By Rose Meily, for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers

Realtors continue to rate exterior projects among the most valuable home improvement projects. According to the 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners can recoup more than 78 percent of costs upon resale for such exterior projects as an entry door, siding and window replacements.

"A home's curb appeal is always critical since it's the first impression for potential buyers. That's why exterior replacement projects offer the greatest bang for the buck," says National Association of Realtors president Steve Brown.

David Tonna, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, agrees with Brown. "Exterior projects enhance a home at first glance. For many potential buyers, it can mean the difference between inquiring more about the home or moving on to check out another," says Tonna.

The 2014 report compares construction costs with resale values for 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects comprising additions, remodels and replacements in 100 markets across the country. This report is produced annually by Remodeling magazine publisher Hanley Wood, LLC, in cooperation with the national real estate group.

For the report each year, agents are asked to provide their insights into local markets and buyer home preferences within those markets.

Realtors judged a steel entry door replacement as the project expected to return the most money, with an estimated 96.6 percent of costs recouped upon resale. This exterior project is consistently the least expensive in the report, costing little more than $1,100 on average.

Eight of the top 10 most cost-effective projects nationwide in terms of value recouped are exterior projects. A wood deck addition came in second with an estimated 87.4 percent of costs recouped upon resale.

Two different siding replacement projects were among the top 10. Fiber- cement siding is expected to return 87 percent of costs, while vinyl siding is expected to return 78.2 percent of costs.

Two garage door replacements were also on the top list. A midrange garage door replacement is expected to return 83.7 percent. An upscale garage door replacement is expected to recoup 82.9 percent of costs.

See the article here:
Exterior projects rated most valuable home improvements

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) February 13, 2014

Phoenix, Arizona Temperatures might be cooler right now, but before too long, it will be the dead of summer again and cooling the home will be a major priority. Air conditioning in Phoenix is one of the best ways to cool a home, but it is not the only option. Its a good thing too: air conditioning is one of the most expensive energy drains on a homeowners budget. As nice as it might feel to walk into a cool home after a long day out in the summer heat, that comfortable coolness will cost a pretty penny.

How can homeowners cool their homes without maxing out on air conditioning costs? There are several options. Remember, these options do not need to be used instead of air conditioning (though thats an option). They are meant to supplement air conditioning to achieve the most efficient cooling in a home.

Ideal Options

First on the list are options for people who are starting from scratch. In an ideal world, homeowners can create their perfect homes with an eye toward saving on cooling costs. They can situate their home on the plot of land at just the right angle to prevent the sun from warming certain rooms too much during the day. They can install state-of-the-art ceiling fans, add tile floors that keep cool, and invest in the most energy efficient air conditioning unit available. They can even choose home dcor items that help keep the house cool. Unfortunately, not everyone has a budget like this or the opportunity to begin their home cooling plans from scratch. What are some of the more practical options to help homeowners avoid overuse of air conditioners?

Insulation

Most people think of insulation as a winter chore. Though it is important for keeping heat in a space, it is also important for keeping a space cool. Every bit of cold air blown from an air conditioner should stay inside of the house. If any is seeping out through holes near the doors and windows or elsewhere, it is creating a less efficient environment. Phoenix homeowner should weather strip the homes to seal doors and windows to keep as much air in as possible when the HVAC system is operating.

It is also important to make sure the ducts are well-insulated. If air is escaping through cracks and seams in the duct system, it might be cooling areas of the home that are not meant to be cooled. For instance, how much air escapes into the super hot attic during the summer when the air conditioning is running? Aeroseal Phoenix can seal the duct system, which can saves hundreds of dollars each year on energy costs.

Fans

Installing fans in the home can also make a big difference. In addition to traditional fans intended to circulate air, ceiling fans can pull warm air up and push cooler air down into the living space. An attic fan is also an efficient way to cool a home. These heavy duty fans create an efficient system of cooling that costs much less than air conditioning.

See more here:
Phoenix A/C Contractor Announces 3 Tips to Help Cool Your Home Without an Air Conditioner

Virginia Beach Kitchen Contractors (757) 320-2709
Virginia Beach Kitchen Contractors (757) 320-2709 http://virginiakitchenremodeling.meetthecontractor.org http://youtu.be/bdzAwRc2CbA Virginia Beach, VA Kitch...

By: Virginia Roofing

More:
Virginia Beach Kitchen Contractors (757) 320-2709 - Video

Todays release from the Central Statistics Office (KSH) focuses on the construction industry, with the latest round of figures showing an increase of 11.4% year-on-year in December. For 2013 as a whole, KSH reports that a 9.6% y.o.y. upswing was seen.

