A new dry cleaner is setting up shop in a vacant Westwood building on Broadway.

An application for the dry cleaner to move into the single-story building, formerly an auto supply shop, was approved by the Westwood Zoning Board on Dec. 2.

The project site is situated at 711 Broadway, on the east side of the street between Lake and Harold streets. According to documents filed in borough hall by the applicant, this area is in close proximity to the Pascack Brook and has a history of flooding incidents.

The building will be renovated in accordance with officials' goal to revitalize this area of the municipality. "The Master Plan discusses revitalization for this part of town..." noted Zoning Board Chairman William Martin. "We take that into consideration when we review applications for this area."

The project proposed a variance for insufficient parking, among others, but with the plot of land already zoned for retail, the dry cleaners did not require a use variance.

The project will include the installation of plate glass windows and the existing horizontal siding will be removed and stucco will be added as an exterior finish. The applicant is also addressing handicap accessibility issues.

First proposed nearly a year ago, with two uses, a dry cleaner and nail salon, the tenant with hopes of opening the salon dropped from the application after realizing there would not be enough parking spaces for even the salon's employees.

Email: spear@northjersey.com

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Westwood Zoning Board approves application for a dry cleaner

home section Interior Design Housekeeping Entertaining Home Improvement Gardening & Plants Landscaping eHow Home & Garden Home Repair & Maintenance Exterior Home Repair Tips for Cement Board Siding Installation

Michael Logan

Michael Logan is a writer, editor and web page designer. His professional background includes electrical, computer and test engineering, real estate investment, network engineering and management, programming and remodeling company owner. Logan has been writing professionally since he was first published in "Test & Measurement World" in 1989.

The introduction of fiber cement board siding brought a new, durable and long lasting siding product to market. Fiber cement board siding has a 30- to 50-year warranty if properly installed. Some products require painting, others do not. The installation techniques are similar to, but not the same as, those for regular wood lap siding products. In addition, each manufacturer has its own set of instructions for installation.

Enclose the house entirely in a building code approved house wrap that is impermeable to moisture. Snap chalk lines around the house to show the bottom of the first course on each side.

The siding must be nailed to the building's wall studs. Snap chalk lines marking the center of each stud, rather than trying to find them by measuring later.

Install the trim pieces around windows and doors, at the corners and along the eaves. Check the manufacturer's instruction sheet for the type and size fastener to use, as well as the method for seating the nails.

The preferred method is scoring with a carbide scoring knife and snapping the siding along the score line. Measure, mark and use a square to guide the scoring knife. Position the score line at the edge of the cutting table and snap the plank at the score line.

For some cuts, using a circular saw cannot be avoided, as when ripping a plank to fit. Use only a blade supplied by the manufacturer and in a saw with a vacuum and HEPA filter attached. Never cut cement board indoors with a saw. Always wear a dust mask and safety glasses, and position your cutting station downwind of other workers.

Manual, electric or pneumatic shears may also be used and are preferred over using a circular saw. This method generates fewer hazardous dust particles than cutting with a saw.

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Tips for Cement Board Siding Installation | eHow

Mediation on siding lawsuit fails to bear fruit, attorney says

Burlingame homeowners are preparing to take a construction defect lawsuit to trial, after the parties failed to come to terms through a mediation process.

Thats according to Front Range attorney Chris Rhody, who is representing the Burlingame Ranch Phase I Condominium Association, which filed the lawsuit in Pitkin County District Court in April 2012.

The suit alleges that siding and trim on the exterior of the multi-family buildings was improperly manufactured and installed when the 84-unit affordable housing project was built seven years ago. Homeowners fear that faulty materials and installation of the siding could result in long-term problems to their condos.

The suit names as defendants Shaw Construction, the general contractor; Certainteed Corp., the siding manufacturer; the city of Aspen, which backed the project financially and oversaw its completion; and the Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority, which manages the sale of the units.

After a mediation session held in Denver in May, it was agreed that the homeowners should come up with an estimate for what the repairs would cost, Rhody said. They spent the following months getting input from forensic engineers on the extent of the problem, and then took that information to contractors, who provided bids on the repair work, he said. The homeowners selected a bid and presented Shaw with a settlement demand in early November, including legal costs and fees for experts who worked on the project. The company responded with a counteroffer the homeowners deemed too low, Rhody said.

I can tell you it was a big difference, Rhody said, of the disparity between the HOAs settlement demand and Shaws counteroffer. He would not discuss the specific numbers being debated.

Shaw had made a similar offer right around the time the lawsuit was filed, Rhody said.

