Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Welcome to NerdWallets Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions.

This weeks episode starts with a discussion about eggs why theyre so expensive right now and how you can adjust your shopping habits.

Then we pivot to a discussion about the 2022 home improvement season.

Check out this episode on either of these platforms:

The disparate issues driving up egg prices are converging to scramble food budgets across the country. To start, the avian flu thats spreading across the country has led to more than 20 million chickens being killed this year. That means there are fewer chickens laying eggs right now.

Gas prices have made getting eggs to market more expensive, too. But you can try to cut your grocery costs in other ways.

Those hoping to take on home improvement projects this year are also facing supply chain and inflation challenges. There is a long-standing shortage of contractors that could make finding someone to do your work take a while.

The Fed rate hikes may tamper demand later in the year, but this summer is likely to be expensive and competitive for folks who want to take on projects around the house.

To still get some home improvement projects done this year without busting your budget you might need to get creative. Instead of doing a complete bathroom overhaul, for example, think about throwing a coat of paint on the walls and swapping out hardware on drawers and cabinets.

Small changes can help you feel like youre in a new space and can be much more affordable and easier to accomplish than a big project.

Dont count on remodeling getting cheaper:Demand may ease as interest rates rise, but supply chain disruptions and labor issues are likely to persist.

Interview the experts: A contractor, designer or architect may have ideas on how to get the results you want for less.

Consider smaller improvements:If you cant swing a major remodel right now, smaller fixes, such as new paint or a new countertop, could make a big difference at a fraction of the cost.

Have a money question? Text or call us at 901-730-6373. Or you can email us at podcast@nerdwallet.com. To hear previous episodes, go to the podcast homepage.

Sean Pyles: Ive got a question for all of the homeowners listening. How are your home improvement projects going this year?

If youre finding them more expensive and slower going than you expected, youve definitely got company. And in this episode, we are digging into whats going on.

Welcome to the NerdWallet Smart Money podcast, where we answer your personal finance questions and help you feel a little smarter about what you do with your money. Im Sean Pyles.

Liz Weston: And Im Liz Weston. To send the Nerds your money questions, leave us a voicemail, or text us on the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. Thats 901-730-NERD. You can also send your voice memos to podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Sean Pyles: And follow us wherever you get your podcast to get new episodes delivered to your devices every Monday. And if you like what you hear, please leave us a review and tell a friend.

So, as I mentioned at the top, this episode, Liz and I are talking about how to approach home improvement projects this year, and why they might be a little bit more expensive than you expected.

Liz Weston: I was really looking forward to this conversation, because I have a huge list of projects that need to get done.

So, to help us understand the challenges of taking on home improvement projects right now, and how to get your projects done, on this episode of the podcast, were talking with Annie Millerbernd, whos been writing about this subject.

But before we get into that, Sean and I want to talk about eggs. Theyre still incredible and edible, but a dozen today will cost you a ton more than it did a year ago.

Sean Pyles: Yeah. I love eggs as much as the next guy, but why are we talking about them on Smart Money? Its because the issues that are driving up egg prices show how many seemingly disparate problems can converge to drive up prices on everyday items.

Plus, we want to offer you some tips to help you manage your grocery bill. And also I just love eggs, so were going to talk about it.

So lets start by giving a little bit of context. As a lot of folks know and are experiencing painfully on a day-to-day basis, grocery prices have increased nearly 12% over the last year. Its the highest jump since 1979.

But inflation is hitting certain food items harder than others. For example, right now the price for eggs is 32% higher than it was a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And in April, the price for a dozen commercial eggs hit $3 on average, and thats not including the cost for specialty, pasture-raised or organic eggs.

Liz Weston: Yeah. If youve been to the farmers market lately, youve seen those prices go up as well. Its basically gotten more expensive.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: Why? Why is this happening, Sean?

Sean Pyles: Well, a number of different reasons. As folks can imagine, eggs have been hit by a lot of the same global supply chain issues that other goods have.

But theres also a very unique issue thats impacting egg prices right now, and that is an avian flu that folks might have heard about in the news. In December 2021, a new avian flu hit North America, and it is really devastating chickens across the country.

One thing that is kind of good about this is that the risk to humans remains low, according to the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. But chickens, turkeys and other birds are really susceptible.

