Dentist Gary Burkhart Gives the 3 Most Important Reasons Why Regular Dental Checkups Are a Must

BARTONSVILLE, PA – Dentist Gary Burkhart (http://garyburkhartdentistry.com), in Bartonsville is urging people to get dental care regularly, and listing out numerous reasons showing the various benefits of regular dental care.

Everyone is busy these days. Whether it’s due to apprehension or a busy schedule, it’s easy to just consider canceling that 6 month dental checkup visit. Because it won’t really matter, right? However, the folks at Gary Burkhart Dentistry point out that there are 3 extremely vital reasons to keep those six month dental appointments.

1. Gum Disease
Tartar and plaque buildup can cause tooth decay and also erode your gum tissues. This buildup creates infections at the point where the gum is touching your tooth, which then causes the gums to pull away from teeth. It is vital to have regular oral checkups in order to catch this disease and to stop it from causing more damage to your gums.

2. Detection of Oral Cancer
There are several serious diseases like oral cancer that can manifest themselves in different ways. Without early detection this disease can progress quickly and become life threatening. It is easy to treat with the right dentist care and knowledge. Having a highly trained professional give you an oral checkup for early warning signs is the safest and most hygienic way to protect your teeth.

3. Cavities
While we know that daily brushing and flossing are vital and we can do this ourselves, there are some parts of our mouth that are difficult for us to reach. This is where visiting your dentist for a 6-month checkup comes in handy. In order to prevent cavities, which will result in having a filling in your mouth for the rest of your life, it’s easier, smarter, and less costly to have regular six month dental visits.

Dr. Gary Burkhart stated “Gum disease is the single biggest reason patients lose their teeth, and it’s painless while it’s happening, so you don’t notice it until it is too late! Dentists are not just concerned with fixing your teeth, but also with maintaining your overall oral health with your six month dental visits. We want to ensure that you do not end up needing severe dental procedures like implants or dentures, later in life, by regular oral checkups now. Any difficulty in rearranging your schedule now could save you quite a bit of money, pain, and your future health in the long run.”

Dr. Gary Burkhart graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1983 and from Temple University Dental School in 1988. He began practicing dentistry in 1988, and opened his own dental practice in Tannersville, PA in 1989, and moved his practice to its current location in Bartonsville, PA in April 2000. Dr. Burkhart can be reached via his websites at http://garyburkhartdentistry.com, or http://dentistgaryburkhart.com/, or http://dmdgaryburkhart.com/, or by calling 570-620-0440.

Dr. Lawrence Finn Offers Painless Dentistry

WARREN, MI – Dr. Lawrence Finn (http://www.dr-finn.com), in Warren, is informing the public about his service, painless dentistry, which helps the patient to relax and feel more comfortable during their dental procedures.

As a professional and experienced dentist, Dr. Finn has seen how dental procedures can create unwanted nervousness, fear and anxiety for the patient. In order to make the appointment and procedure run more smoothly and easily, his dental office offers patients the option to undergo painless dentistry. Painless dentistry involves safe forms of medication to help calm the patient before their procedure is performed. Painless dentistry works in two ways: it helps the patient feel more comfortable during their procedure, and it numbs the area so the area being worked on cannot be felt by the patient. When the medication wears off, the procedure will be complete and the patient will be able to return home.

There are varying levels of painless dentistry which include:

• Minimal: The patient feels calm and remains awake.
• Moderate: The patient is awake, but is not fully aware of what is happening.

Dr. Finn stated “Our staff provides comfortable dental care, and we are very sensitive to our patients’ needs. Our motto is ‘We cater to cowards,’ which is really just another way of saying we can handle the needs and dental care of anyone, even people who are afraid of the dental chair. No matter what type of dental services you need, we work to make the entire experience as easy and pleasant as possible.”

