Fort Atkinson, WI (PRWEB) December 16, 2013

Its a magazine editors constant dilemma: dozens of gorgeous photos of award-winning projects, but room for only a precious few. For the remodeling industrys flagship publication, Qualified Remodeler, the answer is the new Qualified Remodeler App, available free on the App Store and Google Play for tablet devices.

The Qualified Remodeler App provides access to content for each magazine issue, plus bonus photos, specs, videos and more. With the swipe of a finger, subscribers can flip before and after photos to see each projects transformation. As with the Qualified Remodeler magazine, the app focuses on the Three Ps: 1) residential remodeling design Projects, 2) Products and 3) Profits, the critical success factors for every remodeling business.

The Qualified Remodeler App delivers:

ABOUT QUALIFIED REMODELER MAGAZINE Founded in 1975, Qualified Remodeler (QR) is the premier publication serving contractors who specialize in residential and light commercial remodeling. QR is sent monthly to an audience of 84,200 remodeling professionals.

Qualified Remodeler, published by Cygnus Business Media, is part of the Cygnus Residential Network that includes Kitchen & Bath Design News and its integrated web portal, ForResidentialPros.com. Cygnus reaches millions of professionals annually. As one of Americas top business-to-business media companies, Cygnus is leading the way in providing targeted content to top decision-makers and organizations.

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Qualified Remodeler Magazine Launches New Tablet App With Bonus Photos and Specs

An artists rendering of the planned John Edgar McAllister Welcome Center at the Memorial Union Building. The current Peninsula Room (in pink) will be renovated and an addition (in blue) will be built.

HOUGHTON (WWJ) Michigan Technological University will honor alumnus and longtime supporter John Edgar McAllister by building a new Welcome Center named for him to introduce future students and their families to the campus.

Michigan Techs Board of Control at its regular meeting Friday approved the $998,000 project, to be funded entirely by donors, with the majority coming from the John Edgar McAllister Trust.

The John Edgar McAllister Welcome Center will consist of a 3,000 square foot addition and remodeling of another 1,500 square feet of the Memorial Union Building.

The Welcome Center, located in the heart of campus, will double daily visitor capacity and convey the energy and excitement of the Michigan Tech experience in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, said Les Cook, vice president for student affairs and advancement.

The space currently used by the Admissions Office for campus visitors only seats 40 and has limited parking. Over the past year, the board heard, the number of visitors often exceeded the space available.

The board also approved residence hall room and board and apartment rental rates for the 2014-2015 academic year. Room and board for a standard double occupancy room with the gold (median) meal plan in Wadsworth Hall will increase $279 or 2.97 percent. Standard (double occupancy) rooms in Douglass Houghton and McNair Halls will increase by $341 or 3.73 percent. Hillside Place Apartments residents will see an increase of $260 to $280, just under a 3 percent increase.

Student residents and/or families renting Daniell Heights Apartments will pay $15 more per month for one- or two-bedroom apartments and $20 more for a three-bedroom apartment.

The Board approved a proposal to move forward with an agreement with Julien Properties to renovate and manage Daniell Heights. Under the agreement, Michigan Tech will set baseline rents for the apartments and contract with students for their rental. The university will continue to own the property, which the property management company will maintain.

More at http://www.mtu.edu.

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MTU To Add $1M Welcome Center

Before: When it comes to remodeling your split-level house, it is best to capitalize on the classic style instead of fighting it. Make changes that enhance it and solve the problems without taking away from the classic design.

Brent Murray, Renovation Design Group

Split-level homes have made a comeback in recent years. Drive around some of the new "starter-home" neighborhoods around the Wasatch Front and you'll find many variations on the split-level theme.

You'll also find split-level homes in many older, established neighborhoods. They first appeared in the 1930s but really came into their own during the building boom after World War II. Today, these older split-level homes find themselves in need of updating. Your best bet when working with a split is to embrace all that is classic about its style.

A split-level home is essentially a non-traditional multistory structure. These homes are often modest and always efficient in their use of space. There are two types of splits: The classic split-level home generally includes a one-story side and a two-story side. You enter into the single story, where you will typically find a living room, kitchen and dining area. On the two-story side, you usually have bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a family room, laundry room and garage downstairs. Half-flights of stairs connect each level.

The other type of split-level design is the split entry. This is basically a two-story house with an entry located halfway between the upper and lower floors. When you enter a split-entry house, you walk onto a landing between two half-flights of stairs. You have to go up or down to get to any part of the house.

Split-level homes offer several advantages. They are a sensible way to accommodate a sloped lot or to build on a flat lot without a great deal of excavation. Moving through the house can be easier than a traditional two-story house since there is only a half-flight of stairs between any given level. Plus, the lower level is built partially above ground, which allows much more light than a traditional basement.

But there are also challenges. A dedicated entry area is often missing from a split-level home, as you often step right into the living room. While there is a separate entry in a split-entry home, it is invariably small and cramped, leaving everyone feeling that they are likely to tumble down the stairs if they arent careful. The main level is usually half a story above the backyard, which impacts indoor/outdoor connections. A half-flight of stairs is required on the exterior to get up to the level of the front door these are rarely designed well and are often awkward to negotiate.

