Malissa Troutman spent 30 years working for nonprofits American Red Cross community executive in Owensboro, executive director of the American Heart Association in Evansville, things like that.

Then, at 52, she had what she calls my midlife crisis.

Five weeks ago, Troutman created High Heels and Hard Hats, a home-improvement company.

Last week, she was remodeling a house on Merriewood Drive in Owensboro, wearing her red heels, but not her hard hat.

Remodeling is an inconvenience for people living in a house thats being remodeled, Troutman said.

But the benefits of remodeling outweigh the inconvenience for most people, she said.

Troutman said, My mom thinks Im crazy. But Im available more now for my family and I can work on my schedule.

And home improvement, she said, is a passion.

I could do this 24/7 and never sleep, Troutman said.

When shes not remodeling houses, shes flipping them.

Im on my third and fourth houses now, Troutman said. I made $50,000 on the first one, but I know I cant do that on everyone. Some I may barely break even on. But this is a very, very good time to flip houses.

The Greater Owensboro Realtor Association says there were 282 active single-family homes listed with it in February.

That was down from 378 a year ago.

The median price of homes sold last month was $152,000 up from $126,950 in February 2019.

Troutman said she started doing her own home improvements when she was 24.

I was newly married, living on Booth Avenue and we wanted the house painted, she said. We hired a painter, paid upfront. He worked two days and never came back.

I want to help people save time and their hard-earned money, she said. I shop for inexpensive ways to redecorate. And Im very mechanically inclined. Im a perfectionist.

Her nonprofit background is helping with her new business, Troutman said.

I was remodeling a house for a man and I discovered that he needed a lot more assistance with aging in place, she said. I worked with GRADD (Green River Area Development District) to find the resources available to him. He wasnt indigent but he needed assistance.

Troutman said, I have a passion about aging in place. There are 68 million of us who will need help as we get older. Im pulling together a task force for aging in place. We have to figure out what it takes to get it done.

She said, I show people how to do things to save money like rip out the carpet themselves. I can teach you how to do things if you dont know how.

Troutman said, I get you estimates on everything. Sometimes, the lowest bid is good, but not always. Sometimes, the low bid cuts too many corners.

When she was a kid, she said, My father owned a carpet, paint and hardware company in Lafayette, Indiana. I grew up in that.

This is Troutmans second venture into the for-profit world.

I owned Great Comebacks for seven years, she said. I made money, but not as much as the time I put in. Then, one day someone came in asking to buy it. I put more heart and soul into that place. But I sold it quickly.

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High Heels and Hard Hats Troutman's following her passion for home improvement - messenger-inquirer

Remodeling or renovating your home is exciting. You get to remake your home and have new rooms, expand the living space, and turn your home into something special. While this is a fantastic time to change your home, there are many things youll have to consider before starting the project. Many people think about contractors and equipment, but few people think about waste removal. This will cover some aspects of waste removal so that you have a better idea of how to handle this.

There are many different containers, and some might be good for your needs, while others might be overkill. For example, flatbed trailers are perhaps the most common type. As the name implies, these have a flatbed to rest pallets and equipment on. While they are highly versatile trailers, they arent great for collecting or transporting dumpsters.

Lowboy trailers are also quite common and excellent for transporting smaller equipment and dumpsters. These can be useful for smaller renovation jobs as they have a lower deck that is easy to load as needed.

Enclosed trailers are quite common and used for a variety of purposes. The containers themselves is enclosed to keep out the elements. While this can be used for hauling trash and waste material, its not quite the best for this particular type of job.

The best trailers largely depend on what exactly you need. As discussed in the last section, there are many different types of containers, and each one is built for different needs. While this will cover some of the best containers in general for waste removal during your renovation, keep your exact needs in mind when youre picking a trailer.

