Trusted Saskatoon Contractors K & S Contracting Share 5 Signs Your Basement is Leaking

26. Feb 2023 Admin Saskatoon Contractors, Trusted Tips

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, share 5 signs your basement is leaking.

5 SIGNS YOUR BASEMENT IS LEAKING

Basements are an integral part of any home, especially in Saskatoon, and it’s important to keep them dry and free from leaks. A leaky basement can not only cause damage to your home but can also create a health hazard by promoting mould growth. Here are five signs that your basement is leaky and in need of repair.

WATER STAINS

One of the most obvious signs of a leaky basement is the appearance of water stains on the walls or floor. These stains are usually brown or yellow in colour and can indicate that water is seeping into your basement. In addition, you may also notice discolouration or efflorescence, a powdery substance that forms on the surface of the wall due to water evaporation.

MUSTY ODOUR

A musty odour in your basement can also indicate the presence of water. This odour is caused by mould and mildew growing in damp areas, which can be a sign of a leaky basement. If you notice a musty odour in your basement, it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible, as mould can be harmful to your health.

PEELING PAINT OR WALLPAPER

If you notice that paint or wallpaper in your basement is peeling or blistering, it could be due to exposure to moisture. This can be a sign of a leak, as the water is causing the adhesive to break down and causing the paint or wallpaper to peel away from the wall.

CRACK IN THE WALLS OR FLOOR

Another sign of a leaky basement is the appearance of cracks in the walls or floor. These cracks can be a result of settling or shifting, or they can indicate that water is entering your basement through a weakness in the foundation. Inspecting these cracks by a K & S Contracting professional is important to determine the cause and the best course of action. As this could be 1 of the 5 signs your basement is leaking.

HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS

If you notice that the humidity levels in your basement are consistently high, it can be a sign of a leak. High humidity levels can cause condensation on walls and floors, which can promote mould growth and other health hazards.

In conclusion, if you notice any of these 5 signs in your basement, it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to maintain the overall health and safety of your home. You need to consult with K & S Contracting owner, Steve Ostapiw to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action. By taking care of your basement, you can ensure that it remains a safe, dry, and healthy living space for years to come.

K & S Contracting is a Trusted Saskatoon General Contractor and foundation specialists.

Their services include:

For more information about K&S Contracting, view their listing in the Contractors section on Trusted Saskatoon.

Trusted Saskatoon Contractors at Liftech Concrete Levelling Explains Why They Use Polyurethane When Lifting and Levelling Concrete

21. Feb 2023 Trusted Saskatoon

Trusted Saskatoon Contractor Liftech Concrete Leveling Inc is your go-to Trusted Saskatoon Contractor for lifting and levelling sunken and uneven concrete. Traditional mud jacking, or slab jacking, is a remedy that’s been used for decades to raise sunken slabs. Now there’s a newer, longer-lasting alternative available from Liftech Concrete Leveling, in their first tip they share the benefits and why they use Polyurethane.

Why Poly?

Plain and Simple ...it LASTS!

Concrete is the second-most used substance on Earth, only surpassed by water.

While it’s long-lasting, it doesn’t stay in good condition forever. Aged concrete is prone to all sorts of damage, making it both an eyesore and a safety issue.

Mudjacking and polyurethane injections are two of the most common concrete repair methods in use today. They have a similar purpose of repairing and leveling old or damaged concrete. Despite their similarities, it’s important to know what sets these two methods apart to choose the best method for your project.

Traditional mudjacking, or slabjacking, is a remedy that’s been used for decades to raise sunken slabs. Now there’s a newer, longer-lasting alternative available from Liftech Concrete Leveling that replaces the sand and clay-based grout mixture typically used for concrete leveling with a two-part polyurethane product that expands to fill voids, providing a cushion of support and raising the concrete. The lightweight polyurethane concrete lifting material is available in several formulas designed for different applications. One of the key benefits of using polyurethane is that it is formulated with the exact characteristics needed for specific jobs. We can provide lifting foams that are engineered to support heavy loads such as raising highways and industrial slabs. Standard foams for raising sidewalks and other residential concrete. As well as foam designed to set up in, and displace water.

