Does Concrete Have To Crack? Contractor Ideas That May Help. - 04/30/12 06:23 AM
 
I had a concrete contractor tell me a few years ago that there were two kinds of concrete – concrete that is cracked and concrete that will crack. That’s always good for a chuckle.

If you have a cracked slab, you may not think it is so funny though. There are reasons why concrete fails; maybe we can take steps to prevent the cracks from happening.

Here are some ideas to help prevent the cracking of a concrete slab.


Pour Your Concrete Slab Correctly If you planning a area to pour a new surface, think … (14 comments)

During a short break, I got a chance to see the signs of spring. - 04/29/12 09:42 PM
 

I had a long day working in the yard today. It involved a lot of burning of tree trimmings and dead wood. It was hot, hard work but needed to be done. The window of opportunity to have a burn pile in El Dorado County will be ending soon, this had to be done. We hope to get one more good burn in before summer.
During a short break, I got a chance to see the signs of spring.
 


… (12 comments)

Have a Water Leak? Stop the leak and get it dried up quickly. - 04/29/12 01:34 AM

 


We are usually not ready when a water leak happens. It can be a water supply leak, drainage, flooding or a roof leak but it never seems to happen at a convenient time. Experts will all agree that it is most important to get the problem corrected as quickly as possible.

 
The most important thing to remember when dealing with a water leak is to get the area dry.

 
In order to do this, you must get the source of the problem corrected. Stop the water from leaking. Turn off the water, patch … (34 comments)

There is a proper way to install windows, and this is not it. - 04/28/12 06:15 AM
 
There is a proper way to install windows, and this is not it.

I was asked to check a leak that was occurring over a window, when it rained water dripped from the window casing to the window sill. The leak was causing damage to the drywall, trim and wood casing and needed attention. So I had to remove the damaged material and test to see where the leak was coming from.
When I removed the damage on the interior and testing the exterior with water, the water quickly came inside. The next step was to remove the top … (12 comments)

Puddles Aren't Always On The Ground - Somebody Needs Be Looking! - 04/27/12 06:17 AM
 
Flat roofs need to be inspected.
If you have a building with a flat roof, someone needs to be checking for puddles. A flat roof can be a maintenance nightmare at times. Unlike a normal roof that is pitched, the design is difficult for water to run out and into the downspouts. Add leaves, twigs, and debris, and you will have some special roofing issues.
 
Look for signs of poor roof drainage.
Many apartment communities are faced with this very situation. Some complexes have 15-25 buildings in which you cannot see the roof from the ground. Many do not … (10 comments)

Is your wood deck beginning to rot? - 04/27/12 12:18 AM
 
Is your wood deck beginning to rot?
If you have a wood deck, there are some common areas where you can detect early signs of wood rot. One of those places is the end of the deck board. Usually this can be as simple as looking at the boards.
Here is an example.
 
If you need help in determining the integrity of your deck, give us a call.
We find dry rot and water damage in the Sacramento area
 El Dorado County, Placer County, and Sacramento County.
 
… (12 comments)

That's An Interesting Structure, What Is It? - Photo - 04/25/12 11:19 PM
 
 
I had an opportunity to look at an apartment renovation project at an apartment community in Downtown Sacramento. The new owners, and property management, have some pretty good ideas for the renovation of a special apartment community.
 
 
While looking around the property I notice a structure that I had not seen before. It’s not your standard water tower, but that’s what it is.
 
Looking for a General Contractor in the Sacramento area? We would love the chance to look at your project.
… (14 comments)

Check Out Google Home Page Today! - 04/24/12 01:48 PM
 

 Google has been doing create Home Pages every day for some time now. But today is a little more interactive. The zipper caught my attention, it was full length and I was curious. Besides, unzipping is fun. So go the Google a check it out if you get a chance.

 
… (35 comments)

Wasps, Bees, Hornets and Other Stinging Pests. They will get in! - 04/24/12 08:57 AM
In El Dorado County, the stinging insects are flourishing. Bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets are all on the move right now. Even if you are not allergic, the sting is painful! 

