Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

There is a growing trend in homeowners to go in for metal roofs due to their many useful properties like being lightweight, durable, and fire-resistant. If you are considering installing a new roof for your home, it may be worth the while to take a close look at metal roofs, especially if you live in a place that sees very heavy snowfall. If you are wondering about the traditionally dull looks that metal roofs are associated with, you can take heart because nowadays there is a vast assortment of metal roofing materials available, right from sheet metal to shingles that have the looks of tiles. Some of the top reasons why metal roofs are finding favor:

When a metal roof is installed correctly, you can expect it to last as long as the structure of the house itself, a claim that perhaps no other roofing material can make. Metal roofs are so durable because it not only seals out water, but is able to shed snow with great ease, and also withstand winds of very high force. Metal roofs are also resistant to fire, and attacks from insects, mildew, and rot. Warranties differ from manufacturer to manufacturer but it is not unusual for homeowners to get coverage from 20-50 years.

Since metal roofing materials are typically available in sheets and sections, installation is very simple for experienced roofers likePerkins Preferred Roofing. This comes in very handy because when your existing roof has been stripped off, you would not want to take too much time over the installation of the new roof because inclement weather can jeopardize the safety of your household belongings, and of the entire house.

Metal roofs are very effective in not only reflecting the light and heat of the sun during sunny weather but also their heat conduction properties allow your home to be far cooler than comparable alternatives. Even though metal roofs are blessed with a low R-value, most roofers will allow for a dead air space between the roofing material and the roof deck to increase energy efficiency and insulation.

Typically metal roofs weigh between 50-150 pounds per 100 square feet or square as the unit of measurement is referred to in the roofing industry. This emerges as being extremely paltry when compared to tiles at 750 pounds or concrete at 900 pounds per square.

Metal roofs enjoy a Class A fire rating since they are by nature non-combustible. Class A ratings are given only to those roofing materials that are reckoned to be the most fire-resistant. However, you should be aware that if you install the new metal roof over an existing roof made out of wood or other combustible materials, the fire rating will automatically go down and you will lose one of the greatest advantages of metal roofs. This is the reason why, despite the extra effort and expense, it is always better to strip off the old roof before installing a new metal roof.

Since metal roofs are more efficient in shedding snow and water, they can be installed at a far less steep pitch than conventional roofing materials without the hazard of leakages. Generally, now homes that are designed to have metal roofs installed will have a pitch of 3 inches for every 12 inches length. The possibility of being able to lay flatter roofs increases the potential of you being able to consider roofs with greater aesthetics.

With the numerous advantages possessed by metal roofs, it is not difficult to see why they are increasingly becoming popular with homeowners. With the huge choice of metals and finishes, you can have superior aesthetics, functionality, as well as durability making it a win-win situation that is hard to dispute.

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Metal Roofs Why Go For Them? - TG Daily (blog)

In my 25 years in the roofing business, I have come across all kinds of contractors.

The good ones follow the rules and comply with the ever-changing state and federal regulations that govern our industry. The not-so-great ones dont.

Over time, a legal provision known as Assignment of Benefits has emboldened a cottage industry of roofers to abuse the system and take advantage of homeowners and their insurance companies.

It often works like this: A roofing-company employee, typically a salesperson, canvasses neighborhoods after a rain or hail storm, telling homeowners they are entitled to a free roof. They pressure homeowners into signing an Assignment of Benefits contract, known as an AOB, which transfers benefits of the homeowners insurance policy to a contractor.

When used appropriately, AOBs can help homeowners get work done quickly without having to pay money upfront. However, when abused, AOBs allow sketchy companies to do unnecessary work or inflate the cost before an insurance company can inspect whether theres damage or a new roof is needed at all. Then, if the insurer refuses the claim, the contractor files a lawsuit in an attempt to collect.