One thing to note is that avian flus happen pretty regularly, and theyre usually contained quickly. But this one has really not been contained at all.

So, a bunch of chickens have been culled, basically killed, so that they can contain the spread of this avian flu or at least try to. So far this year, over 20 million chickens have been killed to try to contain this outbreak.

Liz Weston: Oh my goodness, thats a lot.

Sean Pyles: Its pretty astonishing. Beyond the avian flu, as I mentioned before, there are supply chain issues happening around eggs. The packaging supplies for eggs have gotten more expensive.

Theres also a truck driver shortage. And, as everyone knows, fuel prices have skyrocketed. So, that means that moving eggs from the farms to the grocery store is getting more expensive, and were paying for that.

Liz Weston: Yeah, and the eggs tend to have a pretty short life cycle to begin with. So, when the eggs get laid, they need to get moved to the market. Its not something that you can just set aside or wait on. They go bad.

Sean Pyles: Right. So, this is all to say that there are a number of different things coming together, making egg prices more expensive.

And Liz, how do you think folks can maybe reshuffle their spending habits to make sure that this doesnt scramble their budget?

Liz Weston: Well, as always with spending, we recommend that you first track what you are spending, so you have some idea of what the outflow is.

And you might even want to figure out what your personal rate of inflation is, because everybodys rate is a little bit different. If you have a budget tracking device or an app like NerdWallets, you can check last year and see how much you were spending on food, for example versus this year. Then you have sort of a baseline of what your personal rate of inflation is.

I think the heart of saving money on food is doing some meal planning. And some of us are not in the habit of doing that regularly; other people are. It just depends on how tight money is.

But meal planning is great for a couple of reasons. One is that it lets you take advantage of the specials and the sales that are going on at your local supermarkets. If youre planning menus around that, youre going to save money.

Another big benefit of meal planning is that you go to your refrigerator, and you look around your house, and you see what you already have. And that helps you reduce food waste. An awful lot of the food in this country gets thrown away unused.

So, by regularly going through your refrigerator and seeing whats there and making plans to use it, you can really help cut down on your food costs and food waste in general.

Sean Pyles: Yeah. It also just makes planning your life a lot easier. We have a cookbook that we use that is based around weekly meal planning. So youll have four or so recipes per week, and they tend to use similar ingredients. So, if you need parsley for one dish, youll use it again in another, a few days later.

And itll also have some recipes where its based on pantry staples. So, youll probably have a box of pasta somewhere in your pantry. You can just pull that out and use it for this dish. So that way, you can make sure that you are using everything that youre buying at the grocery store.

And you dont have to scramble each day asking your partner or yourself, What am I doing for dinner tonight? You have it set up.

Liz Weston: Yeah. And if you need a little help in getting going with meal planning and food plans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has monthly food plans that you can use as guidance for grocery spending.

This is interesting, but its broken down by four different spending levels. So, thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost and liberal. I dont know why they called the most expensive one liberal, but they did. So, for example, the thrifty food plan for a family of four would be about $211 per week.

Sean Pyles: OK.

Liz Weston: So that gives you some idea. The costs go up from there.

Sean Pyles: Interesting. Im spending about that much with just my partner and I. But I do have a penchant to spend a lot on smoked salmon, because I love my lox bagels in the morning. So maybe thats one area where I can personally cut my budget.

But, speaking of meat, I know that youre a big advocate for plant-based diets. And that is a great way to save some money as well, right?

Liz Weston: Yeah. We are not anywhere near totally vegan. We still eat meat; we still eat eggs. But we try to have a couple of plant-based dinners a week, and we will slowly be expanding that.

So, moving away from meat products, animal products, is another way to really help you save money. And it doesnt just have to be beans and rice.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: Theres actually quite a bit of opportunity for really creative meal planning. I just got the book Cool Beans, which is a fabulous cookbook of bean recipes.

Sean Pyles: Interesting.

Liz Weston: But again, theres a lot more products out there now than there used to be.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: So, you can experiment a little bit with that.

Theres one other aspect of saving money on eggs that we probably should talk about, and thats the idea of raising your own chickens, because I know this is something thats been discussed in your household, right?

