Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Comments(0)

A COUPLE who saved a former 18th century flint mill and transformed it into their home are to feature on a popular TV series this week.

The Grade II-listed building in Stone had begun to collapse when Alan and Dora Appleby began the mammoth rescue project in 2011.

Now their efforts have been filmed for Channel 4's The Restoration Man, which is presented by architect George Clarke.

Viewers can watch the dramatic moments unfold when the episode is screened tomorrow evening.

For Alan, who works as a chartered surveyor, it was more than simply a chance to create a unique home with bags of character.

The flint mill is also an important relic of Staffordshire's industrial heritage as it was used to grind flint for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery factories.

Alan said: "This old building has been rocked to its roots over the decades, but it's given good service to a number of trades and industries.

"Now we've given it a new lease of life, not only as our home, but as a base for my own business."

The building in Mill Street had lain abandoned since the 60s and was used as a dumping ground before the Applebys stepped in to rescue it.

Read the rest here:
Stone couple's efforts to transform an old flint mill to feature...

Honking geese soar overhead in a V formation, buffeted by bitter gusts off nearby Lake Erie, while flocks of mallards bob along the shore. Even blanketed in snow, the sprawling wetland south of Monroe is a magnet for water birds one reason a public-private project is under way to improve it.

Crews are building levees, canals and pumps that will regulate water levels and upgrade fish passageways in a 946-acre section of Erie Marsh, making it a better home for wildlife and limiting the spread of invasive plants.

Its an example of decades-old efforts by government agencies and private groups to rebuild Great Lakes coastal wetlands such as swamps, bogs and marshes that have been depleted by development. A federal report released in November suggests the work is beginning to pay off.

The eight-state Great Lakes region extending from western New York to eastern Minnesota was the only section of the U.S. where coastal wetland acreage increased during a five-year period when scientists took extensive measurements with satellites and field photography.

The gain was modest 13,610 acres, an area not quite as large as the New York City borough of Manhattan. Yet it happened as the rest of the nations coastal wetlands shrank by 360,720 acres. The loss amounted to less than 1% of the U.S. total but continued a longtime negative trend.

Wetlands dont have the cachet of spectacular natural features that oceans and mountains do. Theyre sometimes dismissed as worthless, especially by those wanting to cover them with shopping centers or highways. But they help prevent floods by absorbing excessive rainwater. They are known as natures kidneys, filtering out pollutants that otherwise would wash into lakes and rivers, and also provide vital wildlife habitat nesting grounds for ducks and geese, temporary refuges for migratory birds and spawning areas for fish.

Scientists say the continental U.S. has lost roughly half of the wetland acreage that existed before the European settlement era. Wetlands have been relentlessly filled and drained for farms, housing and cities.

The biggest losses from 2004-09, the period covered by the study, were along the Gulf of Mexico, where coastal wetlands form a crucial buffer against storm surge during hurricanes. They have been battered by decades of erosion and salt water intrusion caused largely by flood-control projects and development. Atlantic coast acreage also dropped substantially.

Replacing wetlands is a primary goal of an Obama administration program called the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that is focusing on the regions biggest environmental problems. Separately, the U.S. and Canada signed an agreement last year to upgrade the lakes water quality that calls for boosting wetlands.

If theres a cure-all for the Great Lakes, wetland restoration is just about the highest on the list as anything gets, said Cameron Davis, a senior adviser with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

View original post here:
Great Lakes wetlands restoration efforts paying off as acreage grows

Kuwaits prime minister shuffled his five-month-old cabinet, appointing Anas Al-Saleh as finance minister and Ali Al-Omair as the ninth oil minister in 10 years.

The appointments were approved by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who also issued a decree accepting the resignation of seven former ministers, state television reported. Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabahs cabinet includes four Islamists, a Shiite and a woman, Hind Al-Subeeh who was named minister of social affairs and labor as well as state minister for planning and development.

The Dec. 23 resignations followed grillings of cabinet members by lawmakers over alleged mismanagement and corruption, which also targeted the premier.

Sheikh Salem AbdulAziz Al-Sabah, who served as Kuwaits central bank governor for 25 years and was appointed finance minister in August, had called for fiscal discipline and criticized the governments spending policies. His replacement, Al-Saleh, held the commerce and industry portfolio prior to the shuffle.

