April 1, 2014 Updated Apr 1, 2014 at 1:08 PM CDT

No Foolin' Commerce Recommends an Advanced Home Energy Assessment before Making Major Home Improvements, Upgrades

Minnesota Department of Commerce

Before embarking on home energy improvements or remodeling, especially major projects, the Minnesota Department of Commerce strongly recommends having an advanced home energy assessment.

An assessment, or energy audit, of how your house is functioning can help you decide what needs fixing or replacing. A followup inspection after the work has been completed can help document the energy savings.

An energy assessment will identify some simple lowcost measures you can take, such as weatherstripping doors, and it can help prioritize more expensive but costeffective measures, like adding insulation and airsealing or replacing a heating system.

Analyzing the operation and interactions of the various components of the home upfront can save in the long run.

For instance, consider an energy assessment before replacing major equipment such as a furnace or boiler. Determining and addressing air leakage, insulation, and other issues can help to correctly size a new heating system and ensure that it will work as efficiently as possible.

An advanced energy assessment should include the following: A review of energy bills to help assess home performance and identify savings opportunities. A blowerdoor test to determine air leakage. Infrared scans to detect insulation levels and sources of air leaks. Efficiency and safety testing for combustion appliances. A thorough visual inspection for attic, wall, crawlspace, foundation, basement, window, door, and roof problems.

Contact your gas or electric utility to arrange an advanced energy assessment. More comprehensive assessments are available from private contractors specializing in comprehensive home performance reviews.

View post:
No Foolin' Advanced Home Energy Assessment is needed

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - A Tyler man who is a Vietnam veteran says is humbled by what East Texans are doing to help him. Terry Cuba has a new roof over his head, thanks to Habitat for Humanity. Cuba is one of two local veterans selected for a program that helps build and renovate U.S. veteran's homes.

Eight years ago, a tree fell on his house.

"It covered the top of the house and bent and broke a lot of shingles," Cuba said. "It messed up things."

The roof stayed covered with black plastic until Habitat for Humanity showed up this week to help.

"GAF has a grant with habitat where they'll provide shingles and labor to put a new roof on, so that was the first process that I did," said Habitat for Humanity director of construction Raimund Gideon. "I utilized those grants to get the roof back on to where water was not getting in the house."

Cuba and his family have lived in this house on Meadow Lane for the last 30 years but they fell on some hard times.

"In the 70s I went in the Marine Corps and I got a medical out of there," Cuba said. "I'm out here trying to work and raise a family."

When the roof was damaged he didn't have insurance or money to fix it.

"My wife was sick; she had cancer. I was sick myself," Cuba said. "We were struggling so God helped us make it so far, and God blessed us for this to happen."

Now the 61-year-old and his family no longer have to struggle. They'll soon have central air and heat which means they won't have to heat their house with the stove.

Continued here:
Vietnam veteran's house gets long overdue repairs

A two-alarm fire at an historic Larkspur restaurant over the weekend has been attributed to an oven flue exhaust pipe near the buildings roof, officials said.

While returning from a medical call at approximately 2:50 a.m. March 15, crewmembers with the Larkspur Fire Department noticed smoke and discovered a fire roaring at the Tavern at Lark Creek, Chief Bob Sinnott said.

The crew reportedly observed smoke coming from the second floor of the Victorian building at 234 Magnolia Ave., according to Sinnott. The fire was quickly upgraded to a second alarm, and firefighters and crews from the Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Rafael, Kentfield, Mill Valley and Ross Valley departments were called to assist.

Firefighters were able to control the fire in about 90 minutes after the blaze burned portions of the buildings roof, eaves and attic areas, Sinnott said. The restaurants dining and kitchen areas also sustained significant smoke, heat and water damage.

Sinnott said the fire is believed to have originated near the oven flue as a result of heat build up. Damage estimates were not available, but the chief said the building is structurally stable and should be ready for repairs and remodeling soon.

No injuries were reported during the fire.

Sinnott credited the firefighters who spotted the blaze for their quick action in locating and attacking the blaze.

Because few people are awake at this hour, this most likely prevented a delay in receiving a report of the fire and subsequently further damage to the building, he said.

