Tag Archive for: Business

Storage units are ideal for freeing up space in your home, storage for items you use in your home business, or keeping your belongings while moving or being deployed in the military. They are convenient to give you additional space and declutter your home. Here are five things to consider when renting your first storage unit:

1. Types of Units Available

There are indoor storage facilities and outdoor ones that you can pull your vehicle up to load and unload. The indoor storage units are typically climate-controlled, which is ideal for anything affected by extreme cold or humidity. Outdoor units are not climate-controlled, but they are less expensive. The self-storage units come in various sizes, ranging from 5’x5’ to 10’x20’ or larger. If you plan to access the storage unit before permanently removing your items, be sure to get a large enough unit to easily access your belongings with an aisle down the middle so you can reach items in the back.

2. What Will I Store?

Most self-storage facilities have safety restrictions prohibiting you from storing certain items. These can include firearms, hazardous materials, and anything illegal. Most people use them for household goods, furniture, and holiday decorations that they don’t want to sell or donate.

3. What Do I Need to Do to Rent a Self-Storage Unit?

Find one in a convenient location that is reasonably priced. Read the contract carefully. There can be a minimum amount of time you have to rent the unit, although most are month to month. It’s rare to find anywhere that will let you rent for less than a month, minimum. Focus on what happens if you are late making your payment or forget to pay. You could lose all your possessions if the facility auctions off the contents. They will make you pay to have the lock cut off and an auction fee as well if you default on your payments. Consider letting the facility have automatic payments from your bank account if this is offered. You also have to show a valid government ID to rent a self-service storage unit. Tell a family member about your unit and leave them the information in case anything ever happens to you and you are in the hospital, so you don’t lose your stuff.

4. Access

Find out what times you can access your storage unit. It may be 24 hours, but many facilities only allow access during normal business hours. If you only have a vehicle you can use to move stuff out, this will be important.

5. Security

Indoor and outdoor self-storage facilities should be well-lit with security cameras. A guard on the premises is even better. You’ll be supplying your lock to guard your items safely. The facility may have insurance you can buy, or your homeowner’s insurance may cover the contents. Photograph and list your most valuable items in case you ever need to put in a claim. If your unit is broken into, it is usually your responsibility unless the storage unit was negligent, like forgetting to lock the gate. Never store anything irreplaceable, like valuable jewelry, in a self-storage unit. Get a safety deposit at your bank instead for those items.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for SMARTBOX

Purpose and Functionality

One of the first things you should consider before choosing a belt grinder is which kind of projects you’ll need it for. For example, some belt grinders can be used with attachments and accessories that give them a wider range of functions. Occasionally, manufacturers will even include bonus attachments with certain models.

Belt Size and Length

While more compact belt grinders are typically less expensive than other models, you may end up paying more for replacement belts. Longer belts are better able to handle the heat from grinding since the wear is dispersed over more material. 

You may also be tempted to get a belt grinder with a wide belt, but these are not ideal for all kinds of projects. Knife making, for example, requires a two-inch belt. Anything thinner or wider will make it harder to perform the right functions.

Speed Settings

Not every belt grinder comes with a variable speed belt, but getting one that does can be a huge help. Some projects require very high speeds, while others don’t. Having the ability to choose the speed you’re using increases the number of materials you can work with.

Belt

Motor Size

Another important thing to look for in a quality belt grinder is a reliable and high-power motor, especially if you’re looking at a model without variable speed. A grinder with a weak motor just won’t perform as well, even if the price is more affordable.

The Right Belt Grinder

Follow these tips to make sure you choose the belt grinder that’s right for your projects. Once you have the machine you want, you’ll need to properly maintain your belt grinder to ensure it lasts as long as possible. With the right care, a quality belt grinder should last you quite a while.

When you think about construction equipment, the sizeable yellow machinery associated with Caterpillar is probably the first to come to mind. There are many advantages of Caterpillar engines when it comes to quality; however, if you’re wondering which are the best types of Caterpillar engines, consider the following.

