"Sitting here in my new kitchen and it is absolutely beautiful! Jon did a great job! He went above and beyond what I expected. It's just so beautiful."

-Diane Davis and Bud Walter

"Our kitchen feels like we just went back 20 years. It's such a big transition and so beautiful! Andrey, our installer, is an excellent craftsman, he's a perfectionist at his work. He's precise and even the tight corners fit perfectly. We told Andrey he didn't have to clean up but he cleaned up anyway, and the kitchen was spotless when he left. Your Remodeling Guys are positive, polite and informative. They communicated at my level so I could understand everything and I appreciate that. We are very happy!"

-Ken and Marj Schaffer

"Everything went wonderful. We are really, really pleased. The installer, Chris, was awesome. He did everything we wanted and more. He was very particular about everything he did. Chris was also SPOTLESS, he vacuumed and cleaned up after himself. He's the best! Everyone from Your Remodeling Guys was very courteous and their communication was perfect! Communication was the one thing we couldn't say enough about, they kept in touch and always let us know what was going on which made us feel at ease. Very professional!"

-The Johnstons

"Our windows look great! The inspector that came out explained everything perfectly. The installers are fabulous, they couldn't have been nicer. They wanted to make sure I was satisfied. They were neat all the way through, one gentleman even walked through with a broom and dust pan and swept everything up. No mess was left at all, not even in the front yard. When the installers were finished they showed me how to operate my windows. There was also a lady who called me every week to keep me informed and I appreciated that. Everything was perfect!"

-Judy and Bob Fowler

"Andrey did a great job, he really did. He was very quiet half the time I didnt know where he was. It was so hot and he didnt complain once. I have no complaints, Id recommend Your Remodeling Guys to everyone I speak with."

-Gary and Louann Himelwright

Read the original post:
Replacement Windows York PA | Bathroom Remodel | Attic ...

They come from many walks of life and possess a multitude of talents and skills. Still, the Volunteers of the Month named jointly by the Beloit Daily News and the Voluntary Action Center this past year share something in common.

All can be described as extraordinary individuals for the generous time and efforts they have given of themselves to the Stateline Area.

In celebration of the honorees, the public is invited to reserve a place at the 35th Annual William D. Behling Volunteer of the Month Banquet at the Butterfly Club on Monday, April 13. The reception is set for 6-6:30 p.m. with dinner and a program to follow. Guest speaker will be Monica Kryzstopa of Visit Beloit. To make a reservation, call VAC at 608-355-1278 or email to: info@vac-rocks.org.

And the honorees are:

April 2014 - Otha Williams

Whether hes working with students in the School District of Beloit as a school psychologist, delivering toys at Christmas time for those in need, cooking up a batch of food for a hungry family, helping the homeless find shelter, or providing transportation to appointments for those without vehicles, Otha Williams is known for his kind heart and caring spirit. Having grown up in Beloit, he remains strongly attached to his hometown through his work and his volunteer service. Williams volunteers for the Salvation Army, his church in many ways, is a past president of the Beloit branch of the NAACP and a former vice president of the state branch. He also served on the Rock County Board of Supervisors and belonged to the Black Congressional Congress in Washington, D.C.

May 2014 Theresa Niles

She can be seen at Grinnell Hall Senior Center almost as many hours a week as the center is open. Theresa Niles not only decorates and reframes photos, she also cleans and repurposes items from the attic for the centers gift shop, has taught a variety of classes including crocheting, needlepoint cards, origami and hairpin lace. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, she was stationed throughout Asia and also learned a variety of paper folding arts. She also worked as a picture framer. Niles began volunteering at the center a couple years ago and is known not only for her hard work and artistic skills but for her patience in working with senior citizens as well.

June 2014 Tony Farrell Sr.