The Tavern at Lark Creek was built in the late 19th Century and served as a home for decades before it was converted into a restaurant in the 1970s.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

Original post:
Larkspur restaurant fire attributed to oven

Get Breaking News First

Receive News, Politics, and Entertainment Headlines Each Morning.

LARKSPUR (CBS SF) A historic Larkspur restaurant was damaged in a two-alarm fire early Saturday morning, fire officials said.

A fire engine crew was returning from a medical call around 2:50 a.m. when crewmembers spotted smoke and found a fire burning at the Tavern at Lark Creek restaurant at 234 Magnolia Ave., according to Larkspur fire Chief Bob Sinnott.

Crews saw heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the Victorian building, according to Sinnott.

Fire personnel quickly upgraded the incident to a second alarm and crews from the Larkspur, Corte Madera, San Rafael, Kentfield, Mill Valley and Ross Valley fire departments were called to assist.

Firefighters were able to control the fire in about 90 minutes after the blaze burned portions of the buildings roof, eaves and attic areas, the chief said. The restaurants dining and kitchen areas sustained significant smoke, heat and water damage, Sinnott said.

The chief said the fire appears to have started near an oven flue exhaust pipe in an area of the buildings roof.

However, the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Read this article:
2-Alarm Fire Damages Historic Tavern At Lark Creek Restaurant In Larkspur

Branchburg, NJ (PRWEB) March 14, 2014

Winters and summers have been so drastic, homes have been taking a beating with the extreme heat in the summer months and the drastic snowfall and extreme cold temperatures in the winter months. Somerville Aluminum, the areas largest full-service home remodeling and design contractor, has been fielding calls all season long from weary homeowners looking for ways to protect their homes from the harsh conditions.

Gropper indicates the number one concern this winter has been the excessive snow loads on roofs. Homeowners are concerned their roofs cannot withstand the extra weight. For their safety, he encourages the public to call a licensed and insured professional to remove ice and snow. Warning signs of roof problems include sudden roof leaks, cracks in interior walls and ceilings, noticeable sagging and even unusual sounds coming from the attic area. Check doors on the second floor bedrooms and closets in the center of the home for visible cracks in the drywall or plaster around the doorframes. These are all indications of excessive weight on the center structure of the house.

If you must remove the snow yourself, use an extendable snow rake to remove snow in narrow strips to prevent a large load of snow coming down on top of you. Never climb on the roof. Remove gutters to prevent damage or even collapse.

Freezing conditions cause ice damning, which causes water to seep into a home unable to drain through frozen gutters. As the ice thaws and freezes, ice grows on top of melting ice creating a build up with no where to go except through the roof. Gropper recommends installing Ice & Water Shield- a rubber membrane that provides an additional layer of waterproofing under shingles, which helps to prevent water infiltration and damage.

Many homeowners are also concerned with their homes feeling cold on the inside and the need to compensate by turning up their thermostats. When the weather gets this cold, siding gets cold and all components of a house gets cold. Gropper offers a few remedies for drafty homes, including vinyl siding. Todays vinyl siding offers contoured, high-performance foam insulation that fills the cavity of the siding. This new foam technology stops the thermal transfer of cold (and heat during the summer months) to the inside of the home. He also recommends replacing exterior doors with ENERGY STAR rated doors, with the latest technologies including polyurethane core filled slabs and fiberglass exterior doors that look like real wood.

Lastly, Gropper offers suggestions to minimize damage to decks. Although code requires decks to withstand a certain weight load, we have endured more snow volume this past year than ever before. Do not use salt or de-icer as it can damage the appearance. If you must shovel your deck, use a plastic shovel to avoid scratching. If you have a wood deck, you will notice rotting, chipping, warping and cracking when the snow thaws. Consider replacing your deck this spring with composite decking. Todays composite decking has the same aesthetic look as wood, however withstands the harsh temperatures and snow loads significantly better. Once you are ready to enjoy the outdoors again, simply clean a composite deck with soap and water. Be sure to do your research when choosing decking material or seek the help of a professional.

About Somerville Aluminum Go with the Pro: Located in Branchburg, NJ, Somerville Aluminum is the areas largest full service home remodeling company and has built a solid reputation for reliability, expertise and trust with core family values running through three generations of service to homeowners throughout New Jersey.

