Month: May 2022

Common roofing repairs a professional can help with  

Part of being a homeowner means that you have to be aware of the state of your roof. Your roof is responsible for protecting your home from the elements, so knowing when to call a roofer is vital. While these issues can be common on residential roofs, don’t wait for repairs as it can lead to further damage. 

Top Roof & Exteriors in Calgary is a professional roofing and exterior renovation company. They share some common roofing repairs that their team can handle with quality and care:

Trouble with flashing 

Roof flashing is installed around your roofline to help keep any water from sneaking underneath your shingles. There may also be metal flashing installed around the chimneys and vents likewise to keep water out. Unfortunately, when those flashing are installed incorrectly or are old and damaged, water can flow underneath. That invites rot, water damage, and other costly roof repairs. To avoid this, have a roofing contractor conduct a roof inspection. You should also have any flashing replaced at the same time as a roof replacement.

Shingle replacement 

Replacing your shingles isn’t only done during a complete roof replacement, as sometimes individual shingles need replacing. That can happen for several reasons, like suffering over time from the elements, fallen tree branches, or lifting from the heat. Like failing flashing, even a single damaged shingle invites the risk of water getting in. The shingle could also come loose and fall off, leaving a part of your roof exposed to the elements. If there are enough damaged shingles, it may be more cost-effective to schedule a total replacement. Otherwise, call a professional to handle the shingle replacement and keep your whole roof safe.

Leaks 

Water leaks cause damage to both your roof and your home if left unrepaired. Since roofing leaks are sometimes hard to find, it’s best to leave them to a professional. They’ll be able to find the source and handle the necessary repairs safely and quickly. Typically, leaks develop from roof neglect or poor installation. That’s why finding a trusted company like Top Roof & Exteriors from the start is so important to ensure you don’t run into early roof troubles. 

Finding a trusted company 

When looking for the right company, don’t rush the process. Instead, check things like years of experience, fees and warranties, insurance and training. Browse their past jobs to get an idea of their skill. Then, check out reviews to see how they handle jobs and customers. Getting multiple estimates will also help ensure you get the right match at competitive pricing. And, if in doubt, ask questions until you feel confident in your decision. 

Roofing in Calgary 

Top Roof & Exteriors has served Calgary and the surrounding areas since 2012. Roofing is their business, and satisfying customers is their motto. Integrity, professionalism, and reliability have always been their top priority. In addition, their team has years of skill, quality workmanship, and full insurance, so you can trust your roof and home are in capable hands.

Contact Top Roof & Exteriors today!

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RenovationFind Certified
RenovationFind Certified symbolizes integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, and maintenance. It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
More than an online directory, we are Western Canada’s fastest-growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, services, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

How property maintenance companies make your life easier

Property maintenance companies offer a wide range of services, including lawn care and snow removal. Their experience, equipment, and expertise allow them to complete yard maintenance faster and more effectively. Moreover, the end result is high-quality and aligned with your vision for your outdoor space.

Wild Bear Snow and Lawn in St. Albert provide reliable snow removal and lawn care services to businesses and homeowners.

1. They do the job right.

Property maintenance companies like Wild Bear Snow and Lawn are experts at what they do. They have years of experience caring for lawns, trimming trees, and maintaining landscapes. As a result, they’re really good at it. Even the most avid DIYer likely only has a fraction of the experience of a professional property maintenance contractor.

Plus, maintenance companies already own all the necessary tools to do the job right. Their shears are sharp, and their lawnmowers well-maintained! This combination of expertise, training, and equipment means that they deliver quality results every time.

2. They save you time.

Each season brings its own unique to-do list. Lawn care, fall clean-up, snow removal, and spring clean-up… they all take time! Wild Bear Snow and Lawn are there to help. They get the job done quickly and efficiently. These tasks waste valuable hours that you could use to do something else. Even if you enjoy puttering around in your garden, there are likely parts of yard maintenance that you find tiresome and boring. Consequently, professional companies like Wild Bear Snow and Lawn customize their maintenance services to suit your preferences.

