Branchburg, NJ (PRWEB) March 14, 2014

Winters and summers have been so drastic, homes have been taking a beating with the extreme heat in the summer months and the drastic snowfall and extreme cold temperatures in the winter months. Somerville Aluminum, the areas largest full-service home remodeling and design contractor, has been fielding calls all season long from weary homeowners looking for ways to protect their homes from the harsh conditions.

Gropper indicates the number one concern this winter has been the excessive snow loads on roofs. Homeowners are concerned their roofs cannot withstand the extra weight. For their safety, he encourages the public to call a licensed and insured professional to remove ice and snow. Warning signs of roof problems include sudden roof leaks, cracks in interior walls and ceilings, noticeable sagging and even unusual sounds coming from the attic area. Check doors on the second floor bedrooms and closets in the center of the home for visible cracks in the drywall or plaster around the doorframes. These are all indications of excessive weight on the center structure of the house.

If you must remove the snow yourself, use an extendable snow rake to remove snow in narrow strips to prevent a large load of snow coming down on top of you. Never climb on the roof. Remove gutters to prevent damage or even collapse.

Freezing conditions cause ice damning, which causes water to seep into a home unable to drain through frozen gutters. As the ice thaws and freezes, ice grows on top of melting ice creating a build up with no where to go except through the roof. Gropper recommends installing Ice & Water Shield- a rubber membrane that provides an additional layer of waterproofing under shingles, which helps to prevent water infiltration and damage.

Many homeowners are also concerned with their homes feeling cold on the inside and the need to compensate by turning up their thermostats. When the weather gets this cold, siding gets cold and all components of a house gets cold. Gropper offers a few remedies for drafty homes, including vinyl siding. Todays vinyl siding offers contoured, high-performance foam insulation that fills the cavity of the siding. This new foam technology stops the thermal transfer of cold (and heat during the summer months) to the inside of the home. He also recommends replacing exterior doors with ENERGY STAR rated doors, with the latest technologies including polyurethane core filled slabs and fiberglass exterior doors that look like real wood.

Lastly, Gropper offers suggestions to minimize damage to decks. Although code requires decks to withstand a certain weight load, we have endured more snow volume this past year than ever before. Do not use salt or de-icer as it can damage the appearance. If you must shovel your deck, use a plastic shovel to avoid scratching. If you have a wood deck, you will notice rotting, chipping, warping and cracking when the snow thaws. Consider replacing your deck this spring with composite decking. Todays composite decking has the same aesthetic look as wood, however withstands the harsh temperatures and snow loads significantly better. Once you are ready to enjoy the outdoors again, simply clean a composite deck with soap and water. Be sure to do your research when choosing decking material or seek the help of a professional.

About Somerville Aluminum Go with the Pro: Located in Branchburg, NJ, Somerville Aluminum is the areas largest full service home remodeling company and has built a solid reputation for reliability, expertise and trust with core family values running through three generations of service to homeowners throughout New Jersey.

For more information, please visit their showroom at 20 County Line Road in Branchburg, visit http://www.somervillealuminum.com or call (800) 725-8401.

Contact: Jodi Mayo Alessandri MG Media, LLC 856 US Hwy 206, Suite B11 Hillsborough, NJ 08844 (908) 874-9200 x111

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Somerville Aluminum Offer Winter Recovery Tips for Your Home

LARKSPUR, Calif. -- A historic Larkspur restaurant was damaged in a two-alarm fire early Saturday morning, fire officials said.

A fire engine crew was returning from a medical call around 2:50 a.m. when crewmembers spotted smoke and found a fire burning at the Tavern at Lark Creek restaurant at 234 Magnolia Ave., according to Larkspur fire Chief Bob Sinnott.

Crews saw heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the Victorian building, according to Sinnott.

Firefighters were able to control the fire in about 90 minutes after the blaze burned portions of the building's roof, eaves and attic areas, the chief said. The restaurant's dining and kitchen areas sustained significant smoke, heat and water damage, Sinnott said.

The chief said the fire appears to have started near an oven flue exhaust pipe in an area of the building's roof. However, the exact cause of the fire is under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

Damage estimates were not available but Sinnott said the building remains structurally stable and should be ready for repairs and remodeling soon.

