Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Published: Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

Mike Scoleri figures it'll take a couple of more months to finish rehabilitating the 125-year-old barn, one of Snohomish County's oldest. Scoleri is using vinegar and steel wool to scrub and give a weathered, aged look to the replacement lumber being used in the barn's interior.

The best guesses of everyone who might know figure the barn went up in about 1888.

A European immigrant named Bernard Walther built the board-and-batten structure for his dairy cows. The old-growth Douglas fir he used probably was felled on the property, located in the Snohomish River valley between Lowell and Larimer.

One of the crossbeams in the 40-foot-tall barn is a 60-foot, 12-inch-by-12-inch massive hunk of fir.

Even more impressive is that the barn's posts and beams are held together with mortise and tenon joinery: notches and hand-carved wooden dowel pins. No nails.

"Even when the wind kicked up, you couldn't hear a creak," Scoleri said. "The barn is solid and the men who built it were craftsmen."

Scoleri figures the post and beam arches of the barn were built on the ground and pulled into place by horses.

Arnie Hansen, 66, of Snohomish, grew up playing and working in the barn. His parents, Carl and Lois Hansen, bought the Walther farm in about 1937.

The youngest of three children, Hansen remembers that loose hay was loaded into the barn's loft from a truck driven right into the building.

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Work progressing on one of county's oldest barns

(BPT) - When considering exterior home improvements during spring and summer, many homeowners go for updates such as the replacement of siding or windows. These projects can make the home look great while boosting energy efficiency, but no matter how much homeowners invest in siding or windows, it will only look as good as the trim used to complete the job.

Trim products are designed to be used around windows, doors, eaves and gables, and for application on your homes corners and porch columns. Many installers opt for basic corner posts, J-channels and finishing accessories, which are functional, but also detract from the homes overall style. Going beyond the basics is very affordable and can make a big difference in your investment.

One mistake that homeowners and contractors often make in an exterior remodel is finishing a beautiful window and siding replacement with basic or inexpensive trimwork, says Steve Moore, architect with BSB Design. Working with your contractor to accessorize with high-quality, low-maintenance trim around windows, doors and the roofline helps complete the look and enhance architectural features. Trim and mouldings are the glue that ties the look together.

Whether you prefer a modern, traditional, rustic or Victorian style, there are many trim options on todays market to consider, including products made of wood, aluminum, fiber cement, engineered wood and vinyl, each with their own unique features. But if you want the look of real wood without the maintenance or having to replace in a few years, turn to building products manufacturers like Ply Gem that now offer cellular PVC trim with a 30-year warranty. Features of this material typically include a wood grain or smooth finish option, natural wood dimensions and resistance to rotting, cracking and splitting. Due to the superior material, paint will also adhere better and stay bright longer than painted wood.

Cellular PVC trim and moulding products are easy for your contractor to install, and are engineered to work with virtually any siding type, including vinyl siding, stone veneer, brick, fiber cement and stucco.

Since trim is incredibly visible, it should be chosen with the same care as siding, says Jerry Blais, vice president of marketing for Ply Gem siding group. "The use of low-maintenance products like cellular PVC trim and mouldings really give homeowners a durable and versatile option for making the home exterior stand out from the crowd. The product can also be painted to complement other exterior materials such as windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, shutters and more to create a cohesive design.

To achieve that cohesive exterior home design, Ply Gem and BSB Design recommend first determining the type of architectural style you are trying to achieve, traditional or modern. This will help narrow the options for not only trim style, but also window grille patterns, color, siding type and accessories like shutters.

To help provide inspiration, design guides are available for recommendations on how to make the most of cellular PVC trim and other exterior products with various architectural styles. Once you have a style, consider ways to accessorize your home with trim:

* Accent arched windows on Georgian or French architectural styles

* Differentiate with decorative gable details for home styles such as folk, shingle, Victorian or craftsman

Read more:
It's all in the details - how to accessorize your home exterior

The Finance and Facilities Committee revealed plans Thursday to update Central Michigan Universitys campus master plan.

The campus master plan was first released in 2001 and was updated again in 2003. According to Director of Plant Engineering and Planning Linda Slater, the first half of this year was dedicated mainly to data collection.

The data collection process culminated with discovery and design forums during which public comment and suggestions were welcomed and concluded with formal drafting that took place at the end of February. Both events were open to the public and encouraged student involvement.

What weve gathered is an idea on how to plan the future of our campus, Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Steve Lawrencesaid. These plan for buildings, sidewalks and bike paths could potentially serve us for the next 100 years.

While no specific plans for immediate action were established at the meeting, several renovation ideas were the focal point of the presentation. The planning of buildings, green spaces, sidewalks, bike paths and roads were all mentioned.

One of the focuses of the new master plan is to ensure CMU remains a safe and walkable campus by improving traffic flow across campus during peak hours.

