Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AVERTED

June 26, 2017 by LAM Staff

For Alaskas Anan Wildlife Observatory, Suzanne Jackson designs around the attraction: bears.

Suzanne Jackson spent nearly 30 years as a landscape architect at the Aspen, Colorado, office of Design Workshop, channeling her passion for backcountry hiking into habitat restoration and open space preservation. But it was when Jackson reconnected with her former colleague Barth Hamberg that things began to get, well, wild. Hamberg manages the landscape architecture program for Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, the largest national forest in the nation. In 2014, he offered Jackson a two-year post.

Jackson was charged with creating a master plan for the Anan Wildlife Observatory, which is located on a remote peninsula in Tongasss Wrangell district and accessible only by boat or floatplane. Its a steeply sloping temperate rain forest of spruce, hemlock, and huckleberries, and the pools and waterfalls of Anan Creek support one of the regions largest pink salmon runs. That means a lot of hungry predators gathering to feast: black bears, grizzlies (called brown bears locally), eagles, and otters, to name just a few. That biodiversity has been a tourism magnet for decades, and helps support the economies of two small towns in the area: Wrangell and Ketchikan.

But access and safety both are issues, because many visitors arent particularly nimble. Jacksons job was to employ her design background to both enhance their experience and keep them from falling off trails or coming nose to snout with bears.

Among the problems were the raised wooden boardwalks. Constant moisture made for slippery footing, which is a hazard as well as a distraction. As Jacksons master plan points out, hikers often feel unsteady and unable to focus on the surrounding environment. Instead, Jackson recommended using crushed rock where the terrain is suitable, to provide a firmer, safer walking experience, she says.

The regions drastic tidal shifta difference of up to 20 feet in some placesalso complicated the arrival experience. If a boat or floatplane came in at high tide, visitors were greeted with stairs. If they arrived at mid- or low tide, they had to navigate jagged rocks. That trailhead area already was slated for improvements when Jackson began, but the plan points out that the changing water line even makes construction difficult, because materials and machinery cant be easily off-loaded during low tide.

And then, of course, there were the bears. During Jacksons tenure, the landscape architecture team had called in ecologists to map the animals routes and foraging areas in another part of Tongass, and the plan recommends a similar study at Anan. One section was particularly worrisome; it grazed a tight corner that hikers couldnt see around, which could lead to a person and a bear coming into sudden and startling contact. Line of view for approaching bears is very important, Jackson says. Reconstruction of that so-called pinch point is listed as one of several critical projects to be completed between 2017 and 2030.

Besides creating safe passage, Jacksons goal was to convey the value of nature and hopefully foster a sense of stewardship, as well as tourism. In Alaska, she says, [tourism] is seen as a benefit to the economy, a way to move away from other things like taking down old-growth forests or mining.

Like Loading...

Posted in ACCESSIBILITY, HABITAT, LAM MAGAZINE, MATERIALS, NOW, PRESERVATION, SPECIES, WILDLIFE | Tagged Alaska, Anan Creek, Anan Wildlife Observatory, Barth Hamberg, Bears, Boardwalk, Design Workshop, forest, Hikers, landscape architect, Landscape Architecture, landscape design, Suzanne Jackson, Tongass National Forest, trail, wildlife | Leave a Comment

Visit link:
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AVERTED | Landscape Architecture ... - Landscape Architecture Magazine

Edmond has amended its landscaping ordinance. A professional landscape designer is required during the planning process. [PHOTO BY PAUL HELLSTERN, THE OKLAHOMAN]

EDMOND Urban Forestry Commission members have been working since 2012 to amend the city's landscaping ordinance to be more flexible and, hopefully, eliminate crowding caused by too many required trees, shrubs and other plants.

The forestry commission discussed the landscape ordinance 25 times and the landscape code subcommittee of the forestry commission met more than 17 times to craft the revisions. A workshop on the ordinance was held in 2016.

Planning commissioners and Development Impact Review Committee members also worked on the 60-plus-page document.

Their efforts were completed this week when the city council unanimously approved the amended ordinance that will take effect Jan. 1.

There is the same amount of area to be landscaped, it is just not as dense, said Ryan Ochsner, green infrastructure planner. With crowding of the trees and plants, you have the risk of losing not just one plant but both plants.

