Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

{KXLG -Mitchell, SD} The owner of Mitchell Roofing & Siding has been arrested following a federal search warrant executed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms at the business and owners home on Thursday afternoon.

Several local and state law enforcement agencies helped carry out a search warrant at Mitchell Roofing & Siding and the business owners home.

According to Mitchell Radio Group, 44-year-old Cory Cumings has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana Wax, Keeping Place for Use or Sale of a Controlled Substance, and Stalking and Permitting Threatening or Harassing Phone Calls.

Cumings was taken into custody on Thursday, according to Mitchell Radio Group.

Cumings home in Aurora County was also searched.Drugs and drug paraphernalia were found at the house.

Mitchell Radio Group states that Cumings has also been accused of threatening to hire a hitman to kill a woman. The phone call was allegedly recorded and reported to law enforcement.

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Mitchell roofing business owner arrested by ATF and allegedly hired hitman - mykxlg.com

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FirstService (NASDAQ:FSV) is an essential outsourced property service provider in North America. It has acquired Roofing Corp of America which I believe can act as primary catalyst to growth of the company by expanding its geographic footprint and customer base.

FSV deals in the essential outsourced property services sector mainly in the North American market. It serves its customers in two operating segments: FirstService Residential and FirstService Brands. The FirstService Residential segment mainly provides various property management services across a wide geographic region to various clients comprising homeowner associations, co-operatives, active adult and lifestyle communities, master-planned communities, and other residential developments governed by multi-unit residential community associations and or common interest. It operates approximately 8,700 communities, constituting over 4 million residents. It offers several ancillary services: a full-service swimming pool, on-site staffing for building engineering and maintenance, security, and a front desk. These services are mainly offered under contract with a fixed monthly fee. FirstService Residential contributed approximately 47.31% to the company's total revenues in 2022. The First Service Brands segment operates and offers essential property services to commercial and residential customers. It deals in commercial and residential restoration, custom-designed and installed closets, floor covering design and installation services, painting, home inspection services, home storage solutions, and fire protection and related services. This division represented approximately 52.69% of the firm's earnings. The company has five franchise networks: Paul Davis Restoration, CertaPro Painters, Pillars to Post Home Inspectors, California Closets, and Floor Coverings International.

Revenue Trend of FSV (Investor Presentation: Slide No: 5)

The property management services market experienced downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic and later due to inflationary pressures. However, the company has maintained its upside and managed consistent revenue growth. The industrial scenarios are changing slowly as economic conditions are stabilizing steadily. The housing sector is estimated to expand in the next year. As per National Association of Realtors, existing home sales can be boosted by 13.5% YoY from 4.10 million to 4.71 million. I think this builds a great opportunity for the company which can induce significant demand for its services. In addition, the trends in the development of homeowner associations are highly positive and indicate an upside which is also one of the growth factors for the company. Identifying these scenarios, FSV has recently announced the acquisition of Roofing Corp of America, for a transaction price of $413 million which is commercial roofing firm in North America. This addition can highly benefit the company in increasing its capabilities in maintenance, property repair, and restoration. Roofing Corp offers end-to-end roofing services, comprising new roof installations, re-roofing, and repairs & maintenance to building owners, HOAs, and property & facility managers. It generates $400 million in annual revenues. I believe this deal can act as catalyst to accelerate the company's growth as the acquired firm has a significant scale, broad product offerings, and geographic footprint which can help the company capture additional market share and increase its profitability by adding more customers to its portfolio. In addition, Roofing Corp is a competitive player in the North American market which can help FSV to create its strong presence and increase its market penetration which can further boost its revenues.

The company has consistent distributions which indicates its strong positioning. It paid a $0.225 dividend in each of the four quarters of the current year, which makes the annual payout $0.9 and represents a yield of 0.56%. This dividend yield makes the company a good stock, especially for risk-averse and retired investors who are seeking fixed regular income along with capital appreciation. I believe that its expansion activities can further boost its cash flows and we can expect increased returns in the next year.

