Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Realtors are investing in coronavirus-safe homes as the future of real estate. FOX Business' Gerri Willis with more.

Mold may be hiding in your home whereyou least expect it. For mold to live and grow, there needs to be a damp and usually dark and unexposed surface.

Mold may be hiding in a closet behind clothes you rarely touch, or behind a dresser you haven't moved away from the wall in years.

PEOPLE ARE RENTING OR BUYING SECOND HOMES FOR OFFICE SPACE AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Mold can hide in a ceiling or wall after a water leak, or under a carpet whose floor underneath is damp from inappropriate drainage or leaks.

When you see something that might resemble mold, there's a temptation to run for the bleach bottle and vigorously scrub it with a rag.

That is the last thing in the world you want to do, for several reasons.

No. 1: If it really is mold, you don't want to mess with it, inhale it and risk the potential health issues.

People also grab the towel and the bleach for fear mold could significantly reduce their chances of selling their property or cause a big financial loss in the sale. But mold is not something to mess around with.

NYC HOUSING MARKET RECOVERY MAY HINGE ON SCHOOLS REOPENING

If you have mold, it needs to be dealt with appropriately, even if it is not a serious species. It also should be disclosed in your sale. Even if you choose to remain uninformed, you are obligated to report anything that visually stands out or is otherwise known, and draw attention to it for a buyer to do his or her own investigation.

Another issue people sometimes deal with inappropriately is asbestos.

Back in the '50s and '60s, it was very popular to spray your ceiling with a compound we often refer to as "cottage cheese" or "popcorn ceiling," which often contained asbestos.

In fact, it is not true plaster but a material that was blown onto the ceiling to disguise typical cracks that may occur in plaster.

MORE AMERICANS SIGNED CONTRACTS TO BUY HOMES IN JUNE

It was very popular in those days and later became increasingly unpopular due to the dated look and resemblance to low-income tract housing that has no character or charm.

Some popcorn ceilings were enhanced with shiny specs of glitter to make them even more distinctive and decorative.

Now, of course, we are horrified to see these ceilings and can't wait to scrape them smooth again. I urge you not to pull out the razor blades, though, because you may release dangerous particles and fibers into the environment. There is an appropriate way to remove cottage cheese ceilings that contain asbestos.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Asbestos was banned in the 1970s and rarely used after 1980, so if you know your ceilings were blown onto the surface after 1980, the material likely doesn't contain asbestos.

If you think you have mold or asbestos, before doing anything, find a specialist who can analyze the specimen. Read reviews, and make sure they are legitimate vendors.

If it is determined that you have mold or asbestos, hire an appropriate remediation company to deal with it. Even if it is costly, to have peace of mind and prove to a subsequent buyer you have no liability, you need to get a certification that shows it was dealt with completely and per housing codes.

The bottom line is this: Don't panic or do things yourself. Seek qualified inspectors, and always consider your options.

Ron Wynn has been among the top 100 agents in America for over 10 years, as noted on REAL Trends/Wall Street Journal. Ron has represented over 2,200 sales totaling over $1.5 billion in sales volume in his 30-plus-year career as a real estate broker in California.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Read more from the original source:
Selling a house with problems: what to know - Fox Business

Valerie and the great hanging garden of Chestnut Hill.

By Stan Cutler

According to legend, the king ofBabylon constructed a high-rise, irrigated garden to please his wife. She was aMedean (Persian) princess who missed the greenery of her hometown when she wasforced to move to her new husbands arid city between the Tigris and Euphrates.Archaeologists havent been able to find the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one ofthe Seven Wonders of the ancient world, reportedly built around 600 BCE.

Earthquakes, wars and naturalerosion may have obliterated the clay brick walls. The layout was described byGreek and Hebrew historians as three, four or five (descriptions vary) sets ofwalls, each smaller than the one below. There were trees and decorative gardensinside each enclosure. Hand-turned irrigation pumps pulled water from theEuphrates to a holding pond at the top. The edifice was covered with thegreenery of vining species that sent runners down the walls and by attachedcontainer plants. The effect was spectacular a green mountain rising in thesere landscape.

My wife, Valerie, is not aprincess. She is a retired art teacher from Michigan and an avid gardener. I amnot a king. I am an ex-this-and-that from southwest Philly who providesgardening assistance when called upon. Valerie hangs plants on two low chainlink fences that separate our narrow backyard from our friendly neighbors oneither side. Our neighbors are also gardeners, convivially sharing opinions,encouragement, cuttings, tools and advice. Good fences do make for goodneighbors.

