Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

I recently looked at a home in mid-renovation that is for sale. I dont mind taking on the work that needs completing, but how do I know if what has been done meets the different codes?

Thank you for your question. As many readers can attest, it is easy to get in over your head when taking on a home renovation.

But for someone who is open to picking up the hammer, a partially renovated property may give you the flexibility needed to customize the space to exactly what youd like it to be and to actually see how things have been done so far.

You are wise to have permit and code compliance top of mind. Completing a renovation without the required permits, or one that fails to meet municipal by-laws or provincial building, electrical and fire codes, can result in unanticipated expenses to cover the cost of bringing a property to code. In extreme situations, it can require major reconfiguration or even the removal of structures and liability for provincial fines.

Taking some time to verify and validate work started or completed to date is a good approach. Not sure where to start? Speak with your real estate salesperson. They can ask the seller to provide copies of such things as receipts, drawings, permits, municipal approvals and any inspection reports previously completed to verify that work already completed meets applicable by-laws and codes.

If supporting materials are not available from the seller, your salesperson can assist by advising on where information can be sourced, and they may even be able to recommend reputable inspection services to assess the work that has already been completed.

Depending on the extent of the renovation, you may want to consider getting an architectural or engineering assessment to confirm that the integrity of the structure has not been compromised.

For homeowners thinking of completing a home renovation before listing their home for sale, enlisting the services of a registered salesperson or brokerage can be of tremendous benefit. Real estate salespeople have usually seen hundreds if not thousands of homes and layouts and know design ideas that you may not have thought of. Seeking their advice about which renovations might provide the greatest value for your resale may even contribute to your home selling faster and potentially for more money. Of course, you want to balance what you want to enjoy in your home and what might maintain good resale value.

Regardless of which side of the renovation equation youre on, be sure to keep copies of all the documentation related to the work whether completed or in-progress. Doing so may save you a lot of legwork and expense during the transaction process.

If you have a question about the home buying or selling process, please email information@reco.on.ca.

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Buying a property in mid-reno? Check to make sure it has the needed approvals and permits: Ask Joe - NiagaraFallsReview.ca

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Renovation of the Bath House Cultural Center is nearly complete.

Workers have leveled and cemented a new walkway from the parking lot to the back of the building at lake level to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. They have also redesigned the bathrooms to ensure that people with disabilities have appropriate space.

Landscapers have leveled the area and improved the drainage to prevent flooding to make the outdoor theater more usable.

Its fun to see all the progress outside, said Teresa Bond, treasurer of Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center.

Construction crews are now starting to expand the upstairs kitchen, she said.

Renovations kicked off in May after being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The project is still on track to finish in November, but the building probably wont open until March 1, when the City of Dallas reopens its arts and cultural centers.

Performances may resume in the outdoor amphitheater this spring, but that depends on the coronavirus situation in Dallas County, Bond said.

In January 2022, a seated pavilion will be available for public use. The pavilion, built with money from a previous bond, will provide shade in the summer and allow neighbors to practice yoga, draw or perform other activities at the lake.

Its artistic, beautiful and so functional, so were excited to have that, Bond said.

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PHOTOS: See the renovation progress at the Bath House Cultural Center - Advocate Media

Steve Marcus

Evelyn Pacheco, founder and president of Nevada Women in Trades, poses with a plumbers wrench and welding helmet in a park across from her home Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. Women in Trades is a nonprofit organization that prepares women for jobs in the construction trades. Pacheco was the first Black female union plumber in Nevada, shesaid.

By Sara MacNeil (contact)

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Evelyn Pacheco thought there was an error on her paycheck. After her initial workweek with the local plumber and pipefitters union, she received a check for $1,400.

After years of working low-wage odd jobs to make ends meet, the single mother of three had found a career.

Jokingly she said, If this is not right, Im (going to) cash it and not giving it back.

Pacheco, seeking more stability for her family, enrolled in a five-year trade apprenticeship program in the early 2000s to become a plumber. She was the only woman in the class to take the licensing exam, which she passed.

In the field, more times than not, she was the only Black woman on the job site.

You have to pick your battles and adapt to your environment ... Its about survival. Its about your family, said Pacheco, who is believed to be Nevadas first female Black plumber.