Basically, we wanted to fix the issues we found in the code. We wanted something that was enforceable.

The goals included increasing preservation of trees and of the Cross Timbers Ecosystem, to fix issues in the current code, to improve enforceability, and ensure long-term health and viability of the trees, said City Planning Director Randy Entz.

One of the biggest changes is that landscaping discussions will begin earlier in the planning process and proposed designs will come from a professional landscape architect.

In the end, we believe it will be a better product, Ochsner said.

Former Mayor Dan O'Neil campaigned against the amended ordinance, claiming the new code provided fewer standards, particularly along the Interstate-35 corridor.

O'Neil, a member of Edmond Beautiful, was part of a committee nearly 20 years ago that created the I-35 corridor standard for Edmond.

We hammered it out for a year, O'Neil said. We wanted to encourage a pleasant driving experience. We want to be different from Oklahoma City. We wanted to make sure what we had was something special.

The amended ordinance reduced the number of plant units from 40 to 30 along the interstate.

Much of the work done in this section was to address struggles regularly faced with the existing code, while focusing on the objectives of the district, Ochsner said. All other plant unit requirements are reduced, but remain higher than the general standards.

Mayor Charles Lamb said when the I-35 corridor code was written it started with 30 plant units in September 1998, but was increased to 40 in 2005.

That is not a different plant unit now than when we started, Lamb said.

When a project has more parking spaces than the code requires, the amended landscape ordinance will require 15 trees for each four spaces over the regulated number. The current ordinance used a sliding scale that made it difficult to include all the required plantings.

The purpose to this is to shift the focus to landscape that provides a value, Ochsner said. "It has been a real challenge. It has been an absolute struggle."

Read more:
Rules on how to landscape have changed in Edmond - NewsOK.com

Neighbors on Nantuckets eastern end have more than faded red chinos and a desirable zip code in common; many have landscape artist Marty McGowan, too. For 43 years, McGowan has designed some of the islands coveted properties helping to shape Nantuckets signature yin-yang of natural beauty, with elements like teeming bunches of hydrangeas and roses spilling over picket fences, along with the manicured European elegance of topiaries and imposing privacy hedges. But its the unexpected that sets his work apart, and that comes from a lifetime of study and observation both on and off the island.

I tell clients, whatever the earth will allow me to do I will do that for you, says McGowan, who is not a purist about native species but instead focuses on creating artistry and whimsy for his clients' gardens.

McGowan's Landscaping at Greydon House.

Photo: Douglas Friedman

For Nantuckets Greydon House hotel , a new 20-room inn off Main Street, McGowan worked with Manhattan interior designers Roman and Williams to create abundant gardens and window boxes that speak to the spirit of the hotel, its nautical roots, and Nantuckets worldly past.

We had a strong connection with Marty from the beginning and bonded over his idea of mixing vegetables, herbs, and flowers in Greydon Houses flower boxes and gardens," says Robin Standefer, principal and cofounder of Roman and Williams. "That intentionally unexpected variety became the foundation of our overall design inspiration for the project."

McGowan's Landscaping at Greydon House.

Photo: Courtesy of Douglas Friedman

Working to compliment the hotels interior color palette, he used plants from Germany, Asia, the Caribbean islands, and Portugal, including unusual black grasses from Florida, German geraniums, and a blue succulent that resembles ocean flora. McGowan created a landscape that reflects the life of a well-traveled sea captain like the one who might have lived in the hotels 1850s Greek Revival house.

No wonder the designers known for creating narrative hotel environments would find a kinship in McGowan. He is likely the only gardener whose farm was inspired by an abstract painting by artist Paul Klee. Pumpkin Pond Farm , his organic farm and nursery, complements the landscape-design business, providing produce for many of the islands top restaurants, and welcoming guests for tours and tastings like his annual heirloom Tomato Festival in August. McGowan planned the farms plants and vegetable fields by color to resemble Klees Cubist landscape Highways and Byways from 1929. Mica stone pavers, like the ones that paved historic Nantucket streets, bisect the center of the farm.

The "hydrangea park" at Pumpkin Pond Farm.

