Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Photo by Sam Yu

Construction at Market Square at the intersection of Md. 26 and Wormans MIll Road in Frederick continues, but some businesses plan to open this month.

The retail center, sitting on 49 acres at the intersection of Md. 26 and Worman's Mill Road, includes 194,000 square feet of commercial space and 400 residential units.

The center was named "Best New Mixed Use Development" by the Frederick County Building Industry Association at its annual awards presentation.

"Market Square represents the strength and depth of the Frederick market in terms of new housing and retail blended to create a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood," wrote Richard Griffin, director of the city's economic development office, in an email.

"This new center will provide needed services and products to residents and employees in north Frederick."

Frederick Alderwoman Shelly Aloi said the new center will add to the city's economy through tax revenue.

"One of the exciting things is that this group (developers of the center) came in for a text amendment to complete the project on a faster scale," Aloi said. "The group has been very successful in leasing space. For me, that is a sign it will be a positive impact on the economy."

Bank of America and McDonald's are scheduled to open this month, according to Theresa Vivona, a spokeswoman for developer JBG Rosenfeld Retail.

Syed and Sadia Anderabi, owners of the new McDonald's, said it will have a custom design featuring unique colors, the latest in kitchen technology and a focus on recycling.

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Market Square retailers to open

Published: Monday, October 1, 2012, 12:01 a.m.

Even on a recent work day, plenty of shoppers strolled up and down the covered outdoor promenade between stores and munched in the food court. Construction work to add more than 100,000 square feet of retail space ground on nearby. The work is visible to drivers whooshing past on I-5.

The outlet center in Quil Ceda Village has performed so well -- even in this sputtering economy -- that its owner, Simon Property Group, is adding around 14 stores' worth of retail space.

The project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2013. A new parking garage is already finished.

The success of the outlet center is a stark contrast to the fortunes of some of the owners of Everett Mall, who faced foreclosure earlier this summer.

"The appeal is our large collection of designer labels and name brands at great savings," said Mark Johnson, general manager of Seattle Premium Outlets.

Or, to put it another way, in good days, consumers enjoy a bargain and in bad times, they need it, said Linda Humphers, the editor of Value Retail News, an outlet industry trade publication based in Clearwater, Fla.

"Outlets have always done well in a difficult economy," she said. "They seem to be resistant to flattening."

The outlet industry is a small segment of the retail industry but it's growing. Nationally, there are 185 outlets, according to Value Retail News' State of the Outlet Industry report for 2012. Ten of those have opened in the past 18 months. Compare that to around 100,000 shopping centers in the U.S.

Even now when times are tough, outlet sales continue to grow. The trade publication estimates total industry sales at $25.4 billion this year. That's $3 billion higher than the estimate for 2011.

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In downturn, expansion

CMS Building and Restoration, Explains the Importance of Getting the Correct Permits Finalized for a Remodeling Job

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2012

Tina Shiachi, owner of CMS Building and Restoration, is currently experiencing a 6 week delay because a previous permit was not finalized. It was a hard hit for the customer, said Tina.

CMS was recently contracted to build a custom sun room for a homeowner in the LA area. CMS worked with an area architecture to draw up plans. Custom paneling was engineered for the room and CMS was all set to start the project, when they discovered the homeowner had a retaining wall built in 1999, and the city had no proof of a final inspection for the wall.

The contractor is responsible for finalizing the project, but the homeowner must obtain proof. In our area, they must have an inspection and have an inspection card signed once the job is completed, explains Tina.

The sun room project is now delayed, while we help our client obtain new drawings for their old retaining wall project and schedule a final inspection. The agency cannot issue a new permit, until the previous one is finalized, said Tina.

Permits requirements for remodeling work are typically obtained through a city or county agency. A homeowner should make a list of all the work being done and then contact their local agency to see what permits are required. Often times the hired contractor will obtain the permits, but it is important for a homeowner to make sure they are communicating with the contractor and then be responsible for finalizing the permits with the city or county.

