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Its probably not an accident that Jacob Goodin has that name.

Jacobs Ladder, according to the Book of Genesis in the Bible, is the route from earth to heaven. And, when he was younger, Jacob seemed determined to avoid climbing it.

He had a roommate who did a lot of drugs Jacob wanted nothing to do with the drugs until one night he just didnt want to feel the way he was feeling and tried it. Then, he couldnt give it up.

I move away, several times, to try and run away from it and each time, everywhere I went I'd still find it, says Jacob. Even then, one night, we went to a club and I asked them where we could get some powder cocaine. They said, 'We got something better than that,' and they introduced me to crack cocaine.

He not only kicked the drug habit but started the business he wanted since he was a kid roofing and used that name, Jacobs Ladder, as its name. Its a daily reminder that he was born with a makeup that requires vigilance to stay clean.

I believe in the addict's mind is always that lingering thought that it's never going to end, says Jacob.

You've got to be willing to put faith in people, says Ken Heater. He has a little experience in that. Heater is the executive director of the Winston-Salem Rescue Mission. The mission needed a new roof and Jacobs bid won. Heater had no idea that Jacob had a past that resembled what many of the 300 men who are residents of the mission each year have. Its only after Jacob had won the contract that they began talking about what Jacob had to overcome to own the roofing company.

Heater immediately knew, though, that there was a blessing in Jacobs past, with him now doing the good work to fix a roof in serious need of repair.

That's always an encouragement that you can hold up to guys and say, Look, it is possible, you can do it, too, Says Heater.

Because hes seen what his missions work can do results that must appear to be a miracle to those outside of the mission as it helps thousands of people, each year, get their lives back in line.

The key is, if they'll apply what they've been taught - if they'll keep good support around them, not go back to their old haunts and they're old connections and the old lifestyle - then they are able to continue, successfully, he says.

There's hope, notes Jacob. We're not alone - you're not alone, the guys in the WS Rescue Mission, theyre not alone.

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Winston-Salem roofing company owner uses tough past, faith to push toward the future - myfox8.com

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Roofing, siding, gutters & windows - Click HERE or call today for your FREE estimate from Home Solutions of Nebraska ... - Lincoln Journal Star

The roofing industry may not be the most exciting in the world, but to say that its anything less than absolutely vital would be a bit foolish. After all, what good is a home without its lid? Now, theres a new company on the horizon that wants to inject a healthy dose of technology into this venerable industry, and help you protect your home (and yourself) from any roofing headaches. Meet Roofr, a startup that uses satellite imagery software to analyze your roof and determine whether or not you need to hire a roofer to make some repairs and adjustments.

Homeowners usually need a new roof because its leaking, shingles are falling off, or it looks worn out, Roofr founder and CEO Richard Nelson told VentureBeat. Traditionally, you would look through Angies List or Yelp and call multiple roofing companies for quotes, but you never know what you will pay and the process is extremely tedious.

But Roofr believes it can help. Promising to simplify the entire process of roofing, the Toronto-based startup says that a roofing estimate takes only 26 seconds. Simply enter your address on its website, and get a free quote. But how does it happen? Its all based on satellite images (sourced from a Google API that pulls from Google Earth), that are used to calculate both the square footage and slope of your roof. This will permit a nearly instantaneous free estimate.

Then, Roofr claims that within 24 hours, a member of the team will contact you to set up an appointment with an installer. All installers are vetted contractors who are said to be able to provide complete replacements for your roof, no matter what material you may be working with. If youre looking to change the look of your roof, the installer can help you choose the new system.

Finally, once this process is finished, Roofr sends a firm quote. If it works for you, we notify the installers to move forward with your project; you pay the installers once the work is complete and youre happy, the company notes.

New roofs are priced at around $6,000, and are said to last about 10 years. As it stands, the startup claims it has 200 projects already finished, and is currently selling around 10 roofing projects every week. And while its currently based in Canada, Roofr hopes to solidify its presence in the U.S., and move its headquarters to Mountain View, California, within the next couple months.

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Roofr wants to use satellite imagery to disrupt the roofing industry - Digital Trends

Sodus, N.Y. - It's their dream house that they say is quickly turning into a money pit.

