by Will Robinson

Early on the morning of November 14, a handful of residents gathered in the Brooklin School staff lounge for an informational session on the upcoming school renovation vote. After passing out coffee and muffins, school board chair Kathleen Kazmierczak went through the details of the $4 million work plan.

We did our due diligence; we looked at just about everything, she said to a resident who asked about alternative sources of funding.

The coffee-fueled info session was one of several taking place in the lounge since the select board approved the school renovation proposal on October 4. As the December special town meeting draws closer, Kazmierczak intends to spread the word any way she can.

Were sending out 933 mailings, she said, pointing to a box of hundreds of letters to be sent that morning.

A formal public hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 28, at 7 p.m. in the school gym. Another informal information session will be held in the staff lounge on Thursday, December 14, from 8 to 9 a.m.

The vote is on Tuesday, December 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the town office. Voters will be asked, by secret ballot, to approve a $4,371,958 municipal bond for renovations to the K-8 school.

Renovation details

The renovations touch on almost every aspect of the building, from the parking lot to the plumbing. The largest and most important item on the list, according to School Union 76 Superintendent Dan Ross, is the heating system. On a tour of the school in his first few weeks as superintendent, Ross said he immediately noticed the problem.

If someone asked me that first day what my immediate source of concern was for the building, it would be the heating system, and that has not changed a year later, he said in a letter to Brooklin residents.

Back in 1998, the school was outfitted with two oil burning boilers. In 2015, the heating system was altered to include a wood pellet boiler, keeping a single oil backup system. In 2021, the pellet stove was removed for not meeting state standards, leaving the job of heating the building to one aging boiler.

Losing the boiler, Ross said, means Brooklin students will become Sedgwick or Deer Isle-Stonington students for however long it would take until the school can reopen.

The new heating system, costing approximately $897,000, will feature a centralized heat pump system and a propane backup. Other projects include roofing, siding and paving as well as updates to the electrical, plumbing, ventilation and insulation systems.

David Bowden, Brooklin Schools head custodian, said most of the wood siding is original and in desperate need of replacement. While not essential to keeping the school open, Bowden said neglecting the smaller projects will be just as detrimental in the long run.

Its all stuff that needs to be fixed, he said.

If voters approve the expense, Ross said the project is scheduled to begin the day after students leave in June and end by the time they return in September.

Tax increases

If approved, the municipal bond is expected to be paid off over 15 years. Brooklins mill rate is expected to increase from 7.3 to 7.79 in the first year, then to 8.35 in the second year, with no further increase. Residents will go from paying $7.79 in taxes per $1,000 in property value to $8.35 per $1,000.

According to data from the Brooklin town office, a house assessed at $250,000 currently pays $1,825 in property taxes. If the project is approved, this number increases to $1,947 (a $122 increase) in the first year, then to $2,087 in the second year ($140 increase), for a total increase of $262 over this years mill rate.

In his letter, Ross said the town currently does not hold any debt and the project represents approximately 1% of your total local valuation.

Originally posted here:
Brooklin gears up for school renovation vote | Community News ... - The Weekly Packet

ITHACA, N.Y.To finish out this months series of construction updates, well be taking a look at projects under construction elsewhere in and around the city of Ithaca. If you want to see the previous installment, you can find the Cornell campus updates here, the Collegetown updates here, and the Downtown updates here.

Use the below table to navigate the gallery if youre interested in a specific project.

Not all new projects are big and flashy. Local developer Stavros Stavropoulos has commenced construction of his infill housing development in Ithacas West End. The $1.276 million project is replacing three dilapidated houses at 615 Cascadilla Street, 617 Cascadilla Street, and 513 North Meadow Street with four new two-family houses that include eight market-rate rental units.

All of the units will be three-bedroom apartments with 2 or 2.5 bathrooms, ranging from about 1,000 to a little over 1,400 square feet. Residences will have open floor plans, eating bars/islands and walk-in closets. The replacement unit at 617 Cascadilla Street has a finished and partially exposed basement level, while the trio at 615 Cascadilla (615 A/B/C) have crawlspaces instead.