3. They take care of your lawn.

Every homeowner knows that lawn care isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. After all, lawns need more than just regular mowing to thrive. Fertilizing, dethatching, and even trimming all need to be done correctly at the right time of year. Fortunately, professional maintenance companies are lawn care experts. They can identify what your lawn needs- and when. So, unless you can commit to a lawn care regime, it’s best to hire the pros!

4. They keep you safe in winter.

Fast and effective snow removal and ice management are essential for winter safety. That’s why maintenance companies are available seven days a week! They keep your residential or commercial property free of snow and ice, so you never have to worry. Wild Bear Snow and Lawn provide shovelling, blowing, scraping, sanding, snow hauling, and ice-melting services.

Lawn Care and Maintenance in St. Albert

Wild Bear Snow and Lawn are a locally family-owned and operated company in the Edmonton area. They provide property maintenance and lawn care services for residential and commercial clients. Additionally, they offer landscaping and water feature installation. At Wild Bear, they work hard to understand your needs and vision. Then, they make it a reality.

Contact Wild Bear Snow and Lawn for your free quote!

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RenovationFind Certified
RenovationFind Certified symbolizes integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, and maintenance. It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
More than an online directory, we are Western Canada’s fastest-growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, services, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

How to Setup the Perfect Outdoor Patio

Do you have an outdoor space where you can relax after a long day at work with your patio furniture? Here are some ideas for creating the ideal outdoor lounge and patio in your own backyard. 

Patios

An outdoor patio is a convenient way to create an outdoor lounge. Patios can only be built on flat terrain and provide a space where you can enjoy the comforts of inside while being outside. Decks and porches can also be used as outdoor lounge areas. Patios can be built with cement, stone, tiles, or pavers. Arrange furniture, décor, lighting, and other elements to create the ideal setting for a view, cookout, and other activities.

Patio Location

Where you will install your outdoor patio is an important consideration. If you intend to cook on the grill or use the space for dinner, keep it close to home in case you forget the plates or any utensils while cooking and eating. Sliding doors can be installed as the entrance to your home for a smooth transition from inside to outside. Build your patio away from the house to create the ideal get-away spot.

Furniture and Structures

When decorating your patio, make sure to use weather-resistant materials such as plastic, stainless steel, or treated wood. Keep storage for pillows, lounge items, and other items nearby, such as benches with storage or small plastic sheds, to keep them in when the weather turns bad.

Make an outdoor lounge for you and your family to enjoy in your backyard. An outdoor patio can be built almost anywhere and decorated with pergola structures, drapes, lights, furniture, plants, and other accessories. Make it your own and see what you can come up with.

Contact Handyman Connection

Contact Handyman Connection to schedule a free home improvement estimate. Call or text your local office if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our home maintenance services.

The post How to Setup the Perfect Outdoor Patio appeared first on Handyman Corporate.

The perfect look for your stock kitchen cabinets  

New kitchen cabinets are a great way to add a fresh look and value to your home, and stock cabinets are a budget-friendly choice. To add further value and appeal to your new cabinets, consider adding MDF panels for a unique look.

Quix Group in Winnipeg provides superior European decorative MDF-based panels. They share some ways to use their decorative panels to dress up your kitchen stock cabinets:

What are stock cabinets and MDF panels? 

Unlike custom cabinets that choose the design and finish options, stock cabinets are pre-built cabinets. These cabinets come in set sizes and measurements and are ready to be installed in a few days. High-quality stock cabinets are built to be robust and durable, so while budget-friendly, you aren’t losing longevity. They can also conveniently be upgraded and updated with new hardware and accessories or looks like refacing with MDF panelling.

MDF, or medium-density fiberboard, is a type of engineered wood product. It is made by gluing hardwood and softwood fibres under high pressure and then compressing them into panels. Unlike real wood panels, MDF is much less expensive and can easily be customized with different designs and styles. It’s also a better base if you want to paint your cabinets, or in the case of new panelling, it’s an easy replacement.

Acrylic panels 

Another type of stock cabinet panelling option is to choose acrylic, which is a great option for the kitchen. The acrylic finish is non-toxic and gives the panel a smooth, high-gloss appearance. It’s also scratch-resistant and doesn’t easily chip or crack. Add in that it’s available in a wide range of colours, and this panel adds a sleek, modern, and eye-catching new look. The mirror-like sheen creates the illusion of more space in your kitchen which is great in smaller spaces. Using acrylic panels on your top cabinets in a large kitchen will add a sense of height.

