Author: Dumpster Diva

Do you have a home remodel project coming up, and wondering if your project is tax-deductible? When doing your home remodels, it is crucial to understand whether that particular project is eligible for a tax write-off. Unlike minor home repairs where you fix little things like fixing broken window pane, some home restorations that add value to your property can earn you tax benefits. For example, adding a new siding, new roofing, plumbing upgrades, new bathroom installation, kitchen remodels, and driveway renovation are some of the major home improvement projects that add more value. In this article, we are going to dig into some of the tax deductible home improvement projects.

Remodeling your home to improve energy efficiency

Are you planning to ditch your old doors and windows for more energy-efficient ones? Your project may be tax-deductible. According to IRS, home improvements that focus on improving its energy efficiency in residential homes are qualify for energy incentives. Installing alternative energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, solar water heaters, energy-efficient doors and windows, and energy-efficient appliances have a tax credit.

Additionally, your roofing may be eligible for a tax credit if you are using solar roofing shingles and tiles that serve as both the roof and source of energy. If you are renovating the roof, you might opt for solar roofing and get non-refundable tax credits to lower your tax liability.

Making home improvements for resale

Making home improvements for resale is one of the best ways to increase the value of your property. But did you know that remodels on a home that is up for resale are tax-deductible? Your home improvement goal should be to add value, prolong the property’s life span, or adapt to new use. Also, the home restorations should last more than a year. Such improvements are also referred to as capital improvements and qualify for tax deductions at the point of sale. Some of these qualifying home improvements include home additions, roofing, basement remodel, new bathroom, kitchen and attic remodels, garage remodel, driveway renovation, landscaping, siding addition, and new swimming pool, and adding a master suite.

Remember, you must show evidence of expenses you incurred doing the home improvement projects for these improvements to qualify. In this case, you need to capture all the expenses receipts. Keep track of all your expenses on home improvement projects in a file, or you can scan and save them electronically if you plan on selling your house.  

Remodeling a home office

Another tax-deductible home improvement project is remodeling your home office. If you have a designated room at home that serves solely as your home office, you may be eligible for a tax write off under home office deductions. Any expense you incur on a home office that you use to conduct legit business regularly qualifies for a tax break. These expenses include utilities, insurance, repairs, remodels, depreciation and mortgage interests. One unique thing about this tax-deductible home improvement project is that both repairs and remodels made directly to your home office qualify. This is because repairs are indispensable to run your business successfully. 

Rental property improvements

Rental property improvement is also another renovation project that can qualify for a tax break. Like a home office, repairs and remodels on a rental property are eligible for tax deductions. Repairs must keep the rental property in the right habitable conditions to qualify for tax deductions the same year, unlike remodels. Rental property upgrades like a kitchen remodel, floor renovation, room additions, new appliance installation, bathroom remodels, etc., are deductible over time. 

Tax deductible home improvement projects for medical purposes.

Any home improvement you make to accommodate persons with disabilities, a sick patient, or aging in place with doctor’s recommendations qualify for tax deductions. These improvements include medical equipment installations, entrance remodels to include ramps, adding lifts, adding easy-to-reach kitchen cabinets, remodeling the bathrooms, and expanding doorway and hallways.

Are you working on a tax-deductible home improvement project? TKG Services delivers reliable dumpster rental services and handle any home improvement projects.

What do you do with old, unused, empty cans or expired products you have at home? When you have old products, expired, leftover, or unused items at home, the first place to think of is placing them in the trash can. However, you will be surprised that some trash needs special handling and arrangements to dispose of. These are the types of hazardous waste materials that can cause injuries and affect the environment. 

But how do you differentiate between hazardous trash and non-hazardous? Garbage is categorized as toxic if it poses the risk of igniting flames, releasing toxic gases, can react, corrode, or explodes. Below are four hazardous waste materials you should never throw in the trash for your safety and the safety of trash handling guys. 

Never throw these hazardous waste materials in the trash.

1. Electronic waste

Do you have old electronic waste that needs to go? You probably upgrade your electronics like TVs, laptops, desktop computers, cameras, iPods, video game devices, printers, e.t.c. to the latest sleek devices. And this means you have to dispose of the old ones. Electronic waste is toxic to the landfills, and you should never toss them in the roll off dumpster or the trash bin regardless of the size. E-waste has harmful materials like lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

Please arrange for a specialized pick up of your electronic waste, or you can consider hauling them to an e-waste recycling facility. 

2. Hazardous chemicals.

Automotive fluids, leftover pesticides, adhesives, ink cartridges, solvents, bleach, and corrosives are also hazardous waste you should not throw in the trash. These chemicals are dangerous if you inhale, ingest, or pour them on the soil. Some chemicals like bleach can corrode the skin, and others are highly flammable and can put you at risk of fire accidents. If you have unwanted chemicals, consider safe alternatives like looking up for a local hazardous waste facility to come and safely dispose of. 