Dump trailers are the best overall for this type of project. They are practically made for hauling dumpsters, placing them down in yards or driveways, and picking them up to transport them to a landfill or similar location. These trailers do require some skill and experience to use. Make sure you know what youre doing, or there might be some problems when picking up or unloading a dumpster.

Utility trailers can also be useful for small to medium projects. These containers have higher walls, and the top is open. This allows you to throw the trash into the container quickly, and you can easily park and drive this type of truck.

Aluminum trailers are similar to utility containers. They have higher walls and tend to have a higher capacity for even more trash. This is good for medium jobs, and they have all the benefits. Be sure to check haletrailer.com to see exactly which trailers are available for you.

While this has primarily been about renovating and remodeling within the home, there are many different times you might need a trailer to remove waste. Sometimes a storm comes through or equipment catastrophically malfunctions, and youre left with destroyed walls. There are also hoarding situations where you have to help a friend or family member remove everything they have accumulated. Containers can be extremely helpful in these situations as they make it easier to remove all the trash and waste.

If youre working in your garage or need to empty it, then a trailer can be significant. You can remove all the waste without making several trips to the dump. Putting in a swimming pool can also require a container. This is especially true with in-ground pools where you have to remove a significant amount of dirt.

Another big project is redoing your driveway. Youll have to remove all the existing stones and materials, which can be very difficult for yourself. The material is heavy and takes up a lot of room. This waste is almost impossible to remove with a van or small truck, so youll want a trailer and dumpster to help you out.

Here are some regulations and safety tips to keep in mind when removing waste. Please keep in mind that this list isnt exhaustive and things might be different in your particular area, so make sure that you check the regulations in your local area.

One of the most important things is to know what you can and cannot throw in a trailer or dumpster. You can throw household junk and furniture in a dumpster. Be careful about upholstered furniture and mattresses as some areas do not allow you to throw these in a dumpster. You can also throw away most appliances. If you have many appliances, then you might be required to recycle them or list them as e-waste. Youll also have to remove freon or any other chemicals.

Yard waste can be placed in a dumpster without any limitations as can most toys. If they are electronic toys, then you must remove the batteries first. Most construction materials, like bricks and shingles, can be thrown into a dumpster. There might be a restriction on overall weight, but otherwise, its usually fine to throw these materials away.

You cannot throw away batteries, hazardous materials, paints, or other chemicals or tires with a trailer or dumpster. It would help if you often had a permit to remove these as they require more effort to manage safely.

Almost every home remodel or renovation project will require significant waste removal, so be sure to add this to your budget. While you can always load up a van with all the garbage, this is hazardous and very time-consuming. Its best to get the right trailer for the job. Not only that, but the prices are often much better than people expect.

Be sure to check your local area to see what the rules and laws are regarding getting a trailer or dumpster and what you can and cannot throw away. Each area is a little different, and what might be fine the town over wont be fine for you.

Containers are great for removing waste during your renovation project because they are convenient and can remove a lot of waste at once. Be sure to get the right one, and your project will go smoothly.

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Home Remodel and Renovation Waste Removal 2020 - ChartAttack

On Friday, March 13, the Trump administration declared a national emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

That same day, tenants at two buildings managed by the same property company received eviction notices telling them to vacate within 60 days, at a time when government and health officials have been directing households to shelter in place.

WestStar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One resident, who received a notice to vacate along with two other units at their Ocean Boulevard building in Alamitos Beach, said tenants were traumatized.

This isnt the first time these tenants have received notices, either.

In February, they received a notice just before the City Council voted on an emergency ordinance that mandated all evictions citing substantial remodeling to be void until property owners obtained building permits and provided information on the scope of work.

When Westar Property Management Inc. sent out the notices on Friday, they cited intent to substantially remodel as the reason and while they included the scope of work they intend to do they didnt provide a copy of a building permit, instead showing an inspection record.

Despite not showing building permits, construction crews continued to work, jackhammering, sawing, hammering and drilling between 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m. nearly every day.