Most requests when remodeling split-levels replicate requests common to any home, including opening up the rooms on the main floor to create a great room and constructing a more spacious master suite. The added challenge for a split-entry home is to revise the entry to provide a more gracious space and to enhance the home's curb appeal in the process.

The Smith project is a good example of discovering a split-entry homes glory. An addition was created to enlarge the kitchen, dining, and family room on the main level, as well as to increase the size of the lower level family room.

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Renovation Solutions: Remodeling the split-level house

The home office, it seems, is going the way of the fax machine. With the spread of wireless Internet and portable devices such as tablets, it's increasingly common to send and receive emails and spreadsheets from any room in the house.

So, according to interior designers, families are finding more inventive uses for the spaces described by real estate agents as "bonus rooms."

Among major home renovation projects, updating a home office provides the puniest return on the investment when a home is resold, according to Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value Report 2013.

So it's no surprise that families turning what was once an office into a game room, dressing room or homework hub for the kids.

"I get this question a lot," says Elizabeth cb Marsh, an associate interior designer at Baltimore-based Jenkins Baer Associates. When a client wants to make over an office, she usually recommends trying to preserve any built-in features, such as shelving or cabinetry.

If the space is large enough, she says, some clients add a pool table to create a billiards room. If the space has a wood counter, it can be covered with waterproof material such as stone to create a wet bar.

A smaller office can have a second life as a dressing room, by installing a wall of shelving for shoes and clothes. Marsh suggests using a neutral wall color and adding a pair of sconces and a tufted ottoman at the center of the room, as well as a floor mirror and vanity.

Families with children might want to turn the space into place for doing homework, says Pam Ginocchio, co-founder of the children's design blog Project Nursery. She recommends giving each child a space at a small metal desk in a fun color, a clip-on lamp and a comfy chair. You can also add some beanbag chairs and mount floating shelves to display books that entice young readers.

Make one wall suitable for scribbling ideas or displaying schoolwork by applying magnet paint and then chalkboard paint.

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How to repurpose an unused home office

The home office, it seems, is going the way of the fax machine.

Interior designers say families are finding more inventive uses for their homes extra little rooms optimistically called bonus rooms by real estate agents.

With the spread of wireless Internet and portables devices such as tablets, its common now to send spreadsheets and emails from any room in the house, not to mention the nearest coffee shop. In fact, among major home-renovation projects, home-office improvements provide the puniest return on the investment when a home is resold, according to Remodeling magazines 2013 Cost vs. Value report.

So instead of that dust-collecting desk, many families are seeking creative ways to customize these alcoves as game rooms, dressing rooms, small theaters and more.

I get this question a lot, said Elizabeth Cb Marsh, an associate interior designer at Jenkins Baer Associates in Baltimore. Especially in large, new-construction homes, there are these bonus rooms that are just there.

When her clients make over a pre-existing office, she usually recommends trying to preserve any built-in features, such as shelving or cabinetry. If the space is large enough, she said, one option is to create a billiards room. Find a small (7-foot) pool table to place in the center of the room. If theres a wood counter, retrofit the top with a waterproof material such as stone for an elegant wet bar, and if you have the budget, install plumbing for a small sink. Add barstools, a high-top cocktail table and a pendant lamp over the pool table.

A smaller office can have a second life as a luxe dressing room, according to Marsh. Whether you draw inspiration from Downton Abbey or certain Beverly Hills housewives, the first step is to install a wall of shelving for shoes and clothes. Keep the decor minimalist, she advises, with a neutral paint color, a pair of sconces, and a tufted ottoman in the center of the room. Add a floor mirror and a vanity, and accessorize with vintage hatboxes, a dress form or an antique trunk. If the room has windows, be sure to hang light-filtering curtains to protect your clothing.

Families with children have even more options for converting an office space. These days, it is common to transform a dull study into a kids homework hub, said Pam Ginocchio, co-founder of the childrens design blog Project Nursery.

To begin, she recommends giving each kid a workspace: a small metal desk in a fun color with a clip-on lamp and a comfy swivel chair. Create a comfortable reading nook on the floor with beanbags. Then mount floating shelves from floor to ceiling and display books with the covers facing out to entice young readers. Appoint one wall as a place for scribbling ideas or displaying schoolwork by applying a layer of magnet paint and then chalkboard paint from floor to ceiling.

Consider allowing a computer for older kids homework, but try to banish video games and other distractions, said Project Nursery co-founder Melissa Fluhr, who stresses the value of a quiet, contemplative space.

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Transform unused home office into space for fun, creativity

California homeowners saving up to overhaul that 1980s-era kitchen or build a porch off the family room face an additional cost in the new year: replacing plumbing fixtures throughout the house.

Starting Jan. 1, any improvement or alteration to a single-family home more than 20 years old will trigger a 2009 state law mandating the installation of water-saving toilets, shower heads and faucets.