Photo: Courtesy of Marty McGowan

McGowan was exposed to art early by his mother, a master weaver with a masters degree in art. He gained a practical understanding of working the land from his grandfather who owned a 10-acre farm near his Rochester home. A chance invitation from a friend brought McGowan to the island for the month of August 1966 and for several other Augusts of his youth. When McGowan was old enough, he spent summers on Nantucket working for people like Earl Coffin, a gardener and descendant of an original English settler to Nantucket, who tended to the gardens of old-Nantucket families. Coffin shared his wisdom, which McGowan parlayed into his own business, called Sconset Gardener.

Moving to Nantucket allowed me to create my own identity and be creative from the beginning, says McGowan.

Today McGowans work takes him all over the world, researching at international conferences and events such as the Chelsea Flower Show , and working on Nantucket clients other homes in places like Mexico, California, Florida, Washington, and Boston.

The "Walk of Thyme" and "Apian Way" at Pumpkin Pond Farm.

Photo: Courtesy of Marty McGowan

Nantucket has a unique climate that allows for beautiful gardens, McGowan says, People come here and they see it and theyre enchanted. They want to have a beautiful garden, too.

McGowan credits his success to observing mother nature on the island. He spends much of his free time walking the paths and trails through undeveloped parts of Nantucket, which comprises nearly 60 percent of the island. His favorite is the walk past Miacomet Beach to Lady Beach for a swim at sunset or hiking along the paths at Hummock Pond and Sanford Farm through the woods and moors to the sea. It always gives me the sense of knowing Im in the right place.

See more here:
This Is the Landscape Architect Nantucket's Elite Have on Speed Dial - Architectural Digest

There are essentially two types of log home stains available on the market today:

Oil based (Alklyd) Log Home Stain

Widely Available, Wood grain visibility, UV Protection, Non Porous, Easy application

Trap Moisture, Brittle, Can't Breathe, Weather Quickly, Coat build-up over time, Blistering if moisture is present behind finish, High Maintenance

Latex based Solid Color Log Home Stain

Widely available, Breathable, Flexible, Durable, High UV Protection, Porous, Easy application, Low maintenance, Long life

Won't prevent decay if conditions are favorable, Short Shelf Life

Semitransparent Acrylic Latex based Log Home Stain

Widely available, Breathable, Flexible, Durable, High UV Protection, Wood grain visibility, Porous, Low maintenance, Long life

More difficult to apply than oil based stains and solid color stains, Short Shelf Life

Log Home Varnishes

Allows for natural look of logs, Widely available

High maintenance, prone to Cracking, Peeling and Blistering, Requires recoating every 1-2 years, Partial UV protection

Oil based Semitransparent Log Home Stains

Penetrates into wood, Wood grain visibility, Breathable, High UV protection

Perform best on roughsawn, weathered, or course textured wood, Compatibility issues with most log home sealants due to waxes found in most penetrating finishes, Doesn't have a furniture grade finish look (dull), must apply second coat before first coat dries in order for stain to penetrate wood

So we have all this helpful information on the types of log home stains but which log home stain is the best?

It is hard to say which one is the absolute best because there are many factors that ultimately decide how well or long a log home stain will perform. Some of these factors are:

Of these factors none are more important than proper surface preparation of the logs before applying a log home stain. If the surface of the logs have not been prepped properly none of these log home stains will perform as they state they will. This is why it is important to only hire a qualified log home restoration expert to work on your log home! They will have the knowledge and expertise to work with the products available in the log home market currently. This will ensure your investment is protected well into the future.

While we cant say which log home stain is the overall best, we can recommend which type of log home finishes we feel perform exceptionally well and keep maintenance costs down throughout the years. This only holds true if proper surface preparation is kept in mind before and during any finish or sealant application. In our opinion, film - forming, latex based waterborne log home finishes such as PermaChink are best bang for your buck!

While PermaChink finishes aren't the cheapest out there they seem to require the least amount of maintenance based on our 22+ years of experience restoring log homes and log cabins of all sizes and shapes. They also offer an unmatched 5 year warranty on their log home stains when applied properly and maintained accordingly.

Read more from the original source:
Types of Log Home Stains - logcabinrestorationservices.com

Posted: Jun. 28, 2017 10:50 am

QUINCY -- Establishing a facade program for residential properties is a request that Quincy Preserves has received during the last several years.

Quincy Preserves President Vicki Ebbing said the organization not only has received requests from homeowners but also has fielded inquiries about programs to help make exterior improvements to historic residences.