We live in a twin house on HighlandAvenue. Lori lives in the house next door; Beth lives on the other side of theparty wall between our houses. In fair weather, all three of them are out theredoing their things. Their neighbors, two doors away from us on either side, arealso friendly gardeners. There are days when all five households are out back,calling to each other, extolling the wonders of their plants or cursing theweeds. There are gardeners up and down the block on both sides of the street.This is the heart of Chestnut Hills renowned Garden District. Our lots arejust big enough for experimentation, small enough to be manageable. People maynot be gardeners when they move in, but most become enthusiasts soon afterward.

Chain link is the ideal fencing forgardeners. Solid wood fences block sun and air. The metal chain link fenceposts are sunk in cement, sturdy enough to support trellises, bird feeders,netting and contraptions of all sorts. For example, we clamped 2X4s verticallyto several posts, screwed brackets into the tops, and attached eight-foot pipesto the brackets. In springtime, when Valerie brings the houseplants outside,she hangs dozens of them on the pipes.

Lori, as crazy as Valerie, has amagnificent garden. The pair of them collaborate on straw baskets hung from thetop of the fence near the houses, a shaded area. They go to nurseries, togetherand separately, and choose annuals to put in the baskets. This year, Lori hadgreat success with tuberous begonias.These are finicky plants that grow from tubers, thus the name. They do betterin containers than in the ground. Its difficult to get them to bloom becausethey dont do well in direct sun, chill, wind or poorly drained soil. But, ifyou give them proper conditions, their flowers are amazingly vibrant reds oryellows that look like luscious, thick-petaled roses. (I used to misspell themin my head as tube rose, wondering where the tubes were.)

Valeries pride and joy are herorchids, which spend winters in her 7 X 12-foot greenhouse. She never, everallows one of her orchid pots to touch the ground. In the greenhouse, they areeither on the potting benches or hanging from the ceiling. She brings them outin springtime, setting them on plastic tables, suspending them from pipes laidin the crotches of the maple trees, or on shelves attached to the chain linkwith picture wire. Every October, after she sterilizes the greenhouse, shemoves them back inside. The orchids would not thrive if they couldnt hangoutside for half the year.

The fences also serve the wildlife.The pipes along the tops of the fences are squirrel paths and songbird perches.Foxes, possums, cats, dogs and raccoons are too big to squeeze through thelinks. Baby rabbits, frogs, toads, snakes and chipmunks easily travel from yardto yard through the ground-level links. For the smaller creatures, the fencesoffer safety without confinement.

I dont think folks in ChestnutHill would like to see chain link fences in front of houses; they are kind ofugly. But if youre thinking about installing a fence in your backyard, chainlink makes a lot of sense.

Originally posted here:
- Gardening: The hanging gardens of Chestnut Hill - Chestnut Hill Local

CHERRY HILL, NJ Bargain retailer Stein Mart announced its plans to shutter nearly 300 of its locations across the country on Wednesday, including the Cherry Hill store and all other New Jersey locations. The decision comes after the company previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a statement, the 112-year-old company cited changing consumer spending habits (exacerbated by the global pandemic) and a new economic landscape that fails to provide the business with "sufficient liquidity to continue operating in the ordinary course of business."

The chain stated its intentions to close a "significant portion, if not all" of its nationwide locations. While closing dates will likely vary by store, liquidation sales are set to begin immediately.

The store in Cherry Hill is located in the Ellisburg Shopping Center, 1600 Kings Highway North, Suite 20. It also has stores in Holmdel, Ocean and Watchung.

Stein Mart first opened its doors in 1908 as a department store in Mississippi before expanding to 30 states. The company employs over 8,000 people at nearly 300 locations.

The discount retailer is not the first business to cave under the economic stress of the coronavirus pandemic: JCPenney, Men's Wearhouse, Pier 1 Imports, Sur La Table and Muji have all filed for bankruptcy as of late.

Earlier this year, Victoria's Secret's parent company, L Brands, announced that over 250 stores in North America would close permanently this year, including stores at The Grove in Shrewsbury.Tween retailer Justice's parent brand Ascena Retail Group has also announced plans to shutter hundreds of stores nationwide.

With reporting from Nicole Rosenthal, Patch Staff .