Since there are so many flying around right now, a few are bound to somehow get in. Be prepared! Have your sprays, papertowels, or flyswatters ready to do business.
 
How are they getting in?

Common ways these insect are getting into your home.
No screens / holes in screens Doors are left open Insect screens are not installed correctly Check what you carry in Poor weather … (6 comments)

Butterfly Season, Time to Start Shooting - Photo - 04/23/12 08:29 AM
 
 

 There is so much to see once the spring weather hits; new blossoms, new growth, insects and mammals.  It all starts to appear again once it get warmer. Got an opportunity to shoot this butterfly, it was a beauty in El Dorado County. Hope you have similar sightings where you are.

… (10 comments)

Yes, there is pollen in the air! - Photo - 04/22/12 09:17 AM
Suffering from allergies?


I love the spring time; plants are blooming, things are drying up, and we can start to work on those outside projects. But with the spring weather comes the allergy season. If you suffer from allergies you know what it is like.

Would do you do for relief?
 
… (16 comments)

Top Ten Tips to Find and Hire a General Contractor in Georgetown, Ca: - 04/19/12 11:38 PM
 
Top Ten Tips for Finding and Hiring a
General Contractor in Georgetown, CA:

 
1. Hire only state-licensed contractors.

2. Check a contractor’s license number online at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800.321.CSLB (2752).
3. Get at least three bids. 
 
4. Get three references from each bidder and review past work in person.
5. Make sure all project expectations are in writing and only sign the contract if you completely understand the terms.
6. Confirm that the contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for employees.

7. Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less. Don’t … (0 comments)

Are you going to ignore those winter leaks until it rains again? - 04/19/12 12:19 AM

Maybe it’s just human nature, but it’s easy to just let put off the repair of leaks from the winter rains until later. The leaking window, the water stains in the ceiling and the clogged downspout all seem unimportant now that the rains have subsided. It would be a good idea if these issues be corrected now.
Do it yourself or hire a professional, but do something. Some of the leaks may not be doing any additional harm to your property; waiting for the rains to begin the cycle again seems a little silly. Clogged gutters and downspouts, for example, … (11 comments)

Is this something that you would scan? I was curious. - 04/18/12 06:13 AM
 
Is this something that you would scan?
 
We are in the middle of tearing out a couple of lightweight concrete decks at an apartment community in Sacramento. This required making a couple of trips to the county landfill, to dispose of the construction debris. While there, a truck pulled up next to me that had no identification but a QR Code.
We have had numerous posts about the QR Codes here on ActiveRain. I have posted several times myself on the topic. You have probably seen these codes in a growing number of places. They are simple to create … (12 comments)

Getting Quotes for Dry Rot Repairs in Vintage Homes May Take Some Time - 04/17/12 11:07 PM
 
Getting Quotes for Dry Rot Repairs in Vintage Homes May Take Some Time
 
I would love the opportunity to give you an estimate on your home, most homes use standard building materials. Depending on your project, the turnaround time should be quick. But there are some exceptions.
In the downtown Sacramento area, some of those homes are 100+ years old. Many of these vintage homes have been maintained and in great shape. If you ever get a chance to drive through town, they are unique in many ways.
When it comes to the repair of these older homes, we … (6 comments)

“A penny saved is worth two pennies earned . . . after taxes.” - 04/17/12 06:17 AM
 
“A penny saved is worth two pennies earned . . . after taxes.”

I hope by now you have filed your tax returns. I filed mine and thought that I’d better have a conversation with the decision makers about how the money should be spent. I realize that our nation’s financial situation cannot be corrected over night, but we need to make some changes.
 
Sure, one man does not make all the decisions about how our nation spends our tax dollars, but change has to begin somewhere. Many presidential candidates promise change but how are those changes … (10 comments)

Sunrise and Sunset Today – Photo - 04/16/12 10:55 PM
 
 
Sunrise and Sunset Today – Photo
 
The day stated off with a colorful beginning, and ended with cloudy, overcast sky.
 