The demand for the company's services is highly related to market conditions such as resale rates, property values, and liquidity for real estate transactions. A market that has high resale rates presents a good opportunity for the company as demand for its services such as painting, closet installation, storage solutions, and home inspection increases. However, if real estate industry slows down due to economic downturns, it can reduce transactions and result in low spending by homeowners on such additional services which might further deteriorate demand for FSV's solutions and lead to contraction of its profit margins.

The industry was facing several headwinds due to macroeconomic pressures however, it is steadily showing signs of recovery. To cater to this growing demand, FSV has recently acquired Roofing Corp of America which can boost its profitability by strengthening its service capabilities and increasing its customer base. After considering all these factors, I am estimating an EPS of $5.79 for FY2024 which gives the forward P/E ratio of 28.07x. After comparing forward P/E ratio of 28.07x with the sector median of 35.47x, we can conclude that the company is undervalued. I think the firm can potentially grow in the next year as a result of positive demand in the industry and its recent acquisition which can help it to trade above its current P/E ratio. I estimate that the company might trade at a P/E ratio of 34.49x in 2024, giving the target price of $199.69, which is a 22.86% upside compared to the current share price of $162.53. A weaker real estate market can affect the financial performance of the company during adverse economic conditions. I think in that case, it can contract the profit margins and EPS of the company.

Scenario

EPS Estimates

P/E Ratio Estimates

Target Price

Best case

$5.79

34.49x

$199.69

Bear case

$5.67

34.36x

$194.82

I believe in the bear case scenario of reduced sales due to adverse industry conditions, the EPS of FY2024 might be $5.67, and estimate that the company might trade at a P/E ratio of 34.36x, which gives a target price of $194.82, representing an upside of 19.86%.

The company is experiencing positive growth which is reflected in its revenue upside. I believe it can sustain this growth for a longer period due to the rebound of industry demand combined with the company's recent acquisition which can potentially increase its profitability by expanding its customer base. However, it is exposed to the risk of cyclicity which can contract its profit margins. It also pays consistent dividend. The stock is currently undervalued and investors can expect healthy 20%-23% growth from current price levels as result of its significant portfolio expansion. Taking into account all the above factors, I assign a buy rating to FSV.

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FirstService: Roofing Corp of America Acquisition Should Accelerate Growth (NASDAQ:FSV) - Seeking Alpha

The Role of Flexible Roofing Membranes in Sustainable Building Design

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Our buildings become symbolic of the times we live in, reflecting the spirit of a given era, attending to different needs, lifestyles and functions. Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness, says one of the most prominent architects of our time, Frank Gehry. For architectural innovators, exploring new technological potentials and envisioning ways to enrich peoples lives have long been driving forces, shaping responses to contemporary challenges. Today, sustainability stands as a key challenge, adding new dimensions to the debate, bringing together form, function, the responsible choice of materials and long-term thinking. Adapting to these demands has never held more significance.

Today's architecture is evolving towards a circular economy, innovative materials, and sustainable urban design. In this context, prioritizing resource efficiency, waste reduction, and responsible material use significantly impacts contemporary building approaches.

Sustainable architecture prioritizes a "reduce, reuse, and recycle" philosophy, emphasizing natural, durable, and renewable materials. These choices reduce construction waste and resource depletion, fostering a greener approach.

Renovating existing buildings, especially through energy-efficient schemes, is gaining momentum as an ideal way to integrate the above-mentioned strategies. The European Union's Green Deal sets a goal for carbon-neutral buildings by 2050, urging a renovation surge in both public and private sectors.

Challenges of sustainability serve to inspire rather than hinder creativity in architecture. Designing sustainably necessitates a holistic approach that includes all aspects of a building. One such example of a building element that has great potential to move a building toward sustainability is innovative rooftop solutions. These spaces, whether with green roofing or solar installations, integrate functionality without sacrificing aesthetics.