For more information, please visit their showroom at 20 County Line Road in Branchburg, visit http://www.somervillealuminum.com or call (800) 725-8401.

Contact: Jodi Mayo Alessandri MG Media, LLC 856 US Hwy 206, Suite B11 Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (908) 874-9200 x111

Go here to read the rest:
Somerville Aluminum Offer Winter Recovery Tips for Your Home

LARKSPUR, Calif. -- A historic Larkspur restaurant was damaged in a two-alarm fire early Saturday morning, fire officials said.

A fire engine crew was returning from a medical call around 2:50 a.m. when crewmembers spotted smoke and found a fire burning at the Tavern at Lark Creek restaurant at 234 Magnolia Ave., according to Larkspur fire Chief Bob Sinnott.

Crews saw heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the Victorian building, according to Sinnott.

Firefighters were able to control the fire in about 90 minutes after the blaze burned portions of the building's roof, eaves and attic areas, the chief said. The restaurant's dining and kitchen areas sustained significant smoke, heat and water damage, Sinnott said.

The chief said the fire appears to have started near an oven flue exhaust pipe in an area of the building's roof. However, the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Damage estimates were not available but Sinnott said the building remains structurally stable and should be ready for repairs and remodeling soon.

The chief credited the firefighters who spotted the blaze for their quick action in locating and attacking the blaze.

"Because few people are awake at this hour, this most likely prevented a delay in receiving a report of the fire and subsequently further damage to the building," he said.

The Tavern at Lark Creek was built in the late 19th Century and served for decades as a home before it was converted into a restaurant in the 1970s, the fire chief said.

Originally posted here:
Two-alarm fire damages historic restaurant in Larkspur

Q. I have a two-story home in the Pittsburgh area that was built in 1998. In 2012, we had a new roof installed after a severe hailstorm. In December 2012, when I went into the attic to get my Christmas decorations, I noticed the entire roof on one side was damp, black and covered with mold.

I had the contractor who built the home and replaced the roof take a look at it. He acknowledged there was a humidity problem and said he believed there was too much insulation in the eaves and it should be lifted up with baffles and some removed as well. I also complained (which I had done before) that the bathroom exhaust fans should have never been vented into the attic. He told me they would correct it, vent them outside and spray the mold.

He wanted to install two power vent fans in the roof, but the entire roof has a ridge vent and a vented opening on each side of the house. I did some research myself and told him I felt there should be soffit vents for the ridge vent to work properly and that power fans usually do not work with ridge vents, so I was totally against them.

I suggested raising the insulation from the eaves and removing some, and adding soffit vents for the ridge vent to properly work. The response was: I think that may fix it. He also said he didnt believe the bathroom fans were the problem, but I maintain they are.

I have not yet been able to get them back to correct the issues, even though I was assured it would be corrected prior to this winter.

We had a freeze/thaw last week and obviously my attic was extremely damp and wet and smelled from moisture. The last two days we were 7 to 8 degrees below zero. I had a major ice buildup on the roofing nails, underside of the roof and attic walls. It is now thawing and water is dripping into a bedroom, into the attic and through the siding outside on the second floor of the home.

This has been going on since December 2012. In September 2013, the contractor told me it would be fixed before it got cold, but I am still waiting. I am to the point where I want someone else to fix the problem.

I have contacted my insurance company today and am waiting for the claims adjuster to call me, and I may sue the contractor as well.

Any suggestions on how to correct this before I am replacing the entire top of my house? Any suggestions on finding someone in my area who is an expert on attic humidity and really knows how to fix it? Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

A. There should not be any insulation in cold eaves; it can get soaking wet if ice dams form and water leaks inside the soffits, and if there are soffit vents, the insulation blocks them. The insulation should be removed and there should be full-width baffles in each rafter bay to keep an open-air space between the soffit vents and the ridge vent. There should be full-length soffit vents and no gable vents or power vents. Air circulation between soffit and ridge vents occurs naturally by thermodynamics.

Read the original:
Ice, mold and a lazy contractor cause some major problems

2 dead in NYC building explosion, 24 injured 2 dead in NYC building explosion, 24 injured

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:57 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:57:03 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:39 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:39:25 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:33 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:33:40 GMT

Fire has destroyed an over 100-year-old home in Limestone County.