An attorney representing Shaw, as well as a project manager for the company, declined comment.

Rhody said the homeowners are now going through the legal process to move toward a trial. The first priority is to have a trial date set, and then begin the discovery phase. He wouldnt speculate when a trial date might be set.

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Burlingame lawsuit likely headed to trial

Ah, home ownership. Theres nothing like it.

Its the American dream; the pursuit of happiness.

Its you, your family, and the front door that doesnt latch, no matter how hard you tug at it, as though youre taking a resistant mule out for a stroll in the rain.

Or maybe its the kitchen faucet that steadily, rhythmically, relentlessly goes drip-drip-drip in the midst of a nights slumber.

Or it could be the sagging boards in the center of the quaint front porch that, sure as there are the sun and taxes and political advertising, are going to cave when your portly uncle Harold makes his next dreaded visit.

Yes, as the needlepoint sign over the hearth says, Theres no place like home. But a subtext should also be the popular phrase from Saturday Night Lives Rosanne Roseannadanna, Its always something.

Be it one story or three, cottage or castle, there is the matter of keeping up with a houses upkeep.

The chore to tighten, to smooth, to fix, to nail, to replace, repair and even remodel the residence has largely been left to the man of the house. Traditional? Yes. Gender stereotype? Absolutely.

But not all men and women possess a carpenters acumen, or a plumbers patience, or an electricians guile.

However, what many have is the pride and self-assurance that they can fix any problem within the domain.

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Before you try to fix it, consult the pros

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 11, 2013

On Saturday, January 25, 2014 employees and clients of Bardi Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, an Atlanta furnace and air conditioning service company, will volunteer for the annual Habitat for Humanity build sponsored by radio host and TV consumer expert Clark Howard in Atlanta. The upcoming build begins on January 23, 2014 and will wrap up on March 1, 2014.

On January 25, the third day of the build, Bardi employees will assist with shingling the roof, insulating walls and ceilings in the new home, caulking and continuing siding installation.

Our staff is looking forward to volunteering again this year, said Alex Bardi, owner of Bardi Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We participated in Clark Howards annual build last year and it was a wonderful, positive experience. This is a great opportunity to give back and help our community flourish and build relationships between our staff and our clients.

Clark Howard is an Atlanta-based radio and TV consumer expert. His daily radio show is syndicated and airs on over 200 radio stations throughout North America. He is also a consumer reporter for WSB-TV and is an HLN network contributor. Beginning in 1996, Clark Howard has sponsored over 40 homes annually in Atlanta.

The Atlanta chapter of Habitat for Humanity formed in 1983 and is one of 1,500 affiliates in the United States; it has since become one of the largest US affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International. Focusing in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity has constructed nearly 1,300 homes servicing 5,000 family members. House sponsors like Clark Howard provide financial and volunteer support to help cover construction costs, saving $35,000-$40,000 per house.

Bardi Heating, Cooling and Plumbing is a family-owned HVAC and plumbing company in Atlanta. Founded in 1989 by Alex and Susan Bardi, the company has been providing the Atlanta area with quality HVAC services for almost 25 years. Bardi also offers plumbing repairs and services, and is home to an experienced management team as well as an outstanding team of NATE certified technicians, whose number one priority is to keep their customers satisfied by always, always, always doing the right thing. For more information about the contest, visit http://bardi.com.

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Atlanta Furnace Service Participating in Annual Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Build in January 2014

Information on where you can download instructions for installing vinyl siding for FREE.

The list below is from the Vinyl Siding Institute at http://www.vinylsiding.org and also be sure to check out their FAQs page. Below is a downloadable installation manual on how to install vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding the exterior cladding of choice for remodelers, builders and homeowners is attractive, durable, easy to maintain and cost-effective. And because proper vinyl siding installation is the best way to ensure vinyl siding lives up to its reputation for quality, the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) has created a number of award-winning installation training resources to educate contractors, their employees, students and customers about proper vinyl siding installation techniques.

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual - Just Revised! This newly updated 40-page illustrated manual is a vital tool for the construction industry, and contains the most recent techniques and practices. Readers will appreciate this simple step-by-step approach to installation.

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual (Spanish) - Expanded! Updated and expanded, this Spanish-language 45-page illustrated manual is a vital tool for the construction industry, and contains the most recent techniques and practices. Readers will appreciate this simple step-by-step approach to installation.