Local government building officials, contractors and would-be home remodelers only recently started becoming aware of the rule. The exact impact is uncertain, with jurisdictions likely to interpret the replacement requirement differently. Some officials predict a run on building permits before years end.

We go down to the Capitol and ask them not to legislate our building code. And this is exactly why we do it, said Gene Paolini, Rosevilles chief building official. The way it reads is not real clear.

Water agencies were the main supporters of the 2009 law. Officials said the upcoming rule will, at relatively low cost, make a huge dent in the states urban water consumption and help the state meet a goal to reduce water use by 20 percent by 2020.

This is part of a larger effort to double-down on water conservation, said Dave Bolland of the Association of California Water Agencies. People will save money in the long run as water becomes more expensive in California, he said.

Contractors and building inspectors, though, warn that the requirement poses a major headache. Homeowners could rebel against the rule, either because they object to the look of low-flow fixtures or because of the requirements potential cost, and do the work without going through the permitting and inspection process.

Darius Baker, CEO of D&J Kitchens and Baths in Sacramento, said the rule could set back a remodeling industry still recovering from the recession.

From a remodeling perspective, its huge. People dont want to do something theyre told they have to do, particularly when it costs a lot of money, Baker said, adding that hes mentioned the upcoming rule on sales calls. Im just the messenger. And Im going to get shot like a hundred times.

The upcoming rule is the the latest government attempt to improve water conservation. Since the 1990s, new homes have had to include various water-saving features. Over subsequent years, the Legislature has approved laws setting low-flow standards for toilets, faucets and other products.

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Home improvements will trigger new rule on replacing plumbing fixtures in 2014

Prince William News

Gainesville Times

The challenge: Adding a bathroom over concrete flooring or in a tight spot where traditional plumbing doesn't work well.

The simple solution: Up-flush plumbing. Bathroom renovations or additions offer a high return on investment - as much as 56 percent of the initial investment when you resell, according to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report. But conventional plumbing can be costly and time-consuming, even in the best circumstances. If you want to add a bathroom in a basement where the floor is concrete or in a smaller space with no room for traditional piping, an up-flush, or macerating, toilet is a simple, cost-effective solution. Systems like Saniflo's macerating toilet and plumbing technology eliminate the need to cut through a floor to install new drainage. And the systems fit easily into areas as small as a closet or dead space beneath a stairway. A macerating pump reduces waste and paper from the toilet and sends it under high pressure through piping directly into the septic or sewer system. No waste is stored, and the systems are comparatively low-cost compared to traditional plumbing. Visit http://www.saniflo.com to learn more.

The challenge: Introducing natural light in a room with no space for windows.

The simple solution: Skylights. The benefits of natural light are well-documented, from improving mood to reducing dependence on artificial lights. Yet some spaces, such as interior powder rooms or walk-in closets, don't lend themselves to windows. When you want natural light in a room where a lack of wall space precludes a window, or in which privacy is an issue, a skylight can be a great solution. Tubular skylights even allow you to bring natural light into ground floor rooms. The cost of installing a skylight is comparable to adding quality windows in a room. Choose energy-efficient skylights and you may also reduce home cooling costs in spring and summer, and lighting costs in winter, too.

The challenge: Privacy in a doorway where a swinging door doesn't make sense.

The simple solution: Pocket doors. A swinging door may not be right for a space for many reasons. Perhaps you need to close a door in a spot so infrequently that a swinging door isn't needed. Or, maybe the space around the doorway is too tight to accommodate a swinging door, such as in a laundry space tucked into a hallway. Or, perhaps a traditional door will ruin the aesthetic of a space. In all those situations, a pocket door is a great way to achieve privacy without compromise. Because pocket doors tuck away inside the wall, you don't need to worry about having enough space to open or close a traditional door. Plus, when left open, pocket doors are hidden inside the wall so their visual impact on decor is minimal. While these solutions may be beyond the abilities of most do-it-yourselfers, reputable contractors can accomplish them easily - and help you decide if one of these options is right for your renovation project.

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Three simple solutions for big renovation challenges

BEND, Ore. -

Sounds of drills and hammers fill the air outside the Deschutes County Jail.

Construction has begun on the jail's $11 million expansion and remodeling project, which will add 144 beds to it's current 228, which are almost always full.

"We have some jail beds rented in Jefferson County, so that's helping us alleviate our population issue," sheriff's Capt. Shane Nelson said Wednesday,

It's an issue that will ease once the work is done.

The extra space will also make room for more inmate programs, like drug and alcohol treatment and parenting classes.

"We don't just want to house inmates in the facility," Nelson said. "We want to give them options, so that they can improve their lives, in the hopes that they won't come back to the facility."

On top of the expansion, the jail will remodel a portion of its current facility starting in January.

It will become a monitored area for those dealing with a medical condition or mental health issues.

"About 30 percent of our population does have some sort of a mental health challenge," said sheriff's Lt. Michael Gill.

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Deschutes Jail expansion, remodeling underway

Game Room Remodeling - Turning the Closet into an Office
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Game Room Remodeling - Turning the Closet into an Office - Video

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