This is a guest post by Suzanne Clemenz, who writes for Insure.com. Suzanne designed her passive solar home and remodeled two others. She worked with architects and contractors on floor plans, electrical work, painting, windows, flooring installations, flood prevention walls and stonework, major drainage issues, an irrigation system, and landscaping.

It's alarming to be awakened by the distant, mysterious sound of running water. But on Sunday, November 6, 2011, that's what happened to me.

Two steps out of bed my toes sank into cold, soggy carpet. I quickly discovered that my laundry room, kitchen, and about one-third of the living area were an inch deep in expanding water.

The recessed hose bibs behind the clothes washer were dry. So was the hot water tank. A river ran from the laundry room to the garage door and driveway. The drainage swale that crosses my front and side yards was spilling water into my backyard's natural arroyo.

Dressing hastily, I turned off the outside whole-house water supply. Then, knowing most people wouldn't respond until Monday, I did the following:

I spent two more hours vacuuming water - 22 gallons total. My kitchen counter tops were stacked high with belongings, so at 2 p.m. I headed for a nearby cafe, keeping my receipt for insurance reimbursement since my kitchen was not usable.

The contractor called late in the afternoon with the comforting words I'll be there in the morning. He said to keep the house at 70 degrees and set up fans aimed at the master bedroom and closet carpet. I moved survival gear to my guest bedroom and bathroom. The only livable places were my home office and guest bedroom.

Flood remediation The contractor and crew arrived early Monday and moved heavy furniture to unaffected areas. Some of the equipment they used included the following:

All the machinery howled like a pack of wolves 24/7 for the next five days, after which only one small area needed more drying.

In my dry Arizona climate it takes five to eight days for mold to form if not immediately mitigated. In humid climates there's only a day or two. But the seams of the laminate flooring were buckling. There was concern that mold could form under the floating vinyl floor in the kitchen and laundry room. The adjuster said, New floors. No question. Eight days after the flood I had a check from State Farm Insurance covering the contractor's remediation services.

Originally posted here:
Home Insurance and Pipes that Go 'Pop' in the Night

Johnny Cash's friends and family returned to his birthplace, Dyess, on Sunday to take part in a celebration of what would be his 80th birthday and share their memories of the "The Man in Black."

Johnny Cash's daughter, Rosanne, opened the celebration by thanking Ruth Hawkins, director of the ASU Arkansas Heritage Sites, for the organization's work to honor her father.

Rosanne Cash explained how the family moved to the Dyess Colony in 1935 as part of the New Deal program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The purpose of the New Deal was to give 500 families each 40 acres of land, one mule and a house.

Cash said she could remember her grandmother telling that when they walked into the house there were five empty paint buckets sitting on the floor and that the house smelled of fresh paint.

Cash recalled her grandmother said it was wonderful to have this new home and that it was more than her grandparents could have imagined.

Johnny Cash's brother and sister, Tommy and Joanne, spoke to the crowd about their many memories of growing up in Dyess. They thanked ASU for restoring the family home and said that soon the old adage "you can't go back home" will be dispelled.

When the restoration is complete, the Cashes noted that they will get to go back to their home just as they knew it, where Cash's mother's piano will sit in the same room where she played for them.

Joanne Cash grew very emotional as she said she could not wait to go back home.

John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash, expressed his gratitude to ASU for the work that had been done and the work yet to come to finish the restoration process. He said it would be an exciting year as they watched the progress.

Dyess Mayor Larry Sims said he was proud of all the hard work that had gone into this special day and it could not have been done without ASU and Hawkins.

See the article here:
Tribute begins Cash home restoration project

On what would have been Johnny Cash's 80th birthday, dozens of family members joined hundreds of fans and residents in the east Arkansas town of Dyess Sunday to formally mark the beginning of work to restore his boyhood home.