At WestStars other managed property on 64th Street in North Long Beach, six units received similar notices on Fridaythe third attempt from the company to evict since last fall.

They, too, have reported construction crews working at their building without showing the required permits.

What WestStar is doing is inhumane, said Norbeto Lopez, director of Long Beach Residents Empowered, who has been helping the tenants. How can you evict vulnerable residents when people are losing their income or their jobs due to the pandemic.

Tenants may get another respite, though.

The Long Beach City Council will consider an emergency ordinance tonight that would keep people in their homes for 30 days or until emergency proclamations are lifted.

Lets not add to the stresses families are facing during this crisis by exacerbating their already strapped resources, Councilman Roberto Uranga said, explaining his support for the item.

On Monday, the state made such actions allowable by local governments as well.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order authorizing local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slow foreclosures and protect against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by the coronavirus.

People shouldnt lose or be forced out of their home because of the spread of COVID-19, Newsom said. Over the next few weeks, everyone will have to make sacrificesbut a place to live shouldnt be one of them. I strongly encourage cities and counties take up this authority to protect Californians.

The City Council will meet virtually at 5 p.m. tonight. For more information click here.

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Tenants receive eviction notices in the midst of pandemic; City Council may be able to help - Long Beach Post

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT)-- We've told you about cancellations left right as groups decide how to best move forward amid these Coronavirus fears.

One local expo says they're open for business.

The Home Improvement and Remodeling expo says they're all set up for visitors.

The Health Department has sent out cautionary guidelines when it comes to public events, but did not recommend cancellations.

The Housing and Building Association met with their board and vendors to decide what course of action to take.

Vendors for the event were already set up and decided to continue with the event.

Two rivers says they're taking all necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety.

The expo is being held at Two Rivers Convention Center Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

It's five dollars for adults and three dollars for seniors and kids.

Read this article:
The Home Improvement and Remodeling expo is here - KJCT8.com

Whether you're a homebuyer who's fallen in love with a historic house or a real estate investor looking at remodeling one, a historic home renovation is no easy task to undertake. Here, we'll walk you through the challenges you might encounter when renovating an older house so you'll know what you're getting yourself into.

A historic house is one that's deemed "architecturally significant" by the National Register of Historic Places, which is where historic homes are listed. Generally, to qualify for this distinction, a house must not only uphold a certain architectural style but also capture a specific time period. Another way for a home to land on the National Register of Historic Places is to have been owned by, or associated with, a famous person from history.

Historic homes look different than most properties, and that alone could be a draw. Also, you may qualify for tax incentives if you choose to own or invest in one. On the other hand, as is the case with all older homes, historic homes typically require a lot of work, and remodeling them isn't all that simple. That's because there are certain restrictions that could come into play, which we'll discuss below. Also, the insurance on a historic property could be expensive.

Renovating a historic house could prove challenging because you'll often face restrictions on what you can and cannot do. The reason? The purpose of designating a house as a historic home is to help ensure that its preservation is upheld. As such, any project that takes away from that will most likely not fly.

Here are some issues you might encounter:

To determine what specific restrictions apply to your house, you'll need to contact your state's historic preservation office and get all the details surrounding your property. Be sure to do so before starting a remodeling project to avoid problems.

Historic homes tend to come with unique features that you, as an owner or investor, should make every effort to preserve. At the same time, because these homes are older, they're often subject to wear and tear. As such, historic home remodeling should focus on restoration and preservation.

Once you've figured out what restrictions you're subject to with regard to your home, you can map out a list of your home's features you're looking to preserve but bring back to life. For example, the original wood floor that runs throughout your interior shouldn't be ripped out and replaced, even if it's worn; rather, it can be buffed to remove scratches and stained to restore shine.

Keep in mind that it's OK to make certain parts of your home more modern, as long as your remodeling project doesn't take away from the historical features that make your home unique. For example, you can replace a nonworking oven with a modern one that does work, but in doing so, you should make every effort to preserve the layout of your kitchen. Similarly, if your master bathroom needs an overhaul, you might replace fixtures rather than rip out the classic clawfoot tub that came with it.

