In the U.S. and Canada, homeowners are gearing up for spring and summer exterior home improvements, including re-roofing projects.

This is also a time when a massive amount of waste is created, due to the removal and disposal of old asphalt roof shingles. As the most common type of roofing material, approximately 11 million tons of worn-out asphalt shingle roofing waste is dumped into landfills every year, representing a whopping 8% of the total building-related waste stream in the U.S.

To reduce the environmental impact and save on re-roofing labor costs, experts say, the fact is, an old asphalt roof doesnt necessarily have to be removed in order to install a new roof. Thanks to its lighter weight, metal is one of the only roofing materials that can be installed directly over asphalt. The benefits of doing so not only include preventing waste, but also the savings from reduced labor and tear-off costs and increased long-term energy efficiency.

According to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), the leading nonprofit trade organization representing the industry, its the lower weight and greater resiliency of metal roofing material (50 lbs. per 100 square feet for aluminum and 80 to 100 lbs. for steel, as compared to nearly 275 to 425 lbs. per 100 square feet for asphalt) that makes it suitable for installing over asphalt without adding too much weight for a homes structure. It also increases insulation properties, resulting in energy savings.Every year, we receive questions from homeowners who are rightly concerned about all the waste and mess that comes from removing their old asphalt roofs, asking if they can install longer lasting metal over their existing roofs to help reduce waste and avoid having to re-roof again in the future, said Renee Ramey, MRA Executive Director. In many cases, the answer is yes, and there are plenty of great reasons for doing so.

Warranties offered on quality metal roofing systems installed over asphalt shingles are not typically impacted as long as the roof is properly installed, which is not the case when it comes to installing a second layer of asphalt over an old shingle roof. Thats because heat gain can impact the integrity of asphalt shingles and cause the new second layer of roofing to deteriorate much faster, while high temperatures will not impact quality metal roofing systems or finishes.

Other considerations for installing a new metal roof over asphalt include:Layer limits: Most building codes allow for only two layers of roofing. Metal can typically be installed directly over a single-layer asphalt roof, but tear-off may be necessary for roofs that have more layers.Structure soundness: If the old asphalt roof has severe damage, deteriorating decking, or buckling, complete removal may be unavoidable before a new roof can be installed.Underlayment essentials: The proper underlayment should always be used when installing a new metal roof, including over an old asphalt roof. Use the recommended underlayment in accordance with the manufacturers instructions to help protect the new metal roof.Pro perspective: Homeowners need to know that working with an experienced, qualified installer insures that quality materials and proper installation methods are used. This is a prime reason for roofers to become members of organizations and trade groups that advocate for industry quality standards.Above and beyond benefits: Because quality metal roofs last much longer, are more durable and energy efficient, and can be 100% recycled at the end of their long lives, the sustainability and savings benefits are multiplied by installing directly over an old asphalt roof. By saving on removal and tear-off, homeowners can also increase their value by applying that savings to upgrading their roof quality to ensure long-term reliability and performance, low-maintenance, and increased protection.

For a homeowner, leaving their old shingles in place can actually make the home more energy efficient and resilient, said Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries, an MRA member and well-known industry expert. But perhaps more importantly, it means they can use the money they save on old roof removal and disposal to invest in an upgraded metal roof for their home. Sometimes, those savings allow them to buy the better roof they really want.

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MRA Advocates for Smarter Re-Roofing Strategies to Reduce Landfill Waste - Constructionmagnet.com

GAF Energys president, Martin DeBono: I think that Tesla has it absolutely right. Theyre playing the long game, as are we. The industry will evolve from rack-mounted to BIPV.

Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy, part of the worlds largest roofing company, thinks that the time is now for building integrated PV (BIPV). He told pv magazine:

It really is a question of timing. For sure a lot of people have tried this and failed. There are numerous examples of technologies where the timing wasnt right. Apple Newton is a famous example. Palm Pilot is a famous example. The idea was right, but there wasnt the convergence of factors that led to the ultimate technology breakthrough. What youre seeing today with GAF, with companies like Telsa these are heavily capitalized, serious efforts to finally push BIPV to where it needs to be.

You have the phenomenal reduction in the cost of photovoltaic cells; you have the know-how of ten years of various AHJs that are much more comfortable dealing with solar; you have the increasing miniaturization of power electronics.

Over the last 20 years, the way solar panels have been attached to a roof hasnt changed. When you install a traditional rack-mounted system, which has between 68 and 100 half-inch penetrations, youre effectively cutting a six by six hole in the roof with lag bolts drilled through the water barrier in the hope youll find a rafter.

I believe this will change over time. By integrating solar with the roofing, youre going to ensure the integrity of the home.