The challenge for the cabinet is how to handle and deal with the feisty parliament, Abdullah Al-Shayji, chairman of the political science department at Kuwait University, wrote on his twitter account after todays changes. All of the ministers questioned by legislators have left or been removed from the cabinet.

Al-Omair, who holds a PhD in analytical chemistry from the University of Kent, has been a lawmaker since 2006. Hes a member of the Islamic Salafi Alliance.

Sheikh Jaber has now formed six cabinets since his appointment in Nov. 2011 as the OPEC member grapples with political disputes that have led to repeated dissolutions of parliament and ministerial resignations. The instability has slowed implementation of the countrys $110 billion development plan to diversify its oil-reliant economy.

To contact the reporter on this story: Fiona MacDonald in Kuwait at fmacdonald4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Shaji Mathew at shajimathew@bloomberg.net

The rest is here:
Kuwait PM Shuffles Cabinet, Appoints New Finance, Oil Ministers

@MaryEllenKlas

In Florida, there are few top tier elected positions available at the state level for ambitious pols. Until recently, the three Cabinet races locked up by incumbents promised to be a snoozer this election year for all but the very top of the ticket -- the governor's race.

Then chief financial officer Jeff Atwater announced he's ready to ditch his $129,000 state job for one that makes nearly three times the salary: president of Florida Atlantic University. The search committee on Monday picked Atwater, and former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux among 10 candidates to interview. If Atwater is named to the post, the governor could appoint a temporary replacement and open the door to politicians from both parties to scurry for the open seat.

Here's the latest line-up of who's considering the job should Atwater leave:

* Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee: "There are a lot of moves on that board before it before that happens and all of that is out of my control. If theres a vacancy I would consider it."

* House Speaker Will Weatherford:It's too early to speculate on a position that isn't even vacant, spokesman Ryan Duffy said via email. The Speaker is focused on preparing for the upcoming Session and has not given much thought on his next step beyond then.

* Senate President Don Gaetz:Several people have called with words of encouragement, but he is hesitant to weigh in on what is currently a hypothetical scenario, Gaetz spokeswoman Katie Betta said via email. Right now President Gaetz is focused on the three years left in his term in the Senate, and particularly this last session as Senate President.

* State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, who ran unsuccessfully for chief financial officer in 2006, said the decision should be left to the governor but that he felt he would make a good fit. Its a job that matches my skill set very well and my professional experience, Lee said.The Brandon Republican has also been considered as a possible running mate for Scott this fall. Lee said he said he sees pros and cons to both jobs.

* State Sen.Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said he is interested but:Im holding back from making any kinds of big decisions like that until the situation becomes clear, he said.

* StateSen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, who also applied for the FAU job but was rejected by the search committee, is also being heavily recruited for the post said Sen. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek. Waldman, who had been recruited to run against Atwater, said he is not interested in the post.

Visit link:
Scurry and speculation over open Cabinet seat grows

(BPT) - Americans are renovating again. In fact, the remodeling market hasnt been this robust since 2004, according to the National Association of Home Builders Remodeling Market Index. Yet even the most enthusiastic homeowners-turned-renovators may hesitate when faced with certain common challenges be it adding a bathroom in a problematic location or figuring out how to bring natural light into an interior room.

But virtually every renovation challenge is solvable, and sometimes the answers are surprisingly simple and cost-effective. Here are three common issues you may encounter while renovating, and the astoundingly simple ways to overcome the obstacles:

The challenge: Adding a bathroom over concrete flooring or in a tight spot where traditional plumbing doesnt work well.

The simple solution: Up-flush plumbing. Bathroom renovations or additions offer a high return on investment as much as 56 percent of the initial investment when you resell, according to Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value Report. But conventional plumbing can be costly and time-consuming, even in the best circumstances. If you want to add a bathroom in a basement where the floor is concrete or in a smaller space with no room for traditional piping, an up-flush, or macerating, toilet is a simple, cost-effective solution.

Systems like Saniflos macerating toilet and plumbing technology eliminate the need to cut through a floor to install new drainage. And the systems fit easily into areas as small as a closet or dead space beneath a stairway. A macerating pump reduces waste and paper from the toilet and sends it under high pressure through piping directly into the septic or sewer system. No waste is stored, and the systems are comparatively low-cost compared to traditional plumbing. Visit http://www.saniflo.com to learn more.

The challenge: Introducing natural light in a room with no space for windows.