"This project has been in the making for several years and I never thought that it would actually come to fruition," said daughter Rosanne Cash, who led the ceremony at the Dyess Community Center. "We never foresaw that it would take on this kind of life."

Ray and Carrie Cash moved with their children to the community in 1935. It was created as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Depression-era New Deal program.

They labored over 40 acres of land, which provided the inspiration for many of Johnny Cash's classic songs.

During a 1969 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, Cash told the crowd "after I got into the music field and started writing and recording and singing songs about the things I knew, I wrote a lot of songs about life as I knew it back when I was a little, bitty boy."

He then sang "Five Feet High and Rising," which tells the story of the Mississippi River flooding his community.Afterward Cash said, "I was four years old at the time and I can't remember a lot about it, but daddy said that we got back home the house was full of mud, chickens and pigs and dogs and nine bullfrogs.Mama cleaned the house out that winter and the next spring daddy and my older brother Roy cleared a lot more cotton land and the cotton grew tall in 1938."

It's that connection that has prompted so many to be interested in preserving the small, dilapidated home, which was lived in by various people outside of the Cash family until being bought recently by Arkansas State University.

In recent weeks the house has been lifted onto the back of a truck and moved to the back of the lot so that work can begin to lay a new foundation. "Anybody who's ever been in Dyess, Arkansas, knows that this is gumbo soil up here and it moves and it's very difficult to keep a house level," said Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director of ASU's Arkansas Heritage Sites. "We're going to be hauling out all of that gumbo soil and putting in good, solid packed soil and a new foundation, then we'll set the house back on that."

After taking part in Sunday's ceremony, Johnny Cash's brother, Tommy Cash, said, "My parents would really be proud that we're being honored in this way.I couldn't help but think about them all day today and how much they would enjoy being here. My sister Joanne and I are the last two of the siblings, and we're just overjoyed about what's going on. The restoration of our old home place is a very exciting thing for all of us."

Organizers are working with the family to prepare to decorate the home as it looked in the 1930s.

Original post:
The restoration of Johnny Cash's boyhood home

CARY, N.C. -- Newly introduced for 2012, Ply Gem Stone True Stack allows for clean and simple installation, ideal for those looking for a time saving solution that achieves a detailed stacked stone look. This is the first modular stone product offered by Ply Gem Stone, manufacturer of stone and brick veneer products.

With rectangular pieces that come in three different lengths and fit tightly together, Ply Gem Stone True Stack cuts installation time drastically and provide a unique face texture from stone to stone. The pieces are 9, 13, and 18-inches long, with matching corner stones, ensuring diversity in the application design. When compared to traditional single stone application with individual pieces and irregular shapes, the stacked stone shapes of True Stack are molded into the face of an average of 2-inch thick by 4-inch width blocks to make installation faster and easier.

On the back of the stone, a 1/4-inch groove creates a clean 1/2-inch gap when the stones are laid together, making it easy to fill and blend mortar. The groove and gap form a tight fit for virtually seamless lines between the rectangular pieces. When assembled, Ply Gem Stone True Stack offers the aesthetics of individual and beautifully dry stacked stones, ideal for accents to traditional Craftsman and Prairie architectural home styles, as well as modern designs.

"Whether you are a seasoned commercial architect or a masonry newcomer, we designed Ply Gem Stone True Stack as a solution to help any customer looking for a simpler, quicker stone veneer installation method," said Jerry Blais, vice president, marketing, Ply Gem siding group.

The product is available in seven color profiles, six palettes new to the Ply Gem Stone product offering, including Sonoma, Calgary, Cambria, Shenandoah, Tuscarora, Arkose and Flint. These earth tone, light and gray color profiles offer the beautiful appearance of natural stacked stone. With the exception of Shenandoah, the colors are exclusive to the True Stack product.

"Due to the efficient method of installation and time-saving application, especially on larger surfaces, modular stone installation is rapidly gaining popularity in commercial construction," said Blais.

