An enjoyable afternoon on Ed and Arlene Andersons porch turned into a frantic emergency phone call after the couple saw smoke pouring out of their neighbors North Side home Friday afternoon.We were just coming out here to sit and enjoy this nice weather, and saw smoke rolling out, Mr. Anderson said. My wife ran over to holler at them, to try and get them out of the house. Then we called the Fire Department while they were getting the dogs and everything out.Six crews responded to 1021 Roosevelt Ave. about 1:20 p.m., as smoke rose out of the two-story green house.I was downstairs in the dining room, playing on my laptop, when my nephew upstairs came down and said I smell smoke, said Ronda Carlson, owner of the home. I thought maybe someone was out burning.He went back upstairs, then came back down and said, Aunt Ronda, there is smoke coming out of the attic and the bathroom.Ms. Carlson, her nephew and a family friend gathered the familys three dogs, grabbed antique guns and evacuated the home. Ms. Carlsons husband and another family friend were not at home at the time.Fire crews battled heavy smoke as firefighters ripped through the roof to gain access to the house. Ms. Carlson said the family had been remodeling sections of the 1800s-era home and had additional renovations planned.We just put on a new roof in July, Ms. Carlson said. Well, like my husband said, now we have a new skylight.Joking about the unfortunate circumstances, other family members and friends comforted the family as the tight-knit neighborhood banned together. Fire Inspector Jason Ziph said older wiring in the attic sparked the fire, causing approximately $80,000 in damage.No injuries were reported.Kristin Hoppa can be reached at kristin.hoppa@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPHoppa. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.blog comments powered by

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Fire damages North Side house

An early morning fire Tuesday came close to completely destroying a family's home when an outside fire began to make its way into the house.

Roger Cantu, his wife, Michelle Seifert, and their children, Jasmine, 6, and Blake, 4, were sleeping when Seifert said she woke up at the same time some passersby began knocking at walls and windows to alert them of smoke coming from the rear of the home. The family escaped with no injuries.

Seifert said the fire happened in the corner of the kitchen -- the exact location of the family's only exit.

"We had to run the kids through the fire and smoke," she said. "It was pretty traumatizing."

"As soon as we opened that door, the flames went up," Cantu said.

Firefighters responded to the home in the 2900 block of Central Ave at 1:15 a.m. and had the fire controlled within an hour. Cantu said they had taken a hot log out of a smoker and placed it on top of a wall-mounted swamp cooler. He said they sat outside for an hour or two before going to bed, certain the log had cooled.

"About three or four hours later, it started back up," he said.

The home's roof and some exterior walls were destroyed, including the entire kitchen, and there is significant smoke and fire damage to the attic, he said. The rest of the home and the family's belongings appear to have a substantial amount of smoke damage. The home was not insured.

A report from the Caon City Area Fire Protection District states it appears that the wind rekindled the log and sparks blew into the woodpile below and started the fire. The report also says a smoke detector in the home did not have a battery and the house has no utility hook-ups, instead a 12-volt battery is used to power lights.

Cantu said he had been in the process of remodeling the home, but now he has some significant repairs that need to be done, including rebuilding the roof and some exterior walls before the weather turns cool again. He is unemployed, and Seifert is a full-time student.

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Tuesday fire damages family's home

CHESTER, Pa., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Continuing uncertainty in the real estate market has homeowners asking a major question as the market warms this spring is it smarter to move or to improve? Cost is the driving factor behind home improvement projects again this year, and it's important to choose projects that will provide the biggest return on investment. Power Home Remodeling Group, the nation's fourth largest home remodeling company, empowers homeowners to get the biggest bang for their home-improvement buck this spring, whether updating a home to increase it's resale value or infusing the place with some personality to create your dream home.

"Giving your home some added curb appeal with an exterior makeover will automatically boost the resale value of your property," said Jeff Kaliner, Power's Founding Partner. "If you plan to stay put, focus on cost effective renovations that make your home more comfortable, functional and low maintenance for your family. Either way, enhancing your home this spring will help protect your greatest investment."

