Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This is a rendering of the proposed Legislative Office Building, to be built next to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Administration)

The Minnesota Senate Rules committee Wednesday approved a preliminary design and budget for a new $90 million state office building project to be built north of the Capitol.

The project still requires approval by the House Rules panel, which has not scheduled a meeting.

The new building has drawn fire from Republicans as too expensive and unnecessary. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said Gov. Mark Dayton has asked him to consider cutting about $14 million from the project by putting off construction of a parking ramp west of the new building.

But given Sears Holdings Corp.'s plans to redevelop land near the Capitol where the state leases more than 600 parking spaces, at some point, "you're going to have unmet parking need," said Wayne Waslaski, senior director of real estate and construction services for the state Administration Department. The new parking site would have about 500 spaces, he said.

As for the cost of constructing the new building, it would be comparable to similar structures at $268 per square foot, Waslaski said. The recent Andersen and Freeman state buildings were constructed for $233 and $257 per square foot, respectively, he said.

Republicans on the committee attempted Wednesday to have the matter referred to a separate committee or tabled, but those efforts failed. The building plan was approved on a voice vote.

Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, said it was "imprudent" to approve the project while a lawsuit that contends the authorization process was unconstitutional is unresolved. A hearing on that suit is set for next week.

But Bakk argued it might take a while to get a decision from the court, which then could be appealed. "How long are we going to wait?" he asked.

And restoration work underway at the Capitol depends on the new building being constructed to house senators displaced during and after the work is done, Bakk said.

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New legislative office gets Minnesota Senate panel's OK

As the Joint Committee on State Building Construction prepared to meet Thursday, a slew of Topeka power brokers descended on the Statehouse to hear a proposal to raze the Docking State Office Building.

There were familiar Statehouse faces like Rep. Annie Kuether, D-Topeka, and committee members like Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka, and Rep. John Alcala, D-Topeka.

But the standing-room-only audience also included Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast, City Councilwoman Karen Hiller, city manager Jim Colson and Shawnee County counselor Rich Eckert.

Wolgast said the city is in a unique position, with the Capitol Complex just a block off a key drag, S. Kansas Avenue, and a downtown revitalization project in the works.

"Anything that's done here, it just affects us considerably," Wolgast said.

Kansas Department of Administration officials say there are currently no plans to relocate 4,000-some state workers out of the downtown area. But the Kansas Department of Agriculture's impending move to Manhattan was announced last year, and Department of Administration Secretary Jim Clark has plans for a major shakeup of downtown property ownership.

Wolgast and the others heard a presentation Thursday from administration department officials who said years of neglected maintenance have left the Docking building, at S.W. 10th and Topeka Boulevard, in such disrepair that the state's best option is to tear it down and disperse its employees to privately owned office space.

Mark McGivern, director of the Department of Administration's Office of Facilities Management and Procurement, said the seven-story building needs between $75 million and $100 million worth of deferred maintenance and is only about 75 percent full.

"Like those before us we can kick this can down the road and do nothing, or we can make a very reasonably priced investment that pays for itself," McGivern said.

Department officials plan to introduce a bill this session that will include razing Docking, a move McGivern says will pay for itself within 10 years.

Original post:
Docking demolition? Topeka leaders wonder about effect on city

MIAMI, FL (PRWEB) January 16, 2014

Lake Worth, Fla., homeowners who chose aluminum sunroom additions to expand their homes in 2013 discovered two attributes of that building technology, said Venetian President Chris Noe: The additions went up faster than the homeowners expected and at a lower cost than they would have paid for space built with a more traditional construction method. Lake Worth, like many South Florida communities, has diverse housing, including many smaller cottages built for people who migrated into the city in the 1950s and 1960s, Noe said. For those homes, and even for newer, bigger Lake Worth homes, aluminum sunrooms the top choice among our Lake Worth customers last year are a sensible solution for adding living space.

Venetian builds not only aluminum Florida rooms, but also aluminum-framed patio roofs, screen patio covers and screen swimming pool domes. In addition to building in West Palm Beach, Venetian serves Miami-Dade and Broward County, and the Keys in Monroe County.

Aluminum framing technology saves time, which translates to lower costs, Noe said. Much of the work on an aluminum sun room, patio enclosure or pool screen is done in our fabrication plant, with final assembly taking place on the building lot. That means less inconvenience for the family who is awaiting much-needed space. And because of regulations under the Building Code, inspections for aluminum structures are fewer and faster than with traditional construction methods.

