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If you ask anyone who has had experience living in a rented space, they will often say that no rental unit is perfect, and they are right. While the location of the apartment may be great, the rent may be out of their budget. They may love the floor plan, but they absolutely hate the surrounding area of the complex. Every rental unit will come with its own advantages and disadvantages. What works for one person may not work for another. For some, flex apartments or studios are the perfect solutions for a budget-friendly unit in a crowded city. For others, it is a privacy nightmare they may not be willing to settle on.

If you find yourself facing the latter dilemma, keep reading for tips on how to create privacy in your flex apartment or studio.

Photo: Pexels

What exactly is a flex apartment or studio?

If you are currently on the hunt for a rental unit, you may see some listings described as a flex studio or apartment. These types of apartments are also commonly referred to as convertible apartments as they can be converted to apartments with multiple bedrooms. This type of apartment is typically a large studio apartment that has a sleeping area separate from the main room. In big cities where space is limited and demand is high, flex apartments are more common. If you are hunting for a rental unit in a city like Chicago or New York City, you may find yourself looking at flex apartments or studios.

When looking at listings for rental units, one listing may say something like Opportunity for flex two-bedroom. This would mean that the flex two-bedroom is actually a one-bedroom apartment that has the ability to be converted into a two-bedroom apartment. Likewise, if a rental unit is advertised as a flex three-bedroom, it is a two-bedroom apartment that has the ability to be converted into a three-bedroom apartment.

For college students or younger professionals, this type of floor plan could be a great idea as it could be more budget-friendly than typical floor plans. What you previously considered to be an expensive one-bedroom apartment could actually be a flex two-bedroom apartment that is more affordable when you factor in an additional roommate. However, that also means that you will be facing the issue of compromised privacy as there is often not a clear division of personal space.

Divide up space with temporary walls

In a more traditional rental unit, you can find the comfort of privacy in your personal bedroom, with walls and a door you have the ability to open and close as you please. With a flex apartment or studio, this unfortunately will not be the case. However, you can solve this use by adding a temporary wall to your space to divide and give each roommate some privacy. Just like any addition you would make to a rental unit, be sure you are asking your landlord permission to install a temporary wall. In some cases, you may need a city permit in addition to permission from your landlord.

Installing a temporary wall into your living room can add another bedroom into your flex apartment or studio.

Temporary wallsdo not require any nails or holes drilled into the floor or ceiling. Instead, they are kept up by pressure. Metal tracks are laid along the floor and ceiling, studs are fixed to the tracks, and then pre-painted sheetrock is installed, thus creating the temporary wall.

Understanding the importance of following code

While you may not see the problem with bypassing the typical practice of going to your landlord with possible additions to your rental unit or even taking your landlords approval as the only approval you need, that isnt the case. There are codes and policies to follow for a reason. So even if you think you are ready to install a temporary wall with your landlords approval, you must make sure you are keeping up with your local laws.

In New York City, for example, flex apartments and studios were common practice. With a high demand for housing, adding in a temporary wall to fit in more tenants was a simple and quick solution. In 2005, two firefighters were killed in a fire in the Bronx.

Photo: Pexels

An investigation into the devastation fire found that illegally divided rooms were a large part of the blame for the fatalities. The illegally divided rooms had not been approved or known to the city, and had confused the firefighters and prevented them from escaping the building.

The buildings former and current owners and two tenants were charged with manslaughter. The tragedy led to many landlords putting a halt to installing temporary walls to flex apartments or studios, but many still follow the practice.

According to City Realty, installing a temporary wall means you must hire a licensed engineer or architect to draw up a plan, install the wall, and make sure the wall is in compliance with the law. If the temporary wall is being installed to create an extra bedroom, it needs to fit the legal definition of a bedroom in New York City. This means that the room must be at least 80 square feet and have at least one window. After the bedroom is created, you must also need a living room typically one that is at least 150 square feet. This new room must not interfere with your ventilation or sprinkler system in any way.

Infographic by Kaitlin Hurtado via Canva.com

Types of temporary walls to install

Pressurized walls are walls that not permanently fixed to walls and the floor. These walls should not interfere with ventilation and sprinkler systems, or block exit routes. These types of temporary walls are popular for creating privacy in flex apartments or studios as they are renter-friendly.

They are the types of temporary walls that look the most like a real wall.

As mentioned previously, these could require a city permit as they technically involved changing the layout of the apartment, even if the wall is temporary and not a permanent addition. For this reason, some landlords do not allow pressurized walls. These walls can also be out of some renters budgets as they can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars.

Dont fret over lost privacy, there are still more temporary wall options for flex apartments or studios.

Partial walls are walls that typically stop about a foot from the ceiling so that there is air space between rooms. These walls do not require any tools or screws to install. They also dont have a door but have an opening instead. Because these walls leave room between the top of the wall and the ceiling and lack doors, landlords that do not allow pressurized walls may allow partial walls instead.

Partial walls offer the privacy of a wall but offer less privacy when it comes to noise as they are still open to the entire space. If you are bothered by the lack of a door, the opening may be covered with a curtain.

Similar to partial walls, there are also bookshelf walls. Bookshelf walls are much like how they sound freestanding bookshelves that double as a wall. These walls can be convenient for renters as they also offer storage for books and other belongings in a space that may lack storage already, and also be more decorative than a plain wall would be. On the plus side, loading the shelves with books is another great way to add sound insulation.

Do-It-Yourself privacy options

Perhaps the above options sound like a little too much work for a rental unit you are eventually going to move out of anyway, or maybe they may be well out of your price range. There are still options for those seeking out budget-friendly privacy additions to their flex apartment or studio.

If you are already lacking storage space in your flex apartment or studio, add some privacy in the form of shelving units. This option can be as complex or budget-friendly as you want/need them to be. Longer and taller shelves may be more pricey but can offer more privacy and storage space that you are desperately seeking in your flex apartment or studio.

Adding a curtain can also be a great, budget-friendly way to add privacy to your flex apartment or studio without putting in too much effort. Rather than installing a curtain rod with screws, a more renter-friendly option is installing a tension rod to hang curtains throughout your space. Tension rods simply fit between walls/entryways as long as there is tension holding it up, they will maintain their position and hold curtains up.

