6 Solutions to Protect Your Home and Family From Criminal Intrusion

You must have frequently heard this cliché by the St Lucian citizenry. “The criminals are one step ahead of the police.” Whether there is any merit to this, I bet you surely don’t want these criminals to be ahead of you in any way, when it comes to your home and family security.

There are still plenty of criminals interested in breaking into your home. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it tough for them! The first step in home crime prevention is to eliminate opportunity, and it’s up to you to cut those chances.

Though you only worry about nighttime security, most burglaries actually occur during daylight hours when you are at work, school, or running errands. It’s important to take precautions during the day, at night, and any time you leave the house to ensure your home stays secure.

When it comes to protecting your family and your belongings, you can’t be too careful, and at RCIP Ltd we offer plenty of ways you can protect your home from invasion or burglary. In order to help protect your belongings, your family, and your home, here is some expert advice.

Locksets

1 - Improve Door Security. It is very easy to kick in a solid door that has old hardware. With two kicks in only five seconds, a burglar can destroy the doorjamb and get into your home. A secure entry starts with a solid door and a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt with a solid 1-in. long throw bolt. Any exterior door that only has a lock in the doorknob isn’t secure. A sturdy screwdriver or small pry bar can quickly bow the doorjamb enough to release the latch.
Prevent break-ins by upgrading and strengthening your deadbolt and lock set - you need to upgrade the deadbolt and lock set plates of your exterior doors. 

Burglar-barred windows

2 - Reinforce windows with metal bars. It may seem an extreme step, but burglars will often break a small window in order to gain entry. Make it impossible for them to break through by installing safety glass or impossible to squeeze through by installing metal bars. There are plenty of decorative options for metal grills that can make the adjustment both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

3 – Internet Cameras. Remote video surveillance has come a long way from the old days of tiny black and white CCTV screens, long cables and high prices that put these products beyond the range of consumers and many smaller businesses.

Internet cameras have become accepted by the security industry. They can also be a good option if you’re away from your home and still need to monitor them. These days, a fairly capable standalone Internet security camera can be bought for anything from $75 upwards. 

Open chain-link fence

4 - Build a fence. If you don’t have one already, a fence can be an excellent way to keep unwanted visitors off your property.  Open chain-link or ornamental fencing tend to be preferable and are ideally secured into concrete to prevent lifting. Solid fences can be easier to climb and offer thieves a place to hide, though some homeowners prefer them for privacy and noise reduction. You can better secure them by having sharp pointed tops or, if you don’t mind rough barbed wire fencing.

5 - Consider buying a home security system. There are countless features with any security system, and some particularly valuable ones are outdoor motion detectors, sensors at exterior doors, windows, an outdoor alarm to alert other neighbors to an intrusion, and security cameras. Select the features that best fit your needs. Once it’s installed, make it a regular habit to use it. 

Motion sensor Light

6 - Install motion sensor lighting around your home, especially at entrances. Shine a spotlight on a potential intruder before he can even touch your doors or windows by adding extra lighting with motion detectors at entrances and especially dark corners of your home.
Motion sensor lights are an effective way to increase your home security without spending a fortune on sophisticated alarms and lighting systems. 

8 Simple Tips To Upgrade Your Kitchen

You have had that urge to do some updating on your house for some time now. The summer holidays are over, the kids are back in school and the festive season is round the corner, therefore you believe  that now is a good chance  to do some upgrading. Whether you’re eyeing a new counter top for the kitchen or just can’t wait to tear out some old tile in the bathroom, practically every home owner has a remodeling itch that’s just begging to be scratched.

Kitchen renovations are among the most expensive home-improvement projects, but it's possible to make a big impact in an outdated kitchen without the need to shell out big bucks. Whether you've lived in your house for years or you just got the keys, there are some easy ways to give it a refresh. At the most basic, walls can be painted and cabinet hardware changed to freshen the look.