Dr. Finn and his team offers a variety of dental services including regular dental checkups, periodontics, endodontics, family dentistry, root canals, oral surgery, and cosmetic dentistry. He has over 30 years of experience performing everything from minor to advanced procedures in dentistry to patients in Warren, MI. For more information on painless dentistry from Dr. Larry Finn, visit http://www.dr-finn.com, or call (586) 772-3540.

Julian Construction Offers House Leveling

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and foundation construction company, is offering house leveling to homeowners in the Los Angeles area.

House leveling is the process of bringing a home back to as close to its original level state as possible. Leveling a home is normally done by performing foundation repair. Over time, a home’s foundation can begin to fail. This is due to various factors such as excess moisture, poor foundation design and more. A home that is sinking at one end or has sagging floors needs to be corrected and can be fixed with house leveling.

According to Julian Construction, many homeowners live with sloping floors, doors that will not open and cracking walls. Most floors can be leveled and returned to their original position, and the work can be completed in a structurally sound manner. Julian Construction specializes in house leveling to give homeowners a safer place to live.

“This is how you run a business. I paid a fair price and got what was promised. A small army of workers showed up on time, were incredibly efficient, and cleaned up so you’d never know they were there. The foreman was patient with a nervous and exacting homeowner,” says Carol, a past client of Julian Construction.

Julian Construction has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years. Julian owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323-733-3377, by fax at 323-733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://foundationrepairforlosangeles.com/blog/.

5 Factors that Can Deteriorate Roofs Faster

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a roofing and foundation repair and foundation construction company, is informing the public on five factors that can deteriorate roofs faster, causing problems and roof leaks.

As stated by Julian Construction, roofs are built using various types of materials such as slate, rubber slate, wood shake, asphalt and metal.
 Eventually, these materials of the roof will wear out over time and need repair or replacement.
While a good roof can last for a long time, there are certain factors that can accelerate the deterioration process.

See those listed below:

1. Design Issues: When a roof isn’t designed correctly in the first place, it can lead to sagging and splitting, as well as water and sediment accumulation. All of which are serious issues.

2. Improper installation: An improperly installed roof lowers the life expectancy of that roof. The issues you will encounter are similar to those found in a faulty design, such as poor drainage.

3. Poor maintenance: Maintenance is still required on even the best designed and properly installed roofs. Maintenance is needed to prevent debris from clogging drains. When this is ignored, more severe problems can occur.

4. Weathering: Certain weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow and hail, can increase the rate of deterioration. Some materials deteriorate faster than others. For example, natural roof materials will deteriorate faster than synthetic roofing in these weather conditions.

5. Flashing problems: Flashing protects and seals the places where the roof intersects with pipes, chimneys, skylights and similar objects. When flashing goes awry, more problems can occur.

“Having your roof regularly inspected by a professional contractor is an important part of the maintenance process. When roof problems are detected early, not only will the repairs usually be less costly, it can help prevent other types of damage to your home,” says founder, Julian De La Torre.

Julian Construction has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years. Julian owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323-733-3377, by fax at 323-733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://foundationrepairforlosangeles.com/blog/.

BigTreeSupply.com: Mulching Tips for Spring

by Nancy Penrose

Mulching is one of the easiest ways to keep your trees healthy, and an important part of spring tree maintenance.

Mulch helps protect plant roots from the sun. It will also keep the soil cooler for a longer period of time, which means your trees won’t leave their winter dormancy too early.

Mulching also keeps soil from drying out too quickly. By conserving moisture, the need for water is also reduced.

Other benefits of mulching include protecting the soil from erosion and preventing the growth of weeds.

As the mulch begins to decompose, it will release organic material (nutrients) which creates food and shelter for beneficial soil organisms like earthworms.

Many different types of materials can be used for mulching, such as wood chips, shredded bark, straw, pine needles, peat moss, grass clippings, compost, cardboard, newspaper and manure. There are also non-organic mulching materials such as plastic sheeting.