But she didnt want to be the last.

Years later, Pacheco began to ask herself, What am I doing for Black women? What am I doing for women?

She had mentors who pushed her along the way and wanted to help other women boost their earning power.

In 2018, she started Nevada Women in Trades, a nonprofit providing a free pre-apprenticeship program to eligible women who want to become carpenters, plumbers, pipefitters and electricians. Nevada Women in Trades works with other nonprofits doing outreach with a mission to assist minority women, victims of domestic violence, veterans, the formerly incarcerated and the homeless.

I want to be the pipeline in helping women get into the trades, she said. Women need to be allies. We need to come together and support each other. Thats important. Lets walk side by side, Pacheco said.

Nevada Women in Trades offers a 190-hour pre-apprenticeship training delivered in small group classes 20 hours a week over a six-week period. Students receive OSHA, CPR/first aid, forklift awareness certifications and participate in trade facility visits and presentations by trade representatives. They receive help with their resumes, preparation for job interviews and certification exams.

Its a very competitive process to become a highly skilled, blue-collar trade worker, and these women were given a second chance at getting their lives together and had to go through the rigorous training and the classes and all the hands-on requirements to become certified, said North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Pamela Goynes-Brown, who presented certificates at the groups graduation last January.

For her efforts with the nonprofit, the 55-year-old Pacheco has been nominated by the Las Vegas Senior Citizens Advisory Board for a Senior Citizen Recognition Award.

Nevada Women in Trades continues to overcome obstacles and empower women, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Gregory Gray, the city staff liaison for the Senior Citizens Advisory Board, who introduced Pacheco for the award.

Pacheco said she was surprised to be nominated not because of her credentials, but because of her age.

I was like, OK, I guess Im a senior now, she said.

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This trailblazing plumber seeks gains for other minority women in skilled trades - Las Vegas Sun

4 Fast Plumbers, Arlington has expanded their services to be able to solve more plumbing issues in Arlington. The company has listened to the feedback of their clients and have decided to expand their services. The company now offers services like bathroom remodeling, 24 hours plumbing services, tankless heater installations, plumbing leak detection, and lots more. Their services include repairs, installations, and maintenance.

4 Fast Plumbers has grown over the last few years, they went from the new guys in the block to one of the fastest rising plumbing services in Arlington. They have been rated as one of the most reliable and efficient plumbing services by a large number of Arlington residents. Their consistency in delivering quality and durable service has gotten the company a large number of loyal clients who continually bring more referrals. They are also known as one of the most efficient Arlington commercial plumbing contractors and also one of the most reliable Arlington 24 hours plumbing Services that is always available anytime, anywhere. They have indeed won the heart of many by merely keeping to their word of always delivering nothing but quality services across Arlington.

About Us

4 Fast Plumbers Arlington is a locally owned company that is located in Arlington. The company offers a variety of services across plumbing, from maintenance, repairs, and installation. The company has continued to remain relevant in Arlington due to their dedication to excellence and professionalism. They have a team of professionals who put in their hearts to ensure every job is done well. The company has operated for quite a while and it looks like they are here to stay for a long time. Their contact details are shared below.

Media ContactCompany Name: 4 Fast Plumber ArlingtonContact Person: Michael Orehowsky Email: Send EmailPhone: (571) 409-6068Address:133 S Abingdon St City: ArlingtonState: VACountry: United StatesWebsite: 4fastplumber.com/arlington-plumber/

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4 Fast Plumbers, Arlington is taking over the plumbing services in Arlington with their broad and professional services - Press Release - Digital...

Fifty-Five Students Awarded Scholarships Through the PHCC Educational Foundation | 2020-10-10 | ACHR News This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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Fifty-Five Students Awarded Scholarships Through the PHCC Educational Foundation - ACHR NEWS

The sink in my bathroom has developed a leak. I called in the plumber who said that there was a problem with the faucet assembly.

So I shelled out Rs 3,500 for a new faucet, plus Rs 500 by way of a service fee to the plumber. But the leak is still there, leaving a puddle on the floor. Now the plumber says there could be a crack in one of the water pipes feeding the bathroom, and hell have to break open a section of wall and try to locate it. Which will cost more money. A lot more money.