Direct-to-deck

GAF Energys direct-to-deck solar modules are integrated into the roof. The company uses a 60-cell, 360-watt laminate from Solaria with a custom frame that allows it to be waterproof with a lower profile and faster installation. Here are installation instructions for GAFs BIPV roof.

More from GAF Energy on its integrated solar roof

According to DeBono, the roof will pay for itself within the warranted life of the product. He said, You have the backing of GAF a 100-year old company and the worlds largest roofer.

He added, I can assure you without naming names the largest solar companies in the U.S. are getting into roofing. I think that Tesla has it absolutely right. Theyre playing the long game, as are we. The industry will evolve from rack-mounted to BIPV.

Roofers want to roof. We have rectangular kits roofers can effectively send us a picture of the home and well be able to send them the exact number of rectangular tiles they can put on it, and those are prepackaged at our warehouse for quick turnaround time. The homeowner and the roofing partner get the benefit and the improved economics of only having one crew on the roof.

As for removing the solar array, DeBono added, If someone said, You know what? Im for global warming. It cant get hot enough soon enough. Get these panels off my roof, you can take them off and just add asphalt shingles to where the solar was.

Acquisition cost for a roofer is about 1/100th of what solar companies pay

Five million Americans get a new roof each year. Compare that to the 200,000 or 300,000 people that go solar each year. Youre looking at a 20x increase in the number of homes. At the same time, the acquisition cost for roofers is about 1/100th of what solar companies pay. If you look at some of the filings from public companies, youll see acquisition costs of around $5,000. Roofing acquisition costs are about $50, maybe $100. Anywhere from 1% to 5% acquisition costs compared to a solar company.

The (unprofitable?) California solar mandate

I think [the California Solar Mandate] is a very good thing for the environment. However, Im not certain as to how profitable that business would be I dont know if home builders would be willing to pay the same premium for a product as a homeowner would. The margins in any market where government mandates a product are typically a lot lower than what you find in a market where people have to compete on value.

The benefits of batteries are overstated

I think that there are better solutions on the horizon than lithium ion, and I dont think that the industry should push lithium ion batteries. I think that theyre not the safest to put in homes. I think that things like zinc would be more promising, and we need to move away from lithium. Maybe lithium phosphate would be a better choice, but Im just concerned about lithium

There are some cases where battery storage makes economic sense, but in most cases, I think that there is very little economic argument for batteries today. I think that today the benefits of batteries are overstated and the costs are understated.

***

There are still a number of companies fighting the BIPV fight, although it would be difficult to declare any runaway commercial successes. Heres an incomplete list of BIPV firms.

Here are some of the casualties of the BIPV market.

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GAF Energy, part of the world's largest roofer: The time is now for building integrated PV and solar roofs - pv magazine USA

Fresno Roofing Pros strives to be progressive in every aspect of their business including their website. Thats why they have just recently completed several upgrades to that website. The improved website makes it easy for the customers of this roofing company to do such things as find out more information on their wide variety of services and it gives their customers more convenient ways to contact them.

A company spokesperson says this about why they decided to upgrade their website, Just like a good roofing company invests in enhanced training for their workers and top-notch equipment, so too should they make period improvements to their website. Thats exactly the reason why we decided it was time to make some improvements to our website. We felt it was necessary to keep up with the changes that have been made in the company over the last few years and give our customers a better user experience when visiting our website. So far our customers seem to be very happy with the improvements we have made to the website.

According to the company spokesperson, one of the biggest improvements they have made to the website is the detail they go into on the various roofing services that Fresno Roofing Pros offers. An example of that is the web page that describes their roofing installation services. It goes over every step of the process from designing a new roof to actually building it and the guarantee that the new roof comes with after the project is finished.

Another section of the website that the company spokesperson says is vastly improved is their roof repair section. It now better describes how Fresno Roofing Pros does everything from replacing a few shingles that have blown off to finding and resolving major roof leaks. This section also goes over the wide variety of roofing materials that the company supplies and does repairs on. This includes both regular and designer shingles and highly decorative and durable metal roofing panels.

The improved website also has an improved commercial roofing services section. It goes over how the company does everything from commercial roof installations and replacements to repairing storm damage and resolving commercial roof leaks. This webpage also mentions that Fresno Roofing Pros works on both sloped and no-slope commercial roofs.

The spokesperson for this roofing company also says that the upgraded website now puts such important contact information as their phone number in more visible areas of the web pages. Several easy point and click company contact options have been added too. This includes a quote request form and a form that can be used to schedule a free roof inspection with the company. There is even a quick callback form that can now easily be accessed on the Contact Us page of the website.

