Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

log home restoration wa NEW AGE GLASS MEDIA BLASTING 425-971-1713

By: christo free

See the article here:
log home restoration wa NEW AGE GLASS MEDIA BLASTING 425-971-1713 - Video

log home restoration Washington Idaho Utah Arizona Hand pealed logs 425-971-1713
www,wildwoodloghomeresoration.net wildwoodloghome@gmail.com We specialize in all phases of log home restoration. consulting, 30 years in the business of crea...

By: christo free

See the original post here:
log home restoration Washington Idaho Utah Arizona Hand pealed logs 425-971-1713 - Video

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) January 24, 2014

2014 brings a new year and TSC Restoration wants to help you start the year off right with tips for avoiding water damage. TSC Restoration,located in San Diego, California specializes in flood and fire restoration, sewage mitigation, mold remediation, full service construction and remodels.

TSC Restoration realizes that most homeowners experience some type of water issue in their homes at one time or another. Listed below are some of the most common reasons for home water damage issues. Many of these items require simple maintenance to avoid:

One of the most common causes of water damage is broken pipes. When water in pipes freezes and expands old pipes and taps can break. Even a small leak can do extensive damage over time. Faulty foundations or homes built near coastal regions are at risk for foundation drainage issues. The homes foundation should be on sturdy, concrete pile. Another cause of water damage is a plugged drainage system. This issue may arise from rain leaking from gutter downspouts, a blocked passage to the sewer line, or even poor lawn drainage such as poorly done trenches or channel drains. Check your gutters for clogs or blockage to prevent water from building up. Also check your gutters regularly. Without a gutter, or with a defective or clogged gutter, water will simply fall next to the house and form a pool near the foundation. Water heater failure is another leading cause of water damage.Inspect your water heater at least once a year. Leaks can develop slowly and destroy a heater from the outside.Be aware of shrubs and trees seeking moisture that may try to make their way into sewer line cracks, causing damage through sewer backup.

Reminder: With any type of water damage in the home drying the affected areas within three days or less will help prevent the growth of toxic mold.

We hope you never have to experience water damage in your home, but in the event that you do please call contact Wes Harris of TSC Restoration at 619-596-3888.

We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With TSC Restoration one call does it all. You receive complete service for your emergency with one phone call and 24-hour emergency phone service. We take pride in our work and will give you a free estimate up front. We work with all insurance companies so the process is easy. Just call 866-596-3888.

See the original post here:
TSC Restoration Offers “How To” Tips to Prevent Water Damage to Your Home in 2014

Responding to Republican legislative leaders' request for transparency the selection of a replacement to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said state law leaves the decision to him and that the appointee "will represent the interests of all Montanans."

Bullock has kept silent on the candidates he is considering and the selection process he will undertake in finding a replacement since President Barack Obama nominated Baucus to be the next U.S. ambassador to China.

A confirmation hearing for Baucus is scheduled for Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Montana Democrat also must be confirmed by the entire Senate.

If he is confirmed and resigns his Senate seat to take the post, Bullock will select an interim senator to fill Baucus' term until January 2015.

Republican leaders earlier this month sent Bullock a letter asking the Democratic governor how he intends to identify and select a person, when the process will begin and how he plans to include the public.

Bullock responded by letter Thursday, saying state law gives the responsibility of a temporary appointment to him and that he takes the responsibility seriously.

"You may be assured that all legal and constitutional requirements will be met, and that the appointee will represent the interests of all Montanans during the term of the appointment," Bullock wrote.

Senate President Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, one of the authors of the original letter, called Bullock's response a "non-answer."

There are no requirements in law laying out how the appointment will be filled, Essmann said.

"The people deserve way better than that," he said.

See the original post:
Bullock responds to GOP on Baucus replacement

With a fragile cease fire in place, South Sudanese look at how to salvage their delicate democracy

South Sudanese refugees walk at a border gate in Joda, in the Jableen locality in Sudan's White Nile State, after arriving from the South Sudanese war zones of Malakal and al-Rank, January 16, 2014.