The two liquid components that combine and react to create the polyurethane foam are mixed at the tip of the injection gun. When this mixture is injected beneath the concrete it will flow like water into any voids present for about 15 seconds before the chemical reaction takes place. When this reaction takes place, the foam expands to 25 - 30 times its liquid volume within 45 seconds. Fifteen minutes after the material sets, it reaches full compressive strength. Because of the characteristics of the material and how it is delivered, polyurethane can cover a larger area in less time. Our polyurethane is 100% hydro-insensitive meaning it won’t break down in the water, erode or leach into soils. The only thing in nature that will break down polyurethane is ultraviolet light. Because it is impervious to moisture the physical characteristics and volume of cured foam are unchanged by the frost or seasonal changes in our climate. Despite these benefits, you may be left wondering how long foam jacking lasts. While mudjacking usually lasts 2-5 years, polyurethane can last much longer if properly maintained.

The application process of void filling and lifting a concrete slab with polyurethane is similar to traditional mudjacking. Polyurethane expands to lift the concrete versus building pressure to get a lift with mudjacking. Another big benefit to the use of polyurethane is that the size of the holes drilled in the concrete to pump the product is relatively small in comparison to the holes needed for mudjacking.

Whether your project is residential, commercial, industrial or municipal Liftech has many answers to Saskatchewan property owners' concrete problems. Our polyurethane foams are the newest material being utilized in the concrete raising industry and Liftech is proud to be leading the way!

If your sinking concrete dragging down the value of your property... GIVE IT A LIFT, it's a fraction of the cost of replacement!

Contact them today to book a no-obligation FREE ONSITE QUOTE TODAY!

Liftech Concrete Leveling Is Your Trusted Saskatoon Concrete Leveling Expert!

10 Benefits of Cloud Accounting Software By Trusted Saskatoon

18. Feb 2023 Admin Saskatoon Bookkeepers, Trusted Tips

10 Benefits of Cloud Accounting Software for Business

More and more business owners are turning to cloud accounting software to manage their business’s finances. If you haven’t yet tried it, here are 10 ways online accounting software can help your business.

Save time with automation

Don’t waste time posting and chasing invoices. Cloud accounting software automatically generates invoices— as well as reminders — at regular intervals, meaning you don’t have to manually keep track of debtors. If you combine your accounting software with HR and Payroll applications you can also automatically generate payslips and other HMRC documents.

Work from anywhere with an internet connection

Cloud accounting software means you no longer need to worry about maintaining spreadsheets or installing a program on one machine. The cloud allows you to log in to your business’s account anywhere with an internet connection. Once you sign up, you can get started straight away.

Value for money

Instead of paying a huge one-off fee for accounting software, with the cloud, you can spread the cost by paying monthly — helping you to manage your business’s cash flow. If you do prefer to pay upfront, you’ll benefit from a discount.

Up-to-date data

Automated bank feeds allow you to keep track of your business’s balance sheet in real-time. You can also view a variety of reports that give an up-to-date snapshot of your business finances. Online accounting software makes it easier to get closer to your business and gives you a clearer picture of your finances as a whole.

Keeps your information secure

As your data is saved on a secure cloud server and is constantly backed up, you don’t need to worry about your data being hacked or compromised. Even if your computer crashes, everything is still saved in the cloud.

Intuitive and easy to use

Cloud accounting software makes accounting easy for people who may not have much experience in managing financial accounts. The software is built with non-accountants in mind and help guides are available every step of the way.

Community of fellow business owners

A side benefit of joining the cloud accounting software revolution is joining an instant network of fellow business owners whom you can meet and chat with via community forums and business events.

Give access to multiple users and set permissions

If different people manage different elements of your business, it’s easy to add multiple users to your account and tailor permissions so that people with specific job roles only see what they need to.

Software is consistently updated and improved without you having to do anything

Rather than having to wait for a new integration of a program, cloud accounting software is constantly updated by in-house developers. This means that if things change, cloud software is agile enough to keep up-to-date in real-time. In addition, unlike desktop accounting software programs, these updates are free and included as part of your monthly subscription fee.

Collaborate easily with your accountant

In the past, it was common for business owners to chat with their accountant once a year at year-end — leading to one huge pile of work. Cloud accounting software lets you share your accounts with your accountant throughout the year and work together regularly.