Custom design, which Venetian applies to every project, helps homeowners get an addition that suits their tastes, meets their lifestyle needs, fits their budget and meets or exceeds code, Noe said. Its designers are experienced at making projects work on even small lots.

The best sunroom is the one that works for the individual buyer, regardless of the type of home thats being expanded, Noe said. With custom design, we can make the addition complement the home, from proportions and shape to the style of the windows and doors.

Venetian offers detailed, free estimates on solariums, patio screens and pool enclosures. It also offers such home enhancements as retractable canvas awnings, aluminum pergolas and aluminum privacy lattice. Free in-home consultations include curbside aces to the Venetian mobile showroom.

For more information call 866-596-2427.

Continue reading here:
Sunrooms Were No. 1 Addition Among Lake Worth, Fla., Homeowners Who Contracted with Venetian Builders, Inc., in 2013 ...

Think a renovation is out of your reach? It's not! We lay out some kitchen remodel ideas for every budget, from $50 to $10,000.

Corbis

Use this road map to create the kitchen of your dreams -- no matter the reality of your budget.

BUDGET: $50 OR LESS Paint is the easiest, least expensive way to transform a tired looking kitchen. Choose a semigloss latex paint, which will allow you to easily sponge off the inevitable food splashes and spatters. Also, opt for a semigloss finish on the trim, such as the baseboard and around windows and doors. For best results, don't skimp out on prep work. Kitchen surfaces accumulate grime, so be sure to wash all walls and the ceiling with a TSP (trisodium phosphate) or a TSP substitute before painting. This will help clean and prepare the surface so that the paint adheres to it properly.

Schulte

Pot racks, lid holders, shelving, drawer organizers, pullout trays, and utensil crocks are affordable ways to keep clutter at bay and let the charm of your kitchen shine greatly. Open shelving takes advantage of empty walls and gives the kitchen an airy feeling. Stretch your makeover dollars by DIYing your storage organizers.

MCT

Replace those dim CFL floods with halogen floods. You'll still save energy over traditional incandescent bulbs, and the light will be a substantial improvement. Install a dimmer switch so that the halogens last a longer and save even more energy. As for those still-good CFLs, don't toss them. Save them for use in utilitarian spaces, such as the garage, basement, attic, or closets. Add under-cabinet lighting to existing kitchen cabinets and bring countertop work areas out of the shadows. Use decorative lights over kitchen tables to change the mood when it's time to dine.

Getty Images

Cabinets are often the most expensive items in any kitchen makeover. If yours look worn and have become soft and gummy around the pulls, consider refinishing or repainting the doors and frames instead of replacing the entire units. This will make a big impact in your kitchen at the fraction of the cost of brand-new cabinets.

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Kitchen Remodel Ideas for Every Budget - DIY Life

Emergency Roof Repair Albany NY - Emergency Roofing Albany
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Emergency Roof Repair Albany NY - Emergency Roofing Albany - Video

For a decade, budget austerity cuts have caused Georgias school districts to be malnourished financially, and if that drop in funding continues, one legislative chairman said the districts could starve to death.

Those were the words of Sen. Lindsey Tippins, R-Marietta, chair of the state senates Education and Youth committee, speaking to reporters last week at an education media symposium at Georgia Public Broadcasting headquarters in Atlanta.

The bottom line is, if we get used to (cuts), the schools are going to starve to death, Tippins said.

Fortunately, Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to boost K-12 education funding when he unveils his budget on Wednesday.

There will be a significant increase in K-12 funding, Deal said in a weekend interview on WSB Radio. It will be done in such a way that it will relieve much of the pressure that local school districts have been under.

Historically, the state budget includes 51 percent allocated toward education, including about 39 percent on K-12 education.

If funding isnt restored, districts have requested more funding flexibility to raise taxes themselves for daily operations. School districts are restricted to using local education sales taxes for construction or equipment purposes.

That flexibility helps school districts where a sales tax wouldnt if, for example, there isnt a Walmart in the county.

Raising taxes statewide is not likely, said Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, chairman of the House Education Committee, referring to the failed transportation sales tax around most regions in the state.

The appetite is just not there, Coleman said.

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State budget expected to include more money for K-12 education

The Baraboo School District Board of Education approved two resolutions Monday that will place a $9.95 million referendum question on the April 1 election ballot.

The safety and security improvements and maintenance projects and repairs outlined in the language approved by the board are set to make up the first phase of a multi-phase master facilities plan.

