Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) have long filled the need for a combined heating and cooling solution that provides low upfront cost, individual control and stand-alone operation within a relatively small footprint. Once installed, PTACs also make the replacement process simple down the road. Thats why making a case for an alternative to the PTAC on a high-rise building retrofit can be a challenge.

Starting in 2014, my company, Melling Engineering, joined several other firms to do just that during an upcoming renovation of Tabco Towers, a large HUD (Housing and Urban Development) apartment building in Towson, MD. The project culminated in late 2016, and so far, has exceeded every expectation.

The buildings owner, Wishrock Investment Group, had been planning HVAC and building upgrades at the high-rise for some time. After Wishrock consulted with New Ecology, a non-profit sustainability consulting firm with offices in Boston, Providence, Hartford and Baltimore, they decided to pursue 2011 Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) certification.

EGC certification is based on a number of factors, including a buildings energy performance, said Marty Davey, Director of Portfolio Services at New Ecology, who has worked on other Wishrock projects in the past. Building to this certification opens the door to significant funding in Maryland.

In addition to certification and efficiency, Wishrock was looking for a longer-term solution that would provide greater comfort, control and reduced maintenance costs. Because the wall penetrations for the PTAC units had caused maintenance issues in recent years, sealing up the building and controlling condensate drainage were goals as well.

While New Ecology gathered building performance data, created an energy model of the building, and helped define the overall greening goals of the project, we were brought onboard. Based in Raleigh, NC, were an MEP firm that specializes in apartment buildings, apartment communities, and commercial space. That work often comes through collaboration with several architects across the East Coast.

Once a performance baseline for the 22-story building was established, the first challenge became selecting a replacement HVAC system. More efficient PTACs were considered, but the performance levels needed just werent available. As a high-efficiency, long-term solution, water-source heat pumps (WSHP) would have worked well but without the need to individually monitor energy use across all the apartments, it was hard to justify the extensive core drilling necessary to install the system.

The use of mini-split heat pumps as a one-for-one replacement for the existing PTACs was also extensively discussed. Efficiency levels were on par with what we needed to achieve, but with 200 apartments in a 180-foot building, finding a place to install all the condensers was difficult. Further, it required too many wall penetrations, and most mini-split systems could not accommodate the line-set lengths that wouldve been needed.

Eventually, we began to consider a central VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system. Like the WSHPs, our initial skepticism concerning VRF at Tabco Towers was the higher upfront cost.

What ultimately tipped the scales in favor of VRF was that the retrofit needed to take place while the building was completely occupied. Melling Engineering routinely designs both VRF and WSHP systems, but weve never used VRF to replace a PTAC system, let alone in a low-income apartment building. It was ultimately the work of Marty Davey and the team at New Ecology that made it possible. In addition to an energy audit and modeling, they secured the funding that would take the project from a 15-year payback down to a five- or six-year return.

200 Tons Earlier, when mini-split heat pumps were still part of the discussion, the design team had looked closely at Fujitsu units based on a discussion that New Ecologys Jonah Decola had with a Fujitsu Sales Engineer at the AHR Show in Chicago. We spoke with Fujitsu again when the focus shifted to VRF, and had good factory support throughout the design. But we needed to look at other manufacturers as well, considering the many criteria the new system would need to meet. Fujitsus Airstage heat recovery system remained the number one choice because of its overall efficiency. In addition, the Fujitsu RBUs (refrigerant branch units) fit in the small spaces allotted to us.

We initially looked at both heat pump-only and heat-recovery systems. But the buildings shape tall and slender meant that most of the rooms have external walls and windows. This creates the potential for widely varying loads, and increases the likelihood of different zones simultaneously calling for heat and cooling. Being able to essentially recycle heat, or extracting heat from one space and rejecting into another zone on the same system was a big advantage, especially during the shoulder seasons.

Before plans were finalized, the general contractor, Ellisdale Construction and Development, was brought onboard. The Integrated Companies, a large mechanical contractor out of Chantilly, VA, took the bid to do equipment installation. Both firms are known for their work in hi-rise apartment buildings and had the design and engineering capacity to pull it off. Their help was invaluable.