Building construction and civil-engineering projects increased over 2013 by 10.4% and 8.6%, respectively, while the volume of new contracts signed by construction enterprises was 29.5% higher y.o.y.

In December 2013, a month-on-month decrease of 1.3% in the seasonally- and workday-adjusted production was observed.

Output rose y.o.y. in both main groups of constructions, i.e. in the construction of buildings and civilengineering works by 12.8% and 9.3% respectively. Based on seasonally adjusted indices, the construction of buildings was down by 1.0% while that of civil engineering works rose by 0.2% m.o.m.

At the end of December 2013, the stock of orders of construction enterprises was 64.9% higher than a year ago. The stock of orders for buildings was 9.0% higher than one year before, while that for civil engineering works increased 85.0%.

Construction producer prices rose by 2.3% y.o.y. for the fourth quarter.

Excerpt from:
KSH: Construction output up 11.4% in 2013

One of the tallest office buildings in downtown Los Angeles has been acquired by a major Hollywood real estate investor, CIM Group, in an unusual portfolio sale that included a regional shopping center in Montclair, a high-rise in Anaheim and a hotel in Bakersfield.

The crown jewel of the seven properties acquired by CIM Group is Two California Plaza, a prestigious but troubled skyscraper on Bunker Hill where gleaming office towers erected during the last building boom decades ago are having a tough time attracting tenants.

In recent years, the center of gravity for downtown development has shifted a few blocks south, where new housing, bars and restaurants have transformed the financial district all within walking distance of Staples Center and the emerging South Park neighborhood.

But Bunker Hill is poised for a comeback as new owners bring millions to invest in property improvements near Walt Disney Concert Hall and additions including the $130-million Broad Museum come to life, said Shaul Kuba, a principal at CIM Group.

"Bunker Hill already has a phenomenal collection of real estate," including US Bank Tower, the tallest building in the West, he said. "With all the renovation and repositioning that is happening, you will start seeing some serious tenant moves."

As part of the move, CIM plans to jazz up the restaurants and shops in the already-popular courtyard, which lies at the foot of two office towers and the 17-story Omni Los Angeles Hotel.

The encompassing development, called California Plaza, whose courtyard includes elaborate dancing-water fountains, is at the top of the funicular railway Angels Flight. The plaza is also linked to the Museum of Contemporary Art and an apartment tower.

Two California Plaza, 52 stories tall and housing nearly 1.3 million square feet, is considered one of the region's premier office buildings and is home to lawyers, accountants, bankers and other professionals. It is, however, only about 60% occupied.

Office vacancies also trouble US Bank Tower, which is also about 60% leased, and other Bunker Hill skyscrapers that once belonged to MPG Office Trust. MPG was downtown's largest office landlord for many years, but the Los Angeles company went out of business in 2013.

New York landlord Brookfield Office Properties Inc. bought the bulk of MPG's downtown office portfolio, though US Bank Tower was acquired by Singapore investor Overseas Union Enterprise. Now Two California Plaza belongs to CIM Group after it passed through the hands of a Maryland-based manager of distressed properties.

Read more:
With sale of Two California Plaza, Bunker Hill is poised for comeback

Gloucester County staff members who have been dealing with less than ideal working space for many years will finally move into new offices as soon as spring.

During its Feb. 4 meeting, the Gloucester Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allocate $160,000 from the countys excess fund balance to prepare space in Building Two, formerly occupied by school administration staff, for departments currently working in Building Three.

Building Three was sold in 2012 for $293,600 and the county has been leasing that space for $2,391 per month, giving school administration the opportunity to relocate to the Thomas Calhoun Walker Education Center.

Assistant county administrator Garrey Curry said now is the time, with the space vacant, to perform some modest renovations. He said it is more cost effective to conduct the work now rather than several years down the road when the space is occupied and used on a daily basis.

Work on Building Two will include HVAC replacements estimated to cost $78,000; carpet replacement at approximately $35,000; painting estimated to cost $24,000 and then some other various expenses for furniture, moving and limited physical changes to the office space.

Read the original post:
Supervisors approve funds to renovate office space

NORFOLK, Neb. (KTIV/US92) -

A Siouxland School District is going forward with numerous major renovation projects, and school officials say they won't put any additional financial burden on their tax base.

The Norfolk Public School district is planning some type of renovation to almost all of their buildings over the next five years. Monday, the Norfolk School Board approved the use of qualified capital purpose undertaking funds for numerous projects that school officials said will be split up into two phases.

School officials said the first phase of projects will utilize the approximately $2 million in QCPUF bonds that the district has left in its budget. They said that money will go towards some HVAC upgrades at the high school, the Carson Theatre, Jefferson Elementary as well as some heat pump replacements at the middle school, and a number of roof projects in the district. The district will also look into demolishing the old Junior College building on Philip Avenue.