Fresno Roofing Pros services are also very well received by those that have used them. Here is an example of that in a 5 out of 5-star review from Ari Montez that says, Absolutely Perfect! We needed a new roof and this business did a fantastic job from start to finish. My biggest worry was the mess that would be left behind, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about. They left it spotless! I would recommend them for anybody looking for roofing work. Another happy customer, Jose Montez, had this to say about Fresno Roofing Pros service, Awesome Workers. This is a company that can be trusted. Their workers were constantly busy while repairing our roof. These guys really care and want the best for their customers. They were even happy to help me deal with the insurance company. Very highly recommended!

The roofing company spokesperson says they are always available by phone or email to answer any questions about their Fresno quality roofing services and they also welcome any comments or suggestions regarding the improvements they have made to their website. The spokesperson says this will help them make their website even better the next time they go to upgrade it.

###

For more information about Fresno Roofing Pros, contact the company here:

Fresno Roofing ProsFresno Roofing Prosinfo@tecoconnectors.com1444 F StreetFresno, CA 93706

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Reputable Fresno Roofing Company Announces They Have Significantly Upgraded Their Website - Press Release - Digital Journal

Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market Industry Analysis 2020

The Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market report enlightens its readers about its products, applications, and specifications. The research enlists key companies operating in the market and also highlights the roadmap adopted by the companies to consolidate their position in the market. By extensive usage of SWOT analysis and Porters five force analysis tools, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and combination of key companies are comprehensively deduced and referenced in the report. Every single leading player in this global market is profiled with their related details such as product types, business overview, sales, manufacturing base, applications, and other specifications.

Major Market Players Covered In This Report: Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group, COSASTEEL, Bushbury Cladding, Qingdao Lingshan Steel Structure, Xian Sanmin Building Materials, Wefsun Metal, Proplums, Liaocheng Xinzheng Steel, Tai an Fortune steel, TATA BLUESCOPE STEEL

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Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market has exhibited continuous growth in the recent past and is projected to grow even more throughout the forecast. The analysis presents an exhaustive assessment of the market and comprises Future trends, Current Growth Factors, attentive opinions, facts, historical information, in addition to statistically supported and trade validated market information.

The Global Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market Can Be Segmented As The key product type of Corrugated Roofing Sheets market are: Bite Type, Lap Joint Type, Others

Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market Outlook by Applications: Buildings, Infrastructures, Others

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The Corrugated Roofing Sheets market comprising of well-established international vendors is giving heavy competition to new players in the market as they struggle with technological development, reliability and quality problems the analysis report examines the expansion, market size, key segments, trade share, application, and key drivers.

Key players within the Corrugated Roofing Sheets market are identified through secondary analysis, and their market shares are determined through primary and secondary analysis. The report encloses a basic summary of the trade lifecycle, definitions, classifications, applications, and trade chain structure. Each of these factors can facilitate leading players to perceive the scope of the Market, what unique characteristics it offers and the manner in which it will fulfill a customers need.

By Company Profile, Product Image and Specification, Product Application Analysis, Production Capability, Price Cost, Production Value, Contact Data are included in this research report.

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The Report Answers Following Questions: Over successive few years, which Corrugated Roofing Sheets application segment can perform well?Within which market, the businesses ought to establish a presence?Which product segments are exhibiting growth?What are the market restraints which are likely to impede the growth rate?However, market share changes their values by completely different producing brands?

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The report entails detailed profiling of each company, and information on capacity, production, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, sales volume, sales revenue, consumption, growth rate, import, export, supply, future strategies, and the technological developments, are also included within the scope of the report. In the end, the Corrugated Roofing Sheets Market Report delivers a conclusion which includes Breakdown and Data Triangulation, Consumer Needs/Customer Preference Change, Research Findings, Market Size Estimation, Data Source. These factors are expected to augment the overall business growth.

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2020 Analysis of Corrugated Roofing Sheets Industry In-depth Research with Top Players Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group, COSASTEEL, Bushbury Cladding,...

The report begins with the overview of the Roofing Distribution Market and offers throughout development. It presents a comprehensive analysis of all the regional and major player segments that gives closer insights upon present market conditions and future market opportunities along with drivers, trending segments, consumer behaviour, pricing factors and market performance and estimation. The forecast market information, SWOT analysis, Roofing Distribution market scenario, and feasibility study are the vital aspects analysed in this report.

(Exclusive Offer: Up to 30% discount on this report)

Click the link to get a free Sample Copy of the Report:

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The report presents the market competitive landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market. Top Companies in the Global Roofing Distribution Market: ABC Supply Co., Builders FirstSource, Beacon Roofing Supply, BMC Stock Holdings Inc., Allied Building Products, 84 Lumber, US LBM Holdings Inc., HD Supply White Cap, BlueLinx Corp., SRS Distribution and others.

