Given that we received very mixed reviews for home inspection services in our surveys of local consumers, we expected some companies in our test would perform better than others. But what really miffed us was how little work many inspectors bothered to do.

Roofing work is expensive, and, if you hire the wrong contractor, you can spend thousands of dollars too much and still get terrible work. Our ratings of area roofers will help you nail down the best roofers for your job.

Whether it’s routine or an emergency, sometimes you need a good plumber. Fortunately, we’ve found many excellent plumbing outfits in the area, including many that not only rate best for quality work, but also are among the lowest in price.

Whatever company you choose, dealing wisely with the plumber produces better work and saves you money.

Following these rules will help reduce the seriousness and frequency of plumbing problems.

Most serious basement moisture problems occur when water leaks or seeps through basement floors, through joints between floors and walls, or through walls below ground level during or after rainstorms.

There are a number of ways to treat below-ground rainwater leakages, with advantages and disadvantages to each. The first step is to check gutters and downspouts. Then inspect the soil around your house to make sure it is properly graded.

Once you decide on the best way to solve your wet basement problem, how do you get the work done?