In this landscape, the Elevate RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane stands out, offering both eco-friendliness and expanded architectural potential. It enables architects to merge responsibility with imagination, driving forward a new era of sustainable and innovative architecture.

EPDM roofing membranes are mainly used on flat or low slope roofs, although these are not the only shapes they can cover. RubberGard EPDM offers total design freedom, even when the roof is not flat at all. Roofs with irregular shapes, wavy roofs, and roofs that extend almost to the point of becoming part of the faade can all be waterproofed.

The single-ply nature of RubberGard EPDM provides architects with design freedom, as its thin layer ensures durable, high-performance waterproofing without adding significant weight to the building structure (unlike other traditional roofing membranes that need to be installed in several layers).

Furthermore, the product is highly flexible and can endure temperatures as low as -45C. With exceptional lay-flat characteristics, it easily conforms to irregular shapes, accommodating the structures expansions and contractions due to temperature changes without compromising its integrity.

Suitable for both new construction and renovation, these membranes can be installed on various substrates, with or without insulation. Installation methods vary based on project needs, from adhesive application and mechanical fastening, to ballasting. Notably, no flames, heavy equipment, or tools are necessary, enhancing job site safety and flexibility. These membranes support eco-friendly building practices like green, solar, or blue roofs, aligning with an architect's vision.

To learn more about RubberGard EPDM and other products by Elevate EMEA, visit the product catalog.

See original here:
The Role of Flexible Roofing Membranes in Sustainable Building Design - ArchDaily

Roofing is once again one of the top three deadliest civilian occupations, with workplace fatalities increasing by 7.8% in 2022, according to the latest data.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, which tracks the previous years fatal workplace injuries and their causes. According to the report, the total number of fatal injuries for roofing contractors was 124, an increase from 115 in 2021. Of those fatalities, 100 of the incidents, or 80.6%, were due to a fall, trip or slip.

The data differentiates specific sectors from the total mentioned above. Residential roofing contractors experienced 33 fatal injuries, a 6.5% increase from 2021. The data shows 27 of those deaths were caused by a fall, trip or slip nearly 82%.

Nonresidential roofing contractors saw fewer incidents in 2022. Of the 19 fatal injuries that occurred down from 28 in 2021 nearly 79% (15) were falls, trips or slips.

Slightly different numbers emerge when viewing fatalities by occupation as opposed to industry. In this case, deaths have decreased by 8.6% for roofers, going from 115 in 2021 to 105 in 2022. Of those 105 deaths, 90 were the result of a fall, slip or trip (85.7%). This is a 6.25% decrease from 2021.

Although the occupational numbers are heading in the right direction, its done little to affect roofings status as one of the deadliest occupations in the U.S. The bureau calculates fatal work injury rates per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. In doing so, roofing has a fatal work injury rate of 57.5.

Despite being lower than last years rate of 59, it is the second-highest rate among all other civilian occupations, with logging workers having the largest rate at 100.7. Fish and hunting workers is the third deadliest occupation, with a rate of 50.9.

Nationally, the data shows workers in construction and extraction occupations had the second most fatalities (1,056) in 2022 compared to other occupation groups. Falls, slips, or trips caused 423 of these fatalities.

Work-related fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips increased throughout the nation by 1.8% in 2022, resulting in 865 fatalities, up from 850 in 2021. Most fatalities in this category (80.9%) were due to falls to lower levels, which had 700 fatalities in 2022, a 2.9% increase from 680 fatalities in the prior year. Falls were the most reported workplace safety violation for the 13th consecutive year in 2023.

Suicides increased 13.1% to 267 fatalities in 2022 nationally. This followed consecutive decreases in both 2020 and 2021. Its an issue the roofing industry is not immune to, something National Roofing Contractors Association CEO McKay Daniels touched upon during an industry update at the 2023 Best of Success conference earlier this month.

This is happening in our industry, Daniels said. Were playing catchup, but were going to do it in a hurry and bend this curve down.

