An invisible fence is very effective for pet control. They are not much different than the radio in your home or car. The wire transmits a signal to the compact receiver on your dog's collar. Training your dog to respect his new boundaries is the most important part to the success of the invisible dog fence.
Asphalt sealing will be successful only if you prepare the driveway first. Cleaning and patching asphalt cracks are the first steps. High quality asphalt sealers are the finishing touch.
Landscape edging of granite cobblestones will keep grass at bay and make a crisp lawn edging at sidewalks and driveways. Garden edging saves work. Edging of stone will keep your gravel and grass from socializing.
Roof repair of rotten wood should be verified before you allow a roofer to charge you extra when he installs your new roof. Ask him for a cost breakdown and monitor his progress. You can also address the cost in the bidding stage.
Ice dams can form on any roof under cold weather and snowfall. When gutters turn to solid ice and the barrier creeps up onto your roof, thawing will cause a deluge of ice dam water to leak into your home. Protect your roof with an ice dam membrane.
Sizing decks or a patio is like fitting furniture inside your house. I'll bet you've seen a deck or patios that were cramped and overly crowded during a party. Size your deck or patio construction to assure ample space - or as you start to place furniture on them, they will shrink faster that a cheap cotton shirt in a clothes dryer.
Concrete slab cracks can be minimized by following several guidelines. Install concrete that is the correct strength for the job it is to provide. Make sure that the ground beneath it is compacted well. Control joints should be placed in concrete slabs. Reinforcing steel, or rebar, can be added to help stop shrinkage cracks.
Roof leaks can happen in the center of a roof, but they usually don't. Roof leaks happen where the roof touches up against non-roofing materials such as walls or chimneys. Metal flashings protect water from leaking into these intersections. Caulk is not a replacement for these flashings.
Thick blacktop finish is not the answer to crack prevention. Cracks can be stopped before blacktop is applied. You need a well compacted dirt base and the right amount of gravel.
A retaining wall can be built out of loose stones, concrete block, poured concrete, wood, etc. To know how to build a retaining wall, you must first consider its height, drainage and the slope behind it. Consult a qualified engineer for help.
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