Your kitchen can still be a place that you love and cherish — a place you enjoy, and not merely tolerate. So if changing tastes or wear and tear has left you with a kitchen in need of a lift, here are a few simple and affordable upgrades.

Add or change lighting.

If you're irked by your kitchen's decades-old light fixture, replace it with a colorful pedant. Since lighting is so important in any room, this one change can totally transform the entire space. Switching out an overhead light fixture is much easier than it sounds. It doesn't have to be super expensive, either. You can buy a vintage light fixture in our Electrical Department, or you can eye newly arrived options in stock. Don't forget about under-cabinet lighting! That might be all you need to feel like you've seen the light, literally.

Replace handles and pulls.
Changing out cabinetry hardware is one of the easiest and quickest updates, says our CSR in the Hardware Department. Switching out your old knobs or pulls for something more modern or decorative can really transform the look of your cabinets, particularly if they're bland contractor-grade.

Look for colorful options like a brushed nickel finish or check out our wide range.

Nice Up the Windows.
New drapes can really spruce up a space, but think twice about the type of treatment you hang on the window above your sink. You don't want something with too much fabric that could get ruined from splashing. An option that fits within the window — like a roman shade that you can easily pull up while you're washing dishes would be ideal.

Add a backsplash.
The beauty of it is that it's very limited in square footage. The average backsplash is between 10 and 40 square feet. It's an easy-to-tackle area that won't drain your pocket. Even if you're spending $5 a square foot, you're talking about a couple hundred bucks in tiles.

“If you don't have the skills to install tile or cash for a contractor,try paint instead. Just make sure you pick up a semi-gloss,” Sebastian, our paint expert adds. “The glossier the paint, the more it will resist moisture — and you can simply wipe it clean when dinner is over.”

 Replace or Cover ugly countertops.
This job is less expensive than you think — and it can make ho-hum cabinets look more special. If you're feeling ambitious, you can try painting your countertops. Or you can get a new laminate surface for a few hundred dollars. You might be surprised by the nicer laminate options that have surfaced since you last shopped for counters.

Place a rug in front of the sink.
It does double-duty by making your workstation more comfortable on your feet, and adding a splash of color. (Triple duty, if you count covering any ugly flooring!). They look cute and they're durable; if you spill on them, you can just hose them off outside.

Replace the faucet.

This is a very simple, straightforward way to upgrade your kitchen. Really, anyone can do it! Yes, faucets can get pretty pricey, but you can find single-handle faucets for as low as $82, and nicer, high arched faucet spouts for about $350 — a small investment for something you use multiple times a day.

Add more storage space with small wire shelves.

Wire shelves and under-cabinet baskets make sure you're using all the space available in your cabinets, and even your fridge and freezer. Utilize the often-wasted space between your cabinet shelves with our functional and attractive undershelf baskets. These shelves instantly add storage space to your kitchen cabinets for storing mugs, cups, linens and more. The baskets feature flat wires that offer a secure, snug fit on your existing shelf.

6 RCIP Customer Friendly Services You Don't Want To Miss On

This year marks five years since RCIP Ltd opened its doors for business. We are a success story offering various high end quality products and services to our ever growing customer base.
The company is noted for its outstanding customer service and top brand products. Over the years we have perfected a number of services which our customers find of great value.

Here are 6  of these top notch services which are unrivaled by any company providing a semblance of them.

Custom Paint Matching:

We can custom match any color from any paint brand, even the ones we don’t sell. Come down to our store and present any colour and we will match it to your satisfaction. At RCIP Ltd we have a cutting edge Spectrophotometer that can scan a wide range of samples and generate the perfect formula. You can choose from the colour of your new curtains, the shade of your favourite flower or a colour from another paint manufacturer and our CSR, Michael will find the perfect match in the Ulttimate finish!

We also offer exterior paints, stains, and sundries suitable for every paint project.