This report segments the global Roofing Distribution market on the basis of Types are:Small and Medium-sizedLarge-sized

On the basis of Application, the Global Roofing Distribution market is segmented into:ResidentialCommercial

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

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-Comprehensive assessment of all opportunities and risk in the Roofing Distribution market.

-Roofing Distribution market recent innovations and major events.

-Detailed study of business strategies for growth of the Roofing Distribution market-leading players.

-Conclusive study about the growth plot of Roofing Distribution market for forthcoming years.

-In-depth understanding of Roofing Distribution market-particular drivers, constraints and major micro markets.

-Favourable impression inside vital technological and market latest trends striking the Roofing Distribution market.

-Key Strategic Developments: The study also includes the key strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, M&A, agreements, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, and regional growth of the leading competitors operating in the market on a global and regional scale.

-Key Market Features: The report evaluated key market features, including revenue, price, capacity, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import/export, supply/demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin. In addition, the study offers a comprehensive study of the key market dynamics and their latest trends, along with pertinent market segments and sub-segments.

-Analytical Tools: The Global Roofing Distribution Market report includes the accurately studied and assessed data of the key industry players and their scope in the market by means of a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, feasibility study, and investment return analysis have been used to analyze the growth of the key players operating in the market.

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Roofing Distribution Market Competitive Insights and Precise Outlook 2020 - Best Research Reports

The recent performance of Beacon Roofing Supply (NASDAQ:BECN) stock in the market spoke loud and clear to investors as BECN saw more than 515.30K shares in trading volumes in the last trading session, way higher than the average trading volume of 515.30K shares by far recorded in the movement of Beacon Roofing Supply (BECN). At the time the stock opened at the value of $30.28, making it a high for the given period, the value of the stock dropped by -5.56%. After the decrease, BECN touched a low price of $28.91, calling it a day with a closing price of $31.14, which means that the price of BECN went 29.41 below the opening price on the mentioned day.

Given the most recent momentum in the market in the price movement of BECN stock, some strong opinions on the matter of investing in the companys stock started to take shape, which is how analysts are predicting an estimated price of $33.38 for BECN within consensus. The estimated price would demand a set of gains in total of -97359.34%, which goes higher than the most recent closing price, indicating that the stock is in for bullish trends. Other indicators are hinting that the stock could reach an outstanding figure in the market share, which is currently set at 54.58M in the public float and 1.98B US dollars in market capitalization.

When it comes to the technical analysis of BECN stock, there are more than several important indicators on the companys success in the market, one of those being the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI), which can show, just as Stochastic measures, what is going on with the value of the stock beneath the data. This value may also indicate that the stock will go sideways rather than up or down, also indicating that the price could stay where it is for quite some time. When it comes to Stochastic reading, BECN stock are showing 26.62% in results, indicating that the stock is neither overbought or oversold at the moment, providing it with a neutral within Stochastic reading as well. Additionally, BECN with the present state of 200 MA appear to be indicating bearish trends within the movement of the stock in the market. While other metrics within the technical analysis are due to provide an outline into the value of BECN, the general sentiment in the market is inclined toward negative trends.

With the previous 100-day trading volume average of 372166 shares, The Toro Company (TTC) recorded a trading volume of 609340 shares, as the stock started the trading session at the value of $77.50, in the end touching the price of $72.61 after dropping by -6.31%.

The Toro Company (TTC) surprised the market during the previous quarter closure with the last reports recording $0.48, compared to the consensus estimation that went to $0.46. The records showing the total in revenues marked the cap of +35.75%, which means that the revenues decreased by -1.98% since the previous quarterly report.

TTC stock seem to be going ahead the lowest price in the last 52 weeks with the latest change of 12.71%.Then price of TTC also went backward in oppose to its average movements recorded in the previous 20 days. The price volatility of TTC stock during the period of the last months recorded 2.49%, whilst it changed for the week, now showing 5.49% of volatility in the last seven days. The trading distance for this period is set at -8.98% and is presently away from its moving average by -10.06% in the last 50 days. During the period of the last 5 days, TTC stock lost around -2.76% of its value, now recording a dip by -2.65% reaching an average $74.60 in the period of the last 200 days.During the period of the last 12 months, The Toro Company (TTC) dropped by -8.86%.

According to the Barcharts scale, the companys consensus rating was unchanged to 3.00 from 3.00, showing an overall improvement during the course of a single month. Based on the latest results, analysts are suggesting that the target price for TTC stock should be $72.61 per share in the course of the next 12 months. To achieve the target price as suggested by analysts, TTC should have a spike by 0% in oppose to its present value in the market. Additionally, the current price showcases a discount of 6.91% when compared to the high consensus price target predicted by analysts.