Similar to curtains, panel room dividers can add quick means of privacy to your flex apartment or studio. These room dividers come in a variety of lengths as well as designs, making the amount of privacy and decor easy to control. If you simply want a closed-off space between beds or changing areas in an open room, adding a room divider is inexpensive and easy.

These options tend to be more budget-friendly, quick solutions to adding privacy to flex apartments or studios. They also have the ability to be removed as you please, so if you are moving to another flex apartment or studio in the future, you can take your privacy with you to your next space.

Do be wary that while these options do add some visible privacy, they may not be adding privacy when it comes to sound as the apartment/studio is still left open.

Responsibility of removal

Similar to any other changes you make to a rental unit, you may find yourself responsible for removing the temporary wall when it is time to move out. This all depends on the terms of your lease. Most leases contain a clause where tenants must leave the unity in the same conditions they originally rented in, from walls painted to temporary walls.

If you dont remove any temporary wall you installed during your lease, you could lose your security deposit or be facing additional charges after moveout. On the flip side, your landlord may see the addition of a temporary wall as a benefit to the rental unit and be okay with keeping it installed. The key is keeping your landlord informed and stay in communication.

Things to consider when renting a flex apartment or studio

Whether you are adding a temporary wall or a simple room divider, its important to remember these arent exact replicas of real walls. This is extremely important to consider if you are someone (or your roommate is someone) that deeply values personal space and privacy. A temporary wall may give the illusion of privacy, but it will not offer the soundproofing that real walls may offer you. This can be anything from hearing whatever your roommate is watching all day to the conversations they are holding with friends and family word-for-word. For some, this lack of soundproofing may be the thing that makes them not want to live in a flex apartment or studio.

Or, this lack of soundproofing may lead to adjusting how you use the space you are living in. You may not be the go-to apartment for your friends hangouts. While your roommate may have been fine with you having a larger group of friends over in your past living situation, living in the flex apartment or studio may make them feel like they have nowhere to go on their own when you have friends over. Those late nights of blasting music or binging on Netflix may be over, or at least may be limited to your headphones as you need to be even more conscious of the noise you are producing while living in a flex apartment or studio with roommates.

At the end of the day, flex apartments or studios arent for everybody. With all things considered, the lack of secured privacy may be a deal-breaker. However, if you are willing to make compromises, flex apartments or studios can be the perfect next step for your next living space.

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Creating Privacy in Your Flex Apartment or Studio - Uloop News

IOWA CITY Some 70 to 80 years ago in the days of Nile Kinnick, Tennessee Williams and Virgil Hancher the University of Iowas School of Art and Art History began hosting exhibitions and collecting contemporary works, including Max Beckmanns Karneval and the swirling abstraction that is Jackson Pollocks Mural.

The UI opened its first Museum of Art in 1969, expanded it in 1976 and for decades featured and grew its collections until torrential flooding devastated the campus and its exhibition space in 2008.

Staffers and volunteers managed to save most of the artwork although hundreds of pieces and objects needed treatment in the aftermath. But administrators determined the swamped building couldnt again house the campus famed collections, and they began angling for a safer space.

Unlike other flood damaged UI buildings, however, the old museum deemed viable for other purposes didnt qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. So while the fragmented UI collection jumped from traveling exhibits to temporary housing in the Iowa Memorial Union or the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, administrators initiated creative pursuits to finance a new museum.

The path forward wasnt immediately clear. And it has curved along the way like in 2015, after the UI entered a public-private partnership to construct a new museum on leased property near downtown.

UIs then-new President Bruce Harreld scrapped the plan and charged his team to come up with a less-expensive option. It did, and in early 2016 the university pitched construction on a UI-owned plot near the Main Library, an idea that quickly won Board of Regents approval.

Aiming to finance half the $50 million effort with private donations, the UI received a big boost in 2017 with a $10 million gift from Dick and Mary Jo Stanley earning the couple naming rights for the new Stanley Museum of Art.

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The 60,000-square-foot, three-story project celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking in summer 2019, starting construction that fall with plans to finish in 2022.

Should the museum materialize on time, the achievement will be a long time coming after years of changing costs, locations, construction plans and schedules.

When the Stanley gift was announced, the university had planned to begin construction in 2018 and finish by 2020. Before that, in 2016, the project had been planned to wrap up by 2019 in time to mark the UI Museum of Arts 50th anniversary.

But now that debate over the site, size, scope, schedule, cost and funding has subsided, even a historic pandemic hasnt slowed progress, said UI Art Museum Director Lauren Lessing.

The construction has gone smoothly, and there have been no significant delays due to COVID, she told The Gazette. The building is scheduled to be completed in December 2021, after which it will need to be conditioned, giving construction materials time to off-gas for several months and letting the HVAC system flush the interior before the collection is moved in.

Because of those special needs, the museum remains slated for public opening in fall 2022.

A webcam documenting live progress on the re-imagined art home overlooking the Iowa River although sitting outside the 500-year flood plain by 4 feet shows a buzzing hive of activity.

A recent UI building update reported much of the work is happening inside the now-enclosed building shell with workers as of December installing 6,500 linear feet of ductwork weighing 70,000 pounds. On tap is installation of drywall and plywood for second-floor galleries.

The project has passed the 60 percent completion mark, according to the UI update, noting the finished product will boast 16,500 square feet of exhibition space and 2,200 square feet of outdoor gallery space.

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The building will accommodate all the UI art collection allowing a sort of homecoming after so many nomadic years. Among the long-awaited returns to campus is Pollocks Mural which has attracted hundreds of thousands of eyes internationally over its years away from UI.

It will be on display in one of the second-floor galleries, an update on the Pollocks future in Iowa City says.

In the interim, though, collections will remain in their temporary locations with Mural currently at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. And given COVID-19 the UI has created several online programs aimed at sustaining connection with a wide range of audiences.

Many of these will continue in the new building, Lessing said, elaborating on one example of a successful online pivot.

The UIs art education program for seniors, Connected for Life, was among a small percentage of applicants to receive a federal CARES Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to recreate and expand the program online.

