Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. Yosemite Village is normally a crush of humanity and traffic congestion. On Saturday, it was peaceful like few times before the only sounds coming from the wind and the few local residents.

A young bobcat ambled by the nearly abandoned administrative buildings, while ravens prattled and danced in the empty parking lots, and coyotes trotted along the valley's empty roads and walkways.

Tourists aren't allowed in California's most popular national park, but if they could visit, they might feel as if they had been transported to another time. Either to a previous era, before millions of people started motoring into the valley every year, or to a possible future one, where the artifacts of civilization remain, with fewer humans in the mix.

On March 20, the national park was closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus leaving the 7.5-mile-long valley to only a skeleton crew of 100 to 200 park and concession employees.

This month is typically a busy month in Yosemite: Of the almost 4.6 million tourists that visited the valley in 2019, about 308,000 came during April.

But on this spring day, the air was crystal clear not a hint of diesel or exhaust tainted the sweet, spring breeze. And the valley was nearly silent, except for the rushing waters of the Merced River and the wind blowing through the ponderosa pines.

"You couldn't ask for a better place to be isolated," said Warren McClain, a saucier at the Ahwahnee Hotel who has worked in the park since 2017.

He and his co-workers, Dane Peterson and Billy Sanchez, were skateboarding and cycling along Northside Drive, just east of Horsetail Fall, soaking in the bright, warm sun.

Wildlife is coming out of hiding now, they said, as it did during previous government shutdowns of the park in 1990, 1995, 2013 and 2019. The difference is that this park closure is expected to be the longest on record.

"The bear population has quadrupled," said Peterson, noting a surge of large megafauna into the fields, thoroughfares and open spaces of the park.

"It's not like they aren't usually here," he said of the bears, bobcats and coyotes that he and other employees now see congregating outside their cabins and apartments. "It's that they usually hang back at the edges, or move in the shadows."

Just three days after a snowstorm blanketed the region, spring has come to the valley. The sun was bright, the air clear, and fronds and green sprouts of vegetation burst through the dirt.

A healthy-looking coyote, still adorned in her winter coat, stalked and then captured a fat gray squirrel outside the entrance of Camp Curry. She grabbed the rodent by the neck, shook it and then proceeded to eat it whole, saving the tail for last.

The few employees sheltering in place are taking advantage of the valley's unimpeded natural amenities. Some are hiking to Mirror Lake and the falls, enjoying trails that are empty aside from the critters.

As of Saturday, the valley was completely free of the virus. Nobody was wearing masks. And social distancing didn't seem to be happening except at the Village Market.

Only 10 people at a time are allowed in the small grocery store, and three wash stations are outside the entrance. Customers are required to scrub and disinfect their hands before entering.

"If the virus comes into the valley, it's going to come through here," said Ken Concroft, a market employee who was managing the wash stations out front. He said the biggest risk comes from visitors who own property in places such as Foresta and The Redwoods, which are inside the park boundaries.

He and other employees fear "people who are from the city" visiting their second homes and inadvertently bringing the virus with them.

He said three visitors had come in that morning.

Entry at the park gates is permitted only to employees, essential workers and those who can show the deeds to their houses.

The wash stations, social distancing measures and newly installed plexiglass sheets that separate customers from cashiers are all steps the market has taken to prevent the spread of virus in the valley.

Concroft was interested to hear that many stores outside the park are now prohibiting the use of cloth bags, eyeing them as sources of viral transfer.

"We'll have to consider that, too," he said. "We're doing everything we can to keep it out."

For gateway towns such as Oakhurst, Mariposa and Groveland, Yosemite's shutdown has hobbled numerous businesses, as it has in communities near other closed national parks. Outside of California, some of those closures have come recently and followed weeks of controversy, in which town leaders accused the Interior Department of being slow to close parks as a protective measure.

Char Miller, a historian at Pomona College, said the park probably was very similar today to how it appeared to visitors in the 19th century.

He referred to journal entries, written by early visitors, such as Alice Ives Van Schaack, who visited Yosemite in 1871 and marveled overits natural wonders and majesty. Upon seeing Yosemite Valley for the first time, she later wrote, "I felt Heaven itself could not be much lovelier."

Miller said that geological marvels such as El Capitan and Half Dome "remind us of how short our time is here."

"One thing we can know for sure is that Yosemite is enduring," he added. "It was here before us, and will remain after we leave."