TTC shares recorded a trading volume of 741493 shares, compared to the volume of 423.00K shares before the last close, presented as its trading average. With the approaching 5.49% during the last seven days, the volatility of TTC stock remained at 2.49%. During the last trading session, the lost value that TTC stock recorded was set at the price of $72.61, while the lowest value in the last 52 weeks was set at $64.42. The recovery of the stock in the market has notably added 12.71% of gains since its low value, also recording -11.77% in the period of the last 1 month.

Continued here:
Stocks That Are Finally Turning The Corner: Beacon Roofing Supply (BECN), The Toro Company (TTC) - US Post News

Todays kids just dont have the same experiences.

My siblings and I grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania. My sister Jean and I owned the town. We would leave the house in the morning heading we didn't know where until we got there. Sometimes we played in the woods down the street from our house and sometimes we just played in the street. We didn't have a lot of fancy toys but we did have roller skates, the kind you used a key to clamp them on your shoes.

We had two paved streets in our little town with some connecting secondary streets between them that were also paved. They had names but we just called them the upper new street and the lower new street. This was our own personal skating rink and ball court and bicycle path.

There were very few cars during the day, so in spite of our mother's warnings we roller skated them and bicycled them and played ball on them with little interruption.

Our town was located on a hill between larger hills running down to a river. I would start at the top of the upper new street on my scooter, give a push and literally fly down that street to the bottom and turn and continue down to the lower new street without slowing down.

Our mother gave us the same warnings every morning when we left the house. Be careful of cars, stay off people's lawns, don't get too far away that you can't hear me call you in for lunch. I can hear her now, Jeanie, Ninie, lunch time.

We liked to play in the woods and make pretend houses by pulling up brush and making a roof over our heads. We played Bunker Hill on a vacant lot with a perfect hill on it. The big boys had made a little fort of sorts on top of the hill, so when they weren't around we took over, with pretend guns blazing.

My friend Derose and I liked to play house. We would borrow our mothers old dresses and shoes and hats and dress up, put our dollies in our buggies and walk around the yard, pretending to be movie stars. I was Joan Blondel and Dee was Claudette Colbert.

When it rained and didn't thunder and lightening Jean and I loved to put on our bathing suits and play outside in it. The street in front of our house was an unpaved hill. The borough always put ashes on it in the winter time to keep cars from slipping so when we fell in the street we would mark the spot with a small bit of that black ash embedded in our knees.

Daddy was really good at making toys better than the bought ones. We had mason jar ring guns, sling shots and stilts and barrel stave skies. When the front porch swing broke in two, Daddy took the good parts and made Jean and I a swing just big enough for the two of us and hung it from the rafters in the basement for rainy days.

Our house was built on the side of a hill on a lot that Grandpa had deeded to Daddy. The lower side of the house was two stories up with a small kitchen porch with a railing. Our old mamma cat liked to sleep on the railing in the sun. The railing was only about two to three inches wide, so mamma cat occasionally went to sleep and fell off the railing onto the sidewalk below. She would simply dust herself off and climb back up and go back to sleep.

She had kittens almost every spring. We could tell when she had them because she would be so skinny. She always had her kittens away from home so we would go searching for them and bring them home. She sometimes put them in the dog's house and she and our old hound took turns looking after them. It was funny to see that old hound dog washing those tiny kittens.

If you don't remember the WPA back in the 1930s, we were very familiar with them. The alley behind our house had a ditch in it that was usually full of water. The government in its infinite wisdom decided that it should cover the ditch and build the gully up with large quarry stones and build a road on it.

The WPA took it on as a project, so we had workmen in our back yard for several seasons. The men were friendly family men who liked to watch us play in the dirt and on the cherry trees in our yard. They would sometimes ask us for fruit since we had not only cherry trees but peach and plum trees full of fruit.

If I told you all the fun things we did as children this column would become book length. We had a freedom today's children will never know because the world has become such a scary place. The whole wide world was not available to us as it is to today's children on the Internet, but we learned different lessons, lessons of cooperation and hard work.

Yes, we worked hard helping Mom with her spring and fall house cleaning, scrubbing the coal dust grime off the walls and windows and porches of our house. We helped Daddy pluck chickens for Sunday dinner, hung clothes on lines in the yard and pinned lace curtains to the stretchers for Mom's spring and fall cleaning and pulled weeds out of Mom's vegetable garden.

I could fill the whole newspaper with stories about 10-mile bicycle trips to a swimming hole and to neighboring towns to visit relatives. Obese children were very rare then. We can't go back but we can try to preserve some of the good of those years by giving today's children some room to play freely.