Mulch is typically spread in a two to six inch layer around the tree. Before mulching, remove any grass within a 3 to 10 foot area at the base of the tree depending on its size. Spread the layer evenly, making sure it doesn’t touch the tree trunk. Always remove any mulch that ends up on your grass, or the grass underneath it will die.

Any older, thick and matted mulch may need to be raked to ensure water and air can pass through to the tree’s root system.

Mulch that contains a large amount of nitrogen will need to be rotated. Without rotation, decomposition will occur at a faster rate. The decay can change the woodsy aroma of the mulch to a sour smell of ammonia, vinegar and sulfur. The smell will dissipate once the mulch is exposed to air, but if it’s placed on the soil before the dissipation occurs, it can kill the tree.

To avoid costly mistakes, get more tips on mulching from a big tree specialist.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Seattle / Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at http://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on big trees care or installation go to snohomishbigtrees.com. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULejKnh2MYY and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. Transplants 30 Foot Western Red Cedar Tree

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees, Inc. (http://bigtreessupply.com/), a large tree nursery and tree transplant company in the Seattle area, has transplanted a 30-foot Western Red Cedar tree onto the greens of a local, prominent country club.

Big Trees was contacted a year ago to evaluate the feasibility of transplanting the large Cedar to provide a way to block erratic golf balls that would occasionally come into a high traffic area. The Cedar was hand dug into a 12,000-pound root ball in one day, and tightened into a lift-able load with shrink wrap, burlap and rope. Afterwards, the receiving hole was dug with a tractor and made to match the necessary dimensions for the tree to be set in place with a large crane.

The next morning, the Cedar was rigged with a large 800-pound chain around the base of the root ball, and the tree was lifted vertically out of the hole and swung to its new location. The tree was then gently lowered and checked for height and lean of the tree as it touched down. Once all were satisfied with the appearance of the tree, it was detached from the rigging, and the final planting began.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees, stated, “When our tree transplanting services are utilized on a golf course, the benefits are usually twofold; a beautiful tree is saved, and something gets protected from the off target shots all of us are hoping to avoid when we’re out on the fairways. Another beautiful Cedar tree gets a new home, and everyone is happy!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Brite Smiles Dental Care Makes Practice Even More Child-Friendly

APPLE VALLEY, MN – Brite Smiles Dental Care (http://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com), in Apple Valley, announced that because February was National Children’s Dental Health Month, Brite Smiles has now taken steps to improve how kid-friendly their practice is.

Brite Smiles Dental Care believes developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on having healthy teeth and gums for life. With their new stock of toys and books, children can be introduced to the world of dentistry and feel comfortable during their visits.

Dr. Dennis Simmons, owner and founder of Brite Smiles Dental Care, stated, “Many of my clinical staff have been with me 10 years or more. They all have their own children, some of them small children. So the whole team is very understanding of how to introduce ‘going to the dentist’ to a small child. We do whatever is comfortable for that little person at the first visit. Maybe we are able to look in the child’s mouth, maybe we even count teeth and if we can look at their teeth – it’s a great day! The important thing is that it’s a good experience.”

Dr. Dennis Simmons graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976, receiving the Class Honor in prosthetics – dentures partial and full. Since then, he has participated in over 3,000 hours of continuing education courses, focusing primarily on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants and implant-supported restorations, orthodontics, extractions, crown/bridge, root canals, bite and TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. For his studies, he has been honored with the status of “Diplomate” from the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the International Osseous (bone) Integration Society. For more information on dental services from Brite Smiles Dental Care, visit http://britesmilesdentalcare.com, or call 952-891-8484.

Atkinson-Baker is Offering Web Conferencing for Depositions

LOS ANGELES, CA: Atkinson-Baker Court Reporters (http://www.depo.com/), a court reporting firm, is informing the public on a service they are currently offering: web conferencing for depositions. This service allows lawyers to conduct depositions from the comfort of their office, reducing travel time and expenses.
Web conferencing makes it possible for a court reporter to be sent to a location with a laptop. The court reporter will set up a web conferencing connection via Skype, GoToMeeting, or WebEx, and the witness is located at the same location as the court reporter, allowing the attorney to remain at their office while conducting the deposition. The flexibility of location lets lawyers conduct a deposition from the convenience of a laptop, desktop, or a mobile device.