The final plan utilized 22 VRF condensers, most of which were 10-tons each. The units were paired together into 20-ton systems, with one system serving two floors. All but two systems were placed on the roof. Apartments on the first and second floor are served by a ground-mounted system, while common areas in the basement and first floors use a four-ton Fujitsu JII single phase VRF system, also located at grade.

Installation Headwinds Work started in February of 2016. Integrated technicians worked their way up the tower, one floor at a time. One-bedroom apartments were outfitted with an 18,000 BTU slim-duct unit that was enclosed in a new soffit with an access panel. This required that the existing sprinkler system in the area and in the adjacent bedroom closet be reworked to provide room for the unit and ductwork. The studio apartments are conditioned by a wall-mount evaporator. Depending on the size of the apartment, these range from 9,000 to 14,000 BTU. The PTAC units remained in service for the duration of the project. Without interrupting either the heating or cooling in any apartments, tenants were only displaced for several hours.

Being an occupied, existing building with limited space, we were tasked with the challenge of finding a location for the RBUs, said Scottie Williams, CEO at Integrated. We efficiently prepared and strategized the most effective way to use our minimal space within the units and ceiling space. We achieved a solution by utilizing the smaller electrical closets and a few apartment closets to install four RBUs per floor.

On each floor, there are two, four-branch RBUs and two single-branch RBUs. Unlike a mini-split system, the use of the RBUs with heat-recovery condensing units not only allows the system to supply simultaneous heating and cooling, but also to share refrigerant between two evaporators. If one room is calling for heat, and another on the same floor is in cooling mode, the cooling unit can effectively reject heat into the room calling for heat.

Line-sets from the roof were run down through an old common exhaust vent. As part of the retrofit project, Ellisdale installed bathroom exhaust fans in each restroom, abandoning the old common exhaust duct and availing it to serve as a chase for the mechanical system. In addition to line-sets, the vent was used to run new power lines to the roof. After the Airstage condensers were craned to the roof, Integrated technicians placed them on top of a custom-made framework on both sides of the elevator tower. A single, 48,000 BTU Fujitsu Halcyon unit was also used to help condition the upper portion of the elevator shaft. Despite the scope of the project and several challenges, system start-up began in late July. Work on the mechanical system culminated in October.

Certification and ROI As planned, this project progressed efficiently with the assistance of Ellisdale Construction, the Engineer of Record, Craig Howell and Matt Cole of the Ferguson VRF Division, and Fujitsu, said Williams.

Communication between all parties involved was outstanding. But New Ecology was definitely the impetus of the project. Without their work before and during the install, providing such an efficient, comfortable solution in an older building on a tight budget simply wouldnt have been an option.

At New Ecology, we perform comprehensive audits with payback analysis, to help owners make decisions, said Davey. In simple numbers, modeling showed that the VRF retrofit at Tabco Towers would yield a 15-year payback before any subsidy or grant money is accounted for. After receiving funding based on the criteria in Enterprise Green Communities Certification, the real return on investment might be about five or six years. That said, we perform robust post-project analyses for every project were involved with, tracking building performance for years to make sure it stays on track and to deepen our understanding.

The hope is that Tabco Towers can serve as a template for similar projects across the country, especially as redevelopment requirements set higher energy efficiency standards. For Melling Engineering, were adding the experience to our portfolio to prove that, in certain situations, there is a viable alternative to exchanging PTACs in a hi-rise.

Rick Melling is president, Melling Engineering, PC, based in Raleigh, N.C. The firm has been providing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire alarm engineering design for commercial buildings for 20 years.

Excerpt from:
Case Studies in Commercial Ductless Systems: PTAC Out, Fujitsu VRF In - Contracting Business

Laura Firszt More Content Now

Planning to remodel your home? Great idea and good luck to you. Think you can do whatever you want to your house? Not so fast, my friend. Home remodeling is governed by your local laws. Fall afoul of them and youll be in big trouble. (Worst-case scenario: Someone might get hurt on your property. Really bad scenario: You might be forced to tear out the renovation work youve just done and paid for.) Make sure you do your homework and know the legalities before your contractor gets to work.

Zoning and Restrictions Confirm what and where youre allowed to build. Your local zoning as a residential-only area or a historic district, perhaps could well put a damper on your plans to convert your garage into a pet salon or add another story to your home.