The BLS data shows grim trends for the largest minority groups in the U.S. Fatal injury rates increased for Black or African American workers and Hispanic or Latino workers, which totaled 734 and 1,248, respectively, in 2022. These are 12.4% and 10.4% increases, respectively, over the previous years totals. For comparison, white (non-Hispanic) workplace fatalities increased by 2% in 2022 (3,167), while Asian deaths decreased by 5% (169).

For Hispanic and Latino workers, the 2022 total breaks down to 456 workplace deaths happening to native-born workers, while 792 deaths occurred to foreign-born workers.

Transportation incidents were the highest cause of fatalities within both groups, with 278 for Black or African American workers and 439 for Hispanic or Latino workers. The second highest cause of fatalities to Black or African American workers was injuries due to violence and other injuries by persons or animals (199), while for Hispanic or Latino workers, it was falls, slips, or trips (286).

The nationwide total of workplace fatalities in 2022 was 5,486, a 5.7% increase from 5,190 in 2021. This equates to a fatal workplace injury rate of 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, up from the previous years rate of 3.6. According to the BLS, this meant a worker died every 96 minutes from a work-related injury in 2022.

Todays announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of a 5.7% increase in fatal occupational injuries is a sobering reminder of the important work we must do, especially for Black and Hispanic workers who saw the largest increase in workplace fatalities, said U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, Doug Parker, in a statement.

Excerpt from:
Roofing Has Second Highest Workplace Fatality Rate in the U.S. - Roofing Contractor

Choosing the right commercial roofing company is a significant decision for any business owner, and opting for professional commercial roof services in Indianapolis offers a guarantee of quality and reliability. The integrity of your commercial property's roof is crucial, as it not only safeguards your investment but also ensures the safety and comfort of occupants.

Given Indianapolis's diverse weather patterns, it's essential to select a roofing solution that is both resilient and effective. This guide will help you find the best commercial roofing company in the city, ensuring that your decision is informed, leading to long-lasting satisfaction and top-tier service.

Indianapolis experiences a mix of weather conditions, from heavy snowfall in winter to hot, humid summers. A local roofing company with years of experience in the area will deeply understand these conditions and how they affect roofing materials and structures.

Look for companies with a proven track record in commercial roofing. Experienced roofers not only bring expertise but also a familiarity with local building codes and regulations.

Ensure the company is licensed to operate in Indianapolis. Licensing indicates that they meet the state's standards for roofing contractors. Equally important is insurance, which protects you from liability in the event of accidents or damage during the roofing project.

A reliable company will offer warranties on both materials and workmanship. This is a sign of their confidence in the quality of their work and materials.

Ask for a portfolio of their previous projects, particularly those similar in scope and size to yours. This gives you a tangible sense of their capabilities and quality of work.

Request references or read online reviews. Feedback from past clients can provide invaluable insights into the companys reliability, communication, and overall customer satisfaction.

A company that offers a wide range of services from installation to maintenance and repair can be a more practical choice. Having a single go-to company for all your roofing needs is beneficial.

Some companies specialize in certain types of roofing materials or systems. Consider this if you have specific requirements or preferences for your commercial roof.

The best companies communicate clearly and respond promptly. Their communication skills are crucial from the initial inquiry to the final debrief.

A company that values customer service will make the process smoother and more pleasant. They should be willing to answer your questions, address your concerns, and keep you informed throughout the project.

Obtain quotes from several companies to compare pricing. Be wary of significantly lower quotes, as this could indicate a compromise on quality or hidden costs.

The right company will provide a detailed and transparent quote, outlining all costs. This transparency helps you make an informed decision without any surprises later on.

Selecting the best commercial roofing company in Indianapolis is a critical decision that goes beyond mere cost comparison. It's about finding a partner who understands the local climate challenges, offers comprehensive services, and maintains high quality and customer service standards. Remember, a well-chosen roofing company doesn't just provide a service they offer peace of mind and a solid foundation for your business's future.