Unwarranted claims and lawsuits end up costing homeowners in the form of higher insurance premiums and give hardworking, respectable roofing companies a bad name. Especially fueling the situation are one-way attorney fees, which allow attorneys suing insurance companies to collect legal fees if they win, but dont allow insurance companies to collect legal fees if they prevail. Remove this incentive to sue, and much of the AOB problem goes away.

Homeowners should know that they dont need to sign an AOB to get roof repairs done and not all roofing contractors use them. However, contractors who properly use AOBs inspect roofs for damage, provide a written estimate and wait for the homeowners insurance company to send an adjuster. If the adjuster agrees to the claim amount, the homeowner can submit the claim on his or her own or sign an AOB to have the contractor handle it. Everyone is on the same page, so there are no surprises.

Unfortunately, bad contractors use AOBs to prey on homeowners with the promise of quick, hassle-free repairs. They build false trust with homeowners by saying they are working on roofs throughout the neighborhood. Homeowners stop listening once they hear free roof and dont understand what they are signing.

As president of the 780-member Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, I support Senate Bill 1038 that would curb AOB abuse and put some of these dishonest contractors out of business.

We can no longer allow AOBs to be used as a weapon against good, honest roofers and their customers. We must take action to ensure the greedy action of a few doesnt hurt the rest of us.

George Ebersold is president of the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association and general manager for Tom Tanenbaum Roofing Inc. based in Orlando.

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Bill helps weed out dishonest contractors who misuse Assignment of Benefits contracts - Orlando Sentinel

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Tim Warner/Getty Images

Houston Astros(FanGraphs' projected record: 90-72)

The Astrosbolstered their offense this winter, adding catcher Brian McCann, outfielder Josh Reddick and outfielder/designated hitter Carlos Beltran to a core that includes All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve and burgeoning superstar shortstop Carlos Correa.

They did little to improve their rotation, which posted a pedestrian 4.37 ERA, and are instead relying on a bounce back from 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel.

Keuchel's ERA rose from 2.48 in 2015 to 4.55 in 2016 as he battled shoulder inflammation.

The good news? He's surrendered just two runs in 12 spring innings while holding opposing hitters to a .220 average.

An ace-level Keuchel married to a deep, potent offense should be enough to send the 'Stros past the 90-win plateau and to their first division title since 2001.

Verdict: Overachieve

Los Angeles Angels(FanGraphs' projected record: 83-79)

The Angels made some decent if unspectacular ancillary additions around AL MVP Mike Trout, picking up outfielders Cameron Maybin and Ben Revere, infielders Danny Espinosa and Luis Valbuena and right-hander Jesse Chavez.

They're also banking on a return to form from Garrett Richards, who threw 34.2 innings last year while dealing with an elbow issue but has appeared healthy and flashed high-90s velocity this spring.

The Halos will likely be better than last season, when they finished 74-88 and 21 games out. With questions in the back of the rotation and bullpen, however, a return to .500 seems like a high-water mark, even with Trout doing Trout things.

Verdict: Underachieve

Seattle Mariners(FanGraphs' projected record: 83-79)

The Seattle Mariners made a flurry of trades this winter,adding shortstop Jean Segura, infielder Danny Valencia and outfielders Jarrod Dyson and Mitch Haniger, among others.They retain a robust middle of the order, featuring Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager.

That said, their season hinges on the right arm of Felix Hernandez.

King Felix tumbled from his throne in 2016, posting his highest ERA (3.82) and fewest innings pitched (153.1) since 2007. The six-time All-Star, who turns 31 in April, has looked good in the Cactus League, allowing three earned runs and one walk with 10 strikeouts in 11 frames.

That and a balanced lineup should keep the M's in the playoff mix and allow them to match or exceed last season's 86-76 finish.

Verdict: Overachieve

Texas Rangers(FanGraphs' projected record: 83-79)

The two-time division champion Texas Rangers have a sterling 1-2 rotation combo in Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, who is looking to stay healthy over a full 162-game grind.

