DIY Foundation Watering!! SAVE MONEY!!

You Don't Have To Pay Thousands of Dollars To Get A Foundation Watering System! But Having One Can Save You A Ton Of Money!

Jim explains exactly what you need to buy in order to set up the perfect automated foundation watering system for your home. It's not complicated but you need to make sure you know what you're doing and don't over soak or under water your foundation. 

Products Needed
1. Soaker Hoses (as many as you need to go around your house)
2. Watering Timer
3. Water Filter (Screen Filter)
4. 2 "y" Brackets
5. Backflow Preventer
6. Anti Siphon
7. Pressure Regulator
 

Follow the step by step process Jim lays out and you'll have a system up and running in no time! 

Let Us Know If You Install A Foundation Soaker At Your Home!

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Another War Story From Deavers Engineering

Larry Deavers Sent Over Another Story of A Home Owner That Really Needed To Call Him Before He Started The Project Not Afterwards!!!

BE CAREFULL BEFORE YOU REMOVE WALLS

7/4/2018

    I had a client that called me and he was concerned his ceiling was failing in.  I went to his house and found he had hired a contractor to open an area between the kitchen and the den area.  The contractor had removed some walls and had created an open area of about 18 feet.  The contractor had used a beam that was not sufficient to carry the load and the beam was sagging about 3 inches.  The home was a 2 story house and it had second story load plus load from the attic/ceiling.  The owner would not pay for the work because of the problem.

     The contractor is now taking legal action against home owner because of failure to pay.  The home owner is left with a house that is in a mess and does not know what to do.

Advise:

       City of Houston requires if you remove load bearing walls you get an engineer to prepare a report.  This regulation by City of Houston is to help home owners not hurt them.

- The home owner listed above has an outstanding bill with contractor of about $35,000.00
- He has a kitchen and den that he has not been able to use for close to a year
- He is now facing legal action by contractor for failure to pay
- If you are a home owner and you are considering this type of remodeling seek a structural engineer.

For the cost of less than $1,000.00 all this could have been avoided

If you are a contractor get an engineer to help when you are doing this type of work. it will save you in the long run!

Contact Deavers Engineering - 713-828-8901

 

War Story From Deavers Engineering

I Asked Deavers Engineering To Send Me A War Story And What He Sent Truly Highlights The Value An Independent Engineer Can Offer. 

Foundation Story

6/20/2018

I had a young man call me and he had a contract with a major builder to build a house in the Rosenberg Area.  He had selected a choice cul-de-sac lot and paid a premium for the lot.  He and his wife were going to watch their dream home being built.  He watched them prepare for the foundation and then finally the day arrived and the foundation was poured.
He went out the next day and the foundation had a crack in the concrete that went all the way across the house from left to right and extended down to ground.  He was very concerned and called me out to give my opinion.  I met him and inspected the crack and determine that the crack was a failure crack and needed to be fixed.
I wrote him a letter telling him the foundation needed to be replaced.  Builder got their engineer to counter my letter saying everything was ok and that I had no idea what I was talking about.
He asked me to meet with their on site people and discuss the issue.
I met with their management and buyer and told them it was a cold joint in the concrete and that the concrete should have 2500 psi concrete for everything to be ok
I said  the only way to prove concrete is ok is to core the concrete.  I told them to get a core company to come out and take 3 cores in the center of the crack and test those cores to see if they are ok.
They did and when the cores were taken they broke in 2 pieces showing no strength

The builder returned the young man his money after about 3 months

Conclusion:

If something looks wrong there is a chance it could be wrong.

I charged the man $400.00 which saved the young man thousands of dollars

Contact Deavers Engineering - 713-828-8901

 

Remodeling Ideas

Need Some Remodeling Ideas?

We couldn't be happier to have DFW Improved on our team. They've got some great ideas for home renovations to get you ready for the fall and holidays! Check out these photos of some amazing projects they've done in the area! 

If these photos don't get you excited about the possibilities that your house holds here are a couple more! If these photos do give you some ideas you need to reach out to DFW Improved! (972) 299-8939

Stihl iMow Robot Law Mower

It's every guys dream! Mowing the lawn WHILE you golf!! 

This lawn mower is one of the most exciting tools that Stihl is coming out with in my opinion. It turns a job that most people don't enjoy and turns it into something you don't even have to think about. Rodney Behrends with Stihl showed me how the mower works. 

Some of my favorite features are.

1. You Set The Schedule: The iMow will mow on a schedule that you set. This allows you to get your lawn mowed whenever is convenient. You can have it mow the lawn during the afternoon or even over night. 

2. It's QUIET!: I was really surprised that the iMow makes as little noise as it does. This quiet motor noise is what makes it possible to mow during the night without worrying about annoying your neighbors. 

3. Professionally Installed: The iMow is installed by a certified Stihl dealer to make sure that it works correctly. This means it's even easier to get a worry free lawn. All you have to do is go purchase the mower and they take care of the rest. 