Installing Vinyl Siding: A How-To Video - Just Revised! This 20-minute video, complete with the latest techniques, explains the basics of vinyl siding installation including demonstrations of how to measure, cut, and fasten siding and accessories; how to install siding around windows and gables; and how to use the portable field brake. ($20.00 if ordered from http://www.vinylsiding.org)

Installing Vinyl Siding: A How-To Video (Spanish) - New! This Spanish-language version of our "How-To Video" explains the basics of vinyl siding installation including demonstrations of how to measure, cut, and fasten siding and accessories; how to install siding around windows and gables; and how to use the portable field brake. ($20.00 if ordered from http://www.vinylsiding.org)

Installing Vinyl Siding - Downloadable Installation Manual

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Installing Vinyl Siding- Instructions for installing vinyl ...

This 40-page illustrated manual is a vital tool for the construction industry, and contains the most recent techniques and practices. Readers will appreciate this simple step-by-step approach to installation of vinyl siding and soffit. The manual also provides repair, cleaning, maintenance and historic restoration tips.

Download Installation Manual (English) Updated December 2011! Download Installation Manual (Spanish)

For materials specifically related to the VSI Certified Installer Program, please visit the VSI Certified Installer Program webpage.

Additionally, the basics of vinyl siding installation have beencondensed into a one-page, double-sided fact sheet.The fact sheetcan belaminated for use as an on-site reference. DownloadVinyl Siding Installation Fact Sheet

VSI is also pleased toofferthe Installing Vinyl Siding video. The 35-minute production, available in DVD and VHS formats, features step-by-step instructions for properly installing vinyl siding, soffit, accessories, and more.Certified Trainers will use the DVD in the VSI Certified Installer Course to educate installers on the latest and best installation techniques consistent with the ASTM D4756 standard and the recent upgrades made to the VSI Vinyl Siding Installation Manual. Order today using the VSI Publications Order Form.

Become a Certified Installer - Click here to find out how! - OR - Viewcurrently scheduled courses

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Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

There are two basic steps to installing vinyl siding: installing the trim pieces and installing the siding itself.

Choosing and Installing Trim Pieces

Every place where vinyl siding joins something elsea window, a door, another wallrequires the appropriate trim piece. The trim pieces loosely hold the siding in place, cover any cuts, and provide a small space where the siding can expand and contract. All lines of vinyl siding come with several standard trim pieces, plus some extras.

Most of the time the bottom of each piece of siding locks into the piece below it. But for the first row on a wall, the bottom locks into a special trim piece called a starter strip.

An outside corner post is used for outside corners. There is a channel molded into each side of the post to receive the end of the siding.

There are several options for trimming out inside corners. The easiest is an inside corner post. It's also possible to use two piece of J-channel installed back-to-back to create the same effect.

Many professional siding contractors bend a piece of vinyl or aluminum flashing for the inside corner and then use a single piece of J-channel. However, this requires a sophisticated tool called a brake.

J-channel is the most common piece of siding trim. Besides being used for inside corners, it's used for trimming around windows and doors. It is also used where siding meets a soffit or roof at an angle.

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HOMETIME HOW TO, Siding - Installing Vinyl Siding

Siding is the exterior view of your home and the weatherproof layer protecting all the layers beneath it, such as the building paper, sheathing, wall studs, insulation and then, of course, your interior. Like the body of your car, its first job is to hold together and save all the elements within; its second function is to do it stylishly.

Whether your siding is wood (boards, shakes or shingles), man-made (steel, aluminum or vinyl siding) or masonry (brick, stucco or stone), it should last at least 20-30 years and, with proper maintenance, perhaps even the life of your home.

Luckily, siding is not typically a source of trouble if its correctly installed and maintained, which makes it a smaller issue than many around the house, and an absolute treat compared to the care and maintenance of your roofing. Even so, siding ages like anything else (or falls victim to poor installation or long-term neglect), and sometimes youll find yourself having to fix a sprung nail, replace a faulty board or do some cosmetic work to keep your house the envy of the block...or at least suppress comparisons between it and Boo Radleys shotgun shack.

Siding Problem Areas The places where siding deteriorates quickest are:

Since these areas are not as noticeable as the large planes along your home where the siding is the least vulnerable, it is easy to ignore damage to siding for a long time. But then your in-laws visit and of course the first things they espy are the peeling paint, protruding nails and cracked masonry. So before their next visit, you may want to give your home a cosmetic check-up and makeover.

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Siding, Siding Services, Siding Repair And Replacement ...

Proper Siding Installation (Building Better Homes)
http://www.fisherhomesoftexas.com Siding (Building Better Homes) Guy Roy Explains the benefits of proper Hardi Plank (Siding and 1x4 trim) installation, by Fisher H...

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Proper Siding Installation (Building Better Homes) - Video