Power shares the following tips to stay on trend with home improvements this spring:

About Power Home Remodeling Group Family-owned since 1992, Power Home Remodeling Group is the nation's fourth largest home remodeling company with more than 1,100 employees and $135 million in sales. Headquartered in Chester, Pa., Power provides energy-saving and environmentally friendly exterior remodeling solutions to residents on the East Coast, including Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC. An Inc. 5000 company, Power has served more than 50,000 homeowners and is recognized as a home improvement leader by its "Dealer of the Year" award from Window and Door Magazine and the 2011 "Top Workplace" from The Philadelphia Inquirer. For more information please visit PowerHRG.com, or follow the company on Twitter @PowerHRG and Facebook at facebook.com/PowerHRG.

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Home Improvement Trends for Homeowners Looking to Spring Forward

Posted: Mar. 8, 2012 | 2:03 a.m.

Want to know what the "next big thing" in home ownership will be? No one can predict the future with absolute certainty, but there are no safer predictions than these: Nonrenewable energy sources will become increasingly scarce, energy costs will rise over time and people will continue to desire comfortable homes that are affordable to maintain. Wrap it all up in a solution that makes sense for the vast majority of existing homes and, voil: The next big thing is ... drum roll please ... the energy efficient retrofit.

It may not seem very sexy, but no one can deny that slashing home-energy bills is an attractive goal. Did you ever wonder why they are so high in the first place? Don't blame the power company. There is no free lunch. We pay a lot because we use a lot, and we use a lot because most of our existing buildings are, I will say this as delicately as possible, gross energy hogs.

In fact, suburban America was mostly built using a flawed strategy of resource extraction, depletion, externalized costs and the short-term availability of cheap fossil fuels. James Howard Kunstler, author of "The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape," has called it "the greatest misallocation of resources in history."

Our economic system is designed to maximize profit (referred to as "shareholder value") while minimizing long-term value for the end user.

Rather than wring their hands and wish for a magic solution that will never come, some people are actually dealing with this issue head on, developing practical approaches that incorporate state-of-the-art science, materials and techniques. The results are often spectacular.

I recently attended an open house event that showcased two home-energy remodeling projects. Turning decrepit old energy hogs into beautiful, affordable, power-sipping homes requires some effort, but the results are so worthwhile.

The process involved four basic steps:

1. Energy assessment: Test the current performance level and diagnose the best opportunities for an energy-efficient remodel.

2. Develop the plan: Determine the specific items and tasks to provide optimum performance in energy, comfort and health.

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Retrofit Energy Hog Homes Into Power Sippers

Progressive, seeing the value of education in the construction/retrofit industry, invests in a new learning center for the training of employees, partners and customers. The inaugural event featured Energy Upgrade CA training for contractors. The ongoing need for training is being driven by energy conservation changes in the California Energy Commission, the Public Utility Commission and the California state building code.

Chatsworth, CA (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

The first event held in the training center was a class from Energy Upgrade CA program, where attendees were able to benefit from Progressives interest in educating both the consumer and the contractor. A clear understanding of the issues of whole house performance is vital to accomplishing the goals of energy efficiency.

The old rule-of-thumb school of building a house is no longer an acceptable model for construction or remodeling, said Steve Anderson, President of Progressive. "Progressive's new Learning Center is an outstanding contribution to the educational process," he concluded.

Progressive has maintained an active training program in conjunction with the Progressive Learning Center for the past 10 years. With a steady stream of advancement in the field of whole house performance, it is not only necessary to educate employees and contractors, but homeowners as well.

Anderson is quick to point out that the tenets of building science have become a part of the California Building Code, which dictate the standard for new houses. By extension, the retrofit business has the daunting task of helping thousands of homeowners in older homes, built prior to the growth in building science, to see the financial and comfort benefits of increasing the energy efficiency of their homes even though at this point they are not required by the code to do so. Retrofit business focuses on bringing older homes up to code so that they perform with energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is an intangible product, unlike beautiful new windows which the casual observer driving down the street can see. Energy efficiency is hidden in the walls, the attic and the crawl space of every home. Dirty old insulation that is compressed or simply missing, contributes to high utility bills and the shortened life of HVAC systems. But it takes some training to clarify the connection between high utility bills and missing insulation, as obvious as that may seem. In addition to the aspects of comfort and savings on utility bills, there is the issue of bad air quality inside the home, a growing concern among doctors dealing with allergies and asthmatic conditions. All of these combine to demonstrate the need for an active training program and the presence of Progressives Learning Center.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes Californias new standards that mandate that all new construction reduce energy use by 15 percent, water use by 20 percent, and water for landscaping by 50 percent. The energy savings in the new standards will come from a combination of more efficient appliances, better insulation, and more efficient windows. The code also identifies a number of improvements to air quality. The new language allows localities to adopt tougher standards.