They lost veterans Mitch Moreland and Carlos Beltran but added old friend Mike Napoli. An offense that scoredthe seventh-most runs in baseball last season should again produce.

The back of the rotation is unsettled, and Texas didn't do as much as Houston, Los Angeles or Seattle to remake its roster.

Still, they're coming off a 95-win season and deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Verdict: Overachieve

Oakland A's(FanGraphs' projected record: 78-84)

The Oakland A's and Moneyball guru Billy Beane have bucked expectations before, so be careful with scoffing at their status as postseason hopefuls.

Still, in a deep division, the A's will need things to break right to improve dramatically on 2016's 69-93, last-place showing.

Put the lat injury that has cost ace Sonny Gray most of the spring in the "things not breaking right" column, especially after he wobbled through an injury-depleted 2016.

Oakland could surprise, but the safe money is on Beane and the Athletics unloading at the trade deadline.

Verdict: Underachieve

Continued here:
Predicting If Each MLB Playoff Hopeful Will Overachieve or Underachieve in 2017 - Bleacher Report

Quick, tell a story about a hero. A hero rising to take on its greatest, unexpected and unusual foe: blankets.

Heres the catch. You have to tell it as part of a group, and each person can only say one word. And it has to be in the style of a film trailer.

Close to 20 students at Mountain View High Schools improvisation group took the plunge. Using one word each and a deep, dramatic trailer-style voice in between laughs, they crafted a tale of romance, tragedy and a hero emerging to take on a world of blankets.

The group wasnt alone. The members were telling an improvised story, creating split-second scenes with Adam Archer and Eve Krueger, two members of one of the most recognized improvisation troupes in the United States, The Second City.

Archer and Krueger stopped by Mountain Views auditorium to work with the students in between performances at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, where the troupe has been doing shows from Wednesday to Sunday evening.

Two other members of Chicago-based The Second City, Lauren Walker and Greg Ott, hosted a workshop at Colonial Forge High School for members of the schools own improvisation team.

The Second City has been called the Harvard of Comedy, no less due to its jaw-dropping list of alumni, including Joan Rivers, Fred Willard, Tim Meadows and Tina Fey among other household names.

The improv show at Wolf Trap, called Were All In This Room Together, is described on The Second Citys website as full of the live and in-your-face entertainment Netflix cant provide.

Tom Clark, a drama instructor at Mountain View and faculty sponsor for the improv group, called Sorry in Advance, had noticed that one Second City show would stop in Virginia when scanning the tours.

He contacted The Second City, and several members of the troupe volunteered to workshop at both Mountain View and Colonial Forge.

Krueger and Archer led the group through several activities familiar to fans of Whose Line is it Anyway? A film-noir skit, an activity called Three-Headed Expert, where three people link arms and answer complex questions each saying one word, and three-lined skits.

With each activity, Archer and Krueger offered different pieces of advice in collaborating with other group members and owning the stories and characters they create, even if they think they failed.

Improv is a good place where you can try something and fail miserably at it, Krueger said, noting there are no wrong answers in improv. Lets use this time to embrace failure to propel us to do this.

Archer and Krueger said they had both given improv workshops separately. Working in high schools is something Krueger enjoys.

You can actually watch transformation, discoveries happen with the kids, Krueger said.

Archer remembered his own experience with improv in high school, and was inspired by the students dedication.

[Improv] was transformative to me, he said. The fact that kids spend extra-curricular time with this. Its great.

Students with the Sorry in Advance troupe, which meets every Thursday, felt similarly transformed by the workshop.

I feel so much stronger, Stephen Balani, a Mountain View senior, said. Stronger upon our skills to build upon each other, to keep a scene going and help each other.

Meredith Speet, a junior, also felt inspired and was excited to work with Krueger and Archer.

Weve done workshops before, but not at this level, Speet said.

Abigail Merker, a senior, said she looks up to several performers on Saturday Night Live, and was excited to meet members of a touring improv group.

I learned a lot, had a great time, Merker said.