Beyond commercial, Ply Gem Stone True Stack can be used for residential projects through a variety of applications including exterior cladding, interior walls and interior fireplaces.

In addition to True Stack, Ply Gem Stone offers a broad assortment of manufactured stone and brick veneers in nine styles with many color options.

Made from real stone casts, but about half the weight, Ply Gem Stone products can be combined with Ply Gem siding and window products for a mixed material look through The Designed Exterior by Ply Gem. On http://www.designedexterior.com, builders, contractors, architects and homeowners can find inspirational visuals for architecturally-inspired stone veneer applications.

All Ply Gem Stone styles are National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Green Approved for specific green practice criteria in the National Green Building Standard(TM) such as no on-site finish and termite resistance. Green Approved products can be used by builders to earn points toward the National Green Building Certification to the Standard. Ply Gem is a member of NAHB.

See more here:
Ply Gem Introduces True Stack Modular Stone To Produce Rustic, Dry Stack Style

(PRWEB) February 29, 2012

Central Roofing, which has operated in the Halifax area since 1999, offers commercial and residential roofing solutions, and specializes in asphalt shingling and flat roofing. It completes over 100 roofs annually, ranging from large commercial buildings to private homes. For the past eight years, the roofer has offered GAF Timberline Lifetime Shingles, which provide rugged, dependable performance.

The Master Elite accreditation is offered by GAF, North Americas top roofing manufacturer, to only 3% of all roofing contractors. To become a Master Elite roofing contractor, Central Roofing (Centralroofing.ca) demonstrated that it has a solid reputation for quality roofing, is fully licensed and insured, and is committed to ongoing professional training. The alignment with GAF pegs Central Roofing as a top quality roofer, providing worry-free roofing solutions that are designed to stand up to the difficult climate and weather conditions in the Maritimes.

The Timberline color palette and industry-leading warranties on its shingles and accessories have made it the #1 selling roofing shingle in North America, according to the GAF.com website. Given Central Roofings unique factory-certified status, the roofs installed with GAF are eligible for special warranties all backed by GAFs financial clout as a leading roofing manufacturer. Furthermore, GAF shingles have received the Good Housekeeping seal of approval, which indicates their exceptional properties in terms of performance (self-sealing), reliability (warranty options) and appearance (non-fading properties).

The Maritimes difficult climate (freeze/thaw) creates many roofing challenges. Problems due to improperly installed roofs are legendary. Poor installations can cause leaks, which leads to costly water damage. In addition, mistakes in the nailing pattern in which shingles are applied and the type of nails used can lead to sub-standard roofs that blow off during the high winds typically experienced during the regions hurricane season. GAF has strict guidelines to meet in order to achieve their maximum wind warranty installation.

Central Roofing stays current with the latest roofing installation techniques to ensure that rooftops are safeguarded against the weather. The roofer recently added PVC walkable roof systems to its product lineup. Roof decks, terraces and large balconies are increasingly popular options to expand outdoor space. While most roofing products are not suitable to withstand pedestrian traffic on outdoor rooftop areas, PVC membranes have many advantages over other types of roofing materials, including ease of installation, durability and low maintenance requirements.

About Central Roofing: Central Roofing is a Halifax-based roofing contractor, specializing in asphalt shingling and flat roofing. Its status as a GAF factory certified Master Elite roofing installer shows its reputation as a quality, dependable roofing installer. Its commitment to providing high-quality roofing products extends to PVC walkable roof systems for rooftop decks and terraces.

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Original post:
Central Roofing Receives Official Recognition as GAF Master Elite™ Roofing Installer

February 28, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) Jacksonville Sharks ST JOHNS COUNTY, FL - The ArenaBowl XXIV Champion Jacksonville Sharks continued training camp on Tuesday morning, holding the team's second full-contact practice in as many days at Plantation Park in St. Johns County.