Renowned for his community service, Tony Farrell Sr. has been called a complete asset for his town and for Rock County. After 49 years with Voigt Music Center, he has turned his attention and passion 24/7 to the suicide prevention program in an effort to help save lives. Hes also engaged in many other volunteer endeavors. As a volunteer deputy coroner, he also employs his compassion for people. He also serves the public by volunteering at meetings for the Rock County Board of Supervisors, both Beloit and Janesville city councils, Janesville School Board and Blackhawk Technical College. He gives his time to the Beloit Police Reserve Unit, Freedom Fest, New Life Assembly of God Church, Historic Auto Attractions and Museum in Roscoe, Rotary Botanical Gardens, local nursing homes and many other groups.

Go here to read the rest:
Celebrating excellence in volunteerism

we re-did our attic this year. every time a guest came in town, we had to farm them out to relatives or they could sleep on our couch. that's not awesome. we needed a rad space for our friends. enter, the gross, dark, barn-ish attic. picture it in your head right now...scary movie attic...dusty...dirty...smelly.... do you have that thought in your head? good, because i lost the pictures of what it really looked like before. all we have is this picture from my husband's phone. enjoy. the stairs going up to the attic were like a ladder. very steep. so they had to be ripped out and re-done. we lost some closet space in the kid's rooms, but who cares. they don't need clothes. we went with dark stain. against white walls and trim, it pops quite a bit. at first it scared me. but then i was like, wait, i love this.

right when you get to the top of the stairs, there's a tiny little nook. we didn't want it to go to waste...so we made a little bungalow with 2 twin beds. slumber party central. layne and his buddies have already taken advantage of this little ditty.

the second dormer is a little reading area. or, if we put a mattress gate up, it can sleep a tiny baby when guests come. it is, after all, just a crib mattress that is upholstered. throw on a bunch of pillows and BOOM. comfy.

the third dormer is in the bathroom. the glorious bathroom. we went old school in here, since our house is colonial style. and subway and hexagon tiles never go out of style. i just adore bead board too...so that had to be added.

i love that guests will have their own bathroom on their own floor. there's nothing more awkward than walking in on a friend taking a number 2. neither of you will ever forget it even though you will pretend like you have.

anyway, on that awkward note, let's go back out into the main space shall we?

and then the back nook. a place for eating snacks, working, or pretending to do something awesome.

i did paint the very bottoms of the feet gold for a little flair. give the girl some fancy shoes, i always say.

i simply bought metallic gold paint at the craft store and painted 5 coats with a paintbrush. 'twas easy. and i saw this idea somewhere on the mighty interwebs.

i wrapped a map, that i bought at a bookstore for $10, around a canvas so that the pin could actually stick through easily. the canvas was a little smaller than the map so some of maine and california are cut off. people will have to deal with this in their hearts. no one likes main or california anyway.

Continued here:
from the nato's: attic renovation. before and after pictures.

The challenge: Homeowners Carol Kratzer and Mandy French bought their 1-story Tudor in south Minneapolis more than a dozen years ago, with the long-term goal of remodeling its unfinished attic. We wanted to create an open, functional space there and turn it into a really cool bedroom suite, said Kratzer.

The team: Kratzer and French turned to Iron River Construction (www.ironriver co.com), Chaska, 952-442-1762, with whom they had worked on three previous home-improvement projects, and designer Jessica Cook, JLC Interior Design (www.jlcinterior design.com), Maple Plain, 952-994-1124.

The wish list: In their new suite, Kratzer and French wanted space for a bedroom and a seating area, plenty of storage, and a bathroom with a separate shower and tub. Instead of the typical glass-doored shower, they preferred a large, walk-in tiled shower, similar to ones theyd seen on trips to Mexico. Jessica started to get creative, Kratzer said. They went through several different designs for the shower before landing on a free-standing circular enclosure with a descending arc at the top. The distinctive shape adds architectural interest. There are so many straight lines in this space, said French. The giant curve is a contrast.