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Wildlife is reclaiming Yosemite National Park: 'The bear population has quadrupled' - The Keene Sentinel

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE Some of the primates were playfully swinging in their jungle gym Friday morning as the two lions, Lex and Bella, peacefully stretched out in the grass nearby, basking in the sun on the chilly spring day.

The bison roamed under the elevated boardwalk. The peacocks roamed the walkways squawking and ruffling their feathers. Its mating season.

Everything looked normal at the Cape May County Park and Zoo, except it was empty. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the zoo has been closed to the public since mid-March, but staff is still on site, albeit reduced, to care for the animals.

Typically, there are 17 to 20 staff members at the zoo, but that has been reduced to about 12.

We cut down the staff to a much smaller crew because were in an effort to obviously maintain social distancing and keep our staff healthy, said Alex Ernst, zoo veterinarian. If we can keep our staff healthy then we can keep the animals healthy.

He said the quality of care for the animals has not been compromised. No staff or animals have shown symptoms of COVID-19.

The zoo has about 500 animals. Ernst said the known susceptible animals that could contract the virus from humans are big cats like the tiger at the Bronx Zoo that tested positive or primates, due to their genetic similarities to humans. To further protect the primates, lions and tigers in the zoo, staff members have eliminated all close contact with them, but still maintain the same amount of care at a safe distance. Staff members are also wearing personal protective equipment and no longer work in pairs, for the time being.

Staff has also been split up into two teams. Only one team will work a single days shift to decrease the chances of a staff member spreading the virus to the entire staff. If an employee did test positive, they would no longer come to work and would be expected to self-isolate for 14 days. The animals they came in contact with would be closely monitored for symptoms as well.

Not only does care continue, but animal enrichment as well.

Because we cannot have as much contact with the animals, some of the species dont get their training that theyre used to, said Jen Berg, supervising animal keeper of carnivores and primates. A lot of the cats are used to having that time with us where they come to the fence and rub up, which theyre not getting. But we try to make up for it in other ways by still giving them their different treats. We just have to put it in their dens before they come in.

Training, she explained, is husbandry behaviors such as cleaning the animals space and veterinary care, such as oral medication or injection training.

She said some staff has also seen a change in animal behavior. The animals enjoy people watching, but there are no people around.

The cats ask for a lot more attention from me and are a lot more tuned in to little things, Berg said. They usually know when Im around, but if maintenance (staff) was doing something theyre especially tuned into them or little things that they wouldnt necessarily always notice when theres full public here.

Peter Cyr, senior zookeeper, said its sometimes hard to tell whether or not the animals miss the stimulus of having the public interacting, so staff members try to keep them entertained.

We put out their food, we give them toys and we have a number of different things for just visual distractions, he said.

But in some ways, he said, its been easier to care for the animals without the public in the zoo, because some people come in and think its a theme park and throw stuff.

The downside though, is that the public is our bread and butter, Cyr said. Its gratifying, working with the public. You can educate, you can reach out and actually make a connection with a little kid who is interested in animals.

And not only is foot traffic lacking, but visitor donations as well. The zoo is free to visit, but relies heavily on donations. It also receives funding from the county.

April and May, and the early part of June, we kind of call it field-trip season, Ernst said. We get school groups in from literally the entire region, and were obviously not getting that right now.

Spring break is also a busy week for the zoo, but not this year. Ernst said without the school trip fees and donations from visitors it usually gets between March and May, the zoo is losing at least $140,000.

The county counts on us to generate as much donations as we can so we can be as self-sufficient as possible, he said. Thats whats going to be the challenge going forward. This obviously appears as if its going to go longer than April and we could lose a good chunk of May, or maybe June. The uncertainty is whats difficult for us right now. Then once we do go back to normal, we still dont know exactly how thats going to impact visitation.

And when social distancing practices do start relaxing, Ernst believes the zoo will play an important role in going back to what we know.

I think that when we finally do start taking those steps to go back to normal, the Cape May County Zoo is going to be integral to this area, he said. Its an outdoor venue, its expansive. It would be very easy to visit the zoo and maintain your social distancing.

We want to conserve the wild populations and bring awareness of these animals to the general public, he added. And we cant get that message out there right now. I guess I do miss that ... and then just the general chaos and kids running and laughing and just all of that. Its quiet and peaceful, but its not supposed to be.

Peter Cyr zookeeper at Cape May Zoo caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Jen Berg, 30, of Cape May Court House, helps care for some of the approximately 500 animals.