Nina Gilfert is a columnist for the Daily Commercial. Email her at ngporch@gmail.com.

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From the Porch Steps: Back in the Day - Daily Commercial

Redlands | $1.199 MillionA four-bedroom Victorian house built in 1900, with one full and two half bathrooms, on a 0.9-acre lot

In the early 1880s, this lot was the home of the First Congregational Church of Redlands, a city in San Bernardino County about 65 miles east of Los Angeles. In 1899, the church building was sold to Harry Gregory, a local businessman who stripped it down to the foundation and rebuilt it as the house that stands today. Wood and finishes from the church were salvaged and used in the construction of the home, one of a number of Victorian-era houses in Redlands.

The property is a 10-minute walk from the University of Redlands, a private liberal arts school with about 5,000 students. Downtown San Bernardino is 15 minutes away by car.

Size: 3,200 square feet

Price per square foot: $375

Indoors: A winding driveway leads from the street to the front entrance of this house, which is surrounded on three sides by a wraparound porch.

Just inside the front door is a vestibule with three large windows that look out onto the front porch. To the right is a formal living room, with a fireplace and another big window.

Beyond the entry is a hallway that leads to a larger family room, with its own fireplace and decorative wainscoting, and a door that connects to the kitchen. A formal dining room with access to the rear porch is connected to the kitchen and the family room. To the left of the kitchen is a sunny office nook with access to a half bathroom.

Hardwood flooring runs throughout the main level, and several of the doors have their original crystal knobs.

From the back of the house, stairs lead to the second level, which has four bedrooms. At the far end of the hallway is a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom that includes a French soaking tub. Two other bedrooms are big enough to hold a queen-size bed, while a third is cozier, with sloped ceilings.

Outdoor space: The propertys grounds are extensive. In front of the house is an wide lawn; the paved driveway continues along the left side of the home and offers as a place to park. The backyard has a patio that is partially paved in brick and partially in concrete. A patch of lawn separates the main patio area from a small fountain. The property is planted with a number of fruit trees, including avocado, persimmon, blood orange, tangerine, nectarine and Meyer lemon.

Taxes: $15,227 (estimated)

Contact: Perrie Mundy, Berkshire Hathaway, 909-809-8644; perriemundy.com

In the postwar San Fernando Valley, William Mellenthin, a designer and contractor, was known for building high-quality ranch houses accented with birdhouses and cupolas, diamond-paned windows and two-sided brick fireplaces, in a style referred to as storybook ranch. This home built by Mr. Mellenthin has retained those details, despite extensive upgrades. It is in a part of the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles known as Hidden Woods, developed by Mr. Mellenthin in the late 1940s; the area includes a number of dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs as a bonus for families with young children.

An entrance to the 101 freeway is a five-minute drive; downtown Los Angeles is about half an hour away. The house is 10 minutes away from the shopping and dining on Ventura Boulevard, and about 25 minutes from Beverly Hills and the Westside of Los Angeles.

Size: 1,978 square feet

Price per square foot: $606

Indoors: The owner did considerable work to modernize the property, including upgrading the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. Most of the windows except for Mr. Mellenthins signature diamond-paned ones have been replaced, and the interior and exterior were recently painted.

Beyond the small entry are two formal spaces: to the right, a living room with one side of the homes double-sided fireplace; to the left, a dining room that is open to the kitchen and family room.

In the kitchen, the owner installed new cabinets, quartz counters and a skylight. An island with additional space for dining divides the kitchen from the family room, where the other half of the double-sided fireplace is set in a wall of white-painted brick. Sliding-glass doors lead from this space into the backyard.

Beyond the family room is the renovated master suite, where the owner added a walk-in closet and reconfigured the en suite bathroom. The master bedroom has its own access to the backyard through sliding-glass doors, and the master bathroom has a large walk-in shower lined with slate tile.

A hallway along the right side of the house connects the living room to two guest rooms, one of which overlooks the street and is large enough for a king-size bed. These bedrooms share a bathroom with a combination bathtub and shower.

Outdoor space: A paved patio outside the family room is large enough for a barbecue; the grassy backyard beyond has several original trees. A detached garage holds two cars and could be converted into additional living space.

Taxes: $15,228 (estimated)

Contact: Claudia Flores, Keller Williams Beverly Hills, 424-334-9291; claudiafloresproperties.com

Bankers Hill, a San Diego neighborhood named for the professionals who called it home during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is a mix of Victorian houses many converted into hotel or commercial spaces and new construction like this townhouse.