We are particularly proud that we are able to continue serving this important audience that has been so affected by COVID-19, Lessing said.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com

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Pandemic hasn't curtailed progress on University of Iowa Museum of Art - The Gazette

ORIA Direct (99% positive lifetime feedback) via Amazon is offering its 60-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Kit for $10.79 Prime shipped when you use the code HA7YLWKH at checkout. Todays deal knocks 40% off its normal going rate and is one of the best prices that weve tracked in a while, considering weve seen similar kits go on sale for around $12 lately. If youve ever tried to repair a laptop, desktop, or smartphone, then you know how small the screws can be. Thats where a precision screwdriver kit like this comes into play. It has 60 parts in all, including a plethora of bits in a multitude of sizes. I have a very similar set that I just recently used to rebuild my desktop, as well as get some new servers online in my homelab, and it worked flawlessly. Rated 4.6/5 stars and is a #1 best-seller at Amazon.

This 21-piece kitis much smaller than todays lead deal, but it also saves you a few bucks at the same time. Included here youll find a nice assortment of screwdrivers, tweezers, pry tools, and more, though the bits are fixed instead of interchangeable. At$9 Prime shipped, its an easy recommendation for those who want to save a bit more.

Need something a bit more robust? Well, weve spotted a deal on DEWALTs Drywall Cut-Out Tool Kit at Amazon. This rotary kit makes it super simple to cut boxes out of drywall or install new outlets. Plus, at $169, youre saving $30 from its normal going rate.

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Repair phones, tablets, computers, and more with this #1 best-selling precision kit at under $11 - 9to5Toys

The utility knife isquite possibly one of the most widely-used tools youll ever add to yourarsenal, so why not make sure you get the one thats right for you? Fromcutting boxes to scoring drywall to installing carpet, finding and using the bestutility knife or razor knife can save you time and effort.

No matter what the task, youll have a knife with the quickness and features you need. Alongwith a hammer, pencil, and tape measure, a utility knife is next in line for thecoveted dont go anywhere without it spot in my tool pouch. Butthere are a lot of choices and preferences when shopping for a razor knife. Folding? Rugged? Retractable? Read on for our top picks.

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Im not sure if its your first love, or something else. Our favorite folding utility knife remains the Milwaukee Fastback Flip. This best folding utility knife lacks extra blade storage (other versions have that) but it opens easily and has a super-quick blade change. Above that, the belt clip just works and it slides easily in and out of your pocket or tool pouch. This wasnt the first folding utility knife, but it may still be the best. Pick it up for around $15 online or at your favorite Milwaukee dealer.

The LENOX 20353SSRK1 Retractable Utility Knife features a simple design that we love. You get a quick blade change that doesnt force you to open up the handle. You can also open the utility knife to store or retrieve up to five blades within. At the front edge, a titanium-coated steel nose stays together and gives you a durable slot that braces the blade while you cut.

Sometimes a simple design just works. Why complicate things? This retractable utility knife even includes three LENOX Gold Titanium Edge utility bladesall for around $15.

Apart from the minor annoyance of not including a pocket clip, the Gerber Prybrid knife impressed us with its style and simplicity. It actually packs quite a lot of functionality into a tiny space. Moreit does that without sacrificing durability. You get a true utility blade for slicing and a notch for cord-cutting. The back end of the tool lets you pry, drive screws, strip wire, and open bottles. Its kinda like carrying around a toolbox that fits in your pocket and only costs $25. This also makes for one of the best DIY gifts.

These OLFA aluminum utility knives come in two styles. The OLFA MPX-AL uses an auto-locking slide while the made-in-Japan OLFA MXP-L locks and unlocks with a metal ratchet wheel.

These also use snap-off bladessomething OLFA invented. Each blade snaps into 8 segments, so its like having 4 trapezoidal blades without the hassle of flipping them around. At less than $20, these knives give you quality and always-sharp convenience like few others.

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We picked the Stanley 10-399 swivel-lock as our best fixed-blade utility knife for several reasons. First, and foremost, the swivel-lock functionality lets you quickly pivot the handle open at the center. This lets you access the spare blade storage compartment within and swap blades when they get dull. The tool-free operation beats a threaded screw-based handle system by a mile. Almost unbelievably, this knife costs less than $5 at many retailers. Buy one for your whole crew.

A good drywall knife emphasizes stability and ergonomics. With the Irwin 1774103, the fixed blade holds the knife steady without fear of it retracting on you during a cut. You also get quick and easy blade changes as well as onboard blade storage. We also like how you can choke up on the front of this knife for better control when dragging a cut toward you. Lastly, $13 is a great price for a no-nonsense tool-free drywall utility knife that should last many years.

The Milwaukee 48-22-1500 Fastback makes a great pocket utility knife. More compact than the original Fastback, it works even better for easy carry in your pants pocket or clipped to a loop in your favorite tool belt. It keeps the press-and-flip function and tool-free blade change. It even has a small lanyard hole for tethering. For under $9 you cant find a better EDC (every-day carry) pocket utility knife than this.

A carpet knife has to have the right angle to let you cut quickly and accurately. You want a no-nonsense knife with a fixed blade and tool-free blade change. The Crain 726 carpet knife delivers. Not fancy, its quick, and the pivoting body opens quickly to let you replace the blade as needed to keep your edge sharp. It also supports various blade extension positions but clamps down tightly so you dont get any slide.

Clearly, you can grab any standard utility knife if thats what you want. However, a nice hawkbill blade remains hard to beat. For that, we like the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife. You can swap the hawkbill for a coping bladebut both are replaceable. That makes this a true utility knife and you never need to sharpen the blades. Just charge it to the jobsite.

When we tested the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife, we skinned more than 50 cables with one blade. The 44218 runs less than $20 and blades run about $10 for a 3-pack. That should keep you skinning cables for quite some time.

Why carry two knives when one suffices? The Stanley Fatmax Xtreme 10-789 Twin Blade utility knife can carry both a standard utility blade and a hook blade. That covers most of what you may run into on the roof. They also made blade changes easy with a single release button on top. For less than $14, its like having two knives in one.

We dont like to skimp on utility blades. The best utility blades should last long enough to get the job done without requiring you to change them prematurely. We like the Irwin Bi-Metal utility blades best. They come in a 100-pack and serve as a great general-use blade for working on wood, plastic, or drywall.

Irwin makes these blades using welded spring steel and high-speed steel construction, which helps prevent shattering under stress. Weve used these blades, and they tend to stay sharper for longer than the cheaper bulk carbon steel blades. You can get the pack for $27around $0.37 per blade.