Jamie is a 5-year freelance writer who enjoys real estate. He is currently a Realty Biz News Contributor.

Read more:
Commercial Roofing: A guide to hiring the professionals - RealtyBizNews

Its been a big year for us at Upon Closer Inspection, and we couldnt have done it without our loyal readers. We celebrated our 200th column a milestone, to be sure but even in a real estate-devoted crowd, home inspection-inspired material is pretty nichey, so we remain humbled to continue contributing our musings.

This December, as I look back over a years worth of material, it strikes me that we mostly achieve the goal of educational-with-a-side-of-humor (though sometimes people do such ridiculous things to their homes, we can go straight to humor). But since were looking back, I thought Id point out some times when Upon Closer Inspection was actually pretty helpful.

Yes, (toot-toot) this here is a round-up of the times we handed out some tips at a particularly timely or useful moment. Were doing some good around here, it turns out! Keep reading to the end for an update on the South Dallas gas explosion.

And boy howdy, did we have lots of good advice for not only protecting your home before the freeze, but what to do after the freeze! Timely, seasonal tips!

This was a TWO-PART SERIES! This primer on your home electrical system from the utility pole to the panel box gave all the basics of your electrical system, what all the parts are called, what they do, and whose responsibility they are. Great info for any homeowner or home buyer to have. (Not, however, so you can DIY electrical, because we never, ever recommend that.)

Upon Closer Inspection provided special coverage of my personal journey through insurance adjusters, roofers, and attorneys after the spring storms destroyed my roof and two cars in Collin County. On the spot, personal reporting, with heart!

Home Inspectors carry caulk like gunslingers during the summer nary a cool breeze gets past these guys without they seal up a door or a window. And we were there all summer to bemoan the heat and tell you what to do about it.

Then it got serious real quick when a familys house blew up in South Dallas, and were still wondering why. We talked about gas safety, and what to look for, and thats when the jokes stopped because for all our kidding around, the reason for this column, the reason for home inspectors, is so people can have as much information as possible about their homes. Because knowledge is power. Hopefully against tragedies like this one.

As of December 18, 2023, family spokesperson Jeffrey Martin reports that the Escobar family is doing as well as can be expected. They have rented a home so that they can be together for Christmas, while the family home is being repaired, but this is a hardship because their home insurance is not paying for the expense. The investigation into the explosion is still ongoing. The family has retained lawyers to look into the cause as Atmos has claimed that their equipment was not at fault. Francisco, the family friend who was burned in the explosion is out of the hospital but remains badly injured.

Repair 6717 Woford Drive GoFundMe

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Upon Closer Inspection,This Column Is SO GOOD - CandysDirt.com

By ClarksvilleNow.com December 26, 2023 8:00 am

Congratulations to Journey Home Inspection Services on being named Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Veteran Business of the Month!

With Journey Home Inspection Services, you can rest easy knowing that youve chosen the right home inspector, said owners James VanDerLinde and Tashina Richardson. We work exclusively for you, to serve your best interests and to provide you with the information you need. We hold ourselves to a high standard of ethics and professionalism to provide you with a comprehensive, unbiased report on the condition of your home.

Before starting Journey, VanDerLinde was an Army infantryman, paratrooper, and noncommissioned officer. After 12 years of service, he retired in 2020. He attributes his attention to detail, integrity, and work ethic to his time served in the military, which allowed him to grow his small home inspection company into a multi-inspector firm in just six months.

Journey Home Inspection Service can be reached at 931-237-5278.

For more about the Chamber, visit the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce website or call 931-647-2331.

BUSINESS OWNERS: Click here if you are interested in a free marketing and branding consultation for your business.

Link:

Journey Home Inspection Services named Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Veteran Business of the Month ... - Clarksville Now

Colleyville trees were up for debate yet again Tuesday night. For the third time inside of a year, it was new residences from WillowTree Custom Homes vs. old-growth trees in a battle put before the Colleyville City Council

The city council debated and then voted on a revised proposal from a developer who wants to build estate homes on 14 acres located between Pool Road and Wilkes Drive. Its WillowTree Custom Homes versus nearby homeowners and tree preservationists, round three.