Cat C7

The C7 was in production throughout the 2000s and was a memorable piece of equipment for being one of the earlier engines to adapt to new regulations imposed by the EPA. Trucking companies favored the C7 during that time for its reliability. However, Cat decided to take things in another direction and stopped production of the C7 in 2010.

Cat 3306

The 3306 is one of Cat’s older and more reliable engines, having made its debut in the 1970s. The main draw of the 3306 is that this engine ran efficiently but had a simple design that was easy to maintain and repair. Cat ceased production on the 3306 in the early 2000s when emission regulations led to the C7 and C9 models, which adhere to government regulations.

Caterpillar
https://www.wvv.com/Ownership

Cat 3116

While we often associate Caterpillar engines with construction equipment or heavy trucks, the 3116 made a big splash thanks to its frequent use in marine equipment. At 2400 rpm, the 3116 had around 205 horsepower, though the engine had some issues with a weaker top end compared to other models.

Cat C15

The C15 remains one of the best Caterpillar engines for industrial usage. The engine boasts a single turbocharger and parts that can be easily swapped out with the similar 3406E engine. Relief slots in the C15 are beneficial in protecting the gaskets from heavy weight.

Cat 3408

Cat’s 3408 engine remains one of their most popular engines on the market. The 3408 contains a lot of power and is stable, reliable, and easy to modify. The eight-cylinder engine produces around 500 horsepower and remains a popular model for construction, mining, and other heavy equipment uses.

When you run a construction company or work as a contractor, you’ve probably had your fair share of construction projects where the client wants to use greener practices. Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and there are steps you can take to make your construction projects environmentally friendly. Read on to learn how you can be more sustainable with your construction.

Change Equipment

One way many businesses are transitioning to sustainability is through equipment. People and businesses are transitioning to electric-powered items instead of gas-powered and LED lights instead of conventional lighting. Small changes make significant differences, and those changes can also happen on your construction site. Using electric heaters instead of gas can significantly lower emissions, as can electric-powered tools. In addition to lowering emissions, electrical equipment is easily rechargeable and lasts much longer than its gas-powered counterparts. 

Think of Your Materials

One of the most significant ways you can be more sustainable in your construction is through your material selection. 

Construction sites are like many other businesses in today’s world, and there is a lot of waste. However, if you are thoughtful with your material selection and choose renewable products or ones from local vendors, your project will have few negative impacts on the environment.

Consider using stainless steel for your larger projects, as it supports sustainability and the circular economy. Steel is clean, durable, and one of the most recyclable materials you can use because it stays clean without the need for hazardous cleaning products.

Prefabricate Materials

Many construction businesses are transitioning from doing all their projects onsite to prefabricating pieces to bring in later. This practice reduces onsite waste and avoids potentially disruptive environmental factors. For example, if you’re working with sheet metal, the cold and hot weather can change the metal’s shape, making it look much different than the final product. 

Prefabrication increases construction efficiency because you’ll experience fewer roadblocks and spend much less time creating waste at the job site.

Be more sustainable with your construction by following these tips and incorporating these techniques into your future construction projects. It will help your construction business leave a smaller footprint, and you’ll rest easy knowing you built environmentally friendly projects well.

Remember these questions you should ask your immigration attorney during your first meeting if you want clarity and confidence when proceeding with your case.

Immigration attorneys assist in cases dealing with issues such as naturalization and fiancé(e) visas. These cases deal with sensitive issues and require careful planning and knowledge. But how do you differentiate a suitable lawyer from the rest? These are the top three questions you should ask your immigration attorneyduring your first meeting. 

How Much Experience Do You Have? 

This is a standard question you should ask when partnering with any professional, and an immigration attorney is no exception. Specifically, relevant experience comes down to how many years the professional has worked with these types of cases as well as how many cases they have under their belt. That way, you can find an experienced expert who knows the titular topic front to back.

Another clear sign of expert experience in immigration law is being a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA); this membership showcases a dedication to professionalism and ethical practices. When you’re browsing online for an immigration law firm, you’ll find many details on its website, and one of them should be its AILA membership. 

How Long Will the Process Take? 

When you’re discussing the steps of any immigration case, they can understandably seem daunting to some newcomers. An experienced immigration law firm is helpful for various reasons, and one of the reasons is the clarity it can provide. Knowing how long your case will take is an easy way to set your expectations accurately. 