Find out for sure where your property line is, as well as any setbacks, easements, covenants, and restrictions. You may want (or need) a land survey when planning to: tear down and replace your existing structure add to your homes footprint, particularly when youll come close to the property line or easement build or remodel an outbuilding (for example, a detached garage, workshop, garden shed, or tiny house for your adult offspring)

HOA, Condo Association, or Co-Op Board Approval Get approval of your planned home improvement in writing from the powers that be in your neighborhood or building whether HOA, condo association, or co-op board. Consider that condos and co-ops often have extra stringencies that control even what type of flooring you are allowed to use. This may seem like unnecessary red tape, but the rules are there to protect you, as well as other occupants. Imagine if your upstairs neighbor were to replace all the carpeting with non-soundproofed hardwood, the better to practice their tap dancing? (True story, by the way.)

Building Permit(s) Always, always check out your local building permit requirements. Permitting is a complicated topic, which varies from one area to another. Depending on where you live, you may have to obtain a permit for something as small as installing a new light switch. You might even need multiple permits for, say, a kitchen remodel, which usually involves plumbing, rewiring, etc.

OTOH, a permit may not be required for certain projects such as interior or exterior painting, building a patio elevated no more than 30 inches, or constructing a fence less than 6 feet in height.

Failure to obtain necessary permits tends to lead to all sorts of headaches like trouble with mortgage financing or homeowners insurance coverage, to name just two. IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Want to save money by tackling home improvements yourself, or having your handy BFF do them for free? Fine but youll still need to pull a permit.

Egress Remodeling a dingy basement into comfortable quarters is a fantastic idea, a relatively simple way to add living space to your home. However, do keep in mind the fact that every sleeping room must have egress, that is, an opening door, window, or even a low skylight of at least 5 square feet. In case of disaster, this will allow occupants to escape, or emergency personnel to enter the room. Find out specifications for basement egress here.

Contractor Work only with a licensed, bonded contractor, who has up-to-date insurance and workers compensation for any employees. Its recommended that you ask your local building department to make sure the contractor you hire has an up-to-date license in your locale. Be aware that if you hire an unqualified individual, you are likely to be responsible for future problems, such as work-related accidents.

Both you and the contractor should sign a detailed, written contract. Never put your signature to a contract that has spaces left blank. Include the procedure you will use to settle any disputes. If youre unsure about the contents of the contract, have your attorney look it over before you commit.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

Read more:
Networx: What homeowners must know about remodeling and the law - Siftings Herald

Drive down any major street in South Carolina's largest cities, and it's not hard to miss the mass of workers in hardhats or the construction cranes towering over once-vacant lots.

From apartments to hospitals and hotels to homes, the building boom is at full throttle.

But before any of those structures get off the ground, they need a blueprint. That's where architects come in.

The people who draw up plans and pencil in details sit on the front line of the economic upswing enveloping the country, and many are busier than ever.

Firms with offices in Charleston and projects across the state and elsewhere say workloads are healthy, competition is steep and the foreseeable future shows no signs of a slowdown.

Tom Hund is principal and Charleston office director of Upstate-based McMillan|Pazdan|Smith Architecture. Brad Nettles/Staff

"The Southeast is hot," said Tom Hund, a principal who leads the Charleston office of Greenville-based McMillan|Pazdan|Smith Architecture. "It's one of the best growth zones in the country. It's quality of life. It's manufacturing. It's retirees. And when you narrow it down regionally, the Charleston region is leading the charge."

He pointed to diversity in the growth of manufacturers such as aerospace and automotive suppliers along with upticks in housing, retirement communities, resorts and tourism as all contributing to the demand.

"In all of those markets, there is great activity," Hund said.

"We were once known as a tourist city and now we are known as a manufacturing and tech city, too," Hund said of Charleston. "As one market may grow, another may slow, so we have an opportunity for balance. I see a really nice diversity here."

Marc Marchant is a principal at LS3P and head of the regional firm's Charleston office. Provided

Marc Marchant, leader of LS3P Associates Ltd., a regional firm based in Charleston, characterized the design market across South Carolina as "shifting into high gear."

"We are all optimistic about the future and continued growth," he said, pointing to expansion of the automotive sector near Charleston, a tire manufacturer coming to Orangeburg and continued industry expansion across the Upstate. "I think there is plenty of room for more growth."