4. GOLF: In my opinion the time savings alone make the iMow something to seriously consider. Imagine all the time you spend mowing, weeding, taking care of your lawn, is now available for other things you're passionate about. Such as golf! 
 

Let me know what you think about the iMow!! I will add the follow up videos as we produce them!

Stihl RMA 460 Lawn Mower Review

I Really like This Mower, I Just Needed To See If It Would Work For Me!

First Review Of RMA 460

Follow Up Review

I was impressed with this lawn mower the first time I tried it out. The only issue I ran into was the battery life. So I went back with a second battery and tried it out again. The results were exactly what I was hoping for! I would absolutely recommend this lawn mower for people with a small yard who like to take care of it on the weekends. It's so easy to use and definitely powerful enough to cut the grass. Just make sure you realize that if you are cutting really tall, think grass, you will wear the battery down faster than a maintenance cut every weekend or so. 

In DFW you can pick one up at Plano Power Equipment!

Stihl HS 45 Hedge Trimmer Review

I Didn't Realize How Fun A Hedge Trimmer Could Be! 

I'll be honest, I didn't have much experience with a hedge trimmer until I started these reviews. Having said that I went into it with a completely open mind and little expectations for how it would work. But I can honestly say that this was one of my favorite tools to use. It made trimming the hedges so incredibly easy and fast! It cut really precisely so I didn't feel like I was destroying the bushes. I felt as though I was just giving them a really good hair cut. 

There are a few key points about this trimmer and they are. 
1. It's Really Balanced
2. It's Very Powerful
3. It's So Much FUN!!

Ok so maybe the last one isn't a key point. If you're in the market for a hedge trimmer I can't imagine you'll find a better tool for the job. But please feel free to send me your recommendations! 

Stihl FS 56 RC E Trimmer Review

We were super excited to review the gas version of the Stihl homeowner series! This tool is an absolute blast to use! I was checking three specific things about this trimmer in my review. 
1. That it is an easy trimmer to start.
2. That it is lightweight. 
3. That it is powerful. 

I won't give everything away but lets just say that the tool is a classic Stihl product. 

Huge thanks to Plano Power Equipment for providing the trimmer for this review!

Stihl HSA 56 Battery Powered Hedge Trimmer Review

Thank you to Plano Power Equipment for providing the equipment for this review. I was excited to get my hands on this product because I wanted to see for myself the improvements that have been made to battery powered tools. 

There were three main aspects of the Hedge Trimmer that I wanted to test. 
1. Lightweight - Stihl said the Hedge Trimmer is lightweight and won't wear out your arms. 
2. Well Balanced - Stihl said the Trimmer is well balanced and easy to maneuver. 
3. Safety Features - Stihl said the safety features built into this Trimmer make it very safe to use. 

- HSA 56 Batter Powered Hedge Trimmer

We were more than impressed with the results of our test. The HSA 56 is an easy to use lightweight and well balanced trimmer. The safety features make it very difficult to turn on unless you are trying to use it properly. I think it's a great option for the weekend warrior or anyone needing to do a decent amount of trimming.  

Stihl Battery Life Test

We are excited to launch our tool reviews videos! We've been working to build a relationship with Stihl to give us the opportunity to review some of their products. Plano Power Tools who is an authorized Stihl deal provided the tools and equipment for the reviews!
We started with a review of the battery life on their AK series of battery powered tools. 

The test was simple. I wanted to see if we could mow, trim and blow an average front yard on a single charge with just one battery. 

Tools Used
- Mower: RMA 460 
- Trimmer: FSA 56
- Blower: BGA 56

I was impressed and excited to see that not only did it have enough power to get the job done, the tools were incredibly easy to use as well. This is not the comprehensive review of each tool. Those videos will be coming out in the upcoming weeks as well as reviews of other battery and gas powered tools. 

Issues With Remodeling Old Homes

Remodeling Old Homes Comes With Some Unique Challenges. 

Home codes are constantly changing and as we've seen so many times, many contractors cut corners to save time and money. So when you are considering remodeling your older home you have to worry about more than just the new updates you want. You also have to be aware of what could be waiting underneath the surface of your house. 

Old Building Standards. Homes built in the 80s and before often have electrical work that is not up to current code. Or you may run into framing that doesn't fit the city regulations anymore. You never know for sure what you are going to run into once you start opening up the walls. So what should you do about it?

Plan For The Problems. Gary Simms and the team at DFW Improved always encourage home owners, especially of older homes, to have a small contingency budget for any unforeseen problems that you may run into once you begin the project. That way you aren't left scrambling if you find that the previous builders didn't meet current standards. And if you end up not needing it, you have some money set aside to throw a great house party to show off your remodel! 

If you're in DFW and looking to remodel a room in your house or maybe the entire thing, give the team over at DFW Improved a call. They've done hundreds of remodels and have seen just about everything so they know how to make sure your project doesn't get derailed by unexpected issues. 

Picking A Remodeler

Picking a remodeler can be a daunting task.

There are a couple things you can do before hand to help you make the right choice. Our first recommendation is to use one of the THI Trusted remodelers. If you aren't able to use one of our remodelers, here are some tips. 

