Auto Body Repair Estimates Demystified - The 5 Most Common Items on a Repair Estimate
So you've decided to get an estimate from a local body shop. These days, most body shops will use a computerized estimating software to write your estimate. If the shop you have chosen does not use a computer to write your estimate that should be cause for concern. This is not meant as a jab at those long time owners and technicians and I am not implying they are "backward" or "luddites" or ignorant. Its more for accountability. Computerized software is now standard in our industry and insures a more uniform, unbiased and accurate appraisal for how long things take to repair. For instance, I was talking to a shop owner just a couple days ago who was remembering with fondness the good old days when he would routinely get 15+ labor hours to repair frames on cars that nowadays he only gets 4-5 hours on. The truth is however that 4-5 is the more accurate and fair rate (depending on the job of course it could be more or less). And since consumers and insurance companies are billed by the hours on an estimate the old days of falsely inflating hours are gone.
When it comes to auto body repair the vast majority of line items on an estimate will be one of 5 things:
1. R & I. This is shorthand for "remove and install" and means to take something off your car and then to re-install it later. Parts that are not damaged may need to be temporarily removed to access another part that was damaged or more often so the panel it is taken off of can painted properly. For instance, say your electric motor for your window stops working. The interior trim panel will need to be temporarily removed for to gain access to the motor to see if it can be repaired (not likely!) or replaced. Or perhaps a molding needs to be removed from your door before it is painted only to be put back on later when the paint dries. One caution here is that if panels are being painted and you're not being charged for R & I the shop may be taping them up which can actually cause peeling or flaking months or years later. So don't be surprised if for instance a headlight needs to be removed to properly paint a fender. You should actually be more concerned if its not. FYI: R & I times are typically set to industry standards by estimating software and are not discretionary.
2. Repair. Repair (aka 'Rpr') is the most discretionary item on an estimate and typically the amount of time it takes to repair something will be underlined or asterisk-ed (*) to indicate this. This is where an insurance adjuster might say a dent will take 3 hours to fix and a technician might say it will take 4. There's no hard and fast rule here and this needs to be negotiated between insurance adjusters, shop estimators and possibly even the technicians doing the job. My dad who has been in the industry almost 40 years taught me a long time ago that a dent which is about the size of a man's fist should take about 3 hours to repair. From there you can adjust up or done for various things like a body line that runs through the dent (add an hour) or the dent has no creases and is accessible from the inside and therefore can be mostly popped out (subtract time). The reason these times are so important is that insurance companies are paying shops based on the number of hours on the estimate.
3. Replace. Replacing parts, sometimes shorthanded to 'repl,' is not a discretionary item on an estimate and is governed by industry standards or what shop folks call "book time." If the book/software says it takes 3.5 hours to replace that bumper then that is what the insurance company will pay. No more and no less. It is pretty well standardized with only slight variations depending on which software is used and then it only differs by very little.
4. Sublet. Sometimes there are things that an auto body shop will send to someone else (typically a mechanic who takes care of more under the hood items) to perform and this is categorized as sublet. Popular things for shops to sublet out are air conditioner recharging and 4 wheel alignments when the suspension is damaged. The reason this is sent out typically is that the equipment and space required for these operations are not cost effective for a body shop. And when it comes to deeper engine repair, oil and paint don't mix! Oil and grease can quickly ruin a paint job. So, shops that say they can do "everything" typically can't do everything well.
5. Miscellaneous. Under this category will go small charges like "hazardous waste removal" (about once a month we pay someone to pick up and dispose of our hazardous waste in the safest way possible) and "car cover for overspray" which pays for paper, tape and plastic to cover the vehicle during the painting process so paint over spray doesn't go all over the windows or adjacent panels.
Auto Body Shop Brooklyn
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Consider These Tips Before Selecting a Family Dentist
Consider These Tips Before Selecting a Family Dentist
Providing proper dental care for your family is one of the greatest parenting roles you must play. When your kids grow up, they will always remember this when they look at their dashing smiles. It is thus advisable to inculcate proper dental care at a very young age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) says the first dental visit for your child should be by the age of 1 year.
To provide the best oral care, you need the services of the best family dentist in your area. If you have just relocated to a new area, finding the best doctor for your family's dental issues is not easy yet the services offered by these medical professionals are crucial.
To avoid getting stuck with a bad dentist, consider the following factors:
Ask for Referrals
Ask around from your friends and coworkers. Your neighbor's advice will also come in handy when looking to identify the best oral care specialist.
Training and experience
You will be relying on the dentist you choose for a long time and it is thus important to confirm about their qualifications. Check whether they are board certified and whether the clinic is licensed. Accreditations and certification also come in handy and if you find an oral care professional with these, it is more advisable to use them.
Reputation
Take time to do a background check on any specialist who is recommended to you. You will find a lot of information from online reviews and testimonials. Most parents are willing to share about experiences they have with different professionals and such information will help you make a choice.