When I was a kid at school, I couldnt wait to grow up so I wouldnt be saddled with doing homework. Little did I realise that homework, of another kind, is something that many, if not most, people have to put up with for all their lives.

The grown-up homework we are subject to consists of doing endless house repairs and renovations. If we are lucky enough to have a roof which we can call our own which only too many of our fellow citizens lack we soon discover that this blessing comes with a hefty price tag by way of keeping things shipshape.

According to Murphys Law, if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. According to the Law of Homework, if nothing can go wrong, something will go wrong.

It can be a leak in the bathroom, a fault in the electric wiring which causes a short circuit whenever you try to turn on the TV, the fridge which for no discernable reason suddenly packs up.

Having to put up with this endless homework, I sympathise with those folks in Delhi who are having to fork out a whopping amount of money to completely remodel the place they occupy, and of which theyre not even the owners, but only tenants.

The House in question is called Parliament which is the home of our democracy and which is being redesigned at a cost of Rs 992 crore.

I just hope the bathroom sink doesnt spring a leak.

DISCLAIMER : This article is intended to bring a smile to your face. Any connection to events and characters in real life is coincidental.

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Do your homework: Household repairs are a recurrent cost and can make us run up huge bills - The Times of India Blog

Super Mario Bros. 35 is unbelievably addicting. Its Mario battle royale in grand style. All you have to do is be the last Mario standing to win.

Of course, this might seem a little strange to people who are used to speedrunning this classic game. In fact, any of your standard strategies wont do you well here. You need to play Super Mario 35 as its own game, and here are a few tips to get you into that mindset.

Super Mario 35 is, actually, a resource-based game, and there are four resources to keep track of. They are:

Time is gained most effectively by chaining enemy kills. In standard Mario games, you would get a 1-up for bouncing from enemy to enemy, killing enough enemies with a shell, or running through an army with a star. Here, it will just give you more time the more enemies you kill maxing out at 400 seconds. Note, killing an enemy with a fireball only nets you one second, and reaching a goal gives you more time depending on how far up the flag pole you get.

Coins allow you to spin the item roulette. Later on, the screen will fill with too many enemies to reliably dodge. Using the item roulette will allow you to pull power-ups out of thin air, granting you more hits of safety. The item roulette can also grant you a star and a pow block, both of which double as attack maneuvers as well as defensive maneuvers. In a pinch, the roulette can be spun to try and get some extra time. Each redundant power-up you pick up is worth 15 seconds, so its worth spinning in a pinch.

Enemies get transferred to your opponents screen whenever you defeat them. The enemies you kill when you are looking to attack are different from the enemies you kill when you are looking to farm time. 1-1 and 1-2 are smorgasbords of goombas and koopas, but these probably wont present your opponents with any sort of challenge. Look for rarer enemies in later stages like lakitus, bloopers, hammer bros., and even Bowser himself to really put the pressure on. Piranha Plants are also decent since they simply hang out and make ledges inaccessible to anyone without a fire flower.

Finally, your power-up state determines how you can play the game. Large enemy waves are basically unable to be navigated without a fire flower, so you always want to figure out a way to have this power-up active. When you are in fire flower mode, you can easily wade through enemies as you figure out the next stage of your plan.

If you are Super Mario your main goal is to figure out how to get your next fire flower. This can be via the item roulette or by making your way to a known power-up location. Use your invincibility frames well. Start speedrunning.

If you are small Mario, you are in panic mode. Your goal is to get a power-up as quickly as possible. Slow down and take it carefully, spending your item spins as you go.

If you nab a star you might be tempted to start speedrunning again, and its not a horrible idea if you want to mount an attack. However, the real strength of stars is allowing you to focus on platforming in tricky segments without worrying about taking a hit. Dont nab a star just to run into a bottomless pit.

Before you start any run of Super Mario 35 you need to choose a stage that will be shuffled into the stage pool, which consists of all 35 players chosen stages, and a few random stages thrown in for good measure. You want to include a stage that you have memorized and that has plentiful resources of some sort.