At Liollio Architecture of Charleston, which focuses mainly on public-sector projects, principal Dinos Liollio is bullish on the market across the state and the region.

"I think it's strong, and I'm very optimistic that it will remain strong," Liollio said. "Even with a little bit of increase in interest rates, I don't think it will disturb the building program. Public entities and foundations are in pretty good shape to invest in a robust building program."

The Midlands market is "robust" as well, according to Doug Quackenbush, president of Quackenbush Architects + Planners. His Columbia firm handles public-sector projects such as schools, where work is more steady than the cyclical nature of private-sector buildings such as apartments, hotels or office buildings, but in talks with colleagues working with private-sector designs, Quackenbush said, "It seems like right now both are pretty healthy."

He believes escalating construction costs will eventually lead to a slowdown, especially in the private sector, but the need in K-12 education is so great across the state, the explosion of work will continue.

Among some of the projects Quackenbush is now working on are two elementary schools in Rock Hill, a renovation and addition to an elementary school in the Conway/Myrtle Beach area and an addition to a middle school in Chapin near Columbia.

Quackenbush believes prospects for higher education construction projects are more muddled because of funding restraints, but his firm is involved in the design of the $50 million football operations center which recently broke ground on Bluff Road for the University of South Carolina.

The design and construction market along the Grand Strand shows few signs of letting up either.

"Similar to Charleston, the Myrtle Beach market is growing," said Marchant of LS3P, which also operates an office in the resort city. "We are seeing more beachfront opportunities, more restaurants and renovations."

Two of the larger retail projects LS3P is involved with are the redevelopment of Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach.

"They are regenerating the retail experience in many locations, including those two," Marchant said.

Because of all the construction going on now, Hund said some municipalities, such as Charleston, struggle with how much is too much.

"The architects have to respond to that and remain innovative and creative, which is a challenge," he said. "The better ones get it done."

There is so much work, it is putting pressure on the design and construction industries to keep up, architects say. Not surprisingly, clients also are finding it more of a challenge when looking for help, especially for home additions and other smaller jobs.

In Charleston, design is strictly regulated with standards on the cusp of being tweaked, adding another layer to detailed plans. But Hund said proposed changes to the city's architectural standards actually mean the construction industry is doing so well that new guidelines merit attention.

"That all points to a booming economy and efforts to preserve a quality way to design," he said. "We want to contribute to our community through the architecture."

McMillan|Pazdan|Smith Architecture helped to design the new Children's Hospital under construction at the Medical University of South Carolina. Provided/McMillan|Pazdan|Smith and Perkins & Will

Among construction projects McMillan|Pazdan|Smith is involved in are the Medical University of South Carolina's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, the proposed 225-room hotel slated for the current site of the State Ports Authority's headquarters on Concord Street, a new high school in Mount Pleasant and retail village at the developing, mixed-use Nexton community near Summerville.

The firm also is designing an expansion for the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the Midlands.

No one knows when the next downturn will hit some economists say it's two years out at the earliestbut larger projects, such as apartments or hotels just now taking shape, will take about two years or so to develop and there are other developments in the pipeline, according to architects.

"It's cyclical, so we have to be prepared for that," Hund said.

At LS3P, some of the more recently completed projects include the seven-story Tides IV condominium building in Mount Pleasant and the expansion of Myrtle Beach International Airport's terminal.

Among the firm's 300-plus projects being designed or under construction at any given time are plans for MUSC's pediatric ambulatory surgery center headed for the corner of Mall Drive and Rivers Avenue in North Charleston.

Architecture firm LS3P Associates Ltd. designed the seven-story apartment building slated for the corner of King and Spring streets in downtown Charleston. Provided/LS3P

Its work also will soon be seen in downtown Charleston with the development of a multistory apartment building at the juncture of Spring and King streets and two others on upper Meeting Street near where the former Cooper River bridges touched down.

With seven other offices across three Southeastern states, the firm recently completed work on an Institute of Innovation for Richland County School District 2 near Columbia.

Marchant said it's refreshing to see a focus on such educational facilities because they help to train students for the technical jobs sprouting up across the state, not only from local companies but also outside investors. He pointed to the firm's design work on the new aeronautics training center being developed at Trident Technical College as another example.