Meanwhile, on the outside, plans call for new sidewalks, bike storage, lighting, landscaping and an off-street parking lot for eight cars accessed from North Meadow Street. Curb cuts on Cascadilla Street are being removed, and the housing is grouped closer to the northeast corner and adjacent residences to maintain a quieter and more residential atmosphere. The rear yard at the south end of the property would be a shared outdoor space for the residents.

The foundation has been poured and the duplexes are fully framed. The roof work was in the process of being completed when these photos were taken earlier this month. These are fairly simple wood-framed structures with Huber ZIP Panel plywood sheathing, so framing is a relatively quick and straightforward process. The buildings will be finished out with fiber cement siding in shades of tan, grey and sage green.

Local architect Daniel R. Hirtler of Flatfield Designs is the designer who penned the building designs. Seven Valley Siteworks of Groton and Hollow Creek Builders of Ovid are handling the excavation and buildout. An early- to mid-2024 completion would be a fair estimate for this project, shortly after Stavropoulos opens a new two-family rental on South Hill at 205 Hudson Street.

The Squeaky Clean project, which replaces the former Lama retail plaza that occupied the triangular site, calls for a new 1.5-story automated car wash tunnel building, equaling approximately 35,500 square feet. The site will also include vacuum stations, site pavements, utility extensions and improved landscaping. Access will be from South Titus Street, as there was a high risk of backups if they tried to keep a curb cut on South Meadow.

The building is fully framed with concrete masonry block and plywood Huber ZIP roof and gable panels, and windows have been fitted. Installations of interior utilities and equipment is underway, and from the outside, one can see the concrete bases and utility hook-ups for the vacuum units that will be installed. The ribbing being attached to the CMU walls will be used to attach the fiber cement siding, and a stone veneer will be applied to the base. The teal foam insulation boards will be buried behind backfill material as the project comes along.

D Squared Construction of Lansing (Doug Dake and Doug Boles) is the construction manager for the development. A building loan filing from last winter states that Community Bank N.A. of Albany is lending Sloan $3.525 million in construction financing for the car wash.

Readers may recallwhen the Tops Supermarket at Tops/Creekside Plaza closed, and plans came out last October for Dicks Sporting Goods to relocate into 45,486 square-feet of the former Tops space, with the remaining 16,918 square-feet at the south endcap of the strip for a future tenant. As of late October, the new location is open for business.

The South Meadow Dicks is about 50% larger than its location at the Ithaca Mall, though there has been some online frustration at the new locations selection choices. Still, its a feather in the cap for the city of Ithaca, whose retail strips are holding their own in an increasingly internet-driven retail world, and another loss for the Shops at Ithaca Mall in Lansing.

According to a posting on Creekside Plaza owner DLC Management Corporations website, the endcap space, currently just a temporary masonry enclosure wall, will be occupied by OReilly Auto Parts, a national auto parts chain with about 6,000 locations, but so far lacking an outpost in Tompkins County. Bids for the outfitting and furnishing of the endcap were first posted last spring, and construction on the new location is expected to start in April 2024, with an opening in July.

Meanwhile, just south of Dicks, outdoor goods enthusiasts will find complementary offerings from the new REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) Co-Op planned for the former Staples space at South Meadow Square.

In the retail musical chairs, Staples moved southward along the plaza strip to the former Hobby Lobby space now shared with Ulta Beauty, which also moved into the city from the Shops at Ithaca Mall. Those moves opened the approximately 17,000 square-foot space that REI will now take for its own. REI already has a store open in Rochester, but has been pushing further into New York State, with a new store opening this month on Long Island, and another store planned to open next year in suburban Albany.

The press release from REI corporate states the store will be open for business next summer, and will employ about 50 people. Along with the usual REI inventory of running, camping, and hiking and fitness gear, the store will have a full-service bike sales and repair shop, and a ski and snowboard shop as part of its offerings to Ithacas outdoor-minded residents.

When these photos were taken in late October, the Staples facade had been torn off and the steel and concrete shell space was draped in plastic sheeting to allow work to continue even as Ithacas weather becomes less amenable. New curbing is also being installed along the plaza strip courtesy of Architectural Concrete Plus of Dundee. As REI has already signed the lease, the interior will be fitted out with new fixtures, lighting and furnishings, to be handled by a contractor of REIs choosing.

