Secaucus, NJ (PRWEB) June 02, 2014

Many factors can lead to the need for attic insulation removal. Wet, moldy, dusty, feces- and chemical-laden insulation can be hazardous to the health of the family. Cellulose insulation in particular needs to be removed by a professional because cellulose absorbs moisture when the humidity is high; it gains weight, settles, and loses its R value. When hot, dry conditions prevail, cellulose bakes in the attic, dries out and sheds its toxic chemical dust. This cycle repeats over and over again. AttiCare, NJ insulation installers company, have announced today they now offer safer better insulation removal.

Sometimes remodeling or other home improvement projects warrant the removal and replacement of the attic insulation. Weather, a moisture problem, or even an unwanted animal infestation can cause severe damage. Not only is damaged insulation no longer as effective as it once was, but insulation contaminated by animal or insect infestation, smoke, water, dust, mold, or mildew can be a health hazard.

The teams of experts at AttiCare will have an initial visit to determine where the insulation needs to be removed in a safe manner. The contractors in New Jersey use the proper machinery and equipment to make sure that no damaged material is left behind during insulation removal. Professional techniques are applied to ensure the home remains safe.

About AttiCare NJ: The New Jersey contractors at AttiCare have been offering attic cleaning services based out of Secaucus, NJ, to the surrounding area for over fifteen years. Crawl space cleaning services, rodent proofing, rodent control, and rodent removal are offered along with attic cleaning services including, new attic insulation and the removal of old and damaged insulation. Air duct repair and replacement services are also offered.

Attic insulation is a must for households; crawl spaces, attics, and other areas of the house need to be insulated to the proper R-value to lower heating bills and keep the house warmed evenly. Air ducts need to be cleaned and maintained to protect against contaminated air filtering into the house. Rodent proofing keeps out unwanted pests that can cause damage to homes.

AttiCare strives to provide the best services with the highest customer satisfaction. They know how to provide the safest insulation removal and installation techniques to provide homes with insulation at the proper R-value to insure maximum efficiency and comfort. To contact both San Francisco Bay Area and the Northern New Jersey areas Atticare services, please call their toll free phone number 888.743.7243 or visit the contact page of their official website http://www.bayareaattic.com/contact-us/ .

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Safer Insulation Removal Now Being Offered by Contractors New in Jersey

NASHVILLE, Tenn. A man and a woman were injured in what police called a meth explosion at a Donelson duplex early Tuesday morning.

Metropolitan Nashville Police SID detectives and the Nashville Fire Department were still processing the scene late Tuesday morning at the duplex in the 200 block of Clovernook Drive. Crime scene tape surrounded the home, while a Hazmat team was working to process evidence from the scene.

Crews from the Nashville Fire Department were called to the duplex around 3:45 a.m. and found fire coming from the attic. They were able to put out the fire quickly, but found chemicals used to make meth inside the home.

Firefighters said the victims first attempted to put out the fire on their own the man suffered burns and the woman suffered smoke inhalation.

Well this is the perfect example of it tonight; we had two people injured. Theres no need to try and put it out-- just call emergency personnel and let us take care of it, said Doug Graves from the Nashville Fire Department.

Both the man and woman were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where they were listed in critical condition. Their names were not immediately released.

The woman's two children were apparently inside the home when the fire broke out, and one told NewsChannel 5 that they were woken up by their dogs barking. Neither was hurt.

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Two Injured In Donelson House Fire

This garage door upgrade used composite doors that were stained/painted to look like wood.

Kevin Bunnell, Renovation Design Group

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For the past few weeks we have been discussing the top individual remodeling projects that yield the highest return on investment as rated by Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value report for 2013-2014. We've talked about front doors, wooden decks and attic bedroom additions. This week we will be discussing garage door selection.

Home improvement projects can be looked at in one of two ways: You can see them as isolated projects or you can approach them as individual parts of a more comprehensive upgrade to your property.

Some people are able to move out of their homes and have professionals renovate it from roof to foundation once and for all. When tackling a large, far-reaching project, homeowners are likely to have a plan which can be followed by all concerned in order to achieve the desired end result. Most of us, however, are required to take on home improvement projects at a slower pace, one at a time. It is not uncommon for homeowners to tackle one or two projects a year in addition to regular house maintenance.