Sean Pyles: Yes, Garrett and I have been debating this for a little while. He would love to have some chickens running around the backyard. All I can see is my cat and my dog terrorizing them, and the mess that theyre going to make.

So Im not so keen on this. And you raised chickens growing up, so I think that youre kind of in my camp, too. Is that right?

Liz Weston: Exactly. When you said the dog and cat terrorizing the chickens, look for it to go the other way around. We had a terrifying rooster that would fly at your face with those spurs on his legs, just trying to kill you.

So yeah, that and the smell of the manure. Oh my gosh. Thats still in my nostrils all these years later.

So I mean, I know people do this for a lot of reasons. Theres exotic chickens that are kind of fun

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: and all that. But yeah, definitely research it. I think you probably will spend a lot more money on your chicken coops and your chickens.

Sean Pyles: Im trying to take advantage of the whole backyard chicken thing without putting in any of the work, which is: I will occasionally buy eggs from my neighbors who have chickens, and they are beautiful and delicious.

They come in so many different colors that youve never seen before. And I like to get them every so often. But they are about five bucks a dozen, because of all the labor and the materials that have to go into making a dozen eggs from chickens that are in your backyard.

But its a nice way to kind of break things up and also connect with your neighbors, at least in my neighborhood.

Liz Weston: Yeah, and if you havent had truly fresh eggs, they are a revelation. All this being said, weve been talking about how much more expensive eggs are, but theyre still a pretty cheap source of protein.

Theres lots of different ways to save on groceries, and we have a lot of articles on NerdWallets site that can help you figure out ways to cut your food budget.

One callout: A lot of folks are struggling with food insecurity right now. So if you are in a position to do so, setting up regular donations to your local food bank is a great way to help people in your community.

Sean Pyles: Thats true. Before we get into our conversation around home improvement season, I have a quick favor to ask our listeners.

Were always working to improve Smart Money for all of you, so we put together a super short survey. Please take a few seconds to fill that out. You can find a link in the episode description. Thanks in advance.

Liz Weston: OK, now lets get into our conversation with Annie Millerbernd about home improvement projects this year. Welcome to Smart Money, Annie.

Annie Millerbernd: Happy to be here.

Sean Pyles: Annie, a lot of homeowners myself included, and Liz, and Im imagining you have a pretty long list of things they want to do to their house, but its not so easy to accomplish in todays landscape.

Can you describe the current challenges facing those who want to take on home improvement projects this year?

Annie Millerbernd: The challenges for home-improvers right now come down to supply and demand. And those are two concepts that homeowners and other consumers are very, very familiar with in 2022.

If you want to do a home improvement project this year, resources are limited, and lots of people want them.

Liz Weston: So on the supply side, whats the situation?

Annie Millerbernd: The supply side actually is two situations. The first is a shortage of labor. So, theres been a longstanding shortage of construction labor folks to actually do the home improvement projects and that issue was exacerbated by the pandemic.

For decades now, there havent been enough people to do the home improvement projects. And during the pandemic, you had people being laid off, as they were across many industries. You also had people getting sick and not being able to come to the job sites.

So, thats made it a lot harder to get a hold of contractors. Youre seeing that show up when you call six, seven, eight contractors, and maybe you only hear back from two or three and maybe one actually shows up at your door to gives you a quote.

Sean Pyles: Right. Weve had that experience with my partners place in Portland. Weve had a number of projects that weve wanted to get done. And when we have found a contractor who fit the bill for us, we often have had to wait upward of six to eight weeks to schedule a time for them to come out.

And then, even the day of, weve had folks cancel, because someone maybe got sick. Or they had another project that was actually more lucrative, and they just wanted to prioritize that instead of ours. So, its been quite a time-consuming, and at times, frustrating process to even find laborers.

Annie Millerbernd: Then when you do find a contractor, that person works with subcontractors, and those are also in short supply.

So you get your project started, and then you need someone to come in and do the plumbing. But you need to have that scheduled; that isnt something thats just going to happen seamlessly within the process. Its the same for electrical work and all of the work that you need subcontractors for.

So that makes your timeline, which already took a long time to get started, even longer.