Piney Chapel and Owens volunteer firefighters responded to the call just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The house was located on Cross Key Road just west of Piney Chapel Road.

Upon arrival, firefighters said the house was fully involved. The owner of the home lives next door. He said he was remodeling the home, which is vacant, and was working in the home's attic a few hours before the fire.

The house is over 100 years old, but the fire was so large, firefighters could not save it, instead working just to contain the flames.

No one was hurt, but the home is a total loss.

Owens and Piney Chapel firefighters had to return to the scene later that morning after the fire rekindled.

Follow this link:
Fire destroys 100-year-old Limestone Co. home

Fire at home on Olive Avenue None

Redding firefighters quickly put out a fire today that started in a wall before spreading to the attic at a home in the 1100 block of Olive Avenue in downtown Redding.

The fire was reported around 11 a.m. when the resident, Joe Baker, returned home for lunch and saw smoke coming out of the attic vents. Baker dashed in, rescued his two dogs and ran back out of the house.

I got home, I got both of them out," Baker said. "The house was full of smoke."

There were no injuries, contrary to original reports.

Firefighters spent hours mopping up the fire at 1174 Olive Avenue.

Redding fire investigator Craig Wittner believes the fire was sparked by the home's electric system in a wall by the front door.

Baker said he saw flames shooting out of a wall socket when he went inside to recuse his dogs.

The fire smoldered inside the wall before moving into the attic, Wittner said.

"He's lucky," Wittner said of Baker. "He came home for lunch and saw the smoke. Had he not come home who knows how much longer that wall would've burned unchecked."

Read this article:
UPDATE: Firefighters battle fire on Olive Avenue in Redding

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) February 26, 2014

Arcbazar announces a creative web resource to redesign and transform attics in additional living spaces.

Attics are often favorite but neglected home spaces. They are simultaneously charming and trendy and are full of hidden potential. However, vaulted layouts can be daunting to remodel and decorate. Making the best of these additional home spaces by creating extra bedrooms or bathrooms, cosy living areas, offices and studios, or maximizing storage areas is a top challenge that requires a clever design. Many homeowners need help to recreate and personalize this great space canvas. Arcbazar comes to the rescue with an innovative crowdsourcing approach that let homeowners connect with architects around the globe for out-of-the box creative design.

Arcbazar runs international architectural and interior design competitions. Each project is launched online and designers worldwide compete and submit solutions for the new space. Clients can then choose the solution they like most based on their initial evaluation criteria. We want to bring high-end design to everyday small-scale home remodeling projects. We want our clients to be able to create their dream spaces in an easy, affordable and fun way," says Imdat As, founder of Arcbazar.com. Hundreds of clients around the globe have already used Arcbazar for successful home remodeling, landscape and interior design projects. We have helped clients build great kitchens, bathrooms, living space, basements, or outside patios, balconies and landscapes.

Paul L., from Saint Paul, MI, had a colonial three-story house with an ample attic and needed help with creating a beautiful master suite while maximizing the space. "The space is very challenging as the ceiling is vaulted. Our house is tradition to the era. We would like the master suite to have this same sort of personality." Paul run a design competition on Arcbazar and received seven proposals, ultimately opting for a design from MG Architect Studio in Italy. James T., from Wauwatosa, WI, had a similar project and wanted to transform his Victorian attic space into a master bedroom and create a quite library space. James received ten creative entries, with the first award going to Hyde Park Interiors, a design firm based in Chicago. Michelle B., from Cleveland, OH, also had a great experience. The homeowner had a small attic that she wanted to convert into an office that could double as a live-in area for guests. Michelles competition received nineteen great entries with the winning proposal coming from Lawrence Martin, a designer from Colorado. Arcbazar also introduced a new estimator tool for its clients to give them an instant quote for their remodeling projects.

About Arcbazar Arcbazar.com, Inc. is the first-of-its-kind online crowdsourcing platform for architectural design projects. The company connects clients with designers worldwide, and allows clients to run competitions for their remodeling, home, commercial and interior design projects.

To learn more and see all these great projects, visit http://www.arcbazar.com.

Original post:
Attic Remodeling: Recreating Charming and Functional Spaces with Online Design