Range of Services offered
Finding these professionals is not just about the brand, but more importantly, you have to look at the range of dental solutions they offer. This will help you determine whether these are suitable for your family. Check for crucial services including professional teeth cleaning, sedentary dentistry, check-ups, implants, bridges, crowns, root canal therapy and fillings among others.
Kid-friendly Facility
If you have kids, it is important to look for a facility that is kid-friendly. Most kids don't love dental visits and this is because of the intimidating environment they find. Search for a family dentist whose clinic offers a comfortable atmosphere and where staff is friendly.
dentist toronto
Providing proper dental care for your family is one of the greatest parenting roles you must play. When your kids grow up, they will always remember this when they look at their dashing smiles. It is thus advisable to inculcate proper dental care at a very young age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) says the first dental visit for your child should be by the age of 1 year.
To provide the best oral care, you need the services of the best family dentist in your area. If you have just relocated to a new area, finding the best doctor for your family's dental issues is not easy yet the services offered by these medical professionals are crucial.
To avoid getting stuck with a bad dentist, consider the following factors:
Ask for Referrals
Ask around from your friends and coworkers. Your neighbor's advice will also come in handy when looking to identify the best oral care specialist.
Training and experience
You will be relying on the dentist you choose for a long time and it is thus important to confirm about their qualifications. Check whether they are board certified and whether the clinic is licensed. Accreditations and certification also come in handy and if you find an oral care professional with these, it is more advisable to use them.
Reputation
Take time to do a background check on any specialist who is recommended to you. You will find a lot of information from online reviews and testimonials. Most parents are willing to share about experiences they have with different professionals and such information will help you make a choice.
Range of Services offered
Finding these professionals is not just about the brand, but more importantly, you have to look at the range of dental solutions they offer. This will help you determine whether these are suitable for your family. Check for crucial services including professional teeth cleaning, sedentary dentistry, check-ups, implants, bridges, crowns, root canal therapy and fillings among others.
Kid-friendly Facility
If you have kids, it is important to look for a facility that is kid-friendly. Most kids don't love dental visits and this is because of the intimidating environment they find. Search for a family dentist whose clinic offers a comfortable atmosphere and where staff is friendly.
dentist toronto
Types of Pest Control
Types of Pest Control
Natural Pest Control
As far back as 3000BC in Egypt, cats were being used as a method of pest control to guard grain stores against rodents. In 1939 a survey uncovered that a population of cats could drastically lower the level of rats found in the area, however they could not completely destroy the rodents population. If however, the rats were baited using poisons and the like, cats could stop them from returning to repopulate the area. (or at least an area of approximately 45 meters)
Biological Pest Control
Biological pest control is the control of rodents via management of natural predators and parasites. For example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, a bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources. This treatment has no known side effects to either humans or the remaining ecology, and is perfectly fine to drink. The basic point of biological pest control is to completely eradicate a pest whilst inflicting very little damage to the surrounding ecosystem.
Mechanical Pest Control
Mechanical pest control is exactly what it sounds like, the use of hands on techniques and assistance from very basic equipment and devices. These protective devices create a barrier between plants and insects. An extremely simple of this is physically removing a weed from the ground. This is called tillage and is one of the oldest methods of weed control known to man.
Destroying Breeding Grounds
Proper waste management systems and removal of still water, eliminates the risk of many pest infestations. This is a good example of why third world countries are often riddled with disease causing insects and rodents. Garbage provides shelter for many unwanted pests and bacteria, as well as an area where still water may collect and create a mosquito breeding ground. Once again, this is why in first world countries you will see significantly less rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies and other pests then if you were in a third world country. This is due to the poor garbage collection and disposal services provided in those countries.
Hunting
In the past, some European countries local communities would gather together when stray dogs and cats became to numerous, round up and kill all the animals in which did not appear to have an owner. Some countries even deploy teams of rat catchers in which chase rats out of a field where they are killed with dogs and simple hand tools.
pest control toronto
Natural Pest Control
As far back as 3000BC in Egypt, cats were being used as a method of pest control to guard grain stores against rodents. In 1939 a survey uncovered that a population of cats could drastically lower the level of rats found in the area, however they could not completely destroy the rodents population. If however, the rats were baited using poisons and the like, cats could stop them from returning to repopulate the area. (or at least an area of approximately 45 meters)
Biological Pest Control
Biological pest control is the control of rodents via management of natural predators and parasites. For example: mosquitoes are often controlled by putting Bt Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis, a bacterium that infects and kills mosquito larvae, in local water sources. This treatment has no known side effects to either humans or the remaining ecology, and is perfectly fine to drink. The basic point of biological pest control is to completely eradicate a pest whilst inflicting very little damage to the surrounding ecosystem.