For instance, when you’re researching how long obtaining a K1 visa takes, you may find a large swathe of time frames. The reason for this is that details such as correctly filing the necessary forms will affect how long the case takes. So after your attorney looks over your case details, ask how long they think the process will take so that you can plan accordingly. 

Will You Help Me Win My Case? 

Another effective way to set proper expectations is knowing how your case objectively looks to a professional. Therefore, one of the top questions you should ask your immigration attorney is: What are my chances of success in this case? Of course, lawyers are not fortune-tellers. But a reliable immigration lawyer should know your chances of success after you provide them with the proper information regarding your case.

Beyond providing clarity on the topic, asking this question also offers you a way to test your lawyer’s knowledge and integrity. Whether they see success or failure in your case, the attorney should provide you with a reason why.

Thanks to these questions, you can gain a clearer picture of how your case will proceed and whether you’re talking to the right professional. 

Eco Friendly

Vancouver, WA — Our current weather is quite nice, but we all know the rain and harsher weather is coming. The Pacific Northwest can have some brutal winters, so keeping your vehicle clean in winter makes your car last longer. Washing your car in winter helps prevent rust, keeps ice off your windshield, and protects you vehicle’s paint.

Never underestimate the importance keeping your car clean by regularly washing it throughout winter. Don’t just view the three-month season as hiatus from car washing. While it might be easy to dismiss the new extra icy coat the winter adds to your vehicle as just frozen water; it pays to get it off your car as soon as soon as it accumulates. 

Here are four main reasons you should regularly wash your car throughout winter:

  1. Rust. Winter’s elements can cause rust on a car, and once rust starts it’s hard to stop. Rust can show up anywhere – under the paint, under the car where there is bare metal, and in areas of your car you didn’t know existed. Rust is just one of several preventable issues.
  2. Paint Protection. Keeping your car clean and waxed during the winter adds an extra layer of protection to the body paint. Ceramics are key to that protection.
  3. Minimizes need for part replacement. Some barely noticeable car parts like the windshield and back window wipers as well as the mud guard plates may be easy to forget but still play a crucial role in your vehicle’s overall efficiency. During car winterization, most professional mechanics, on the assumption you won’t be cleaning your car often, advise you to buy several pairs of wipers.
  4. Protect your investment. Regular car wash over winter helps protect your investment. It not only assists maintain its originality but also helps improve its resale value.

Car wash memberships help protect your car, especially during those harsh winter months. How many times have you finished washing your car only to find out that it is about to rain? Seriously! It is amazing how the sky can be clear and sunny one minute and sloppy the next. It almost seems like getting your car washed is a sure way to jinx the weather. But after spending money to get your car cleaned, the last thing you want to do is drive right back to the car wash to do it all over again.

That is where a car wash membership pays off. A car wash membership is a subscription service where you pay a set fee each month for a certain number of washes. Like a newspaper or Netflix subscription, you do not need to pay every time you use the service. That way, you can get your car cleaned whenever you need to. Whenever it is dirty. As often as you want.

Flash Wash, located in Vancouver at 164th and Cascade Park Drive, offers such a service. They offer three washes, which can be purchased as monthly memberships with unlimited visits and washes:

  1. Flash Wash ($29.99/month) is a premium wash with ceramics that add an extra coating on your vehicle along with a longer lasting shine and protection. The ceramics help bead off the rain.
  2. Bolt Wash ($23.99/month) comes with wax and clear coat protectant, which adds an extra protectant on your vehicle.
  3. Spark Wash ($14.99/month) is a basic service that cleans your vehicle without wax and wheel cleaning.

Flash Wash offers a special $5 memberships for the first month, which then goes into a recurring charge.

“It’s a really good deal,” said McCallum, operator of Flash Wash. “And we want the public to know that a part of our tunnel recycles some of our car wash water. Most of our tunnel runs off fresh water but some of it is recycled water. And we feel like we offer the best car wash in the area.”