Full disclosure: This project is in the town of Ithaca, not the city. But its just over the boundary and it has been quite a while since our last check-in. Homes are being built and occupied at a steady clip at theAmabel cluster developmenton Five Mile Drive.The project, by Sue Cosentini of New Earth Living, calls for 31 for-sale homes (30 new, one renovated) in the town of Ithacas Inlet Valley corridor at 619 Five Mile Drive.

The project will have a community garden, recreational green and childrens play area surrounded by the homes; the front entrances face inward towards the community spaces, while the rear facades, including driveways and garages, face a loop road that encircles the development. This makes it so social interactions face inward toward the community features and neighboring porches instead of away from them towards the road.

According to Amabels website, every homesite is sold.The development offers four home styles, ranging from a 2-bedroom 1,092 square-foot home, to a 4-bedroom 2,136 square-foot model. Prices ranged from $340-$540k, depending on the unit and the finishes.

All units come with designer wood cabinetry, a choice of wood or stone flooring, a variety of fixture and countertop options, and all homes are designed with air-source heat pumps and can be made net-zero energy capable. Exterior finishes include engineered wood (LP SmartSide) siding and trim, pressure-treated porch decking, and a few different choices of architectural shingles for the roof.

Contracts are settled months before home construction, and because New Earth Living is not a big construction firm, they can only undertake two to three homes at a time. About 20 have been built and are completed or nearly completed, with two more undergoing excavation and foundation work. With any luck, as the last homes are built, the construction staging areas will be re-seeded and the community spaces in the center of the property can become better established.

Frankly, given the extreme scarcity of conveniently located for-sale housing, the Ithaca market could theoretically use more development like Amabel. However, Cosentini says on the Amabel website she is not planning any further Amabel-like home developments at this time.

Readers often email asking how there could be housing issues with so many projects under construction. These roundups are designed for just about every sizable project (3+ housing units) under construction. The many articles written about an individual project are but snapshots in a years-long process of concept proposal, approval, getting construction funding, and actually building out the project. Its not uncommon for a project to take 5-7 years from first proposal to opening.

In addition, many developers are holding off on projects right now due to high interest rates. Just as the rising cost of taking out a mortgage sidelined many aspirational homebuyers, the higher interest rates make borrowing money to build new multi-family and commercial buildings more expensive. In terms of cooling off inflation and the economy like the Federal Reserve intended, real estate development is one of the economic sectors most impacted by that effort.

The city Planning Board has acknowledged they are seeing a substantial slowdown in project reviews and pre-development meetings, which is an ominous sign for Tompkins Countys rapidly worsening affordability issues.

Anyway, in the Southwest retail corridor, a number of projects have been approved and could start construction at any time. This includesa 15,700 square-foot complementary retail building that Wegmans gets re-approved every two yearsjust in case, and two Benderson Development retail outparcels at South Meadow Square sized at 7,000 square-feet and 3,200 square-feet respectively.

Plans by local hotelier Pratik Ahir for a 70-room Comfort Inn are still being re-reviewed by the town of Ithaca, and plans for a 24,700 square-foot self-storage facility at 602 Elmira Road are also under review. Meanwhile, on adjacent South Hill, SouthWorks (formerly Chain Works) has received some grant awards and preliminary plans have been revised, but theres no individual plan before either the city or town Planning Boards at this time.

Turning to the West End, the Aeroplane Factory has yet to start its phase two with Taber Tower. As both phase one and phase two were approved in July 2020,and phase one has since been buillt, it does not seem like the project team will have to seek re-approval even though it has been taken more than two years for phase two.

Visum Developments plans for the Hive at 132 Cherry Street are approved but uncertaingiven the difficult financial lending market. Joes Restaurant at 602 West Buffalo Street has been torn down to make way for Visums 80-unit The Citizen workforce housing project this year, and work on the 58-unit Stately lower-moderate income apartment development is expected to begin at some point this fall.