The green building code changes became mandatory in 2010. On April 23, 2008, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved dozens of changes to the state's building energy efficiency standards for new construction, commonly known as Title 24. On October 19, 2007, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a target that all homes built in California after 2020 be energy neutral. This goal will be achieved through advanced insulation systems as the initial step.

About Energy Upgrade California

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Progressive Insulation & Windows Relocates Progressive Learning Center

Following extensive renovations, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery and Ad Hoc restaurants are reopening this week.

The popular Yountville bakery opened on Sunday, with Ad Hoc to follow Thursday.

The bakery remodeling follows an attic fire that caused considerable damage to the structure last fall.

The retail section of Bouchon Bakery has been redesigned to have distinct entrance and exit doors to ease the flow of foot traffic.

Nearby at Ad Hoc, the renovations include a revamp of the current kitchen, featuring state-of-the-art Viking cooking equipment, in line with the kitchen standards that Keller strives to provide his culinary teams. The dining room has also been upgraded with a reception area and a private dining alcove that seats up to 18 guests.

To celebrate Bouchon Bakery’s reopening, its version of the venerable “ho-hos” — previously only available at its sibling locations in New York City — will debut in Yountville. Both properties will also host one-of-a-kind offers on their respective social media pages.

The bakery is also introducing a new dedicated phone line, 707-754-4272, for customers who prefer to place their sandwich orders in advance.

“It’s all about streamlining,” explained bakery manager Marie Betts. “We are always looking for ways to improve our guests’ experience. Once we decided to renovate, we put all our ideas on the table. We hope everyone appreciates the new systems we are putting in place.”

Chef Keller opened his third Yountville outpost, Bouchon Bakery, in July 2003. In the style of classic boulangeries, the bakery features a selection of artisanal breads and a wide array of classic French desserts.

Highlights from Bouchon Bakery’s menu include traditional items such as baguettes, campagne and brioche loaves. Pastry choices include an array of classic Viennoiserie, such as croissants and pain au chocolat, and seasonal dessert options. The bakery also offers daily sandwich selections, soup, salads and its own Bouchon Blend coffee.

Bouchon Bakery’s hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The main phone number is 944-BAKE.

The proprietor of The French Laundry and Bouchon restaurants opened his fourth venue on Yountville’s Washington Street, Ad Hoc, in September 2006. Ad Hoc, which literally means “for this purpose,” is Keller’s long-desired restaurant from which he serves dishes inspired by the comfort food he enjoyed growing up, such as fried chicken, pot roast and beef stroganoff.

Originally intended to be temporary, Keller decided to keep Ad Hoc open as a permanent fixture in Yountville due to its popularity with both local residents and visitors alike. With a family-style menu designed to change daily, Ad Hoc features a handwritten chalkboard heralding each day’s four courses.

Ad Hoc is open Thursdays through Mondays for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. and serves Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 944-2487.

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Bouchon Bakery, Ad Hoc reopen after renovations

Should a roof exhibit any signs of decay, homeowners should address those issues immediately to avoid further damage. Metro Creative Services

Metro Creative Services

Replacing a roof is a costly venture few homeowners look forward to. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2010-11 “Cost vs. Value” report, the national average cost of a roof replacement is nearly $22,000, a costly endeavor considering the tenuous nature of the economy.

What’s more, homeowners who choose more upscale roofing materials can expect to spend almost $40,000 on their roofs.

Such costs make it no small wonder that many homeowners fear the dreaded diagnosis that their home needs a new roof.

While there’s little homeowners can do to reduce the cost of a roof replacement, there are warning signs homeowners can look for that might indicate a roof replacement is on the horizon.

Recognition of these signs can help homeowners be more financially prepared should the day come when the roof needs to be replaced.

• Algae — If the roof has lots of dark streaks and stains clinging to it, that is likely algae, which can grow on the roof for quite awhile.

Algae does not necessarily do any damage to a roof, but it does do some damage to a home’s physical appearance, as algae on the roof is not very pleasing to the eye.

Algae is most often found on the roofs of homes located in climates that have warm, humid summers. If algae is a problem on your roof, spray washing with a mixture of water and bleach can effectively remove it.