The important point here is that these should not be isolated design projects. The best scenario is to have a method to your madness in other words, a master plan for your home improvement efforts. Every project should move you closer to the end goal for your house, and they should be sequenced to avoid having to revisit issues or areas that were previously addressed. If you dont have a drawing of your ideal front faade, you are not ready to select a garage door.

Many American homes have garages on their front faade. This trend began in the 1950s when automobiles were making their greatest impact on the American economy and culture. Showing the world that you had a car (front carport) or maybe even two (front garage) was a source of pride and status. Prior to that, in the 1930s and '40s, cars were housed in variations of the former carriage house which was placed "out back." Recently, attached garages are tucked around the side of a home if the lot is wide enough to accommodate a side entry driveway.

In any case especially with a front-facing attached garage replacing the garage door can do wonders for your curb appeal, and in the world of remodeling, it is on the less expensive end. It can also add a dose of energy efficiency to your home. If you choose an insulated door, you will reap the benefits of a new garage door on your energy bill as well as in your homes value. Many older homes still have a bland, metal garage door that isnt insulated and doesnt have much charm. Garage doors have come a long way in both function and design in recent years.

The key to successfully selecting the correct garage door is to look at it in conjunction with the entire front elevation and with your end goal (master plan) in mind. You must first determine the style (actual or future) of your home and then select a complementary door style and material. There may be individual doors, which we think are attractive, but choosing a craftsman-style garage door for your 1970s rambler wont do your curb appeal any favors.

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Renovation Solutions: Selecting a garage door for a higher return

By Richard Zowie

Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Brett Davis eventually moved to Virginia while in the military, and later, as a contractor.

But a chance to own his own business brought him back home.

Davis mother, Sharon Moose, is one of the owners of the Attic Storage and rented a storage room to the owners of The Peach Tree Inn.

They approached Mom and asked if she wanted to buy the hotel, Davis recalled. She said she knew someone who might be interested and contacted me. I returned for a look and decided to buy.

For the past 3.5 years, Davis has been the inns owner. The hotel opened in 1941 and has been in service in town for 73 years.

Located a quarter mile south of downtown Fredericksburg, the Peach Tree Inn has seven different room and lodging options, ranging from queen- to king-sized rooms, along with executive suites with full-sized kitchens.

The hotel also offers swimming pools along with picnic tables and grills.

Davis described the inn as being motorcycle-friendly with covered parking.

I always wanted to move back and own my own small business, Davis said, adding that he prefers working for himself. I also live on the property, which means no commute. Theres a lot of work to do, but I can do it on my own schedule and spend a lot of time with my kids.

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Homegrown Fredericksburg: Peach Tree Inn

Youve probably already heard of foam used to cover flat roofs found on many of Arizonas pueblo-style homes. Its roofing that keeps out rain but also reflects heat. Foam also plays a big role in insulating many newly built homes. Its role is growing in improving the quality of life inside older homes as well.

Foam insulation is generally a polyurethane product and much of it is sprayed on surfaces or injected into walls. Besides insulating, the foam can serve as a vapor barrier, protect against noise, deflect water and resist mold.

Here are some of its uses:

--Foam in exterior walls Do you live in an older, concrete block masonry home? These masonry homes are probably the best kind of construction for Arizona because of their structural strength and their resistance to fire and termite damage. Many tens of thousands of these homes were built in this state during the 1950s and 60s. Sometimes these homes were built from slump block or from concrete blocks finished with brick or stucco facing. If you have one of these older homes, you know they usually have one big problem. Many had no effective insulation put in their walls.

But since the 1990s, foam insulation has become a popular way to fix this problem. For the injection process, workers make small holes on the outside of the house that can be easily repaired later. The foam is injected via a hose into the cores of concrete-block or masonry walls in the home. As the foam enters the walls, it fills all the empty cells in the blocks, including the joints between blocks. Not only will this material help reduce utility bills, it will also help keep out insects and dust. Your home will also be much quieter.

Its estimated that the foam can increase the R-value of these masonry walls several times. R-value, of course, is a measure of the thermal resistance to heat flow; the higher the number the better the insulation.

The average-sized masonry home can be done in half a day; cost varies depending on the homes size.

Some retrofitting companies say frame construction homes, the most common type of housing in Arizona, can also benefit from having foam injected into walls. But our view is that if your wood-frame home is not too old and has good existing insulation, foam injection may not be that helpful. Even if it works slightly, it may cost you more than you will gain in lower energy bills.

