Quality Restaurant Cafe Covers - What's the Secret?

One of the most popular menu covers is a clear vinyl cover with binding stitched around the edge and metal corners, known as the Café Cover. There are two basic ingredients to making quality menu covers; the manufacturing processes or construction of the menu cover and the materials used. Knowledge and experience tell a manufacturer which materials and processes will produce the best and most durable covers. This article will discuss the various materials and processes used in manufacturing, as well as their advantages and disadvantages to explain what makes a quality restaurant menu Café Cover.

The quality and durability of the Café Cover will be reflected in the price as the materials used will play an important role. The clear vinyl must be flexible enough not to crack and the formulation must be such that it will not yellow or lift laser or ink jet printing. Also important is the gauge of the vinyl, in other words the thickness, which will add to the quality and life of the menu cover. Clear vinyl is also used in other styles of menu covers, such as leatherette or faux leather covers, in the form of clear pockets for leatherette covers.

Another important issue often overlooked is the quality of the thread used in any type of sewn menu cover. Inexpensive and most imported menu covers use cotton thread, which in time disintegrates. This disintegration is increased by cleaning chemicals and moisture and is one of the main causes of the thread to unravel. Top quality nylon thread, which costs a few cents more per cover, will last for many years. Some companies will tout double stitching of their Café Covers however, more is not always better. Double stitching puts more holes in the vinyl compromising its' integrity. Greater durability can be achieved by using quality materials sewn with lock stitching and care taken while applying good quality metal corners.

Café Cover binding materials can be nylon, a strong and durable material which is the reason it is used for outdoor equipment and parachutes, or a vinyl coated fabric called supported vinyl. Supported vinyl is strengthened by the fibers of the fabric backing to resist splitting and cracking. Again, the formulation of the vinyl or plastic should contain enough plasticizer to make it soft and flexible enough not split or crack from the bending and folding of menu covers. Both are equally durable materials for menu covers.

In conclusion; strong durable materials along with the right manufacturing processes will create the best quality and most durable Café Covers. As with most anything the old saying applies, "You get what you pay for." Quality covers will cost a bit more, however, they are more durable and will out last inexpensive covers made with lesser quality materials thus making quality covers a much better and cost effective investment.

Durable, quality, Café Covers can be found at http://www.Menus-Plus.com which offers a wide variety of styles and options including custom manufacturing for no extra charge. They are dedicated to customer satisfaction and have years of experience understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of the hospitality industry.

MenusPlus offers many styles of Restaurant Menu Covers including Cafe Covers. The customer service representatives are very knowledgeable and can help with your hospitality needs including hotel in-room promotion, custom sizes and design.

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A Home Renovation Adviser Bridges the Gap Between Homeowner and Contractor And/or Designer

There's 'renovating,' and then there's 'RENOVATING.' The difference is in the size of the jobs. Redoing a powder room is one thing. There are bills for one sink, one toilet, a new mirror, a light fixture, maybe some new flooring, a plumber, a painter and an electrician. You can eyeball the project and estimate your costs. Now try doing the same for a three story addition, or maybe even a new house. Have you figured out how much it will cost to dig the hole and pour the concrete foundation? Or maybe you're using concrete blocks for the foundation instead. What about electrical wiring and plumbing the addition or new house? Do you need a new furnace or is your current one large enough to handle the additional space? How much time do you think the job will take?

Renovating or building a new house is a significant undertaking both in terms of cost and time. Unless you're in the construction trade or a natural 'Bob Vila,' the average homeowner relies completely on the trades to advise him or her as to how long a job will take and how much it will cost.
Enter the home renovation adviser. A home renovation advisor acts as a neutral third party between the contractor and the homeowner, helping both parties negotiate realistic timelines and costs. When a home renovation adviser is brought in at the beginning of a job, he or she can work harmoniously with the contractor to set realistic budgets and timelines.