City Harbors second phase, with its waterfront bistro and 156 apartments,has yet to commence with construction. The second phase of Cayuga Park, to be composed of retail and 127 market-rate apartments, is also uncertain at this time. The timeline for The Breeze apartment project is listed as July 2023 in construction bids, but a recent site visit by this reporter didnt show any indications of current work, and it would be more dependent on progress with soil remediation anyway.

Meanwhile, the Ithaca Farmers Markethas canceled their new buildin favor of renovations and a few additions on the ends of the existing pavilion. In downtown, plans to convert office space at 115-121 and 123 South Cayuga Street into 16 apartments with renovated ground-floor retail are supposed to get underway in January, according to online construction bid documents.

As for what we might see this year coming through the Planning Board, we knowArnots Waters Edge plan is expected to begin review at some point, which will involve about 500 residences in two phases of construction. Amixed-use proposal for an apartment hotel, 55-unit low-moderate income housing development, and recreational facilities for a city-owned parking lot on Inlet Islandis expected to begin review at some point in the relatively near future.

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Gallery: See what's under construction around the rest of Ithaca this fall - The Ithaca Voice

An opening in the side of the Hills Covered Bridge shows the Little Muskingum River during Tuesdays overcast and slightly rainy afternoon. It didnt dampen the ribbon-cutting festivities. No holes in the roof anymore, County Engineer Roger Wright pointed out. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Mike Killilea and Chris Thompson of The Righter Co., center, do the honors on the Hills Covered Bridge ribbon cutting Tuesday in Newport Township. Washington County Engineer Roger Wright is shown to their right. Holding the ribbon ends are Robert and Zahra Wagner, who were married on the bridge in 2011. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Area resident David Hart worked for Washington County and did repairs on the Hills Covered Bridge in 1985 or 1986, he said. We used 60-penny spikes and pounded em into the plywood, he said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Zahra and Robert Wagner attended the ribbon-cutting for the Hills Covered Bridge Tuesday, returning to the scene of their marriage vows a little more than 12 years ago. They placed hay bales along the interior sides of the bridge for the wedding guest seating, Zahra said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor) Zahra and Robert Wagner hold hands on the Hills Covered Bridge where they were married Sept. 17, 2011. We got permission first from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Zahra said. We got married in the middle of it. We stood on pieces of plywood so that if we dropped the rings, they wouldnt fall through holes in the floor and go in the river. There arent any holes in the floor now. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

An opening in the side of the Hills Covered Bridge shows the Little Muskingum River during Tuesdays overcast and slightly rainy afternoon. It didnt dampen the ribbon-cutting festivities. No holes in the roof anymore, County Engineer Roger Wright pointed out. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Nobody ever has to explain to Washington County folks why its important to keep their covered bridges.

Theyre old history, new history, neighborhood memories and regional attractions. Theyve borne the weight of crops and cars, horses and hay wagons, funeral processions and party-goers.

Hills Covered Bridge in Newport Township is among those beloved structures. Perched high above the Little Muskingum River at County Roads 333 and 544, it has soaked up local life and stories in its timbers since it was built in 1878.

Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by County Engineer Roger Wright to officially reopened the bridge to pedestrian traffic, along with celebrating a five-year effort that has successfully brought the bridge back from deterioration and disrepair.

The group attending included County Commissioners Kevin Ritter and James Booth, who gave brief remarks; the Newport Township Trustees; the staff of Wrights engineering department; employees of the county highway department who were involved in the finishing stages of the bridge approaches; representatives of the main contractor, The Righter Company of Columbus; and several area residents who had past history with the bridge.

Mike Killilea and Chris Thompson of The Righter Co., center, do the honors on the Hills Covered Bridge ribbon cutting Tuesday in Newport Township. Washington County Engineer Roger Wright is shown to their right. Holding the ribbon ends are Robert and Zahra Wagner, who were married on the bridge in 2011. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

The initial funding for the Hills Covered Bridge totaled more than $950,000. Work to do that involved repairing and restoring with a delicate balance between modern safety and historical dignity. The funding was 95% from the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation, and 5% was local money.

