3 Reasons Why There is Standing Water in Your Yard

It would be futile to put all your efforts in clearing puddles on your yard if you don’t address what’s causing the water to stay in the first place. Here are some of the most common cases:

Low Spots
There is a good chance that you have—or will have—standing water in your yard if your property lies at the foot of a hill and your region gets a lot of rain. You can also suffer from having low spots in particular areas of the yard, even if you don’t live at the foot of a hill, where the terrain slopes down.

If a low spot is causing water to collect near your house, the first thing to do is correct the grading around your house foundation to prevent water from seeping through the foundation. This is more important than dealing with water pooling elsewhere in the yard. Source: TheSpruce

Non-Porous Soil
Hard soil and sticky clay soils don’t allow water to soak into the ground past the surface, which causes excess water to accumulate. In particular, hard subsoil, also known as hardpan, is a thick layer of soil that doesn’t allow any water through. You may have this soil on your lawn from natural causes or as a result of construction equipment densely compacting the yard. Source: HouseMethod

Gutter Downspouts
The gutters on your home could be contributing to the mass of water collecting in your yard. As your home’s gutters collect rain, they eject it through the nearest downspout. If your downspouts are emptying into an area that runs uphill or tends to collect water, it might be time to redirect your gutters.

You can attach a rigid drain pipe to the end of a gutter spout to carry water away from problem areas. Or, if it’s feasible, simply dig a dry creek bed for your gutter to empty into that will carry water away from problem areas. Source: HGTV

Don’t let standing water damage your lawn and create problems for your home. Call us today and you’ll get a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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3 Tips to Sell Your Home for More Money

Are you planning on selling your home this year? Find out how you can easily increase the price tag of your home by following these simple pieces of advice:

Improve your curb appeal
How a home looks from the outside has a huge effect on how many potential buyers walk through the front door.

Than Merrill, CEO of FortuneBuilders, suggested investing in a new front door. If buying a replacement door is not within the budget, “consider repainting it for a fresh, clean look,” he said. It’s an affordable renovation you can make for less than $1,000. “Also, pressure washing the driveway and front walk — and trimming the hedges and trees — contribute to the overall look of the house.”

For people with a higher budget for renovations and repairs, Cannon Christian, president of Renovation Realty, suggested replacing worn vinyl siding. New vinyl siding can have an 80 percent or higher return on investment, according to Christian.

“It’s easy to install, cheaper than other alternatives like aluminum and wood and requires little maintenance,” he said. Source: GoBankingRates

Declutter
Clean everything out of the basement, the attic, and organize closets and pantries. What doesn’t go to storage either donate it or give it the heave ho. I know from very recent experience that a 10’ x 20’ storage unit will cost you less than $125/month (not including the sweat equity of moving everything out). It’s money well spent. Look at the exercise as an opportunity to streamline your life—believe me it will make your life easier when you actually move. Source: Forbes

Let light in
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable. Source: HGTV

We can help make your home’s exterior look like it came straight out of Canadian Living. Call us today to get your free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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New Year Resolutions for a Better Home

If you are looking to create a better version of yourself this year, why not create resolutions for your home as well? Try including the following on your list:

Keep the gutter clear
A 1,000-sq.-ft. roof will shed about 620 gallons of water during a 1-in. rainfall, or about 103 gallons per downspout if you have six downspouts. That’s a lot of water dumped right next to your basement. Although it may seem obvious, clean and properly functioning gutters with downspouts that empty away from the foundation are key to avoiding major and expensive home repairs. Source: FamilyHandyman

Organize your documents
If paperwork terrifies you, don’t make it too complicated this year. Simply take a pack of card document wallets and mark each one with categories, for example – ‘gas’, ‘electricity’, ‘broadband’, ‘school’. Pop each letter or bill into the relevant file and find an accessible place to keep them all. Better still, opt for paperless billing whenever possible. Source: HouseBeautiful

Cut down energy use
How about trying to improve the planet as well while you’re improving yourself? Going green could be a great way to make this year truly remarkable. You could start with solar panels or a hybrid car but those are not the only things that can make a difference.

Learn to properly recycle, remember to turn off lights while you’re not using them and turn the taps off when you’re brushing your teeth. This way, you’ll not only contribute towards a better planet but also cut down your bills significantly.

You can trim energy use by sealing and insulating your ductwork. This increases the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by almost 20%. It will make your home more comfortable and also extend the life of your furnace, heat pump and air conditioner. Source: LifeHack

Make your home better and safer this year. We can help you take on home improvement projects you’ve been delaying for years. Call us for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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Home Trends to Get On This 2020

Your home is your sanctuary. You should always feel good whenever you’re in it. However, if your home is starting to look outdated or cluttered, you’ll often feel uninspired. Start the New Year right with a change of environment. Plan your remodeling projects using the following tips:

Low upkeep outdoor materials
Natural stone will still be a big trend in 2020, however, for elements like pavers, large and simple ones will replace ornate trends of the past. Composite decking is as always a popular choice for its longevity and low maintenance. Corten steel will make a return. As a material that requires little maintenance and develops a beautiful rust-like appearance over time, it fits in perfectly with the overarching theme of home trends of 2020 – simple, lived-in and warm. Source: HomeBunch

Environmentally friendly options
2019 has seen awareness around eco-friendly, green and sustainable materials and practices grow substantially, so expect to find biomaterials in homes in 2020, such as building supplies made from recycled products or ethically sourced materials, and homewares designed with an environmentally-friendly mindset. Source: BHG

Climate change-ready
Extreme weather patterns are spurring more homeowners to invest in disaster-resistant home improvements. “Eighty-two percent of millennials are anxious about how climate change will affect their children’s quality of life,” explains Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, a marketing firm that specializes in sustainability. Source: BobVila

Smart homes
One trend that will continue into 2020 is arguably becoming the new norm: If people are installing it in their homes, chances are it connects to Wi-Fi. Stephen Ferrara of Compass Real Estate in New York City points to products such as Sonos speakers, Nest thermostats, and Amazon Echo voice assistants as affordable examples of smart technology.

“Technology will continue to shape how people renovate,” he says. “Something as simple as a $20 smart plug used in conjunction with the app gives you full control over lighting without having to even be home.” Source: Blog.Cheapism

2020 is a good year to work on the big projects you’ve been putting off for some time. Give your home its much-needed update this year. We can help with roofing, drainage, and all kinds of home repair. Contact us for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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