Sean Pyles: Yeah, and you better hope that the subcontractors have all the materials that they need. We put in some new windows in our place in Portland, and that project was delayed a couple times, because the contractors didnt have the windows. They were just back-ordered for quite a long time.

Annie Millerbernd: Absolutely, and materials are the other side of the supply problem. This is a problem that was brand new during the pandemic. It happened across many different types of goods, where you would order something and you wont get it for, say, nine months.

We have a coworker who ordered a faucet for her sink. And it is May, and she will not see that faucet until July. And thats a long time to wait for a faucet.

Sean Pyles: I hope that they like it.

Annie Millerbernd: The materials shortage is kind of an unprecedented thing for the home improvement industry. One economist told me he had never seen all materials in short supply, all at the same time, which was the case during the pandemic. Thats made things a lot more expensive.

The rest is here:
Smart Money Podcast: What's Up With Eggs, and Home Projects - Miami County Republic

Hydrogen is scarcely used in the global buildings sector, although low-carbon hydrogen-based solutions are being tested. A number of challenges, including efficiency losses relative to other low-carbon alternatives, safety considerations, the cost of grid retrofits, and zero-carbon hydrogen production capacity still need to be investigated.

In Japan, the number of ENE-FARM hydrogen-ready fuel cells deployed annually remains steady, with a cumulative 350 000 units installed at the end of March 2021.

In Europe, the ene.field demonstration, launched in 2012, has installed more than 1 000 small stationary fuel-cell systems for residential and commercial buildings in ten countries. Another project is the H21 demonstration in the United Kingdom, which will demonstrate the potential for direct hydrogen use to reduce the carbon intensity of heat demand using steam methane reformers with CCS.

The Sustainable Gas Institute of Imperial College London develops analyses to improve understanding of the role of gas in future low-carbon energy systems. In addition, the UK Hy4Heat project, which is also evaluating hydrogen potential for heating and covers all stages from appliance certification and quality standards to demonstration, is set to be launched in the second quarter of 2020.

Government-supported hydrogen-blending demonstration projects injecting low-carbon hydrogen into a local gas network are emerging in several cities, including Dunkirk (France) and Adelaide (Australia). The first injections, using a 6% hydrogen blend (by volume), were realised in June 2018, and further blends of up to 20% will be tested, depending on the price of renewable electricity.

View original post here:

Heating Analysis - IEA

To our Customers and Employees,

We are reaching out to inform you that G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical is taking the spread of COVID-19 very seriously. We are fully operational to serve the comfort needs of our customers, and as we continue to provide service and installations throughout the greater Puget Sound area, we want to assure you that the well-being of our community is our top priority. Following recommendations from both the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health, we have taken and are continuing to take measures of precaution to ensure the safety and wellness of our customers and employees.

Please inform us in advance of your appointment if you or anyone in your household are showing any of the symptoms of the Coronavirus or have tested positive for the Coronavirus. The World Health Organization has identified symptoms as shortness of breath, fever, and persistent cough. We will work together to find a solution for the services you need while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

Should we find that any changes to our scheduling is necessary during this time, we will let you know as soon as we know. We are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety of you and our staff.

Lastly, there are a couple of things found to be very effective in keeping the air in your home clean and safe. First, ductwork collects dust, dirt and pollen and over time can become a breeding ground for mold, mildew and germs that can irritate allergies and create odors. Annual duct cleaning can prevent the spread of these pollutants in your home. Second, indoor air quality products actually prevent these contaminants from getting there in the first place. They work to continuously destroy cold and flu viruses and other pollutants both in the air and on surfaces before they have a chance to spread. If our staff can answer any questions about these ways to keep your home safe, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Chris Baisch

General Manager

G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical

More:

Heating, Cooling & Electrical in Everett, WA | G&S Heating

New data has revealed extraordinary rates of global heating in the Arctic, up to seven times faster than the global average.

The heating is occurring in the North Barents Sea, a region where fast rising temperatures are suspected to trigger increases in extreme weather in North America, Europe and Asia. The researchers said the heating in this region was an early warning of what could happen across the rest of the Arctic.

The new figures show annual average temperatures in the area are rising across the year by up to 2.7C a decade, with particularly high rises in the months of autumn of up to 4C a decade. This makes the North Barents Sea and its islands the fastest warming place known on Earth.