Sandy Verstraete and her fianc said they are out at least $10,000. That's because the roofer they hired reportedly wasn't covered by insurance to do the job.

"You can see, right here, the beams are rotted right in half. I mean completely, Verstraete said. If I push up on it, it could fall."

Verstraete was in her attic, showing 13WHAM the damage she said a contractor left behind after she hired him to replace the roof.

"It's my dream home, and he crushed our dream," she said.

Verstraete and her fianc knew the home had water damage and needed some repairs when they bought it.

They say they hired Scott Kenville of "Kenville Repair and Modeling" to do the work with a bank agreement that it would be done in six months. It's been two years.

"When he started the work, we realized he was nailing to rot," she said. "We were very specific about no rot. And any other damaged wood or rotted wood had to be removed."

She said the contractor was paid $10,000 up front. He asked for more money, but the bank won't release the rest of the loan until the work's complete.

So, three months into the job, he stopped working.

Right along the wall, here's where it leaks when it rains, Verstraete added. We have the bucks here to catch it."

Verstraete sought out Kenville's insurance company for damages.

When the insurance company got involved, they said he's not insured to be on a roof," she said. "He's insured to be in the home, but not on the roof.

Now, she's out of cash and her own home insurance company dropped their coverage. She claims the contractor ripped of the siding.

"We just got notification they're canceling us because we're missing siding, she said. When we called them and told them that there was missing siding, that's why we had to pay a larger amount, and it was only for fire insurance."

"As a homeowner, you think you're covered," she added. "We went and checked all his references, and we still find that it still didn't protect us."

The Rochester Home Builders Association tells 13WHAM Verstraete did everything right, and it's hard to know if a contractor has the proper insurance coverage.

Rick Herman, the executive vice president of the association, suggestions if you have doubts, call the contractor's insurance agent yourself and ask.

Verstraete tells 13WHAM this contractor hired a lawyer and refuses to talk to her.

13WHAMs attempts to reach him by phone and in person have also been unsuccessful.

More:
Contracting with no roofing insurance causes headache for Sodus family - 13WHAM-TV

Question: The old dark shingle roof is leaking again. I prefer to install a longer-lasting roof this time even if it costs a little more. Other than metal, what durable roofing is available and which is environment-friendly?

Answer: There are many nonmetal roofing options which have a significantly longer life than typical shingles and are made from recycled and/or natural materials. Although old asphalt shingles can be recycled in other products, many of the 11 million tons removed from roofs still end up in landfills every year.

When selecting the best type of replacement roofing for your home, the weight of the roofing material is a factor. Most roofs designed to support standard asphalt shingles will not handle the weight of some of the most durable roofing materials such as tile and slate. These can weigh five to ten times as much as thick, high-quality asphalt shingles.

To install these types of heavy roofs, the supporting structure, rafters or trusses will have to be strengthened. This is not impossible to do, but it can be a significant expense in addition to the higher cost of the roofing materials themselves. On the positive side, you will only have this expense once because these roofs should easily last a lifetime.

Since you seem to be concerned about the environment, consider using roofing materials made primarily from recycled plastics. These can be formed to simulate slate, tile or cedar shakes. They are in the same weight per square (one square is 100 sq. ft. of roof area) range as good quality asphalt shingles so no additional structural roofing support will be needed.

Unless you would actually climb up on the roof and touch this plastic roofing, it is difficult to distinguish from real slate, tile or shakes. The plastic material can be nailed or sawed similarly to wood and is available in random widths for an authentic appearance when installed. These materials often carry a transferable 50-year warranty.

Fiber-cement roofing materials are another very durable option. Lightweight fiber-cement materials will not require additional roof support. These can be molded to simulate many other roofing styles. The pigments go throughout the fiber-cement material so they maintain they attractive appearance. The contoured tiles have a glossy topcoat for an authentic tile look.

Cedar shakes are another attractive roofing option which does not require additional roof support. Good-quality cedar shakes can have warranties up to 50 years. Pressure-treated pine shakes have a similar appearance to cedar and they can be treated with fire-resistant chemicals.

One of the most unique wood roofs uses bent cedar shingles. These are made from Western red cedar and are steamed and bent to create curves. Check your local building codes and your fire insurance contract before installing wood-based roofing.

