When a check engine light goes on, and won’t turn off after re-starting the engine, you know it’s time to have your mechanic check out the car. You can’t get any real useful advice over the phone. I was dealing with a problem like this and called a number of shops to find out what it would cost me for a diagnosis. Some wouldn’t give a price, another quoted a flat fee of $100, and finally a Diamond Certified shop said to bring it right in for a free evaluation. They ran a computer check on the car that lasted only a few minutes and said they couldn’t find anything serious wrong with the car. Read more

When done correctly, a high-quality paint job can tie together an entire room, add mood and interest to a space, and even add value to your home. When you’re in the market for new interior paint, consider the following tips for selecting the perfect color.

• Paint is the easiest décor element to change and one of the least expensive ways to give a room a facelift. For that reason, it’s wise to choose a paint that compliments or sets off the color scheme already present in your room. Consider the furniture, flooring, window treatments, tile, brick and fabrics in the room you want to repaint. Or, if you’re redecorating, make painting the final step in your project so you’re sure to choose a hue that compliments your new furnishings and accessories.

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You can have an ant problem all year round in the Bay Area, if you don’t take some precautions. Richard Estrada, owner of ATCO Pest Control, a Diamond Certified company, says the first step is “getting rid of fruit, garbage, sodas and other food items that attract them. They love the same things we do!” Mr. Estrada doesn’t recommend spraying store-bought repellents because that just scatters the ants. What you want to do is apply bait primarily to the areas where the ants originate in order to get things under control.

Inspecting the outside of your home is also a good idea. Mr. Estrada says maybe a bush or tree touching the house is infested with ants. Read more

Kitchen cabinets collect more grease, food spills and moisture than most other parts of a house. Grime builds up fastest around door and drawer handles, because they’re constantly being opened. To effectively preserve your cabinets, consider the following tips:

• Painted wood, metal, laminated plastic and wood-grain vinyl surfaces can be cleaned with a solution of detergent and warm water. After cleaning, rinse the cabinet with a cloth or sponge dampened in clean water. When wiping the surface dry, use a dry cloth or paper towel to prevent streaking. Painted, plastic and metal surfaces can occasionally be cleaned with a creamy liquid wax, which leaves a protective coating that repels soil.
• Feel free to use an all-purpose household cleaner,

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Green flooring can be a great option for your home, but before you make a final decision, you should evaluate if you really need new flooring in the first place. Generally, the most sustainable approach to flooring is to use what you already have. Removing and throwing away old flooring creates more landfill waste, and the manufacturing process of new flooring creates greenhouse gasses. Find out if your flooring can be renewed with a deep cleaning, sanding or polishing. If not, see if the wood flooring underneath can be sanded and polished.

If you decide to purchase Green flooring, be sure to choose a product that best fits your lifestyle and budget. Here are the most common types of sustainable flooring:

Concrete
Concrete can be stained, Read more

Preventative measures and regular maintenance go a long way toward preserving the beauty of your upholstery. To increase your upholstery’s longevity and keep it looking like new, consider the following tips:

Dust and clean upholstery on a weekly basis. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove dirt from all the corners and folds of your upholstery. Remember to clean the back and legs to maintain a consistent finish.

Only use manufacturer-recommended cleaners. Every piece of upholstered furniture has a care label that indicates the cleaning materials that are safe to use on it. Make sure you follow these instructions. If the recommended clean
er doesn’t take care of a stain, Read more

Years ago, I paid for a half-baked paint job where none of the prep was done properly. It’s sad but true. According to Greg Kuzmicki, owner of Solidarity Painting, a Diamond Certified company, many painters take shortcuts, costly ones. For example, some paint right over dry rot they because they simply want to get paid and move onto the next job. The homeowner pays later when wood fungus spreads causing mildew and mold to grow. Termites live on this stuff.

It’s best to catch dry rot early. Before hiring a painter, do a little inspection yourself by checking siding, window trim and uneven surfaces. Poke in a nail or a screwdriver, and if it goes in more than one-quarter inch, Read more