Planned for the first phase are $4.9 million in safety and security upgrades and $5.05 million in maintenance projects. The needs were identified and prioritized through a lengthy analysis, which included work by consultants and a community survey.

Safety and security improvements would secure the main entrances and provide surveillance cameras and exterior door controls and monitors at all seven school buildings. Other safety projects would involve relocating and renovating the main offices, relocating the libraries to accommodate these shifts and improving parking and traffic flow at some schools.

Maintenance projects would include updating HVAC systems at all schools and roof, window, lighting, ceiling, masonry and parking lot work at some buildings.

According to a fact sheet distributed to the board Monday, the project costs include renovations, construction, energy efficiency upgrades, building system replacements and repairs, site work, furniture, fixtures and equipment, professional service fees and required permits.

The fact sheet is just one part of a communications plan initiated by the district to help inform the community about its plans and the referendum process.

Now that the question is set to be on the ballot, district employees and board members are bound by certain legal restrictions to provide only factual information when communicating about the referendum process while they are serving in their official capacities and on school district property. They cannot engage in advocacy on behalf of the district.

Kit Dailey of Eppstein Uhen Architects made a presentation to the board about the communication plan, including the restrictions on advocacy.

Staff and board members can share their own opinions as long as theyre using their own time and resources and they make it clear that they are speaking as individuals, Dailey said.

Go here to read the rest:
Baraboo School Board votes to put $9.95M referendum question on ballot

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Cecilia Harsch

Cecilia Harsch has been writing professionally since 2009. She writes mainly home improvement, health and travel articles for various online publications. She has several years of experience in the home-improvement industry, focusing on gardening, and a background in group exercise instruction. Harsch received her Certified Nurses Assistant license in 2004. She attended Tarrant County College and studied English composition.

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When installing underground electrical wire, it is important to use the correct cable for the task. Underground feed (UF) cable is specifically designed to be buried in the ground. The cables conductors are enclosed in solid thermoplastic insulation that is both sunlight- and moisture-resistant. UF cable is more economical to install because there is no need to enclose it inside conduit.

Check with your local municipality for the direct burial regulations prior to installing your underground electrical wire. Depending on your locale regulations, direct burial wire has to be placed 18 to 24 inches underground.

Dig your trench to install your underground electrical wire. Use a trenching shovel to dig your trench to the depth that your municipality requires.

Lay your underground electrical cable into the trench that you dug in Step 2. Underground feed electrical wire is specially designed to be buried underground without the need for conduit.

Cover the underground electrical wire with the dirt you removed from the trench in Step 2.

Underground electrical wire may be essential if you plan to put in outdoor lighting or some other outdoor circuitry. An outdoor electrical...

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How to Install Underground Electrical Wire | eHow

Chris Burns

There appears to be some confusion over the word "recall" when it comes to the current Model S Tesla vehicles out there in the wild, while the actual situation, instead, deals with a distribution of new power adapters and a software update. With a number of possible factors in play with the standard NEMA 14-50 power adapter such as "corrosion, physical damage to receptacles or inappropriate wiring/installation of electrical outlets", according to Tesla, they've done two things, neither of which are a recall of the entire vehicle.

The first thing Tesla has done in accordance to their Part 573 Defect Information Report sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to send out a software update. This update was sent to all Tesla Model S owners and should be loaded in their vehicles at this time. The second measure taken was to send out new and improved NEMA 14-50 power adapters. These new power adapters are on their way to users now.

A bit of confusion has arisen at some point over the past few days which included the word "recall". To be clear: no physical recall of any Tesla vehicle is taking place. While 29,222 Model S electric sedans will have this software update and should be using this new power adapter in the future, Tesla is recalling no vehicles physically.

In other words - don't call it a recall unless US regulators do so. Even "treating it like a recall" can be dangerous talk in this hyper-connected quick-transmission news world we live in. Watch out for it!

Meanwhile it was announced by Tesla that they'd shipped 6,900 cars in the fourth quarter of 2014. This accounts for a 20 jump over their best estimates, according to a company executive speaking with Rueters at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. At this time it's not clear if Tesla will be raising expectations significantly for the quarter coming up.

Continue reading here:
Tesla: not a Recall, per se

How to install a replacement window
Installing vinyl replacement windows - two of them. The storm windows were kept in as the outside look of property "looks" more appropriate with the storm wi...

By: Photolight PhotoLight

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How to install a replacement window - Video