Planning to get away this summer? Whether the warmer weather means camping over a long weekend, taking a week to hang at the beach, or spending a long stay at a location much farther away, when you come home you want the place to be as you left it. Vacations are a time to rest, relax, and have some fun. The last thing you want is to lose all that quality down time walking through the door to find a catastrophe has hit your home.   (more…)

Commercial buildings, like any property, are subject to costly weather-related damage. Depending on the season and location, losses can be caused by tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, and hurricanes. But maybe one of the more common weather disasters is storms. In addition to hail, heavy winds, and lightning strikes, when the rain starts to fall, often times flooding is of biggest concern.  (more…)

We are one week from the unofficial start of summer. This means the season when backyards become the place to be. After a long, cold winter stuck indoors, you and your family may see your backyard–or any lot of land surrounding your property–as an outdoor oasis offering fresh air and fun in the sun. True as that may be, like anything that’s sat virtually unused for months at a time, your yard could use your attention before beginning to barbecue with the neighbors or laying out the lawn games. (more…)

Thanks to mold, Hide and Seek is no longer just a game kids play. In fact, your commercial building may be harboring mold in secret hiding spots you don’t know about, and now it’s up to you to find it before it causes bigger problems. (more…)

As snow and ice give way to flower buds, grass sprouts, and sunshine, it’s time to take a fresh look at the shape of your home. Winter, with its cold temperatures, icicles, and harsh winds may have done a number to your exterior. Hefty damage might be easy to spot but don’t overlook the little problems that could cost you big time later. (more…)

Spring and water damage tend to go hand in hand, be it melting snow, falling rain, or rising levels of humidity. And seasons aside, there’s also man-made water damage due to burst pipes, leaky appliances, and inadequate ventilation. As soon as the water hits–whatever its source–the destruction begins, causing stains, odors, wood swelling and warping, drywall deterioration, and structural rot. Within hours, flooring, walls, and furniture can be ruined, and within days the integrity of your home can be compromised and your interior air contaminated by mold. (more…)

You’ve done you’re part to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but don’t let your green efforts end there. There are plenty opportunities to make your home more eco-friendly after disaster. Whether you have a remodel already planned or you just want to make your space more sustainable, honor the month of Earth Day and let Mother Nature be your project guide. (more…)

Bills and expenses come with owning a home, but being house poor wasn’t likely your goal when putting a roof over your family’s heads. Instead, you probably planned on saving for retirement, stashing away money for your child’s education, and having a little extra to take a family vacation now and then. But if the end of the month has you seeing more red than black, it’s time to look for more ways to cut back. (more…)

The heavy rains spring brings is damaging enough if it leads to in-home flooding, but add a sewage backup and the problem goes from bad to worse. Instead of water in your home, you now have wastewater, which equates to a smelly, dirty mess, with the added disadvantage of potential health hazards for you and your family. (more…)

The clocks have sprung ahead, which means a new season adds new maintenance tasks on your commercial property to-do list. Similar to residential maintenance, the spring commercial checklist typically involves cleaning and beautifying the property to wipe away the cooped-up feel following a long, cold winter. Additionally, there are quite a few areas that will simply need a checkup to make sure they’re still up to snuff after the havoc Mother Nature may have wreaked. And last, it’s an absolute must to get warm-weather based mechanicals in working order after having sat unused through the cold spell.

With so many things to address, are you floundering on where to start first? If so, try our handy task list to help lead the way. (more…)