In our experience, the best utility knife brands include OLFA, Milwaukee Tool, Stanley, DeWalt, and Lenox. We could also expand on that with specialized brands like Klein and Crainor budget brands such as Husky, and WorkPro. Lots of manufacturers make utility knives. Sticking with the top brands gets you a tool thats likely been jobsite tested by hundreds or even thousands of Pros.

While more expensive power tools demand consideration of warranty, we dont typically expect a decade of use out of our utility knives. Even the best utility knives function as consumables in our work experience. You certainly want the best tool for the joband you dont want to overpay. In the end, however, the best tool helps you get the job done quickly and accurately.

Ask yourself some of the followingquestions when searching for the perfect utility or razor knife:

Depending on your application, you may prefer a folding utility knife. If you go through blades like theres no tomorrow, youll want something with ample blade storage. This sounds like an easy question, but realize that utility knives are made inspecific ways for specific tasks.

For those laying carpet, youll want a knifethat is always ready and can handle quick, painless blade changes (which youllbe doing at a rate of aboutoh, I dont knowonce per minute, lol.) If you just want something for general use (openingpackages, sharpening pencils, etc) then consider going with a standard knife. Models with a retractable blade can easily take a new blade when needed.

Alternatively, a folding razor knife might be theticket for those wanting something different. Or, consider a smaller-profile knife with segmented, breakaway blades. Those qualify in this category as well. In either case, its important to matchthe knife to your intended useor plan on picking up a couple of differenttools.

There are three essential types ofutility knives. If you want the best utility knife for your application, understand each one. Im sure you can come up with a few more that might deservetheir own category, but for sake of simplicity, well contain the descriptionsto these four:

These knives are the mostcommon utility variety and feature a sliding blade mechanism with variabledepth. Actuation is typically through a button that is depressed with thethumb to expose the knife and control the depth of the blade (some knivesare all or nothing).

Most retractable knives can accept multiple blade types,but this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Simple versions featurea straight handle and some kind of screw to separate the device and loadspare blades, while advanced models may be more ergonomic in shape and offerquick-release blade changes.

Some safety knives auto-retract or force you to squeeze a trigger to extend the blade. OSHA requires these tools on certain jobsites in order to meet various safety standards. Most users dislike using them as they violate every rule of ergonomics. However, when you have to use them, make sure you grab one that helps you work as efficiently as possible.

These knives are perfect forheavy duty use and precision cuts. Since the blade gets locked into asingle position, the knife experiences no blade slop orside-to-side wiggle which is common in standard retractable knives. Sincethe blade doesnt retract, its important to carefully store these knivesor even remove the blades when not in use.

These knives are most commonlyfound in the carpeting industry and they can typically accept manydifferent types of blades. Apart from the common full-sized knife, certainhobby knives are also fixed-blade in design and can support ultra-sharpblades of various sizes and shapes that are used for precision cuts.

A variation of the fixed-blade knife includes folding knives. These feature the stability of a fixed blade with the fold-away protection of a retractable blade. They also give you a much more compact footprint.

Snap-off blade knives feature segmentedblades that are broken off in sections to deliver a brand new edge oncethe old one is too dull to be useful. They let you continue cutting without the need for a blade change. These knives started out catering to hobbyists where heavy-duty use wasnt required. Now, OLFA makes segmented utility knives with heavy-duty snap-off blades that can hold up to jobsite use. Most blades come with anywherefrom 8 to 13 segments.

There are several bladetypes which will make each type of job much easier. Here are some of the more common styles you can buy:

Theseare the typical trapezoidal razor blades you see on full-size utility knives. Theirtrapezoidal shape gives you pointed edges for cutting materials ofvarying degrees of thickness and composition.

These are identical to standard utility blades except for blunted points.This avoids accidental stabbing while still allowing for maximum cuttingability on a variety of materials. Some jobsites might require these for safety reasons.

These blades are excellent onlinoleum or carpet and allow for rapid cutting of those and similarmaterials. These blades come in a variety of sizes, and can also includeblunt ends or single/dual-sided forms. A variant on this blade is theLinoleum blade which is typically single-sided and features a singlearched blade hook.

These blades are typicallyrectangular and double-sided. Pros use them with specialty fixed utility knives that canaccept them.

Snap-off blades include standardwedge-type blades for smaller hobby knives and heavier-duty segmented blades. Some manufacturers offer these in varying thicknesses and materials, so pay attention to the application and materials you need to cut.

These are almost always soldas a separate system but they are worth mentioning since they are usedextensively in construction to cut various materials like cement board. These blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They let you score material designed to be snapped rather than cut through with a blade.

Look for the followingfeatures in a utility or razor knife to enhance and expand upon the standardfeatures youd expect to find in a knife. Sure, you can get a straight-up bladewith no frills, but some of these nifty features make using a utility knifesomething much more useful.

A new trend is to treat the standardutility knife like a Kershaw folding pocket knife. As far as we can tell, this waspioneered by a company called Superknife and then quickly knocked off bymany other manufacturers. Instead of the sharpened steel blade, you have aremovable razor blade that is locked into a folding arm.

It typicallylocks away when not in use and makes for a great addition to throw into atool bagor your pocket for that matter. There are also utility kniveswith handles that bend but do not completely fold. This is mainly an issueof ergonomics, and these knives otherwise resemble standard, non-foldingknives.

While some people preferold school utility knives that require a flat head screwdriverto separate the body into halves to change the blade, our personalfavorite are the models that use a simple button to swap blades.

With thesimple push of a button, you can flip the razor blade around to the freshside and continue use. Other knives feature a spring-loaded mechanism thatcan pivot or split the knife open and allow fast blade changes.

Most utility knives offerinternal blade storage, but increasingly, knives are coming up with moreconvenient ways to access those blades. While older knives had to bedisassembled, new knives feature quick-release compartments and delivermuch easier access to five or more spare blades.

Some knives include a smallslit in the body that accesses a small area of the blade just behind thehead of the knife. This is perfect for slicing strings and twine withouthaving to adjust the knife. Its safe and easy to use.

Ever check out a review site and you cant tell if they actually tested the tools or if theyre just recommending the Amazon top sellers?

