By Hank Stuever

The Washington Post

Nearly everything on television is a guilty pleasure, a concept useful to viewers who need to explain away their addictions to certain shows, especially the trashiest stuff. The dumber the show, the bigger the guilt and the better the pleasure.

I've had to watch so much TV over the past five years as a critic -- so much of it bad -- that I feel the poke of shame only when I watch a show in which real people make an honest attempt to finish a difficult household chore or a major project that I would never, ever want to do, especially in the summer months. Which is one reason why I derive some sick, lazy happiness from watching spouses argue with each other on DIY Network's "Renovation Realities."

Buried deep down in the schedule of DIY (an offshoot of HGTV), "Renovation Realities" couldn't be simpler: A homeowning couple (usually married, usually in flyover states) has decided to renovate a room in their house (usually the kitchen) completely on their own, having little to no practical experience in the construction biz.

The cameras are there to merely document what occurs; there is no handsome host in a tight T-shirt and tool belt to goad and guide them through each decision or to come to their rescue with his capable brawn. There is no crew to hammer and saw things to completion. There is no narration, save for some on-screen details (set in drab, white Courier type against a black screen) that tell the viewer how many days the homeowners have set aside to complete the work (usually vacation days from their jobs) and their projected budget.

In seven seasons of "Renovation Realities," the show has rarely, if ever, included the scene known in the home-improvement genre as the "reveal," because there is never anything to reveal, except excuses.

After days of sweat and sore muscles, the subjects of "Renovation Realities" almost always concede defeat. They run out of time and money. The drywall is only half-finished. The granite guys didn't deliver the countertops. The tiles would not line up; the refrigerator wouldn't fit through the door. The mostly demolished wall that prevents the life-altering promise of the open floor plan had in fact masked all the plumbing from upstairs, which will now have to be rerouted by a professional.

Once in a great while, "Renovation Realities" is about a couple still young enough or childless enough or just happy-go-lucky enough to treat the entire project as a useful learning experience. They flirt their way through the dust of their demolition, laugh off the discovery of mouse turds and even affirm each other during the installation of new cabinets, a task that leads so many of the show's couples to swear at each other and burst into tears.

Not so the lovebirds. Hammers fall on heads, cabinets are dropped on toes, drill bits are ruined, and still there's a charge in the air, not just from the bad wiring. The giggling and cute nicknames never stop. Get a room, you two. (A finished room.)

Excerpt from:
'Renovation Realities': Don't take on that DIY job

Dublin, OH (PRWEB) June 26, 2014

Poured-concrete foundation walls have been the industry standard for residential homes in the United States (U.S.) for more than 100 years. That may be about to change however with the introduction of patented Epitome* quality foundation walls from Composite Panel Systems (CPS). This may be especially true for basements in the northern basement belt of the U.S. where homeowners are more frequently using their lower levels as additional living space.

The new composite foundation wall system employs a high-performance composites technology developed by Composite Panel Systems, LLC, and can help residential home builders become far more efficient. With the help of their panel-systems fabricator, Fiber-Tech Industries, Inc., and fire-retardant resin-systems supplier, Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), CPS has recently launched the clean, engineered solution to replace vertically installed concrete walls during the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention and Expo in Chicago. The system solution combines strength, integrated stud cavities for mechanicals, insulation, the top plate and a vapor barrier all in a single step. The technology is currently approved for use in Wisconsin and compliance on the national level with IBC and IRC is on track for October of 2014.

Epitome quality foundation walls were designed with the builder and contractor in mind ensuring simple installation and minimal training for anyone skilled in the trade. They can be delivered altogether in one trip and typical installations take less than two hours. The composite walls also decrease moisture and mold issues common with traditional foundations, and provide homeowners a warmer, drier, more energy-efficient and ready-to-finish basement.

Because there are so many benefits associated with our foundation walls for builders and homeowners alike, we believe this is the most exciting thing the residential building industry has seen since the introduction of plywood, said Glenn Schiffmann, founder and president, CPS. Composites offer incredible performance, and having gained the trust of engineers in aviation many years ago, we knew we could develop a better performing system for basements as an alternative to concrete using high-performance composite materials.

