Diamond Certified Experts: Top Tips of 2018
In addition to being top rated for quality and customer satisfaction, Diamond Certified companies are known for providing Helpful Expertise®. This is especially true for companies whose owners and managers have become Diamond Certified Expert Contributors by sharing their industry expertise via articles and videos on the Diamond Certified website. In 2018, the number of Diamond Certified Expert Contributors continued to grow, bringing another abundant harvest of Helpful Expertise®. In this post, we’ve published a handful of highlights from this year’s Expert tips.
Desi McGibbon – Owner, McGibbon Construction, Inc.
Deck Details
When building a new deck, be sure to address all details before the work begins. In the course of choosing a decking product, it’s easy to overlook seemingly minor details like the railing. However, since the railing needs to match the deck boards, neglecting to consider it ahead of time can lead to project delays.
Jeremy Ke – Operations Manager, All Seasons Construction
Identifying Water Intrusion Issues
Following heavy rains, inspect your foundation and crawlspace for signs of water intrusion. Possible indicators include white efflorescence around the foundation or in the crawlspace, cracks in the ground near the foundation or in the foundation itself, and a musty odor emanating from beneath the home.
Greg Severs – President, S & S Painting and Coatings, Inc.
Coating Worn Exterior Siding
Prior to painting your home’s exterior, inspect the condition of your siding. If you find siding boards with deep splits and cracks, apply an elastomeric polymer waterproof coating before you paint. This coating will prolong the life of your siding boards by filling in cracks and splits and sealing them from moisture intrusion.
Leigh Bakhtiari – President, City Carpets
Carpet and Indoor Air Quality
It’s often thought that carpet diminishes indoor air quality (IAQ), but this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, studies conducted by The Carpet and Rug Institute show it actually has the opposite effect. By attracting and trapping airborne particles, carpet improves IAQ and makes it easier to remove particles during cleaning.
Joshua Rengifo – Vice President, Joshua’s Moving & Packing Services, LLC
Packing Furniture for a Move
The method for packing a piece of furniture varies depending on the material it’s made of. For example, wood and leather pieces should be wrapped with paper or cloth padding before plastic wrap is applied. This will allow the plastic to breathe and prevent “sweating” caused by trapped moisture, which may lead to warping or mildew.
Dr. William Hummer – Owner, William R. Hummer, DDS
Oral Cancer Warning Signs
As with any form of cancer, early detection is the most important factor in successfully treating oral cancer, which is why it’s crucial to be aware of the potential warning signs. These include unusual lumps or bumps; changes in texture, contour or color in the mouth; and sores that grow rapidly or bleed spontaneously.
Gregg Campbell – Owner, B & L Glass Company
Repairing Failed Insulated Glass
If you have a window in your home that seems to be perpetually fogged up, it’s likely that the glass’ seal has failed. While this issue can’t be reversed, there is a way to fix it: remove and replace both panes of glass. The good news is this is relatively inexpensive to do, especially compared to the cost of replacing the entire window.
Cori Chipman – COO, No More Dirt, Inc.
Breakroom Refrigerator Cleaning Tip
To avoid controversies with breakroom refrigerator cleaning, try this simple strategy: On cleaning day, have staff members place any food items they want to keep into a designated bin. When the janitorial staff arrives, they’ll take out the bin before cleaning the refrigerator—that way, nobody’s leftovers get accidently thrown out.
Tim Toupin – Owner, Toupin Construction Corporation
Benefits of Epoxy Grout
If you’re having your bathroom re-tiled, consider investing in epoxy grout. Not only is it more durable and stain-resistant than cement grout, it does a better job of locking in the tiles so they don’t become loose over time. Considering the cost of re-tiling, it’s worth investing extra for a grout that will go the distance.
Chris Young – Sales Manager, J & M Windows & Glass, Inc.
Maintaining Your Sliding Door
If it’s difficult to open and close your sliding glass door, you may just need to lubricate its track. Open the door and wipe the exposed section of track (top and bottom) with a paper towel saturated with silicone spray (a dry lubricant that doesn’t attract dirt like WD-40®). Then close the door and clean the other side of the track.
Bob Easley – Owner, California Fencing
Staining a Redwood Fence
Many homeowners stain their redwood fences, but this isn’t always necessary. If your fence is in the front of your house, you may want to stain it for aesthetic purposes, but for a backyard fence, aesthetics may not be a concern. In any case, stain doesn’t impact the wood’s integrity, so it’s not an essential measure.
Hamid Rod Tehrani – Owner, Absolute Plumbing and Drain
Earthquake Safety Valves
When a major earthquake occurs, a home’s gas supply can become damaged, which can cause a leak that leads to fires or explosions. To prevent this, consider installing an earthquake safety valve, which guards against such catastrophes by sensing seismic shifts and subsequently shutting off gas service to the home.
Eduardo Porta – Owner, Fremont Foreign Auto
Synthetic Oil Change Intervals
Many high-end car manufacturers are now recommending oil change intervals of 10,000 miles. However, even with synthetic oil, driving for this long without an oil change can lead to engine lubrication problems, especially if your car has more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. A safer oil change interval is 7,500 miles.
Eva Kissova – Owner, Kiss Painting
Extending the Lifespan of House Paint
Many homeowners think they’re getting “the most for their money” by waiting until their house paint has completely failed before repainting. However, a more cost-effective strategy is to invest in frequent paint touch-up services, which will greatly extend the lifespan of the original paint job.
Brandon Stieg – President, Pacific Circle, Inc.
Metal-Framed Entry Gates
Since wood expands and contracts with the changing seasons, homeowners often experience trouble with their wood entry gates latching properly. This can be addressed by installing a metal frame around the gate, which will keep the wood contained and prevent latching issues.
Hesam Rezaee – President, Molly Maid of Sonoma County
How to Clean Your Dishwasher
A dishwasher needs to be cleaned from time to time. Telltale signs include reduced effectiveness in washing, mold, unpleasant odors and calcium stains from hard water. To clean your dishwasher, sprinkle some baking soda inside, place a coffee cup filled with vinegar on the top rack and run it on the heavy washing cycle.
Kevin Comerford – President, Service Champions
How to Measure Attic Insulation
The minimum recommended level of attic insulation in a residential home is R38, which is between 13 and 14 inches thick. To see how your attic insulation stacks up, stick a tape measure down into it to measure its thickness. If it’s less than 13 inches thick, consider adding more to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Alex Llamas – Owner, SexyTrees.com
Deep Watering for Trees
If you have a stressed tree in your yard, try applying a deep watering tool. After connecting a garden hose, insert the tool into the ground at the tree’s dripline, where it will deliver water and nutrients directly to its underground roots. Deep watering your tree once a month will go a long way toward sustaining its health.
Howard Bloom – CRS, Howard Bloom – Intero Real Estate
Choosing a Quality Real Estate Agent
If you’re a prospective homebuyer, you might be surprised to learn there’s no cost difference between hiring a quality real estate agent and hiring a subpar one. Why? Because the seller’s agent pays the buyer’s agent’s commission. Since it doesn’t cost you any more to have the best agent in your corner, why settle for anything less?
Dave Lopez – Owner, Advanced Roofing Services, Inc.
Consideration for Roof Replacement
When replacing your roof, it’s important to consider its pitch (steepness) and install an appropriate product. Shingles are a popular roofing material, but as per manufacturer criteria, they should only be installed on roofs with a pitch of 4:12 or greater. For low-slope roofs, a better choice is a “built-up” roof.
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