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Alex Ernst, Veterinarian at Cape May Zoo talks about caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Peter Cyr, the zookeeper at the Cape May County Park and Zoo, cares for camels at the zoo in Cape May Court House on Friday.

Alex Ernst, Veterinarian at Cape May Zoo talks about caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Alex Ernst, Veterinarian at Cape May Zoo talks about caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

Cape May Zoo zookeepers are caring for the animals amid COVID-19 Friday April 17, 2020. Edward Lea Staff Photographer / Press of Atlantic City

A peacock walks around the zoo on Friday. The zoo has been closed to visitors since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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It's quiet and peaceful, but it's not supposed to be:' Cape May Zoo staff maintains animal care, but misses the public - Press of Atlantic City

Signage urging social distancing is seen in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York could be reaching a "plateau" in hospitalizations, he warned that gains are dependent on people continuing to practice social distancing. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

If a park, beach or recreational facility is open for public use, visiting is OK as long as you practice social distancing and everyday steps such as washing hands often and covering coughs and sneezes. Follow these actions when visiting a park, beach, or recreational facility:

Stay at least six feet from others at all times. This might make some open areas, trails, and paths better to use. Do not go into a crowded area.

Avoid gathering with others outside of your household.

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Bring hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to use if soap and water are not available.

Link:
The do's and don'ts of visiting parks to prevent virus spread - Quad City Times

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

April is National Occupational Therapy Month. During this month of celebration, the occupational therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital want to remind community members of ways to stay safe and independent in their own homes and most importantly, how to prevent falls.

Occupational therapists who work in hospitals often are referred to assist people who have fallen at home. A fall at home could result in fractured arms or legs, not to mention multiple bruises and tarnished pride. Often, many of these falls could have been prevented, had the people taken precautionary steps to make their homes safe and clutter free.

Here are a few suggestions to prevent falls at home:

1) Remove obstacles to make clear walkways between rooms.2) Have dim lights on at night to help see the way from the bedroom to the bathroom.3) Use a bath tub bench to sit on during showers or baths to prevent falls in the tub.4) Remove all throw rugs in hallways and in doorways.5) Install banisters on both sides of staircases.6) Avoid storing items on high shelves that require the use of a stool to obtain.7) Do daily activities at a moderate or slow pace; hurrying often leads to trips and falls.8) Wear shoes or rubber soled slippers when walking in the house.9) Do not sit in chairs that have wheels on the base.10) Always carry a cordless phone or have Life Line installed.

If you have any questions or want more information, please call the occupational therapists at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-5528.

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April is National Occupational Therapy Month: How to stay independent and safe in your home | The Standard Newspaper - Waukon Standard

WASHINGTON Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nations economy, adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House.

We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and were not there yet, Fauci said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Faucis comments come as President Donald Trump and others in the administration weigh how quickly businesses can reopen and Americans can get back to work weeks after the fast-spreading coronavirus essentially halted the U.S. economy. Trump has floated the possibility of reopening some areas by May 1 and said he could announce recommendations as soon as this week.

Fauci said a May 1 target is a bit overly optimistic for many areas of the country. Any easing off the strict social-distancing rules in place in much of the country would have to occur on a rolling basis, not all at once, he said, reflecting the ways COVID-19 struck different parts of the country at different times.

Among Faucis top concerns: that there will be new outbreaks in locations where social distancing has eased, but public health officials dont yet have the capabilities to rapidly test for the virus, isolate any new cases and track down everyone that an infected person came into contact with.

Ill guarantee you, once you start pulling back there will be infections. Its how you deal with the infections thats going count, Fauci told the AP.

Key is getting people out of circulation if they get infected, because once you start getting clusters, then youre really in trouble, he added.

At the same time Fauci is directing critical government research, hes also one of the administrations leading spokespeople on the virus, spending hours each week by Trumps side during his lengthy, daily White House briefings.

Fauci said his public role is important but conceded that the duration of those briefings Mondays ran for nearly two-and-a-half hours was really draining and that doesnt even count preparation and waiting for it to start.

If I had been able to just make a few comments and then go to work, that would have really been much better, he said. It isnt the idea of being there and answering questions, which I really think is important for the American public. Its the amount of time.

Much of Faucis time outside of the White House briefing room is focused on analyzing progress on blood tests that aim to tell who was exposed to the coronavirus whether they knew they were sick or not by spotting antibodies their immune system formed to fight back. Those tests will be crucial in determining when and how people can go back to work.