Homeowners should keep a record of all blueprints, permits and inspection information during their time in the home. It is important to have proof that a completed job was inspected, whether the job is 1, 5 or 10 years old, said Tina.

To learn more about this CMS Builders and Restoration, please call (800) 601-2696 or visit their website at http://www.cmsprobuilders.com.

About CMS Builders and Restoration

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Canoga Park Remodeling Contractor Announces New Guidelines for How to Help your Contractor Avoid Permitting Delays in ...

More money going into UH mansion

For the second time in as many years, taxpayers money is going to renovate what was designated as the UH Presidents residence.

A long list of repairs is underway at College Hill.

It includes a new roof, windows and gutters, along with the installation of solar panel. solar water heaters andsiding as well as plumbing and electrical work.

The base contract is $680,000 butthe amountcould exceed that if there are unforeseen problems.

But it wasn't too long ago that the university had crews working on the porte cochere, the back lanai and the guest cottage.

Two years ago UH spent close to a half a million on repairing termite damage.

The work included repairs on the main house and in an adjacent cottage.

Crews replaced the wood floors in the dining and living rooms, as well as a few doors They also had to shore up the lanai floor.

That was on top of more than a million dollars of construction that was spentunder Evan Dobelle, the president at the time when he lived in the home,

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Construction at College Hill Mansion puts events on hold

Published: 9/29/2012 3:38 PM | Last update: 9/29/2012 11:22 PM

That business, Mark Borecky Construction, 1001 N. Main, Suite C, is the Hutchinson / Reno County Chamber of Commerce September Small Business of the Month.

In "serious need of a job," however, he was offered a position by Ricky Blackburn, the father of a friend of his girlfriend, to help hang house siding in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska for $5 an hour.

"I stayed with Ricky a few years and in 1993 broke out on my own," Borecky said, starting his own siding and window installation business.

At one point he had three siding crews working for him around the area.

That business put him in regular touch with Darren Cook, a wholesale siding supplier who decided he wanted to get out of that business and invited Borecky to join him in building houses.

"The first two we built for ourselves" on lots next to each other, Borecky said, and from which he "learned a fair amount" about homebuilding.

"One of the biggest helps to me was Dave Childs," Borecky said. "He was the city building inspector at the time, and later went on to do his own heating and air and electrical business. He was my eyes and ears. I was extremely blessed by that for sure."

After selling those houses, they bought some in-fill lots on Amanda Street and built some more, Borecky said. After about 2 1/2 years, Cook split off on his own "to build more upscale houses," Borecky said.

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Building one man's success

Novi Fieldstone Plus adds a new design option to a popular line of exterior of artificial rock siding panels.

Deer Park, NY (PRWEB) September 25, 2012

Genuine fieldstone is literally that stone used in its natural shape, traditionally collected from the surface of fields when theyre cleared for planting. Our Novi Plus version provides the same fantastic look and texture of traditional fieldstone at a fraction of the cost and without harming the environment, said Steve Barron, president of Faux Panels.

Because of real fieldstones origins, its often been associated with rural areas, creating a distinctive architectural look. Now thanks to Novi Fieldstone Plus, anyone can create that authentic look quickly and easily, without the high cost.

Made from strong polypropylene, these artificial rock siding panels will last a long time while still looking great. Whereas genuine stone can chip, erode and dust, Novi Fieldstone Plus easily weathers routine wear and tear, harsh temperatures, wind, rain, ice and snow. Thanks to its nearly zero UV degradation, it wont fade with time.

Easy Installation, Great Look

Novi artificial rock siding panels interlock, so installation is easy. Home owners using a contractor will spend less in labor costs. People who prefer to do it as a DIY project can get professional looking results. Either way, its a lot cheaper than hiring a stone mason.

Novi Fieldstone Plus comes in three color options that mimic natural fieldstone. Misty Beige features a warm, sun-baked light tan. Shadow Gray is a neutral shade that evokes New England farmhouses. Smoke White is a paler option reminiscent of Maryland fieldstone, yet looks great everywhere.