Lacquered UV panels 

If you don’t want the glossy look of acrylic, then the lacquered UV panels are a great alternative. These panels are waterproof, scratchproof, and steam resistant, making them great for a kitchen. The surface is hard and durable, and the UV protection ensures the look won’t fade over time. Like acrylic, lacquered comes in a nearly endless array of colours, so you can easily pair the right look to your kitchen. If you’re looking to add value or make a stylish long-term investment, lacquer is a great option. 

J-door appeal 

To pair style with convenience, look no further than the J-door. This option can be applied to all kinds of materials and looks great without a high cost. The handle design is integrated into a kitchen cabinet or drawer. The “J” shape in the cabinet creates the trademark hook-like feature, which is easy to pull open with ease. Even pairing a few doors in your kitchen with the J-door is a great way to play around with style and appeal and break up the look of the space. 

Stock Cabinets in Winnipeg 

Quix Group has been producing MDF products for years and has the experience, trusted reliance and quality to back them. They proudly supply superior quality European decorative MDF-based panels to add new value and appeal to your home. In addition, their team specializes in high gloss and super matte surfaces and can guide you to the perfect new look.

Contact Quix Group today!

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RenovationFind Certified
RenovationFind Certified symbolizes integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, and maintenance. It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
More than an online directory, we are Western Canada’s fastest-growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, services, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Exterior cleaning services to boost curb appeal

If you feel overwhelmed by the to-do list around your home or out of your depth with keeping the exterior clean, an exterior cleaning service can help. They can tackle your home’s exterior cleaning, perform maintenance, and correct issues before they become big problems.

ClearWest Services in Vancouver provide exceptional exterior cleaning services. Their staff are professionally trained and licensed to ensure high-quality results. Here is how they can help improve your home and curb appeal:

Window washing

Washing windows is one of those chores that most homeowners don’t get to as often as they should. Not only is it a tedious task, but upper windows can be difficult and unsafe to reach without the proper equipment. ClearWest Services offers exterior window washing, including skylight washing. They will scrape, wash, and squeegee your windows for a spotless and streak-free clean. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the crystal clear view!

Gutter cleaning

Gutter, window, and siding maintenance are essential. If improperly maintained, your house runs a serious risk of water damage. For example, cracked, clogged, or leaky gutters have a shorter lifespan and fail to divert water away from your home. Meanwhile, water can enter your home through the cracks in deteriorating siding, and worn-down windows can let water in and let heat out. This can cause damage and result in higher heating bills.

When ClearWest Services cleans your gutters, they’ll make sure they’re completely free of debris. In addition, they’ll check and clean your downspouts. All material removed will go into your green bin for disposal. Then, you can rest easy knowing your eavestroughs are cleaned and able to provide ample drainage for the upcoming season.

Moss removal

A mossy roof doesn’t last as long. Moss damages your roof, meaning you’ll have to replace it sooner than predicted. This is because moss is essentially a sponge. It holds onto water, and eventually, this moisture can leach through your roof. This results in water damage to the actual structure of your home. Fixing this comes with a big price tag. So, it’s better to remove the moss quickly before it causes a much larger issue. Learn more about moss removal.

Handyman Services in Vancouver

ClearWest Services provide expert handyman services to homeowners in Vancouver and the surrounding areas. They offer interior and exterior maintenance, house washing, roof repair, and gutter cleaning. Their professionally trained staff deliver superb craftsmanship alongside fantastic customer service.

Contact ClearWest Services today!

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RenovationFind Certified

RenovationFind Certified symbolizes integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, and maintenance. It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
We are Western Canada’s fastest-growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, services, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Benefits of installing a new AC

Regular maintenance and repair from a professional HVAC company are essential for the lifespan of your air conditioning unit. However, every AC needs to be replaced eventually. Opting to upgrade instead of endlessly repairing has several advantages. This includes better energy efficiency and better performance.