Originally posted here:
Stein Mart Expected To Close All NJ Stores, Including Cherry Hill - Cherry Hill, NJ Patch

NEW BEDFORD This summer, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is sharing samples of some of its gallery exhibitions, outside on its plaza at the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street. The five-part series called "Inside Out!" runs through Oct. 15, with a new exhibition starting every two weeks. A curator talk is scheduled for each of the five exhibitions. "Inside Out!" is on display daily, Monday through Sunday, free of charge. The Whaling Museum galleries are open Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Details are available at http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

Photographs representing a sampling of the exhibition "Youth Voices for the Ocean" are on view through Aug. 19 as part of "Inside Out!" The exhibition features the student winners of the international Ocean Awareness Contest run by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs. The outdoor exhibition was curated by Robert Rocha, Director of Education and Science Programs at the Whaling Museum.

Next up for Inside Out! is "A City of Immigrants: The Standard Times Collection," running Aug. 20 through Sept. 5. The Standard Times Collection of photographs captures turn-of-the-century communities and individuals in Greater New Bedford.

Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD, curator of Social History at the Whaling Museum, commented, New Bedford was, and is, a cosmopolitan city of incredible opportunity. Immigration shaped the landscape, culture, cuisine, and very character of the city. These captivating images from the Standard Times Collection help tell the stories of Polish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Irish, Italian, Cape Verdean, Portuguese, Jewish, Greek, and other immigrant communities in the early 20th century.

A virtual curator talk with de Barros Gomes takes place online on Aug 20, 6 to 7 p.m. The event is free, but advance registration is required. Information on how to register is at http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

"A City of Immigrants: The Standard Times Collection" complements the Whaling Museums initiative Common Ground: A Community Mosaic, which is documenting the stories, memories, and lived experience of people and communities in Greater New Bedford. Both A City of Immigrants and Common Ground are curated by de Barros Gomes. Community members can contribute their own stories to the initiative at http://www.CommonGroundMosaic.com.

"Inside Out! A Moment in Time," showcasing images from the Whaling Museums photo archives, runs Sept. 3 through Sept. 16 and is curated by Emma Rocha, curatorial assistant. Each image has characteristics that makes it identifiable as being from a specific time period. Viewers will be invited to guess the year each photograph was taken. A curator talk date will be announced in the near future as will the remaining two Inside Out exhibitions.

About the New Bedford Whaling Museum

The New Bedford Whaling Museum ignites learning through explorations of art, history, science and culture rooted in the stories of people, the region and an international seaport. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city's historic downtown. The Museum is operating on reduced hours due to the corona virus pandemic. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission is free for Museum members and children ages three and under; adults $19, seniors (65+) $17, students (19+) $12, child and youth $9. For more information visit http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

See original here:
New Bedford Whaling Museum turns its exhibitions Inside Out! - Fall River Herald News

Harry Truman famously kept a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that said The Buck Stops Here. But last weekend, President Trump literally passed the buck to the states. His executive order on coronavirus relief forces the states to somehow find billions of dollars to fund unemployment benefits for jobless residents. It is the proverbial straw that may break the backs of the camels. In this case, the camels are the villages, towns, counties, and states suffering in the economic downturn amidst the pandemic.

The media is consumed by the current debate between Republicans and Democrats for the level of the weekly unemployment benefits in the next stimulus bill. But the real and overlooked economic story here is not over $400 or $600 for weekly unemployment benefits. It is the $900 billion in revenue losses related to the coronavirus in state and local governments over the next two years. The number is both ruinous and lasting.

State and local governments make up about 18 percent of gross domestic product and employ almost 22 million workers. You simply cannot prop up the nation by weakening one of its own legs. State and local governments also provide 80 percent of total spending on infrastructure at a time when Washington has effectively retreated from such key investments.

After the Great Recession, state and local investments in infrastructure fell 18 percent, according to the Volcker Alliance. It said this lack of spending has already left behind almost $1 trillion in deferred maintenance of roads, bridges, mass transportation facilities, schools, water and sewer systems, and other infrastructure, a number that is likely to grow significantly in the absence of direct federal support. Think about this the next time your car rattles over some potholes or your train to work shows up late.

This is not a Republican or a Democratic divide. Red states and blue states are reeling. The New York Times has cited the report by the Urban Institute that sales tax revenues were down 20 percent in the spring over the same period last year, according to data from 46 states. The $2 trillion stimulus deal in March had $150 billion for state and local governments.