For example, world 2-2 is full of cheep cheeps and bloopers that can easily be taken out with a fire flower. While these enemies are simple in water stages they are terrifying in-ground stages, so its an easy way to mount an early attack. World 1-4 is an easy and safe way to spawn a Bowser. World 3 introduces hammer bros. and world 4 introduces lakitus.

Dont just bring in 1-1 and 1-2. If you find that you constantly loop these stages, its because people keep putting them into the pool! Dont be that sort of person. Thats the worst kind of person.

You only get one life, but 1-Ups are still very valuable. They are worth 20 coins, which is one whole spin on the item roulette. So hunt them down if possible.

Warp zones are also incredibly useful. Everyone is stuck on the same shuffled stack of levels unless you hit a warp zone. This will allow you to choose the next level you go to, and it can be a life-saver. When everyone else is stuck on 1-1 and 1-2 you can use a warp zone to warp to a later level and attack with more powerful enemies. Similarly, if you find yourself low on coins, time, or power-ups, you can warp back to 1-1 or 1-2 to have a safer go at rebuilding resources.

Its easy to be tempted into going into every pipe you come across, but thats not necessarily the best thing to do. It bypasses enemies, which means you bypass time, and its entirely possible that the coins you get from the sub-world are not worth what you skip.

For example, never enter the sub-world of 1-1. It doesnt even grant you 20 coins. Meanwhile, sticking above ground gives you access to a fire flower, a star, and a 1-Up which already gives you more than the sub-world did, as well as a bunch of enemies to kill along the way for time.

Each auto-target setting has its own place and function.

Lowest time will target players who are playing more recklessly due to being close to death. This is usually the option to go for if you are looking to score kills.

The highest coins will heap enemies on people who are safest, bringing them down and making them more vulnerable for a kill.

Finally, attackers arent actually as self-explanatory as youd think. Yes, this will send enemies back to whoever is sending enemies to you. However, this is also the only way to send enemies to multiple people at once. What this effectively does is escalate the game. Remember, each enemy you send back to them can then be sent back to you, which can be sent back to them, multiplying every time. If you want to start flooding the screen with mobs, this is the option to choose.

Dont just go through every level randomly. Make a plan. Different strategies have served different top players and streamers well, but this is the one that works for me.

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Super Mario Bros. 35: How to win and be the last surviving plumber - GameCrate

Plumbers filled the aisles at Topeka City Council to voice frustration over a quickly approved change to the International Plumbing Code in August.

Last month, plumbers said, a change in plumbing code that could take away business from plumbers was approved too quickly. The amendments allow for other contractors, such as excavators, to do work that was exclusively done by plumbers, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Sept. 13.

The amendment, which was proposed and passed in the same meeting, was unanimously supported at the Aug. 18 city council meeting.

"The codes were set by competent master plumbers, mechanical engineers and contractors and these codes cant be changed by city council," said Russel Ridgeway, business representative for the plumbers and pipefitters union in Topeka.

Ridgeway said he wants code changes to be made by a group of experts in the field.

Dave Cobler, owner of Ace Plumbing Company, also spoke during the meeting and said plumbers spend years in school and years working as apprentices to learn the trade.

"This is way too important to rubber stamp through on the first night," he said.

Cobler added that plumbers and excavators have their own areas of work and that "plumbers havent been going out and trying to take their work."

Three plumbers spoke during Tuesdays Topeka City Council meeting, and all three voiced frustration over the changes and want them to be reversed.

Councilwoman Christina Valdivia-Alcala said during the meeting she was concerned that Deputy Mayor Tony Emerson had a conflict of interest when voting on the plumbing amendment in August. Valdivia-Alcala said Emersons contracting company had been paid about $7 million by the city during his time on the city council.

Multiple city council members came to Emersons defense and said his business interests didnt affect his vote.

"Is this just going to become free for all?" Councilman Michael Lesser said. "How many accusations are we going to throw out there?"

Also discussed at the city council meeting:

The city council unanimously passed changes to stormwater code with "a gun to our head," Emerson said. In April 2018, the EPA reviewed Topekas stormwater management protocol and provided the city with an order of consent in May 2019. The order of consent listed issues the EPA wanted to see fixed.