While Novi Fieldstone Plus is primary used for exterior renovations, depending upon the local building codes in a given area, it can be used indoors, too. Just check the fire rating rules for your area.

Adding a fieldstone design option with the new Novi Plus texture and its easy interlocking design gives customers a great new look with classic convenience, said Barron.

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FauxPanels.com Introduces Novi Fieldstone Plus Siding Panels

Roofing contracting company launches new website online at RoofingEmporium.com. The Roofing Emporium company connects homeowners and contractors together to help homeowners get roof repairs and replacements completed faster in Florida.

Jacksonville, Florida (PRWEB) October 01, 2012

According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, there are hundreds of licensed contractors performing repair and replacement work for homeowners. One drawback for homeowners that live in hurricane prone states like Florida is the shortage of qualified companies that are available. There are 67 counties in Florida with many of the available roofing companies residing in the larger cities.

Not all companies are willing to dispatch contractors to travel to multiple counties to respond when homeowners make requests for roof repair estimates. The Roofing Emporium website is designed to link homeowners with qualified contractors that can respond fast when damage is reported.

The hurricane season in Florida is one of the busiest times for roofing companies. The start of August until the end of October can be a difficult time for homeowners to get needed repair or replacement work finished. The hundreds of insurance companies that underwrite homeowner policies often select roofing companies for more than one insurance job. This can create scheduling conflicts with homeowners that require less important roof work like estimates and interior assessments of potential water damage.

The Roofing Emporium website was designed to eliminate the delays that can happen during the hurricane season and beyond for Florida homeowners.

Both homeowners and construction companies can have problems finding qualified workers for roofing jobs. The legislation in Florida is routinely monitored and changed as new laws are passed. One reason for the shortage in available roofers is the roof replacement legislation that is tied to insurance companies. If 25 percent of a roof has been damaged after assessment, it is standard for a roof to need replaced in Florida.

It is not uncommon in the hurricane zones in Florida for multiple homeowners to be affected before, during and after hurricane season has ended.

The new Roofing Emporium website is designed to help expedite the quotes that are generated for roof repair and replacement services. An easy to use quote form has been installed on the Roof Emporium website to make communication easier for Florida homeowners searching for a qualified roofing company.

Homeowners that want to keep up with roofing news or services offered by Roofing Emporium can visit this link http://www.roofingemporium.com/blog.

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Roofing Contracting Company Launches New Website

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Serious Energy, Inc. has sold its architectural glass and fiberglass window business in Longmont, CO to Alpen High Performance Products. Alpen HPP will continue to manufacture architectural glass and fiberglass windows at its Longmont facilities. Alpen HPP will concentrate on its successful high-performance, custom fiberglass residential and commercial window products. Serious Energy will retain its residential vinyl window and door operations produced at its Vandergrift, PA plant. Serious Energy and Alpen, which have a longstanding relationship and a shared interest in high-performance suspended films, are exploring opportunities for future product, distribution and technology collaboration.

According to Serious Energy CEO, Tassilo Baeuerle, We believe we can provide better customer service and accelerate growth by focusing on our core competencies in energy-efficient windows (Serious Glass suspended film products), and acoustical products (QuietRock sound-damping drywall) for the built environment. Given our long history with Alpen, we were happy when they sought to acquire the architectural glass and fiberglass business. Both companies are committed to a smooth transition, and we look forward to continuing our mutually supportive relationship. Serious Energy remains focused on enabling our vinyl window customers to receive the same high performing, energy efficient windows they have come to expect over the years.

Alpen CEO, Brad Begin, added that Alpen expects continued success as the long standing Colorado team now fully concentrates on the innovative high performance fiberglass product line and its historical strength in the high performance architectural glass market, led by veteran industry innovator Robert Clarke.

Serious Windows residential vinyl products offer high energy efficiency ratings and are popular with homeowners and contractors. Serious also continues to market its iWindow commercial replacement product. According to Mr. Baeuerle, Q2 results were strong for the window segment: Total window sales posted very positive gains in Q2 2012.