Even before the design stage:
A home renovation adviser help homeowners decide when the financial timing is right for a renovation. Jay Charendoff, a Home Renovation adviser in Toronto, said that he once worked with a couple interested in building an addition for their house. Together they worked through the couple's current expenses, their savings, and how much they would have to spend on the addition given what they wanted the new space to achieve. He also showed them their estimated future operating costs once the addition was finished due to the increased size. Seeing all the costs before, during and after the renovation brought the financial reality of the addition home for the couple. In the end they decided to postpone the renovation until they felt more financially secure.

Comparing quotes:
Once a design of the new space has been developed and it's sent out to tender to various contractors, a home renovation adviser can act as an interpreter of the estimates. He or she can determine if estimates are accurate based on design specifications such as furnace sizing, amount of drywall needed, plumbing supplies etc.. Charendoff said that one time he worked with clients and their contractor and identified ways to save the clients approximately $6000 off the construction estimate just by working with the contractor and his original estimate.

Timelines:
Sometimes a homeowner will ask for an unrealistic deadline in terms of a required job completion. An adviser can intervene on the contractor's behalf letting the homeowner know that the job is impossible to do in the time frame they've requested because specific parts of the job need specific amounts of time.

Bringing in a home renovation adviser when there's difficulty during construction:
Home renovation advisers can also help sort out a job if the home owner is becoming concerned about any part of the job from timing to cost. An adviser can evaluate all your costs to date and let you know if you're on track or have paid in advance and help you negotiate with the contractor.

Cathy Rust writes a weekly column featuring information on home improvement highlighting new building, energy efficiency and green building products and services. http://blog.homestars.com HomeStars.com is a free website where you can read and write reviews on home improvement companies in your neighbourhood http://homestars.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Rust

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Hiring a Contractor For Your Home Renovation

Renovating your home is a large undertaking, and you want it done right. If you have decided to hire a professional contractor for the job, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to protect yourself as well as your most valued investment, your home.

First and foremost, research your state's legal requirements for contractors regarding insurance, licensing and workers compensation, so that you can eliminate any contractor who does not comply. Visiting the Contractor's License Reference Site is one way to learn about licensing requirements in your area and find out whether a particular contractor holds an active license.

Asking friends and family for references is usually a good starting point for finding a contractor who will perform quality work. Many contractors and home renovators agree that the best way to research a prospective contractor is to contact past clients, ask detailed questions and if possible, visit one or more work sites to check out the quality of the work. Tom Silva, general contractor at This Old House, shares a couple of other excellent ideas for finding good contractors in his article How to Hire a Contractor(1). Tim suggests checking with a building inspector to learn whose work is typically up to code or consulting with a local lumberyard about which contractors purchase quality materials and stay current on accounts.

Each contractor who will be quoting your project (typically at least three is advised) should be given the same set of specifications to ensure that your quotes are comparable. Though it may be tempting to automatically hire the contractor with the lowest bid, price is not always the best criteria for deciding which contractor to hire. The contractor you ultimately hire will be spending considerable time in your home, and the work performed will likely impact your home's value. Selecting a contractor with the skills and professionalism to deliver quality work can help ensure that the effect of your renovations on your home value is a positive one.

Once you have selected your contractor, ensure that every detail of the project is outlined in the contract, including projected start and finish dates, procedures for changes, a payment schedule, labor and material charges, a lien waiver and any specific agreements you have made with the contractor. Do not count on verbal promises alone; even if the contractor has a standard contract for most jobs, provisions may be added to the contract upon agreement between both parties.

(1) www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,199776,00.html

Maria Polidoro is the President of Ace Tool Online, a leading distributor of over 70 quality power tool brands. Headquartered in Wantagh, New York, Ace Tool Online also offers over 40,000 genuine power tool parts and is an authorized service center for over 50 manufacturers. Please visit Ace Tool Online for industrial cutting tools and the latest products from Milwaukee Tools, Festool and more.

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