Epitome quality foundation walls offer better energy efficiency with an inherent R-16.5 insulation value. There is an airtight transition between the floor and foundation that makes it more efficient than a standard concrete foundation. They also pass the NFPA 286 room corner burn test and therefore do not require covering with a thermal barrier such as drywall prior to occupancy. This allows homeowners flexibility to finish their lower level at their leisure and save money upfront.

The composite technology is designed to withstand six times a sand backfill load, and can be installed in any soil type suitable for backfilling, adds Andy Beer, global business leader, Ashland Performance Materials. Each 24 foot of foundation panel can withstand 600,000 pounds of downward force resulting in a maximum allowable house load of 8,900 lbs/lf after the safety factor is applied.

From deep below the ground to 40,000 feet above and beyond, composites have become the material of choice in many critical industrial, infrastructure, aerospace and military applications. Composites offer high strength, dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, durability and longevity. Most importantly, composites are used to raise performance levels, address traditional material design limitations and enable the development of new solutions like Epitome quality foundation walls.

To learn more, visit epitomewalls.com.

About Composite Panel Systems Composite Panel Systems, LLC, manufactures Epitome quality foundation walls, a cutting-edge alternative to concrete foundation walls. They are an innovative, structurally superior, highly insulated, fire-resistant panel that incorporates nominally sized studs, 16 inches on center, vapor barrier, top plate and continuous insulation. Epitome quality foundation walls were invented by Glenn Schiffmann. To learn more, visit epitomewalls.com.

Link:
Industry-changing, High-performance Alternative to Concrete Foundations That Installs in Two Hours, Unveiled at ...

Developers seem to be getting busier and busier.

KB Home paid $3,696,000 for 59 acres with 168 home sites for its Bartram Creek community on Race Track Road. Prices will begin in the mid-$200s. This is just Phase 1 and KB is planning a total of 468 lots there.

Meanwhile, KB is opening five new communities this summer:

The Crossings at Glen St. Johns, off St. Thomas Island Parkway in St. Johns County, Abby Glen off Sunbeam Road in Mandarin, Angora Bay off County Road 220 in Orange Park, Hillcrest Bluff off Main Street in North Jacksonville and Biscayne Grove off Duval Road and I-295 in North Jacksonville.

Mattamy Homes paid $6.9 million for 42 acres along Bartram Park Boulevard off Race Track Road. It will be an additional phase of Bartram Park Preserve with 219 sites with homes starting in the $170s.

Tamaya, the huge development that broke ground this year at Beach and Kernan boulevards, set a first-year sales goal of 40 homes. But its reaching that by the end of June, a spokesman said. Eventual plans call for 2,400 homes on 780 acres.

FEDERAL

Syndicated Equities, a private real investment firm based in Chicago, has paid $14.2 million for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building at 13077 Veveras Drive in Flagler Center. The two-story, 47,000-square-foot building on 3.9 acres was built in 2012.

JTA

Jacksonville Transportation Authority paid $1,875,000 for 10.1 acres with a building at 3191 Armsdale Road, at the southeast corner of the intersection of Lem Turner Road and I-295. It plans to put a park-and-ride facility for its bus rapid transit initiative, a spokesman said. It could also become a satellite facility for Northside community shuttles, he said.

View post:
Sunday Business Notebook: Home sites springing up all over

BUILDING PERMITS

PMT2014-00180 6688 Drew Ranch Lane; $295,964.32; Petur Williams; Von's 7 LLC; Construction of new single-family dwelling with attached garage in existing PUD. 2,596 square feet of conditioned space, 300-square-foot unfinished basement, 380-square-foot attached garage and 67-square-foot porch.

PMT2014-00502 3036 Palo Parkway; $455,850; Kalmia Holdings; Markel Homes Construction Co.; New two-story single-family dwelling to include four bedrooms, two and a half baths with 2,545 square feet of finished area, 956 square feet of unfinished basement with rough-ins, 725-square-foot three-car attached garage, 124-square-foot front porch, 192-square-foot covered patio, and 96-square-foot second level deck. Includes MEP.

PMT2014-00549 901 Pearl St.; $3,300,000; 901 Eldridge; Deneuve Construction Services; Three-story mixed-use core and shell building (all finishes by separate tenant finish permits) with main level commercial space, upper two levels containing a proposed four residential units, and attached garages off alley. Scope of work includes associated electrical, mechanical and plumbing work.