Thats not us. We only recommend what wed actually use, even if we dont earn a commission from it. Its all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

Weve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

Well provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readersincluding objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

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New Jersey, United States,- Building Finishing Contractors Market research report offers in-depth research and analysis of the key aspects of the Building Finishing Contractors industry. The report offers a holistic market analysis that enables companies to make decisions based on changing market trends. It includes a market overview that provides a basic understanding of the market. This market is divided into different segments, e.g. B. Type, applications, end-users, and sales channels. Additionally, the report includes competitive analysis and a company profile of the key market players. This provides a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape and its future scenarios, the crucial dynamics, and the most important segments of the Building Finishing Contractors market. Additionally, the report includes regional analysis and market dynamics. For example, the report provides a detailed analysis of the factors responsible for the growth of the market as well as the factors that may hinder the growth of the market.

The report includes CAGR, market share, revenue, gross margin, value, volume, and other key market figures that give an accurate picture of the growth of the Building Finishing Contractors market.

Competitive analysis:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report covers the profile of the major market players and includes a detailed analysis of the companies. It provides a business overview of the companies as well as detailed information on the offerings of the company and the industries served. In addition, it features the latest business development in terms of launches, mergers and acquisitions, and expansion. In addition, a snapshot was taken of companies in terms of geographic presence and product offerings.

The report covers the following key players in the Building Finishing Contractors Market:

APi Performance Contracting Cleveland Construction Irex Corp Of Lancaster

Segmentation of Building Finishing Contractors Market:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report has been segmented into Types, Applications, and End-users. It provides the market share of each segment participating in the Building Finishing Contractors market. Companies operating in this market have a thorough understanding of the fastest-growing segment. That way, they can identify their target customers and allocate their resources wisely. Segment analysis helps create the perfect environment for engagement, customer loyalty, and acquisition. This section will help companies operating in the Building Finishing Contractors market identify key areas of intervention while making their strategic investments.

By the product type, the market is primarily split into:

Drywall And Insulation Contractors Painting And Wall Covering Contractors Flooring Contractors Tile And Terrazzo Contractors Finish Carpentry Contractorss

By the application, this report covers the following segments:

Utilities Commercial Residential

Building Finishing Contractors Market Report Scope

Regional analysis:

The Building Finishing Contractors market report covers the analysis of various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Market trends change by region and result in changes due to their physical environment. The report, therefore, covers key regions with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Building Finishing Contractors in these regions from 2020 to 2027. It analyzes the region with the highest market share as well as the fastest growing region of the Building Finishing Contractors market. The report by region is then broken down into analyzes at the country level. For example, North America is divided into the United States and Canada. Europe includes the UK, France, and Germany, followed by APAC, which includes countries like China, India, and Japan. Latin America is made up of countries like Mexico and Brazil, and the MEA countries included in the Building Finishing Contractors market are the GCC countries and South Africa.

Research methodology:

The research methodology used to aggregate the Building Finishing Contractors market report involves a combination of primary and secondary research approaches. The research team starts desk research from various sources to collect data on the Building Finishing Contractors market. The report combined its data from reliable secondary sources such as company annual reports, industry publications, news, government websites and more. In addition, the primary research includes interviews to get first-hand market intelligence. Our analysts interviewed several C-level executives, decision-makers, board members, key opinion leaders, industry veterans and other stakeholders in the Building Finishing Contractors market. All of the data is then combined and presented in a report to enable a deep understanding and analysis of the Building Finishing Contractors market.

Why buy Building Finishing Contractors Market Report?

The Building Finishing Contractors market report provides a comprehensive overview of the current market and forecast till 2020-2027. It helps to identify the opportunities associated with the market in the near future. This gives our users a clear idea of ??where to use their resources. The report also includes industry dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and market opportunities that are significantly influencing the growth of the Building Finishing Contractors market. In-depth study of general market expansion that helps users make product launch and asset development decisions. The report covers recent developments and changing market trends with the aim of making the appropriate decisions.

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Building Finishing Contractors Market Outlook, Industry Demand and Supply, Key Prospects, Pricing Strategies, Forecast and Top Manufacturers Analysis ...

FORGING AHEAD Scott Dressel stands outside the Grand Theater at 121 S. Fourth St., Steubenville, and inside the annex, below, where restoration of the theaters original Wurlizter pipe organ continues. Ten years into the overall undertaking he worked to initiate and lead in the establishment of the Grand Theater Restoration Project, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by a group of local citizens, Dressel remains an optimist and visionary that the piece of local history will one day thrive as a performing arts center and downtown attraction.-- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE Tens years in to the Grand Theater Restoration Project, Scott Dressel can still close his eyes and visualize the finished product.

He sees it with his eyes open, too, along with the reality side of returning to grandeur a piece of local history the only one of Steubenvilles five theaters still standing.

I can see it done its just getting from here to there thats so complicated, he said during an interview Tuesday on the status of the Grand, located at 121 S. Fourth St.

Were about one-fifth of the way done, he said of the undertaking to bring back to life the building constructed in 1885 and operated as a theater from 1925 until 1979.

As with everything else, the pandemic has had an adverse impact, according to Dressel. It slowed us down significantly, he said.

COVID has really messed things up as far as, for example, this year, the capital bill grants that have been providing a great deal of our funding from the state didnt happen this year, because they had to shut everything off to handle COVID, so were hoping things will get back to normal after the end of this year any way, but its a problem. It slowed everything down, not just us, obviously, Dressel said.

We were lucky enough to get a $10,000 grant from the county that will keep the utilities on for the year, he said on the brighter side of finances, referring to money nonprofits got through the CARES Act.

We got some donations this year. We have some people who support us all the time and then some other unusual ones, he said. What we really need is a $2 million or $3 million donation from somebody but until that happens, we will keep doing what we can do.

So far about $1 million has gone into the project funds from grants, fundraisers and outright donations and faithful supporters. Were about a million dollars in, not counting in-kind work of volunteers, he said, noting, we have more than a hundred thousand hours of volunteer work.

And thats all translated into progress.

We have gotten a lot done. Since weve started, aside from the roof and its maintenance, weve also done all the structural steel under the balcony that was finished as of last year, so thats done as far as any kind of repair work that has to be done, Dressel explained.

We started the ceiling as you know with the completion of the main dome. Theres still a lot more to do, but that big dome in the front up above the scaffolding is done. Obviously we cleaned it all out, Dressel continued. We put in new gas service, new electric service, temporary heat in most of the building. Some of its permanent. The main theater is temporary because once the theater is finished we have to put a quieter system in.