McCallum also emphasizes the importance of the ceramics at Flash Wash. Citing concerns about chemical staining from naturally acidic contaminants in the environment, she said the ceramics help reduce those contaminants from bonding to a vehicle’s paint. And, she thinks this is even more important in winter.

“Ceramics are more durable, and they will produce a deeper gloss and shine than traditional wax,” McCallum added. “I also want people to know that Flash Wash is a great place to work, that we have a great team, and that Flash Wash wants to give back to the community. You can contact us via our website: https://flashwashcarwash.com/contact-us/ “

Vancouver, WA – The Building Industry Association of Clark County (BIA) is excited to announce member Chuck Neibert of Affinity Homes LLC has won national recognition from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as a top recruiter for the home building industry.

As part of a NAHB’s national membership recruitment effort, builders compete against other builders from associations across the country for an experience of a lifetime. Because the BIA has more than 500 members, we are recognized as a large association. As such, Chuck has won the grand prize in the large association category for recruiting the most members in the country.

As a thank you for Chuck’s hard work in building the power of the association through member recruitment, he will receive an all-inclusive trip to the Signature Kitchen Suite Experience and Design Center (an exclusive, 23,000-square-foot facility showcasing the intersection between technology and culinary passion) in Napa Valley, California, courtesy of the official NAHB membership sponsor, Signature Kitchen Suite.

2021 BIA Board President, Dave Myllymaki said, “Chuck has been instrumental in assisting our Membership Director in growing the membership of the BIA by attracting new members from Clark, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties. We cannot thank him enough for the dozens of members he’s recruited to ensure that the construction community is aware of the many benefits offered by the BIA: cost-saving programs, business development tools, and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels of government.”

Camas, WA — This is the first Christmas holiday season for Juxtaposition, a downtown Camas home furnishings and decor store, and they’re bringing it with style and days of fun.

Black Friday, or “Little Box Friday,” as they call it in downtown Camas, kicks off at 8 am on Friday, November 27 with some great deals, door busters, and door prizes.

“Everyone that comes into the door gets to draw from our prize box,” said Suzanne Ferguson, owner of Juxtaposition. “The box is filled with gift cards from downtown Camas businesses and restaurants, and some will draw cards that have discounts of up to 50 percent off on holiday and home decor at Juxtaposition.

Black Friday/Little Box Friday door busters include the following items at 50 percent off regular retail prices:

  • Cynthia Dunn snowman ornaments (boxed sets of 4)
  • Snowman dinner plates
  • 3×4” Metallic and gold pillar candles
  • Poinsettia flowers
  • Snowman hot chocolate mugs

There will be a free gift to the first 50 customers, plus door prizes will be announced every hour on Friday and Saturday. Customers simply need to fill out a ticket while they’re shopping.

Door prizes include gilded gold Frasier Fir candles, Beekman hand lotion caddies,hand-care trio and little gnomes. 

Juxtaposition will be open all weekend (8-8 on Friday10-8 on Saturday) with extended shopping hours on Sunday (10-5), which will continue through the holiday season.

Special deals include:

  • All Gnomes on sale at 10 percent off
  • All Ornaments on sale at 20 percent off
  • Let It Snow Collection on sale at 15 percent off
  • All gift sets are 15 percent off
Juxtaposition
Christmas ornaments are 20% off.

The gift cards will be distributed until they’re all gone. Camas Cash will be handed out Saturday by Downtown Camas Association elves on Small Business Saturday. Camas Cash can be used at participating downtown Camas businesses.

“We invite you to be part of our giving tree,” said Ferguson. “It helps out local families during the holiday season.”

The giving tree program is organized by Camas School District.

To learn more, visit www.artfuljuxtaposition.com or visit the store at 425 NE 4th Avenue in historic downtown Camas. Per COVID-19 guidelines, Juxtaposition asks that all customers wear face coverings while shopping.

Juxtaposition
Christmas gnomes.

OLYMPIA, WA — The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) honored its Builder, Associate and Remodeler of the Year members at its Fall Board of Directors meeting on November 12. Fellow BIAW members selected the award recipients based on their significant contributions to BIAW and the home building industry as a whole. The following two Clark County companies were chosen for Builder of the Year and Remodeler of the Year out of almost 8,200 BIAW members all over the state of Washington. 