And in a four to three vote, the council denied the developers proposal without prejudice for what would be The Bluffs Colleyville. For almost a year, the 14-acre property has been at the center of a debate about whether it should be rezoned from agricultural to single-family residential. Tuesdays vote means the developer can return to the city council for further discussion at a future date.

The ongoing clash centers on a parcel situated between Pool Road and Wilkes Drive in this Northeast Tarrant County suburb. Colleyvilles remaining lots are scarce, making 14 acres look attractive to housing developers, while the plans for this site inspired a group of citizens to organize in opposition. The citizens oppose what they maintain will destroy an urban forest.

The latest vote on Dec. 19 denied the developers latest proposal, which focused on reducing the number of residential lots to nine and placing the primary entrance on Pool Road into the planned, gated development. Voting with the councils majority to oppose the latest revisions were Chuck Kelly, place 5; Brandi Elder, place 1; Scotty Richards, place 3; and Ben Graves, place 4. Voting in the minority were May Bobby Lindamood; Mayor Pro Tem Callie Rigney; and George Bond, place 2.

The council previously voted unanimously in February and June to deny the zoning change that would allow The Bluffs Colleyville to be built. Initially, the plan included 14 lots for luxury homes, and this last plan called for nine. The councils most recent split vote indicates changes were deemed acceptable to some council members.

Meanwhile, the community opponents remain in dissent.

The native, old-growth Eastern cross, Timbers Forest is divinely situated on a steep slope into the Bear Creek watershed, which is prone to flooding, Tim Waterworth messaged after the vote. Waterworth is a leader of a group organized to oppose the development. Save Colleyville Trees It should be conserved as public property into perpetuity as primarily a nature conservation area with limited public access trails. Based on the many conversations Ive had with citizens about this land and the development proposalThats what the people want and will support.

Continue reading here:
Houses vs. Trees in Colleyville: Trees Win Against WillowTree Custom Homes For Third Time - CandysDirt.com

Whats so smart about smart thermostats? They not only ensure your homes temperature is comfortable, but they also do that while saving money andnot coincidentallyfighting climate change by better conserving energy resources. And the smartest ones do all that automatically.

Our pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, kept the temperature more consistently pleasant year-round than any other model we tested, likely because of its ability to calculate the effects of humidity on comfort. It comes with a remote SmartSensor, which balances temps in your home, and it has a built-in smart speaker for use with Alexa or Siri. Ecobees privacy policy is best in class, and the company still provides support for even its earliest years-old models.

Ecobees top-tier model comes with the best remote sensor weve tested, a built-in microphone and speaker, Alexa for voice control, and an air-quality monitor.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

Our top pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, isnt the absolute easiest model to set up, but its the best overall for eking out every last BTU of efficiency. It provides lots of settings to fine-tune your indoor climate, includes the smartest remote sensor around, can be tweaked by voice commands, and can play audio via a built-in Alexa smart speaker. In our tests, it was the hands-down best performer at keeping the whole house consistently comfortable. (The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced, which has fewer features, works just as well and has a far lower price.)

The smartest thermostat is also the easiest to set up using AI, but those extra brains come at a higher price.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

For a simpler setup, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is the best choice because built-in AI does most of the work for you. It doesnt come with a remote sensor (and Nests arent as useful as Ecobees) or have built-in smart-speaker capabilities, which some owners may not need anyway. And some users have found that they sometimes have to override Nests AI to optimize their comfort and energy savings.

Though not as sophisticated as our other picks, this thermostat works with a wide variety of HVAC systems, is dead simple to use, and is inexpensive.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Ring

The Amazon Smart Thermostat may be basic, with simple controls and rudimentary AI, but it does what it does well, and for some people that makes it ideal. It can be configured to run on a timed schedule, or, using Alexa Hunches (Amazons term for Alexas AI-based learning feature), it can eventually learn your patterns and suggest customized settings. The one conspicuous missing feature wed like to see is compatibility with remote sensors, which our top picks have.