The chief credited the firefighters who spotted the blaze for their quick action in locating and attacking the blaze.

"Because few people are awake at this hour, this most likely prevented a delay in receiving a report of the fire and subsequently further damage to the building," he said.

The Tavern at Lark Creek was built in the late 19th Century and served for decades as a home before it was converted into a restaurant in the 1970s, the fire chief said.

Originally posted here:
Two-alarm fire damages historic restaurant in Larkspur

Q. I have a two-story home in the Pittsburgh area that was built in 1998. In 2012, we had a new roof installed after a severe hailstorm. In December 2012, when I went into the attic to get my Christmas decorations, I noticed the entire roof on one side was damp, black and covered with mold.

I had the contractor who built the home and replaced the roof take a look at it. He acknowledged there was a humidity problem and said he believed there was too much insulation in the eaves and it should be lifted up with baffles and some removed as well. I also complained (which I had done before) that the bathroom exhaust fans should have never been vented into the attic. He told me they would correct it, vent them outside and spray the mold.

He wanted to install two power vent fans in the roof, but the entire roof has a ridge vent and a vented opening on each side of the house. I did some research myself and told him I felt there should be soffit vents for the ridge vent to work properly and that power fans usually do not work with ridge vents, so I was totally against them.

I suggested raising the insulation from the eaves and removing some, and adding soffit vents for the ridge vent to properly work. The response was: I think that may fix it. He also said he didnt believe the bathroom fans were the problem, but I maintain they are.

I have not yet been able to get them back to correct the issues, even though I was assured it would be corrected prior to this winter.

We had a freeze/thaw last week and obviously my attic was extremely damp and wet and smelled from moisture. The last two days we were 7 to 8 degrees below zero. I had a major ice buildup on the roofing nails, underside of the roof and attic walls. It is now thawing and water is dripping into a bedroom, into the attic and through the siding outside on the second floor of the home.

This has been going on since December 2012. In September 2013, the contractor told me it would be fixed before it got cold, but I am still waiting. I am to the point where I want someone else to fix the problem.

I have contacted my insurance company today and am waiting for the claims adjuster to call me, and I may sue the contractor as well.

Any suggestions on how to correct this before I am replacing the entire top of my house? Any suggestions on finding someone in my area who is an expert on attic humidity and really knows how to fix it? Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

A. There should not be any insulation in cold eaves; it can get soaking wet if ice dams form and water leaks inside the soffits, and if there are soffit vents, the insulation blocks them. The insulation should be removed and there should be full-width baffles in each rafter bay to keep an open-air space between the soffit vents and the ridge vent. There should be full-length soffit vents and no gable vents or power vents. Air circulation between soffit and ridge vents occurs naturally by thermodynamics.

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Ice, mold and a lazy contractor cause some major problems

2 dead in NYC building explosion, 24 injured 2 dead in NYC building explosion, 24 injured

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:57 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:57:03 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:39 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:39:25 GMT

Updated: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:33 PM EDT2014-03-12 20:33:40 GMT

Fire has destroyed an over 100-year-old home in Limestone County.

Piney Chapel and Owens volunteer firefighters responded to the call just before 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The house was located on Cross Key Road just west of Piney Chapel Road.

Upon arrival, firefighters said the house was fully involved. The owner of the home lives next door. He said he was remodeling the home, which is vacant, and was working in the home's attic a few hours before the fire.

The house is over 100 years old, but the fire was so large, firefighters could not save it, instead working just to contain the flames.

No one was hurt, but the home is a total loss.

Owens and Piney Chapel firefighters had to return to the scene later that morning after the fire rekindled.

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Fire destroys 100-year-old Limestone Co. home

Fire at home on Olive Avenue None

Redding firefighters quickly put out a fire today that started in a wall before spreading to the attic at a home in the 1100 block of Olive Avenue in downtown Redding.

The fire was reported around 11 a.m. when the resident, Joe Baker, returned home for lunch and saw smoke coming out of the attic vents. Baker dashed in, rescued his two dogs and ran back out of the house.

I got home, I got both of them out," Baker said. "The house was full of smoke."

There were no injuries, contrary to original reports.

Firefighters spent hours mopping up the fire at 1174 Olive Avenue.

Redding fire investigator Craig Wittner believes the fire was sparked by the home's electric system in a wall by the front door.