When buying such chemicals, ensure that you get the exact amounts you need to avoid having excess toxic substances. Consider sustainable cleaning products to reduce the quantities of hazardous waste you store. Don’t mix chemicals or store them in a different container other than the original container they were packaged in and labeled. 

Because of the harmful nature of chemicals, we don’t accept them in the dumpster, but we can guide you on disposing of such waste.

3. Medical waste

Medical waste is also another highly toxic waste you should not throw in the trash. These type of garbage can be syringes, masks, sharp needles, swabs, bandages, plasters, e.t.c

You should be careful when dealing with medical waste because it can be highly contagious and have bacteria. Expired prescription drugs are poisonous and need special disposal arrangements. Also, expired and unused drugs can leach into water sources and soil. 

Check with your local city on how to dispose of medical waste. Find take-back programs for any unused and expired prescription drugs you have. 

4. Batteries and fluorescent light bulbs.

Batteries and fluorescent light bulbs should not go into the trash either because of their hazardous nature. Please don’t pick up and dump broken fluorescent light bulbs in the trash cart because they contain toxic vapor like mercury and dust. Car batteries, whether lead-acid or lithium, contain harmful chemicals, and you should take your old batteries to a recycling center. Collect all broken bulbs and drop them off at a hazardous waste collection facility.

Exercise extra caution when handling toxic waste of any nature. Some experts can guide you on how to get rid of hazardous waste. 

Do you want an organized space during your construction or remodeling project? TKG Services offers affordable dumpsters for debris disposal.

Is recycling an ingrained habit in you? You probably put effort into sorting your recyclables like plastic and paper and follow the right recycling methods. 

Are you wondering what is recyclable? The slightest thought of your recyclable garbage ending at the landfill can create skepticism to recycle. Whether it is the waste from your residential households, schools, businesses, workplace, or the community at large, it is crucial to know where your recycling goes. Every step in recycling plays a vital role in keeping trash away from our already-overfilling landfills and incinerators. Below is how your recyclable material moves from the curbside cart to the final destination. 

1. Trash hauler collects your recyclables.

Once you decide to recycle, you take the responsibility of placing recyclable garbage in the recycling bin. Depending on the city you live in, the process of recycling can be single stream or dual recycling. A single-stream recycling process is where you toss all the recycling material in one cart awaiting transportation to the material recovery facility. Dual recycling is the recycling process where you separate the material from the source before pick up by the trash hauler. Whether you use the municipal trash services or hire a trash hauling company during the trash collection day, the hauler will pick up the garbage and transport it to the transfer stations. The transfer station handles compacting. Then larger trucks haul the waste to the material recovery facility. 

2. Sorting stage.

At the material recovery facility (MRF), sorting of the recyclables takes place to separate good from contaminated recyclable material. The garbage from single-stream recycling will go through a manual and automatic machine separation process. Once the truck unloads the mixed recyclable trash into the conveyor belt, the workers will use the manual process of handpicking non-recyclable material from the garbage and safely dispose of it. The next stage is where the automatic machine separates cardboard and paper from the trash.

As the junk moves along in the conveyor belt, a magnetic force will pick out aluminum and steel. An eddy current in the conveyor belt will pick out aluminum cans, while a density blower will move plastics into a different machine. The remaining material, which is glass, will move to a new conveyor machine, which will turn it into cullet. And since plastics products have different resins, the conveyor belt has optic lasers to separate various plastics in the recyclable material. 

Once the sorting is done, your recycling material is ready for the next stage, which is processing. 

3. Processing the recycling.

At this stage, the recyclable material is in perfect condition to be processed into raw material. The facility will break down the items that you place in the curbside bin into raw materials. 

The processing facility can use additives to improve the quality of the raw material. They will then sell the raw materials to the manufacturer to produce new products of good quality. Raw material from plastic waste, for example, can be used to manufacture plastic chairs, carpets, trash bins, and other plastic products.  Processed steel and aluminum raw material create new steel and aluminum cans.

Remember, the same process applies to C&D debris disposal where you can recycle material to produce new products from the waste. 

4. Consumers buy recycled products.

The final stage of your recycling is when the manufacturer releases the products into the market for consumers. When you buy these recycled products, you promote recycling because of the demand.

At TKG Services, we are the pros in C&D recycled materials and ensure that we repurpose over 75% of construction and demolition garbage into new products.

Severe weather is bound to happen every year, whether it is a hurricane, tornado, high winds, flooding, thunderstorms, etc. And mother nature can be unforgiving and can cause significant damage to your property, injuries, and fatalities. According to Injury Facts, winter weather, thunderstorms, and tornadoes are some of the most deadly weather events.