The newest type of roofing uses solar photovoltaic (PV) tiles which produce electricity from the sun. It is more expensive to install than other common types of roofing materials, but it has a very long life and the utility bills savings can make it a good investment.

The following companies offer alternative roofing materials: Anglo-American Cedar, (800) 826-7185, http://www.angloamericancedar.com; Boral America, (800) 669-8453, http://www.boralamerica.com; Ecostar, (800) 221-7170, http://www.ecostarllc.com: Huber & Associates, (800) 327-8115, http://www.huberandassociates.com; and Ludowici, (800) 945-8453, http://www.ludowici.com.

Question: I had some new plumbing done in my house and the metal pipe was replaced with plastic pipe. My electrical system is grounded to the water pipes. Should I provide a new earth ground?

Answer: It is important to have an effective earth ground for the electrical wiring system in your house. Without a ground, a short circuit in an appliance or fixture can result in a severe shock.

Have the new ground installed by driving a long copper-plated rod into the ground or burying a heavy-gauge wire around your house. The main copper ground wire from the house should be connected to it. This is not a do-it-yourself project so have an electrician do the work.

More:
Options available for environmentally friendly roofing - Palm Beach Post

PARKERSBURG Crews completed more than $3 million in roof replacements this summer at five Wood County schools, with only a handful of finishing steps left to be done on one of those projects.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Fling gave an update Tuesday to the Wood County Board of Education on projects ranging from laying new carpet to major construction, such as the roof replacements.

I dont think people can realize how much roofing was completed this summer, he said.

The roof replacements are part of the districts $41 million facilities bond call which was approved by voters in November. Three companies put down more than 300,000 square feet of new roofing at five schools over a period of 10 weeks, Fling said. As of Tuesday, only one of those projects, Franklin Elementary School, was not yet completed.

They are doing finishing work at this point, he said.

The cost of the roofing projects was a little more than $3 million, with about $65,000 in additional cost due to change orders, which Fling said officials carefully monitored. Fling said that represents a change of only 2 percent in the budget for the five roofing projects.

Those projects are the first of about $17 million in roof replacements which will be completed over the next several years.

What is exciting about Michaels report is that the taxpayers of Wood County are getting their facilities protected, said Superintendent John Flint. We were getting to the point where the investment was overwhelming, when youre patching roofs to $1 million a year. Now were upgrading, were moving forward. Thats exciting for the Wood County taxpayer.

Board President Lawrence Hasbargen said the secondary effect is freeing up money which would have been used for repairs.

When youre not spending money for repairing and patching roofs, we can do several other things throughout our facilities that have been requested by our schools year after year, he said. Over time, you can really keep it up, and do a better job of it.

A handful of larger projects, such as installation of a new large-volume grease trap at Hamilton Middle School, are being delayed until summer 2018 due to timing issues. Fling said he would be bringing more information on multi-year projects, such as structural repairs at the rear of Blennerhassett Elementary and Middle schools, to the board at a future meeting.

In other business, the board delayed approving a list of supplemental and extra-duty pay scales until its next meeting. Board member Jim Asbury, who attended Tuesdays meeting via conference call, requested the delay because he did not have the list and asked for time to review the numbers.

The board met in executive session to discuss the superintendents performance and contract, but took no action. The session was part of the annual evaluation and goal-setting process for the superintendent.

Fort Frye board committee meetingThere will be a Fort Frye Local Schools Buildings and Grounds Committee ...

PARKERSBURG The Community Service Council Tuesday held a roundtable of law enforcement officials and first ...

On the heels of a national address by President Donald Trump Monday night, local residents still have questions ...

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Wood County BOE receives construction update - Marietta Times

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Trading was heavy with 548K shares changing hands on Wednesday. Volume was up 207.17% over the stocks average daily volume.

Here are a few additional firms who have increased or decreased their stake in (APOG). As of the end of the quarter Goldman Sachs Group Inc had bought 1,195 shares growing its stake by 17.1%. The value of the companys investment in Apogee Enterprises, Inc. went from $375,000 to $489,000 a change of $114,000 quarter over quarter. As of quarter end Macquarie Group Ltd had disposed of a total of 2,619 shares trimming its position 0.4%. The value of the investment in (APOG) increased from $32,987,000 to $36,557,000 increasing 10.8% since the last quarter.