Tricky tile: Tiling the circular shower and bathroom floor was a challenge. Kratzer and French had chosen small hexagonal penny tiles, in classic black and white, with turquoise accents. It took four weeks to install all the tile. This was not a standard project, Cook said. In addition to working with thousands of tiny tiles on a curved surface, he [Dave Karp of Tile Fusion] had to set the white tile first, then remove pieces, and hand-set the accent tile. That bathroom is a credit to his patience, skill and professionalism.

Tremendous tub: The 1936-built attic was not designed to support a cast-iron tub, which weighed almost 600 pounds, plus another 20 for each claw foot. There were no trusses, said Rick Tollerud, senior project manager for Iron River. The flooring below the tub had to be beefed up and secure, because we were putting all this weight up there. Getting the massive tub upstairs was another hurdle. It took six guys, Tollerud said. It had a painted exterior, so we couldnt scratch it. If we had to touch it up, it would show. We didnt scratch it.

Built-in functionality. As long as they were remodeling, Kratzer and French chose to make their house more energy-efficient. They made the investment in spray-foam insulation in walls and ceilings, said Tollerud. It had a huge impact on the R-value, and it also has sound-deadening qualities. To get the storage space the couple wanted, the suite includes 25 feet of custom-built cabinets behind the knee walls.

Distinctive finishes: The attics support posts are now clad in vintage Chicago brick, similar to that on the homes chimney. The 80-year-old bricks came from a neighbor who was removing them from his driveway. The flooring in the suite is dark-hued cork. Its earthy and organic, similar to wood, Cook said, but has a softer feel underfoot. We like it a lot, and the look is beautiful, Kratzer said.

Let there be light: The angled-wall space needed more light, but there wasnt enough ceiling depth to add can lights, said Cook. The solution: LED valance lighting, installed where the ceiling meets the knee wall. Its on a dimmer, so it gives a lot of flexibility, Cook said. Its functional and creates a beautiful glow. Period sconces, in a nod to the homes original architecture, and a modern chandelier were the final touches.

The result: Kratzer and Frenchs 850-square-foot suite has become their go-to getaway spot. Theyre enjoying its higher vantage point. Its fun a new perspective on our neighborhood, Kratzer said. Moving upstairs has opened up space downstairs. We travel a lot, and now we have a guest room on the first floor, so the people we visit can visit us, Kratzer said.

But friends also have their eye on the new suite. Theres a waiting list of people who want to stay here, French said. They ask us, When are you going out of town?

Read more:
Before & After: Unfinished attic in Minneapolis is now a distinctive owner's suite

Remodel an attic into a Living Room By Mark Clement

Winter is a good time for attic work. I should know, I started this attic project in the summer, and it was well over a hundred degrees for much of the project as the sun bore down mercilessly.

In winter, however, days are short and if you remodel in odd hours like many are prone to do (Im guilty as charged), then you will find an attic conversion ideal for those darker days where you want to get something done. And converting a husk of a space into something you can really use is a good expenditure of time, if you ask me.

This particular project (the high temperatures notwithstanding) was fun and rewarding. I got to detail a signature space and build a room designed to be a multi-functioning one-of-a-kind. We meshed living/working space with storage and even some leisure on this jobthere was a lot going on. So while your attic conversion may not follow this exact path, you may have elements of iteverything from design details and insulation to framing, trim and windows.

In this renovation, I built knee walls, installed skylights, replaced windows, added doors, sanded floors, did site-specific trim and used every tool in my shop to

get it done. Heres my version of conversion.

Originally posted here:
Remodel Your Attic Space - Extreme How To

James Brey/Getty Images New wood deck on a residential home.

NEW YORK (MainStreet) Home improvements are seldom easy to accomplish and rarely inexpensive, but with a little judicious decision-making, the average homeowner can not only make his house more livable and sellable but also receive an excellent return on investment.