The bandage has been washed away by the fiscal hemorrhaging. House Democrats allocated almost $1 trillion in state aid in the legislation they approved in May. Senate Republicans have included no more aid in their proposal. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana proposed around $500 billion several months ago, and some House Democrats seem to be coalescing around that number for the next round of legislation.

Meanwhile, instead of getting relief, governors in both parties got a bill for the extension of unemployment benefits. It is $4 billion in New York, more than $1 billion out in Kentucky, and $26 million weekly out in West Virginia. Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said his state could pay, but it means taking money away from other areas of the budget.

The state of the states is horrific. The impact on their budgets is structural and lasting. It may fundamentally reshape the fabric and infrastructure for all our communities. Without federal assistance, the Rust Belt will become even rustier, and our landscape will include 21st century ghost towns that can no longer afford to give or pay for services for their residents.

That is why Congress should pass legislation to create a Commission on State and Local Government Finances that will diagnostically assess the problem and submit a report within six months on steps needed to solve it. Our governors, mayors, and experts must be recruited to serve. It may not be the sexiest topic. It may scintillate only municipal controllers and credit ratings analysts. But as Tip ONeill said, All politics is local.

Steve Israel represented New York in Congress for 16 years and was the chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. He is now the director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University. You can find him on Twitter @RepSteveIsrael.

Continued here:
Congress must create commission on finances of states and localities | TheHill - The Hill

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales.

Jonathan has written his own book, the Dales 30 which details the highest mountains in the Dales.

He also runs one-day navigation courses for beginners and intermediates. Join his Learn a Skill, Climb a Hill weekends in the Dales.

To find out more details on any of the above visit his website, where2walk.co.uk

SOME of the best limestone in the country can be found between Settle and Malham and the Settle Loop (officially a bridleway) passes through some of the best.

From one of the two large car parks in the centre of Settle follow the road past the Co-op and in to Upper Settle and up a steep lane past the small wood.

This is the steepest part of the day so head down and get it over with.

After the gradient reduces it is only half a mile to a lane on your left, signed with the Pennine Bidleway/Settle Loop. The steep hillside to your left is Sugar Loaf Hill (Rye Loaf is further on to your right.)

Follow the farm track towards Stockdale Farm. This is sheep farming country, classical Dales with dry stone walls, exposed limestone scars and short cropped grasses.

Ignore the track cutting in to the farm itself, continue on the higher track.

The rocky track continues to climb until it reaches a high point passing through two gates. Carry on following the path as it descends towards another gate, Nappa Gate.

Follow the route to Langscar Gate in a north easterly direction through some lovely exposed limestone. It is here that the views over Malham Tarn may entice you down but it is an awfully long way back if you choose this route!

Keep the wall to your right initially and see if you can spot Nappa Cross and mine shaft just before it drops steeply east. Do not follow the wall but stick to the obvious path NE until it meets a further path heading west. This is the start of the return route.

The path west initially climbs and then is relatively flat for three miles, it is a lonely spot with birds and sheep only breaking the silence. After three miles arrive at a gate, do not go through it but take the path to the left to a small stile and a path that heads south with steep land to your left.

After 200 metres a sketchy path leads 100 metres uphill to Victoria Cave, well worth a detour.

Discovered in 1837 the cave has been both a historians and archaeologists dream. Past discoveries have included bones from hippos, rhinos and elephants when the climate was much warmer, a brown bear when it was colder.

Returning to the path next to the wall carry on south and through a stile where the land opens up. For a while. Drop down the path under Attermire Scar to a junction of paths at a gate. Take the right hand path through the gate and to a ladder stile (the ground can be wet here) before climbing alongside a wall to your left for 300 metres.

To your right a path leads to Attermire Cave (great shelter for past travellers) but return to the main path until it reaches its high point at a gate.

From here the views over Settle and Ribblesdale open up impressively, it is a fine spot.

Keep heading east on a path dropping steeply towards Settle/Giggleswick until you come to a wall.

Turn left, past a barn on your right, through a gate and into a lane taking you again steeply down in to the market town of Settle where the walk started.

Fact File:

Distance: Roughly 10.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 500m (1,640 feet)

Start: SD 818635. There are two car parks in Settle, one near the rugby ground, the other just to the west of the main square..

Difficulty: Medium. All on good tracks (except the short detour to Victoria Cave) and with a steep start and final descent above Settle.