There are a number of features available to law firms that choose web conferencing. These features include:
• Law firm efficiency can improve due to time that is saved
• Significant cost savings on travel and equipment
• Great ease of use; special equipment is not required
• Allows small law firms to conduct web conferences without a room-based video system

Atkinson-Baker President Ms. Sheila Atkinson-Baker stated, “While web conferencing is not brand new, it is only starting to become more known and used by law firms. We set up the meeting room, the web conferencing, the reporter, and the documents. This helps with convenience and saves travel expenses, as well as saving the expense of a videoconferencing set-up. We also have staff employees whose job it is to work with and train clients who are interested in this service and to help with any needed troubleshooting on the day of the deposition.”

Atkinson-Baker has a staff of over 170 and a court reporter base of over 1,200. The company’s headquarters are located in Glendale, CA, with 17 branch offices around the country. Ms. Sheila Atkinson-Baker, the president of the company, has been a professional court reporter for over 35 years, five of which she served as a court reporter in the federal district court. In 1992 and 1993, the company made the prestigious Inc. 500 list of the 500 fastest growing companies in the US. They have also been listed four times in the annual Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States.

You can visit the company’s main website at http://www.depo.com. Their blog can be seen at http://www.depositionreporters.com, and a few of their branch websites include http://www.atkinsonbakermiami.com, http://www.atkinsonbakernewyork.com, and http://atkinsonbakerchicago.com. They can be reached at 800-288-3376.

Bill Keis Releases His New Book “Fascinating Rhythm”

Los Angeles, CA – Professional musician, teacher and author, Bill Keis (http://billkeismusiclessons.com), has released a book titled, “Fascinating Rhythm”.

Bill’s book will guide you through the most important element of music: rhythm. This book will give you the tools you need to learn how to read and write rhythms, how to improvise rhythms and play in different styles. The information given in this book applies to musicians of any skill level and answers fundamental questions such as:

* Is it true that some people have rhythm and some don’t?
* What is time, beats, bars, downbeats, backbeats, rhythmic feel?
* What is the importance of a metronome?
* How does one learn to keep time?
* What are the common time signatures?
* How fast should you be able to play or read music?
* What are the three main rhythmic feels and how do they relate to styles?
* What is the difference between grooving and comping?
* How do you play in or with a rhythm section?
* How can I learn to improvise in any rhythm?
* What are Polyrhythms?
* Why are odd meters?

Author and 35-year music teacher Bill Keis stated, “Certainly, there are many books on the subject of music. I would not have written this book if I didn’t think I had something to say, something to offer that was different from anyone else and that would be useful and beneficial to people in their quest for musical expression and enjoyment. The main purpose of this book is to help the student with the study of music. I have presented this material in a simple, straightforward and concise manner. This book contains material I’ve discovered to be essential.”

One reader stated, “This little book puts together the concepts behind understanding rhythms that we usually just find by trial and error. After years of improvising on the piano I finally understand now how to add accuracy and variability to my fake book interpretations. What a great deal!”

“What a great book. It has the basics to the very advanced. It is easy to understand.

This is a book that is much needed out there. This book has something for everyone!”

The book “Fascinating Rhythm” can be purchased on Amazon for $9.99 here: https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Rhythm-Complete-Guide-Learning-ebook/dp/B006YVNAIS/ref=la_B0064THAIQ_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489025217&sr=1-7

Bill Keis is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, musical director, and teacher. He has performed and/or recorded with; Stanley Clarke, Chaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, Mark Isham, Ronnie Spector, Michael Duff, Lilly Hayden, Billy Sheehan, MC Lyte, Alexander Markov, Chick Corea, Steve Oliver, Edgar Winter, David Campbell, Tony Newton, Donny Most, Judy Norton, Izzy Chait and many others.