The temporary truce signed on Thursday by South Sudanese politicians may have halted hostilities that, according to United Nations and humanitarianestimates, have resulted in the deaths of more than 10,000 people and displaced half a million more since fighting began in December, but asustainable peace remains far off, diplomats andexperts say. The country can fallapart; its sort of half unglued now. Even if theres a ceasefire, whoknows if thats going to stick as it doesnt resolve any the underliningproblems, said Tom McDonald, who worked on Sudan issues as U.S.ambassador to Zimbabwe during the Clinton presidency. A lot is at stake because we have invested time anddiplomatic capital and lots of money there to stand up this country.

Two and a half years ago, the world celebrated the birth of the new nationin the hope that dividing Sudan would end the violence in the war-torncountry. The U.S. poured billions of dollars into helping build South Sudans government and ministries. So how, in such ashort amount of time and with so much support from the internationalcommunity, could things fall apart?

Some, like Eric Reeves, a professor of Englishat Smith College, and an expert on Sudan and South Sudan, say the U.S. and the West expected too much too quickly from the South Sudanese and that the UN should have overseen a period of transition while a constitution was written. John Prendergast of the Enough Project, a nonprofitanti-genocide organization that works in South Sudan, lays the blame more squarely on the Obama Administration. There was a gulffrom the last special envoy last spring until the new special envoy [was appointed]in the fall, Prendergast says. During that period, already existingproblems were incubating and exploding to the surface. The U.S. didnthave that envoy and team to work that issue as diligently as needed.

The last U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Princeton Lyman,stepped down on March 22, 2013, and his replacement, Donald Booth, wasntnamed until August 28. During that five-month lag, South SudanesePresident Salva Kiir made what his opponents call an authoritarian powergrab, firing and imprisoning 11 members of his cabinet. Kiir accused themof attempting to orchestrate a coup with his then Vice President Riek Machar, who escaped arrest in July.

National Security Council spokesman Caitlin Hayden disputes both Reeves and Prendergasts assessments, arguing that the U.S. is by far the biggest presence and donor in South Sudan. The U.S. Government, up to and including President Obama, has remained deeply engaged throughout 2013, even as we worked to identify a new special envoy, Hayden said. President Obama sent Kiir a letter of concern in March, and senior U.S. officials met with their South Sudanese counterparts in April and May in Washington andin the South Sudanese capitol of Juba. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Kiir in Ethiopia in May and spoke with him by phone in July.

Moreover,whilethe country is young, it has ancient prejudices that burst to the surface at every turn. Although only two of the 11 cabinet detainees were ethnically Nuer,Machars Nuer tribe rallied against Kiirs Dinka tribe in response to the arrests. Some Dinka soldiers killed civilians who couldnt identifythemselves in the Dinka language, according to U.N. reports. Nuer rebels killedtwo U.N. peacekeepers who were protecting Dinka refugees. Thatprompted the U.N. Security Council to send in an additional 5,500 peacekeepers, bringing its total force in South Sudan to 12,500, the largest in the world after the peacekeeping mission in the DemocraticRepublic of Congo. This began as a political struggle, but it becameethnic within the first day or two, Reeves says. After decadesof war [with Sudan], there is a simmering tribalism that bursts throughfor almost any reason.

For the past month, Machar has resisted reconciliation, insisting that Kiir first release his cabinet allies. The ceasefire doesnt determine what will happen withthe detainees, though the South Sudanese government says it envisions amnesty for them after they go through trials. Our position is there should be no preconditions to cessation of hostilities, a State Department official told TIME, speaking on condition of anonymity. But at the same time Machar has a point that any long-term agreement relies on a meaningful political dialogue and they cant have that unless those detainees are at the table.

