If an entire home lighting renovation isn’t feasible right now, a simple and affordable way to update your style is by getting creative with what you already have and combining it with what others have left behind.

There is nothing quite as rewarding to me as a good ol’ thrift shop gem. When my family moved into a new home last year, the builder-grade light fixtures didn’t do much for the decor, but upgrading them just wasn’t in the budget. I was faced with the challenge of incorporating my style into the house without spending a fortune — a perfect excuse to pay a visit to my favorite local resale shops. Check out what I came home with…

QUICK TIP: Don’t forget about Ebay, consignment stores, flea markets, Craigslist, Freecycle, local yard sales, or non-profit donation centers like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity ReStores.   

I always loved the height and elegant shape of this lamp. When the shade was damaged in our move, it was a perfect opportunity for me to get creative. A new lamp shade ($9.95 on consignment), a decorative finial (taken from another old lamp), and some leftover twine gave this light new life!

Are you in need of an electrician in Norwalk Iowa?  Call Custom Electrical Services!  We offer straightforward pricing and 24 hour service!  Our electricians in Norwalk have the training and skill needed to complete the simplest of task to the most lavish.  Note sure what your project will cost?  Our Norwalk, IA electricians can come to your home or business and provide you with a straightforward price.  We charge by the job not by the hour so you know upfront what the cost will be and not have to worry about the time it takes to complete.  You know your project will be in the best hands possible when choosing Custom Electrical Services.  We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 5 year warranty.  Custom Electrical Services holds an A+ rating with the BBB.

We take our job serious.  We understand your home is your castle, our electricians will respect you and your home.  Do you know who will arrive for your electrical project?  Our electricians undergo a thorough background check and drug screen.  They wear the seal of safety which is performed by an independent 3rd party.  Our electricians take this certification serious and wear the badge with pride.

Ron Mealey founded Custom Electrical Services in 2005.  Working out of his home in Norwalk with no employees, Ron grew the company to one of the leading residential and light commercial contractors in the area.  To date Custom Electrical Services does over 5 million dollars in sales, wires over 300+ new homes and performs over 3,000 service calls each and every and is still growing.  Custom Electrical Services employees around 24 people.  Ron is a member of the Norwalk community and has Custom Electrical Services home office and warehouse located in Clive, Iowa.  Custom Electrical Services is a member of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce.  Our electricians in Norwalk, participate in the annual 4th of July parade each and every year.

The use of electricity understandably increases during winter when sunlight is limited, the days are shorter and the temperatures down to freezing. The need for warmth and the desire to stay indoors translates to an increase in the use of electricity, which in turn increases the risks that are associated with electricity.

There are several electricity-related problems associated with winter that can affect homeowners during this season. People who own homes should be extra vigilant because among other things, the severe weather can cause power outages, fluctuations and other electrical hazards following heavy snow, rain and strong winds. These power abnormalities are the ones that cause all manner of trouble in homes and other places where electricity is in use.

Preparedness is the key to ensuring you as a homeowner, stay safe from electrical hazards during the winter months. Below are some basic electrical tips that always help in getting ready for winter in this regard:

So you are facility manager for a school, and you have been asked to replace old stadium lights for the football field, upgrade your stadium lights, LED has three basic advantages: reduction in energy consumed, reduced maintenance cost and a better quality of light.

LED vastly improves the quality of your sport fields and arenas. Not only do they create a higher standard in your facility, but they reduce the costs you are spending to light your areas on the back end as well. After the 3 solid reasons it’s time to upgrade to LED in your sports arena, I think you are well on your way to making the right and solidly informed decision when it comes down to purchasing your upgraded system.

When you live somewhere that can experience some pretty harsh weather events, you know how susceptible your roof is to damage. It gets hit with direct sun in the summer, and rain, hail and snow during the cooler seasons. As a result, it’s important that you keep your gutter clear all year round to prevent buildup and unintended damage.

But that alone won’t protect your roof from weather damage, particularly during the winter. Winter presents the possibility of snow buildup and unseen ice dams obstructing your gutters, impeding proper drainage and exposing your roof to potential damages. So, how can you prevent these ice dams from occurring?

It may be a big early to begin thinking about snow, but there’s a lot to be said for being well-prepared! When winter does hit, snow will quickly collect on top of your house. Typically this isn’t a huge problem as long as your roof is properly sealed. But when temperatures begin to rise a bit, this snow begins to slowly melt, releasing water into gutters and downspouts. In the ideal situation, this process won’t be interrupted. But Mother Nature doesn’t quite work that way—temperatures fluctuate throughout the day and night.

As a result, ice melt can refreeze within your metal gutters, your eaves, roof edges, and in your downspouts. The more this happens, the more obstructed these passageways become, creating icy blockages that cause snow and ice melt to seep back under your roof shingles, causing decay and leaks. The bad news is that this could result in you needing a new roof once winter is over. The good news, however, is that it’s preventable!

A roof heat cable, which looks similar to an extension cord, is wrapped in heavily insulated rubber to make it moisture-proof and grounded. It’s placed around your roof edge and within your gutters, and when activated it radiates heat to help melt the ice before it even has the chance to collect. This means proper water drainage is possible all winter long. This prevents roof damage and even prevents icicles, which although pretty can actually be pretty dangerous.