Marchant noted the educational facilities also will help with one of the challenges facing the construction industry in a revved-up economy: qualified workers for subcontractors.

"As more projects come out of the ground, for subcontractors, so many of those markets become strained," Marchant said. "Will they be supported by people coming from outside or will they grow locally? And how do we support it from an education standpoint, which is where the technical education system is very helpful?"

Because of the volume of work going on in Charleston and across the state and nation, competition for workers is steep.

Dinos Liollio is a principal at Liollio Architecture in Charleston. Provided

"If there is any issue, it is trying to find qualified help," Liollio said.

Quackenbush, too, noted, "It's very hard to find good people."

Marchant added, "We are competing with firms all over the country to attract good talent. That's a healthy thing for talent and work. That means the industry is strong."

Hund, too, pointed to architects working in the firm's Calhoun Street office and said they get calls from other agencies trying to lure them away.

"It's very competitive right now," he said.

Liollio characterized the building and design industry across the state as "very healthy" and said, "Most architectural firms are very busy."

His firm is seeing a lot of activity in municipal work and more emphasis on senior living facilities as the huge bubble of the population known as baby boomers slips into retirement.

"One of the things we are seeing right now is more optimism out of our clients as far as their building programs," Liollio said. "They are more optimistic about the economy going forward."

His small firm, with 27 employees and plans to add three more, is working on about four dozen projects in South Carolina and beyond, including the planned new business school for The Citadel.

Liollio's work includes a preservation project at the Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and renovation of one of the student housing units on the historic Horseshoe at the state's flagship college.

Other projects include work at Historic Brattonsville in York County, the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and Abraham Lincoln's birthplace in Kentucky.

Liollio Architecture of James Island was involved in the $200 million expansion and renovation of Charleston International Airport along with Fentress Architects of Colorado. Leroy Burnell/Staff

His firm helped with the award-winning makeover of Charleston International Airport and is helping to draw up plans for a new parking deck at Cannon Street and Courtenay Drive near the Medical University of South Carolina.

Marchant of LS3P, which has three other South Carolina offices in Columbia, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, noted one of the biggest changes during the past five years is interest from outside investors, bringing more work to local architects.

For every project rising from the ground, he said five studies might have proceeded it for the site's highest and best use.

"We have a lot of other clients who are prospecting," Marchant said. "They want to know, 'What can I put there? What's the feasibility of that? What's the return on investment?' We do a lot of study work with different clients. People are still very much interested in Charleston and the Lowcountry."

He also pointed out Charleston is now on a national stage with its high-profile industries and tourism accolades, and that means more competition for contracts.

"In a project of any substantial size, say $10 million or more, we are seeing a lot of interest in design across the Southeast competing for work here," he said. "We sort of have to earn our keep."

Continue reading here:
Blueprint for business: South Carolina architects on front line of building boom - Charleston Post Courier

COVER HOUSE

1314 WINDY HILL COURT, CONCORD TWP.

Luxury features accent accessible ranch with lower level

Contributing writer

The brick ranch home at 1314 Windy Hill Court in Concord Twp. between Tipp City and Troy presents a fine example of how to create a totally accessible floor plan without sacrificing luxury features.

This home is designed for functionality and aesthetics, said Richard Pierce of Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors.

My wife and I designed the house, said one co-owner.

As a professional counselor in the field of developmental disabilities, he is well aware of mobility, disability and senior issues that might occur during any lifetime and wanted to build a home that would accommodate anyone at any age.

So while designing the kitchen, a sunroom, a main bedroom suite with a bath, a partially finished full basement, they included extra-wide doorways, hallways and staircases, a roll-in shower, level exterior walkways and an elevator shaft that is currently used as a walk-in pantry.

With more than 4,380 square feet of living space, the home is listed for $638,000.

Leaded-glass sidelights and an arched transom surround the front door. The open floor plan offers a great room, which allows a seamless flow through the sitting area to the dining area, open kitchen and sunroom.

An angled fireplace with a white mantel sits beside a wall of built-ins with space for a large-screen TV flanked by upper bookshelves with backlighting and lower storage areas with cabinets and drawers.