"It's an ongoing process for anybody that owns an older home," Ebbing said.

They will now have options. Quincy Preserves announced at its annual picnic last week that it is starting the Private Home Facade Renovation Funding Program to offer $1,000 matching grants to restore period architectural design details and characteristics of building facades, as well as correcting property maintenance code violations relating to the building facade.

"After seeing the demolition of the 421 Jersey building, we decided that we needed to do something to help prevent that sort of thing from happening, where the building slides to the point where people demolish it," Ebbing said. "We've come up with this program to hopefully circumvent that in the future."

Quincy Preserves has offered a commercial facade program in downtown Quincy for many years. Properties that have benefited from the program are 648 Maine, 111 Jail Alley, 833 Kentucky and 117 Hampshire.

The organization also has a donation program through which it helps nonprofits with historic buildings, such as the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County with the History Museum at 332 Maine, the Quincy Museum at 1601 Maine and Villa Kathrine at 532 Gardner Expressway.

The new program is restricted to private homes within Quincy historic districts -- the East End, the Northwest, the German, the Downtown, the Zwick Row, Brewery Area and the South Side Bungalow historic districts. However, other significant historical architectural residences outside the district may be considered by the Facade Committee and the Quincy Preserves Board of Directors.

The grant must be matched and will be made annually until the program's budget is depleted each year.

To participate in the program, homeowners must be paid members of Quincy Preserves for at least 12 months prior to the date of their applications. The residences must have been constructed between 1830 and 1950, and funding can't be used for roof repairs.

Priority preference will be given to applicants who agree in writing to open their homes for one of the Quincy Preserves Tours after the work is finished. The revenue from the tours helps support the grant program

Preference will also be given to Quincy Preserves plaqued structures and properties that have been made local landmarks by the Quincy Preservation Commission or the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Applications will be available at the Quincy Preserves' website, as well as at the Preservation Commission office at 706 Maine.

For additional information on the program, visit quincypreserves.org, email info@quincypreserves.org or contact Ebbing at 217-257-9909.

See original here:
Quincy Preserves launches new program to assist private home facade restoration - Herald-Whig

Emily Clark eclark@wickedlocal.com @emilyOCM

A layer of green fertilizer covers grass seeds on the Simes House lawn, creating the illusion of a green carpet. The icon of a bygone era looms in the sea of green, dazzling in the June sunlight like a mirage from the past. The Simes House, for all the drama it has generated, has revived from its 150-year-old slumber like Sleeping Beauty, kissed awake by a community that decided it was worth the effort to save.

The Simes House looks just as it did back in 1863 when Joseph A. Simes built the home at the height of a Civil War that pit American families against one another.

The stately home and its 200-acre spread were dubbed a gentlemans farm in the English sense of the term, and construction followed suit. It was an act of faith at a time when no one really knew which side was going to win.

Community Preservation Committee Chairman Bill Keohan leads a tour through the grounds and restored interior, noting that, back in the day, the Simes property extended all the way to Taylor Avenue and into downtown Manomet.

Italianate Gothic Revival is what the historians call the design, with its mansard roof, sweeping porch and massive windows. Simes was a Bostonian with a British flair, incorporating striped wood floors popular at the time across the pond, as well as English tile manufactured by the same company that renovated the United States Capitol Building in 1856. The original finish of much of the woodwork was relatively untouched in spite of 150 years, such was the glorious isolation of the Simes House at 29 Manomet Point Road. Most fireplace mantels and surrounds in old houses have suffered the indignities of countless paint jobs, but most of the Simes Houses mantels boast their original varnish, just as the crown moldings were relatively untouched.

Paint analyses were performed with the aid of microscopes to determine the precise colors of walls and the exterior, Keohan explained. The results include the brown exterior and an interior of dusty rose hues, an almost indefinable purple and a room with decidedly pink walls. The Victorian Era, for its serious reputation, was replete with vibrant colors and elaborate and intricate designs.

This project was about balance, about historical preservation and adaptive reuse thats functional and financially self sustaining, Keohan said. For the first time, the three components of the CPA are represented with historical restoration, housing and open space coming together in one project.