Spark Heating & Air Conditioning in Edmonton provides heating, ventilation, and cooling services. Here they offer their top reasons for replacing your AC unit.

Better energy efficiency

Modern air conditioning units are significantly more energy-efficient than their older counterparts. They use the latest technology to do the same job with less power! As a result, you spend less money on your monthly utility bills. This is one of the most substantial advantages of upgrading your AC-  enjoying better results for a lower cost. Additionally, your home is greener and better for the environment. Although there is the upfront cost of installing a new AC, the potential energy savings are enormous.

Quieter

Your home should be a peaceful retreat from the chaos of the outside world. However, your zen may be disrupted by your old AC. Older AC units are often loud and disruptive. On the other hand, new air conditioners run on lower decibel levels, which are much quieter. 

Reliability

Consistent maintenance and professional repairs extend the lifespan of older AC units. However, eventually, it will need to be replaced. If your AC has been repaired multiple times and breaks down regularly, it’s probably time for a new one. Conversely, if your newly repaired AC still cannot cool your home, consider an upgrade. A new AC is more effective, efficient, and reliable.

Cooler home

Is your old AC failing to cool your home? Are rooms never the right temperature? Your old AC may simply be too old for the task. Furthermore, poorly maintained air conditioners have shorter lifespans and encounter cooling problems faster. Therefore, age and disrepair can both result in ineffective cooling. Upgrading is your best bet for a comfortable home.

New warranty

A new AC unit comes with a new warranty. This guarantee can mean significant savings if something goes wrong. However, AC repairs can be costly, so coverage is always a plus. All new cooling and heating systems from Spark Heating & Air Conditioning come with a five-year guarantee.

Air Conditioning in Edmonton

Spark Heating & Air Conditioning specializes in heating, cooling, and ventilation. They install various products, including air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and humidifiers. Additionally, they do repairs and general maintenance. Their highly trained and knowledgeable technicians exceed your expectations, no matter the project. They also offer emergency repair services if you find yourself in immediate need of HVAC repairs or a replacement. 

Contact Spark Heating & Air Conditioning today! 

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RenovationFind Certified
RenovationFind Certified symbolizes integrity held by only the most trustworthy companies in home improvement, service, and maintenance. It increases consumer confidence in your business, giving you an edge over your competition while validating you as the best.
More than an online directory, we are Western Canada’s fastest-growing marketing platform for promoting and connecting the best trades, services, and home improvement companies to homeowners.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

How to create an outdoor kitchen

An outdoor kitchen will not only add extra functionality to your outdoor space but will also increase the value of your home. Plus, it will give the foodies in the house (and guests!) the perfect place to enjoy al fresco cooking and eating. Modern outdoor kitchens go beyond a dining area and a charcoal grill. Instead, modern kitchens have adapted to the needs of today’s homeowners who want to maximise their space and fully enjoy their home inside and out, no matter the season.

Set a budget.

Of course, modern kitchen projects will depend on individual budgets. Some modern outdoor kitchens might feature high-tech appliances whilst others might be more focused on the do-it-yourself route to cut costs. We recommend making a base budget with some wiggle room as project costs might end up being more than anticipated.

Assess the space.

It is essential to assess the available space to know the type of outdoor kitchen you can install, including the types of appliances and how much seating space you will have. On smaller properties, the choices for the location of an outdoor kitchen are limited. However, there are countless small outdoor kitchen ideas that can inspire you and offer various options for modest outdoor spaces.

Outdoor seating.

Our London carpenters can assemble kitchen units, indoors and outdoors. So, if you have made up your mind on a specific kitchen unit but need a second pair of hands assembling and aligning it, get in touch with our team. Plus, our painters and decorators can paint exterior surfaces, such as paint house exteriors, to ensure the space you have for your outdoor kitchen looks its best.

Consider the material.

Outdoor kitchen.

If you want to design an outdoor kitchen for your British home, the outdoor kitchen needs to be weatherproof. Make sure you choose materials that can withstand the constant weather changes. Plus, we recommend picking materials that are easy to clean and low-maintenance, so you can enjoy this area of your home as much as possible with as little hassle as possible.