The problem: Most of the tests have not yet been proven to work well, Fauci cautioned. He noted that some countries bought millions of antibody tests only to learn they didnt work.

Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, said his staff is working with the Food and Drug Administration to validate those tests. That means proving what level of antibodies it takes to really be immune; if particular types of antibodies are key rather than an overall level; and how long that protection lasts.

Were going to have to find out the answer to all of those questions, Fauci stressed. I know people are anxious to say, Well, well give you a passport that says youre antibody-positive, you can go to work and youre protected. The worst possibility that would happen is if were actually wrong about that and those people get infected.

Another complication is that scientists still dont have a solid understanding of how often people who show either no obvious symptoms or very few symptoms are spreading the virus. Its purely a guesstimate but no less than 25% and no more than half of overall cases may be from the relatively asymptomatic, he said.

Looking ahead, Fauci said a second wave of infection isnt inevitable. But he added: if you mean it goes way down and then come September, October, November, we have another peak, I have to say I would not be surprised. I would hope that if and when that occurs, that we jump all over it in a much, much more effective way than we have in these past few months.

Lauran Neergaard And Julie Pace, The Associated Press

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Fauci: Were not there yet on key steps to reopen economy - 680 News

When properly research and planned, chiller replacements can deliver long-term benefits to departments and facilities

The time has come to replace one of a facilitys main chillers. It is nearly 25 years old and has been overhauled at least once. Maintenance and engineering department technicians have done all they can to keep it running, but it is becoming increasingly unreliable. It has had to be shut down for emergency maintenance twice in the last 90 days, resulting in outages that lasted at least four hours. Service calls are becoming more expensive, and parts more difficult to get. It is just a matter of time until it fails. Then the facility could face a prolonged outage. It is time for a replacement chiller.

Deciding to replace a chiller is hardly the end of the challenges. Installing the new chiller will be a problem. They are expensive. Installation will be disruptive and most likely will result in a relatively long period when chilled water will not be available to the facility. Managers will have to make temporary arrangements to supply chilled water to critical loads. Even the task of getting the old chiller out of the building and the new one in will be a challenge.

When facing tough problems, however, managers also can take advantage of opportunities. If the replacement project is carefully planned and implemented, operations can benefit from the improved energy efficiency of a new chiller. The new technology can eliminate refrigerant supply and cost issues. Chiller plant reliability and occupant comfort can improve significantly. The move also can reduce overall chiller plant maintenance requirements and costs, and managers can reconfigure chiller plants to better meet current conditions in the facility.

New chillers offer improvements in full- and part-load operating efficiencies over those found in most operating chiller plants. When new, water-cooled chillers from 20 years ago offered full-load operating efficiencies of 0.75-0.85 kW per ton. Comparably sized chillers today are available with full-load efficiencies of under 0.50 kW per ton.

Remember though, the efficiency of the existing chiller will have decreased over time, so that figure of 0.75 kW per ton most likely is much higher. Simple wear and tear on components, along with fouling of heat-transfer surfaces, most likely have hampered performance, even with the best maintenance.

While improvements in full-load efficiencies are good, a typical chiller operates at full-load less than 2 percent of the time. Nearly 85 percent of the time, a typical chiller operates at 50-75 percent of full-load capacity. The part-load performance characteristics of new chillers provide the greatest financial benefits.

One way manufacturers have improved part-load efficiencies is through the use of variable- frequency drives (VFD). A typical chiller operating at 60 percent of full load might use 0.48 kW per ton. That same chiller equipped with a VFD operating under the same conditions would use about 0.27 kW per ton. VFDs also offer the advantage of soft starting the chillers drive, which reduces stress on the motor windings.

Magnetic-drive bearings in chillers are replacing standard chiller bearings. These levitating bearings reduce friction within the chiller, improving operating efficiency. Magnetic bearings also do not require oil to operate, producing additional savings by eliminating potential oil fouling of heat-transfer surfaces. The lack of a need for lubrication oil eliminates the cost of oil changes and analysis.

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Chiller Replacements: Out With the Old, In With the New - FacilitiesNet

Elaine Powers, Powers Heating & Air, Peachtree City , was recently named 2020 Contractor of the Year by the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia (CAAG), a statewide nonprofit professional trade association based in Atlanta, Georgia that represents HVAC or conditioned air contractors around the state which are professionally licensed by the Georgia Secretary of States office.