This has not been Clarks, or Mountain Views first run-in with The Second City. Some Mountain View alumni have gone on to work with the troupe. Alan Linic, a 2007 graduate, currently performs with The Second Citys 41st revue. He was not with the show touring Virginia, Clark said.

Clark hopes the workshop will open Mountain View and Colonial Forges student groups to new exercises and different ways to stretch their improv muscles.

With a black box theater being built at Mountain View among other additions, Clark is looking forward to having the students at Sorry in Advance leap into new possibilities.

Its good to shake things up once in a while, he said.

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Members of renowned improv troupe visit Stafford students - Fredericksburg.com

Existing windows must be pre-inspected before installation begins.

ENERGY STAR labeled windows make it possible for consumers to identify efficient windows, doors and skylights. By choosing ENERGY STAR window products, you can cut down your heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable at the same time. ENERGY STAR labeled windows are twice as efficient as the average window produced just ten years ago.

In a typical house, over 40% of the annual energy budget is consumed by heating and cooling. Proper selection of windows, doors and skylights can significantly effect how much money we spend or save every year on keeping our homes bright and comfortable.

Be sure and check out the Efficient Windows Collaborative Web Site for unbiased information on the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendations for their selection and use.

Efficient Windows Collaborative Web Site

Consumers Power offers our customers a rebate of $3 per square foot of window area for replacement windows with a U-value of .30 on electrically heated homes.

On windows that achieve a U-value of .22 CPI offers a $4 per square foot of window replaced!

New prime windows and patio doors (sliding) that are ENERGY STAR labeled with a U-value of .30 or lower for the Northern Climate Zone may replace existing metal frame dual-glazed windows, or any single-glazed window regardless of frame. Storm windows, vent conversions and fin-bar conversions are not acceptable under this program.

Click here to download the rebate form in pdf format.

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Window Replacement - Consumers Power Inc.

PG Auto Glass

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 27, 2017

PG Auto Glass announces that it is now offering a lifetime warranty on its replacement auto glass. As a provider of auto glass replacement and repair services, PG Auto Glass uses only OE glass. This glass has the same specifications as the glass that was originally installed by the manufacturer. Not only does the glass fit correctly, but it is also thicker than the third-party glass that some other vehicle window repair services use. The addition of a lifetime warranty to this service gives customers even more peace of mind about their new OE windows.

Vehicle windows may be repaired or replaced based on how badly they are damaged. For very minor damage, repair can often be performed. Replacement is generally used for damage that is larger, penetrating, or located near a window edge, where greater expansion and contraction is more likely to increase the damage over time. During the replacement process, technicians remove all parts of the glass and stripping before seating the new glass and sealing it in place. Unlike auto glass repair, replacement eliminates any signs that damage has previously occurred.

Auto glass damage can happen in a variety of ways, and can quickly become worse after occurring. Airborne road debris, vandalism, accidents, and break-ins are some of the most common causes of glass damage. The resulting damage, even if small, can expand due to of temperature changes, road vibrations, and additional impacts. This damage can also create legal problems. Instead of having auto glass replacement performed at a garage, drivers can have it done at their work or home thanks to their mobile auto glass repair services.

PG Auto Glass performs auto glass repair and replacement services for vehicle owners in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley area, including those in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, and many other cities. With its mobile services, the company makes auto glass replacement and repair convenient for area drivers. In addition to working on windshields, PG Auto Glass repairs and replaces door glass, sunroof glass, back window glass, T-top glass, RV glass, truck slider glass, glass on buses, and other municipal vehicles requiring certain types of vehicle glass.

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PG Auto Glass Now Offers Lifetime Warranty on Replacement Auto Glasses - PR Web (press release)

The class-action suit aims to prove a number of points about the impact of Microsoft's Windows 10 upgrade.

Three Illinois residents are leading a class-action suit against Microsoft over data loss and damage to their computers, which they blame on the Windows 10 upgrade.