The home is a five-minute walk from the west side of Balboa Park, the citys main green space and the site of cultural institutions like the San Diego Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum. San Diego International Airport is a 10-minute drive; the campuses of the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University are about 20 minutes away by car.

Size: 1,700 square feet

Price per square foot: $697

Indoors: From the street, a short flight of stairs leads to the main living floor, which is laid out in an open-plan style.

Just inside the front door is a seating area that faces floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors out to a small balcony. Gray-tiled floors extend to the dining area, which flows into an open kitchen. An island with quartz counters provides an additional work space in the kitchen and another seating area. Stainless steel Bosch appliances and custom-designed cabinets line the far wall.

To the right of the great room is a set of stairs up to the master-suite level. On one wall of the master bedroom, floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide open to a private balcony. The large master bathroom includes a double vanity, a glass-walled walk-in shower and a free-standing soaking tub.

A garage on the ground level offers direct entry to the home. A guest room and a full bathroom are also on this level.

Outdoor space: Both the main level and the master-suite level have balconies with room for seating. A 500-square-foot roof deck is carpeted in artificial grass and looks toward the downtown San Diego skyline. The attached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $12,443 (estimated), plus a $203 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Janet Douglas, Windermere Homes & Estates, 619-540-5891; windermere.com

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$1.2 Million Homes in California - The New York Times

When news that the first deaths in America from the novel coronavirus came among a cluster of people living in a retirement village in Washington state, it should have come as no surprise.

Contrary to President Donald Trumps suggestion that if you get sick, you should just stay home and hang around the house until you get better, that was not an option for those unfortunate souls. "Home" is where they contracted the deadly virus.

What if you could remodel your home and stay out of group living? Its not as hard or as expensive as one might think, and Santa Fe remodelers know how to do it.

The spectrum of remodeling options for whats called "aging in place" is wide. They run from the simple and obvious to the complex and costly, but all make sense. They also dont need to be done all at the same time but can be phased in over the years.

With the average cost of high-quality assisted living at $80,000 a year, compared to in-home health and day care at half the cost, remodeling your home can save money in the long run.

Start with simple stuff. Strength in our hands weakens as we age, so change doorknobs to levers. Same with kitchen and bath faucets. Short handles that open casement windows can be switched to longer ones for more leverage. Switching to LED lightbulbs, with super-long lives, saves energy and keeps the ladder in the garage.

The next thing to go is our equilibrium and depth perception. A simple fall can break bones. Eliminate elevation changes, even as short at 4 inches, like from a portal to a sidewalk. As our stride shortens and shuffling begins, get rid of rugs and carpets in favor of smooth, level surfaces. Indoor air quality also is improved; smooth floors are easier to keep clean.

Analyze furniture arrangements to make sure solid, stable pieces along traffic patterns are within reach. Installing handrails down long hallways can be done in an afternoon. If we do fall and break a hip, we might need a wheelchair or walker, which means doors to bedrooms and bathrooms may need to be widened. Standard bedroom doors are 30 inches wide, but 36 inches is the optimal width.

There are also not-so-simple fixes, but remodeling professionals are up for the task.

If a wheelchair becomes a permanent reality, remodeling kitchens and baths will be necessary. Being able to drive under a bath vanity, kitchen sink or stovetop can be accomplished. Moving plugs and switches from backs of countertops to sides of cabinets can be done. Installing higher toilets surrounded by grab bars, changing tubs to drive in showers with grab bars and making sure turning radiuses are wide enough to maneuver are still cost-effective changes.

If it comes to the point where constant care is required, changing an area of the home to an efficiency apartment for live-in caregivers might still be cheaper than moving into an assisted living facility.

If our homes are big enough, and many Santa Fe homes are, we can even carve out enough space for a completely remodeled two-bedroom accessory dwelling unit designed for maximum accessibility. To pay for the remodeling project, the balance of the home can be rented to a young family struggling to find an affordable home.

Moving into assisted living is never an easy decision for an individual or their families. The physical nature of ones existing home and its accessibility should not be the driving factor in that decision. When viruses spread and our doctors advise us to stay home and get well, its nice to have our own homes to go back to.

Kim Shanahan is a longtime Santa Fe builder and former executive officer of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.

Link:
There's an alternative to assisted living | Real Estate - Santa Fe New Mexican

Dr. Dudley Chitty would like to say that she and her husband, Greg, are fancy people who have friends over to sit and talk in the very elegant living room of their West University Place home.

Instead, the room is reserved for something far more appropriate: Its where the couple relax as their twin daughters Hannah and Hunter practice piano.

I just love that room. Its so unique, with its 20-foot ceilings, Greg said. Im a music geek, and the girls enjoy playing, so its cool to sit in there to listen to them.

