When Buying a Home, Are Foundation Problems a Dealbreaker?

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, shares some tips on recognizing signs of foundation damage in a potential home, and what to do if you find any.

When you find a home you like, personally check the property for the below signs of foundation problems. If you find any, you should hire a structural engineer to inspect the home and get a better idea of repair costs. Having a dollar amount for repairs will also help you negotiate the price down.

Here are some of the signs of foundation damage to look for:

• Sunken floors or foundation.
• Cracks on the outside of your home- especially diagonal ones. If they are small it may just be a cosmetic issue, but large cracks are often a sign of a more serious issue.
• Patios that have pulled away from the house.
• Doors and windows that don’t open and close properly.
• Gaps between the caulking on windows and doors.
• Sloping floors with a height difference of more than an inch over 15-20 feet.
• Wallpaper that has wrinkled or creased.

If you notice any of the above issues with the house of your dreams, don’t let it scare you away. Many potential buyers are put off by foundation issues because they think it will be too difficult and expensive to fix. In turn, that makes houses like this harder to sell, and the seller is more likely to be motivated. You can have a structural engineer inspect the property and get an inspection report detailing what needs to be fixed and recommendations as to how. You can then take that report to foundation repair companies to get estimates, and then use the estimates to negotiate a lower price on the house.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “If you notice any of the signs of foundation problems when you’re considering buying a home, have an inspection done, so you know how expensive the problems will be to fix. That then gives you leverage with the seller to bring the price down enough to cover those repairs.”

Julian Construction 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/

Julian Construction Explains What Causes Foundation Problems

Julian Construction Explains What Causes Foundation Problems

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, shares some of the more common causes of foundation problems.

Foundation problems and foundation damage can be caused by many things ranging from natural disasters to improperly conducted remodeling or construction. All foundation problems can be traced back to one or more causes. Here are a few of the more common ones:

Earthquake: During an earthquake, your home’s foundation moves along with the ground. If you experience an earthquake, check your foundation for cracks in the slab, blocks, and brickwork. Earthquakes will often magnify pre-existing cracks in your foundation.

Drought: When the moisture is removed from the soil, it shrinks (like a sponge) and will pull away from your foundation. When the soil pulls away, it creates a gap which allows for foundation movement. If your foundation isn’t supported properly then it will shift into the space and cracks will start to appear.

Flooding or Plumbing Leaks: Flooding, plumbing leaks, inadequate drainage, or poor grading can all cause house settling. When soil is wet, it expands, pushing against your foundation. When the pressure becomes too much for your foundation, you may start to notice cracks, leaks, and bowed walls.

Poor Drainage: Clogged gutters, improperly positioned downspouts, landscaping too close to the foundation… These can all create situations of poor drainage, external pressure, or expansive soil, and cause foundation damage.

Poor Construction: If the ground under your home was not properly prepared before the foundation was laid it could be at risk.

Large Trees Next To Your Home: A large tree growing too close to your home’s foundation could be causing foundation problems. If the tree is close enough, the roots can push against the foundation and disrupt it. If the roots get under the foundation, they can cause a moisture discrepancy and cause shifting or settling.

If you have any of the above issues or suspect that you have foundation damage, you should call a professional and get a foundation inspection to determine the extent and cause of your foundation issues.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “Keeping your home’s foundation in good repair is so important, it’s the first thing we look at when we go to a home with structural problems. And maintaining the foundation will prevent more serious problems from occurring in the future. Always get your home inspected on a regular basis. It’s important for the safety of your home.”

Julian Construction 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/

Attorney Offers 4 Free Hours of MCLE Credit.

LOS ANGELES, CA: Los Angeles Attorney Douglas A. Crowder (http://crowderlaw.com) announced plans to deliver two seminars that will provide a total of 4 hours of Continuing Legal Education credit for California Attorneys. The tentative dates are August 27 and September 10, 2016. Both will be on a Saturday morning from 9am to noon, at Mr. Crowder’s office in downtown Los Angeles (or, depending on the turn out, at another location in or near downtown L.A.)

These seminars will be geared toward beginning attorneys desiring to start their own law practice, but more experienced attorneys (as well as non-attorneys) will be welcome to attend, if space permits.

The first session will cover how to sign up a debt relief client, and will include such topics as

• Ways to attract new clients, while complying with California ethics rules.
• The 4 options when faced with a collection lawsuit.
• A summary of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
• A summary of alternatives to bankruptcy
• Drafting attorney client agreements
  

These meetings include networking as well as education. One of the purposes of these seminars is to find, and provide training to attorneys to whom Mr. Crowder can refer cases. Several attendees of past seminars have obtained temporary contract work or case referrals, and two received full time employment as a result of attending the seminar.

Mr. Crowder has been practicing debt relief and other areas of law in California since 1989, and has been approved by the California Bar to provide Continuing Legal Education to attorneys (Provider Number 13474).

Those interested in attending (attorneys and non-attorneys) can contact Mr. Crowder’s office at 213-325-3040 or by email at dcrowder@crowderlaw.com.

BigTreeSupply.com: Types of Tree Nutrients

By Nancy Penrose

Trees, like all living things, need nutrients to survive and grow. Trees get their nutrients from the air and soil.

There are 16 elements a tree needs to maintain its health. Three – carbon, oxygen and hydrogen - come from the air. The remaining nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum and chlorine – are absorbed from the soil.

When there is not enough nitrogen in the soil, the photosynthesis process speeds up and turns leaves yellow. A nitrogen deficiency can also result in a more pronounced color during the fall, stunted growth, small leaves and leaf drop.

An iron deficiency can cause yellow leaves as well. The color change however, is not consistent. For example, only a single branch may have yellow leaves.

A manganese deficiency will not only turn leaves yellow, but also make them appear limp.

