When it comes time to choose the material for your new roof, Paul Proctor, CEO of R E Roofing and Construction, Inc. recommends looking past what is currently fashionable.

“A lot of people will look at what their neighbors are doing and figure those must be the best roofing products, but that’s not necessarily true,” says Mr. Proctor. “This ‘follow the leader’ mentality is the reason more people install asphalt shingles today than 20 years ago. Asphalt may look nice and be easier to walk on, but it’s not a good insulator, and most homeowners fail to take that into account. That’s why it’s important to learn about all the different roofing options so you can make an informed decision.” Read more

We’ve just completed the massive distribution of the 2016 Diamond Certified Directory, with more than 800,000 copies reaching homes and businesses throughout the Greater Bay Area. (If you haven’t received your FREE copy in the mail yet, click here.) April distribution marks the end of a season around here. Every year, we spend six to eight months producing the Diamond Certified Directory. In the final stage of the production process, Director of Production Char Leary and her team head off to Las Vegas. Read more

We’re thrilled about the publication of our 2016 Diamond Certified Directory. (If you haven’t received your FREE copy in the mail yet, click here.) The 10 county-specific versions have been arriving in Bay Area mailboxes throughout April and we’re already seeing significant usage. We spend a lot of time getting the Diamond Certified Directory just right, so we love hearing from consumers who use it.

Barbara S. writes, “My husband and I keep the directory in a handy place because it’s our ‘go to’ resource when we need to find a service provider for our home and/or health.” Read more

The massive distribution of the 2016 Diamond Certified Directory has begun, with more than 800,000 copies reaching homes and businesses throughout the Greater Bay Area. Your FREE copy should be arriving very soon (if it hasn’t already), so keep your eyes on your mailbox!

If you’re new to the Diamond Certified Directory and would like to receive a free copy for your local area, simply visit www.diamondcertified.info/directory and fill out the required information. Read more

The 2016 Diamond Certified Directory is in the final stages of production, which means printing is just around the corner! More than 800,000 copies of the Directory will be sent to homes and businesses throughout the Greater Bay Area. Each Diamond Certified company is presented with a full-page profile that includes:

• Contact information (address, phone number, website, email)
• Services and service areas
• Business profile and philosophy
• Verbatim survey responses from real, verified customers
• In-depth ratings information, including customer loyalty and customer satisfaction rankings
• Legal information (insurance coverage, California business license)

Read more

Here at American Ratings Corporation, creators of the Diamond Certified Resource, we love social media. Why?

Consider small-town America. Fifty years ago, the community epicenter might have been the local diner—you’d stop in for a cup of coffee and stay for the fellowship. In today’s world, small-town America is online and community centers have gone digital. Whether you’re catching up with a friend from high school, scrolling through pictures of your niece’s wedding or wondering how to remove wine stains from your carpet, social media channels are the places to connect. Read more

Welcome to the Bay!

Since most of our readers are Bay Area residents, we spend a lot of time on this blog writing about domestic concerns like landscape design, plumbing and the Giants. But today, I get to write for a different audience. Have you recently bought a sweatshirt at Pier 39? Did you get stuck driving up Divisadero yesterday? Did last week’s earthquake wake you up? If so, then today I’m writing for you: our beloved Bay Area visitors.

American Ratings Corporation (ARC) is a local company that serves local consumers, and 80 percent of our staff members are Bay Area natives. Below, we share our favorite off-the-beaten-path places to visit and things to do. Read more