The simple solution: Skylights. The benefits of natural light are well-documented, from improving mood to reducing dependence on artificial lights. Yet some spaces, such as interior powder rooms or walk-in closets, dont lend themselves to windows. When you want natural light in a room where a lack of wall space precludes a window, or in which privacy is an issue, a skylight can be a great solution. Tubular skylights even allow you to bring natural light into ground floor rooms.

The cost of installing a skylight is comparable to adding quality windows in a room. Choose energy-efficient skylights and you may also reduce home cooling costs in spring and summer, and lighting costs in winter, too.

The challenge: Privacy in a doorway where a swinging door doesnt make sense.

The simple solution: Pocket doors. A swinging door may not be right for a space for many reasons. Perhaps you need to close a door in a spot so infrequently that a swinging door isnt needed. Or, maybe the space around the doorway is too tight to accommodate a swinging door, such as in a laundry space tucked into a hallway. Or, perhaps a traditional door will ruin the aesthetic of a space. In all those situations, a pocket door is a great way to achieve privacy without compromise. Because pocket doors tuck away inside the wall, you dont need to worry about having enough space to open or close a traditional door. Plus, when left open, pocket doors are hidden inside the wall so their visual impact on decor is minimal.

See original here:
Three astoundingly simple solutions for big renovation challenges

More than $12 million in renovations of operating room suites and waiting areas are included in a multiphase remodeling program at St. Luke's Hospital, in Chesterfield.

The program will increase efficiency through better location of services and improve clinical quality with technology enhancements and redesigned clinician space, a hospital spokeswoman said today.

Renovations are scheduled to begin in February on the hospital's second floor, said the spokeswoman, Rebecca Largent. Relocated and expanded lab services will be part of the work.

Construction will be phased over three years to allow uninterrupted services and to maintain patient capacity.

Projects covering 38,000 square feet will cover work on the entire second floor of St. Luke's West Medical Office Building and part of the second floor of the main hospital.

Archimages Inc., of St. Louis, is the architect. McCarthy Building Cos. is the contractor.

The primary goal of this project is to continually focus on increasing comfort and privacy for patients and their families, while enhancing operational efficiencies, Don Miller, St. Luke's vice president of operations, said in a statement.

Tim Bryant covers commercial real estate, development and other business stories for the Post-Dispatch. He blogs at Building Blocks, the Post-Dispatch development blog.

Read more:
Renovation projects set to begin at St. Luike's

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The owner of a Dayton area roofing company admits to conspiring to bring illegal aliens to work for his company.

Gregory Oldiges, 55, owner of Williams Brothers Roofing and Siding, pleaded guilty in US District Court Tuesday.

Court documents reveal that Oldiges' company handled around 40 contracts between 2004 and 2013 that involved illegal employees working on roofing jobs.

The report says the company knew the workers were illegal aliens using aliases in order to work.

Oldiges also pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud by sending fraudulent invoices to insurance companies for work by his company.

Investigators believe Williams roofing took in nearly $12-million worth of roofing business using illegal workers from 2009 to 2012. The workers were paid a total of $1.7-million.

Oldiges also financed the smuggling of some of the workers to the United States.

The schemes perpetuated by this defendant were pervasive, touching nearly every aspect of the business. These unscrupulous tactics clearly gave his company an unfair advantage over competitors, said Marlon Miller, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Detroit.

The plea agreement includes at least two years in prison, plus Oldiges must pay restitution. He will be sentenced April 8.

Another employee, Jim Honius pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge. He too will be sentenced April 8.

Continue reading here:
Roofer guilty of employee illegal aliens

On Jan 2, we upgraded our recommendation on Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. ( BECN ), one of the three largest roofing material distributors in the U.S. and Canada, to Neutral. While the company is likely to face challenges such as pricing pressure and general market softness, it will benefit from continued focus on acquisition and its strong balance sheet position.

Why the Upgrade?

On Nov 26, Beacon Roofing reported adjusted earnings of 56 cents per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 (ended Sep 30, 2013), down 7% year over year. The results fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents. Despite record revenues and continued cost control, lower gross margins led to the year-over-year decline.

Revenues in the quarter increased 14% year over year to a record $683 million but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $689 million.

The company reported cash and cash equivalents of $47 million as of Sep 30, 2013, up from $40 million as of Sep 30, 2012. Total leverage ratio was low at 1.6x compared to 1.5x at the end of 2012. Additionally, interest coverage ratio of Beacon Roofing was 15.9x compared with 15.8x at the end of 2012. These metrics demonstrate its balance sheet strength, which will benefit its growth strategy.

