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More about Fair Oaks:

History: Fair Oaks was part of the the original 1844 Mexican Land Grant, Rancho San Juan. This land grant also encompassed much of the adjacent communities, giving this larger area a common heritage.
The area we know as Fair Oaks was first developed in 1895 as a Sunset Colony of the Howard and Wilson Publishing Company of Chicago. The early colonists, many with academic educations or agricultural experience, applied their skills, energies and capital to the development of the new town while enjoying this beautiful new territory.  For more extensive history of Fair Oaks, see “The History of Fair Oaks” by Steve Abbott or visit the Historical Society at 10340 Fair Oaks Blvd. or online at www.FairOaksHistory.org

Location: Fair Oaks is seventeen miles northeast of Sacramento on the north bank of the beautiful American River, two miles north of U.S. Highway 50.

Why is my patio cracked?
The number one issue with outdoor patios is settling or sinking. When a patio settles, it typically does so in various sections and unevenly, which leads to unstable, wobbly surfaces. Cracks will also form as the weight of the concrete surface will no longer be supported evenly underneath. Leaving the patio or walkway in this condition will lead to stubbed toes, leaning furniture, and an overall undesirable place (especially with those unsightly cracks!).

How do I fix it?
So, what causes a patio to settle in the first place? Prior to the concrete being installed, the ground is prepared by compacting the earth underneath with heavy machinery. In most cases, this compacted surface will either be gravel or at least covered with a layer of gravel. These steps are taken to prevent the ground from settling under the weight of the patio installed above. However, sometimes settlement is inevitable due to weather conditions, namely rain water washing away the soil underneath. Also, sometimes the compacting is not done correctly or thoroughly enough.

Option 1: Replace the whole thing
The first way most homeowners think of to address their settling patio is to simply replace it. Seems simple enough, right?

But this method is not so simple. Replacing the entire patio will first require you to remove any furniture you may have on the surface, as well as any plants or landscaping which may be along the borders. Then you’re in for lots of labor, new materials, and foot traffic through your property. Even though it seems like the most obvious choice, replacing the whole patio is the most expensive and time consuming option on the table. So what else can you do?

Option 2: Resurface the top
If replacing the patio doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, resurfacing it might sound like a better option. However, resurfacing the patio’s top only hides the real issue. While cracks and furrows may now be out of sight, the initial problem of sinking and settling has left voids under the patio, and these holes will still exist. Severe voids will cause the patio slabs to rock from side to side, causing an annoying, and potentially dangerous, situation. Also, should the edge of your resurfaced patio be a part of a step, this step will now be higher, perhaps not meeting local codes and posing a hazard.

Option 3: Mudjacking
Mudjacking utilizes a mortar-based mixture which is injected into holes and cracks in the patio slab and pumped underneath the surface. The mixture fills all the voids and has enough force to raise uneven slabs to meet their neighbor, closing any cracks or holes. It then hardens, and prevents any further rocking or movement from occurring.

As mudjacking involves a mortar mix material, it does require a bit of labor and heavy material—so it’s not something you’d want to DIY. Mudjacking repairs may also be subject to erosion, as the material used is mortar based. The final, solid product underneath is also somewhat heavy, and its weight sometimes exacerbates the settling problem, leading to even more sinking in the future.

Option 3: Polymer slab lifting
The most recent advancement in patio repair is polymer slab lifting, which serves as an alternative to mudjacking that offers a lighter material and fewer followup problems. Similar to mudjacking, the polymer material (usually polyurethane) is injected into holes and cracks in the patio’s slabs, and then pumped underneath the surface of the patio, filling all voids and binding with the soil. As the material solidifies, it expands at a rapid rate, and so lifts the concrete surface to where it needs to be.

Unlike mortar mixtures, the material used in polymer slab lifting is surprisingly light, yet equally strong. The cleanup is also quick, as there is no excess, muddy material to have to wash away or clean with water. Once all the lifting is complete, all that’s left to do is a simple process of sealing cracks and adding the finishing touches to the patio’s newly filled and leveled surface.