At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear. It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us. You can love completely without complete understanding.
Norman Maclean
 
… (18 comments)

It’s probably safer to stay in the plane. - 04/15/12 10:45 PM
 
It’s probably safer to stay in the plane.
 
 
I was coming back from Lodi today and saw the paraglide and parachute jumpers. I got a shot of them up high and watched them land in my rear view mirror. The landing area is very close to the freeway. I’m a contractor who doesn’t take a lot of risks, this is not something that interests me in the least.

My friends tell me it is safe but I tell them,
“It’s probably safer to stay in the plane.”
 
 
… (11 comments)

That Rust is a Sign That Something Needs to Be Done - Correct it early! - 04/15/12 12:42 AM
That rust is a sign that something needs to be done. Correct it early.


Do you have rust streaks running down the outside of your property? You may have an idea where it is coming from but aren’t real sure if it really is a problem. I am pretty sure that the rust is a sign that you need to do some sort of repair There are a number of reasons for the rust, but all of them will require at least a little bit of work.

As a rule you should not have rust running down the … (16 comments)

Commercial Properties Can Have Water Damage Too - 04/14/12 05:43 AM
 
Commercial Properties Can Have Water Damage Too
 
Many of us have knowledge of water damages to personal residences. We may have had water leaks in our own homes; properties that we have listed may have moisture intrusion, or you may be looking to buy a home that has dry rot damages. But water damage is not limited to personal residences.
Water can destroy commercial properties too. The effects of poor construction design, improper maintenance, and neglect can happen to commercial buildings also. If the damage is happening inside the building, the tenants will likely contact of owners or management … (14 comments)

Some Jobs Are Just Messier Than Others – Photo - 04/13/12 11:37 PM
 
Some Jobs Are Just Messier Than Others
 


Not everyone can do the type of jobs that we do. Maybe we just have strong stomachs and are willing to do the jobs that many just don’t want to take on. Today got a little messy in an apartment in Sacramento. But in the end, Everyone was happy.
Enjoy the weekend!
 
 
… (11 comments)

Is your property protected by the contractor? - 04/12/12 10:55 AM
 
Is your property protected by the contractor?
 
Water leaks can happen at the worst times, a contractor needs to be able to get into an apartment unit or home quickly to repair that the water has created. It may be a roofing leak, or a flooded apartment, or a plumbing leak that has cause moisture to get into personal property.
It is important that the source of the moisture is fixed. This may be the repair of broken pipes, re-shingling an area of the roof, or replacing a faulty toilet. Wherever the water is coming from, it has to … (8 comments)

Stormy weather to watch in the Foothills outside Sacramento - 04/12/12 12:06 AM
 
Stormy weather to watch in the Foothills outside Sacramento

 
As the storm passed through Sacramento, the clouds seems to get more intense while traveling east toward the foothills of the Sierras. El Dorado County got hit pretty hard with rain and hail in the afternoon. Further up the mountain, snow was causing problem for the residents in the higher elevations.
 
 
 
 
 
… (16 comments)

Wish You Knew a Mobile Veterinary Clinic? Sacramento Has One! - 04/11/12 02:38 PM
 
  Wish You Knew a Mobile Veterinary Clinic?
Sacramento Has One!
 
Ever wonder if it would be worth have a veterinarian come to you for a change? No more crating the cat, chumming the dog, or corralling the bird – the doctor can come to you.
Dr. Jyl’s Mobile Vet Connection & Veterinary Hospital may be the answer for you. They offer a state of the art mobile service to make things convenient for you. The Mobile Vet Connection serves the Greater Sacramento area. They also have a full service Veterinary Hospital located at 7438 Cardwell Ave, in Orangevale, … (6 comments)

Pets Get to Meet Up in Sacramento. Is your pet ready for this? - 04/10/12 12:01 AM
 
Pets Get to Meet Up in Sacramento.
Is your pet ready for this?
 