Refreshments: Settle has a large choice of cafes, pubs and shops.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL2) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass.

More:
Landscape is national highlight - Craven Herald

Lots of place names in our region stem from the great efforts of North American western expansion and early exploration. Early Spanish trekkers Dominguez and Escalante may have been the most notable foreign trekkers to make routes and notes of the rugged and unknown West. But the real mapping, especially of the Four Corners area, was done by the Hayden Survey of 1875, a subsequent project to an earlier Hayden survey.

The town of Hayden in west-central Colorado bears the name of Ferdinand V. Hayden, who led the survey. One can think that his efforts were centered there in the lush green meadows and alpine buttresses near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. But that was just one of his numerous stops. Many early explorers on that team, as perhaps a reward for their efforts, had a place named after them.

This is true of the La Sal Mountains, especially its tallest peak, Mt. Peale. Albert C. Peale was one of many scientists who charted this territory, some of the last to be mapped in the lower 48 states. (The Henry Mountains west of us was the last range to be mapped.)

Besides knowing very little about the terrain, white men didnt know much about the Native Americans who peopled the region. There were at times dangerous and deadly conflicts between Natives and newbies, some of which occurred on the eastern side of the La Sals, in the Two-mile area not far from Old La Sal and the route to what is now Buckeye Reservoir.

A fascinating book by Robert S. McPherson and Susan Rhoades Neel titled, Mapping the Four Corners, Narrating the Hayden Survey of 1875, provides a peek at some of our favorite and familiar places, and what might have occurred there when white outsiders showed up.

The book quotes a variety of voices who tell of their experiences.

The survey of 1875 included a team of cartographers, geologists and scientists who thought they would enjoy a summers revisit of the Four Corners following earlier mapping efforts. But, as the book tells, the voyagers found their trip to be more challenging than expected, as the review on the dust cover of the book explains. The travelers describe wrangling half-wild pack mules, trying to sleep in rain-soaked blankets, and making tea from muddy, alkaline water. Along the way, they encountered diverse peoples, evidence of prehistoric civilizations, and spectacular scenery, said the review.

Everyone they met was not glad to see them: In southeastern Utah surveyors fought and escaped a band of Utes and Paiutes, who recognized that the survey meant dispossession from their homeland.

The book is No. 83 in the American Exploration and Travel Series of books, published by University of Oklahoma Press.

Haydens team was accompanied by early photographer William Henry Jackson, who chronicled on film some of the locales.

Haydens trek has been described as an Anglo enterprise a scientific endeavor focused on geology, geographic description, cartographic accuracy, and even ethnography. But the search for economic potential was a significant underlying motive. Said the review, These pragmatic scientists were on the lookout for gold beneath every rock, grazing lands in every valley, and economic opportunity around each bend in the trail.

Some say the Hayden survey shaped the American imagination in contradictory ways, solidifying the idea of progressand government funding of its pursuitwhile also revealing, via Jacksons photographs, a landscape with a beauty hitherto unknown and imagined, wrote the reviewer.

Of the fractious altercations between Natives and the exploration team, there are several descriptions. A report in the New York Times dated Sept. 9, 1875 was called The Hayden Survey: What the Sierra La Sal Indians did for It. A number of voices tell harrowing tales of avoiding gunshots, hiding out in the sagebrush plane east of the south side of the La Sals or somewhat near there.

The scouts animals were tired and thirsty, but the Anglo explorers knew they were easy targets for the natives holding watch from the forested foothills above. Wrote James Gardner in an Aug. 15, 1875 journal, No sooner had the rearguard passed the brow than the Indians commenced firing from behind it. He said two members of the Hayden party came very near being killed, bullets striking the ground close to them. Being in the advance I rode at once to the rear, recalled Gardner. The boys begged to be allowed to charge the Indians, but I considered it unadvisable, considering that they were protected by a hill and mounted on swift horses, and we on tired, slow mules, I therefore ordered the train forward in a trot to get out of range of the hill behind.

An image of the Native Americans who might have been protecting their stand is in the H.S. Poley Collection stored at the Denver Public Librarys Western History Collection. It depicts a number of Ute warriors astride horses, examining their rifles. They were skilled trackers and implacable foes when operating in their homeland, according to the McPherson/Neal book. The image shows the Indians carrying Winchester rifles, which were favorites because of their magazine capacity of 15 rounds, their rapid-fire capability, and their maneuverability on horseback, read the book. Their maximum effective range, however, was only about 200 yards.