Since we have no control over severe weather, it leaves us with no choice but to prepare for the disaster before it happens. It is crucial to prep yourself if you live in areas prone to severe weather.

Educating yourself about severe weather ensures that you minimize damages and avert fatalities and help your family stay safe throughout the stormy period. Here are harsh weather tips to help you prepare for severe weather.

Know the type of severe weather happening and prepare for risks.

When preparing for extreme weather, the first step is knowing the type of weather event that is going to happen. Thanks to weather forecasters, you can get this information through the news on radio, television, or digital media. Knowing the type of weather event helps you understand the risks and prepare accordingly. You can draft a disaster plan and help members of your family get ready. Help your family understand your disaster plan and how best to respond to such events.

Ensure your home is ready for severe weather

Is your home ready for severe weather? Your safety during a hurricane, flooding, or storms starts with you. There are ways to prepare your home for a disaster, like analyzing if your home is at risk of flooding.

Do a yard cleanup beforehand and ensure no low-lying tree branches and debris in the yard that could damage your property. Overhanging trees can fall easily during severe weather and can cause damage, block the way when you need to evacuate, and injuries to people around.

Fix your roof and windows if they are weak and vulnerable to heavy rains. You can install storm-proof doors and storm shutters for your windows. Ensure that your home is flood-proof by installing a drainage system. Close your doors and windows at times during heavy winds and rains. Also, don’t forget to keep your patio furniture and toys indoors.

Move your vehicles to higher grounds away from trees and power lines. The garage area is the safest place for your cars. Ensure your gas tank is full and have enough fuel for your generators.

Prepare for emergencies

Once your home is ready for severe weather, it is time to put an emergency plan in place. How are you going to survive during the weather season? What do you need in case of evacuation?

Identify a space place in your home to take shelter when the severe storms hit. The room should offer protection from heavy winds, hails, and debris. You can consider the bathroom, basement, closets, or hallways for in-shelter during lousy weather.

Get enough food supplies and clean water that can last you throughout the extreme weather period. Also, have a first aid kit and medicines you may need ready. Secure your important documents, get your car ready, and identify a meeting spot in case of an emergency.

Extreme weather may damage the power line, so it is crucial to have a power backup if the power lines go off. Additionally, pack your emergency kit beforehand because things can escalate quickly during severe weather conditions. Have contacts of people to contact during an emergency like the local authority department that deals with emergencies.

Plan for safe evacuation

Evacuation may be inevitable when the weather is extreme. Ensure that your emergency kit has all the supplies you will need like blankets, extra clothes, food, clean water, important documents, cash, medicine, boots, emergency phone numbers, and a first aid kit.

Clean up after the storm settles.

In case you evacuate, return when the storm is over and assess the damage. You can rent a dumpster from TKG services and start cleaning out all the debris. Contact us with any questions.

Having a clean and lush-green yard is one thing that makes your home feel like a haven. However, maintaining a yard throughout the year can be a hassle because of the different seasons. One season your lawn is overgrown, and the next season you have tree foliage all over the yard. And depending on your yard size, you may need to put in more effort and time to clean up.

Cleaning up your yard boosts your home’s curb appeal and also gives you a clean and well-manicured outdoor space to relax. This post will cover the vital yard cleanup tips to help you manage your lawn.

Get the must-have yard clean up tools.

Doing a thorough yard clean up job requires sharp yard tools. Whether you outsource your yard clean up or DIY, having a few tools will help you keep up with the yard all year round. Get the right yard cleanup tools like the lawnmower to mow overgrown grass.

You will also need a wheelbarrow, a rake, and a shovel to maintain your lawn in good condition. Clearing tools and hedge clippers will come in handy when trimming and cutting down overgrown tree branches. You can also get garden bags, a yard vacuum, and a leaf shredder to pick up and shredded leaves for easy composting. Another important tool you need in the yard is a roll-off dumpster. You will need a dumpster to dispose of any debris from your yard clean up.

Work your way from up to down.

The best way to start working on your yard is to start with the big trees and bushes. You can start cutting down overgrown tree branches and trimming your bushes before working on the lawn and planting beds. Get a chainsaw and cut down damaged and dead branches. The hedge clippers and a shrub rake will give your bushes a beautiful look.

Once you have the damaged branches and the shrubs out of the way, you can start collecting the clippings and dead leaves on the ground. Dead leaves on the ground are pesty! Use the yard vacuum and a rake to pick up all the leaves littering your lawn. Pile them up and start composting. The organic matter in the compost is useful to the soil.

Start mowing.