Large vinyl-tile flooring extends through the dining area and into the kitchen, where the work space is framed with oversized cherry cabinets with under lighting and upper moldings. Solid-surface counters with beveled edges include a peninsular counter with an overhang for bar seating. The double sink sits under a boxed window facing the back yard. Stainless-steel appliances include a dishwasher, French-door refrigerator, smooth-surface electric range and two microwave ovens.

From the dining area an open archway leads to the sunroom, which connects to the 30-by-24-foot patio.

Multiple cherry cabinets are installed in the laundry room. The attached, four-car garage, which measures 27 feet by 45 feet, has an epoxy floor covering, finished walls and a pull-down ladder to upper storage space.

Accented by crown moldings and recessed ceiling lights, the bedroom in the main suite has its own fireplace. In addition to a large two-person soaking tub, the adjacent bath offers a roll-in shower surrounded by rectangular tile and a wide border in miniature tile.

This master shower has three shower heads wall standard, ceiling reverse direction and handheld, said the owner.

It has corner seats and grab bars designed to double as towel racks.

Cambria counters and an expanse of mirrors follow the lines of the long double vanity, which wraps around an angled corner at the center and extends along two walls. Wood organizer shelves are installed in the walk-in closet/dressing room.

Off the entry is a versatile room, currently used as an office, which could be a bedroom as it has a closet and a second door into the hallway that accesses a full bath with tub and shower. Nearby, bedroom three has a closet with organizer shelves enclosed by a pocket door.

Wall sconces light the wide staircase to the lower level, which offers two more bedrooms, both with egress windows. This levels full bath has a tub and shower.

There is a third egress window in the long recreation room, where an upper daylight window faces decorative stone work in the back yard. At one end is a luxury-vinyl tile area for dining and/or a future kitchenette.

This lower level can easily convert to an in-law suite with washer/dryer hook-ups in place, said the owner.

Drywall and concrete stained floors give the storage room a semi-finished look. The elevator shaft area is now used as a walk-in storage closet.

Other features include two 50-gallon water heaters, a furnace humidifier, a whole-house generator, a safety room and exterior motion-detector lights.

CONCORD TWP.

Price: $638,000

Open: June 11, 2-4 p.m.

Directions: Interstate 75 to exit 69, right on South County Road 25A, left on Monroe Concord Road, right on Merrimont Drive, right on Broken Woods Drive, left on Windmere Drive, right on Lincolnshire Drive, right on Windy Hill Court

Highlights: About 4,300 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, ranch with finished lower level, built 2015, open gathering area, 2 fireplaces, cherry cabinets, recreation room, sun room, porch, patio, sound system, attached 4-car garage, whole-house generator, elevator-ready

For more details:

Coldwell Banker Heritage

Richard Pierce

(937) 524-6077

http://www.coldwellbankerishome.com

Continued here:
Functionality and aesthetics - MyDaytonDailyNews

Photo: Production House Studios/Robert A. Kristel

House of the Week: Colonial in East Greenbush

This week's selection is a brick Colonial with extra rooms for reading and lounging. The house is 2,000 square feet and has four bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The master bedroom has a separate sitting room that would work nicely as a nursery. Downstairs, in addition to the formal living and dining rooms, there is a cozy den. If you're bucking the open layout trend, this home is for you. The two sets of built-in shelves in the dining room have a pretty fluted motif in the concave arches; built-in shelves also flank the fireplace in the living room. There is a heated sunroom off the back of the house as well as a slate patio. The house sits on a quarter acre.

Taxes: $6,450. List price: $299,900. Realtor Joan Rapp of Berkshire Hathaway Blake is handling the sale. Contact her for a showing at 331-2458.

Continue reading here:
House of the Week: Colonial in East Greenbush - Albany Times Union

state-of-the-art.

Our recommended roofing contractors have the experience and advanced roofing technology to do an exceptional job. They use the Equipter. Its 12-foot lift, 10-foot catch container, and rear extension with 4-foot rollback let them maneuver over landscaping and under eaves to remove old shingles and other debris neatly and more quickly.

The Equipter RB4000, affectionately known as the Roofers Buggy, helps roofing experts maintain a clean, neat job site. You wont find this specialized item available from just any roofers supply source. A local roofing company using this state-of-the-art equipment has demonstrated a strong commitment to respect the cleanliness of customer yards and driveways.