If there is not enough phosphorus in the soil, the tree will grow slowly. When a tree doesn’t have enough potassium, it is more likely to become diseased or damaged.

A calcium deficiency will impact the tree’s growth and cause unhealthy, thin foliage. If there is not enough magnesium in the soil, the tree’s older leaves will start turning yellow between the veins and around the edges. Other colors can also start appearing, such as red, brown or purple.

If you see any signs of nutrient deficiencies, get your soil tested by an experienced and knowledgeable tree nursery that can find the source of the problem and recommend the proper treatment and tree care. For example, nitrogen issues can be handled with proper fertilization. An iron deficiency can be corrected with sprays, root injections and surface applications.

Are you planning on purchasing any big trees? We can help you chose the right tree for your project based on soil conditions and other environmental factors. We’ll also make sure your tree gets the nutrients it need to maintain its health.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys (see Big Trees Customer Testimonials page at http://bigtreesupply.com/customers-speak/), specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. For more tips on tree installation or care go to nurserytrees.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qYmha94OvQ and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. To Beautify WA State Convention Center

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree transplant and tree nursery company in the Seattle area, is currently involved in a project to enhance the exterior of the Washington State Convention Center entrances on Pike Street in downtown Seattle. There will be large sequoia trees getting installed into artistic planters at two of the main entrances.

This project is still developing on some fronts, but there will be 6 large Coast Redwoods, a type of Sequoia and “the world’s tallest tree,” being delivered from out of state and weighing in the 5-6,000 pound range per tree. Big Trees is being asked to unload and handle the large Sequoia trees, moving them to their new planter locations from the large trucks that they will be arriving on. The trees will likely be around 20’ tall and packed in large wooden root ball boxes, and they will be using a large material handler forklift to unload and place the trees.

There are some challenges with this installation, in that the downtown location can be quite busy, day and night. Big Trees will be operating and handling the trees in the night time to minimize their disruption to the area, and so they can take advantage of having as much space as possible to work with. Big Trees is anticipating that the people and night life will be cooperative while they work over two consecutive evenings to accomplish the tree installations.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees says, “There is a lot of planning and preparation going into making this project successful over the brief timeframe available to us. It’s going to be two busy evenings in a row, and while working overnight is a challenge from a sleep shift for the crews, there is something exciting about having a normally busy environment all calmed down and to yourself for planting some large trees!”

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/

Julian Construction Advises Public How to Protect Your Foundation in the Summer

LOS ANGELES: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, shares some tips on protecting your foundation in the summer.
Hot summer weather brings with it a unique set of potential problems for your home’s foundation, that can end up costing thousands to repair. Here are a few ways you can protect your foundation when the mercury rises.

• “Regularly inspect the outside of your home. Check for signs of foundation damage such as cracks and sticking doors, but also check and make sure any brick, vinyl, siding, or wood on the exterior is at least six inches above the bottom of the foundation. Dirt and leaves can make this clearance insufficient and allow moisture into your foundation.
• “Make sure water doesn’t pool anywhere near your foundation. Check after a summer storm or after watering the foundation (see # 5). If you do find water pooling in an area, remove it and fill the spot in with dirt to keep it from happening again.
• “Clean and inspect the gutters regularly. Debris and faulty gutters can cause water to collect where it can cause water damage. When you clear the gutters, dispose of the debris properly. If you leave it on the ground it can cause pooling.
• “Maintain foliage around the home. Cut back vines and foliage on your home. An overgrowth can prevent proper airflow and lead to water damage.
• “And lastly, if you have clay soil on your property, extreme heat can cause the soil to dry out, shifting the foundation and leading to foundation damage. You can prevent this by lightly watering the soil around your foundation regularly and maintaining the moisture level.

Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “Keeping your home’s foundation in good repair is so important, it’s the first thing we look at when we go to a home with structural problems. And maintaining the foundation will prevent more serious problems from occurring in the future. Always get your home inspected on a regular basis. It’s important for the safety of your home.”

Julian Construction 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, http://www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/

Do You Need to Water Your Foundation?

Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com) a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, explains when and how to water your home’s foundation, and most importantly, why.

Clay soils expand when they absorb water, and shrink when they dry out. If your home is built in an area with clay soil your home could be at risk of foundation damage caused by seasonal changes in the weather. Clay soil tends to retain water and expand in winter and spring, and dry out and shrink in the summer, especially during a prolonged drought.

All of that expansion and contraction can cause foundation stress when the foundation tries to bend in ways that it can’t, and can lead to different types of foundation damage including; cracks in walls, sloping floors, sticking doors and windows, and damage to plumbing or electrical wiring.

One way that you can halt this type of foundation-damage causing action is by maintaining the moisture level of the soil under and immediately surrounding your home. If the moisture level is consistent, there won’t be any expansion and contraction motion shifting or damaging the foundation.
One way to achieve this is a buried foundation watering system, like a larger version of a drip irrigation system. You can also use a soaker hose- either above ground or buried about three inches deep. Soaker hoses are much less expensive than a buried foundation watering system, but still very effective. Another option is to use a hand-held hose, but you’ll have to be patient- it can take a while to water the area thoroughly.

Make sure you keep the water source 6”-12” away from the foundation to give it a chance to spread out evenly. Keep an eye out for signs of foundation damage, and if you find any contact a local foundation company to help take care of the problems.


Julian De La Torre, founder and owner of Julian Construction, stated: “Keeping your home’s foundation in good repair is so important, it’s the first thing we look at when we go to a home with structural problems. And maintaining the foundation will prevent more serious problems from occurring in the future. Always get your home inspected on a regular basis. It’s important for the safety of your home.”

Julian Construction 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, http://julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.com/blog/