One of the few smart thermostats able to control inefficient electric baseboard heaters, the Mysa uses scheduling, geofencing, and an Eco mode to help you save money and energy.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home

If you have electric baseboard heating (or another type of high-voltage resistance heating), the Mysa Smart Thermostat (v2) adds smart control to those inefficient units. (It isnt able to control cooling systems.) To help save money and energyas much as 26% of your annual heating bill, Mysa claimsit makes use of scheduling, geofencing, and an Eco mode that subtly drops the temperature without affecting comfort. As many electric baseboard systems require a thermostat for every room, which can add up to a hefty price tag, for multiroom setups you may want to consider the more affordable Mysa Lite, which performs the same but has more basic controls and fewer features.

See the article here:
The 4 Best Smart Thermostats of 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter - The New York Times

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Kitchen countertops are equally functional and decorative. A beautiful countertop is a joy to beholdand to use, which makes your choice of material pretty important. Granite remains one of the most popular choices for kitchen countertops for a lot of good reasons: Its durable, beautiful, and easy to keep clean (and not so hard to repair, either). But there is one potential downside to granite countertopsmaintenance.

Granite seems like a solid hunk of impenetrable material, but its actually very penetrable: Granite is a relatively porous stone, and it absorbs water and other liquids easily. That can lead to staining and damage over time, shortening the useful lifespan of your countertops. As a result, most granite counters have to be sealed in some way to prevent those liquids from penetrating. It isnt difficult or expensive, but if you seal an already-sealed countertop youll do more harm than goodit can result in a hazy film that you wont be able to get rid of. So if youre concerned about properly maintaining your granite countertops, how can you tell when they need to be resealed?

Depending on where your granite countertop was bought, who installed it, and the specific type of granite used, your countertops may have been pre-sealed. If you bought them new, you can check the paperwork associated with themmany granite countertops come pre-sealed with a specific guarantee of 10-20 years before the seal will fail you. If thats the case, your countertops probably dont need sealing until after that has expired, at the very earliest. Realistically, though, you probably didn't keep those papers.

If you inherited your countertops or theyre a bit older, one clear sign that they need to be sealed is frequent staining. Its true that even a properly sealed countertop will stain if you leave something like red wine or pizza sauce sitting on it for a long time, but if your counters are easily stained regularly, you probably need to seal them (after a proper cleaning). Just let the water fully evaporate before you do the workthe dark water stain should fade in a day or so.

If youre not sure, there's a simple test you can try. Pour about a quarter cup of water on the counter and track how long it takes to be absorbed. Anything less than half an hour means you should consider sealing your counters sooner rather than later. If the water just soaks right in immediately, you should reseal it as soon as you reasonably can. And if the water never absorbs and just sits there forever, the seal is in great shape and you can leave it be, though you should repeat the test annually. Its also a good idea to perform this test in a few different spots.

You can also perform this test with a small amount of oil (a few drops should be sufficient), just be sure to choose a spot where a stain wont be noticeable. If the oil soaks in within 15 minutes, your countertops need sealing.

The good news is, sealing a granite countertop isnt difficult. After cleaning, just pick up a bottle of high-quality sealant and apply according to instructions. Generally speaking, this is just like cleaning your countersyou spray on the sealer, wipe it off, and then buff your counter with a dry cloth. If your countertops were very porous in your test, repeat the sealing process once or twice more for a good seal. After sealing and following instructions for dry times, repeat the water test to make sure that youve taken care of the problem. Granite countertops dont need much maintenanceas long as you keep them properly sealed.

And stop leaving your sticky wine glasses and pizza boxes lying around.

See more here:
How to Tell When Your Granite Countertop Needs to Be Resealed - Lifehacker