PMT2014-01064 3663 Silverton St.; $365,748.92; J. Hendricks; Hendricks Fine Homes LLC; New single-family dwelling, two-story, with unfinished basement. Three bedrooms, two and a half bath with main floor study. Total of 3,314 square feet finished, 1,238 square feet unfinished, 511-square-foot attached garage, 435 square feet of patios, decks and porches.

PMT2014-01065 3669 Silverton St.; $400,000; J. Hendricks; Hendricks Fine Homes LLC; New single-family dwelling, three stories with unfinished basement. Three bedrooms, two and a half bath, with main floor study, 3,449 square feet finished, 1,222-square-foot unfinished basement, 499-square-foot attached garage, 460 square feet in patios, decks, porches.

PMT2014-01114 1600 Pearl St.; $750,000; 1600 Pearl; Parkway Construction Associates; Tenant interior remodel for new restaurant (Lyfee Kitchen) space in Suite No. 1. Work to include some interior structural work and all associated MEPs.

PMT2014-01684 1653 28th St.; $50,000; Dellacava/Tebo Development; Image Builders II Inc.; Tenant remodel (140 square feet) to include light framing and drywall to reconfigure existing bathroom (ADA compliant), addition of one phlebotomy drawroom, a new reception desk and associated MEPs. Previous tenant was Comcast, new use is a phlebotomy clinic (no lab work is done).

PMT2014-01745 4800 Baseline Road, C-103; $62,000; W-ADP Meadows; CQL 2000 Constructors LLC; Tenant interior remodel of existing retail space for a "take 'n bake" pizza store. No cooking on the premises. Scope includes new finishes, plumbing and electrical for new equipment and associated MEPs.

PMT2014-01769 5485 Conestoga Court, No. 230; $35,000; Fall Creek; Renove Construction Inc.; Interior renovation of office space at 276 square feet. with associated MEPs.

Link:
Boulder building permits: June 16, 2014

Land OLakes, FL (PRWEB) June 07, 2014

Over sixty Tampa Bay area Realtors gathered at the Pasco County Connerton community for an in-depth, on-site new home construction Education Expedition. This cooperative effort by builders and the Connerton developer, Hayman Woods, was created to offer Realtors greater insight into important aspects of new home construction and its benefits to their buyers. Participating in the demonstrations were top construction personnel from Taylor Morrison, Ryland Homes, Homes by WestBay and M/I Homes.

Realtors traveled by bus to actual construction sites throughout the Connerton community. Their education began with lot survey, lot preparation and concrete slab pour to exterior block and continued with roof trusses, framing and mechanicals to drywall, trim work, paint and flooring. The final presentation included the installation of cabinets, countertops, fixtures, appliances, carpet, irrigation, landscaping and sod.

The Realtor response to the course was extremely positive. Marie Polo, of Keller Williams Realty Tampa, wrote, Its great to see Connerton and hear all the current updates on how todays new homes are being better built in every way. Each builder did an excellent presentation on their portion of the construction stages.

The builder personnel were equally enthusiastic. Cheryl McCormick Brown, Area Sales Manager for Taylor Morrison-West Florida Division, wrote, I thought all of the on-site presenting builders did a great job speaking to their stage of construction. You could see a great deal of ownership and pride in the workmanship.

The concept for the Education Expedition came from members of the Connerton Realtor Advisory group, who stressed the need for new home construction education for Realtors and its benefits to buyers. Based upon the positive response from the Realtor community, Connerton is considering repeating the program for others to enjoy.

Connerton is Pasco Countys award-winning New Town, located on US41 in Land OLakes in the Northern Tampa Bay Area market. The community features nearly two miles of nature trails, a 10,000 square-foot clubhouse and miles of beautiful winding roads and walkways, all of which are thoughtfully laid out to preserve the wild wetlands and grassy expanses of the original Conner Ranch.

Club Connerton Community Information 21100 Fountain Garden Way Land OLakes, FL 34638 (813) 996-5800

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http://www.facebook.com/connertonfl

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Area Realtors Learn New Home Construction Basics at Connerton

Drywall Installation Tool or Drywall Lift - (The Hanger #39;s Edge)
The Hanger #39;s Edge Drywall Installation Tool not only makes hanging drywall easier, but ensures a better job. You will love all of it #39;s design features for ha...

By: Jim Roberts

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Drywall Installation Tool or Drywall Lift - (The Hanger's Edge) - Video

MiCasa MakeOver Drywall Installation
Drywall - Tape, float and texture.