From there, the district has some more long-term goals. School officials said they'd like to take out additional QCPUF bonds and pursue a renovation project that would allow for the relocation of their alternative ed program.

Despite the number of projects and a projected total price well into the millions, school finance leaders said due to the recent refinance of the district's existing bonds, all of these renovation projects will be possible without the need for additional property tax money.

View original post here:
Norfolk school district considers renovation projects

Employer:

TRS Staffing

Updated: Feb122014

Job posting bookmarked!

Sr. I & E Designer will design process plant instrumentation and electrical power systems in accordance with nationally recognized and company standards; design medium and low voltage power distribution and controls, instrumentation/control system wiring, plant lighting, electrical heat tracing, and the installation of process plant instrumentation; verify accuracy and completeness of all deliverable products and services.

The right person will have five + years industrial design experience in process plant instrumentation and electrical power systems; AutoCad drafting; Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code; Associates Degree in an industrial technology program or evaluated equivalent experience; strong working knowledge of electrical design (conduit and cable sizing, voltage drop calculations, hazardous location apparatus selection, cable tray sizing and specification, motor control schematic and wiring design, etc.); strong working knowledge of instrumentation design (normal and energy-limited circuit design, preparation of installation details, location plans, control panel layout and device selection, etc.); must be familiar with pneumatic, electronic and analytical instrumentation used to measure and control flow, temperature, pressure, level and analytical properties of fluids; proficient reading technical documentation including Piping & Instrument Diagrams, loop drawings, wiring schematics, and specifications.

Candidates must be able to work in the US without sponsorship.

In order to apply for this position, applicants MUST meet the following criteria. If your resume does not match these criteria, you will not be able to apply for this position.

Location: North America

Go here to read the rest:
I&E Designer

Timeline: What To Expect From Major Nor'easter In Philadelphia Area Timeline: What To Expect From Major Nor'easter In Philadelphia Area

Updated: Wednesday, February 12 2014 3:59 PM EST2014-02-12 20:59:11 GMT

As another snowstorm bears down on the Philadelphia area, the National Weather Service says some places should prepare for a foot of snow and the storm could last into Friday morning.

As another snowstorm bears down on the Philadelphia area, the National Weather Service says some places should prepare for a foot of snow and the storm could last into Friday morning.

Updated: Wednesday, February 12 2014 3:54 PM EST2014-02-12 20:54:19 GMT

The Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI are searching for man responsible for robbing a bank in Northeast Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI are searching for man responsible for robbing a bank in Northeast Philadelphia.

Updated: Wednesday, February 12 2014 3:49 PM EST2014-02-12 20:49:13 GMT

Because of the prior storms and the continued snow sitting on trees, Nutter warned about downed trees and power lines during and after tomorrow's storm.

Because of the prior storms and the continued snow sitting on trees, Nutter warned about downed trees and power lines during and after tomorrow's storm.

Read the original post:
Boy Writes Sick Mother Touching Letters In Snow

SALEM The City Council will consider tomorrow night whether the planned $246,930 renovation of the Town Pump Fountain should move forward.

City officials say its time the fountain at the corner of Essex and Washington streets got a makeover, but the best bid for the work came in about $97,000 higher than theyd hoped.

The city has found $163,000 in grants for the renovations, leaving it still about $84,000 short. Mayor Kim Driscoll has requested that city councilors fund the remaining amount from the citys Capital Outlay Renovation and Repair account.

The fountain is at the site of the water supply Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about in his short story A Rill From the Town Pump. It hasnt been renovated since it was erected in 1976, and officials have long eyed altering or doing away with its stone-lined pool, which regularly attracts troublemakers who dump in soap to create bubbles.

Currently, the fountain is in a state of disrepair due to the age of the equipment, Driscoll wrote in a letter to the council. In addition, when it is operational, it has been a source of aggravation and a near-constant battle to keep it clean and free of soap suds.

The work would cut the size of the pool by half and install underwater lights so that they shine through the falling water, thereby enhancing the fountains nighttime appearance. The former part of the pool would be filled in with bricks and could eventually host tables or seats.

It is our hope that the project will activate this space by providing al fresco seating in the warmer months where passers-by can sit and enjoy the refurbished water feature at a key intersection in the heart of the downtown, Driscoll wrote.

The existing steps would be torn up and replaced with concrete blocks inscribed with text from A Rill From the Town Pump. Other work would focus on cleaning the sites bronze plaques and installing a new filtration system.

The fountains restoration would constitute the final of three phases of improvements to the Essex Street pedestrian mall.

The city previously rejected a $343,100 bid for the fountain work.

Originally posted here:
Council to consider fountain renovation