The story of the Simes House is a rescue story, because this historic home was a whisper from the wrecking ball back in 2010 when the town took the property in tax title. In 2011, Precinct 7 Rep. Randy Parker assailed Town Meeting with pleas, and the local legislature agreed to spend $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds to shore up the aging relic as repairs were made. The Simes House Foundation was given the reins of managing this work, and Vereika Construction restored the exterior.

Infighting on the Foundations board of directors, however, slowed things down and led to the historic project being handed back to the town, which has managed the subsequent restoration, armed with an additional $2.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds Town Meeting approved for it in 2015. Northern Construction is in the process of completing restoration of the interior of the building, which includes first floor conference and function rooms, two handicapped accessible bathrooms and an elevator.

Rooms feature floor to ceiling windows and fireplaces with wood mantels. The dining room boasts its original pantry with built-in drawers for cutlery and utensils. Space is available for a kitchen, but it will be up to the group that manages the property what type of kitchen. There has been such debate over this issue, Keohan said, the town determined the best approach was to leave it up to the management team.

The sweeping central staircase takes you to the second floor where four office spaces await. Fireplaces are, once again, features as well as more large windows that broadcast views of the grounds.

During renovation they installed new heating and electrical systems that are based on a computer system that is voice activated, Keohan said. And you can see that that technology is complimented by a fire suppression system, cooling systems and lighting systems that are best suited for the 21st century. Also, all the technology someone would need for the office space is here.

A second staircase to the third floor was added as a secondary egress to bring the two third-floor affordable apartments to code. And the rear staircases, used back in the day for servants only, have been preserved. One of these stairs, which climbs to the third floor, has been blocked off due to necessity, but the staircase remains as a blast from the past.

They were going to get rid of the stairs, Keohan said. But Pilgrim Hall Museum Executive Director Donna Curtain advocated that they be saved. The stairs tell a story of how people lived at the time and how people worked at the time.

The second floor also features a handicapped-accessible bathroom, kitchenette and break room. The organizations that will occupy the four offices will share a reception area, conference room and kitchenette. Keohan stressed that the building is energy efficient with all the technological hookups needed for todays business.

These are Class A office spaces, he added. So its kind of an interesting project where youre combining 1863 Abraham Lincoln with George Jetson.

The town is hoping to attract nonprofits with community-based services like veterans, seniors or housing organizations to rent these office suites.

Another set of stairs leads to the third floor where one-bedroom, affordable apartments feature recessed windows, galley kitchens and bathrooms with shower and bathtub. Applicants that meet the income restrictions will be able to put their names into a lottery for these units. While the states income guidelines for these rentals maxes out at a rent of $1,100 per month, Keohan said the organization that winds up managing the property can opt to reduce that price.

Rents collected from the offices and affordable units are designed to cover the cost of maintaining the building. A management company will oversee these aspects and the use of the Simes House.

The only entity that has responded to a request for proposals to manage the property is Manomet Village Common Inc., a local nonprofit organization formed last year with Advisory and Finance Committee Chairman John Moody as president. Selectmen have yet to award the management, Keohan said, but noted that this time the town will maintain ownership of the property and simply lease it to the entity for increments of five years at a time.

Another staircase beckons as Keohan gestures to a metal hatch above that leads to the widows walk atop the Simes House. Spectacular views greet the climber as Race Point and the Provincetown tower are clearly visible on this glittering June day. Its hard for Keohan to contain his excitement as he notes the powerful force behind this restoration project and Manomets new and glorious jewel.

It is a great example of a community getting behind a historical building that was scheduled to be demolished, Town Meeting members like Randy Parker who rallied the community, who asked Town Meeting not to tear the building down, Keohan said. The exciting thing about the Community Preservation Act is it gives the legislative body the ability to do some very interesting projects throughout the town. They come from the neighborhood up. The residents of Manomet wanted this to happen.

Follow Emily Clark on Twitter @emilyOCM.

See the original post:
Restoration of the Simes House is complete - Wicked Local Plymouth - Wicked Local Plymouth

Armed with a deep rooted interest in history as well as years of experience in carpentry Dale Edlund, of Edlund Construction, was extremely excited to take on his latest log house restoration project at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

There, Edlund's mission was to restore the Krosch Log House. This log house happens to be registered as a state historic building by the Faribault County Historical Society.

The Krosch Log House has vast historical roots as it was originally built during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and in the midst of the Civil War. Constructed by Casper Lampman in 1862, the two-story pioneer farmhouse was moved to its current location in July of 1985.

