

Subcontracting and Third-Party Involvement

A plumber may bring several helpers for the project. That’s rarely a sign of fraud, however, you better be careful. The presence of a few temporary workers may also increase your “costs”.

Some scammers use this tactic by subcontracting their duties to friends and family. As a result, they come up with the excuse that they can’t be responsible for the price estimates of third parties.

Ask about the new team members. When you feel something is off, cut the project to avoid enormous expenses!

Phishy Cold Calls

Cold calling is a technique to persuade likely clients to buy either a service or a product. Avoid handing any details to organizations that practice cold calls! Keep your personal data and bank information safe!

Cold calls are often shady, as the culprit hopes to get hold of your private data. Call the police if you feel a victim of such a scam! 

Double check the company. Find their custom service & support from a different number and play dumb for answers. 

Bundle Offers

Think twice before you take up your plumber’s bundle offer. 

Try to recognize the upselling proposals and decide if you truly need that extra job done. Sometimes it’s not worth the extra cost when you could carry small repairs all by yourself. 

And if you feel uncertain of your plumbing skills, the upselling proposition might just be right.

How to Recognize a Bad Plumber

Ask for credentials and expertise, all reliable plumbers feel proud to show proof of license. They won’t have a problem presenting business details.

Be polite but never be afraid to demand information. Don’t forget that you pay for the project and you have the right to know more!

If your questions annoy or worry the plumber, they could be a scammer. Stop the project and find a better solution!

How to Avoid Plumbing Scams

Look for proof — Ask for license and company details. Browse through their website and look for reviews and testimonials. Ask people in the same niche if the plumber doesn't have an online presence.

Get your hard-copies - Ask for signed agreements and contracts. Always request a written quote and a real survey. Invoices and recipes are also an important part of the deal. You can even demand a list of materials for your reference.

Get to know the team - Plumbers sometimes bring apprentices, and that is fair unless they charge hidden fees. Know the total hourly rate of all tradesmen on your property.

Avoid shady offers - Contact the authorities if you feel as a target of fraud or severe scams.

Ask and ask - Get information on everything you need to know - prices, names, materials, tasks, and what you don’t.

Takeaways

Don’t forget that it’s your money that you invest in the project! It’s bad to encounter a fake plumber, but it’s even worse to spend a ridiculous amount for bad plumbing. So, help your community, save others’ trouble, and report any scammers. And when you search well enough, you can always find insured and reliable plumbers to help you out.

In the world that we are today, innovation has taken over a lot of activities. One of those things, it has tried to change to make the world a better place, is the area of glass. People now use different kinds of glasses for decorations, glasses that we mean is not the one you put on to prevent your eyes or help you see clearly but the types of glass that help to make your house look beautiful.

Among those glasses is frosted glass; it is a modernized use of glass to beautify a home. In this short piece, we shall be taking a look at its various types, how to use it for exterior decoration, its relationship with Acid Etch glass, and so on.

Types And Styles Used For Exterior Designs

Energy-Efficient Glass

If you are the type that has a high taste for design, this type of glass will give you a modern home look, and make your house look good. Decorators mostly use it as exterior decorative purposes. It is eco-friendly and prevents heat from penetrating the house both during the winter and summer period.

It is also a tool that helps to minimize waste of energy and reduces costs dramatically.

Patterned Glass

It is another type of glass interior designers call textured glass or decorative glass. They call it decorative glass because it has a wide range of patterns on its body.

Designers use it for diffusion rather than making it block the entire viewing of an object. Most homeowners prefer this style of glass; it enhances privacy at the highest level.

Clear Glass

When you look to have a plain glass with almost no design, clear glass is all that you need. All glass was once clear glasses, too, before designers made it go through so many other processes to make it a frosted glass. Nevertheless, a clear glass does not mean a small frosted design does not come with it. It is not everything dull; it has little plans that make it a good option for exterior use.

The best places you can find this kind of glass are in the banking hall where some parts of it will be covered, and a majority of this glass is exposed to the public to see who is attending to customers and staff that are lazy at work.

Acoustic Glass

The next kind of glass we shall be looking at good for exterior decoration is Acoustic glass. Most of the time, it usually consists of two sheets except for essential purposes when more sheets are relevant. The primary reason for having different layers is to prevent or control noise.

If your house or office is close to the airport, the acoustic glass will serve as a great tool to help you manage the sound of aircraft so that you will not feel so much of the noise and the normal activities of your office goes normal. It is no doubt the best for homes located in a crowded environment.

Differences Between The Etched Glasses & Frosted Glasses

These two categories of glass decoration are generic when it comes to decorating a glass. They are nothing but common terms for decoration, the translucent systems capable of obscuring visibilities yet giving a chance to pass-through the diffuse light.

The glass etching means that we are trying to create a decorative effect by altering the glass surface. Its purpose of design is to come out in the form of artwork, most notably decorative sample of lettering.

Making a glass frost is glass surfer changing from transparent to the translucent process, so it can create different styles and decorations like, opaque, or make glass have a cloudy look. There are two processes to make a glass frost; it is by acid etching or by sandblasting. All systems of creating designs on a glass (frosting and etching) are useful in the commercial areas of designing a glass.

That is, they are common in commercial buildings such as offices, financial institutions, or noisy areas. They are suitable for internal purposes, too; we can find them in interior spaces such as glass partitions, glass balustrades, bathroom, and kitchens.

How To Produce The Etched And Frosted Glasses

Glass frosting and etching are particular for commercial purposes. They are achieved in two ways; it is the plain glass is etched or is sandblasted. Process you choose out of the two design methods is what will determine the end look of your glass or determine the kind of design you will have on your glass. Let’s take a brief look at the two systems of designing a glass.

Acid-Etch Glass

Sometimes called French embossing, it’s one of the oldest forms of decorating glass. The craftsmen were the ones that discovered this system, and they realized that if you combine the following heating a dark green ore that produces hydrofluoric acid called fluorite together, you will arrive at an acid-etched glass.

Sandblasting

The only way and easy way to frost glass are through sandblasting. It is done on the glass either by hand or by machine but requires the blasting of sand particles at high-pressure on the glasses, that is, in turn, helps to erode the glass surface.

Ordering a Frosted Glass

The first step to take when ordering a frosted glass is to know the opacity that you want. At 0%, it means you want entirely clear glass, while 100% gives you a maximum opacity glass design.

There is no need for panic as the opacity process is easy and simple, during the process of applying opacity; you could determine the start and endpoints of the opacity level you prefer. Most of the time, what you want to use the glass for is what will determine the opacity’s level that you will apply to the glass and the amount of light needed to make the design look attractive.

For many, owning a business is part of living their dream and a path to personal wealth. While the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”, so does owning a workshop. Though many responsibilities come with owning a workshop, the last thing you want is an injury lawyer on your back.

Carrying around tools or equipment at the back of the truck is a part of many professions. Construction worker, plumber, electrician, and even a TV mechanic needs to carry plenty of tools to provide the proper services.