It's been two years since Microsoft began pushing its Windows 10 upgrade to consumers, and complaints about the company herding users towards its latest OS have been thoroughly documented. These reports occurred during Microsoft's year-long offer for users of Windows 7 and newer OSes to upgrade to Windows 10 at no charge, which ended in July.

The latest chapter in the saga is a class-action suit that accuses Microsoft of costing users time, money, and pain, by obliging them to deal with tech support, broken software, and replacement hardware following the Windows 10 upgrade.

The 100-plus members of the suit are seeking more than $5m in damages, excluding costs and interest.

The lead complainant, Stephanie Watson, says she never chose the Windows 10 upgrade and that when it happened she lost data related to her job. She then hired Geek Squad to repair her machine, but they couldn't resolve the issue with "complete success", so she bought a replacement.

Robert Saiger says he did accept the upgrade but claims to have lost data, as well as "time and money, and incurred aggravation attempting to reconstruct and replace the data".

Howard Goldberg also approved the upgrade and claims his "computer was damaged" after Windows 10 didn't install properly. Goldberg paid someone to repair the computer since the hardware was out of warranty and is claiming lost data, lost time and money, and loss of the use of his computer.

The complaint contends that Windows 10 is a consumer product under US law, and accuses Microsoft of being aware that the upgrade could cause data to be lost and hardware to be damaged.

The complainants aim to prove a number of points through the case, including that the upgrade could cause loss of data and hardware damage, and that Microsoft knew about potential software incompatibility issues. They also want to show that the upgrade, allegedly without warnings, resulted in a breach of warranties.

Not surprisingly, given the volume of complaints about the Windows 10 upgrade, Microsoft has been keeping tabs on what annoyed consumers most and has promised to offer users more choice with its upcoming Creators Update.

In a recent blogpost, the company said it will offer a way for users to "specify exactly when you want an update to occur, including the ability to reschedule an update if your original choice ends up being less convenient than expected, or 'hit the snooze button'."

We have contacted Microsoft for its views on the class action but have yet to receive a response.

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Windows 10 upgrades: Microsoft sued for millions over lost data and damaged PCs - ZDNet

James Nani Times Herald-Record @JamesNani845

MIDDLETOWN - A large-scale replacement of city residents' water meters is expected to begin in the next few weeks, part of a $12.7 million conservation project approved last year.

The first of nearly 8,000 state-of-the-art Sensus water meters arrived last week at the city's former water-treatment plant near Monhagen Lake.

Subcontractor Professional Meters Inc. isstaging its operation there as it gets ready to canvas the city and install the meters in homes and businesses, according to Jacob Tawil, commissioner of the city's Department of Public Works.

The new meters will be attached to radio transmitters and will beam hourly radio signals providing information to the city about water usage.

About 7,500 homes and 400 businesses will get new meters, Tawil said. Letters will go out to recipients in the next few weeks.

Older meters will be collected and stored for about a year in case residents lodge complaints about the new ones.

The installations are expected to take from April to October.

Tawil said the new meters will be more accurate, will allow people to see exactly how much water they're using and will save on manpower because city workers won't need to drive by homes and businesses to pick up radio signals.

But Tawil said the biggest reason for the change is to save water.

"I've been trying to do this forten of my lasttwelve years here, since I've been at City Hall," Tawil said.

According to the Sensus website, the meters are able to capture low-flow water that other meters cannot- flow rates as low as 0.1 to 0.3 gallons per minute.

The meters will also allow users to check online and monitor leaks and drips to help save water.

The installation, which Tawil said is expected to cost about $5 million, is part of a $12.7 million package of energy- and water-conservation projects for which the city has hired Energy Systems Group (ESG), based in Tennessee.

Middletown is using bonds to pay for the work.

The upgrades are ongoing. The city is preparing to install solar panels next to the water-treatment plant to reduce the plant's energy costs.

Old boilers and heating and cooling systems in several city buildings have been replaced.