Both sides set up round-the-clock guards to hold their spots. Even at 700 or 800 yards, not one of those valiant Indians would come out and shoot openly, wrote Hayden party member Cuthbert Mills in an Aug. 15, 1875 entry that was later published in the New York Times on Sept. 9, 1875. Pickets were placed at points about 50 to 75 yards distant from the barricade, and the reliefs arranged for the night.

A.C. Peale told of the fortifications happening in the trekkers camp: We made a barricade of our cargo and our aparejos [packs saddles and rigging] with the mules on both sides. We then put out three pickets [guards stationed to keep watch]. I kept guard in camp. We had a lunch of bread and cold ham. The Indians kept firing until midnight.

Peale said the guards were able to keep the opponents from advancing, but it wasnt without some chaos. Several times the mules got tangled up, wrote Peale, being in want of both feed and water. Once while we were out a shot struck Polly, the bell [lead] mare, above our heads and we tumbled into the barricade promiscuously. My foot got caught in a rope and I went in head first. None of the balls struck in the barricade, but went whizzing over our heads.

Mills told of similar uncalm: It was certainly not a pleasant night we spent. The unanimous opinion of those who knew most about Indian methods of fighting was that the band was an advanced guard thrown out to delay us till reinforcements should come up, and that at daylight the worst attack might be looked for that dusk being their favorite hour for surprises. They would probably be quiet for the night, preparing for the morning, wrote Mills.

This story will be continued next week, telling of how the explorers made it out with their hides intact or did they?

Continued here:
Hayden Survey of 1875 meant dispossession of homeland to Native peoples - The Times-Independent

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Weve all seen the reality T.V. home remodeling shows. Half way through, theres what we call an HGTV moment when it happens, We just discovered this is a load-bearing wall. Thats going to be another hit to your budget so we have to take something else out of your remodel or increase your budget to cover the cost.

No-one wants to be in this position. Its not good for you, its not good for your home remodeler. The reality is any qualified and experienced home remodeler should have figured out if there is a load-bearing wall in play well before anyone comes near your home with a sledge hammer. Undoubtedly, removing a load-bearing wall adds cost to your home remodeling plans because it requires alternate suitable support, but a little careful exploration upfront should tell you at the outset of your remodel whats really going on with that wall between your kitchen and dining room.

Be prepared, your chosen or prospective home remodeler may have to poke a few holes in your drywall at the beginning of the process to see whats going on behind the scenes. This is normal practice but will require patching if you decide not to proceed with your home remodel.

So, what are the telltale signs that might indicate if a wall is load-bearing or not?

Disclaimer alert! ALWAYS get an experts opinion before you decide to remove ANY wall in your home!

Look at the Joists

Do the joists run parallel or perpendicular to the wall youre thinking of removing? In general, if the joists run perpendicular to the wall, its a sign it might be a load-bearing wall. In the example below, the red X shows what a load-bearing wall looks like behind the drywall. However, there are some instances when joists run parallel but the wall is load-bearing because the builder has aligned the wall under a single joist or the weight is being supported by blocking between two neighboring joists, so always get a professional opinion.

Got an Unfinished Basement or Crawl Space?

If you have an unfinished basement or crawl space below your kitchen (or other first floor room you want to remodel), take a peek in the ceiling at what is going beneath the room above. If there are any type of structures (such as columns, supports, beams, etc.) that follow the same path as the wall above, its a sign of support needed for a load-bearing wall.

Dont Make Assumptions About Knee-walls or Part Walls

Just because you have a partition wall, it doesnt mean its not load-bearing. Weve had this occur in quite a few home remodels over the years. A load-bearing beam or other structure may be hiding behind the drywall of a part wall or a knee-wall with a column between two rooms. If your remodeling goal is a more open concept, a load-bearing beam may be required when you remove a part or knee-wall, so due diligence up front will ensure you know exactly what youre dealing with before construction starts.

Case Study: A Reston Townhouse Transformation

This months featured remodel is the first floor remodel of a lake-fronted townhouse in Reston. The existing layout and finishes made the first floor feel dark, small and closed-in. Preferring a contemporary look and a more open concept, our clients were ready to make the changes needed to make the home their own and better reflect their design aesthetic.