Before retrofitting the walls of your home, have a whole house energy audit done first to find out how effective your current insulation is.

--Foam in interior walls Foam can be used as well in interior walls in any type of home whether masonry or frame construction -- to help reduce noise. For example, if a bedroom in your house is next to the utility room, it can be tough to sleep when the clothes washer is running. Injecting foam in that wall will make the bedroom much quieter.

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Rosie on the House: What is foams role in a house?

In this remodel, an attic bedroom was added to the attic space.

David Price, Renovation Design Group

When it comes to making the most out of your home-remodeling investment, reconfiguring or repurposing existing space to add more bedrooms is a surefire way to get some bang for your buck. In our series of high return on investment remodeling projects, No. 3 on the Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value national report for 2013-2014 is adding an attic bedroom. (See No. 1 of a front door replacement and No. 2 adding a wood deck from the past few weeks).

We see a lot of people searching for ways to better use their existing space. Tapping into the attic space is one way to get more livable space out of your house.

Adding an attic bedroom is easier in some houses than others. Could you turn your attic space into a bedroom or two?

There are a few items to consider. First, determine if the structure of your roof is composed of individual rafters or prefabricated trusses. The shape of trusses prohibits the use of the space for living, and they cannot be easily modified. Most homes built after 1960 were constructed with trusses, so they rarely have an attic that can be reclaimed for living space.

Next, look at the ceiling height in the attic. The center of the space at the peak of the roof must be a minimum of 7 feet high 8 feet or more is better. Keep in mind also that the usable floor space of an attic begins where the height of each side wall reaches about 5 feet. The low-height space in the area near the outer edge of the roof (known as the "kneewall" space) is good for storage, but not for furniture or for people walking around.

So, even though you have a stick-built roof with adequate height at the center, you may not have enough usable space in your attic without changing some of the roof line. Added space can be captured on the ends of the space if you have a hipped roof (a roof that slopes on all four sides), which can be changed into a gable end with a window for light, views and egress requirements. New space can also be captured on the sides of your attic by adding dormers. These triangular additions to your roof line allow you to transform kneewall space into usable floor area by providing enough height so you can walk into this area.

Many municipalities have restrictions on the addition of dormers. For instance, you may be restricted to an overall width (such as 10 feet), a required distance between dormers (such as 4 feet) or an overall percentage of the existing roof length that can be covered by dormers (such as 50 percent). The height of dormers must also comply with building height limits, and they should never be higher than the existing roof.

Another consideration is that the joists that hold up the existing ceiling below the attic space are generally not strong enough to act as the floor of your newly finished space. Be prepared to beef up this structure and add a new subfloor to the attic to carry the additional load of people and furniture.

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Renovation Solutions: Adding an attic bedroom

Home // Interior Remodeling // Attic Remodeling

Are you looking to add more space to your home? Does your attic need renovations? Our Chicago attic remodeling experts are the ones to call. Attics can add many square feet to your home. You can turn your attic into a bedroom, a play room, a library, a home office or even a theater. Catalysts Chicago attic remodelers will work with you to design an attic renovation or remodel that fits all of your needs.

Our Chicago attic remodeling experts provide our customers with only the highest quality craftsmanship. At Catalyst, we pride ourselves on our impeccable attention to detail and our ability to complete our projects on time without cutting corners.

We provide a variety of services as Chicago attic renovation professionals; the services we provide include:

All of our Chicago attic remodeling services at Catalyst are customized to fit your needs and desires. The things that an attic can be used for is limited only by the available space. Our Chicago attic remodelers have the capability to create an attic that functions just as any other room in the house or as a completely unique room that adds character to your home.

For more information about how our Chicago attic remodeling services can benefit you, contact us today. At Catalyst, we strive to provide you with an unbeatable attic remodeling service. Call us or fill out our online request form to learn more today. Our Chicago attic renovation teams are excited to work with you.

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Chicago Attic Remodeling | Chicago Attic Renovation| Attic ...

An unlikely hero broke up a home break-in.

The man who lives at the home was not there at the time, but his loyal dog was keeping an eye on things.

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Now 44-year-old Shane Swanson is charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

The burglary took place in the middle of the day. The resident of the house was at work and Dino was working too; he was on security duty.