The construction work done by The Righter Company was exceptional craftsmanship, Wright said.

The project featured replacement of deteriorated timber members within the lower chord, shear blocks in the lower chord, deteriorated diagonals at lower chord connections, lost and broken sway bracing, tension rods and broken tension rod castings, and miscellaneous repair of deteriorated timber member members, according to a press release issued by Wright.

If anybody wants to nerd it up and talk about the bridge repairs in detail, wed be glad to do that after the ribbon cutting, Wright said. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, not only because of its place in local history but also because of its historically significant construction, a Howe truss design.

To protect the investment in all that work and to ensure a long life cycle for the restoration, Wright said, the bridge got a new roof system, siding, span decking and various protectants to the timber members. If the roof and siding and other elements are properly maintained, we should get another hundred years out of it, he said.

Area resident David Hart worked for Washington County and did repairs on the Hills Covered Bridge in 1985 or 1986, he said. We used 60-penny spikes and pounded em into the plywood, he said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Local funds just over $130,000 and local work completed the project. The Washington County Highway Department crew built the two approach spans and made railings for them in a design reflecting the original span railings that had deteriorated to the point they were unable to be salvaged. Wright said he was thankful for the high rate of professionalism the county highway department and county engineering employees contributed to the project in the spirit of preserving history.

They do so much more than plow your roads, he said of the highway department crew.

Wright also had thanks for support from the previous county commissioners who helped get the project started and the current county commissioners who have helped to see it to completion.

Wright described the Hills Covered Bridge Restoration as vital to local tourism and predicts it will once again become a destination point for visitors, particularly since its near Marietta, the county seat. It is featured in the areas annual fall foliage tour, along with several bridge tours throughout the year.

Theres no doubt that people from Columbus and Pittsburgh and Cleveland will come to see this bit of history, Wright said. It has always been seen by local residents as one of the countys most impressive of the remaining nine covered bridges because of its height above the water, he noted.

Zahra and Robert Wagner attended the ribbon-cutting for the Hills Covered Bridge Tuesday, returning to the scene of their marriage vows a little more than 12 years ago. They placed hay bales along the interior sides of the bridge for the wedding guest seating, Zahra said. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

Before the actual ribbon-cutting ceremony, Wright told the group that had gathered for the Tuesday event, Thank you for coming. I hope youre pleased.

One of those attending was the Project Manager from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Tony Durm. His comments to Wright showed his satisfaction with the way things had gone. This will be good for many, many decades, he said. Its good to restore the soul to these old bridges.

Nancy Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@newsandsentinel.com.

Zahra and Robert Wagner hold hands on the Hills Covered Bridge where they were married Sept. 17, 2011. We got permission first from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Zahra said. We got married in the middle of it. We stood on pieces of plywood so that if we dropped the rings, they wouldnt fall through holes in the floor and go in the river. There arent any holes in the floor now. (Photo by Nancy Taylor)

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Got it Covered: Hills Covered Bridge in Newport reopens - Marietta Times

Stock photo by Zohair Mirza for Unsplash

Right in time for Fathers Day, Hatley Brothers II Roofing & Construction announced that it will give a free new roof to a local dad.

The contest known as Weathering the Weathered is in its 17th year, but this will be the first time a father will receive the prize.

Focused primarily on residents of the Oak Cliff, southern Dallas and DeSoto areas, the contest historically has awarded elderly woman and mothers, but, this year, owner KeElronn Hatley says in an announcement that he searched for an eligible father who is in need of a new roof for his home but cannot afford to pay for full-scale roof replacement services on his own due to lack of insurance coverage.

This years recipient is Oak Cliff area resident Robert Mitchell, and hell receive roofing valued in the $15,000 to $20,000 range.

The kick-off for the new roof installation happened this morning at the home on Cicero Street. The replacement of Mitchells old leaky roof with a quality, new 20-30 year shingled roof and complete redeckwill happen this weekend, the company says.

In some ways the replacement will benefit the neighborhood for example the old wood, made of now-outlawed wood shingles, was a fire hazard, according to the roofers, so this is a preventative measure for the safety of both occupants and neighbors.