Keep in mind, for patios composed of numerous smaller stones or pavers, mudjacking and polymer slab lifting will not always be applicable, as it is not possible to lift such small pieces uniformly. Different issues will call for different solutions, and so it is always advisable to call a local professional for large patios or walkways which may be facing settlement issues. Quotes should generally be free of charge, and you’ll then have a good idea of the time frame and cost involved for getting your space back into tip-top shape.

People who transitioned from renting took the most time to find “the one.” These former renters spent 5.7 months, on average, shopping for their perfect home—a month longer than other potential homebuyers.

People who moved to find a better neighborhood spent the second longest time finding their new home at 4.7 months. The quickest shoppers were people moving after a breakup. These shoppers spent just over two months, on average, looking for their next home.

Source: www.porch.com

#1. Clean dryer vents and duct system: Thoroughly blowing out the dryer duct system is important to help make your appliance function better as well as reduce the risk of dryer fires. The incidences of this type of fire increase in the winter months so get this task done this month.

#2. Test smoke alarms: Thanksgiving turkey dinners and distraction from entertaining guests mean more accidental cooking fires. Add the possibility of unattended candles and fires in the fireplace and you have a recipe for danger. Stock up on fire extinguishers and check the batteries in your alarms.

#3. Get winter storm ready: November windstorms can easily knock out power. Check and replace the batteries in your flashlights and place them in easy-to-find areas of the home and service your backup generator system. While you’re at it, stock up on extra water and canned goods just in case.

#4. Call and schedule a heating service pro: Make sure your heating unit is in good working order and change the filters every 3 months.

#5. Call and schedule a gutter cleaner: November brings downed leaves, needles, and branches which can quickly clog your gutters and downspouts. Protect your roof and foundation by having clear gutter drains. And make sure you use common sense when climbing your ladder.

#6. Stock up on firewood: If your home has a wood-burning fireplace, make sure you have plenty of seasoned wood. Seasoned wood is wood that has been dry for at least a year. Unseasoned wood can produce more smoke or creosote buildup within the chimney.

#7. Keep lawn clear of leaves: Continue to rake leaves and remove heavy, fallen branches off of the lawn this month as wet leaves can suffocate the grass blades. Rake leaves and compost them or use them as mulch around shrubs and bushes in the yard.

By 2030 every Baby Boomer will be over 65, and will make up 21 percent of the population. And by 2060, almost 25 percent of Americans will be 65 and older. The aging population will have many far-reaching implications for American society, and how to care for older citizens is one of the most important to plan for and consider now.

Until recently, senior citizens would typically go into an assisted living facility when they became too infirm to care for themselves or an aging partner. But there’s a growing trend for older Americans to stay in their homes throughout the aging process, known as “aging in place.”

There are various reasons for this trend: many people want to stay independent for as long as possible, remain near friends, and stay close to their community. As assisted living costs mount, it can also make financial sense to remain at home as long as possible to delay those costs and save for future health care needs. The Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2019 says that the national median cost for assisted living is $48,612 a year.

Not only does aging in place tend to cost less than assisted living, it’s more comfortable, maintains social networks, and has been proven to slow the advancement of memory loss.

In the past, senior citizens would typically go into a nursing home or other facility when they became to infirm to care for themselves or an aging partner. There’s a growing trend for older Americans to stay in their homes throughout the aging process, however, which is known as “aging in place.” 3 out of 4 adults age 50 and older want to stay in their homes as long as possible, according to an AARP survey.

Aging in place isn’t a new concept; after all, before nursing homes existed, the elderly would be looked after by family members or other caretakers at home. But the modern twist on this idea is that healthy senior citizens retrofit their own homes to accommodate for when they need more help with daily tasks while still living in their home.

Not only can aging in place be a comfort, it can make a lot of sense from a financial standpoint, too. For many Americans, their home is their single biggest asset, and it can be used to leverage future health care costs through different types of loans such as reverse mortgages or home equity lines of credit.