Trusted Saskatoon Bookkeeping & Tax Tips If You Have Missing Tax Slips

18. Feb 2023 Admin Saskatoon Bookkeepers, Trusted Tips

Missing a Tax Slip? Here's How to Find it and What Happens if You Don't

Walk into a Canadian household in April and you’ll likely find a kitchen table littered with receipts and pairs of reading glasses. Yet with all the receipts and tax slips you’re supposed to keep, it’s likely some are going to go missing – and a missing slip can mean a big swing in your tax bill. Before you go ahead and file your return, you’ll want to do your due diligence to avoid any penalties for missing or inaccurate information.

Check your account online

My Account for Individuals is a great place to start to check your info. Logging into your account, you should be able to find online versions of your T4 slips. You’ll also be able to check carry-forward balances like tuition credits or capital losses, as well as your RRSP contribution limits. While you’re there, you can also sign up for a direct deposit to get your refund faster and deposited directly to your bank account.

Call the CRA

Only some of your tax slips will show up in My Account, namely the slips that begin with T4. To verify all your tax slips that the CRA has on file, particularly ones that relate to investments, you can call the Individual Enquiries line at 1-800-959-8281. Before you call, make sure you’ve got your SIN and last year’s tax return handy (which you can view online). After answering a few security questions, you can ask to confirm the slips they have on file for you and compare their records to yours to see if you’ve missed anything.

How do you know if the CRA has all your slips?

The majority of T3s, T4s, and T5s will all be processed through the CRA’s system. As the processing of these slips requires a SIN, the income on the slip is then attributed to you which you can then verify when you call the CRA.

‍However, not all slips go through the CRA’s system.

‍Certain slips such as T2202As for tuition deductions, T5008s for capital gains and losses, and RRSP contributions are not always processed by the CRA. While the rules differ across the various types of tax forms, some slips can be generated independently and don’t have to go through the CRA’s system first. For these slips, you’re going to want to track them down from the source provider since the CRA won’t have them on file.

For example, if you know you’re meant to receive a tuition credit, call the school to grab your form. If you’ve made some stock trades in the year, call your bank to grab a gains and losses report. Unfortunately, there’s no fool-proof way to know that you’ve got all these types of slips – you’ll just need to remember!

What happens if you still miss a slip?

If you file your taxes with a missing slip, don't expect a collections officer at your place. If the missing slip contained only a small amount of income, you may get lucky and the CRA may just ignore it. On the other hand, if it’s a significant amount of income, you may be automatically reassessed.

When this happens, as long as you’re in a refund position, you likely won’t have the interest to pay. Unfortunately, if the swing is big enough to generate a balance owing, you may have some interest to cover. If you missed a significant slip that the CRA does not have on file such as a tuition slip, not to worry, you can file an adjustment to your return down the road if you’re able to track it down. Before you file your return, double-checking that you’ve got all your slips covered will mean a faster refund, no interest, and less stress!

Trusted Founder Sara Wheelwright Steps Up To Participate In 2023 The Sanctum Survivor 36-Hour Challenge

17. Feb 2023 Trusted Saskatoon

The Trusted team believes giving back is always in style. We are proud members of the Saskatoon business community. We love our city and do what we can in an effort to support local events, non-profits and to help individuals in need.

Help Sara reach her fundraising target and Support Sanctum Care Group by donating:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/sanctum-care-group-inc/p2p/sanctumsurvivor2023/page/sara-wheelwright/

"If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you’ll end up doing nothing for nobody." ~ Malcolm Bane

On May 25 & 26, 2023, our founder Sara Wheelwright, and eight other community leaders will live as if homeless for 36 hours on the streets of Saskatoon as part of the Sanctum Survivor 36-Hour Challenge. In teams of two, Survivor participants will be given tasks to complete. Each lesson will aim to demonstrate specific challenges that society is often unaware of but are an everyday reality for those homeless with HIV. Participants will wear donated clothes and shoes. They will not be allowed personal belongings other than a phone (to update the public on their journey). The event itself is both powerful and unprecedented. It attempts to shed light on the intense hardship faced by people who experience poverty, homelessness and chronic illness here in Saskatoon.

Sara Wheelwright - Participant - 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge.

Owner of Trusted Saskatoon and Trusted Marketing Services, Sara is an award-winning marketer, entrepreneur, and community supporter. Sara is committed to supporting our community and volunteers her time and professional resources. You will find her organizing & facilitating conferences to provide tools and a safe space to discuss critical social issues, such as youth suicide, domestic violence and trauma.