Giving back to the community has always been a top priority at Hatley Brothers II Roofing & Construction, Hatley says.In Texas, homeowners are often faced with the financial burden of replacing roofs more frequently than some other geographic locations due to hail and wind damage, extreme heat and general age deterioration. In this current economic climate, with the average cost of residential roof replacement services running anywhere from $18,000 to $20,000, we knew we had to do something to make a difference in the community. So we decided to help someone in need by providing them with a new roof at no charge, and we are looking forward to installing Mr. Mitchells special Fathers Day gift.

The Hatley company thanked special community partners, particularly Williams Chicken, for helping making this happen.

Hatley is known for being the youngest recipient of the prestigious Quest for Success Award, presented by the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and WFAA-TV.

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Business owner will replace dad's dangerous leaking roof as Father's Day gift - Oak Cliff Advocate

3 Kings Roofing LLC is a trusted roofing company in Georgetown, TX. In a recent update, the roofer explained why roof inspection and maintenance are essential.

Georgetown, TX In a website post, 3 Kings Roofing LLC explained the benefits of roof inspection and maintenance.

The Georgetown roofing company started by mentioning that roof inspection can help homeowners identify minor and hidden roof damages. Once these damages are identified, they are fixed immediately before they worsen. Also, when a homeowner has a routine roof maintenance schedule, they will likely identify potential roof problems and plan how to counter them before they escalate.

Additionally, the Georgetown roofing contractor said that roof inspection and maintenance could help homeowners save money. If one doesnt inspect or maintain their roof, the roof will wear and tear and eventually start leaking or having other roof issues. In some cases, neglected roofs require premature roof replacement. Regular repairs or premature roof replacement can be pretty expensive. But when one does routine inspection and maintenance, their roofs will last longer.

The Georgetown roof installation company added that roof inspection and maintenance give property owners peace of mind. If one hires a professional roofing contractor for roof inspection and maintenance, they can rest easy knowing that their roof will withstand natural elements and serve them better for a long time. They cant worry when roof leaks and other damages are expected during the rainy season.

About 3 Kings Roofing LLC

3 Kings Roofing LLC is a reliable roofing contractor serving Georgetown and nearby areas. The roofer specializes in residential and commercial roof installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance. In addition, they offer hail damage roof restoration. The company is licensed and fully insured and is certified with Gaf, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed. They offer lifetime workmanship warranties and can handle small and large roofing projects.

Media ContactCompany Name: 3 Kings Roofing LLCContact Person: Dustin CatesEmail: Send EmailPhone: +15128561833City: GeorgetownState: TXCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.3kingsroofing.com/texas-locations

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3 Kings Roofing LLC Explained Why Roof Inspection and Maintenance are Essential - Digital Journal

Q: Our house is only five years old. When we bought it, the home inspector found no major defects. I pointed out a water stain on the garage ceiling, but the home inspector found no roof defects, the listing agent said he knew of no roof leaks, and nothing was mentioned in the seller's disclosure statement. Since moving in, we've had major leakage every time it rains. A roofing contractor says the roof should be replaced, not repaired. Do we have any recourse, or do we have to pay for roof replacement ourselves?

A: One would expect a seller to be aware of a leaky roof, especially with stains on the garage ceiling.

The listing agent may have been unaware of any roof problems, but when asked about a ceiling stain, the agent should have questioned the seller, rather than declaring ignorance of any problem.

The home inspector was responsible for disclosing defects that were visible and accessible at the time of inspection. Ceilings stains call for careful examination of specific roof areas, in addition to an overall inspection of the roof. If the home inspector disclosed nothing about potential roof leakage, a meeting between the home inspector and your roofing contractor should be arranged.

As a final thought: Replacement of a five-year-old roof is highly unusual. Before investing in that recommendation, a second opinion from another licensed roofing contractor would be a good idea.

Q: I just bought a newly constructed home. The furnace is installed on a raised platform in the garage. The builder fastened cement bumpers to the garage floor to keep my car from hitting the furnace, but they also prevent my car from pulling in enough to allow closure of the garage door. I told the builder about this, but he refuses to move the blocks. Isn't he responsible to make the garage usable as a parking area?