Mrs. Powers is the only person in the history of CAAG to receive this award three different times. She also received the award in 2015 and 2019. She is also the first woman to serve as President of the association for the 2018-2019 term of office. She has served on CAAGs Board of Directors for a number of years, is the current CAAGs representative on the Dept of Community Affairs Codes Advisory Committee and is a director in the Metro Atlanta Air Conditioning Contractors Chapter of CAAG. Additionally, last year Governor Brian Kemp appointed her to the State Licensing Board for HVAC contractors, the State Construction Industry Licensing Board, Conditioned Air Division.

Elaine has lived in Fayette County since 1969 with only a brief interruption while serving in the U.S. Navy for one term. She graduated from the University of West Georgia with an Accounting degree and has an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Elaine has been active in the industry since 1979 and is currently the President of Powers Heating & Air. Powers is a Premier Lennox Dealer and provides maintenance, service repairs and replacements for residential clients mostly in Fayette and Coweta Counties. Powers also serves industrial, institutional and general commercial clients throughout the State.

Congratulations to Mrs. Powers on receiving CAAGs highest award and honor.

The Conditioned Air Association of Georgia (CAAG) is a state-wide, nonprofit trade association based in Atlanta, Georgia which represents contractors who are engaged in the design, sales, installation, maintenance, service and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers.

CAAG, formed in 1980, has over 1000 members in 24 local chapters. The membership is composed of great diversity in sizes of member firms from the very large mechanical contractors to the very small family-owned businesses. Regardless of the size, CAAG represents the professionals in the industry who have a genuine interest in improving the industry for both the customer and the contractor.

CAAGs goal is to promote quality and professionalism in the HVACR industry in the state of Georgia and the demonstration of a genuine concern for the safety, comfort and health of our customers by providing quality HVACR services.

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Elaine Powers named 2020 Contractor of the Year by Conditioned Air Association of Georgia - The Citizen.com

By Tom Tolen / news@whmi.com

At the Brighton Board of Education meeting Monday night, Supt. Greg Gray said that school officials have conferred with their financial advisers in performing the districts required due diligence on the $59 million bond issue passed last fall.

Due diligence is defined as a comprehensive appraisal of a business, especially to establish its assets and liabilities and evaluate its commercial potential, in this case, its reliability in paying back the interest on the bonds. Gray says the interest rates have recently increased by one-half per cent but continue to be favorable, and he anticipates no delay in conducting the bond sale sometime in May. He says the COVID-19 pandemic could set construction back a bit, but that wont matter because he was anticipating a light construction schedule this summer regardless. Gray says the majority of construction will be taking place during the summers of 2021 and 22.

Improvements to district schools with implementation of the bond issue include a new STEAM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math center at the high school, plus STEAM classroom renovations throughout district schools, a new multi-purpose facility that can be used for athletics and other activities, parking lot and roof replacements, new HVAC units at the high school and many other upgrades.

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WHMI 93.5 Local News : Light Bond Construction Schedule Anticipated This Summer - WHMI

words Al Woods

Although there is no shortage of contractors on the market, finding a reliable one can be very difficult. This is true regardless of your situation and the type of job you hope to get done. Naturally, when you are looking to make an upgrade to your home or property, you will want the service to offer superlative quality that is out of this world. However, you will need to keep an eye on your budget, all while making sure that the contractor is working on a schedule.

The importance of these many dimensions and considerations are obvious, seeing as good quality service can help you avoid future issues, as well as add value to your property. Moreover, finishing the job as scheduled will help you focus on your other responsibilities without any impediments or nuisances.

That said, here are a few tips that should help you find the finest contractor every single time.

Many people make the mistake of asking the wrong people and searching in the wrong places. It is crucial that you always use credible sources when you are looking for reliable contractors. A fruitful method will include asking your friends and family about their experiences with reliable contractors. However, seeing as you could be in an area that is absolutely unfamiliar to you, using credible online sources like Angies List can be extremely helpful. Typically, credible sources will have verified their user reviews, which means they guarantee that the user has worked with any one of the contractors you show interest in.

Seeing as many of the reviews can lack depth and hardly touch the surface of any worries or concerns you might have, make sure to ask for references. This will also help you narrow down your choices. Typically, you will need to make a few phone calls, which include calling clients, previous homeowners, employees, and subcontractors. Doing so will help create a more vivid picture of what you can expect. However, for that to happen, you will need to ask questions about how the contractor handles changes to the contract if they pay everyone on time, and how they behave towards the job site.