1. Find Someone With Experience. This may seem obvious but remodelers come and go. There are a lot of fair weather remodelers who may have done remodeling for a while but haven't invested in building a business and a reputation. You may get a lower price from someone like this but you also run the risk that they won't be around if you run into a problem with your remodel. 

2. Get Reviews. Any contractor can find someone to give them a good review online. If you want to make sure that a remodeler has a track record of solid work it's important to go outside of the reviews they provide and research them. But also be aware that every remodeler has run into problems. That is the nature of remodeling. The great remodelers are the ones who know how to handle those problems the right way. 

In the DFW are we are excited to be working with DFW Improved as a trusted remodeling company that has built their reputation on great work and even better customer service. 

What Is A Root Barrier?

What Is A Root Barrier?

Jim cuts through some of the confusion about what radiant barrier is right for you.

It's a barrier that is used to protect something from the damage that can be caused by root growth. You severe the roots that are growing toward the object you want to protect and place an artificial barrier in place to stop the root from growing that direction any longer. 

What depth of barrier should you use? Jim recommends using 3ft barriers as the typical 18 inch barrier allows the tree to grow underneath the barrier and cause damage. 

What shape barrier should you use? A half moon shape barrier will encourage the roots to grow in the opposite direction where as a straight barrier allows the roots to grow around the outside edges. 

What type of barrier should you use? A high density plastic barrier is what Jim recommends instead of the Bio barriers available. Bio barriers allow moisture to go through the barrier which encourages the roots to continue to grow towards the barrier. Plastic barriers stop moisture and force roots to turn in order to continue to grow. 

Is it dangerous to your tree? Typically you only sever about 20% of the roots when you instal a root barrier so you won't cause serious damage to your tree by installing a barrier. 

Never root barrier a tree that is older than the home it is next to! The soil around the house is used to the amount of moisture that the tree is removing. Installing a root barrier on a tree that is older than the house will increase the moisture in the soil and can cause your house to raise higher leading to more problems. 

THI Tips Playlist

We've Got A YouTube Page!!

We are excited to share with y'all our THI Tips playlist on our youtube channel! We are taking some of the best questions we get from our audience and Jim and our sponsors are answering them for you. This playlist is growing every week and will cover a wide variety of subjects and problems. Subscribe to our channel to make sure you are the first to see new videos as they are added!! 

Jim explains the proper way to reinforce concrete when pouring a slab.

Jim cuts through some of the confusion about what radiant barrier is right for you.

Fall Is Tree Season!

Most people don't know this but fall is the perfect time to plant trees. It's also an important time to make sure that your trees are in good shape. Matt Latham from www.ustreecare.com sat down in our studio and explained why Fall is really tree season. 

Important things to do for your tree’s in the fall!

1.     Mulch your trees. Put down about 1-2 inches all the way out to the edge of the canopy. Replace existing mulch if it hasn’t been replaced recently.

2.     Fall is a great time to trim your trees. With the ice storms we have in texas it is important to trim your trees so they won’t break off in a storm.

3.     Keep watering! You don’t have to water as much as you do in the summer but continue to water your trees on a regular basis to ensure they remain healthy during the fall and winter.

4.     Check into any issues! You can get a good idea of how healthy your tree is by looking for unusual colors or fungal issues. This is a good time to start addressing these issues. Bring in an expert to make sure you take care of any problems that do exist.

5.     Fertilize. A lot of issues with your trees are caused by underlying stressors that can be improved with proper fertilization.

6.     Plant trees! Fall and winter are the best times to plant a tree because it will give them time to get established before the harsh summer weather hits.

Contact Matt and his team at US Tree Care for more information!

What To Do When Your Trees Flood

Matt Latham from US Tree Care stopped by with some information on what to do after your trees get flooded. 

1. After a big storm the structure of your trees has probably been damaged. You will need to asses how much of your tree has been damaged. If it is more than 50% damaged it will more than likely need to be removed. If it is less than 50% damaged you may be able to save it with some TLC. Get a professional to come out and acess and trim your tree if needed to remove the damaged parts and set your tree up to grow back healthy. 

2. Flooding can remove a lot of the nutrients from the soil around your tree so you will need to fertilize your tree more than normal to make up for this. 

For more information contact Matt Latham and his team at US Tree Care

Never Do These Three Things To Your Trees!!!

Matt Latham from US Tree Care stopped by our studio to share three things you should never do to your trees!! 

1. Topping Your Trees! There is a right and a wrong way to top your tree. Most people do it the wrong way and it leads to one of two things. Excessive new growth that is going to be prone to breaking or the tree will die. So make sure to have a professional come out and do it the right way. 

2. Over Watering! Watering you trees too much can lead to root fungus and other issues that can actually kill your tree. 

3. Planting Trees Too Deep! Make sure you know how deep to plant your tree and you don't go below that level. It can lead to all kinds of issues with your trees. 

Contact Matt and his team at US Tree Care for more information!