A: The builder needs to apply practical consideration and common sense. Here are the facts. The building code requires a furnace that is installed within a garage to be protected from vehicle impact. The builder could have met this requirement without creating new or unintended problems: without compromising the primary purpose of the garage, which is to shelter your vehicles.

The builder should address this issue in a manner that is consistent with reason and functional purpose. A common solution in such cases is to install a steel post in front of the furnace. If this does not allow sufficient room for parking, then the furnace should be relocated to another part of the garage, or possibly to the attic.

If the builder refuses to be sensible, send him a certified letter informing him that he has 30 days to correct the problem, after which you will have corrective work done by another contractor and will pursue recovery of repair costs in small claims court. An alternative to this would be to file a complaint with the state agency that licenses building contractors.

Write Barry Stone at http://www.housedetective.com.

2022, Action Coast Publishing

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Leaking roof should have been disclosed - Daily Herald

CROSS JUNCTION Veteran Gabriel Sheridans Frederick County home got a new roof on Friday from roofing contractor Modern Renovations as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project.

Through a partnership with Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity Inc., Sheridan, 35, was selected to receive the roof replacement at no cost.

Sheridan, who served in the Marines and is a 100% disabled veteran, said it felt amazing to have a new roof on his house.

I was super surprised and incredibly thrilled to be selected and be eligible for this, he said. It was a massive, massive help.

Modern Renovations owner Larry Demarco said his Martinsburg, W.a.-based company was contacted by Habitat officials about helping with the project.

Owens Corning a roofing materials manufacturer donated the materials needed for the new roof while Modern Renovations donated the labor. The new roof is made of asphalt shingles.

DeMarco said Sheridans roof was in bad shape.

It was leaking. It was failing, he said. It was just compromised and it wasnt holding up.

Demarco sees the project as paying back Sheridan for his service to the country.

Its kind of a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, Demarco said. Its one roof but to him, its a lifetime of peace of mind.

Demarco estimates about $10,000 in labor and materials were donated for the project. He called Owens Corning the cream of the crop when it comes to roofing materials and said the roof should last for 50 years.

So its not like hes getting subpar material because were doing him a favor, Demarco said. Hes quite literally getting the best material on the market with the strongest warranty on the market.

The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude to veterans and the families who support them. Since the programs inception in 2016, more than 325 military members have received new roofs.

What theyre doing is quite awesome, Sheridan said.

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'What they're doing is quite awesome': Veteran's home gets new roof - The Winchester Star

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While summer in Minnesota can mean sunny, warm days, it can also deliver storms with wind, hail, and rain. When stormy weather does hit, it can damage your home, tearing up shingles, beating up gutters, and destroying siding.

As an expert roofing company specializing in storm restoration, Hoffman Weber Construction is pleased to provide you with guidance on how to repair the damage and restore your home to its original (or even better) condition.

Wind and hail can damage shingles meant to protect your roof from the sun and create a watertight seal. Once the damage occurs, bald spots, cracked or curled shingles can result, making your home vulnerable to water damage. Even worse, hail damage can void your shingle manufacturers warranty.

If you fail to have the damage to your roof repaired and additional damage occurs, it can significantly reduce your homes value.

If a storm has compromised your roofs integrity, youll want to make sure its repaired or replaced immediately. Signs of structural damage include:

Begin the roof restoration process by having a reliable, licensed roofing company assess the damage. Its wise to have several contractors submit bids on potential repair or replacement costs.

Once youve gathered bids and chosen a contractor, its time to begin working with your insurance company to determine coverage, deductibles, materials and more. A reputable roofing company will work with your insurance company on your behalf to ensure the necessary repairs are completed in a professional, timely, and cost-effective manner.

Ask any Minnesota homeowner, and theyll tell you, once the storm subsides the storm chasers appear. Storm chasers are contractors who show up at your door uninvited offering to give you a free damage assessment. While theyre not always bad news, a superior restoration pro works to build their reputation for honesty, integrity, and quality work so that customers come looking for them.