While very few jobs will generate a full ROI, almost any improvement will recoup more than half of the job's cost when it comes time to value a home for resale, according to a report issued by the National Association of Retailers 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, which was compiled in collaboration with Remodeling Magazine. That's why it's important for consumers to choose their project carefully. Since appearance plays a crucial role in forming a positive opinion of a home, it is no surprise that the projects with the highest ROI all center on a home's exterior.

"Realtors know what buyers are looking for during their search, and curb appeal is and always will be important," said NAR president Chris Polychron. "That explains why Realtors once again rated exterior projects as some of the most attractive and valuable for homeowners."

Provided by MainStreet

The project that will give homeowners the biggest bang for their buck is also the least expensive to implement. Replacing a fiberglass or wooden front-entry door with one made of steel. The report states that the national average price for this task is $1,230, but it adds $1,252 of value to a home for a 101.8% return. The report found that using a fiberglass replacement door costs almost $3,000, with a much lower return of just 72%. These prices vary depending upon where the house is located, but in all cases, this project has the highest pay off. It certainly can help grease the wheels for a sale.

Another door is the next best project -- garage doors. Replacing a garage door averages about $1,595 to complete, but it generates an 88.4% return on investment.

For people looking to spend even less, certain simple changes can have a huge impact.

"Put on new, inexpensive shutters or repaint the old ones," said Sheryl Grider Whitehurst, NAR regional vice president and a Realtor in Peoria, Ill. "Many people will do a drive by before the make an appointment to see a house and you need to have the house look nice."

Taking the exterior makeover to the next level by redoing the siding is also a great place to spend home improvement funds, the report stated. New vinyl siding generally costs around $12,013, but 80.7% will be recouped upon sale. For those folks looking to step it up a notch, replacing the lower third of a home's siding with a manufactured stone veneer offers an even higher return at 92.2% on an investment of around $7,150.

See original here:
The Best Improvement Projects to Increase Your Home's Value

3 Attic Designs Collection Penthouse Loft Usage Samples Remodel
bats in my attic, attic fashion, attic heirloom, attic plans, flying squirrels in attic, attic stairs ireland, attic guys, proper attic insulation, attic bla...

By: ZahMeTR

Read more from the original source:
3 Attic Designs Collection Penthouse Loft Usage Samples Remodel - Video

5 Attic Designs Collection Penthouse Loft Usage Samples Remodel
small attic conversions, attic conversions perth, attic conversion dublin, attic conversions pictures, attic conversions diy, how much does an attic conversi...

By: ZahMeTR

Read the rest here:
5 Attic Designs Collection Penthouse Loft Usage Samples Remodel - Video

WETHERSFIELD, CT (WFSB) -

With the snow buildup atop many homes and businesses, popping and crackling noises could be a warning sign.

With snow piling up after many recent storms, roof raking has been on the to-do lists for many homeowners.

We do it (roof raking) so there is less pressure to the house because of the snow," said Martin Burgos.

The pressure Burgos is speaking of could be causing distress to many roofs across the state.

When heavy snow starts to pile up, popping, cracking and creaking sounds could become a bit more familiar to some.

If you hear actual cracking and look up in the attic you will see physical signs of it," said Johnny Carrier, of By Carrier Inc.

There could be sagging ceiling tiles, wood rafters or sprinkler lines, and it could be harder to close doors or windows.

Professionals suggest that if this happens, snow should be removed from the roof.

That is something that is cause for alarm, I would say you don't need to run out of the house right away but you definitely need to get it checked right away," Carrier said.

Read the original post:
Cracking and popping sounds from roofs could be cause for alarm

Home Remodeling Manchester CT|Call (860) 791-6571 Bathroom Attic Basement Finishing Improvements
Irene Designs visit us at http://www.remodelingbyirenedesigns.com/ or Call (860) 791-6571 If you live in Manchester, Connecticut and your home is in need of ...

By: Westfield MA SEO

Link:
Home Remodeling Manchester CT|Call (860) 791-6571 Bathroom Attic Basement Finishing Improvements - Video