Faribault County Historical Society president Bill Paul stands in front of the refurbished Krosch Log House.

The main goals for the Edlund Construction team was to get the chinking work completed in order to fill the gaps in between the logs. Applying a clear top coat over all of the exterior wood surfaces for weather protection was also a part of the restoration efforts.

Given its age, Edlund feels this particular log cabin has held up remarkably well through the years. This is not usually the case with restoration projects on cabins of similar age.

"The [log cabin] we did for the Crow Wing Historical Society in Brainerd, we actually tore down three walls and we had to duplicate about a dozen logs," said Edlund. "That cabin was actually built in 1868, so it was slightly newer than this one."

Edlund Construction spent a total of three days on the Krosch Log House, from June 14 through June 16. This included roughly 12 to 13 hour work days each day, all while battling the summer heat and humidity. Although Edlund admits battling the elements is difficult, he and his team planned their work strategically in an attempt to beat the heat.

"We start on the sunny side and just follow the shade around the building as we go. That helps minimize the tough conditions."

Dale Edlund, of Edlund Construction, remains hard at work with various log home restoration projects throughout his busy summer schedule.

Located in Richmond, Minnesota, Edlund has been a professional contractor for 30 years. It wasn't until 1999 that Edlund decided to specialize in log home restoration. As Edlund explained, he stumbled upon the idea of log cabin construction simply by talking to a buddy.

"About 18 years ago, a friend of mine asked if I would build a log house. I told him that I really didn't know how to do it, but I'll give it a try and that was it. Since then, we've done nothing but log houses."

Edlund Construction offers a wide variety of services that can help restore any log home to pristine condition. Half log construction, full log construction, planning and design services, and preliminary site visits and site evaluations are among the bevy of assignments conducted by Edlund construction during their log home projects.

In addition, the Edlund staff also specializes in turnkey construction, lot clearing, and driveways and culverts. Edlund Construction arranges for soil tests and also assists with septic design, landscaping, staining, painting, and caulking.

Up next for Edlund construction are four different refacing projects within the state of Minnesota. Rotten log replacement will be the main objective during these particular assignments. Although the majority of Edlund Construction's work is done in of Minnesota, the team does venture into parts of North Dakota and Wisconsin as well.

After the project was completed, Bill Paul, president of the Faribault County Historical Society, couldn't be happier with the finished product. He explained that moisture was affecting the integrity of the structure and that restoration of the cabin was sorely needed.

"Wasp nests and yellow jacket nests were collecting inside the cabin," Paul said. "We can't have that because we want visitors to enjoy the building. Dale [Edlund] did a very thorough job with the coating and chinking and he even chinked the end caps too. He did a phenomenal job."

Read the original:
Working to preserve historic log cabin - Faribault County Register

LANSING Consumers tackling restoration of their homes damaged by recent flooding are urged today by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to first check online to verify the individuals and businesses they hire are legitimate.

Make sure you know up front who youre doing business with and trusting to work on your home, LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said. Consumer caution is the best way to help avoid problem situations or disputes.

Verify a Builder/Contractor License. Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors: An online license search is available at http://www.michigan.gov/licenselookup or by calling LARA's Bureau of Professional Licenses at 517-373-8068. Electricians, plumbers and mechanical contractors are licensed by LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes and must have a license that corresponds to the work to be done. Mechanical contractors also must have the proper license classification. To verify license information, go to http://www.michigan.gov/bcclicense or call 517- 241-9316. Consumers are also reminded to:

Ask the individual to show you his/her pocket card, which will contain the license number.

Ask for and verify references.

Get at least three written estimates to include detailed job specifications on the materials, labor, timeline, and total charges for the work. Don't automatically choose the lowest bidder.

Obtain a detailed written contract stating exactly what work will be done, the quality of the materials used, warranties, start and completion dates, total cost of the job, and a payment schedule.

Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Know your cancellation rights.

Protect yourself by asking the contractor, subcontractor, and suppliers for a completed and signed "waiver of lien" form. This may provide you additional protection should a subcontractor or material supplier place a lien on your home if the contractor doesn't pay the bills. This can happen even if you paid the contract in full.