If you're going to hire a general contractor to restore your home, make sure he or she has experience working not only with older homes but historic ones. The right contractor may be able to offer some guidance on renovating your home while preserving its look and integrity. And if youre an investor, be sure to get quotes so you spend your money efficiently.

Historic houses are older by nature, and so energy efficiency tends to be an issue. If your goal is to make your home more comfortable while lowering your electricity, heating, and cooling costs, start by replacing older light bulbs with LEDs. Of course, the challenge may be finding newer bulbs to fit your existing fixtures, but if that's doable, you can make a significant change without altering your home's appearance.

Next, replace older toilets with ones that use less water. The same holds true for showerheads that use more water than necessary.

Additionally, try replacing your windows if they're drafty, which older windows tend to be. Granted, this may be a challenge because you'll need to find windows similar to the ones you have now. As such, you may need to pay a premium for custom windows that fit into your home's current casings.

Updating your home's doors is another way to better insulate your property and avoid drafts that make heating difficult in particular. Again, you'll have the challenge of potential restrictions, and even if one doesn't exist, you may not want to mess with a key feature of your home's exterior. If replacing your door isn't an option, try recaulking around it and weatherstripping to seal air leaks.

Finally, look at adding insulation in your home's attic or crawl space. That's another good way to retain heat or cool air without changing the look of your home.

Renovating a historic house isn't for the faint of heart. Then again, neither is buying one. If you're willing to take on the responsibility of owning a historic house, be prepared to face your share of challenges in the course of making it modern enough to enjoy. The good news? If you strike that ideal balance, you'll come away with a home that looks like no other -- one that's comfortable, unique, and, in some cases, a very profitable sell.

Original post:
Historic Home Renovation: What You Need to Know - Motley Fool

Construction has begun on the expansion and remodeling of the Aldi store at 2750 Heartland Dr. in Coralville.

The store will be the German discount supermarket chains final expansion and remodel in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marion and Waterloo, according to an Aldi marketing agency.

The remodeled stores feature a more modern design that employs recycled materials, energy-saving refrigeration, open ceilings and LED lighting.

When the work in Coralville is completed on April 9, Aldi will have invested $9 million updating six stores and opening a new store last year at 180 Collins Rd. NE in Cedar Rapids.

The remodeling and expansion activity is part of the Aldis plans for a $3.4 billion investment to expand to 2,500 stores nationwide by the end of 2022. Aldis U.S. headquarters is in the Chicago suburb of Batavia, Ill.

Aldi operates more than 1,300 stores in the United States and more than 10,000 stores in 20 countries.

The family-owned companys efforts come as rival European discount grocer Lidi opens more stores in the United States.

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Aldi remodeling its grocery store in Coralville - The Gazette

Whether youre new to the series or youre a returning player from the first game, you should know that in Nioh 2 combat is everything. Like we said in our review, theres a wide variety of weapons for you to choose from, each one with their pros and cons. Nioh 2 even adds all the weapon types from the first games DLC and some completely new types. As if that wasnt enough, the stance system means every weapon has three different ways in which you can use them!

With so much variety, its important to know what each weapon does and how do they scale with your stats. You can always equip two weapons at a time, so take all of this into consideration in order to build your perfect yokai slayer.

At the beginning of the game, you can pick your first two weapons. The game lets you try out all of the weapon types for a little bit before deciding, and each weapon type gives you a different bonus of +1 to a specific stat. In the long run, that bonus doesnt mean much since youll be leveling up quite fast, and you will be able to find the weapons you dont pick almost immediately.

Still, it is important to know how each weapon type scales with your stats. All of them receive a damage boost based on three different stats, and depending on which weapons you end up favoring, you might want to lean towards those specific stats.