Don’t forget the plumbing.

Outdoor sink.

Without running water outside, you will have to keep going back and forth in and out of the house which might be a frustrating experience when you are trying to have conversations with your guests. At the Handy Squad, we have a team of plumbers in London, who can install garden taps, install sinks and complete a variety of other plumbing tasks you might require for your outdoor kitchen.

Light the space.

Let’s face it – you will not have excellent lighting conditions every day. You might be planning on having a daytime barbecue get-together with friends but it has extended into an evening of good food and cocktails. However, with no proper lighting, you will not be able to enjoy the rare warm summer evenings.

Outdoor lighting.

Your outdoor kitchen should be properly lit to ensure you can enjoy alfresco eating no matter the time of the day. Plus, remember to add some ambient lighting around your outdoor kitchen to create the right mood as well as lighting around the garden, so you and your guests can clearly see where you are stepping. Our electricians can install outdoor lighting, change light transformers on your current outdoor lights and more.

Shelter is essential.

Outdoor kitchen.

Shelter is one of the main features any outdoor kitchen should have. Not only will shelter allow you to enjoy your outdoor kitchen outside the summer months but it will also cover your outdoor kitchen appliances from the elements and, in turn, ensure these last longer.

The post How to create an outdoor kitchen appeared first on Handy Squad Handyman London | Fast & Reliable London Handyman.

Warning signs your window wells are damaged or at risk

Blog submitted by Shield Foundation Repair in Edmonton

Early snowfalls can lead to slow melting water accumulations in low-lying areas of your home. 10 cm of snow in your window wells might not seem important, but that might not be a safe assumption. The melting snow could cause leaks, and you might need basement waterproofing in Edmonton.

Do you see horizontal waterlines on the window?

We marked the following photo with arrows to bring your attention to high watermark lines on the window. Those lines tell us that the window well filled with water during heavy storms.

The third photo below shows how water found its way around the window and over the foundation wall. Again, this is due to either no vertical drains or plugged vertical drains in the window well.

Does that look like your window? Call Shield Foundation Repair!

If you see lines like this, call Shield Foundation Repair for repairs and Edmonton basement waterproofing. The amount of water that can enter your basement in minutes is remarkable. Melting snow is even more sneaky because water might seep in slowly, but it’s as worrisome. A leakage problem can be invisible because water can run down your foundation and inside your walls. This is probably the culprit if you see mysterious puddles on your basement floors around windows or if it smells damp after every rain or snow event.

Window well maintenance tips

Keep your window wells free and clear of debris.

– Always maintain 100% rock topping in window wells for drainage.
– Regularly inspect window wells for signs that point to standing water.
– Look for signs of mould or mildew around window well areas.
– Be suspicious of musky odours in your basement.
– Inspect basement walls and floors around window wells for staining or dampness.

Bonus Pro-tip: When looking at buying a house, this is a dead way giveaway that there might be window well issues and water ingress.

Call us today to talk to one of our friendly staff about new or old leakage, moisture, or mould issues.

Contact Shield Foundation Repair!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Restoring Home Health is the First Step in Healing

 Blog submitted by Enviro Fog Solutions in Calgary

Everyone knows that mold in our living environments does not go down with a fight. We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t try “killing” mold with RTU (ready to use) sprays from the local store. This is because mold has the unique quality of resisting attacks by, well, shooting millions of spores out into the atmosphere. It is similar to the quills of a porcupine being hoisted at a predator.

I recently had a phone call with a gentleman who had some black-looking mold on the wall in one of his rooms. It was then wiped and scrubbed off. Not surprisingly the air quality test that was taken years later using a spore trap revealed the presence of Stachybotrys. That is the official name for what many call black mold.

Mold is hard for our bodies to fight off

Given mold’s resilience, It’s no wonder our bodies have a really hard time fighting it off. Our bodies are quite well suited to heal themselves. They can even detox from the various harmful substances and particles that we encounter and ingest. The liver, kidneys, lung, and skin – all execute their detoxing mechanisms. The lymph and intestinal systems do wonders at pulling out and extracting the harmful. Yet, mold often finds a way to wreak havoc on our bodies despite the natural detoxing systems. It seems that the natural antibodies serve as the signal to the mold that it’s under attack. It signals that it needs to unload even more spores to save itself.

