April showers bring May flowers, and also, quite likely, some mentally-earmarked spring projects.
A handful of local businesses spoke to the Pathfinder about common spring improvement projects, things to keep in mind when embarking on a new project and the importance of septic tank maintenance.
Tile and stonework
Stan Davis and his wife Lacey, owners of Davis Tile, have been in the tile and stone industry for about 15 years. They started in California and brought their business to Seeley Lake when they moved a year ago.
“We looked at the area to see if it was saturated or not with our particular business,” Stan Davis said. Davis Tile has worked on fire places, showers, floors, patios and decorative elements like creating custom showers with herringbone.
As people lean into spring projects, Davis said improvements to showers, backsplashes and floors or entryways and fireplaces are common requests they get.
“Normally, folks start out with an estimate on a job they desire, from a trusted contractor. Most have an idea in mind of what they want and need and already have some kind of budget in place for said project,” Davis said.
For an order of operations, Davis recommended people contact a contractor, make an appointment for a site inspection, get a bid, acquire the needed material, then schedule the work. Sticking to a budget and a vision, using quality material and not rushing or cutting corners are some of Davis’s tips for success.
Electrics
Alvis “AJ” Miller, owner of Seeley Lake Electric, has been working in the electrics business in the Seeley area for just under ten years. As the ground thaws in the spring, it becomes easier for people to get into the electrical wiring projects they need that are harder to do when the ground is too cold in the winter.
“The bulk of what we do get in the spring is typically just the start of any project or outdoor stuff,” Miller said. One thing people start thinking about is any outlets they’ll need outside to provide power to sheds or RVs, he said.
A big piece of advice Miller offered was to inspect extension cords and make sure the outlets don’t have any water damage or that the cord didn’t get corroded between the fittings. Rovero’s hardware is the best place to get extension cords if a replacement is needed, Miller said.
Septic maintenance
Norm Bernstrauch, owner of Rockin’ B Septic, has been pumping septic systems across Seeley Lake, Condon, Potomac and Ovando for 11 years. During the spring — his busy time — Bernstrauch said he pumps a couple hundred of septic systems across the season.
To maintain the health of a system, he recommended pumping every four years. Bernstrauch said this can vary depending on use — maybe a two-person household only needs to pump every five to seven years, but a larger family might need to pump every four years.
Bernstrauch said regular pumping keeps the sediments that build up in a septic system at the bottom of the tank and out of the drainfield. If sediment did end up in the drainfield, a new one might need to be installed, which Bernstaruch said could cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
He said to think of a septic system like your digestive system.
“You’re only going to put so much in before you’ve got to get rid of something,” Bernstrauch said.
Reader Comments(0)