Tracy Doriot | Builder of the Year

Tracy Doriot of Doriot Construction is an award-winning custom home builder with 43 years in the construction business. ACertified Builder, Doriot has served on the Building Industry Association of Clark County (BIACC)’s board of directors since 2007, holding multiple committee chair positions and serving as president the second half of 2009, 2010 and 2016.  He’s an active recruiter of new members with 521 Spike credits to date. 

Doriot has served on the Cascadia Technical Academy (formerly known as Clark County Skills Center) Construction Technology Advisory Committee since 1996 and has been chair of the board since 2019. He also serves on the board of directors for the Clark County Parks Foundation.

A state leader in the BIAW active in government affairs, Tracy participates in BIAW’s Washington Affordable Housing Council and has served as a senior officer on its Executive Committee since 2019. He was installed as BIAW’s 2021 President at the Fall Board meeting and will lead the organization starting in January.

Dave Myllymaki | Remodeler of the Year

Dave Myllymaki of ReNew Creations, LLC, has served as a BIACC director for five years and is currently BIACC president for 2020 and 2021.

Along with serving as local association president, Myllymaki served as the chair to the BIACC remodeling council for two years. His involvement goes beyond his local association, resulting in Myllymaki receiving National Remodeler of the Month honors from the National Association of Home Builders in 2018.

Myllymaki is also active in his church and works on a variety of community outreach projects. He has also been involved in projects for Camp HopeEvergreen Habitat for Humanity and the Clark County Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction

Builder
www.clarkcountyrelocations.com


WASHOUGAL, WA — Software startup Mathaesthetics LLC has released MathPaint, its flagship software application, enabling anyone with a Mac to create amazing art generated by the power and beauty of mathematics.

MathPaint is built for graphic designers who have a need to create abstract, geometric, or fractal illustrations and visual textures. The new software title is also expected to appeal to experimental visual artists, hobbyists, and students.

MathPaint 1.0 is offered through Apple’s Mac App Store. The software’s sale price is $29.99. The App Store entry includes more information about the software, screenshots, and video previews: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mathpaint/id1476765339

The MathPaint home page on the Mathaesthetics website also features more information, screenshots, and a free 10-day demo version of the software:https://mathaesthetics.com/wp/mathpaint/

Connecting With a Virtual Art Community
Although MathPaint was only just released the app has already gained a following online on social media. MathPaint creator Christopher Corbell regularly posts images created with the program on Instagram and other channels. Digital art made with MathPaint has earned follows and “likes” from around the world.

“The images made with MathPaint have gained follows and likes from France, Brazil, Japan, Iran and other places around the world,” said Corbell. “At this time when we’re all isolated by the pandemic it’s really meaningful to see how art can connect us worldwide. There’s a virtual community around hashtags like #generative and #creativecode. Mathematical art has a kind of beauty, like music, which transcends cultures. Its visual forms reflect something in that’s in all of us, in our sense of harmony and our wonder at complexity. Anyone can appreciate these designs even if they don’t regularly do mathematics. That’s really what made me want to create MathPaint – it’s a program powered by math but it isn’t for doing math; it’s for making art. I think this kind of program might be really useful in education as well. It can give students a way to explore mathematics as a creative activity, motivated by wonder or playfulness.” 

Mathaesthetics
www.acreativetwistcorp.com

Introduction to MathPaint Video Tutorial
Mathaesthetics will be delivering MathPaint tutorials on its YouTube channel, accessible from within the application or in any web browser. The initial video tutorial is an introduction to the features of MathPaint, showing its variety of capabilities in action:
https://youtu.be/al-OtRTYxmI

About Mathaesthetics LLC

Founded in the summer of 2020, Mathaesthetics is a Washington limited-liability company based in Washougal. The company’s mission is to explore the intersection of technology and creativity with imaginative software products. Founder Christopher Corbell moved to Washougal in 2019 from nearby Portland. Corbell has worked as a software engineer since 2000 and has also participated in the Portland arts scene as a music composer, producer, and performer.

Mathaesthetics
An example of digital art.