The equipment furnishes an industrial-grade rectangular 10-foot catch container elevated on a 12-foot lift. This device allows a quality roofing company to collect discarded roofing asphalt shingles directly from the work site. Today, many roofing experts use this machinery widely.

The innovative Equipter RB4000 helps dispose of debris when a metal roofing company removes an old asphalt roof. It also provides valuable assistance during the routine installation of new asphalt roofs and gutters. The best roofing company experts recommend this useful tool. They subscribe to a New Roof No Mess way of doing business.

Link:
Roofing Contractors - Roofers - New Roof No Mess

Above It All Roofing and Construction, Inc is a full-service, family owned and operated residential and commercial roofing company in Tulsa. Established in 2006, we are proud to offer quality service and workmanship at a competitive price, with an unwavering attention to detail and commitment to customer service. Our team is highly trained in all aspects of roofing, from roof repairs and installation to maintenance programs and roof inspections. We offer services to our neighbors throughout Tulsa, Edmond and the surrounding communities.

Youll feel good about placing your trust in Above It All Roofing and Construction, Inc. We can address even your most challenging roofing needs, especially when an Oklahoma storm rolls through and damages your home. As GAF Master Elite Factory Certified roofers, we bring more than a decade of experience to the table, honing our professional, reliable reputation in the communities we serve.

Proud of our track record for superior workmanship, our roofing contractors only work with the very best manufacturers such as GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed. When it comes to the latest product knowledge and technical expertise for all aspects of your roof, we are Oklahomas most trusted roofing company.

Go here to read the rest:
Roofing | Tulsa OK | Above It All Roofing & Construction | Home

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Exterior Energy Solutions owner Albert Hartless is charged with felony theft of more than $1,000 but less than $10,000 after a grand jury indicted him in March.

He is accused of taking $6,715.80 from a Mt. Juliet couple to do roof work on their home in May 2016 but never actually doing the work.

According to a Wilson County incident report, a man who said he worked for Exterior Energy approached the couple and said they needed roof work done.

The couple consulted their insurance company, which agreed to pay for repairs. On May 31, 2016, the report states the same employee approached the couple and had them sign a contract.

Four days later, the same man came to pick up the check for $6,715.80 but the work never started.

The homeowners contacted the company and spoke with Mike Scott, who was previously listed as the general manager for the business, according to previous conversations with News 2.

Mike said that the company was behind schedule, and that he did not know when they would be able to fix her roof, according to the incident report.

The homeowner continued to contact the company with no luck.

She alerted the Wilson County Sheriffs Department after hearing about other customers who paid Exterior Energy Solutions but did not have their work completed.

News 2 called Albert Hartless there was no answer. We also went to his Lebanon address. A gate to the driveway was closed. News 2 left information for him to contact us.

In May, we reported on more than 30 complaints to the Better Business Bureau about Exterior Energy Solutions. We also talked to a woman who was currently working to get a refund for roof work she paid for and was never completed.

Hartless declined an on camera interview but said by phone he would issue the woman a refund. As of June 8, the customer has still not received a refund.

Two other complaints made to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance were referred to legal counsel by the Board of Licensing Contractors, according to Kevin Walters, the departments spokesman.

The departments legal staff recommended to authorize a formal hearing and $1,000 civil penalty against Exterior Energy Solutions; the Board accepted the recommendation and additionally asked staff to refer the case to the District Attorneys office, Walters wrote in an email to News 2.

As of Thursday, the case has not been referred to the Davidson County District Attorney, but that could happen next week.

Hartless is scheduled to appear in Wilson County Circuit Court on June 28 at 8:30 am. He remains free on $2,500 bond.

See more here:
Roofing company owner facing felony theft charge, DA review - WKRN.com

Sam Ogozalek, Naples Daily News Published 5:42 p.m. ET June 8, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

Heavy rains pound Southwest Florida on June 7, 2017. Andrew West/news-press.com

Peter Berec comforts friend Mariu Lazzaro, not pictured, as she waits inside her car for help from a towing service along Bald Eagle Drive near the San Marco Road intersection Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in Marco Island, Fla.(Photo: Luke Franke/Naples Daily News, Naples Daily News)Buy Photo

The drought is almostover.