We are working right now on electrical in the ballroom space, which is approved. We have a permit and everything to do that, he said, Once thats done then the ceilings will go back up in both ballrooms and then the next big thing in the ballroom space is getting the elevator shaft designed and built and then the elevator in there, which is expensive, he said.

We did the front of the theater that took a few years and we actually have a little bit left to do. Were hoping to qualify for one more facade grant so were going to try to apply in the next round again and see if we can get one more and get that last storefront done.

Another facet of ongoing work at the Grand is a musical one restoration of the theaters original Wurlitzer pipe organ that was installed in 1925. The organ was returned to the theater in 2015 from the Elmer Friend home in Illinois. Friend had bought it in 1988, and his children ended up donating it back to the theater after his death.

The pipe organ, which was sold off to Elmer and Audrey Friend in Rockford, Ill., we got it back about four years ago or so, and weve been working on it on Saturdays ever since, Dressel said, pointing out efforts have halted somewhat since the pandemic.

A group of volunteers led by Joe Humpe is involved in the project, however, according to Dressel. He is the master organ builder helping us, and hes built many, many, many organs, Dressel said of Humpe. Another of his organs that we got out of a church in Maynard, Ohio, a few years ago were installing in the ballroom so well actually have two, he added.

The Wurlitzer work is nearing completion.

All of these things that hold pipes or hold sound effects all the chest and actions that theyre called they are all done so now we have to put it all together so we are recreating both rooms, the upper and lower chambers that are on the side of the theater here. This is one and that messy piece of paper has exactly been laid out, thats the shape of the floor for the other one so well cover it with plywood because the original planks are bad and then were going to set everything up on it and run all the windlines between every one. The new ones weve made out of PVC. The old ones were made out of tin, he explained.

And then were going to take it all apart and move it into the theater when the theater is closer to being done, because we dont want all that dirt to get into everything, he added. Ultimately the restored organ will be returned to its original location near the stage.

The work is being done appropriately in what they call the organ room, actually the annex of the theater, to the left of the main entrance.

Above it in the upper two floors will be offices for people running the theater some day as well as a catering kitchen where caterers can set up food, not actually cooking, but a set-up space, Dressel said. There also will be mens and womens restrooms for the ballroom space. That will be above us so this will be an addition to the lobby, like a retail lobby/small event space. It will connect through to the next storefront, which will connect through to the lobby, because next door on this side will be the elevator and the mens and womens restrooms and the stairway access to the ballroom as well, he said in explaining the layout.

Basically from here over will be one big lobby some day because youre going to need a big enough indoor space for a thousand people to wait for something to start, he said. Years ago they would wait outside. Those days are over. People dont want to wait outside any more, he said.

Volunteers have been working individually on the organ, according to Dressel.

Joe has been down a couple times. I have been coming in. We cleaned and moved a bunch of stuff around. Brian Wilson was working on the console, which is the big thing you run it at, thats almost done and incredibly complicated, he said. There are thousands of connections in here. I got the blower running. The original blower, Brian and Tom Dear put it back together, and then we got it hooked up to test it. It generates a massive amount of air. It will power the pipe organ as far as wind so were getting closer, he said.

Dressel anticipates the organ could be finished within a year. It will sit in here finished. Well cover it up, and we can open the door and do tours and give concerts and such, he said, envisioning it could be used for a daily noon concert, entertaining a lunch crowd.

We can get the ceiling done next and we have all the steel 2-by-4s or steel studs to do the walls from the front of the theater to the back of the theater. They need to be put together, Dressel said in noting other work to be done. A fire-resistant drywall will go on that and all the decorative elements will be applied to that, which are simple compared to the ceiling.

Were like part way there, but its just getting from here to there, he said.

Two big fire exits are another big deal so outside the theater where outside stairs used to be eventually will be a brick tower built there with stairs inside of it for a fire escape on each side.

Dressel sees it as important to continue with the project to fruition that its part of a bigger picture that not everyone sees as he does.

Asked what hed like readers to understand about the theater restoration, Dressel noted, Having a theater in your downtown area is a place to have events happen that will attract people that will fill up your restaurants and bars and shops, and its also an event space for unusual events.

Everywhere else where they have their theater open of course this year being the exception it really makes their downtown tick as far as volume of traffic. You want people to come from outside and spend money here. People from outside spending money here grows your economy. Every dollar spent gets spent seven more times before it leaves that place, so you want outside money to come in for the economy to get bigger and have more circulating in it, he said.

If everybody locally just spends it here, that helps, too, but if everybody keeps going to Robinson (Township, Pa.) and spends money there, that shrinks your economy so you have to change that trend, he added.

The Grands completed restoration and use can help foster the downtowns growth, according to Dressel, who noted Steubenville had five theaters at one time. Interestingly enough, the Grand was also the first of those five built and its still standing. Its still independent. It will remain that way. The others were the Capitol, Paramount, the Olympic and the Ohio.

Things are better here, according to Dressel, Theres a lot happening. If you look around, theres all kind of new stuff going on.

The Grand is complicated, were a small community so our means of making things happen are limited, Dressel said. We need the state and federal government maybe eventually (to help). We havent had any help from the federal government, but the state is what really could make a big difference so hopefully our representatives will keep pushing for the Grand so well get more funding, he added.

One of the biggest challenges we have is getting architectural work done. We really need a large architectural firm to donate it, Dressel said. We have two architects we have paid some to do various parts of it. It would be nice to get all the drawings finished once and for all. We have an as-is drawing. We need someone to help us finish that.

Thats a big ask time is money, he said.

Dressel said its fair to say hes an optimist and visionary when it comes to the Grands restoration, an undertaking he generated support for and which led to the establishment of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

I think well get there. We need to get our state reps in here again, he said. The state needs to be back in a position to do that kind of funding, and its not just us that lost funding but lots of organizations, he said, referring to the pandemics impact on nonprofits.

Theater restorations, though time-consuming and involving expense, arent necessarily unusual. Theres a theater in Marietta, the closest example, for instance, which took almost 30 years, he said, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

To naysayers who might say it takes too long and costs too much, he points to the reconstruction of old Fort Steuben, which took 25 years. Who knew, Dressel commented of an area now home to a visitor center, a thriving tourist attraction with the Nutcracker Village and a summer concert series in the amphitheater and other attractions.