Reeves says that with so much mistrust between Machar, Kiir and the rest of thecabinet, reforming the government and writing a constitution protectingminorities is going to be a challenge. The question is if were seeing acrescendo or descendo, Reeves says. The rebels are people with a lot ofgrievances with the government. They are not looking to Machar forleadership. I doubt he can control even a third of the rebels. This is thebeginning of the really hard part and that is to get a wider militarystand-down by all groups.

Read more:
S. Sudan Faces Bigger Obstacle

When putting your home on the real estate market, getting it ready structurally and cosmetically can be a challenge. There are some projects that can be do-it-yourself, or DIY, and others are better left to an experienced contractor.

Becky Burghart, president of the Topeka Area Association of REALTORS, said when it comes to a DIY project, being honest with yourself is the best policy.

You have to ask yourself, what is my time worth? Do I have the skill level to do it? How much would it cost to hire a professional to do it? she said. They have to consider their time and whether they can do the job correctly. We (real estate agents) would prefer that any work that needs to be done be done by a professional because they have the knowledge and expertise to do the job correctly.

Burghart said she has a laundry list of items she looks at when getting a home ready to be put on the real estate market. She said the items she looks for are related to a homes appraised value - like a good roof, siding, gutters and the structural integrity of the house. When it comes to getting the home ready for inspection, the mechanical system upgrades like the plumbing, heating and cooling and electrical should be done by a professional contractor.

According to Remodeling Magazines 2011-2012 Cost versus Value report, the national average for return on a home remodeling investment was 57.7 percent. In the West North Central region, where Kansas is, the average return was 49.5 percent during the same time period.

Burghart said a homeowner can try to do some of the major upgrades but if a home inspection report states that a project was completed by the homeowner, a potential buyer can always ask for a professional to come in and check the work to make sure it was done properly.

You have to look at everything, she said. Most of the buyers today are looking for a home in move-in ready condition. (When making upgrades) you have to switch from being a homeowner to a homebuyer.

Burghart said kitchen and bathroom upgrades are always good to do before putting your home on the market because thats what buyers will look at first when going into a home. She said paint colors arent as much of a concern unless theyre particularly bold or bright in which case, shed suggest the color be toned down to a more neutral shade.

There are no two homes alike, Burghart said. Every situation we walk into is different. We just look at it like this house needs to be move-in ready today. We just want to make sure your house gets on the market.

In a recent article posted on MSNs Real Estate website, Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling Magazine, said the cost of remodeling projects has dropped 10 to 15-percent in the past five years nationwide.

Read more here:
Home improvement: Do it yourself or contract the job?

Affordable Hammond Roofing | (504) 777-3800 FREE Estimate - Louisiana
Affordable Hammond Roofing Contractor! Visit http://nolaroofing.com for FREE Estimates, no obligations. Your Louisiana Preferred Roofer. Make sure you get a ...

By: Dean Riordan

Visit link:
Affordable Hammond Roofing | (504) 777-3800 FREE Estimate - Louisiana - Video

Best Commercial Roofing Contractors Dallas | Call 469-518-6077 | Dallas Commercial Roofing Companies
The Best Commercial Roofing Contractors In Dallas - Call Dallas Roofing Pros At 817-803-5877 For A FREE Roof Inspection and Estimate. Dallas Roofing Pros Inc...

By: Exclusive Roofing Leads

Read more:
Best Commercial Roofing Contractors Dallas | Call 469-518-6077 | Dallas Commercial Roofing Companies - Video

Gold is bottoming, showing incredible resilience over the past 7 months. After suffering an epic plunge in last years second quarter, gold has held its ground ever since. This is despite still facing the same howling headwinds that forced that extraordinary selloff. Gold has found strong support and carved a massive double bottom. Thus 2013s gold super-storm has passed, and a mighty new upleg is dawning.

Obviously last year was exceedingly miserable for gold. This metal plunged 27.9%, its worst calendar-year performance in 32 years! When something hasnt been witnessed for a third of a century, there is no doubt it is rare and extreme. But the whole year masks the real story, the second quarter. The gold price plummeted an astounding 22.8% in 2013s Q2. That was its worst calendar quarter in 93 years!