Hes an investment banker in the energy industry, and Dudley is an anesthesiologist taking a break for her important role as mom, so they certainly sound like they could be those fancy people. But Greg is just a laid-back guy from Lake Charles, La., and Dudley is a Conroe native who dived head first into her down-to-earth role as Mommy Uber, driving their daughters to soccer, volleyball, gymnastics and piano lessons.

Every morning the Chittys eat breakfast together, then Dudley and Greg walk the 11-year-old twins to school five blocks away. Unless theyre at sports practices, theyre in their kitchen having dinner together at the end of the day.

They were living in a different home a few blocks away in 2017, contemplating a massive update that would require them to move out for yearlong remodeling.

It seemed simpler to find a new home, but they didnt want to move away from their neighborhood school. Their current 6,300-square-foot home was more than they really needed, and it required similar dramatic changes. But being able to stay in their original home while a new one underwent remodeling sounded like an ideal option, especially since it was close by.

Built in 2001, its oak floors had a reddish stain, and wood-grain cabinets dominated the kitchen and space around two fireplaces. All of the homes seven bathrooms needed updates, and so did the backyard patio and pool. In the end, the house was nearly a full gut job.

An architect redesigned a new kitchen space that opened up a wide expanse for a family room, kitchen and breakfast table. And the couple hired Scott Frasier of Frasier Homes as their contractor and Beth Lindseyof Beth Lindsey Interior Design to help choose finishes and fill the home with new furniture.

We liked the bones of this house even though we knew it needed a ton of work. It was on the market for two years, Greg said. I thought it was cool to have a project to do. It was really kind of fun for me Beth did all the work.

They moved in March 2018 after a year of work, and the home is now a picture of elegance. But Lindsey made sure that its also comfortable and functional.

We live in this house, Dudley said, noting that their dog, Bailey, jumps on furniture and the girls often bring friends over. We have a dog, and we have kids but we can have a beautiful home and still live here.

The formal living room at the front had a beautiful chandelier and ornate crown moulding that framed the partially vaulted ceiling. That stayed, but plantation-style shutters that darkened the room were removed, and Lindsey reimagined the fireplace surround, replacing drab brown granite with smooth cast stone. White and soft-blue furniture in classic styles make it an elegant setting, but Lindseyupholstered everything in durable performance fabrics.

A doorway that used to lead to a wood-paneled study has been turned into a bar and wine room for Greg, who collects wine. A pair of wine refrigerators, cabinets and bins for bottles of wine were designed to fit around a painting by Todd White the Texas native who helped create the SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon series showing a sophisticated group of people enjoying adult beverages.

The back of the home was transformed from a blocky series of spaces with partial walls and pass-throughs to a sleek area that flows all the way through, still providing plenty of counter- and workspace. The beige speckled granite and backsplash got a major update with marble counters, white subway tile and Walker Zangers Jet Set tile using marble in a soft geometric pattern.

A pair of blue tufted sofas and two armchairs in a pretty blue print are nestled around a thick wood coffee table in the family room, where a couple of paintings tell the story of how Dudley, 45, and Greg, 50, met, fell in love and wed nearly 20 years ago.

They both had been dragged to a mutual friends birthday party in a Houston bar. They were the only people there who werent law students, so instead of talking about tort reform, they talked about the virtues of French Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine.

A serious couple from their first date, they fell in love on a weekend trip to New Orleans. A painting of Pirates Alley in the French Quarter captures that moment, and a second painting of Galatoires Restaurant shows where they held their rehearsal dinner.

Celerie Kemble stylized stripe wallpaper creates a stylish backdrop in a powder bathroom that before had little personality. Other bathrooms got updates, too, including the master, which had a major makeover in Carrara marble with a big new shower.

An upstairs media room set up for watching movies was a strange contrast to the rest of the home with black carpet, a black ceiling, deep-red walls and heavy, red-fringed draperies. The Chittys didnt want or need anything like that, so they scaled it back with new carpet that looks like spotted deer hide and more neutral colors. Instead of oversized recliners, a ping-pong table sits in the center of the room.

Though Dudley is still deciding what she wants to do in the master bedroom, the last room finished was the dining room completed in time for Gregs 50th birthday party. Like most dining rooms, it doesnt get used frequently. They host dinner parties and holiday meals around their custom-made round dining table, which holds a cluster of tall glass candlesticks.

The rooms custom draperies, complete with lovely tape trim on the leading edge, serve as an example of the beautiful custom window treatments throughout the home. Neighbors who saw the home in its earlier state can see into the breakfast area, now that plantation-style shutters no longer block the view.

diane.cowen@chron.com

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Remodeling would take too long. So this West U family got creative. - Houston Chronicle