However, the wall separating the dining room and kitchen was load-bearing. We removed it along with a non load-bearing faux painted pillar (seen on the left of the Before photo). This is a great example of how things were not as you might expect the column was decorative only so it was easily removed, but a load-bearing beam was required to replace the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

The result? With the wall and pillar gone, the energy of the whole first floor is now totally transformed. The spaces flow from one to the next and the entire area feels bigger. We also replaced the sliding doors to the deck and a picture window off a sunroom to make the most of the gorgeous water views from the rear of the house. Its now a modern and tranquil space with lots of room for the couple and their family and friends to enjoy.

Ready to start your hassle-free remodel with a company who can help you figure all of this out? Get in touch for your free, no obligation consultation about your home remodeling plans!

More here:
Reno of the Month: How Do You Tell if a Wall is Load-bearing? - Reston Now

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston

WESTON The contemporary house at 132 Lords Highway in the Lower Weston neighborhood is more refined than it is rustic, yet it fits perfectly into its countrified Arcadian setting.

This particular location on a level and sloping property of just over three acres near the end of a cul-de-sac allows its owners to experience the best of indoor/outdoor living in the center of Weston. The private woodland oasis, nestled at the end of a scenic country road, abuts the 37-acre Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, which is managed cooperatively by the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Aspetuck Land Trust and offers hiking trails. Also close by is Lachat Town Farm and 1,756-acre Devils Den Nature Preserve, the latter containing 20 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and it is part of the extended 70-mile Saugatuck Valley Trails System.

Even with all this nature and solitude, there is also convenience. This house is only minutes from the towns award-winning schools, the public library, gas station and market; and for commuters, the Merritt Parkway is only about 12 minutes away. Metro-North Railroad train stations are accessible in Wiltons Cannondale area and the Saugatuck section of Westport.

The 3,940-square-foot house was built in 1978. It was first expanded in 2002 and has undergone continuous remodeling thereafter, according to the co-listing agents. As a contemporary house, it had an open floor plan to begin with but one that was improved upon with successive renovating projects. Today, the floor plan is not only open, it is flexible, which is important to todays home buyers.

A long, paved driveway opens up to provide ample parking for gatherings of friends and family, which can certainly be done safely on this spacious property. A slate path, lined by attractive shrubbery and perennial plantings, leads to the covered front porch. In the foyer there is a floating staircase. The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood-accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony and a door to a large sunroom. The sunroom accesses a large, raised wood deck.

The dining room also has a wood-accented ceiling and is open to the updated eat-in kitchen, which features soapstone counters, a center island, glass-front cabinetry with a breakfast bar for two, new appliances and a door to another raised wood deck. In the casual dining area there is built-in seating with storage.

There is a den, which is currently used as a music room, which has a fireplace. Between the den and the spacious family room, there is an office with a built-in desk area that would also work as a homework or distance learning station. In the family room, which could also be a play or recreation room, there are two built-in window seats, a wet bar and a full bath, making this area that could be converted into a fifth bedroom or an in-law or au pair suite, depending on the needs of this homes next family.

As currently arranged, this house has four bedrooms, all on the upper level. There is also another flexible use room on this floor, currently serving as a recreation room. The master suite has a walk-in closet and a luxurious bath with a contemporary double sink. One of the other bedrooms has a door to a private balcony.

For more information or to make an appointment to see the house, contact Laurie Crouse and Valerie Martins of Laurie Crouse & Associates and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Crouse at 203-984-8154 or lauriebcrouse@gmail.com, and Martins at 929-270-9393 or valmartins.ct@gmail.com.

STYLE: Contemporary

ADDRESS: 132 Lords Highway

PRICE: $839,000

ROOMS: 9

FEATURES: 3.01-acre level and sloping property, located on a cul-de-sac, two separate private decks, screened porch, wet bar, skylights, pre-wired for cable, flexible open floor plan; only minutes from Westons award-winning schools, Weston Center, Lachat Farm, Devils Den Nature Preserve, Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, Georgetown shopping district and the Cannondale train station; about 12 minutes from the Merritt Parkway, possible in-law or au pair suite, two fireplaces, lots of closets and storage, possible in-law or au pair suite, Westport beach rights, attached two-car garage, zoned central air conditioning and propane heat, mud room, attic, no basement, private well, septic system, room for a pool, four bedrooms, four full and one half updated baths

SCHOOLS: Hurlbutt Elementary, Weston Middle, Weston High

ASSESSMENT: $480,700

MILL RATE: 32.37 mills

TAXES: $15,560

HOA FEE: $140, paid annually (covers snow removal)

Go here to read the rest:
On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston - Westport News

Whether for your own personal enjoyment, to help your family spread out, or even if you're just thinking of increasing the value of your house, crafting a more permanent place of respite outdoors can be worth the investment it takes to do it right.