Beacon Roofing, a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, remains committed to growth in core industry trends. The company opened seven new branches in the fourth quarter and is on track to open another 15 to 20 branches in fiscal 2014.

For fiscal 2014, the company expects full-year earnings per share to be at the lower end of the current published range of $1.80-$1.70 owing to lower demand and a competitive environment.

In addition, the Architecture Billings Index fell to 49.8 in Nov 2013 from 51.6 a month earlier. A score below 50 indicates contraction. The building and construction market continues to suffer due to the uncertainty in demand for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings. This in turn will affect Beacon Roofing's sales.

Moreover, higher construction costs, labor shortage, lack of funds for real estate projects and the adverse effects of sequestration are likely to remain headwinds for the company.

Other Stocks to Consider

Read more:
Beacon Roofing Upped to Neutral - Analyst Blog

Business News of Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Source: Graphic Business

Phastor Limited, a leading concrete products and roofing sheets manufacturer in the country, is to construct 120 affordable houses at Oyibi in Accra by the first quarter of this year.

The two to three-bedroom houses, which will be built on a serviced plot with water and electricity on site, will be targeted at the lower to middle income earners in the country.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr John Stephen Sam, who disclosed this to the Graphic Business, said we intend to rely on the quality but affordable building materials we produce to beat the cost of housing construction down drastically.

We will be cheaper than competition because we are already producing building materials and roofing sheets and, therefore, we will use what we produce to build the houses at cheaper costs, he said.

According to him, the company has been at the forefront of producing concrete and roofing products for many real estate developers in the country. He noted that this time, we also want to venture into that area to see how best we can contribute our quota to improving the housing stock in the country at affordable rates.

Housing deficit

Rough estimates of the countrys housing deficit stands at about 1.5 million units.

Read more here:
Phastor to build 120 affordable housing units

Gregory Oldiges, the owner of Williams Brothers Roofing and Siding Co., pleaded guilty Tuesday in a plea bargain to a case where he was accused in U.S. District Court documents of a years-long conspiracy of recruiting, transporting and using illegal immigrant workers from Mexico, falsifying documents and wire fraud.

Oldiges will get between 24 to 57 months if the judge accepts the plea deal in the human trafficking case. He also will forfeit more than $2 million in cash, a $500,000 house and his pickup.

The prosecutor called it a greedy scheme that goes way beyond just hiring undocumented workers. Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2012, Williams Brothers charged its customers about $11.75 million for roofing-related work performed by its illegal immigrant subcontractors, for which Williams Brothers paid the illegal immigrants about $1.7 million, according to court documents.

Prosecutors also claim Williams Brothers encouraged and transported illegal immigrant workers into the country and defrauded insurance providers with "dummy" or duplicate invoices.

Prosecutors also allege: Between 2004 and 2013, Williams Brothers entered into at least 39 purported subcontracts with illegal immigrants, some of whom used false names with the knowledge of Oldiges or other employees. Between 2004 and 2012, Williams Brothers employees prepared and submitted to the IRS approximately 20 materially false 1099 forms that identified the illegal immigrant subcontractors with known false names. The forms also noted payments to the subcontractors of about $1.1 million.

In April 2007, a Williams Brothers employee - authorized and paid for by Oldiges - drove to Texas to pick up an illegal alien subcontractor and his crew and drove them back to the Dayton area. That same month, Oldiges authorized $9,000 to be paid to human smugglers ("coyotes") who brought the crew from Mexico to Texas. The cost for each illegal worker was $1,000 per immigrant. Oldiges then recouped that money by withholding a portion of the amount paid to the crew during that roofing season.

Other alleged schemes were carried out in 2008 and 2011.

For example, in November 2010, Oldiges paid an illegal worker crew $3,706 while charging the customer $18,869. The $15,163 difference represented Williams Brothers' materials cost and gross profit, according to court documents.

The government seized property and money from Oldiges and his wife, Linda, after it claimed in an April lawsuit that the couple had generated millions of dollars of profit on the backs of Mexican workers they conspired to bring to the United States.

In the lawsuit, the government claimed that Williams Brothers, founded in 1937, made between $3 million to $4.5 million in 2012 during a time in which the company paid one worker $1 per hour to pick up nails at job sites as he recovered from injuries he sustained when he fell off a roof.

See the original post here:
Local roofer pleads guilty in human trafficking case