With a concert rain date, the Grand, for example, could be the alternative site for a summer concert, Dressel offered the suggestion. The Grand Theaters anticipated use is as a performing arts center with a museum of performing arts history of Steubenville as well as other items of interest. There would be two ballrooms for events and the lobby.

Theres a variety of things you could do, he said of its use. Its really endless. Whatever people want to have going on so you dont have to drive 40 to 50 miles to see something.

Things are changing slowly, he said of the theaters steady-but-sure transformation. It is fun, he said of the ongoing effort and results.

Its been a rough year, I do get tired, but theres potential here, and we need to keep working at it, and we will.

To support the restoration, checks can be made payable to the Steubenville Historic Landmarks Foundation and mailed to the Grand Theater at 121 S. Fourth St., Steubenville OH 43952. No donation is too small. Any amount we can use, Dressel said. I have people who have given $5, $10 and people who give $500 or a $1,000. All of that makes a difference. For information, contact Dressel at scott@bayberryproperties. Com or call (740) 632-2899.

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)

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Installing drywall has a well-deserved reputation for being a lot of work. However, with patience and the right drywalling tools, you can get a professional-looking wallboard installation every time.

Mark Stud Locations

Mark locations of all studs by making a pencil or a chalk line, corresponding to the stud locations, on the ceiling and the floor. Make marks large and noticeable enough so they won't get totally covered by the new drywall sheet.

Make a Ledge

If you're hanging your sheets horizontally, measure 48" down from the ceiling and place a mark on two studs. Insert one drywall screw deep enough into each stud to hold your piece of wallboard. You're essentially making a ledge on which to rest a large piece of wallboard.

Take Measurements

Measure where your wallboard needs to be trimmed. A standard piece of wallboard is 4x8. In the installation pictured, the wall is only 6' x 2.5" wide, so we need to cut some off the end.

Cut the Drywall

Mark the location of your cut and use a T-square or other straight edge to score the front side of the wallboard using a sharp utility knife. Make your score fairly deep, at least 1/8" (Image 1). Apply pressure to the drywall to snap it along the score line (Image 2). You may find it helpful to place a piece of wood behind the drywall to brace against. Be careful that you don't rip the paper backing on the back side of the wallboard. Move to the back side of the wallboard and run your utility knife up the seam, cutting the paper backing to finish the cut (Image 3).

Apply Adhesive

Once you've trimmed your board to size and are ready to install, run a bead of adhesive down each stud. This will reduce the number of screws needed, provide additional sound deadening, and result in a stronger, flatter wall.

Press Into Place

Lift your wallboard and rest the bottom edge on your ledge screws and press it into place.

Secure Positioning

Using your ceiling and floor marks as references, drive three screws through the wallboard and into the studs to secure the wallboard in position.

Feel the Edges

Drywall screws should be properly "dimpled" into the wallboard so that they will not be visible. Using a screw gun for larger jobs will save time and produce a cleaner result. For smaller jobs we recommend a drywall screw-setter that will properly dimple your screwheads using a standard drill. The objective is to ensure that no screwheads are sticking out above the surface. You should be able to run your hands over the wallboard and not be able to feel the edges of the screwheads.

Three Screws Per Stud

Place three courses of evenly spaced screws in your newly installed wallboard one course across the top and bottom edges and one course through the center. Use your ceiling marks as guides to ensure that every screw hits a stud. You should end up with three screws in every stud per piece of wallboard (top, middle and bottom).

Cut Holes for Outlet & Switch Locations

If working around outlet boxes, you'll need to cut holes before hanging the drywall so the wallboard fits snugly over all of your outlets and switches.

Always make sure the power is turned off to all electrical outlets and switches and any unsecured wires are safely capped and pushed into the back of the box. If cutting for outlets on a bottom sheet of wallboard, measure from the top of the outlet box to the bottom edge of the wallboard above. Write your measurement on the wall directly above the outlet box (Image 1). Then, mark the width of the outlet box using lines on the left and the right sides of the outlet box. Transfer your measurements to the new bottom piece of wallboard so you will know where to cut around the outlet box (Image 2). Make sure to accurately define where the top edge of the outlet box should begin on your new piece of wallboard. Use a drywall router with a drywall bit installed or a keyhole saw to neatly cut the hole for the outlet box (Image 3). The drywall router is handy for larger jobs where there are numerous outlet holes, windows and doors to cut. Keyhole saws are great for smaller projects and hard to reach areas where there isn't much material cut out.

Fasten Your Wallboards Together

Fasten your lower piece in place using the same techniques as before, making sure that your outlet and switch boxes are all cut out and seated properly. Note that you may need to use shims to elevate the lower drywall for a tight fit.

Form a Sharp Edge

Make sure that when two pieces of wallboard meet at a corner, they overlap to form a sharp edge. This is essential for the reinforcing corner bead that you'll need to install along the entire length of the corner joint.

Use a Drywall Router (Optional)

Any large openings for doors, entryways or windows can be trimmed out using a drywall router.

Prepare Joint Compound for Finishing

For filling joints, a bucket of pre-mixed, all-purpose drywall compound (also known as drywall mud) is recommended. Stir the bucket to a smooth consistency and fill a mud pan with enough joint compound to make one full coat over the joint you'll be working on. The technique for finishing horizontal and vertical seams is identical. It's usually best to start with the horizontal seams.

Fill Drywall Seam

Using your 4" putty knife, fill the entire length of the drywall seam from one end to the other. Make sure your final product is level with neatly feathered edges. When using drywall compound, the key is to work in thin, level coats. The objective is to fill the cracks and make them as level as possible with the wallboard on both sides of the seams.

Lay Joint Tape

Lay your joint tape into the wet drywall compound and smoothly lay it into your freshly mudded joint. Slightly wetting the tape will keep it from binding and ease the application process. Use one piece of tape per seam. Leave 1/8" where two pieces of tape meet in any areas.

Add Joint Compound

With your tape in place, take your 6" drywall knife and add a layer of joint compound over the tape and surrounding area. Make sure to completely cover the tape and make sure that you continue the process of laying smooth, thin coats that are level with the wall. The objective is to bed the tape into the first layer of joint compound while covering it with the second.