Almost 4/5ths of last years entire gold losses happened during Q2. If the pair of epic gold selloffs that erupted in April and June hadnt occurred, last year wouldve looked radically different. And dont be fooled by the certainty of hindsight, market events so rare and extreme that they only happen on the order of once a century simply cant be predicted. These once-in-a-lifetime super-storms just have to be weathered.

After golds second-quarter free-fall, analysts swarmed out of the woodwork to forecast far-lower gold prices. They bought into the extreme fear spawned by that epic selloff, fully expecting golds downside momentum to continue. Dire predictions of sub-$1000 gold in the subsequent months abounded, even among veteran gold analysts. Their commentary back in June and July was overwhelmingly bearish.

But momentum-based technical analysis always fails at extremes. Just when everyone is convinced that a price has moved so far in one direction that its kinetic energy will carry it on indefinitely, prevailing sentiment is too lopsided to be sustainable. In golds case, the epic fear last summer meant everyone susceptible to being scared into selling gold low had already pulled the trigger. So gold started to bottom.

Read the original here:
Gold Bottoming

Boston, MA (PRWEB) January 24, 2014

Next Step Living, New Englands leading provider of whole-home energy solutions, is pleased to announce the winners of its Good Energy Giveaway. First Prize winner Carol Kaesmann of Shelton, Conn., will receive $10,000 in Next Step Living services; Second Prize winner Leslie Colello of Weymouth, Mass., will receive $5,000 worth of home energy-efficiency upgrades; and 10 additional homeowners will receive $100 gift cards. All winners were notified between January 6, 2014 and January 13, 2014.

Were just as excited as our winners, said Brian Greenfield, chief operating officer at Next Step Living. We created The Good Energy Giveaway late last year to share the celebration of our companys fifth anniversary with our customers, and the response was terrific. Almost 11,000 people participated. Whenever we can help homeowners save energy and live more comfortably and sustainably, we feel like winners too.

Were going to install energy-efficient windows in our home, said Carol Kaesmann, the Giveaways First Prize winner. We know that will help make our home more comfortable and reduce our energy use. Thats almost like winning twice.

The top-prize winners also will get a home energy evaluation, a thorough overview of how to make their homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter while shrinking their monthly utility bills and carbon footprints.

Im really looking forward to making my home more energy-efficient, says Second Prize winner Leslie Colello, whos interested in installing a ductless mini split system, an increasingly popular supplement to conventional heating and cooling systems.

To underscore the high level of customer service that Colello and other Next Step Living customers receive, the company is introducing a new program, Our Best Foot Forward. In this program, homeowners in our Massachusetts or Connecticut service areas who schedule a home energy evaluation with Next Step Living can expect their energy advisor to wear protective shoe coverings to keep out winter grit and grime. If the energy advisor does not wear protective shoe coverings, the customer will receive a $25 gift card by notifying our customer support department.

Net Promoter survey data indicates that 95 percent of our customers say they would refer their friends and relatives to Next Step Living, added Greenfield. That says a lot about the quality service we deliver and our energy advisors keen attention to detail. We created Our Best Foot Forward as a visual reminder of our commitment to customer care.

About Next Step Living, Inc. One of the fastest growing companies in New England, Next Step Living is the leading provider of whole-home energy solutions. Headquartered in Bostons Innovation District, Next Step Living makes it easy and affordable for people to live in homes with a low environmental impact. A one-stop service provider for informed advice, funding guidance and expert work, Next Step Living partners with more than 400 municipalities, civic organizations and leading corporations to deliver energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for better living. Since 2008, Next Step Living has helped New England homeowners achieve almost $15 million in energy savings, which is expected to grow to $70 million in the next five years. Next Step Living makes our world better. Visit NextStepLiving.com for more information.

View original post here:
Next Step Living™ Shares Good Energy in Massachusetts and Connecticut With the Winners of "The Good Energy Giveaway"