Unlike in Monday's rain-soaked workout, the overcast skies stayed dry on Tuesday. The heightened intensity from Monday's padded practice spilled over, particularly in the one-on-one and team portions of practice.

Jacksonville's wide receivers seemed to have a strong showing on Tuesday, as rookie Oliver Young tipped the ball to himself to make a highlight-reel catch down the sideline and each of his fellow position-mates made plays in the open field.

Sharks veterans continue to work to get newer players up to speed. One of those new players is former Georgia Bulldog Bryan Evans, recently assigned to the 2012 roster.

"The practices are cool, it's a real family oriented team." Evans said. "I like the atmosphere. Everyone has been trying to teach me as long as I've been here, so it's been pretty cool so far."

Capozzoli Takes the Field

After kicking a clutch 36-yard field goal that helped the Sharks clinch the American Conference Championship last season, Marco Capozzoli returns for his second season as Jacksonville's kicker. Capozzoli participated in his first practice of the season on Tuesday.

Though he had not officially hit the practice field since ArenaBowl XXIV, Capozzoli worked throughout the offseason to refine his game.

"I've been training ever since the ArenaBowl," he said. "I took a week off and then I've been back at it. [LaRoche Jackson] and I had been at the field, we practiced at [Jacksonville University] every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, just practicing our holds and snaps, and just kept doing our thing."

Local Ties

Link:
Sharks Training Camp Report #5

By David Wilkes

Last updated at 9:31 AM on 29th February 2012

For 50 years, the 4ft cross etched into the crematorium chapel window has been a poignant symbol offering comfort to mourners.

But all that is to change after town hall bureaucrats decided it might offend other religions.

And so even though there has not been a single objection the window is being taken out and replaced by a clear pane.

Cross row: The central window at Haycombe Crematorium, Bath, will be removed to appease members of other faiths

The decision has infuriated many in Bath, who see it as yet another example of Christianity being sidelined in a society obsessed with political correctness.

They include Hugh Mackay, 82, a former Christian missionary in Nigeria who lives nearby. It seems there is a determined secular campaign to try to obliterate religious heritage in our country, he said.

The council says it is not to upset people of all faiths but Ive talked to Hindus, Muslims and Jews and none of them have ever complained.

See original here:
Bath crematorium sparks anger as it removes glass window featuring 4ft cross to avoid offending other religions

(Reuters) - Two and half years ago, Steve Stewart erected a 100-foot windmill at his Barstow, California home. Stewart is no eco-crusader, but he does know a good deal when he hears it.

Although the windmill cost $53,000, Stewart paid only $32,000 thanks to state tax incentives. His electric bill has zeroed out from $2,000 annually before, and most months he can even sell back surplus power to his local utility, Southern California Edison, netting as much as $500 per year.

"For me, it was merely a financial calculation," says Stewart, who estimates it will take about seven years to fully pay off his investment. "I wasn't out to save the planet, just to save myself some money."

Homeowners across the country are doing similar math. Soaring energy costs, generous government and utility incentives plus the falling price of technology are leading more Americans to replace their conventional power or heating sources with renewable ones.

An unseasonably warm winter has brought no relief to the price of home heating oil which has hit a national average of $4 per gallon in February, topping gasoline prices in some states. That's nearly 50 cents more than a year ago.

"Typically what motivates homeowners to remodel is comfort and quality of life," says Brad Queen, energy division director at the Colorado-based Center for Resource Conservation. "But it is the economics, the financials, that can ultimately make the case."

The U.S. market for solar energy systems grew by 140 percent in 2011 as costs dropped by two-fifths, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Today, there are 1.5 million U.S. households using solar water heating, and enough solar energy available to power 750,000 homes. Natural gas prices are at a 10-year low, and in 2010 more than half of all new single-family homes were built to use natural gas.

Still, retrofitting an existing home for better efficiency can cost from $6,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the ambitiousness of the plans. But what, and when, will energy renovations ultimately pay back? What are the financing options available? Will your home's resale value go up? These are just some of the calculations to consider before embarking on your next home-improvement project.