Following record rainfall in portions of Southwest Florida, most of Collier County is no longer considered to be in a moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Instead, most of the county is now just considered abnormally dry.

More: Day after record rain in Naples area, more keeps falling

More: Flooding closes some Collier roads, with more rain on the way

More: Tropical storm remnants soaking Southwest Florida

More: Southwest Florida so dry that canals, wells, pumps, lawn watering are concerns

More: Get the latest weather forecast at naplesnews.com/weather

Andrew Hagen, a meteorologist based in Miami for the National Weather Service, said that abnormally dry is still a drought condition, even though it's the lowest ranking on the drought monitor's intensity scale.

That data however, identifying most of Collier as abnormally dry, was collected only up until Tuesday and then published Thursday, Hagen said. By the time data is released on drought conditions in Florida next week, the meteorologist said Collier could be officially out of the drought.

Heavy rainfall across Florida has significantly improved conditions across the state. The Florida Forestry Service's "Forecast Fire Danger Indices" map showing all green, meaning the threat for brush fires is low.(Photo: Florida Forestry Service)

"It's unlikely that the drought will get worse," he said. "It's very unlikely."

The area, which was plagued by brush fires throughout the spring, now has only a low risk for fires, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Beatriz have drenched the county and surrounding region since late last week. The weather system, which forced officials to shut down area roads due to localized flooding, began to dissipate Thursday. The Naples Municipal Airport received more than 3 inches of rain Tuesday, setting a rainfall record. The National Weather Serviceissued flash flood and thunderstorm warnings for Collier several times duringthe week.

The Kyle family bikes through the flooded sidewalks on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 along Winterberry Drive on Marco Island. The heavy rain left patches of standing water along the streets on the island. (Photo: Sarah Holm/Naples Daily News)

Kingman Schuldt, chief of the Greater Naples Fire RescueDistrict, which covers most areas in the county, said the fire department didn't have to respond to anysignificant incidents due to the recent storms. There were no water rescues or callsrelating to water damage, he said.

One car did drive into a canal off Collier Boulevard in the Fiddler's Creek area Wednesday night, but Schuldt said he wasn't sure ifthat incident was weather-related.

On Marco Island,one of the communities hit hardest by Beatrizs remnants, Dave Bear, a captain for the island's police department, said he didn't see much other than secondary damage on Marco after the tropical system rolled through.

"The only damage I saw were yards with ruts in them, from ... carsdriving on them," he said. Even though some roads were closed, the roads didn'tsustainany structural damage because of the rain, he said.

Roofing companies, meanwhile, have been inundated with phone calls from customers requesting help fixing leaks.

Floodwaters surround a stop sign on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 along Winterberry Drive on Marco Island. The heavy rain left patches of standing water along the streets on the island. (Photo: Katie Klann/Naples Daily News)

Over the last five days, Atlantis Roofing of Naples Inc. has received about 60 calls for help with leaks, said Mike Leiter, an office manager at the business.

That's much higher than usual," said Leiter, 62, referring to the number of calls. Leiter added that it could take a few days or weeksfor Atlantis Roofing to finish all the repairs,due to the large volume of requests.

The Collier County Mosquito Control District now is also concerned about possible heightened activity for salt marsh mosquitoes in the southern portion of the county.

More: Salt marsh mosquitoes invade Collier County

More: Collier Mosquito Control District looks to expand with human population

The salt marsh mosquitoes have been laying low over the last few days because of the tropical system, said Robin King, public relations specialist for the control district. The rain would have destroyed the insects if they were flying, she said.

Now, though, with improving weather conditions, King said the mosquitoes will be active again. A full moon will occur Friday, and mosquitoes have historically been more active during full moons because of the additional light, she added.

Its kind of this perfect storm scenario, King said. Salt marsh mosquitoes can travel more than 30 to 40 miles on the wind, according to King, and can fly into the countys northern areas.

King said the control district does not have official mosquito population totals. She added, though, that she does not expect to see a salt marsh mosquito population increase after the latest rain, because the mosquitoes already live in wet mangrove areas. The latest rain wont affect their breeding, King said.

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