Recent years have seen temperatures far above average recorded in the Arctic, with seasoned observers describing the situation as crazy, weird, and simply shocking. Some climate scientists have warned the unprecedented events could signal faster and more abrupt climate breakdown.

It was already known that the climate crisis was driving heating across the Arctic three times faster than the global average, but the new research shows the situation is even more extreme in places.

Sea ice is good at reflecting sunlight but is melting away. This allows the darker ocean below to absorb more energy. Losing sea ice also means it no longer restricts the ability of warmer sea waters to heat up the Arctic air. The more ice is lost, the more heat accumulates, forming a feedback loop.

We expected to see strong warming, but not on the scale we found, said Ketil Isaksen, senior researched at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and who led the work. We were all surprised. From what we know from all other observation points on the globe, these are the highest warming rates we have observed so far.

The broader message is that the feedback of melting sea ice is even higher than previously shown, he said. This is an early warning for whats happening in the rest of the Arctic if this melting continues, and what is most likely to happen in the next decades. The worlds scientists said in April that immediate and deep cuts to carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases are needed to tackle the climate emergency.

This study shows that even the best possible models have been underestimating the rate of warming in the Barents Sea, said Dr Ruth Mottram, climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute, and not part of the team. We seem to be seeing it shifting to a new regime, as it becomes less like the Arctic and more like the North Atlantic. Its really on the edge right now and it seems unlikely that sea ice will persist in this region for much longer.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is based on data from automatic weather stations on the islands of Svalbard and Franz Josef Land. Until now, this had not been through the standard quality control process and made public.

The result was a high-quality set of surface air temperature measurements from 1981 to 2020. The researchers concluded: The regional warming rate for the Northern Barents Sea region is exceptional and corresponds to 2 to 2.5 times the Arctic warming averages and 5 to 7 times the global warming averages.

There was a very strong correlation over time between air temperature, sea ice loss and ocean temperature. Isaksen said the rapid temperature rise would have a very big impact on ecosystems: For instance, here in Oslo, we have a temperature rise of 0.4C a decade and people really feel the disappearing snow conditions during winter. But whats happening in the far north is off the scale.

Isaksen said the new information on heating rates in the area would help research by other scientists on how changes in the Arctic affect extreme weather in populous areas at lower latitudes. There is evidence that the rapid heating changes the jet stream winds that encircle the pole and influence extreme weather.

Sea ice loss and warming in the Barents Sea in particular have been isolated in previous work as being especially relevant to changes in winter-time atmospheric circulation that are tied to extreme winter weather events, said Prof Michael Mann, from Pennsylvania State University, US. If this mechanism is valid, and theres some debate over that, then this is yet another way climate change could be increasing certain types of extreme weather events [and which] isnt well captured by current models.

See original here:

New data reveals extraordinary global heating in the Arctic - The Guardian

Whether you're without power, enduring extreme heat or trying to save money, there are ways to feel comfortable without artificial cooling.Heat can foster fun summer activities, but the body shouldn't be too hot for too long, as too much heat can harm your brain and other organs, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Sweating is the body's natural cooling system, but when that's not enough, there's an increased risk for developing the heat-related illness hyperthermia signs of which include heat cramps, heat edema and heat stroke.Staying cool can be done by using some basic supplies and knowing how to manipulate your home to control its temperatures. Here are 14 methods for doing so.Stay hydratedWhen you're hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down, said Wendell Porter, a senior lecturer emeritus in agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida.The temperature of the water doesn't matter since your body will heat it, he added. If your body is suffering from the heat and needs to cool itself, it can't do that without enough moisture, since the body cools itself by sweating.Take a cold shower or bathTaking a cold shower or bath helps cool your body by lowering your core temperature, Porter said.For an extra cool blast, try peppermint soap. The menthol in peppermint oil activates brain receptors that tell your body something you're eating or feeling is cold.Use cold washrags on your neck or wristsPlace a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you'll cool down more quickly.Use box fansPlace box fans facing out of the windows of rooms you're spending time in to blow out hot air and replace it with cold air inside.If the weather in your area tends to fall between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the mornings and evenings, opening the windows on both sides of the house during those times can facilitate a cross-flow ventilation system. If you do this, you can opt to use or not use the fans, but the fans would help cool the house faster, Porter said. The outdoors can pull the hot air from your home, leaving a cooler temperature or bringing in the breeze. Just be sure to close windows as the sun comes out, then open them when the weather is cool again.You might not typically leave windows open for safety reasons, but if you're at home more anyway due to the pandemic, this method could be feasible, Porter said.Just resting near a fan would reduce your body temperature as well.Close your curtains or blindsIf you have windows that face the sun's direction in the morning through afternoon, close the curtains or blinds over them to "keep the sun from coming directly into the house and heating up (the) inside," Porter said.You could also install blackout curtains to insulate the room and reduce temperature increases that would happen during the day.If you do turn the air conditioning on, don't set it below 70 degrees Fahrenheit in an effort to cool the house faster, said Samantha Hall, managing director of Spaces Alive, an Australia-based design research company helping to create healthy, sustainable buildings."It just runs for longer to reach that temp and will keep going until you start to feel a bit chilly and is then hard to balance," she added. Instead, keep the unit temperature as high as possible while still comfortable.Sleep in breathable linensCotton is one of the most breathable materials, so cotton sheets or blankets could help keep you cool through the night.The lower the thread count of the cotton, the more breathable it is, Porter said. That's because higher thread counts have more weaving per square inch.Sleep in the basementIf you can't sleep through the night because you're too hot, try sleeping somewhere besides your bedroom, if that's an option. Heat rises, so if you have a lower or basement level in your home, set up a temporary sleeping area there to experience cooler temperatures at night.Don't refrigerate or freeze blankets or clothingCommon advice for staying cool without air conditioning includes refrigerating or freezing wet socks, blankets or clothing then ringing them out to wear while you sleep. But this isn't a good idea, Porter said.Because of "the amount of energy they can absorb from your body that night, they will be warm in just a matter of minutes," he said. "And then you'd have damp stuff that would mold your mattress. So you definitely don't want to do that."Close the doors of unused roomsIf no one's using a room that doesn't have vents or registers, close the door to that area to keep the cool air confined to only occupied areas of the house.Use the exhaust fan in your kitchen and/or bathroomFlip the switch for the exhaust fan in your kitchen to pull hot air that rises after you cook or in your bathroom to draw out steam after you shower.Install energy-efficient light bulbsIncandescent light bulbs generate a higher temperature than LED light bulbs do. To make the switch, watch for sales on energy-efficient bulbs, then slowly replace the bulbs in your house, Porter said.Switching light bulbs can save money but won't reduce a lot of heat in the home, Hall said. However, if you focus on switching the bulbs in areas you're sitting near, that would make a more noticeable difference, Porter said.Cook in the morning, with a slow cooker or outsideOven heat can spread throughout your house. Keep the heat centralized in one area, such as a slow cooker. Or, cook outdoors on a grill to keep the heat outside.Enjoy frozen treatsEating an ice pop or ice cream to cool down may help for a moment. But don't go overboard on the sugar if you're overheated or at risk of being overheated, Porter said."Sugar would run your metabolism up and you'd start feeling internally hot," he said. "So the cool treat might be good, but the extra sugar might not."Research what your state offersIf you've tried everything and still can't beat the heat at home, you could look online for any local programs that are offering ductless air conditioners.Depending on your state, some cooling centers air-conditioned public facilities where people might go for relief during extremely hot weather may be open and taking precautions to ensure they're as safe as possible. You could start by checking with your local utility offices, as they would know who is offering certain programs, Porter recommended.

Whether you're without power, enduring extreme heat or trying to save money, there are ways to feel comfortable without artificial cooling.

Heat can foster fun summer activities, but the body shouldn't be too hot for too long, as too much heat can harm your brain and other organs, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Sweating is the body's natural cooling system, but when that's not enough, there's an increased risk for developing the heat-related illness hyperthermia signs of which include heat cramps, heat edema and heat stroke.

Staying cool can be done by using some basic supplies and knowing how to manipulate your home to control its temperatures. Here are 14 methods for doing so.

When you're hot and flushed, hydrating yourself is the first and foremost step to cooling down, said Wendell Porter, a senior lecturer emeritus in agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida.