Make sure your contractor is insured and carries personal liability, worker's compensation, and property damage coverage. Ask for copies of current insurance certificates. If the contractor isnot properly insured, you could be held liable for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.

Check with your property insurance provider for the extent of your coverage.

Avoid paying for the entire job upfront. Consider paying one-third in advance; one-third halfway through the job and the final payment upon satisfactory completion. Avoid paying with cash. Pay by check or credit card and get a receipt.

Keep good recordscopies of the contract, change orders, and correspondence.

Dont forget your permitif neededby checking with your local or state building department. The proper permits and inspections help to guard against defective work or costly mistakes. If homeowners plan on doing the work themselves, they are also responsible for obtaining building permits. MORE Information

Read the original post:
Beware of home restoration scams after flooding verify licensed contractors and legitimate businesses - Gladwin County Record & Beaverton Clarion...

EEBE PLAIN, Vt. (CBS) Brian DeMoulin inherited a home 30 years ago and is reluctantly putting it on the market.

Have a look at my stone house, he told CBS News. Theres the border post.

He also showed us what makes the residence so special.

This is the stairway that leads to the Canadian apartments, DeMoulin said.

You heard him right. His house is literally in two places at once: Beebe Plain, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, Canada.

The tape on the floor in the upstairs room indicates approximately where the border runs through it. Selling a home that straddles two countries is proving to be quite a challenge.

Realtor Rosemary Lalime spoke with CBS News. She said her ideal homeowner has dual citizenship.

It makes it more difficult because I have to make sure they have the right customs papers to own the property, she said. Ive had calls from Lebanon, Ive had calls from Cuba, L.A. Most of the people are interested in a restoration project.

The historic home was built in the early 1800s as a place to ease commerce between both countries. The nine-bedroom, five-bath estate is listed at $109,000 dollars.

There is one sticking point.

DeMoulin says one door in the residence has to absolutely stay bolted shut at all times.

You step out that door and youre in Canada off the property and subject to be arrested, DeMoulin said.

Border patrol offices for both nations are right across the street. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agent Troy Rabideau spoke with CBS News.

Its always something we need to be cognizant of whos coming in whos going out. We do a pretty good job of monitoring it, Rabideau said.

I have a wonderful relationship with both sides, DeMoulin told us. I feel equally U.S. and Canadian.

DeMoulin has dual citizenship, but that perk wont come along with the deed.

And there is no avoiding property taxes. Both the U.S. and Canada will come calling.

Visit link:
A home that straddles 2 countries: Unique house for sale - Wink News

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Top Shelf Appliance. We are an appliance repair service based in Federal Way, WA serving South King, Tacoma and Pierce County. With more than 12 years of appliance repair industry experience, Top Shelf is a locally owned business that you can trust to fix any and all of your appliance needs.

Here at Top Shelf we know the important role that household appliances, both big and small, play in making sure that your home is running efficiently. Whether its a refrigerator, washing machine or anything in between, when your household appliances stop working properly the results can get messy, fast. In some cases, dishes may begin to pile up, laundry is left undone and food begins to spoil. Thats why its important to call an experienced, trustworthy appliance repair service right away.

When youre looking to hire an appliance repair service, its essential to make sure that your technician is a professional in every way. Top Shelf offers quality, affordable repairs by an experienced professional with an extensive background in repairing name brand appliances. Over the years, our technician has worked on all major name brand appliances including Maytag, Viking, Sub Zero, Wolf, Whirlpool and Blue Star.

On top of hiring a trustworthy technician, youre also going to want a company that is going to help you save time. When you call Top Shelf Appliance with a problem, you can rest assured that our technician will be on the job as soon as possible. We will schedule a time that works best for you and arrive on time with the proper tools in hand, ready to get started on all the necessary repairs right away.

We understand that theres no convenient time for your major household appliances to break down or stop working properly, and we know that when it breaks you need it fixed and fast. As a local company committed to serving Tacoma and its surrounding areas, Top Shelf offers same or next day service repairs. As an added bonus, we will even perform a free appliance diagnosis with every completed repair.

With more than 12 years of service technician experience specializing in refrigerator repair, washer and dryer repair, oven repairs, dishwasher repairs, icemaker repairs, and other major kitchen appliance repairs. If its broken, we can fix it and we're only a phone call away!

Continued here:
Appliance Repair Service | Tacoma, WA