Dino is an 8-year-old Lab/beagle mix who loves to play. But he also knows when to get serious.

"If you come around and act like you got some sense he won't do nothing to you. He'll play, he'll lick you, but if you act like you're sneaky or trying to do something he knows is not right, I don't know if he'll bite you, but he'll bark like hell at you," said the homeowner's brother Jesse Brown.

Police said Swanson broke into a house on S. Floyd Street Tuesday afternoon.

Police believe Swanson ripped aluminum siding off a vent to get inside the attic.

Dino was home alone and showed the burglar who's boss.

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Burglary suspect arrested after falling through ceiling

(BPT) - More and more homeowners are embarking upon home improvement projects, spending nearly $200 billion a year on home renovations, according to the National Association of Home Builders. If youre looking to make some home improvements without breaking the bank, spend smartly and invest time and money now into the projects that will pay back later.

Curb appeal

When it comes to first impressions, house hunters first notice curb appeal, or lack thereof. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, curb appeal is important to 71 percent of homebuyers. So beautify the outdoor space to attract possible buyers by focusing on small exterior improvements thatll pay off big like planting seasonal shrubs, painting the front door, refreshing a rusty mailbox or replacing old porch lighting with updated fixtures. These minor details will make a major and lasting statement. At the very least, you should clean the yard of any debris, trim trees and spread mulch in planting beds.

Take outdoor renovations to the next level by transforming the look of your home completely with a fresh coat of paint. Be mindful of your homes location when selecting paint colors. Bold or bright colors might be the norm in Florida but wouldnt look right in a region like the Pacific Northwest where neutral earth tones are popular.

You can also increase the value of your home by giving your siding material an overhaul. Remodeling magazine suggests replacing aluminum and vinyl siding with a durable fiber-cement mixture, which will recoup about 88 percent of its cost upon resale. It resists fire, rotting, moisture and termites - all potential hazards that could otherwise end up costing thousands.

Let your insurance agent know whenever you complete a renovation project to make sure any new upgrades to your home are properly covered under your existing policy. If not, your agent can work with you to make sure you get the coverage you need, says Erie Insurance Vice President and Product Manager Joe Vahey. In addition, some home improvement upgrades may entitle you to discounts, especially if renovations make the home safer or more secure. For example, Erie Insurance offers discounts for installing smoke alarms or a central station alarm. Erie also provides a discount for installing sprinkler systems in your home.

Bed, bath and beyond

As house hunters head indoors, there are a few things that are likely to increase a sale. Most tend to look at kitchens and baths first. Experts recommend timeless fixtures instead of trendy ones since they hold their own over time and appeal to buyers who favor both contemporary and classic looks. Dont waste your money on fancy fixtures and features they rarely make or break a sale.

Most people seem to think that a huge kitchen overhaul is necessary to snag interested buyers. However, Remodeling Magazine reports that youll actually recoup 8.5 percent more of the costs of a minor kitchen renovation compared to a major kitchen renovation. So instead of redoing the kitchen completely, accomplish a few minor DIY kitchen updates like changing out faucets and lighting fixtures, painting cabinets, adding new hardware to drawers and cabinets, and replacing old appliances with newer (and often more energy-efficient) models.

Experts also say that adding an attic bedroom and finishing the basement are two of the largest renovations that give you the best return on your investment, allowing you to recoup more than 84 percent and nearly 78 percent of the cost, respectively.

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Home improvements that make your home more valuable

Jennifer Rios/San Angelo Standard-Times Firefighters douse a structure fire at the 3800 block of Lake Drive in northwest San Angelo Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times Firefighters use Ladder 1 to attack a north San Angelo fire from above. Flames still burned beneath the roofing material despite that effort. Shot/Archived:05.06.14

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times A San Angelo firefighter adjusts a water hose on Ladder 1 while the crew fought a fire in the 3800 block of Lake Drive. Shot/Archived:05.06.14

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times San Angelo firefighters remove bunker gear and rehydrate after responding to a fire in the 3800 block of Lake Drive. Shot/Archived:05.06.14

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times San Angelo firefighters switched out crews to give responders a chance to cool down and hydrate during a Tuesday morning fire in north San Angelo. Shot/Archived:05.06.14

SAN ANGELO, Texas Nobody was injured in a northwest San Angelo fire that destroyed a home and took firefighters hours to extinguish.

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Fire destroys vacant north-side home