         Real Estate Service

        Thinking of buying a home/land? Check out our Real Estate services first!

        RCIP Real Estate Service offers an extensive array of support for potential home and/or land buyers designed to make them informed consumers. Our service is designed to simplify the process, making for a smooth, seamless and exceptional home/land buying experience.

         Whether buying your first home, or buying an investment property, a real estate transaction is multi-faceted and often complicated. Our Real Estate team has built a unique business model based on maximizing the value of the single-family asset.

         Ask for details about our L’Armitage Monchy and Millennium Residences or house lots. Our homes range from two to three bedrooms while the lots average between 5000 – 7000 square feet.

           Call 450 7242 or send your questions to customerservice@raycip.com. Our expert realtors will get you the information you need. We are here to help you be a savvy homeowner.

Equipment Rental
          If you're looking for quality and affordable equipment for your next project, with over 200 pieces of heavy equipment available, RCIP can now assist you with the projects that may not be previously within your reach.

          Our extensive fleet includes general construction equipment, industrial tools, pumps and power generation equipment, trench shoring, scaffolding, remediation & restoration equipment, and more.

          Our equipment rentals successfully services a variety of customers - from those in the commercial, residential, industrial, and civil to  specialized service industries. Our extensive fleet includes general construction equipment, industrial tools, trench shoring, scaffolding, remediation & restoration equipment, and more.

          Please call ahead to make sure we have exactly what you need. 

Small Contractor Financing

RCIP is happy to assist its fellow contractors in keeping their projects on time and on track. If you are a contractor who needs a cash advance to complete his project, tools to perform the job professionally, or products to get it done, then come into our mega store at Rayneau Construction & Industrial Products. We are a One-Stop Shop that provides you with material from start to finish.

Once all conditions are met and the documentation process is completed, the approval follows in a mere hours. No long lines or complicated requirements. With no interest applied you can be assured that your costs are efficiently managed and the money is spent where it matters most.

Shana Charles, one of the four petty Government contractors from the South who took advantage of the program in March last year, had this to say: "Making business with Rayneau for the first time as a petty contractor was a great experience. The staff, especially Ron Edward whom I had been in dialogue with most of the time, displayed brilliant customer service and patience. All i's were dotted and all t's were crossed. Excellent service. Company of the year."

Key Cutting Service

Key cutting is cheap, and at RCIP we provide this service. Many people never consider the need for a spare key because they have not been placed in a situation that dictates the need for one. However, it is important to realize that just because something has never happened does not mean that it will not happen, eventually.

Lockouts can happen to anyone, and for this reason, it is best to be prepared for an accidental lockout before one even occurs. It always helps to be prepared so that you do not end up wasting time and money trying to find a solution after the worst has already occurred.

It is not only wise to get spare keys cut for your house, but also for your car and any other vehicles that you may have. It is very easy to lock your keys in the car

In-store Credit Service

Our Credit Service are designed to offer access to RG Group products for customers allowing lump sum payment facilities. A customer may at any time request credit facility with RCIP Ltd - fill out the form and produce two (2) forms of ID. Our CSR’s will refer customers to the Credit Officer for an interview process. Confirmation can come in as little as 24 hrs.

"This service has made this process [credit] so much simplier," says Shameela Rambally, owner of Verve. Watch the full testimonial below.

                                                            

We urge friends and customers to visit our store or call 450 7247 for more details about our services

This Hurricane Season - The Worse is Yet to Come!

The unpredictability of mother nature’s forces continues to baffle the minds of the top meteorologists in the USA, and by extension, worldwide. For the second time this year these meteorologists have come out to update their statistics on the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Does this surprise you?

Peak Months for Storms

You may of course recall that from May 16, to July 18, 2017 we did consistently post hurricane articles imploring you to take this Hurricane Season seriously and get prepared. Our facebook page https://facebook.com/rayneaucip on July 14 also echoed similarly sentiments.