• Buckling shingles —Like algae, buckling shingles are another unsightly problem on a roof. But buckling shingles are more than just an eyesore, they actually might indicate significant problems. When shingles buckle, that’s typically because hot air from the attic is forcing the shingles away from the home. Continued...

Buckling shingles also indicate that the roof is poorly ventilated, which can take years off the roof’s life expectancy while driving up home cooling costs along the way.

• Granule loss — Granule loss is typically a byproduct of normal shingle wear and tear that results from inclement weather, such as hail. Older roofs might experience granule loss, but granule loss can also occur on a new roof if a defective roofing product was used.

Any granule loss, even if slight, should be addressed, as the side effects of granule loss include a weakened roof and leaking. If granule loss is not addressed, the consequences could be severe the next time a storm occurs.

• Mold — Unlike the warning signs already discussed, mold is not visible on the outside of the home. Instead, homeowners should look in the attic of a home to see if there is any mold growth.

If there is, the roof is likely leaking, and the health risks of mold growth in a home are substantial. Mold is not necessarily easy to detect, so a professional inspection might be in order if mold growth is suspected. If a professional determines mold is, in fact, present, then the mold will need to be removed and all options, including a roof replacement, must be considered to keep mold from coming back.

• Roof rot — Perhaps the most discouraging sign a homeowner can see on his or her roof is roof rot. Roof rot appears when a roof is in considerable decay and, if not addressed, its consequences can stretch far beyond the roof, damaging other parts of the home thanks in large part to water getting through the roof.

If roof rot is either not noticed or just ignored, it won’t take long for water to get through the roof and blaze a destructive path through the rest of the home.

Homeowners might fear a full roof replacement because of the cost associated with such a project. But if ignored, problems with a roof could eventually prove far more costly than the price of replacing the roof.

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Home & Garden: Five signs of roof wearPublished Feb. 26, 2012

(ARA) - If your home will be on the market this spring, you're probably looking for every possible edge that will make it stand out to potential buyers. But even if you're staying put, you still want to make your home as attractive and valuable as your budget will allow.

"Daylighting" improvements that boost your home's brightness and energy efficiency offer substantial return on investment for both home sellers and those who will be staying in their homes for the foreseeable future.

Bringing the daylighting concept home

Industrial and office designers have long used daylighting - the concept of illuminating interior spaces with natural light from above - to improve energy efficiency, healthfulness and functionality of rooms. The slower housing market and sluggish economy have raised homeowner interest in the concept.

"Daylighting improvements not only elevate a home's visual appeal for potential buyers, they can enhance homeowners' enjoyment of their living space, and reduce energy costs," says Ross Vandermark, national product manager with skylight manufacturer VELUX America.

Homeowners who want to apply the principles of daylighting to their home have many options: They can add windows or roof windows or install any number of types of traditional skylights or Sun Tunnel tubular skylights.

The easiest daylighting upgrade

While adding a window in the wall of your home may raise practical and design issues, adding a roof window or skylight can be much easier. Roofs are, for the most part, a blank slate, allowing you to install skylights wherever they are needed most. And daylighting from above doesn't just add functionality; it offers room-changing drama and decorating flair.

Roof windows are hinged, venting units designed to be installed in easily accessible areas, such as the angled walls in attic bonus rooms, and are operated by hand. A double-sash roof window is available that opens from both bottom and top to form a balcony on your roof. These units are often used in place of, or to replace, dormers.

Skylights are usually positioned higher on the ceiling, out of reach. Venting models can be opened or closed manually with a control rod or by remote control.

Skylights are popular with daylighting designers for several reasons. First, they easily fulfill the primary goal of daylighting by admitting more natural light into a room than similar sized vertical windows - thereby reducing the need for energy to power artificial lights. But they also work to enhance the healthfulness of a home.

If you opt to install a manual or electric venting skylight, it can be a natural, low-energy way to vent humidity, fumes and stale air from your home. Electric venting models open and close by remote control and have rain sensors to close them automatically.

Energy efficiency, high-tech and decorating in one package

Another important similarity among windows, roof windows and skylights is in the glazing, or how the glass is manufactured. Since the units are mounted facing directly at the sun, skylight glazing technology has to be among the best in the industry. Quality Energy Star-qualified units feature double-pane, gas-filled construction to control heat gain or loss, and filter the sun's fade-causing rays.

Independent research done in Denmark shows that skylights admit 30 percent more light than vertical windows in dormers, and provide the drama of a sky view that can't be achieved with vertical windows.