Baker said he saw flames shooting out of a wall socket when he went inside to recuse his dogs.

The fire smoldered inside the wall before moving into the attic, Wittner said.

"He's lucky," Wittner said of Baker. "He came home for lunch and saw the smoke. Had he not come home who knows how much longer that wall would've burned unchecked."

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UPDATE: Firefighters battle fire on Olive Avenue in Redding

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) February 26, 2014

Arcbazar announces a creative web resource to redesign and transform attics in additional living spaces.

Attics are often favorite but neglected home spaces. They are simultaneously charming and trendy and are full of hidden potential. However, vaulted layouts can be daunting to remodel and decorate. Making the best of these additional home spaces by creating extra bedrooms or bathrooms, cosy living areas, offices and studios, or maximizing storage areas is a top challenge that requires a clever design. Many homeowners need help to recreate and personalize this great space canvas. Arcbazar comes to the rescue with an innovative crowdsourcing approach that let homeowners connect with architects around the globe for out-of-the box creative design.

Arcbazar runs international architectural and interior design competitions. Each project is launched online and designers worldwide compete and submit solutions for the new space. Clients can then choose the solution they like most based on their initial evaluation criteria. We want to bring high-end design to everyday small-scale home remodeling projects. We want our clients to be able to create their dream spaces in an easy, affordable and fun way," says Imdat As, founder of Arcbazar.com. Hundreds of clients around the globe have already used Arcbazar for successful home remodeling, landscape and interior design projects. We have helped clients build great kitchens, bathrooms, living space, basements, or outside patios, balconies and landscapes.

Paul L., from Saint Paul, MI, had a colonial three-story house with an ample attic and needed help with creating a beautiful master suite while maximizing the space. "The space is very challenging as the ceiling is vaulted. Our house is tradition to the era. We would like the master suite to have this same sort of personality." Paul run a design competition on Arcbazar and received seven proposals, ultimately opting for a design from MG Architect Studio in Italy. James T., from Wauwatosa, WI, had a similar project and wanted to transform his Victorian attic space into a master bedroom and create a quite library space. James received ten creative entries, with the first award going to Hyde Park Interiors, a design firm based in Chicago. Michelle B., from Cleveland, OH, also had a great experience. The homeowner had a small attic that she wanted to convert into an office that could double as a live-in area for guests. Michelles competition received nineteen great entries with the winning proposal coming from Lawrence Martin, a designer from Colorado. Arcbazar also introduced a new estimator tool for its clients to give them an instant quote for their remodeling projects.

About Arcbazar Arcbazar.com, Inc. is the first-of-its-kind online crowdsourcing platform for architectural design projects. The company connects clients with designers worldwide, and allows clients to run competitions for their remodeling, home, commercial and interior design projects.

To learn more and see all these great projects, visit http://www.arcbazar.com.

Original post:
Attic Remodeling: Recreating Charming and Functional Spaces with Online Design

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) As the temperatures move above freezing and what once fell as snow now comes as rain, our next challenge could be safely getting rid of all that water.

If you're a homeowner, the winter trouble for your roof starts with uneven temperatures.

"Heat released from that attic insulation will warm the shingles along with the sun," said Kevin Wharton, a remodeling specialist with Paul Davis Restorations of Louisville. "That causes that snow or ice to melt and start to run down the shingles. The water literally has nowhere to go."

As the water refreezes when it reaches your eaves and gutters ice dams are formed. The dams push the melting snow back under your shingles and into your walls.

"Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot you can do for it once you have it," Wharton said.

Northern states have companies that dissolve the ice dams with steam heat, but those companies don't exist here. Other suppliers will wire your gutters and downspouts with heating cables, but they aren't found often here in the Mid South. One thing is certain - getting rid of ice dams is no project for the do-it-yourselfer.

"You'll do more damage to your roof if you try to chip it out of the shingles," said. Wharton. "And gutters; you've got hundreds of pounds of ice. There's no way I can take that gutter down without destroying it."

Instead, Wharton preaches proactive steps, like laying down an ice and water shield.

"It's a rubberized membrane that comes in sheets," Wharton said. "A second barrier that will shed the water on down the roof and into the gutter system and it won't leak into the house."