ENERGY AUDIT IS FIRST STEP

For most property holders, installing solar panels or a wood-pellet stove are not going to bring the highest return on their investment. An energy audit is the best way to understand what will.

More here:
Green energy puts green in homeowner wallets

Dear Dave,

My husbands company recently told everyone that massive layoffs are coming, and they should start looking for other jobs. Right now, all of his options are out-of-town. A real estate agent told us wed have to remodel our kitchen in order to sell the house. Weve got $3,500, but remodeling would take about $2,000. Should we get a second mortgage to get the work done?

-Pamela

Dear Pamela,

You might want to get another opinion. Sure, a new kitchen would be nice, but is that the end-all, be-all? Either way, theres no way Id go into debt to make this happen. Your house isnt even on the market yet. Theres no reason to fix up a house thats not for sale, especially when you only have $3,500 to your name!

There is, for sure, a financial storm brewing on your horizon. Start right now living on rice and beans and saving up piles of cash to build a bigger umbrella.

Wait until he actually lands another job before you make any big decisions. What if something pops up where you are? If you end up moving, then you might take $2,000 from savings to fix up the kitchen and get the house sold. Dont do it unless youre going to pay cash, though! You dont want a second mortgage hanging over your heads, making everything even more difficult.

-Dave

Dear Dave,

Visit link:
When Does Remodeling a Home Make Sense?

The salons will feature insider kitchen remodeling insights from leading Portland remodeler Hammer & Hand and up-and-coming interior design firm Bright Designlab. Lively exchange with attendees will focus content on participants burning kitchen remodel questions.

Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Today the kitchen is the center of home life, said Daniel Thomas, CEO of Hammer & Hand. Its become a place for feeding, nurturing and communing the heart and the hearth of the home. So kitchen remodels demand elan from both designers and builders.

In the remodeling industry much has been made of the kitchen work triangle of sink, stove and refrigerator, fueled by the notion that the 1900s efficiency and time-motion study movements might be instructive to modern kitchen design. But this approach can ignore the fact that the home kitchen is more than just a place for food preparation. Gone are the days of the solitary cook preparing the family dinner in isolation.

Instead, the 21st century kitchen is the high-traffic focal point of the home. It provides the core functions of storing, cooking, and cleaning. But it's also a bona fide living space in its own right, usually with multiple entry and exit points and inside/outside connections: a convergence of spatial and programmatic forces. It is this new reality that Hammer & Hand and Bright Designlab will explore through their kitchen salons.

After hundreds of remodels for Portland area homeowners, Hammer & Hand has learned a lot about kitchens and the needs and aspirations that our clients hold dear, said Thomas. Were looking forward to sharing our hard-won lessons and presenting inspiring examples of spaces that have really delivered functionally, spatially and aesthetically.

The salons will be held at the Retail Studio, a collaborative space designed by Bright Designlab and built by Hammer & Hand, located at 404 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 101 in Portland, Oregon. The free events will run 6-8pm on April 26, May 22 and July 12. Thomas will co-present with Leela Brightenberg of Bright Designlab, using the Studios show kitchen as an in-context teaching tool throughout the evening. Kitchen remodeling topics will include:

Space is limited, so reservations can be made by emailing hello@retailstudiopdx.com

These salons provide an intimate setting for real, meaningful exchange between homeowners and design/build experts, said Thomas. It's always an honor to engage in this dialogue and provide guidance to folks as they embark on a construction process that can seem pretty daunting at first.

Up-to-date information on the salons can be found by visiting Hammer & Hands kitchen remodel page at http://hammerandhand.com/residential-remodel_kitchen.

Excerpt from:
Portland Kitchen Remodeling Salons to be held at Pearl District’s Retail Studio, Presented by Hammer & Hand and Bright ...