This update could not be more timely than now to remind you of the Texas devastation by Hurricane Harvey which narrowly spared us.Your efforts towards Hurricane Preparedness must take center stage NOW.  (see video below)

The number of named storms forecast to develop in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season has increased slightly in the final forecast issued Friday by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project.

                                                     Hurricane Preparedness A total of 16 named storms and eight hurricanes are expected in the Atlantic Basin, according to the CSU forecast, led by Dr. Phil Klotzbach. Three of the eight hurricanes are forecast to be Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. (https://weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/saffir-simpson-hurricane-wind-scale)

The updated forecast is above the Atlantic Basin's 30-year historical average (1981-2010) of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

CSU has slightly increased the forecast for named storms compared to the last update from July 5, which called for 15 named storms. It's significantly higher than the initial April forecast of 11 named storms and four hurricanes.

 Why is this? “A warmer-than-normal tropical Atlantic is generally associated with lower surface pressures, increased mid-level moisture and weaker trade winds, creating a more conducive dynamic and thermodynamic environment for hurricane formation and intensification," said the CSU team.

The CSU team does caution that considerable uncertainty remains. This is in part due to conditions present that would hinder tropical development, such as the cooler than normal water temperatures in the far North Atlantic and unusually strong wind shear over the past few weeks in the Caribbean. However, hurricane-enhancing conditions are likely to dominate, leading to the expectation of an active season.

What does that mean for us? We have been known to be a people that procrastinate a lot – we never take anything seriously. Persons have been known to criticize Met officers and radio announcers when a predicted bad weather forecast took another turn. The frequency of the Hurricane season updates should act as a deterrent against complacency and  that we MUST be prepared for the 2017 Hurricane Season, period.

We must also take cognizance of the fact that we are now in the most notorious part of the Hurricane Season. If there is one reason to pay attention during this time of the season, consider 93 percent of major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale), those responsible for the most destruction in any hurricane season, occur from August through October.

Hurricanes that hit St Lucia  between Aug - Oct
Hurricanes	Month	Year
EDITH	SEPT	1963
BEULAH	SEPT	1967
ALLEN	AUG	1980
KLAUS	OCT	1990
TS DEBBY	SEPT	1994
DEAN	AUG	2007
MATTHEW	SEPT	2007
TOMAS	OCT	2010

Don't be caught with your pants down. Shop your preparedness supplies at RCIP Ltd today. 

Back-To-School Jitters – Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Them

The school summer holidays are almost at an end, and the children are about to go back to school. Are you looking forward to your children returning to school; have they drove you mad to the point where you are wishing for the day to come really fast, or are you dreading them going back to school because you have enjoyed having them around the house, and their company?

Whether your child’s summer vacation was jam-packed with activities or filled with complaints about being bored with nothing to do, kids often have a tough time making the back-to-school transition.

Starting the new school year can be a time of great excitement… and anxiety. As with any new or potentially unsettling situation, allow your child time to adjust. Help calm your child’s fears (and your own) with these few tips.

Calm Nervousness: Let your child know that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will all become an everyday routine in no time.

Establish Positivity: Emphasize the positive things about going back to school - such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, and getting involved in sports and other activities.

Develop Reassurance: Talk to your child about what worries them and offer reassurance: Are they afraid they won't make new friends or get along with their teachers? Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the troublemaker from last year?

Enforce a Routine: Switching from the summer vacations to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines will help your child feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother.

Make Time: And please, consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial if you could be at home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give your child as much time as he/she needs, especially during those first few days.

Teach Your Child: Learning always starts at home and your child’s mood affects how well he/she learns. A positive outlook is the best thing you can inspire in your child to keep him/her performing well at school and willing to tackle his/her homework.

School supplies/accessories

Are you doing some last minute shopping looking for these unique “school supplies/accessories packages?" Well look no further. Come down to our store at Corinth for our wide range of "school supplies/accessories solutions" at attractive prices.