Horizon Investment Services, LLC augmented its holdings by buying 23,075 shares an increase of 152.2% from 12/31/2016 to 03/31/2017. Horizon Investment Services, LLC now holds 38,240 shares with a value of $2,279,000. The value of the position overall is up by 180.7%. State Street Corp expanded its investment by buying 37,383 shares an increase of 3.5% as of 03/31/2017. State Street Corp claims 1,099,051 shares worth $65,517,000. The total value of its holdings increased 15.2%.

The company is so far trading up since yesterdays close of $46.95. Apogee Enterprises, Inc. also announced a dividend for shareholders paid on Tuesday the 25th of July 2017. The dividend payment was $0.140 per share for the quarter which comes to $0.56 on an annualized basis. This dividend amount was represent a yeild of $1.19. The ex-dividend date was set for Thursday the 6th of July 2017.

It is trading at $47.01 which is quite a bit lower than $52.67, the stocks 50 day moving average and significantly lower than the 200 day moving average of $55.19. The 50 day moving average was down by -10.75% and the 200 day average moved down $-8.18.

The companys P/E ratio is 16.10 and the market cap is 1.36B. In the latest earnings report the EPS was $2.92 and is expected to be $3.38 for the current year with 28,848,000 shares now outstanding. Next quarters EPS is forecasted at $0.99 and the next full year EPS is projected to be $4.18.

Apogee Enterprises, Inc., launched on July 12, 1949, is involved in the design and development of glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings and framing art. The Company operates in four segments: Architectural Glass, Architectural Services, Architectural Framing Systems and Large-Scale Optical Technologies (LSO). The Architectural Glass segment fabricates coated glass used in customized window and wall systems comprising the outside skin of commercial, institutional and multi-family residential buildings. The Architectural Services segment designs, engineers, fabricates and installs the walls of glass, windows and other curtainwall products making up the outside skin of commercial and institutional buildings. The Architectural Framing Systems segment designs, engineers, fabricates and finishes the aluminum frames used in customized aluminum and glass window, curtainwall, storefront and entrance systems comprising the outside skin and entrances of commercial, institutional and multi-family residential buildings. The Large-Scale Optical Technologies segment manufactures glass and acrylic products for the custom picture framing and fine art markets..

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Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:APOG) Experiences Heavy Trading Volume - Modern Readers

Global architecture and design firm, NELSON, announced it merged operations with WK design group to increase architecture presence in San Francisco.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 22, 2017

After a string of recent national moves, NELSON, a global architecture and design firm, announced it will merge operations with WK design group, located in San Francisco, CA. Effective August 1st, the addition increases NELSON's focus on large-scale, core and shell architecture, and further expand its presence into the Bay Area.

"Our recent move actively demonstrates our dedication to increasing our architectural design services on both a local and national level," said John "Ozzie" Nelson Jr, Chairman and CEO of NELSON, when describing the deal with WK design group. "San Francisco has been a key market on our radar for quite some time, and we believe that in combining our existing interior and exterior capabilities with those of WK, we will offer new possibilities and reach to our clients."

Led by Gary Weske and Joel Karr, WK design group specializes in architecture, interior design, building design, core and shell architecture, and construction administration. As a passionate group focused on company culture, the firm offers a boutique approach to architecture and design an important factor to NELSON as growth ensues. WK design group's specialties include commercial and corporate design, hospitality and retail, multi-family, campus master planning, and single-family design. They have completed well-known projects in the Bay Area including Equity Residential Trust, Essex Property Trust, Allianz, and Harvest Properties.

"We look forward to accessing larger opportunities with NELSON that expand our reach in and beyond the immediate Bay Area," said Joel Karr, Principal of WK design group. "We look forward to combining our strengths to work with current and future clients while leveraging our collective network," added Principal, Gary Weske.

As the third location added in the Bay Area in just under a year, WK design group will provide NELSON with access to a new network of clients including those in the hospitality and retail industries, while also offering a combination of both high scale and niche services.

For more information about NELSON, visit http://www.NELSONonline.com.

For more information about WK design group, visit http://www.wkdesigngroup.com.