I came across this site while doing some research for a different post. I thought it was rather interesting that there are Meet Ups for pets and animals. I think it is a great idea for pet owners to get their pets together with similar pets.

The site is called Meetup, you can find or start just about any Meetup group that you can think of. I was searching within the Sacramento area, but it can be used anywhere. All you need to do … (24 comments)

Pet Health Care at Sacramento Animal Hospital - 04/09/12 07:51 AM
 
Pet Health Care at Sacramento Animal Hospital
 
Sacramento Animal Hospital has been making great strides in improving their services, making it friendly and easy to work with those needing pet care services. An accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association(AAHA), the hospital complies with the rigorous standards of the Association.

The Hospital has a new web site - www.mysacvet.com

They offer a NEW pet portal in which you can contact the staff for medical history, vaccination records, and in the future… prescription refills! How cool is that?

Some of the Services offered at Sacramento Animal … (6 comments)

Pet Rescue in the Heart of Sacramento - 04/09/12 12:23 AM
 
Pet Rescue in the Heart of Sacramento
 
The rescue of pets can be a challenging, heartbreaking and sometimes heartwarming work. It takes a special person to be able to come to work and face these adorable pets day after day. There is a group of concerned citizens over at Friends of Sacramento City Shelter Animals  that assist the animals that end up at this facility through no fault of their own.
Where can we find them?
2127 Front Street
Sacramento, Ca.  95818
916-808-7387
 
Business Hours:
Wednesday - 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Thursday - 12:00 pm – 5:30 … (16 comments)

Looking for Balance Today, It's Not Always Black and White - Photo Fun - 04/08/12 03:13 PM
 

  

Looking for Balance Today.
It’s not always easy choosing what to be doing sometimes. Deadlines are approaching, holidays with the family, rest, responsibilities; they may not be any right answer. Sometimes it’s just best to do what you can, when you can. In the end, everything seems to work out just fine!
Happy Easter Everyone!
… (8 comments)

If you build it, they will come. - 04/07/12 09:35 PM


If you build it, they will come.

One of my favorite movies to watch is Field of Dreams, I get a good feeling watching Kevin Costner follow that voice. If you have seen the movie, you know that Costner’s character, Ray Kensilla, moves to Iowa with his wife and they become farmers growing corn. But Ray hears a voice that tells him that, “If you build it, they will come”.

It has been my experience, improving real estate for 25 years, that I have followed that voice. When I first started as a handyman and willing to … (36 comments)

How does your Ogden Utah Home Inspector find hidden moisture and plumbing leaks? - 04/07/12 10:44 AM
 
The use of an infrared imager is growing as a means of detecting problems that we cannot see with the naked eye. This tool can help us to see what is going on inside concealed areas. Brandon Clark is an inspector in Ogden Utah, who illustrates what this imager can show.
Check out his post and comment on the original post.
 
Via Brandon Clark (UTAH INFRARED Home and Building Inspections):
How does your Ogden Utah Home Inspector find hidden moisture and plumbing leaks?
The sad truth is that often the answer to this questions is "when stains are visually noticeable … (0 comments)

Preschoolers Can Solve This One in 5 minutes - Can You? - 04/06/12 08:46 PM
 
I love to solve problems, whether it is moisture problems in your home, or a simple school age math equation. How about you? Can you solve this equation?
Apparently, it can be solved by pre-school kids in 5 to 10 minutes, so it must not be too difficult.
If you know the answer, post it in the comment but don’t explain how you reached the answer.
 

… (11 comments)

Wounded Duct – Corrections Needed! Be responsible for your actions. - 04/06/12 08:27 AM
 
Wounded Duct – Corrections Needed!
Be responsible for your actions.
 