In addition to high-tech features such as remote control and automatic rain sensors, skylight blinds are available in a varied palette of colors and patterns. Homeowners can utilize blinds as another decorating option while achieving as much as a 37 percent increase in energy efficiency, according to VELUX America.

They recommend closing the blinds on high heat/sun days in the summer to reduce potential solar heat gain and, on cold winter nights, to provide an extra layer of thermal insulation to keep warm air indoors.

Skylights also address important health considerations. One in five Americans suffers varying degrees of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a condition in which the symptoms can include depression and fatigue due to lack of sufficient daylight. Skylights can help by admitting abundant daylight while visually expanding rooms in any style or size home.

Modern, low-profile skylights are unobtrusive and as dependable as vertical windows. Information about units with a 10-year, no-leak installation warranty, plus an installer locator, is available at veluxusa.com. There's also a free mobile phone app available to help homeowners see how skylights and blinds would look in rooms in their own homes. The Velux Skylight Planner App is available for iPhones, iPods, iPads and Android phones.

For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information, visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org. For remodeling information visit nahb.org/remodel or greenhomeguide.org.

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Selling or staying put, 'daylighting' improvements pay off for homeowners

31-01-2012 08:51 In this video, you will see how you can gain easier access to your attic by installing pull down stairs. If you have outdated stairs, they can also be replaced, the opening widened and there are a few options in terms of stair types. If you or someone you know is tired of having to set up a ladder on the floor to get in your attic or are afraid your stairs will fail at any moment, let us come out and inspect them and make some recommendations. You'll be glad you did!

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Pull Down Attic Stairs - Video

Many remember the day last August when dark gray clouds rolled into town, bringing the first rain Lubbock had seen in months. Residents of all ages stopped what they were doing to celebrate a much-needed respite from an extremely hot summer.

But as it often does on the South Plains, the weather quickly turned from welcome to worrisome. Sprinkles on the sidewalk became rushing ravines and visibility dropped to nearly zero, backing up traffic all over town. Lightning lit up the sky and a few structures below, starting fires in several homes and apartments.

One of those homes belonged to Eddie and Sara Chisum. They were on vacation when they received the news that their house had caught fire. A co-worker of Sara’s who lived just a few blocks away had seen the fire on her way home from work. Luckily, the fire department was able to save the structure, but a major remodel was in order.

Though the news was traumatic, and their vacation cut short, the Chisums wasted no time making arrangements. Their insurance company was quick to enlist CD Woodfin Construction as the remodeler. A local fire and water restoration company came the next morning to begin cleaning and organizing the Chisums’ belongings, and the remodel was soon underway.

The majority of the damage occurred in the living room, on the roof, and in the attic. But the kitchen was also in need of repair, as the fire department had to break through a the wall that joined the kitchen and living room in order to reach the flames in the attic. New sheetrock was installed, as well as cabinets, countertops, electrical wiring, and kitchen appliances. Parts of the house required new carpet, paint and wood flooring because of the water damage and heavy soot.

The remodel took six months and although the Chisums were displaced to a hotel room, they were not uncared for by their remodeling company. This is what Sara, who was pregnant with their first child at the time, appreciated most about CD Woodfin.

“They were very concerned about us as a family,” she says. “It was more than just a job to them. They took the time to make sure that we were okay, met with us on our schedule, kept us informed and up-to-date, and were very supportive and encouraging through a tough time.

“Even though we’re back in the house now, they still call to check on us and make sure that we’re satisfied with everything and that everything is working correctly,” she adds.

And satisfied they are.

“We’re so very pleased with the remodel,” Sara says. “They helped us make the best of an unfortunate situation. We would recommended them to anyone who needs a remodel – in good times or bad!”

For three decades, CD Woodfin Construction, Inc. has thrived on word-of-mouth and referrals. Their reputation is built on stable relationships with everyone in their network – clients, suppliers, insurance adjusters, and other contractors.

CD Woodfin Construction, Inc. specializes in residential and commercial remodeling, including:

• Add-ons and patio covers

• Interior remodeling

• Exterior remodeling

• Kitchen and bath remodels

• Fire and water damage reconstruction

To learn more about the company or to get a free estimate, please call (806) 745-0559. You can also visit them online at http://www.cdwoodfinco.com to view photos and read testimonials of completed projects.

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CD Woodfin Construction remodels home of family displaced by fire