The lawn grass is another thing you will have to deal with when cleaning your yard. Start mowing after picking up the dead branches and leaves. Level up your lawn and get rid of any debris littering the grass area. The worst part of mowing grass is dealing with dog waste. You can get some heavy gloves and a pooper-scooper to handle the unpleasant litter. You can use the grass clippings to mulch your garden beds, lawn, and planting containers.

Fix the patches on the yard.

Bad weather, snow, or pets can damage your yard and cause bare patches. These patches can be an eyesore, and you should fix them early. Plant new grass on these spots to give your yard an even look.

Deal with the weeds.

Lawn weeds are the last thing you want to see in your yard. Get rid of weed as early as possible before they gain strong roots. You can plant wildflowers or use organic herbicide to prevent weeds from growing in your yard. According to Almanac, you can also minimize weeds by using mulch and avoiding spring fertilization on the lawn. 

Dispose of the yard debris.

The final stage of a clean and well-manicured yard is disposing of the yard waste. The debris from all the yard clean up work can fill a dumpster. Luckily, you can delegate this part to us here at TKG Services. Ready to tackle a weekend yard clean up project? Contact us today and have your dumpster delivered in no time.

6 Garage Organizing Tips

Do you have a messy garage? Thanks to our busy lives, we tend to forget to clean and organize the garage. And in a matter of time, all kinds of junk finds its way to the garage area. 

Imagine a safe, clean, and tidy garage, free from critters like mice and bugs. The exciting news is that you can achieve your ideal garage with our garage organization tips.

Importance of organizing a garage.

• An organized garage creates more space. Having boxes all over the floor, sporting equipment, bikes, bulky equipment, etc. takes up space and makes it nearly impossible to reach other items when you need it. What’s worse? Your car may end up on the street as its parking spot.
• An organized garage is safe. Having dangerous tools and equipment like drills and other electric tools lying around the garage floor is not safe for little kids. Avoid accidents by keeping these items in a safe place.
• Another advantage of an organized garage is that it is easy to find items. Organizing tools and equipment on shelves, cabinets, baskets, etc. make it easy for you to find them when you need to use them the most. 

Garage Organizing Tips You Can Implement This Weekend

1. Create a garage declutter plan.

The most crucial step to a well-organized garage is to have a plan. You need to plan a garage clean-up day, have a budget, and how to work on the junk in your garage. Set up a day and get a team to help you organize your garage. You need a budget plan as you may need to buy a few organization products or materials to mount shelves and cabinets.

Having a plan also means that you prepare for junk disposal or recycling services.

2. Map out your garage floor.

The place that takes in more clutter in your garage is the floor area. It is easy to toss items on the floor and leave, making it look dirty and disorganized. Take note of the things on the floor and plan how you can start purging. Also, it is crucial to know the size of your garage floor before organizing.

3. Get essential storage products.

Having storage products makes it easier to put your garage in order and reclaim your car space. Invest in organization products like clear bins with lids, lockable cabinets, racks, and clear jars to store items in your garage. You can use lockable cabinets to keep dangerous objects and chemicals out of reach of small children.  

4. Take advantage of the wall space.

One of the best ways to get items off the garage floor is to utilize the overhead space and the wall. You can fix shelves on the wall to store your car care products and other chemicals. You can consider using a pegboard to hang hand tools like the gardening equipment on the wall. Organize your stackable plastic jars against the wall to create more space on the floor.

5. Safety is important.

Safety is crucial when organizing your garage. Properly store chemicals in their original containers and in a lockable cabinet to avoid fire accidents and respiratory problems. Safely hook ladders to prevent them from tipping over and damage other items in the garage or, worse, hitting someone. Install a certified extinguisher and a smoke detector for peace of mind.

Additionally, consider investing in a door and window locks to secure your garage and ward off break-ins.

6. Let go of items you don’t need.

In as much as you want to keep things “just in case,” don’t keep useless items in your garage. Dispose of, sell, donate, or recycle to create more space. Junk items like broken equipment, bikes, furniture are often the culprits cluttering your garage and taking up space.

Is the garage junk giving you a headache? If you’ve read the garage organizing tips and are ready to clear it out, contact TKG Services. We will help you get organized by providing a dumpster so you can get rid of items you don’t need and get closer to an organized garage. Order online or call today!

Making Space for Virtual Learning

The pandemic happened and flipped the whole approach to schooling.School aged children have to stay at home, and parents have to find a way to help their kids continue learning. And virtual learning is the new normal for students, teachers, and parents. Transitioning to virtual learning can be quite a hassle. But making space for virtual learning is the first step to successful distance learning.

In this post, we will show you how to make space in your home for virtual learning. But first, why would you need a learning space at home? Continue reading Making Space for Virtual Learning