The temperature of the water doesn't matter since your body will heat it, he added. If your body is suffering from the heat and needs to cool itself, it can't do that without enough moisture, since the body cools itself by sweating.

Taking a cold shower or bath helps cool your body by lowering your core temperature, Porter said.

For an extra cool blast, try peppermint soap. The menthol in peppermint oil activates brain receptors that tell your body something you're eating or feeling is cold.

Place a cold washrag or ice bags (packs) on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so you'll cool down more quickly.

Place box fans facing out of the windows of rooms you're spending time in to blow out hot air and replace it with cold air inside.

If the weather in your area tends to fall between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the mornings and evenings, opening the windows on both sides of the house during those times can facilitate a cross-flow ventilation system. If you do this, you can opt to use or not use the fans, but the fans would help cool the house faster, Porter said. The outdoors can pull the hot air from your home, leaving a cooler temperature or bringing in the breeze. Just be sure to close windows as the sun comes out, then open them when the weather is cool again.

You might not typically leave windows open for safety reasons, but if you're at home more anyway due to the pandemic, this method could be feasible, Porter said.

Just resting near a fan would reduce your body temperature as well.

If you have windows that face the sun's direction in the morning through afternoon, close the curtains or blinds over them to "keep the sun from coming directly into the house and heating up (the) inside," Porter said.

You could also install blackout curtains to insulate the room and reduce temperature increases that would happen during the day.

If you do turn the air conditioning on, don't set it below 70 degrees Fahrenheit in an effort to cool the house faster, said Samantha Hall, managing director of Spaces Alive, an Australia-based design research company helping to create healthy, sustainable buildings.

"It just runs for longer to reach that temp and will keep going until you start to feel a bit chilly and is then hard to balance," she added. Instead, keep the unit temperature as high as possible while still comfortable.

Cotton is one of the most breathable materials, so cotton sheets or blankets could help keep you cool through the night.

The lower the thread count of the cotton, the more breathable it is, Porter said. That's because higher thread counts have more weaving per square inch.

If you can't sleep through the night because you're too hot, try sleeping somewhere besides your bedroom, if that's an option. Heat rises, so if you have a lower or basement level in your home, set up a temporary sleeping area there to experience cooler temperatures at night.

Common advice for staying cool without air conditioning includes refrigerating or freezing wet socks, blankets or clothing then ringing them out to wear while you sleep. But this isn't a good idea, Porter said.

Because of "the amount of energy they can absorb from your body that night, they will be warm in just a matter of minutes," he said. "And then you'd have damp stuff that would mold your mattress. So you definitely don't want to do that."

If no one's using a room that doesn't have vents or registers, close the door to that area to keep the cool air confined to only occupied areas of the house.

Flip the switch for the exhaust fan in your kitchen to pull hot air that rises after you cook or in your bathroom to draw out steam after you shower.

Incandescent light bulbs generate a higher temperature than LED light bulbs do. To make the switch, watch for sales on energy-efficient bulbs, then slowly replace the bulbs in your house, Porter said.

Switching light bulbs can save money but won't reduce a lot of heat in the home, Hall said. However, if you focus on switching the bulbs in areas you're sitting near, that would make a more noticeable difference, Porter said.

Oven heat can spread throughout your house. Keep the heat centralized in one area, such as a slow cooker. Or, cook outdoors on a grill to keep the heat outside.

Eating an ice pop or ice cream to cool down may help for a moment. But don't go overboard on the sugar if you're overheated or at risk of being overheated, Porter said.

"Sugar would run your metabolism up and you'd start feeling internally hot," he said. "So the cool treat might be good, but the extra sugar might not."

If you've tried everything and still can't beat the heat at home, you could look online for any local programs that are offering ductless air conditioners.

Depending on your state, some cooling centers air-conditioned public facilities where people might go for relief during extremely hot weather may be open and taking precautions to ensure they're as safe as possible. You could start by checking with your local utility offices, as they would know who is offering certain programs, Porter recommended.

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Summer is heating up. Here's how to stay cool without air conditioning - WYFF4 Greenville

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.

Read more from the original source:
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

See more here:
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!)

Continued here:
The Ultimate Guide to Storm Restoration - Bring Me The News