If you need a dependable roofer in your area, ask friends and family for referrals. Additionally, an online search can offer reviews from previous customers that reveal which companies deliver on their promises, and which companies to avoid.

When choosing a roofing contractor, its important to find a company that meets the following criteria:

Hoffman Weber Construction meets and often exceeds these standards. If you need roof repair or restoration, wed be happy to help. Book your Free Storm Damage Inspection from Hoffman Weber Construction today.

(Be sure to ask how you can earn between $250-$500 with our Hoffman Weber Construction Referral Program!)

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The roof of a historic Lincoln shopping centre is going to be replaced after having entered into a "state of disrepair" with water coming in. A plan has been approved for work to take place at the St Marks Shopping Centre, which contains outlets including Sports Direct and The Entertainer toy shop.

The new roof will span the Grade II listed building that was once a railway station and the more modern retail units in the area. Describing the current state of the roof, planning documents state: "The existing glazing was added in the 1980s and has reached the end of its use life. It is now in disrepair, required regular maintenance and is allows water ingress into the units."

One of the largest railways of the early 20th century once occupied the St Marks area, with the Lincoln Midland Station being opened in 1846. The railway eventually closed in 1985 when all trains entering Lincoln were diverted to what is now the only station in the city.

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The St Marks area fell into disrepair in the late 1980s as a result, but it was then restored and extended into the current shopping centre. The railway station building used to be occupied by Lakeland but now sits empty.

Describing the work that will take place, the planning documents say: "The current condition of the roofing has further resulted in the units associated with the roofing to be classed as lower quality and subsequently has impacted on the letability of the units. The proposal therefore seeks to remove the existing area of roofing and replace the area in full with a like-for-like replacement."

The City of Lincoln Council has now approved the roof replacement work, saying that it now needs to start within three years. Lakeland announced that it was leaving the St Marks area in 2018 and it is now based in Lincoln's Cornhill Quarter.

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Lincoln shopping centre roof to be repaired amid water damage issues - Lincolnshire Live

The Flatlands Library in June 2018 (Image: Google Maps)

Starting today, the Brooklyn Public Librarys Flatlands branch will be closed for one year while the buildings roof is replaced.

A short notice published on the Brooklyn Public Librarys website says the branch, located at 2065 Flatbush Avenue and Avenue P, will close today for a scheduled roof replacement and will reopen Winter 2022.

The Flatlands branch has already been mostly closed for long stretches of the pandemic, though the return bookdrop was occasionally operational in recent months. Many branches across the borough remain fully closed, while 39 other locations currently offer lobby service, in which patrons have access to branch lobbies for quick transactions.

A spokesperson for Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) said the roof project would cost $2 million and will be paid for with city capital funding.

The current roof leaks, and has long outlived its lifecycle, the spokesperson said.

An old post on the library systems capital projects tracker pinned the project cost at $4.1 million, with funding provided by the City Council and former mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, but the spokesperson said that information was no longer accurate.

The previous cost estimate, the spokesperson explained, included repair work on HVAC, fire safety, and building management systems that BPL will instead complete with existing resources. No private donations will be used to fund the project.

The renovation, which will be managed by the citys Department of Design and Construction, had been placed on hold during the pandemic, the spokesperson said, but the citys budget office is now allowing work to begin.

BPL also said the new roof will not be a green roof akin to the one installed on a Windsor Terrace library in 2017.

This is the second long-term closure for the Flatlands branch in recent years; in 2019, the building was closed for four months to accommodate the construction of a new conference room. The 6,000-square-foot Flatlands branch building was built in 1955, and was previously renovated in 1985 and 1987.

An email about the closure from local Council Member Farah Louis said that branch staff will continue virtual programs, attend community board meetings, and conduct virtual outreach to schools and community organizations. It also said materials on hold that are not picked up at the close of business today would be available for pick up at the Mill Basin branch at 2385 Ralph Avenue.

Louis email said BPL would not station one of its mobile bookmobile trucks at the site, and directed residents instead to the Mill Basin, Clarendon, and Paerdegat branches, which currently offer pickup and return services.

Read more from the original source:
Flatlands Library Closes For One Year While Roof is Replaced - BKLYNER