Mold needs water, oxygen, and nutrition to grow

This problem within the body is further amplified when we remember that mold’s most needed substance for reproduction is water. This may be the only instance in which having bodies that are made of nearly 60% water is a potential liability. Some of the most vital organs contain well over the body’s average of water: the brain and heart – 73%; lungs – 83%; muscles and kidneys – 79%.

Water aside, mold only needs two other major ingredients to facilitate growth and reproduction – oxygen and nutrition. And, unless you are not breathing (aka dead), your body is providing a good supply of oxygen to the bloodstream as well as to the most vital organs and systems. In our outdoor environments, nutrition for mold takes the forms of plants and soil. In our homes and facilities mold goes after wood, dust, concrete, sheetrock, and pretty much anything we use to build. It’s not very hard for mold to find nutrition indoors. Within the physical body, mold will not feed on soil or building materials but will attempt to consume anything it can find which typically takes any of the various forms of organic matter native to each of us.

Removing the cause of the mold is a good first step

Kind of a grim outlook, right? Well, given these seeming bodily disadvantages when compared to fending off other microbes our bodies still do quite well. However, success is largely contingent on one very important factor. Our bodies must stop ingesting high doses of mold spores and their common mycotoxin companions. Our bodies can continue to use their natural processes to detox and flush and cleanse all day long, but it’s to no avail if our dwelling environments are filled with high counts of mold and mycotoxins.

Removing the cause of mold-related health problems and illnesses must be the first step in any remedial therapy, detoxing, and healing. Any healing modality will fall short if the body is continually fighting against a moldy living environment.

Mold removal in Calgary is necessary to remedy the problem

There is some good news because this can be remedied with mold removal. In my experience, there are only two ways to solve the dilemma of living in moldy environments: 1) Move, and 2) Get the mold remediated in such a way that it addresses the whole health of the home.

Most of us do not want to move into a different home solely to avoid mold, nor do we want the headaches that accompany such an endeavor. If that’s you, then you’re left with the second option. I was careful in my wording because as intuitive as it sounds it can be easy to focus only on the visible mold colonies that are in a particular part of the house. For example, the bathroom or basement, and not think in terms of the overall air quality and health of a home.

I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve been to where the source of the musty smell cannot even be determined. Perhaps, little drips and spills have accumulated over the years, resulting in an off odor. Perhaps, there was a flood that was not addressed on time, and the mold and the musty smell is now into the carpets and furniture. Or, perhaps, the HVAC units and vents have, over time, collected and are now distributing mold spores throughout the home.

EnviroFog mold removal is effective

There are other instances, like the situation I had recently in Calgary NW where the homeowner had hired a mold remediator to rip out and take care of some black mold in her master bathroom. Following the remediation, she continued to wake up around 3 AM every morning with a migraine. She ended up convincing her insurance company to pay for our full house treatment from EnviroFog Solutions. We addressed the mold and mycotoxins within every room in the house as well as the HVAC and vents. In addition, we hit the common mold hotspots such as window seals drain, front load washing machines,sink overflows, housing for the jacuzzi tub, etc.

We talked about two months following the full house mold treatment. She said the morning migraines had completely stopped within a few days of the treatment. In addition, her daytime migraines had been reduced significantly.

The healing journey is difficult, but not impossible!

Mold and mycotoxins are hard on our bodies. The healing journey can be long and hard, especially if there has been long-term exposure to moldy environments. Fortunately, there is an increasing amount of health practitioners who understand how to address mold-related illnesses throughout the country. We support and cheer these professionals on in their valuable work. The practitioners we work with within Calgary and the surrounding area including Naturopathic, Functional and Medical physicians are adamant about having healthy air to breathe and healthy home environments before even attempting any remedial therapies.

In some cases, remediating a home back to healthy levels and thus allowing the body to detox itself is all that’s needed for mold-related health concerns. In other cases, it’s only the first step to better health. Whatever the case, we join with the mold fighting community to continue providing and creating cleaner indoor air for all of us to breathe.