Braxton Copley, deputy utilities director, said the stormwater ordinance addresses concerns raised by the EPA and is the last concern the city has to solve. Copley said the city had to address all the concerns through October. He added the issues raised werent because Topeka did something incorrectly but rather due to the EPA pushing cities "to get to the next level."

The city council "rekindled" discussion on handing over governance of the Topeka Zoo to the nonprofit group Friends of the Topeka Zoo. City manager Brent Trout said Tuesdays presentation is one of multiple presentations about zoo governance, with this presentation being a general overview of the zoo and governance.

Councilwoman Karen Hiller said at the meeting she wasnt sure what exactly the zoo was proposing. Topeka City Council has been discussing zoo governance since June 2019.

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Plumbers frustrated by code change that could take away business - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Officially, South Africa is a country with a water-scarce rating. This is not a surprise for anyone that lives in Cape Town. Drought conditions have been endured for a long time, moving the city towards countless moments when water is simply not available. Farmers often struggle because of water scarcity and low yield.

Water stands out as a finite resource. It now finally gets attention at a global state. The UN has numerous sustainability goals and water is on the top of the list. Unfortunately, often leaks appeared and countless water pipe breakages impacted water levels and water supply. According to fixitrightplumbing.com.au, numerous preventable leaks weaken infrastructures and the real problem is that sustainability is very low.

In the entire plumbing industry, we see specialists trying to do all that they can in order to increase sustainability. Access to technology can definitely help, together with societal behaviour changes, and a full understanding of how critical the water situation is.

Fortunately, plumbers are involved and are driving sustainability goals, helping through the deployment of new smart water solutions, and powered by the use of IoT (Internet of Things).

IoT is very important in South Africa at the moment when referring to the plumbing industry. Data is actively driving change and information can now be received in a real-time scenario. In the past, no plumbing fixtures could have been connected to the internet. This is no longer the case.

What is important is that people cooperate instead of dismissing new technology. When a plumbing problem appears, it should be reported. Also, those that can monitor the system with the use of IoT. This allows receiving early notifications, which is relevant even in manufacturing and industrial businesses that see water failures and supplies lead to environmentally damaging, expensive consequences.

Plumbing completely changes its system right now and we are clearly moving towards proactive insights. The industrys income model needs to be annuity-based, focused on innovation and maintenance, not on emergencies. Annuity-based models allow the plumbers to offer great services, in-time maintenance, and complete visibility for the homeowner and the plumber.

As a result, water bills are lower and water interruptions are less common. All this can have a knock-on effect in the entire country of South Africa. It can easily lead to more job opportunities and improved job security. Also, it can cause a boost in the country, especially when referring to unemployment.

On the whole, we can say that right now South Africa is changing. Plumbers are starting to use modern technology and it is the job of the government to help with water-related issues. The Internet of Things will definitely help us out in the future, leading to real-time data delivery and much faster access to information that can help improve water delivery and consumption.

However, this is not the only thing that should be taken into account. Smart technology is changing homes around the world. We never know what will change in the future but it is great to see that South Africa is catching up.

Staff writer

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Plumbing and IOT in South Africa - IT News Africa

The Guinness Partnership provides services to more than 140,000 customers in our 65,000 homes nationwide. With a turnover of 360.5m and a truly national presence, Guinness is one of the leading housing providers in the sector. Last year we launched our Guinness Strategy which aims to deliver 7500 new homes by 2023 and so its a great time to join us for this next exciting chapter in our story.

Guinness Property provide repairs and maintenance services to The Guinness Partnership. Our national teams deliver rapid-response housing repairs, maintenance and improvement services to ensure that our customers homes are safe and maintained to high standard.

We have a vacancy for a Multi Skilled Operative to work within our planned team in the Crewe area. The successful candidate will work on the installation of bathrooms and kitchens

This is a permanent full-time vacancy working 39 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities:

Essential Skills/Experience:

Desirable Skills/Experience:

Essential Qualifications:

To be considered for this vacancy, you must live within 30 miles of a Crewe postcode. This will enable us to provide a timely and efficient service to our customers.

Link:
Multi Skilled Technician - Joiner/ Plumber job with The Guinness Partnership | 4642979 - Inside Housing