Rockridge Builders

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: When it comes to buying jewelry, make sure you set a firm price limit and be upfront with your jeweler from the start of the transaction. It can be helpful to compare luxury pieces with more affordable options (natural pearls compared to cultured pearls, for example), but if you're clear about your budget at the outset, it will help you avoid the temptation to overspend.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you're out of carpet cleaner and need to remove a stain, try a mixture of one cup of white vinegar (not red wine or cider) and one cup of water. At five percent acetic acid, white vinegar is very effective on tannins (weak vegetable dyes found in tea and coffee) and leaves no residue. Use caution, thoughacids can set some dye stains.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: The lifespan of a car's air filter often depends on the setting in which it's driven. For example, a filter for a car that's driven in a rural setting must be changed more frequently than a filter for a car driven in the city, because country roads create more dust. City drivers should inspect their air filters every 10,000 miles. Rural drivers should check their air filters during every oil change.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: To determine when you should replace the tires on your car, look at the tread patterns. All tires sold in the United States have tread wear bars, which are small bridges that form between the treads. As your tires wear, these bars will become level or even with the treads, which is a good indication that they need to be replaced.

Recent customer survey response from Diamond Certified Research Michael S., verified customer: "Bill is very responsive, and he understands what customer service is all about." Read complete rating results at www.dccert.org/166

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If your car's check engine light keeps coming on, it doesn't necessarily mean the engine needs to be serviced. The light comes on when the engine's computer detects an incorrect input from one of its sensors or an output from one of its switches. Ask your mechanic to plug into the Assembly Line Diagnostic Link, pull the fault code and pick the proper troubleshooting procedure.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you live in San Francisco and want to remodel a home that's 20+ years old, your project may be subject to complications due to a new policy called "voluntary seismic retrofitting." In an effort to prevent damage caused by earthquakes, the Department of Building Inspection is offering incentives to people who opt to have their "soft foundation" homes retrofitted to meet earthquake safety standards.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: There are two methods for performing trenchless sewer replacements, and the one your plumbing contractor uses is entirely dependent on the condition of your existing sewer pipe. Pipes that are in decent condition can usually be relined, but if the damage is too extensive, a "pipe bursting" method must be used.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: To keep the shingles on your house in good shape, make sure you have high-quality gutters and an efficient drainage system. If rain water hits the ground and bounces against the lower edge of the shingles, it can cause serious problems over time. Also, make sure your shingles aren't installed too close to the groundseveral inches of clearance will protect against microbes and wood-eating insects.

Recent customer survey response from Diamond Certified Research Randall W., verified customer: "They were very easy to work with, and they kept me in the loop of what was going on." Read complete rating results at www.dccert.org/166

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If you're putting your home up for sale, make sure it looks good from the street. Power wash the exterior, repaint peeling and faded areas, replace broken fixtures or lights, fix or replace cracked concrete, and plant a few bright flowers near the walkway. Repairing small items and adding some curb appeal is a minimal expense compared to the benefit of drawing more attention from potential buyers.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: Pressure-treated lumber is great for decks and other projects where moisture and decay are present, but the chemical that causes it to inhibit mold, mildew and insects (chromate copper arsenate) is very strong and must be treated with caution. Always handle pressure-treated wood with gloves; wear a dust mask when sawing, sanding or drilling; and thoroughly wash your hands when you're finished working.

Diamond Certified Expert Tip: If your clothes come out gray or yellow after you put them in the washer, you may need to increase the amount of detergent in the next load, use a detergent booster or increase the temperature of the water. However, the gray could also be from dye that has bled from darks to lights, which means you need to improve your sorting. You can also try adding bluing to prevent white fabrics from graying.