QuietRock ES, Serious Energys fast-growing soundproofing drywall panel, delivers industry-leading Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings while providing an easy-to-install conventional drywall solution, making it the primary choice by professionals. Although its products have broad market appeal, QuietRock products meet the exacting requirements of architects involved in sound attenuation. In 2012 QuietRock ES sales has seen impressive double-digits growth rates over prior year. The company experienced increased sales on both the East and West coast, and in both commercial and residential markets. The company will continue to expand in all regions.

Serious Energy, Inc. manufactures and markets acoustical and thermal solutions to the built environment through its QuietRock, Serious Window and iWindow brands. With an advanced development team, multiple manufacturing plants and a broad network of distributors throughout the U.S. and Canada, Serious Energy products have been installed in thousands of projects worldwide, including the Empire State Building. For more information, visit http://www.SeriousEnergy.com.

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Serious Sells Architectural/Fiberglass Windows Division to Industry Ally and Delivers Strong First-Half 2012 Growth

DANVILLE The Danville school district could kick off a project to replace the windows at the high school.

School board members on Wednesday will vote on whether to pay Schmidt Associates, Inc. $15,000 plus mileage and printing fees to provide architectural drawings and bid specifications for the project, which could begin next summer.

The Danville School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m on Wednesday at the Jackson Building, 516 N. Jackson St., Danville. A copy of the agenda is available online athttp://bit.ly/OXtlD7.

"The high school is so big. We would have to replace the windows over a period of time to ease both the expense as well as the disruption and cleanup of the building," Superintendent Mark Denman said.

The project calls for demolishing and replacing the exterior windows on the school's west facade, along North Jackson Street, except for a curtainwall system on the northwest side of the building that already has been replaced. The work is estimated between $300,000 to $500,000.

Denman said the window replacement is recommended in the district's health life safety plan.

Also at the meeting, board members will hold a public hearing on a proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year and then vote on whether to adopt it.

The proposed spending plan, which has been on display at the Jackson Building, would spend about $66.1 million, and bring in about $63.67 million in revenue. The district would cover the projected $2.43 million deficit with reserve funds.

The education fund which pays for most salaries and day-to-day expenses would spend about $50.16 million and generate about $49.87 million in revenue, leaving a $292,798 shortfall.

"Like other public school districts, we're seeing a decrease in general state aid and ... a loss in federal (jobs bill) funding," Denman said. "We're also anticipating a 5.9 percent reduction in (equalized assessed valuation of property) in the district, which will be a loss of more than $900,000 in property taxes. That's why we must continue to be cautious with our expenses."

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Danville board to consider window replacement at high school

By JoAnne Viviano

The Columbus Dispatch Saturday September 29, 2012 1:52 PM

Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning senior serviceman Larry Berner checks a carbon monoxide detector during an inspection of Sam Freeman's furnace.

Hundreds of Columbus residents received free furnace inspections and repairs today as technicians volunteered their time to help make sure vulnerable families stay warm and safe this winter.

About 150 volunteers from 50 local heating-and-cooling companies were part of the Heat the Town event to assist senior citizens and low-income or disabled residents throughout the city. Technicians ran tests on heating systems, completed repairs and checked carbon monoxide detectors.

Sam Freeman, 94, said he had a new furnace installed in his Franklinton home free of charge through the program about seven years ago. If not for the help, he said, hed be forced to turn his home over to his children and move into a senior citizens home. Today, technicians who inspected the system said everything checked out OK.

Such service calls would cost about $250 each, and a new furnace can cost as much as $10,000.

Columbus Division of Fire Lt. David Sawyer said many of the homes in low-income neighborhoods are at least a century old and owners cant afford a service contract, let alone a new heating system.

What you guys are doing, you are actually saving lives, he told the crowd of technicians who gathered at Carr Supply Inc. on the North Side before starting the days work. Youre reducing injuries and fatalities.

The project partners the fire department with the central Ohio chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America trade group and the IMPACT Community Action social service agency. Since 2004, members of the trade group have donated more than $250,000 in parts and labor to approximately 1,300 homes.

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Furnace-safety checkups aid hundreds of households