Such barriers will add at least $1,500 to the price of a replacement roof, but Wharton pointed out that is nearly the same amount as your home insurance deductible and he said prevention's cheaper than repair.

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Rising temperatures, melting snow brings new set of problems

Published: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, 6:03p.m. Updated 4 hours ago

Snow can be a bigger problem when it stays up than when it comes down.

Snow that stays on the roof can find ways to exploit flaws in flashing or seams in shingles, and it can build up enough that it creeps up from jammed gutters far enough to start dripping to the inside floors below.

Roof problems can emerge at a time when it is tough to do anything about them. Stop-gap repairs are possible, but the true solution to the problem might be months away.

Al Lambert of 3 Rivers Roofing in Washington County said he received 2,700 phone calls in the month after the 24-inch snow of 2010.

He eventually reached the point where he would address only emergencies.

Jeff Moeslein of Dormont's Legacy Remodeling said winter is a very difficult time. There are things we can do now, but you almost have to wait for spring.

Lambert and some of his crew recently were assessing a problem in an attic, but he said repairs likely will have to wait until the snow melts.

Tom Bollnow, senior director of technical services at the Illinois-based National Roofing Contractors Association, said the first thing he advises anyone with a roof problem is to stay on the ground.

It is tough for a professional to go up there, but it really is something for the homeowner to avoid, he said.

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Snow can exploit weaknesses in roofs, gutters

Celebrity designer Jennifer Bertrand (Courtesy photo)

If your resolution is to work on your home, then you are sure to get some ideas at the El Paso Spring Home Show, which kicks off today and continues through Sunday at the El Paso convention center.

The show, put on by R. J. Promotions, will feature more than 100 home-related businesses, prize giveaways, free antique appraisals and presentations by HGTV Design Star season 3 winner Jennifer Bertrand.

"This is our seventh year and we always do it at the end of January. It gets a jump start toward the spring and people thinking about what they want to do or change in their homes," said Kevin Linville, director of sales.

Linville said attendees should get ideas on home projects from a variety of vendors including kitchen and bath remodeling, windows and doors, landscaping and garage additions.

"They can get innovative ideas for the inside and outside of the home," he said.

Michael Amosson with Viking Productions will offer free antique appraisals all weekend. People are welcome to bring their attic treasures and find out how much their items are worth. Amosson has years of experience appraising items that range from childhood toys and autographed memorabilia to vintage items and glassware.

"He's a legitimate appraiser and will be buying and selling as well," Linville said.

Bertrand said she has been busy with real life and traveling around the country doing seminars since she won the HGTV network design competition in 2008. She found out she was pregnant two days before she won.

Her son was born with two rare malformations and Bertrand and her husband are constantly flying to New York for his medical care. But she still manages to make it work, currently working on a new Ronald McDonald house in Kansas City, where she lives, and doing presentations. She also is a spokesperson for the International Design Guild, a flooring company.

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El Paso Spring Home Show to host HGTV star

Maybe your roof gave you trouble in the big storms of November and December. Maybe you even had someone out to patch a leak. But how can you know when your roof is totally shot and has to be replaced?

The No. 1 sign is multiple leaks in your home, whether those leaks are all at once in a major storm or one right after the other in different areas of your home. Secondly, ask yourself how old your current roof is, and third, find out what kind of roofing you have.

That may sound basic and simple, but many people buy homes particularly newcomers to Arizona without thinking much about whats overhead or how and when it got there.

They usually find out a little from a building inspection, but then they want the seller to quickly fix any problems before escrow closes.

Probably the renovated kitchen, curb appeal and location were mainly why they picked the house.

But that roof can become a real issue once a homeowner finds out that total replacement can approach $10,000 or even more, depending on the square footage of the roof, materials, removal of the old roofing, and repairs or replacement of the underlayment.

Several types of roofing are most frequently used on Arizona homes, and some choices last longer than the others.

Generally, most people reroof with the same materials already up there, often because theyre in an HOA where they have to do that.

Here are some common examples of roofing:

--Built-up roofs are less costly and have sheets of roofing membrane with sealing done on seams and vents and around pipes sticking out of the roof. Roofers put down layers of rolled asphalt with hot tar between layers and more tar used to make the layers stick to the deck underneath.

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Rosie on the House: Consider these points when fiddling with roof