 

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

How to hire the right foundation contractor

Blog submitted by Shield Foundation Repair in Edmonton

At Shield Foundation Repair, we spend an enormous amount of time and effort making sure our customers are dealing with a company that meets or exceeds the highest industry and government standards.

When you choose Shield for your project, you can be confident you’re dealing with a professional organization that knows its craft and puts the safety of their employees and customers at the forefront. We practice and train, and prepare, and train some more. We put the time in so that every customer can have the confidence they’re dealing with a company that takes their property as seriously as they do themselves.

Shield crew training session

But don’t take our word for it. When looking for a foundation contractor in Edmonton for your project, you need to do some homework first, no matter how big or small. After that, finding the right company you can feel confident will do the job right is hard.

Here are some steps you should take when hiring a contractor:

Get Recommendations

Start with your friends, co-workers, and family. You can also talk with a building inspector, who will know which home renovation contractors routinely meet code requirements. Finally, do a Google search and check reviews of the companies you’re considering. What do other customers say?

Do Phone Interviews

Once you’ve assembled a list, we recommend that you make a quick call to each of your prospects and go through these questions to ask a contractor:

– Do they take on projects of your size?
– Do they specialize in the type of work you’re looking to contract?
– Are they willing to provide financial references from suppliers or banks
– Can they give you a list of previous clients?

The answers to these questions will reveal the company’s availability, reliability, how much attention they’ll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

Conduct In-person Interviews

This is your chance to get to know the candidates and their work. Take notes at each meeting to compare responses and narrow your list.

Questions may include the following:

– How long have you been in business?
– What kind of work is your specialty?
– Do you have experience working on similar projects?
– Will you use your own crew or hire a subcontractor for part of the job?
– Do you anticipate any problems? How will you deal with them?
– What kind of work schedule will you follow?
– How and when do you clean up? How do you deal with fine dust?
– Do you have workers’ compensation and liability insurance?
– Will you get the required work permits for my project? What are they?
– What kind of warranty do you provide, and what does it cover?
– Do you provide a written contract?
– May I contact some of your past clients as references?

A contractor who can’t or won’t answer your questions may not be the right person for the job. Never sign anything until you’ve decided who you want to hire.

Check the Contractors’ References

To finalize your shortlist, call the references for each contractor. Ask about their experience with the contractor and about the work itself.

Questions may include the following:

– Did the contractor keep you informed throughout the project?
– Were you satisfied with the quality of work?
– Were there any problems?
– Did the project finish on schedule?
– Did the contractor stay within the initially quoted budget?
– Would you use this contractor again?

Request Detailed Estimates

Be specific about your vision for the project when asking for a detailed written estimate. The cost of a project can vary depending on the type, quality, and brand of materials.

Three detailed estimates for home projects, including foundation repair in Edmonton, are usually enough for you to make an informed decision.

Estimates should include:

– a description of the work required to complete the job
– how long the project will take
– how much the project will cost

Review the estimates to make sure they include everything you asked for. Assume that anything not explicitly listed in the estimate will involve extra costs and extra time.

As such, it’s unwise to simply choose the estimate that offers the lowest price.

Ask for a Written Contract

Once you’ve chosen a contractor, ensure you get a written contract. This will protect you from losing your deposit, ending up with low-quality work or paying more than you expected.

The contract should include:

– a construction schedule with a start and end date
– a precise description of the work you want to do
– everything you’ve been promised for the agreed-upon price
– when payment is expected

About deposits

Contractors cannot ask for a deposit unless they are licensed and registered with consumer and corporate affairs. Deposits are typically limited to 10%. Shield Foundation Repair can direct you to a website so you can search for contractors and confirm if they are registered.

Other things to consider

– Make sure the contractor isn’t working from their home.
– Check and confirm if the contractor is registered with a safety program.
– No contractor can excavate without following OHS regulations and calling before excavating to locate utility lines.

At Shield Foundation Repair, we’ll always be happy to provide all the information above and answer any questions you have. However, our top priority is to ensure 100% customer satisfaction, so openness and transparent communication are crucial.

If you have any foundation or water ingress issues, get in touch today and put us to the test!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

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