She donates ongoing marketing services to support many non-profit fundraising events and ongoing campaigns., Including, but not limited to, Wiegers Care For Kids, TLC@Home, Saskatoon Progress Club, Mending Little Hearts and TeleMiracle.

Nothing satisfies Sara more than promoting and supporting local non-profits and organizations to succeed. When she was approached to be a participant in the 2023 challenge,

she didn't hesitate to step up; she had heard about the fantastic work Sanctum has been doing in Saskatoon and wanted to do all she could to help.

WHAT IS THE SANCTUM GROUP?

Sanctum is Saskatchewan's first hospice with respite and supportive care for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Sanctum Group is a registered Non-profit, and it runs several vital programs.

Sanctum

The hospice and transitional care home provides around-the-clock transitional care for HIV-positive persons with social and high-risk behaviours and conditions, including homelessness, that prevents them from adequately caring for themselves. In addition, this home provides compassionate end-of-life care to HIV-positive individuals with a palliative diagnosis.

Sanctum 1.5

10-bed prenatal care home which supports high-risk and HIV-positive pregnant women at risk of having their infants apprehended at birth.

Sanctum provides a community for individuals requiring supportive care to attain their optimum level of health while maximizing their control and dignity. Incorporating existing community services in Sanctum's safe and supportive environment, the prenatal home works preventively to meet these women's health and social needs more effectively and efficiently, improving the health and well-being of mom and baby while mitigating the risks associated with apprehensions of infants at birth.

As of May 2022, 92 mothers completed/graduated the program – 93 babies were prevented from entering foster care. In addition, mothers who have successfully graduated from the program have had an additional 56 children returned to their care. A total of 149 children are now successfully within the care of their mothers, either through prevention or return from foster care.

" I humbly ask for your support as a participant in the 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge, I have a target to raise $20,000 and I can only do that with the help of my friends, family and colleagues. Sanctum does much-needed work in our city, and I acknowledge that the 36-hour homelessness experience by no means accurately depicts the numerous barriers and complex issues faced by persons who survive daily in poverty and homelessness; however, I hope that drawing awareness of some of the many challenges our cities most vulnerable citizen face may be a catalyst for real and lasting change. Anything you can do to support me will be appreciated and valued. Thank you in advance " Sara Wheelwright

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There are several ways you can support Sara in the 2023 Challenge.

1. Follow along on Sara's social media to take part in her journey in The 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge on May 25th & 26th 2023

Twitter @Trustedcanada
Facebook @TrustedSara
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-wheelwright-a51b2916
Instagram @trustedsara

Please SHARE Sara's posts to help spread awareness of this year's challenge.

1.. Help Sara reach her fundraising target and Support Sanctum Care Group by donating here:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/sanctum-care-group-inc/p2p/sanctumsurvivor2023/page/sara-wheelwright/

4. Another way you can help is to donate much-needed Items to Sanctum. Please email sara@trustedcanada.com and she will arrange for pick up. See the list of items Sanctum 1.5 needs below.

Resident Needs:

Winter gear – coats, boots, toques, mitts, etc.
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Sports bras/nursing bras
Adult colouring books/coloured markers
Laundry baskets
Underarm deodorant
Shampoo/conditioner/body wash/soap
Feminine hygiene products
Lotions (scent-free)
Disposable razors
Nail clippers
Socks/underwear
Bath Towels
Face cloths
Pillows/ pillowcases
Slippers
Maternity wear/sweat pants(leggings)/Nightshirts(P.J.’s)
House coats
Pyjamas
Men's and women's sweats, shoes, comfortable indoor clothing
Crafting supplies
Nursing pads
Nipple cream

Baby Items:

Outdoor wear or winter wear
Diapers
Baby wipes
Diaper cream
Formula
Pacifiers
Nasal aspirator
Sleepers
Car seat covers
Baby soaps/lotions
Sent free baby laundry detergent
Face cloths
Baby towels
Receiving blankets
Baby nail care kit
Breastfeeding pillow
Baby under shirts
Bottle washers
Bottle warmers
Bottle liners
Bibs
Diapers
Teething rings
Baby socks
Night lights
Crib/bassinet sheets

Household Items

Please note: Health Regulations require that these items be unopened and in their original packaging.

Instant pot
Ninja blender
Bread maker
Large slow cooker
Canned goods
Hand sanitizer
Cereal
Nonperishable food items

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