Suggestions for optimizing traffic flow include large and more convenient parking lots on the campus perimeter, splitting Preston Street into two lanes and the construction of roundabouts on main streets.

Lawrencealso mentioned enhancing walkability with minimized vehicle traffic by adding a green spine through campus.

The suggested green space, which lends to a walkable, bike friendly and publicly accessible campus, would run the length of campus and expand just south of Broomfield Road.

Included in the master planning process is a space utilization and facility condition survey, which found a potential $130 million in deferred maintenance to facilities over the next seven to 10 years.

More here:
Campus master plan to focus on making CMU a ‘walkable campus’

The borough is taking care of some facility problems that have plagued the municipal building for some time.

At the March 26 Borough Council meeting, Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy noted that the roof at Borough Hall has been leaking at different locations.

Mayor Dunleavy said that he has received conflicting information from people on the age of the roof. Some claimed the roof was the original, while others contended it was not that old.

Through the diligent research of Borough Clerk Jane McCarthy, who examined old bond issues to see if any of the ordinances funded roof repairs or replacements, the borough was able to determine that the roofs were not that old, he said.

The metal portion of the roof was installed in 2002 in conjunction with the installation of the elevator in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The metal roof has a 15-year warrantee and Dunleavy said he contacted the contractor that installed the roof but has not heard back from the roofer yet.

The remainder of the roof that sits above the municipal building, including the firehouse, was installed in 2004 and has a 20-year warrantee. Dunleavy said the contractor, Firestone Roofing, has already been onsite to make repairs.

The borough has also had its share of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) problems at the municipal building. The council agreed to hire the GL Group to make repairs to the heating-and-air-conditioning system at a cost of $4,900.

Dunleavy said when the air conditioning is cooling the council chambers, the outside hallway senses the cold air and turns on the heat. There is also a problem with the thermostat system. The GL Group will install new dampers, which regulate air flow in heating and air-conditioning systems, as well as address the thermostat issues, and the upgrades will make the system operate significantly more efficiently, he said.

Email: walshde@northjersey.com

More:
Longstanding building woes examined in Bloomingdale

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John and Denise Kimmel From Splash Window Cleaning and Powerwashing cleaning the country club windows with a specially designed Waterfed Pole system he desig...

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Splash Window Cleaning and Powerwashing, serving Harrisburg, PA, lancaster,pa, and York, PA - Video

Tree Topping - Dead tree removal using 2 tie-in points
These two rotten trees (with fungus / Brittle Cinder / kulsvamp) was taken down due to their dangerous existence in the environment and no less dangerous to ...

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Tree Topping - Dead tree removal using 2 tie-in points - Video

PIONEER PRESS STAFF April 12, 2013 5:22PM

To learn which neighborhood trees will be removed in coming months, Evanston residents can consult a list released Friday by the city.

The citys Forestry Division has compiled the list of trees to be removed. A majority of the trees on the list are ash trees, which are infested with the Emerald ash borer to varying degrees, and are located on parkways and in parks citywide.

Forestry staff has prioritized the condition of all the trees on the list and will be removing the ones in the worst condition first.

Officials say the list is constantly changing as staff removes trees and marks new ones for removal on a daily basis.

Staff will re-issue an updated list monthly and post it at http://www.cityofevanston.org/forestry so residents can keep track of any additional trees to be removed in their wards.

The Forestry Division also has a backlog of more than 600 stumps citywide; all from trees removed in the second half of last year or earlier this year, officials said in a release.

It will probably take until mid to late summer to remove all of these stumps. The city will contract out some of the stump removals this spring. After the stumps are ground up, a separate Forestry crew follows up, usually a few days later, to remove the grindings and restore the parkway with new soil and grass seed.

As for replanting new trees, the wait between a tree removal and the planting of a new tree is approximately two years. This is directly due to the removal of far more trees than staff can plant on an annual basis. This has been the case since 2011, so the planting list continues to grow each year.

More here:
Evanston releases tree removal list

Chester County residents are angry over a proposed ordinance to require them to pay for tree removal for the airport.

"I'm happy with the ones that I have. I don't plan on cutting anymore," said Scott Williams. He'stalking about the beautiful towering trees on his Valley Township property. There were 16 when he first bought the house but recently he had five aging ones too close to his house cut down.

"Tree removal is expensive," said Williams whopaid $5,000 thousand dollars to get rid of five trees, and that's not including what it would've cost had he wanted the wood hauled away. So to now hearthat the township may have to pass an ordinance requiring homeowners to pay to have other tall trees removed, "I don't like it," said Williams.

The reason for the ordinance is the G.O. Carlson Airport owned by the Chester County Airport Authority. A manager there tells FOX 29that the PennDot Bureau of Aviation told them its airport zoning map needed to be updated for about eight townships in the county. The purpose is to get rid of or trim obstructions like trees that could be in the way of planes.