Mistakes can happen in the repair, remodel, and restoration of a building. It can happen to contractors, homeowners, flippers, and handymen; accidents do happen. I saw some things today that caught my eye; some mistakes in construction that should have been corrected.
While demolishing a bathroom floor, I discovered that the exhaust vent from the kitchen runs under the bathroom floor. The size of the vent pipe does not leave much room between the bathroom subflooring and the drywall ceiling in the kitchen below. This isn’t a problem … (4 comments)

Beautiful Spring Bloom - Photo - 04/05/12 09:29 PM
 

  
I look at plants a little differently when I can see them up close. What do we miss when we do not take the time to see what is around us. All the details, colors, shapes can be passed over without even knowing any better. I’m going to slow down a little bit to see things a bit better.
 

 
… (15 comments)

Does position really matter once you are on page 1 in Google - 04/05/12 09:08 PM

Curious about the importance of your Google Rank?
Joe Smith has some actual statistics that may be useful to you.
 
You might want to check out Joe’s special offer too!


Via Joe Smith (Nebraska Networks):
Good Morning All,
There is alot of info flying around about what percentage of clicks a site gets in what position in Google..Here are the facts straight from Google themselves.. I have tested this info on many sites, and it is very accurate. We calculated clickthroughs for our sites based on the Google Adwords Keyword tool, then usedthis chart to estimate traffic, then … (6 comments)

Catch the little signs before things get worse. - 04/04/12 03:44 PM

Catch the little signs before things get worse.
 
Don’t wait for the big, expensive water damage to happen when the little signs of water intrusion have started. Water damage can come in many forms, a broken water supply line, frozen pipes, or even a leaking dishwasher. But the water problems that can be the most troublesome are the leaks that happen slowly and gradually get worse.
The slow leaks can often times create mold and rot because is has been moist for a very long period of time. These are the moisture areas that are important to find. It … (42 comments)

Sacramento Valley from El Dorado County – Photo - 04/03/12 11:32 PM
 
Sacramento Valley from El Dorado County – Photo
 
I had to find a place to pull over to get this shot, it was near the end of the day and the sun was setting over the horizon. You can see the pockets of rain in the clouds as they are approaching.
Enjoy this day!
 
 
 
… (10 comments)

Yes, that water is supposed to drip like that. - 04/02/12 03:46 PM
 
Yes, that water is supposed to drip like that.
 
I’ve been doing a few apartment community exterior dry rot lists that need to be done before painting this spring. I came across some common issues that can help in reducing your water related damages. This post has to do with your air conditioner condensate lines, I know it is not warm enough for the A/C yet, but it is the perfect time to get the repairs done.
You need to check a few things to prevent water damage to your property.
First, any office, apartment or home with … (12 comments)

Multi-tasking Plumbing Clean Out - 04/02/12 05:39 AM


When choosing a home inspector, it is good to have one with plenty of experience. When working with older homes, your property inspector needs to be able to recognize when improvements are a violation of the local building codes. Jay gives an excellent example of a sump pump improvement that is not quite up to snuff.


Via Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):
How about a multi-tasking plumbing clean out?  It's always good to see two things knocked out with one throw of a stone! 
If your drain should clog between … (0 comments)

Retaining walls aren’t what they used to be. - 04/02/12 12:51 AM

Retaining walls aren’t what they used to be.


There has been a shift the last few years to cement and stone type of retaining walls. While concrete blocks have been available for years, the selection, cost and style has made these types of retaining walls the walls of choice. If you are in need of a new wall, or considering replacing an old one, check out the choices that are available to you today.
 
… (8 comments)

Is your cat this curious? - Photo - 04/01/12 02:05 PM
Is your cat this curious?
Sometimes you just can’t get done what you need to do, because the pet just needs attention.
When trying to get a photo of the moisture rising in a valley in the foothills of the Sierras this week, Mr. Kitty just had to get in the act.


 
… (22 comments)

 

Tom Arstingstall - An Uncommon Contractor (Tromler Construction): Builder-Contractor in Placerville, CA

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