One of Bill’s compositions was used in the 2015 blockbuster movie, “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide. Bill Keis has co-produced innumerable recordings for upcoming artists in a wide variety of styles and several of Bill’s compositions were used on the TV show “General Hospital.”

Bill was educated in music starting at age 5 by numerous private teachers, public school music instructors and at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
His main site is http://billkeis.com, and his site for music lessons is http://billkeismusiclessons.com. He can be reached at 818-246-6858.

Brite Smiles Offers Spring Special on Zoom! Dental Whitening

APPLE VALLEY, MN – Brite Smiles Dental Care (http://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com), in Apple Valley, is urging the public to treat themselves and take advantage of the limited time offer of $200 off their Zoom! Dental whitening. The special deal includes the complete in-office Zoom! Whitening as well as trays for the discounted price of only $400. This is $200 off the regular price of $600.

With special engagements come up such as spring break vacations, reunions, weddings, and graduations, now could be a great time to take advantage of this teeth whitening special.

Dr. Dennis Simmons, owner of Brite Smiles Dental Care, stated “Whitening your teeth may seem like a very special treat that you only grant yourself once in a while. However, today with our Zoom! Spring Special you don’t have to sacrifice your budget or your confidence. If you look at the benefits that dental whitening brings you as well as the cash you are saving with this special deal it is incredibly hard to resist.”

“Keeping your teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. With all of the smoking, coffee, wine, tea, and other foods that have the ability to stain your teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them a little lackluster. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even give them a bit of extra brightness if you like. We use the most advanced techniques and treatments available to give you a healthier, more beautiful smile,” concluded Simmons.

Dr. Dennis Simmons graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976, receiving the Class Honor in prosthetics – dentures partial and full. Since then he has participated in over 3,000 hours of continuing education courses, focusing primarily on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants and implant-supported restorations, orthodontics, extractions, crown/bridge, root canals, bite and TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. For his studies, he has been honored with the status of “Diplomate” from the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the International Osseous (bone) Integration Society. For more information on teeth whitening services from Brite Smiles Dental Care, visit http://britesmilesdentalcare.com, or call 952-891-8484.

JulianConstruction.com: How Moisture Can Damage Your Foundation--What You Need To Know

by Julian De La Torre

Most homeowners know that water can cause extensive foundation problems. In fact, water intrusion is considered to be the single most important factor affecting the structural integrity of a building.

When moisture (condensed water) starts accumulating inside of a home, it can become an equally serious problem.

Moisture can come from any water source, such a plumbing, appliances, sinks, tubs, showers and toilets.

On walls, moisture will typically appear as a surface discoloration such as dark spots, mold and mildew. Mold has a black or green color, while mildew is usually grey or white. Other visual indicators include peeling paint, surface bubbles, warping and buckling, cracking and crumbling, swelling along drywall edges and seams, and soft or spongy areas on the drywall itself.

Moisture that builds up on or near the structure’s foundation can cause mildew, moss or foundation stains. Eventually the moisture will penetrate the foundation, which can result in cracking and other types of foundation issues and foundation repair cost.

If the soil underneath a foundation has too much moisture, it will start to expand. When the soil dries, it will contract. This can lead to uneven settlement and structural problems such as bowing walls, slopped floors and windows that won’t open or close properly.

One of the best ways to detect moisture is with a moisture meter. Pin-type moisture meters have two pins designed to be inserted into wood and other types of building materials. Once inserted, the device measures the resistance between the two electrodes. When any moisture is present, the electricity flows more easily. There are also meters without pins that use radio frequency signals to penetrate the material that is being tested.

If you find any evidence of water or moisture penetration, contact a foundation contractor to find out what is causing the problem and how to fix it.