###

About NELSONNELSON is part of a global architecture, design, engineering, and consulting services organization with over 700 Teammates in over 20 locations around the world and strong experience in a broad range of industries. NELSON is ranked in the top 10 of Interior Design Magazine's "100 Design Giants" list. NELSON is also ranked in the top 3 firms specializing in workplace interior design1* and in the top 20 for office architecture and design**. For more information, visit http://www.NELSONonline.com.

*Interior Design Magazine #3 Office Sector, #9 Overall; **Building Design + Construction #6 Office Sector, #17 Overall

About WK design groupWK design group describes themselves as a firm that delivers experienced, creative, thoughtful, and insightful solutions that "skip the archibabble." They "get it" in terms of transaction driven as well as high design project needs. The firm combines two award-winning predecessors to provide interior design and core and shell architecture services. Led by longtime San Francisco Bay Area residents, Gary Weske and Joel Karr, WK design group offers skills, smarts, and people to give clients what they need. They take pride in their longstanding relationships with multiple constituents and they have fun together with clients, in doing what they do.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/08/prweb14618361.htm

Excerpt from:
NELSON Secures WK Design Group, Increases Architecture ... - Benzinga

DETROIT, Aug. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced the company's expansion into Michigan with the opening of its first Detroit-based office. The new Michael Baker office in Detroit extends the company's presence in its Great Lakes Region to deliver innovative solutions to clients and prospects, while growing business in the area.

"Michigan has long been a target expansion market for Michael Baker International. As the state continues to experience infrastructure growth with transportation and environmental projects, the new Michael Baker office in Detroit is poised to demonstrate our full-continuum of services to clients," said Kent Zinn, Vice President and Regional Director of Michael Baker's Great Lakes region. "The Detroit office will focus on key business areas, including roads, bridges, aviation and construction services, while tapping into experts across the Michael Baker network to demonstrate how 'We Make a Difference' for the clients and communities we serve."

To lead Michael Baker's growing Michigan presence, the company hired Steve Gravlin, P.E., P.S., as the Office Manager of the Detroit office. Mr. Gravlin brings more than 30 years of experience to his role, where he will partner with team members from across the region to grow Michael Baker's service offerings in the state and drive business in the Detroit Metro area and entire state of Michigan. In his role, Mr. Gravlin will also manage the office's daily business activities.

"Steve brings extensive leadership capabilities to his new role at Michael Baker, and his experience with transportation infrastructure projects across the state of Michigan will help to grow our presence in the market," added Mr. Zinn.

Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Gravlin supervised teams working on transportation projects with design budgets of $10 million and construction budgets between $400 million to $1.3 billion per year. His expertise includes both Design-Build and P3 contracting, and ranges from bridge design and complete streets/urban arterial design to green infrastructure and climate change mitigation, among others.

Mr. Gravlin's work has earned multiple industry recognitions. He lends his time and expertise to a number of industry groups, including his current role on the board of directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies-Michigan Chapter and as a board member of the Survey Licensing Board for the State of Michigan. Mr. Gravlin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan. He also has completed coursework in surveying from the Michigan Technological University.

About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit http://www.mbakerintl.com.

Contact: Justin Falce rel="nofollow">justin.falce@mbakerintl.com(866) 293-4609

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SOURCE Michael Baker International

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Michael Baker International Expands National Presence with First Michigan Office - Markets Insider

When selecting siding, there are six basic issues to consider:

1. Water Resistance. Water-resistant types of siding will have longer life spans.

2. Ease of Installation. If you're installing the siding on your own, make sure it is within your skill set, requires no special tools, and creates no harmful dust when cut.

3. Energy Efficiency. Check the R-value rating for energy savings and understand what will be needed as far as insulation beneath the cladding.

4. Aesthetics. Your siding will be in full view as you come and go, so make sure it is beautiful to you.

5. Versatility. Make sure the siding has the versatility to meet the varied needs of your specific project. If there are aspects of your home's exterior that will make using a particular type of siding more challenging than others, make sure you understand what the added costs or necessary adjustments will be.

6. Durability. Does it have the strength to resist temperature shifts present in your climate? How does it stand up to everyday wear and tear?

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House Siding Options: A Visual Guide