I have already posted a blog pertaining to Un-licensed contractors but here I go again.
The popular on-line marketplace "Craigslist" is a growing source for consumers & contractors alike. Advertising is basically free & there are a multitude of services & products that are being bought sold & bartered.
 After talking with clients & fellow contractors it is evident that a lot of business is being conducted through "Craigslist & less through traditional sources like yellow pages
& newspaper advertising.
 Why? Well it is much easier & less tedious then thumbing through the bulky phone book or trying to read the fine print in newspaper ads. Not to mention you can just type in a service your looking for & literally several hundred ad's will pop up for you to choose from.
 While this is great for both Contractors & Consumers, it is becoming a buyer beware scenario. 
After reading through many of the "Skilled Trades" services offered by companies, I noticed that most of these companies who claim to be professional & in business for many years boldly say they are UNLICENSED!
I wonder if they know that contracting without being Registered with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors is Illegal
in the State of Az ?
There are many contractors whom are Licensed & offer legitimate & quality services on the "Craigslist". 
However, don't assume because a contractor is licensed that they are in good standing with the AZ ROC.
All licensed contractors are required to post thier ROC # on all of thier advertising.
It is easy to go on-line to check the status of a licensed contractor by checking the contractors License # with the Az ROC by going here.   http://www.azroc.gov/clsc/AZROCLicenseQuery

And to be safe, never ever use an Un-Licensed contractor!
They will probably be cheaper, but that is because they are not paying an annual contractors license & bonding fee or liability insurance to protect your property.

On August 28th & 29th Monsoon storms really battered most of the Phoenix metro area with the strongest storms we have seen since 1996.
 With these storms some homeowners that have purchased homes in the outlying areas during the housing boom are waking up to flooded back yards, patios & homes. 
While some neighborhoods are banning together to file class action lawsuits against thier home builder to remediate flooding of thier property, for some the process is just dragging on to long  & have decided to take matters into thier own hands & are having  drainage systems installed before the flooding takes a toll on thier homes foundation. Hopefully when all is settled with thier home builders they will be able to recoup thier drainage remediation cost.
Unfortunately, when insurance companies get involved the whole process just bogs down & the cost for attorneys exceeds the cost of fixing the problems! Make sense? Of course not! But thats how it works.
Good luck to all & we will be here when you need us to solve your drainage problems.

The monsoons struck the Phoenix Metroploitan area again with heavy rains on July 13th.
Again the calls from the East valley started coming in.
I don't know what the builders were thinking when they built homes in Mesa/Chandler/Gilbert, but they were certainly not thinking about Drainage! 
And as I mentioned in my previous blog, according to the soil survey map for expansive soils, it shows large pockets of expansive soils throughout the East valley.
 Water & Expansive soil = Trouble.
If your home is less than two years old I urge you to make sure there are no drainage issues while you can still go back to your home builder to fix the potential problems. 

Using a Licensed contractor protects you from potential problems.
When using a Licensed contractor, you always have recourse if the job is not done properly or not completed at all.
All Licensed contractors participate in a Recovery Fund which is mandatory in the State of Arizona. Contractors are also required to have a bond in force at all times.
The AZ ROC will mediate any dispute between a Contractor & Homeowner & if the contractor is negligent or performs substandard work, the ROC will direct the contractor to rectify the problem.
Make sure the Contractor you use is Licensed to perform the type of working that is being proposed.
A Landscape Contractor is not licensed to Install Drainage systems & Erosion control in the State of Arizona.
That is why Landscape Drainage Solutions holds a License for Drainage & Erosion control ~ ROC #184354 and it's Parent company, Sonoran Image Landscapes holds a Landscape License ~ Roc #107976.     
Also make sure the Contractor carries Liabilty Insurance to protect you from any accidental injuries while working on your property.

You can check the status of any Arizona contractor by clicking on the AZ ROC LOGO on our web site or go to: http://www.azroc.gov/clsc/AZROCLicenseQuery

Is your home ready for the onslaught of Arizonas upcoming "monsoon" storm season?
Now is the time to take care of drainage issues around your home before the rains come.
Give Landscape Drainage Solutions a call if you think you may have some drainage issues that need to be addressed & we will come out to give you a free evaluation.