The Sword is the most basic of weapon types in Nioh 2. With decent range, decent speed and decent damage, this weapon type doesnt excel at anything but rather its a useful all-rounder. Some might find them a little bit dull compared to the other options, but you can never go wrong with a Sword. In terms of stat scaling, Swords have a B+ in Heart, a C in Strength and a C in Skill.

Youd think that two swords instead of one would be stronger, but the Dual Swords are your equivalent to dagger-type of weapons in other games. Theyre faster than most weapons, but not as strong in terms of numbers. However, their speed is very useful when you want to inflict a status ailment if your specific weapon allows it. They have a C+ in Heart, a D+ in Strength and a B+ in Skill.

Spears are all about the reach, both horizontal and vertical. They might not be super fast, but they can cover ground that most other weapons just cant. If you want to hit your enemies from a safer distant than most of the other weapons, then you might want to try these out. They have a B+ in Constitution, a C in Strength and a C in Skill.

Axes are your big damage weapons, but at the same time theyre the slowest and consume the most Ki. No matter the stance, an axe is never going to be your fastest option but it will do a lot of damage. If you really want to sacrifice speed for power, an Axe in High Stance can be absolutely devastating. They have a B+ in Stamina, a D+ in Strength and a C+ in Courage.

The Kusarigama have always been considered the most technical weapon in Nioh, and that remains the case in this sequel. They have reach and speed, even in the High Stance, but to master these weapons you will need to learn its shortcomings. They have a D+ in Strength, a C+ in Skill and a B+ in Dexterity.

Odachi, the first of the DLC weapon types from the previous game, is an alternative for the Spear if you want reach. They are slower, but offer more damage and go hand in hand with tankier builds since some of its attacks cant be interrupted. They have a C in Heart, a C in Stamina and a B+ in Strength.

The Tonfas, the other DLC weapon type from Nioh 1, have the shortest range in the game. However, to compensate for that they are incredibly fast and most of its attacks move you forward, allowing you to keep pressuring your enemies and breaking their guards. They have a C+ in Constitution, a D+ in Dexterity and a B+ in Courage.

Hatchets are the first weapon type added for Nioh 2 and theyre quite unique. Just like Tonfas, they also have shorter range than most but unique to them is that by holding down the Strong Attack, you can actually throw your hatchet. They have a B+ in Skill, a D+ in Magic and a C+ in Courage.

The Switchglaive is the other new weapon type in Nioh 2, and they are one of the most versatile weapons in the game. Their gimmick is that each stance transforms the weapon. In Low Stance, they have short range and high speed like a Tonfa. In Mid Stance they act similar to Spears. In High Stance they basically become an Axe. These weapons are perfect for covering a lot of options. They have a C in Constitution, a C in Skill and a B+ in Magic.

Remember how I said that the stat your weapon scales with is very important? Nioh 2 goes even further in that regard with its new Remodel system. As you progress through the game and do Sub Missions to upgrade the Blacksmith, you will eventually unlock this function that allows you to tinker with the scaling of your some of your weapons.

To Remodel a weapon, they need to have a +1 or more next to their level. You can get this bonus randomly by either forging new weapons or as loot drops in every level. You have four options for remodeling: the default is the original scaling, and three other options that greatly increase one of the stats but lowers the other two. For example, you could remodel a Switchglaive to scale better with Skill, resulting in a D+ in Constitution, a C in Magic but an A- in Skill.

Do keep in mind, however, that remodeling requires a specific item you need to forge from materials dropped by specific bosses.

Now that you have all that information, how do you pick which weapon to use? Nioh 2 gives you a lot of freedom, especially with the new Remodel system, but there are still some tried and true builds that will help you out a lot. Here are some of our recommendations, based specifically in what kind of playstyle you want to follow.