Julian De La Torre, expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair (Los Angeles) and founder of Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) in Los Angeles, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms & local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair (Los Angeles) than any other company in the area over the last five years (http://julianconstruction.com/services/foundation-repair/). Julian Construction owns its own company and is a "no middlemen" model--no salesmen or subcontractors--you get the principals of the company & its workers under your home. Learn more about Julian Construction and Los Angeles foundation repair at http://losangelesfoundationrepair.us/. See their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I8j7dXzpj4

3 Primary Solutions to Save Your Home Foundation from Water Damage

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and replacement company serving the greater Los Angeles area, is informing the public of three primary solutions for saving a home foundation from water damage, which leads to deterioration and needed replacement.

According to the company, foundation problems are unfortunately more common than we think. If a homeowner sees any leaks or cracks appearing in their foundation, the problem has already become serious. The damage from the issues that were previously ignored must be handled quickly otherwise irreparable damage could ensue, along with much more expensive repairs.

Three primary solutions to save your foundation from water damage are the use of downspouts, grading, and water.

1. Downspouts
An inexpensive option -- that requires no construction – which expands your current downspouts to make your foundations safer. There are three options with downspouts regarding extensions. First, you can simply extend it away from the house. This can be done for $30 or less, as long as the water is being conducted at least 10 feet or more from your house. The second option is to make an extra long extension underground to send all the water to a storm drain/curb. Lastly, you can make an extension to send water to a dry part of your lawn.

2. Grading
Without proper soil excavation, water can seep to your house’s base and through the walls of your foundation causing water damage. Adding several inches of grading, meaning the soil slopes away from your house, can be a preventative measure for any homeowner. While hiring a construction company may be necessary, it is also possible for an individual to accomplish this by themselves with the simple tool: a level. It’s not necessary to dig more than approximately 10 feet in order to ensure the water will move away from your foundation.

3. Water
Contrary to what some people may think, your foundation does need a little water. The trick is to make sure you have control over how much and how often its watered so no water damage occurs. Hence, with the suggestion to use downspouts, you don’t want constant rain to be sitting near the foundation of your house. On the other hand, during a dry spell, it could be beneficial to soak the soil around your foundation in order to prevent the foundation cracking and drying out. Using a hose to allow just a few inches of water to seep around the soil of your home's foundation will not only stop the contraction of it, but also control the expansion.

“Water damage, if unsuspected and unhandled over a period of time, can do serious damage to a home foundation. It is important to ensure this is not happening with your home. The best solution is to have a foundation inspection done by a knowledgeable foundation repair specialist, if you suspect any water damage or other problems with your foundation,” Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre advised.

Julian Construction has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years. Julian owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323-733-3377, by fax at 323-733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://houseboltinglosangeles.com/blog/.

3 Underpinning Options to Handle Home Foundation Problems

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and replacement company serving the greater Los Angeles area, is informing the public of three different methods of underpinning a building. Underpinning is defined as a method used to increase a building’s foundation depth or repair faulty foundations.

According to Julian Construction, there are three primary methods of underpinning which can be used in order to repair foundations that are faulty and/or that need an increased depth for greater stability. Underpinning is extremely useful when there are cracks appearing in a foundation.

First Option: Mass Pour Underpinning
An extremely common method of underpinning is the mass pour method. This can be accomplished by excavating small sections beneath the current foundation and pouring concrete into each hole. This action is repeated several times to cover the entire area that is underpinned.

Second Option: Using Brackets & Screw Piles for Underpinning
Another method is to use brackets and screw piles to underpin. This method makes the foundation able to withstand strong lateral and vertical winds, as well as the shaking the wind can cause to buildings. Not only is it fast to install, noise of vibration caused by wind will be decreased.

Third Option: Pile & Beam Underpinning
This option requires a min-pile installed in on both sides of the wall which is affected. When the piles are installed the brickwork can be taken out underneath the wall and then it will be reinforced with a particular needle beam that will support the wall by connecting the piles together. This is the preferred method because it’s quicker than underpinning under restricted access, causes smaller amount of disruption, as well as handles a large load capacity.