"If the airport wants to do it, the airport should pay for it or they should pay half of it," Homeowner Kenny Melvin said.

But Valley Township Supervisors say the ordinance they are being told by PennDot BOA and the Bureau of Aviation that they have to enact, puts the cost on the residents. And puts them ina tough position.

Valley Township Supervisor Arlin Yoder said, "We're not opposed to airport safety. You don't want airplanes hitting trees. However the cost and putting the burden of the cost on the homeowner is an issue."

Williams says the cost is the biggest concern but losing trees takes away from the very reason he chose to call Valley Township home.

He said, "They do provide shade and this is the country. I don't live in Coatesville because I do like the country and the trees."

The issue is on the agenda next Tuesday April 16th at the Valley Township meeting.

Continue reading here:
Airport Wants Chester Co. Residents To Pay For Tree Removal

There are some trees that the city believes some efforts should be made to preserve. We dont outright prohibit the removal of those trees, but we feel that their removal should not be indiscriminate. Steve Jones, Lakeway city manager

State Rep. Paul Workmans bill that would allow a property owner to remove a tree based on potential fire risk without a notice or permit has some city leaders sharpening their axes.

Under HB 1858, which is in the Business and Industry committee, Texas municipalities and counties would not be able to enact or enforce laws that prohibit a property owner from removing a tree or brush that the owner believes to pose a fire risk to a structure on his property or on adjacent property. This would also block cities from requiring permits or notices before the tree or vegetation is removed.

Workman, District 47, said the loss of hundreds of homes in Central Texas in the 2011 Labor Day wildfires prompted him to file the bill.

According to Texas A&M Forest Service statistics for the 2011 fire season, 31,453 fires consumed more than 4 million acres and destroyed 2,947 homes and 2,804 other structures in Texas.

This bill is about fire protection, he said Friday. It is about enabling a homeowner to protect their home when they believe a tree is posing a fire hazard.

Taking Lakeway, Austin and San Antonio concerns into account, the revised bill exempts hardwood trees that are larger than 8 inches in diameter. Cedar and mesquite trees of any size would be subject to removal. Projects in the development stage would have to be constructed under normal development rules, Workman said.

Before the bill was amended, Lakeway City Manager Steve Jones had reservations about the proposed legislation that would have pre-empted the citys tree protection and oak wilt pruning ordinance.

There are some trees that the city believes some efforts should be made to preserve, Jones said. They are of a size or an age that is worth protecting. We dont outright prohibit the removal of those trees, but we feel that their removal should not be indiscriminate. We work with developers and homeowners; if there is a reason they must be removed, we are flexible as we can be on that.

Lakeways ordinance protects most trees that are 16 inches in diameter and larger. Property owners are prohibited from cutting down, destroying, removing any protected tree in the city without a tree removal permit.

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Workman stumps for tree removal bill

Tree Permit Specialists offering no-charge tree removal and permit consultations to local residents and businesses in anticipation of spring season.

New York, New York (PRWEB) April 10, 2013

Rooted Tree Services, locally known as tree permit specialists, ensures it is familiar with Etobicoke, Mississauga and Oakville local community bylaws regarding different tree services requested by homeowners and commercial properties. The arborist assigned to each job will also obtain all the documents needed to apply for the compulsory permit(s) as per the specific requirements laid out in the bylaw. Many tree removal companies shy away from jobs that require permits, Peter Crawford of Rooted Tree Services says. He continues, It is important for us that our clients are aware that we have certified arborists on staff and that we are experts in obtaining permits and giving advice on them. Our trained staff will also handle all of the citys paperwork needed and we do not require a deposit to begin the process. We have completed thousands of successful permits for both homeowners and commercial business owners. Spring is one of the busiest times of the year for us, so we have introduced our free permit estimate and consultation service as a way of saying, thank you to the communities.

Effective March 1, 2013, homeowners and businesses in Mississauga need to be aware of the amendments to the Mississauga Tree Permit bylaw. The number of trees allowed to be removed in a single calendar year has been changed to two trees instead of the previous four. Rooted Tree Services is bonded, insured and fully covered by the WSIB to provide the most current and up-to-date city bylaw knowledge to all clients.

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In business for over 43 years, Rooted Tree Services is a leading Ontario based arborist tree service, working with homeowners, businesses, insurance companies and property managers to ensure the safety, health, maintenance and removal of trees and shrubs. Our commitment to quality ensures that you not only enjoy the latest knowledge and equipment, but that every job is completed safely, on time and that each site is cleaned up. Further information and a free quote can be found by visiting, http://www.rootedtreeservices.com.

Alex Waters Business Review 647-694-0799 Email Information

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Rooted Tree Services Offering Complimentary Tree Removal Estimates and Permit Consultations