Diamond Certified Blog

It’s spring cleaning season once again, but this year, rather than stick to safe, predictable tasks like cleaning your upholstery, you’ve decided to tackle something bigger—something outside of your comfort zone. That’s right…you’re finally going to organize the garage. Truly, you are a brave soul. However, courage alone isn’t enough to subdue an out-of-control garage—you also need a strategy. To help you, we’ve boiled down the process to five simple steps. Read more

Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert tips on building a new deck. One of these tips expressed the importance of proper waterproofing when attaching a deck to a house. To learn about this process in greater detail, watch this informative video by Steve Labourdette of Labourdette Construction.

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Few things can augment a home’s livability like the addition of a deck. This is especially true in the Bay Area, where the prevalence of warm, sunny weather can translate to many hours of outdoor enjoyment. If you’re thinking about adding a deck to your home, it’s a good idea to learn about the process so you can make educated choices. To help you do this, we’ve asked four Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to share their insights on deck construction. Read more

For many folks in the Bay Area, the busiest room in the house is…the backyard. Grilling, playing and socializing outdoors puts neighbors in closer contact with each other, and while that can certainly lead to friendships, it can also cause friction. But you know what they say, good fences make good neighbors. This article covers why you might choose to invest in a high-quality fence and what options are best for your type of yard. Read more

Being a savvy consumer takes a little extra work, but you’ll get big payoffs in the long run. In this video, Chris Bjorklund, Consumer Advocate, and Joy Lanzaro, Director of Mediation & Compliance, walk you through 10 steps you can take to ensure your transactions go smoothly. When you’re done, check out our Problem Resolution & Mediation Hub to learn more about consumer affairs. Lastly, remember, Diamond Certified Preferred Consumers are backed by a Double Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee when they use Diamond Certified companies (enroll here, it’s free!).

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If you’re moving, renovating your home or simply doing some overdue cleaning, you may find yourself knee-deep in junk and unsure what to do about it. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this problem: junk removal services. Most hauling companies will handle every aspect of junk removal for you, which will allow you to focus on more important tasks. However, there are steps you can take to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Read more

Since the recent California wildfires, many of us have been reassessing our relationships to our possessions. Since my home was safe, my immediate response was to find useful items to donate to the fire victims. In fact, many Sonoma County donation sites were overwhelmed with people’s generosity and had to turn away used clothing and furniture. They requested cash donations instead or things like toaster ovens, hot plates and electric teapots for those living in temporary housing.

The stories about what evacuees took with them and what they left behind made many of us think about which of our belongings have value and meaning and which don’t. Read more

Throughout most of the year, Bay Area residents enjoy exceptionally pleasant weather, exemplified by mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The problem is, in this characteristically comfy climate, it’s easy to forget about preparing for when the weather isn’t so nice. Take winter road safety, which many Northern California drivers neglect to prepare for due to the relatively brief rainy season. However, with the slick roads and diminished visibility winter weather often brings, it’s necessary to address this crucial concern. To help you do this, we’ve created the following checklist of areas to assess on your vehicle. Read more

Soil erosion occurs when loose portions of topsoil are displaced, usually by wind or rain. For the most part, erosion is a natural process, but it can become a problem when weather conditions accelerate the rate of topsoil loss, such as on a cliff or hillside following heavy rains. With so many neighborhoods in the Bay Area built on steep terrain, many homeowners worry about soil erosion and the accompanying landslide risk during the rainy season. Making major investments in retaining walls or foundation reinforcement is one option, but there are less costly measures homeowners can take to help protect their properties as well. Read more

Before hiring a company to install your new furnace or air conditioner, there are several things you’ll need to inquire about, from licensing and insurance to scheduling and payment. However, there are a few questions many homeowners don’t think to ask, but should. Here are five things to ask an HVAC installer:

1. What’s included in your estimate?

When reading an HVAC installer’s estimate, make sure it addresses the big picture. In other words, it should take into account all aspects related to your home HVAC system, not just the unit itself. Since the heating or cooling unit is merely part of the larger whole, failure to address other important system aspects (such as ductwork) can result in subpar performance following installation. Read more