According to KV Harper, founder and principal of Kex Design + Build in New Orleans, the biggest considerations for a backyard renovation are how you plan to use it and what your budget is. The cost for a backyard remodel can vary greatly, with total spend averaging anywhere from a couple thousand dollars for basic landscaping to more than $40,000. For bigger budget projects that can creep into the $20,000 range, like adding an outdoor kitchen, consider a Discover personal loan (which allows for flexible repayment terms for all loan amounts of 36 to 84 months) to help cover the costs.

Getting inspired? Here are a few ideas to consider.

A small DIY pathway or patio can be constructed for less than $1,000 with materials from a big box retailer. Professional installation adds $5 to $15 per square foot, and higher-end materials, such as flagstone will also bump up the cost. Pea gravel or a similar material is the most cost-efficient. I really like crushed granite as an inexpensive hardscape that can provide a nice clean backdrop for furniture, Harper says.

If you have children or pets and dont want to deal with mowing the lawn, artificial turf is an option, though it can be expensive, at $5 to $20 per square foot, compared to $0.90 to $2 for sod.

Sheds are often under-utilized. Instead of using it as a place where rusty garden tools and old bicycles go to die, transform it into useful real estate. A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed for overnight guests. There are literally thousands of models on the market, many designed to look like miniature houses, complete with porches.

A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed.

If you aren't wiring for electricity, or concerned about climate control, the only real cost is buying a shed that comes with at least one window to let in light. These can be found at home improvement retailers and big box stores for a couple thousand dollars.

Running electricity and insulating the shed so that you can use it when the weather is hot or cold adds a few hundred dollars to the budget. The average cost of installing insulation is $0.64 - $1.19, so for a 100-square-foot shed, it would be around $120. Hiring an electrician is $50 to $100 an hour.

Dining al fresco on warm evenings is the best part of summer. Adding an outdoor kitchen and dining room can be a dream come true for many home cooks, but they can be expensive, costing up to $21,000 (or much more for a luxury setup).

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about the design. One of the first things to consider for an outdoor kitchen is the weather, notes Harper. Outdoor kitchens can get hot, so you want to design to accommodate shading either naturally or with a pergola.

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about outdoor kitchen design.

For the grill, Harper recommends gas over charcoal because it is easier to maintain and clean. She adds that you will want a durable heat-resistant stone for the flooring and countertops. Natural stone is one of the priciest materials you can choose, at $25 to $45 per square foot, but will hold up much better than cheaper options like stucco or manufactured stone.

Other add-ons that can increase your budget include plumbing for a sink, a built-in grill, refrigeration, or special features, such as a pizza oven or fireplace.

Add native plants and grasses around a sauna or hot tub for ambiance and privacy, or consider a pergola with curtains for an even more secluded escape. If either is too much of a commitment, you can achieve spa vibes by adding a small fire pit or chiminea, a water feature, and fragrant flowering vines or shrubs such as lavender.

I think the easiest way to transform a small yard is to create a design that maximizes space by using built-in seating or dining, she says, which is something she did in her own backyard. I recently added a small deck to replace the stairs from our kitchen to the backyard. It was less expensive than doing a wide deck, and now the deck functions as stairs and a place to relax.

She adds that light landscaping with hardscape materials is another inexpensive way to transform a yard. Think a pea gravel and paver patio combined with native plants that will thrive in the existing condition. In other words, if your yard only gets a few hours of sun, dont waste space trying to grow a vegetable garden.

A design that maximizes small spaces? Built-in seating or dining, says Harper.

For any backyard transformation, be sure to budget for furniture. A small patio can be outfitted for less than $1,000, but a full outdoor living and dining room set up will be significantly more. Harper recommends waiting until prices drop to invest in new pieces. I know its hard, but try to buy outdoor furniture at the end of the season when it goes on sale. Most big box retailers put outdoor furniture on sale at a deep discount around the first week of August, she says.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

Original post:
The Real Costs to Build 5 Different Backyard Retreats - HouseBeautiful.com