“Underpinning is often a very needed and effective method of handling home foundation problems. Which method is most advisable depends on a number of factors. That’s why it’s important to get a foundation inspection by a knowledgeable foundation repair specialist, if you suspect any problems with your foundation,” said Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre.

Julian Construction has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years. Julian owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323-733-3377, by fax at 323-733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/ or http://houseboltinglosangeles.com/blog/.

BigTreeSupply.com: Monitoring the Growth of Your Tree

By Nancy Penrose

Monitoring the growth of your trees will help keep them healthy and thriving. Here are some of the different stages of tree growth:

Starting life as a seed. If your tree has been planted as a seed, the first thing you will see as it grows is a short stem. At this early stage of life, most of the tree’s energy will be used to continue growing.

Young trees. Most young trees are small, thin and extremely vulnerable. They will need protection and space to grow. The growth will usually occur around the canopy and root system, with branches becoming longer. Young trees will need very little, if any, pruning.

Established trees. When a tree establishes itself, it will start growing at a faster pace. Established trees are more capable of protecting themselves against disease, illnesses and pests. Pruning during this period will ensure a good branch structure.

Saplings. Trees that have grown several feet in height with a declining growth rate are called saplings. They will usually have a trunk that is a foot or less in diameter.

Mature trees. Mature trees have strong branches with a large amount of foliage. Tree limbs will keep growing, but not as quickly. Mature trees also have the most strength and can reproduce.

Later stages of maturity. Many trees, during late stages of maturity, will start developing flat-topped canopies. The tree’s energy will decrease and major limbs may start to die. Seed production will also decline. Pruning can help maintain tree health, but over-pruning can cause damage and make the tree less resistant to disease and pests.

End stages of maturity. During the final stages of life, it will become more difficult for a tree to protect itself against pest infestations and tree disease. You will also see more limbs dying and breaking off. The trunks will also become hollow.

How long a tree lives will depend on its general health, maintenance and various environmental factors.

Any dead trees on your property should be removed by a big tree specialist or tree arborist who has the proper tree removal equipment.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplanting tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at http://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on big trees care or installation go to nurserytrees.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. Transplants a Large Camellia Tree

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc. (http://bigtreesupply.com), a large tree nursery in the Seattle area, recently participated in the protection and transplanting of a very old type of tree, a Camellia. The tree was in the way of a demolition and building project and would have been destroyed, but it has been safely relocated to another part of the property and will continue to provide shade and blooms for many years to come.

Big Trees Supply was approached by a builder in January who wanted to start demolition on a property in order to make way for a new construction project. However, the problem was that there was a 20’ tall Camellia tree that has been growing next to the foundation of a house on the property, and is estimated to be 40+ years old. The new owner of the property was reluctant to destroy the Camellia tree due to the building project, and asked their contractor to look into the possibility of having the tree transplanted to another part of the property. The contractor contacted Big Trees, and in spite of the tight timeline, Big Trees began discussions of what could be done to save the tree by transplanting it to a new location.

It became clear to the Big Trees staff that the Camellia tree was very close to the home’s foundation, and that the entire house, including the foundation wall, would have to be carefully dismantled and pulled away from the Camellia if it would have a chance of getting dug out and root balled correctly. The day for the project was coordinated with the demolition contractor.

Once the root ball was tightly wrapped in a well-built system of plastic wrap, burlap, and rope, the crew fastened and rigged the tree to large excavator on-site and lifted and moved the tree to its new home on another part of the property.

Nancy Penrose, the owner of Big Trees, stated “It’s a wonderful pleasure to participate in salvaging some of these old trees and shrubs in our changing neighborhoods. Many people look forward to these blooming trees each year, and there can be unpleasant blowback from a community when a beautiful tree is eliminated from a property. On the other hand, when a tree like this is saved, the owners of that project receive a significant amount of praise and welcoming that is sometimes a little unexpected! It’s a terrific process for all involved.”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.