By: Don Peters

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MiCasa MakeOver Drywall Installation - Video

Burlington Post

Installing a central vacuum system is a manageable project for most DIY enthusiasts. It takes pre planning to ensure you are able to use the vacuum effectively. Here are some tips that will help you run into less issues as you proceed.

Tool Tips

You can use most of the tools you will find in your DIYers tool box, but there are a few recommended items you can consider adding for a more efficient job:

Use a tubing cutter for cleaner cuts on the PVC piping.

Use 2-1/4" wood boring bit similar to a Forstner bit.

Rent a right-angle drill if you do not have one.

A drywall saw makes the job easier.

Location Tips

Make sure the locations you choose for the outlets are centrally located as well as allowing for proper reach for a 30 or 35 foot hose. Look for spots in hallways or closet walls and ensure these spots do not back onto things such as plumbing or electrical outlets. Make sure these locations are convenient and not behind furniture or doors that will make it difficult to plug in your hose. As well if you choose to use floor outlets on your second story be certain they are not in a spot where furniture will logically be placed and keep them close to the border of the wall as plastic outlets will crack if stepped on. You may want to use metal inlets for floor mount locations.

See the original post here:
The Vac Connection - Central vacuum installation MADE EASY

Maxwell High School of Technology teacher Max Chavez, left, talks with middle school students on Monday about changing a tire during a summer camp at the school. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)

LAWRENCEVILLE If Kevin Bacchus has car trouble one day, hes prepared to reach back to some skills he learned this week.

The Richards Middle School sixth-grader is participating in an auto collision class this week as part of a four-day summer camp for middle school students at the Maxwell High School of Technology that runs through Thursday morning. Bacchus worked with his classmate, Peter Lauderdale, to change a tire among a host of mechanical lessons on tap.

This is something Ive always wanted to do, Bacchus said. If I get in a situation where my car breaks down and I have enough tools in the back to fix it, how do I do it? This will help me a little bit starting off to know about the future, to know how to fix the car if it breaks down and I have all the parts.

For his part, Lauderdale added that he wants to learn why warning lights come on, and how to fix a car to turn them off.

From auto services, to culinary students making sugar cookies and health science students learning about personal protective equipment, about 205 students are participating in the annual camp hoping to learn and sharpen skills. The camp is designed to introduce basic fundamentals of the 12 programs Maxwell offers. The camp also includes classes that teach basic science, graphic arts and early childhood education.

The biggest thing is it kind of opens kids eyes to what we do with career and technical education, Principal Jeff Hall said. Quite honestly, it may serve as a great recruiting tool for us when kids get to high school. To me, the biggest thing is to show the kids there is another option than a traditional high school.

Excerpt from:
Summer camp offers glimpse into Maxwell High programs

News

Friday, May 30, 2014

By LORETTA JACKSON

Staff Writer

If hed been dashing through a muddy foxhole during a battle in World War II or in the Korean War, the need for speed surely would have propelled Gunnery Sgt. Bernie Ruchin into a safe zone without further ado. Nowadays, the retired Marine, who will be 90 years old in November, knows nobody is shooting at him.

All that was dented was his pride and his kneecaps when he caught an edge on a stair at his Bedford home and fell on his knees. The floor offered a landing zone of carpet softer than gravel but he came back from the hospital with a cast on his leg. He was laid up for seven months.

A full-body shower was prohibited because of the cast. He said he craved watering the entirety of the more than six feet of height that is Bernie Ruchin.

Thats when Building Dreams for Marines, based in Nashua, did some recon and came in with a plan for a redesign of Ruchins bathroom. A complete renovation, highlighted with the removal of a heavy bathtub, showcased the installation of a step-in shower with accents of marble.

Michael Browning and craftsmen from Cobb Hill Construction, assisted by local Marines from Bravo Company, completed the job, a $15,000 value, in a few weeks. The project was deemed by Ruchin as first rate.

Ruchins handicap-accessible shower and bathroom installation was the fifth project completed in New Hampshire by Building Dreams for Marines, a nonprofit focused on life-enhancing home modifications provided free of charge to Marines whose service has left them with physical limitations.

Originally posted here:
Bedford veteran Gunnery Sgt. Bernie Ruchin enjoying project from Building Dreams for Marines