Like most people, you’ve likely experienced the inconvenience of an appliance failure. Whether your washer stopped washing or your refrigerator stopped refrigerating, you may have been surprised at the impact it had on your daily routine. Read more

The California State Licensing Board (CSLB) wants consumers to know that all home improvement contracts are required to contain certain language. If you aren’t aware of this prerequisite, the CSLB’s website has plenty of information that will get you acquainted with the elements of a proper contract. In addition, you can prevent stress and conflict during a construction project by tactfully requesting that your contract contain the following three elements:

A payment schedule with a task-by-task breakdown. The easier it is for you to read and understand your contract, the better. If the payment schedule is broken down by “percentage of job completed,” ask for a task-by-task breakdown instead so you can verify the work that has actually been done. Read more

Since your roof is above your sightline, it’s easy to ignore…that is, until it starts leaking. To avoid this situation, you’ll need to be diligent about maintaining your roof. Of course, like many homeowners, you may not know the first thing about roof maintenance. Not to worry—we’ve invited nine Diamond Certified Expert Contributors in the roofing industry to share their expertise on this topic. Read on to learn more! Read more

Above all else, a home should be a safe place. However, there are many basic safety measures most homeowners haven’t even considered. To help you improve safety in your home, we asked six Diamond Certified Expert contributors to share their tips. Read more

With wet weather around the corner, now is the time for homeowners to do a thorough inspection of their homes and yards. After months of dry weather, sudden rains can lead to unexpected damage. Use this checklist to address the areas of your property that tend to be vulnerable during rain events. Read more

Neighbors are kind of like family—whether or not you get along, you’re pretty much stuck with them. One thing that can impact your relationship with your neighbors is home maintenance or improvement projects, especially if a shared property line is involved. To avoid potential conflicts (and know what to do when conflict arises), we asked a few professionals for their advice on navigating this often-complex dynamic. Here’s what they recommend: Read more

Efflorescence is a common problem that affects stone, concrete and other types of masonry surfaces. To learn more about what causes efflorescence and what can be done about it, read the following guest post by Steve Spratt, president of HPS Palo Alto, Inc. Read more