Part of ensuring a contractors reliability includes confirming their license. This is integral to the process, as an unlicensed contractor can hardly ever be considered as reputable or reliable. Usually, a certified contractor will make sure it is known. However, if it is not proudly exhibited on any of their webpages, ads or brochures, then make sure to ask. This should be done for all types of contractors, even if it includes a seemingly small plumbing job. A certified plumber will be able to professionally tend to your problem, and you can visit this URL to learn more about the quality workmanship certified plumbers provide. Their certification allows them to skillfully work with the type of job, which can include clogged drains, water heater installation, electronic leak detection and many more. Also, a certification or license can usually vouch for the promises they make, which may include getting the job done right the first time and working 24 hours a day.

It is key to the success of this process that you never sign with a contractor or make any formal agreements before asking them for an estimate or formal bid. An estimate will allow you to compare the costs with your budget. However, more importantly, it will give you an idea about their strong suit and what is not. For instance, they may excel in kitchen remodels but may not be as great at home additions. Furthermore, you will be able to discuss, according to the estimate, what types of materials you want to use, and also adjust the details involved.

In addition to all these considerations, you will need to make sure you do your homework. However, you will need to be thorough and include many aspects of your research. Start with a thorough background check, which can say a lot about a contractor. In order to do so effectively, purposefully look for any hidden skeletons, which might include legal issues. Also, ask about the preferred subcontractors your chosen contractor likes using. Make sure they are equally proficient at their jobs. And finally, ask about insurance and permits involved in the remodeling or upgrading project they will be working on.

All in all, finding the finest contractor is not at all hard. Simply by following these minor, yet effective, tips, you will narrow your search down to the contractor the best suits your needs. However, you will need to be smart about your payment schedule, seeing as some people can start slacking after receiving the whole payment. So, make sure to leave out just enough money to act as an incentive for persistence.

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Tips On Finding The Finest Contractor Every Single Time - Flux Magazine

A patchwork of wood shingles and stone form this Toronto home that local practice Batay-Csorba Architects has extended and renovated.

Located in Toronto's residential neighbourhood Baby Point, the two-storey house was built in the early 1900s with stones from the city's Humber river, stucco and wood. The homeowners sought to preserve the characteristics of the home, and enlisted Batay-Csorba Architects for the renovation.

The original house was a mixture of Arts and Crafts-style and Tudor Revival, as seen in the exterior details that Batay-Csorba Architects left intact.

When developer Robert Home Smith created the garden suburb of Baby Point in 1912, he had many of the homes designed in this aesthetic, the studio explained.

"The Baby Point district is currently under study as a heritage conservation district in Toronto," said the studio. "The clients for Baby Point Residence had an interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, and preserving neighbourhood character."

The team cut a large, double-height slice in the west side of the home and added a gabled roofline on the back facade that features ample glazing and views of the back garden's ravine.

The result is a home that has three pitched rooflines of similar proportions, two of which run alongside one another on the back facade and a third that cuts across them. The home's front facade showcases new windows, wood shingles and masonry.

In addition to building the extension, Batay-Csorba Architects renewed the existing home structurally, reorganised the layout by tearing down walls and refurbished the interiors.The team sought to understand the underlying principles of the Arts and Crafts movement to design the house.

"Beyond medieval motifs, ornamentation and nostalgia for hand craftsmanship, we also interpreted the Arts and Crafts movement spatially," the studio added.

The ground floor is centred around a built-in storage volume that provides a pantry and a coffee bar in the new kitchen, and a bar nook in the adjacent dining room. A living room and separate sitting area round out the main level.

Custom furniture was built by local designer Heidi Earnshawand includes a wood banquette in the kitchen whose aesthetic is designed to be reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement. Minimal, built-in cabinets in pale and dark wood feature throughout the home for added storage.

A stairwell with glass railings cuts through one of the home's pitched rooflines and accesses three bedrooms with ensuites. Measuring 5,200 square feet (483 square metres), Baby Point Residence is square-shaped in plan and is complete with a bedroom, living room, and two bathrooms in the basement.

Walls are white in sharp contrast to the existing stone fireplaces, and pale wood covers the floors.

Batay-Csorba Architects was founded in 2010 by Andrew Batay-Csorba and Jodi Batay-Csorba.

The studio has designed several apartment complexes in Toronto, including a building with a brick screen exterior and two townhouses linked together, as well as Milky's coffee shop.

Photography is by Doublespace Photography.

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Batay-Csorba Architects expands Arts and Crafts-style house in Toronto - Dezeen