And last week on West Main Street, subcontractors climbed up ladders to replace incandescent bulbs with LED lights.

In total, the changes are supposed to save the city $18.6 million over 15 years, according to the contract.

If the energy savings aren't met, the contract says ESG will cut a check for the difference.

The project is supposed to be completed within 12 to 18 months.

jnani@th-record.com

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Middletown to install new high-tech water meters - Times Herald-Record

Advanced technology has brought a lot of convenience to people, from smartphones to smart appliances. Home automation systems have been a huge hit especially with people who want to have easy access and control to their appliances. Automation systems are controlled through smart gadgets and can be installed with 12v actuators in order to obtain comfort and elegance. That is why selecting the best linear actuator is also important. Linear actuators are becoming more popular for automation and smartification. Actuators allow for a free range of motion depending on an application that an engineer or a home builder alike. The system can control the lighting, heating, ventilation, and even security locks inside the house. The appliances should be compatible with each other and are all connected to a centralized control unit. To even make things easier, mobile gadgets such as iPad, iPhone, tablets, and android phones can be used to control the smart appliances.

Using home automation systems gives a comfortable, convenient and safe lifestyle to families. By simply tapping your phone, you will be able to monitor everything that is happening around your house through the smart security gadgets like video cameras, smart locks, and smart doors. The use of automation systems increases energy efficiency while reducing the heating and cooling costs.

Making a Home Automation System with android is something that requires a lot of skill, patience, and resources. The project aims to allow the users control appliances wirelessly by integrating a specific system to the buildings electrical system.

Any mobile device with Bluetooth or WiFi can be used to control the system. The server will be a microcontroller powered box. There will be minimum costs for the installation and hardware since users already own mobile gadgets.

If you are planning a DIY smart home automation project, there are a couple of things that you have to know first. You must be knowledgeable with some basic carpentry, programming, and some basic electronics. Starting a DIY home automation project will also require some hardware which requires some technical materials. You can easily search the internet for electronic circuit board designs to design the set-up of your home system. Here are the things that you need to create and arrange so that you can finally have the home you deserve.

A block diagram is a simple visual aid that shows the basic components of the home system that you are creating. It shows the centrality of control, the presence, and features of the home automation system and the major electronic components and devices that will be installed. Here is the block diagram of a home automation system.

The Circuit diagram is a more complex diagram which will show the circuitry of all the electronic components that has to be set-up. To make a circuit diagram, you need technical knowledge with electronic components and how to handle and put them together. If you are in doubt with your Circuitry skills, you can simply try and learn from the internet.

A PCB or a plastic circuit board is a specially designed electronic diagram. It physically connects the different parts and components of the system. You might need the skills for arranging and soldering parts together. The circuit board must be made precisely to prevent short circuiting.

The automation system is managed with small computers. One brand is the Arduino, which is popular due to its easy interface and coding flexibility. Many home automation enthusiast choose Arduino as it is compatible to any appliance and can easily be programmed with Android devices. Androids software is easily one of the most popular since it uses complex codes that can be programmed with anything.

The final element that is needed in a home automation project is, of course, the Android App. This Application offers the centrality of control of your home automation system. The applications interface depends on the appliances, sensors, and actuators that you install with your home automation system. The app can regulate temperature, automatically switch lights on and off, analyze the users preferences and track sleep patterns.

Making a DIY Home Automation system is hard work but it is also worth it. The process can be enlightening in many ways but most importantly, you are bringing comfort, elegance, and ambiance to your house. You are turning the physical spaces and materials of your house into a cozy home.

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DIY Smart Home Automation Using Android - TG Daily (blog)

10 things you should expect during a home remodel Dayton Daily News Expense: Even remodels that stay within budget can be costly, and many remodels cost more than expected. When setting aside money for your upcoming bathroom or kitchen remodel, leave yourself a buffer so you can handle the unexpected costs that ...

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10 things you should expect during a home remodel - Dayton Daily News