Mechanical Pest Control
Mechanical pest control is exactly what it sounds like, the use of hands on techniques and assistance from very basic equipment and devices. These protective devices create a barrier between plants and insects. An extremely simple of this is physically removing a weed from the ground. This is called tillage and is one of the oldest methods of weed control known to man.
Destroying Breeding Grounds
Proper waste management systems and removal of still water, eliminates the risk of many pest infestations. This is a good example of why third world countries are often riddled with disease causing insects and rodents. Garbage provides shelter for many unwanted pests and bacteria, as well as an area where still water may collect and create a mosquito breeding ground. Once again, this is why in first world countries you will see significantly less rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies and other pests then if you were in a third world country. This is due to the poor garbage collection and disposal services provided in those countries.
Hunting
In the past, some European countries local communities would gather together when stray dogs and cats became to numerous, round up and kill all the animals in which did not appear to have an owner. Some countries even deploy teams of rat catchers in which chase rats out of a field where they are killed with dogs and simple hand tools.
pest control toronto
Clothes Airers Ideal For Wishing on a Star
Clothes Airers Ideal For Wishing on a Star
We all love to daydream. A favourite experience, a holiday romance, winning the lottery. Reality brings us back with a thump when suddenly we remember all the tasks we have to complete at work or in the home.
Clothes airers are ideal for daydreamers. All you have to do is hang your laundry on the airer with nothing else required. Using a tumble dryer is fraught with separating clothes into different types. Polyesters and synthetics dry much quicker than cottons. Woollens, silks and delicates can be very fragile. Designer items need extra care. Clothes airers mean no thinking about any of these just hang them on the airer. It does help to hang different items in special areas of the airer. Could be slow drying items nearer a radiator and faster drying at the front.
You will have no thought for your fossil fuel using domestic appliance. The clothes airer uses no energy. You might have thought about Co2 emissions. With the drying rack there are none.
The exciting part of having a drying rack in your home is you are released to do other things. Maybe its time to write that book, join an Irish folk band or take up Salsa dancing. Clothes airers take you back to a child hood age. They are like the annual camping outing or the first time you had a bike. Did it have blocks on the pedals so you could reach them?
Today we have become a nation of coffee drinkers. Who would have thought coffee would take over from tea? I like to think it is not just the coffee but the chance to take some down time during each day.
Takmontert Tørkestativ
Friday, January 11, 2019
The Niagara Falls - Best Place for Honeymoon
The Niagara Falls - Best Place for Honeymoon
When you sit to jot down the places for honeymoon, then Niagara Falls is everyone's top priority. With fairly cheap tickets for a round trip it's hard to miss. It is picturesque as well as a place where people get most enchanted view of nature and its miracles.
History
12,000 years ago, the earth shifted to create the two wondrous waterfalls that is Niagara Falls. While "American Falls" 180 feet high and 1075 feet wide is the narrowest of two, the "horseshoe Falls" is 170 feet high and 2200 feet wide. Both are astonishing in their own way. The later also provides you an option to cross over border and enjoy Canada as well.
Where is Niagara Falls?
About half an hour of travel from New York, Niagara Falls can be reached by any means of transport. The Airport is within reach with regular flight schedule. Transport etc. is easily available. You can also get limousine for cheap prices. And you can also buy yourself cheap tickets for the Amtrak train service in and out of buffalo.
Going the Extra mile
For all those who want to go the extra mile and cross the border should keep few things in mind. Proof of Citizenship is a necessity for entering Canada. It could be a passport, original or certified birth certificate, a photo id, such as a driver's license. Any one single document is not enough. Depending on the process it takes around ten-twenty minutes to cross.
niagara falls day tour
When you sit to jot down the places for honeymoon, then Niagara Falls is everyone's top priority. With fairly cheap tickets for a round trip it's hard to miss. It is picturesque as well as a place where people get most enchanted view of nature and its miracles.
History
12,000 years ago, the earth shifted to create the two wondrous waterfalls that is Niagara Falls. While "American Falls" 180 feet high and 1075 feet wide is the narrowest of two, the "horseshoe Falls" is 170 feet high and 2200 feet wide. Both are astonishing in their own way. The later also provides you an option to cross over border and enjoy Canada as well.
Where is Niagara Falls?
About half an hour of travel from New York, Niagara Falls can be reached by any means of transport. The Airport is within reach with regular flight schedule. Transport etc. is easily available. You can also get limousine for cheap prices. And you can also buy yourself cheap tickets for the Amtrak train service in and out of buffalo.
Going the Extra mile
For all those who want to go the extra mile and cross the border should keep few things in mind. Proof of Citizenship is a necessity for entering Canada. It could be a passport, original or certified birth certificate, a photo id, such as a driver's license. Any one single document is not enough. Depending on the process it takes around ten-twenty minutes to cross.
niagara falls day tour
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