Whether you’re buying a new house or want to make sure your current home stays in excellent condition, knowing the condition of your roof is vital to ensure safety and prevent possible damage. You should make a habit of checking your roof every now and then, especially after extreme weather or heavy precipitation. Here are a few things you can do.

Look in the Attic

The first thing you should do when checking your roof is go into the attic. Before using a flashlight, check for any light that may be showing through. If you see any, you should contact a professional like roofing company Birmingham AL to get your roof replaced or patched up right away. Other things to look for from inside include stains or streaks in the wood, which may indicate that your roof is leaking.

Inspect the Shingles and Flashing

From outside your house, you can check for visible signs of damage or old age. If you see any shingles that are cracked or warped instead of lying flat, they need to be replaced. You also should check the shingles on a windy day to make sure none of them are loose, and check if there are any small granules lying in the gutters; this indicates the shingles are old and falling apart. Additionally, you can inspect the flashing around vents and chimneys for possible cracks.

Watch for Trapped Moisture

Moisture that gets trapped in your roof, commonly in shady areas or in corners or valleys where heavy precipitation builds up, can spell trouble if it’s not fixed. Signs of trapped moisture include sagging, rotting boards, plant growth or growth of mold or fungi. Obvious sagging or rotting indicates that you need to get your roof fixed right away, while moss growth may harmless; just be sure to keep an eye on it.

If you think you see signs of damage in your roof, don’t panic. Check with a professional to see if your roof needs to be replaced or repaired.…

Want to give your family the feeling of being on vacation every day of the year? Why not turn your home into the ultimate staycation destination! Here are three backyard upgrades that will give you that staycation feeling from the comfort of home.

1. Install a Swimming Pool

When it comes to outdoor entertainment luxury, there’s nothing quite like having a gorgeous swimming pool in your backyard. Consult the professionals in inground pool installation Atlanta to assist you in designing and building the backyard oasis of your family’s dreams. Include plenty of custom features, such as a waterslide and maybe even a hidden pool grotto, to make your pool unique and fun for the entire family.

2. Create a Fire Pit

Gathering together with family and friends around a crackling campfire is a classic vacation activity, and it’s something you can experience everyday if you add a fire pit to your backyard. The most inexpensive – and most authentic – method of doing this is to build a fire pit from masonry pavers and pea gravel. Your family will love spending relaxing evenings gathered together around the cozy backyard campfire.

3. Add a Putting Green

No great vacation is complete without a visit to the golf course, right? Get that golf course feeling right in your backyard by installing your own putting green. Any wide-open, level area of your yard is a suitable spot for your new green. When you’ve chosen the best spot, replace the natural turf with artificial turf, giving you the look and feel of practicing on a real golf course. As an added bonus, you won’t have to do any lawn maintenance in this area.

Give your family something to get excited about by adding these fun features to your backyard. By following these tips, you’ll be able to turn your yard into an ideal staycation that will lay the foundation of plenty of warm family memories for years to come.…

Have you always wanted to have the best yard in the neighborhood? A few selective upgrades can really elevate the style of your yard. Here are three ways to transform even the plainest landscape into the focal point of the entire neighborhood.

1. Upgrade Your Hardscape

Your hardscape surfaces, including patios and walkways, help you safely move about and enjoy your landscaping. They also can serve as an attractive focal point for the landscape. Consult the professionals in hardscape design Charlotte to give your yard a custom look. Whether you choose to install a flagstone patio or a brick walkway, make sure the job is done right so that your entire landscape design is enhanced.

2. Rejuvenate Your Lawn

Your lawn likely takes up a significant portion of your yard, and that’s why it’s so important that it’s kept healthy and green. Luckily, only a few extra lawn care steps are required to turn a patchy lawn into a dense, green carpet. Start by performing aeration to ensure proper drainage. Then, cover the area with a top-dressing to keep the drainage channels. Finally, sow seeds in patchy areas and target these heavily as you water. Focusing on hydration will bring your lawn back to life in no time.

3. Enhance Your Borders

Planting up your property lines is a great way to distinguish your yard from the rest. Create planting beds filled with color and texture along your property lines. Strategically place the plantings to create the appearance of mass – plant colorful annuals in front of shrubs or tall grasses for density. You can further dress up the planting beds by surrounding them with curbstones to provide some extra structure and formality.

Show the pride you have for your property by making these attractive updates to your landscape. Everyone who comes by will surely be impressed with your green thumb!…

Expert witnesses play an important role in the criminal and civil legal systems. They’re used by courts at all levels, too, from family court witnesses with specialized training in human behavior to forensic crime scene experts, private investigators, and others with skill sets that make them reliable interpreters of information within their narrow range of expertise.

The reason they’re so important is that normally the court only allows witnesses to testify to their experiences, what they see, hear and do. Because expert witnesses are qualified to speak on certain topics from a professional standpoint, they are given a license to interpret and draw conclusions. That’s how someone like a forensic accountant is allowed to testify about their processes and why their results are accurate.

When Do You Need an Engineering Expert?

Engineering witnesses care commonly called in cases that have to do with a product or structural design malfunction. The kind of engineer depends on the case. For example, a mechanical engineer might explain why the failure of a certain auto part was due to faulty design. Similarly, a civil engineer could speak to the condition of a building or bridge and the contributing factors to a partial collapse. Typically, you need an engineer expert witness when there is an engineering issue at play and you need to make sure the jury understands it.

How Do You Hire an Expert Witness?

Experts are typically recruited by your attorney, who has the training to understand when they’re needed for your case and to screen them for the best candidate. Professional expert witnesses advertise themselves as available through legal channels. Experience with the courts is a plus for an expert, because that means they understand the limitations on their testimony. If you think you might need an expert, bring it up with your lawyer so you can get feedback about how it would fit into your case.…

Commercial property management tools are becoming more and more popular. When a company can receive payments and create business reports automatically is making many property owners think about their existing IT strategy, too. This does not mean that the average landlord has not already invested in this helpful technology.

However, if you have not yet learned about the benefits offered by Yardi property management software, now is the time to do so.

Maintenance Tracking Benefits

Most landlords do not want to have to think about or worry about maintenance. This is usually thought of as a liability that costs more money, but that does not offer any value. However, this is one factor that is directly related to tenant satisfaction.

In the worst situations, improper or subpar maintenance can lead to deteriorating buildings. No property manager wants this type of issue. With the right software solutions, it will be easier to keep up with maintenance needs.

Tenant Applications and Screenings

Modern housing facilities, especially, must carefully screen each tenant before approving their application. This often involves a credit check, background check, and income verification. To help ensure integrity, most managers want to double-check the answers that are given in the application form.

With today’s software solutions, it is possible to generate reports related to each application that goes beyond more traditional screening methods. These tools will search various databases to ensure all red flags are noted. This includes issues that may not have shown up with a more limited check.

When it comes to property management solutions, there are more than a few factors to consider. Be sure to find a software program that addresses your needs and concerns. Doing this is going to pay off and help ensure that the best solutions are achieved, regardless of the number of properties being dealt with.…