Add Corner Beads

For outside corners, you'll use a pre-fabricated corner bead instead of tape. These can be made from fiberboard or metal. The corner in our example is in a low-traffic area so we're using a fiberboard corner bead. Press it into your first coat securely (Image 1) and then lay your second coat over it just like you did for the tape (Image 2).

Fill Screw Dimples

Allow the taped seams to dry for the recommended time per the instructions on the joint compound. While the large joints are drying, fill all of the screw dimples and any other imperfections in the wallboard. You need one smooth even coat. Drive or gently hammer down any screw heads that are protruding from the wall and then cover those as well.

Ready for the Next Coat

Wait a full 12 hours for all of the joints to dry. You'll be able to see that all of the drywall compound has turned totally white. At this stage, you're ready for your next coat.

Apply the Finishing Coat

Using an 8" putty knife, apply a thin finishing coat to every seam and every corner. This is also a good opportunity to put a second coat on every screw dimple.

Fill Any Low Spots

Make sure that all of your joints are level with your wallboard. You should be able to place the edge of a putty knife over any joints without seeing any light gaps underneath. Fill any low spots with another layer of drywall compound.

Sand the Joints

Wait another 12 hours for your finishing coat to dry completely. Once that's done, you're ready to sand your joints. Use a circular sanding pad for larger jobs, or a smaller hand-held sanding block for small areas. Sand gently until you cannot feel any joints, screws or imperfections with your hands.

Ready for Primer and Paint

Once you've finished sanding and touching up, your wallboards are ready for primer and paint.

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How to Hang Drywall: Installing Drywall Easily and ...

SPARKS, Md., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Certain projects require specific tools that aren't necessarily staples in every toolbox. And when those projects come up, you usually have to pay more for individual tools or for an expensive set that you don't need. To help tool users out, Crescent APEX developed three unique project kits with the tools you need to make quick work and move on to the next one.

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Its impact-rated design withstands heavy use with an impact driver, increasingly becoming the preferred method for pros and DIYers alike. The kit also comes with four bits, three strips of wire (black, white, and green) and three wire caps.

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Three New Project Kits from Crescent APEX Provide the Tools You Need to Get Common Tasks Done Right - Herald-Mail Media

Calvary Baptist Church has distributed almost $250,000in donations

By Dan Chalk, Midland Daily News

Calvary Baptist Church members have volunteered many hours in the flood relief effort since May, and the church has generated and distributed $250,000 in donations for flood survivors. (Photo provided/David Warren)

Calvary Baptist Church members have volunteered many hours in the flood relief effort since May, and the church has generated and distributed $250,000 in donations for flood survivors. (Photo provided/David

Calvary Baptist Church members have volunteered many hours in the flood relief effort since May, and the church has generated and distributed $250,000 in donations for flood survivors. (Photo provided/David Warren)

Calvary Baptist Church members have volunteered many hours in the flood relief effort since May, and the church has generated and distributed $250,000 in donations for flood survivors. (Photo provided/David

A conduit for flood relief: Calvary Baptist Church has distributed almost $250K

The devastating flooding after the mid-Michigan dam failures in May literally came to the doorstep of Calvary Baptist Church, which has since mobilized volunteers and generated a quarter of a million dollars in donations for flood survivors in the surrounding area.

"The water came up to our doorstep," said Pastor David Warren, who is also the secondary principal at Calvary Baptist Academy.

The church members instinctively reached out to help the 25 or so families in their own congregation whose homes had been flooded, and then began to address the overwhelming needs of the community at large.

"When the flood first happened, our church got involved very quickly in our community," Warren explained. "We organized (work) teams to go and help people clean out their homes.

"Our parking lot was used as a staging area," he continued. "We had multiple teams that would go into a home, disinfect it, and deliver fans and dehumidifiers. It was an overwhelming task more work than we could ever do (as one church). Many other churches were doing the same thing."

That's where groups like Samaritan's Purse became invaluable. The Christian humanitarian aid organization sent volunteers and resources to Midland County for a six-week period in the summer, and they operated out of the Calvary Baptist Church parking lot.

With the help of Midland Chemical Company, which is owned by Warren's father, Samaritan's Purse worked on close to 400 Midland County homes to eliminate any mold buildup as a result of the flooding.

"The volunteers with Samaritan's Purse saved (homeowners) thousands of dollars," said Pastor Mark Dickerson, another Calvary Baptist member who has been active in flood relief efforts. "On average, they saved people probably $8,000 per home, and some homes much more than that. Their goal, when they walked out of a house, was that it was contractor-ready."

One of the next steps was the installation of new drywall, and Dickerson said the group Disaster Relief at Work (DRAW) partnered with seven churches in Midland to deliver thousands of sheets of drywall to Midland and Gladwin counties.

"That was a huge blessing," Dickerson said.

Calvary Baptist Church was able to get discounts on some building supplies for flooded homes.

"God provided a lot of support coming into our church, so we tried to just turn around and pour it right back into the community," Dickerson said.

Meanwhile, churches, businesses and individuals throughout the country were seeking to help flood survivors monetarily, and Calvary Baptist Church established a fund to channel that generosity to where it was needed.

"We posted it through our church Facebook page. never expecting (the fund) to grow to 250,000 dollars," Warren said. "It's been a huge blessing to see people from literally all over the country organizations and churches that wanted to be part of the giving."

Almost all of the $250,000 has been distributed to between 400 and 500 flood survivors who applied to the church for help, Warren said, and what remains continues to be distributed.

The fund, which has no overhead costs, is still accepting donations. It is at cbcmidland.org under the "giving" link.

Collecting refreshments for health care workers

Calvary Baptist Church is also currently collecting nonperishable, prepackaged snack foods and bottled water to be delivered to front-line health care workers to encourage them during the difficulty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donations of such items can be dropped off at the church office at 6100 Perrine Road through early next week.

"This can be a reminder that we're out here supporting (the health care workers) even if we can't be there (at the hospital) in person," Warren said.

"Being a hospital, they prefer healthier snacks, but I'm sure that whatever is brought, they'll appreciate it," he said lightheartedly.

"The message is, 'We're behind you, we support you, we haven't forgotten you, we're praying for you," Warren added. "This is a small gesture to a (health care) community that's working extra hard right now on our behalf."

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A conduit for flood relief: Calvary Baptist Church has distributed almost $250K - Midland Daily News