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Nioh 2 Weapon, Stats and Remodel Guide: How to Craft the Best Build for your Character - RPG Site

By Ed Del Grande, Tribune News Service

FridayMar13,2020at7:41PM

Q: Dear Ed: I have a shower stall with good plumbing and nice tiles but the shower pipe and head is boring, worn out and outdated. Without getting into a remodeling job, what can I do to add some nice features and improve my shower?

Ted, Maine

A: Sounds like you could use a refresh job on your tile shower stall.

"Refresh" means to improve your present shower setup without remodeling the tile walls or the in-wall plumbing. Basically, you can work off the shower arm connection and install a new interior shower setup.

This is possible because of updated shower column kits that anchor to the existing tile walls. A shower column kit usually includes a showerhead, hand shower and a specially finished vertical pipe column. The column can also include a diverter, sliding hand shower bracket and rain head-style setup as well.

Bottom line: For a refreshing shower option that may not wash away your budget, look into a shower stall refresh job.

Q: Dear Ed, I read your article on "freestanding" tubs and like the look of having a shower stall and an open style bathtub. But, our bathroom is too small to have the tub located away from the wall. Any ideas you can share with me?

Jerry, Massachusetts

A: Freestanding baths have become trendy plumbing fixtures. As mentioned in previous articles, not only do they function as a comfortable place to take a bath, they also add classic beauty with "stand alone" styling. However, a freestanding tub may not be the best choice for smaller bathrooms because of space restrictions, until now. I've worked with new freestanding-like bathtubs called "back-to-wall" tubs that are designed to be installed against a wall. This design may fit smaller spaces and allows for back of tub access for an easier install. Final tip: If you choose a Back-to-Wall tub that features lumbar support, a built-in overflow and a "toe-tap" style drain that's foot operated, this can also be a step in the right direction.

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate.

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Plumber: Refresh shower in place of remodel - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Dear Ed: I have a shower stall with good plumbing and nice tiles, but the shower pipe and head is boring, worn out and outdated. Without getting into a remodeling job, what can I do to add some nice features and improve my shower?

Ted, Maine

Answer: Sounds like you could use a refresh job on your tile shower stall.

"Refresh" means to improve your present shower setup without remodeling the tile walls or the in-wall plumbing. Basically, you can work off the shower arm connection and install a new interior shower setup.

This is possible because of updated shower column kits that anchor to the existing tile walls. A shower column kit usually includes a showerhead, hand shower and a specially finished vertical pipe column. The column can also include a diverter, sliding hand shower bracket and rain head-style setup as well.

Bottom line: For a refreshing shower option that may not wash away your budget, look into a shower stall refresh job.

Ed Del Grande, a master contractor/plumber and LEED green associate, is an author and hosts shows on television and the internet. For information, visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

Excerpt from:
Refresh shower in place of remodel | Home - Reading Eagle

While it sounded like the judge was really hammering the gavel next door, it was just the demolition crew working on the remodel of East Fork Justice Court.

The seats were all gone on Monday, and the jury box looked more like kindling than lumber, as work began on the junior court in the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.

East Fork is one of the busiest single-justice courts in the state, which means it will be taking its show on the road this month while work is conducted.

Court Administrator Bobbie Williams said the remodel of the 40-year-old courtroom will focus on accessibility.

Funded entirely from designated funds and grants, with nothing coming from the general fund, this remodel will increase seating in the busiest courtroom in the county by about 25 percent, she said. Additionally, it will ensure that the general seating and jury box are ADA compliant.

With a $21,145 grant from the Nevada Supreme Court, the remodeled courtroom also will incorporate advances in technology including upgrading the evidence presentation system to be on par with the district courts.

While work is underway, East Fork Justice Court will be roving around the Judicial & Law Enforcement Centers courtrooms and other spaces.

It will even make a trip to the newly remodeled Tahoe Township Justice Court later this month. To find out where court will be held this month, check at eastforkjusticecourt.com

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Work begins on East Fork Justice Court remodel - The Record-Courier