Tips from Toby Foundation Check
Typical Kansas City Summer! Long periods of heat and no rain followed by heavy downpours. If you're not watering around your foundation on a consistent basis you can have flooding in your basement or even worse - foundation cracks. Our Friends at Atlantis Drainage Solutions give you some great tips on things to check for around the home that might be causing the problems. Such things as downspouts draining improperly, clogged gutters and soil erosion around your foundation may be the culprits and a lot less money to repair that extremely costly foundation repair or French Drains. Some of us do need foundation repair but be sure you are getting the right advice and if you are unsure get a second or even third bid and check those backgrounds online!
Tips from Toby Winter Outdoor Quick Tips
After some really cold temps we've finally received a break with warmer weather which means it's a good time to venture outside and do some inspection work before our next cold snap. About 60% of foundation issues are caused by clogged gutters, broken downspouts, or improper drainage. Now is a good time to make sure those downspouts aren't clogged and draining away from your home. Those ornamental grasses near your home need to be pruned back. They are a fire hazard and should be trimmed now to allow them to grow back next Spring. Do you have ice melter handy? It won't be long before the next cold snap comes upon us. Make sure you pick up some ice melter that is safe for your concrete, pets and carpet next time you're out shopping. Keep a bag handy in your trunk too! Finally, don't forget to check for places where pests like mice can sneak in around the garage or in those big piles of leaves close to the house.
Tips from Toby – Quick Winter Outdoor Tasks
It's been awfully dry and that can lead to some expansion and contraction of our home and soil. About 60% of foundation issues are caused by clogged gutters, broken downspouts, or improper drainage. Now is a good time to make sure those downspouts aren't clogged and draining away from your home. Those ornamental grasses near your home need to be pruned back. They are a fire hazard and should be trimmed now to allow them to grow back next Spring. Do you have ice melter handy? It won't be long before the next Polar Vortex comes upon us. Make sure you pick up some ice melter that is safe for your concrete, pets and carpet next time you're out shopping. Keep a bag handy in your trunk too!
Spring Home Inspection
Between last year's drought and the heavy snowfall we've had there are a bunch of things around the outside of our home that need a Spring inspection. From checking your downspouts and even gas meter there has been a lot of damage from soil movement and the expansion and contraction from temperature changes. Now is the time to do a home check up and make sure you don't have any little problems that could turn into big - costly issues down the road.