Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

If you are looking for the long life of your air conditioner unit, then make sure that it is installed and serviced by a company that has served many years in the industry.

Indianapolis, IN - March 21, 2017 - (Newswire.com)

There is one company that will take care of your air conditioned units no matter what. You just need to give them a call, and they will be at your doorstep installing and servicing the air conditioner unit in no time. The company Bolls Heating & Cooling knows that an air conditioner in Greenwood IN is the best friend one can have. In summer, the heat is killing, and an AC unit breakdown is the last thing that you would want in such circumstances. A quick service response is the mark of a good service provider, and Bolls Heating & Cooling is the best resource to rely on the same. The company has a good service record, and they will offer the best possible service. Any time is a good time for them, and they dont go by the clock. They will come over and have a look at the air conditioner unit to detect the problem. If they find that it is beyond repair, then they will provide a new system. Under any circumstances, they will never let their clients suffer or compromise on their comfort.

With the competition so high, it pays to be on the job around the clock. The technicians at Bolls Heating & Cooling are all NATE Certified as that is mandatory in the industry. Moreover, such a certification is the validation of the technicians knowledge and a commitment to excellence. Bolls Heating & Cooling offers same day service on No Heat or No Cool calls if they hear from you before noon. They serve 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can trust on them for all air conditioning repair in Carmel IN at best possible price.

Get in touch with them at 317-638-1541 for more details.

About The Company

Bolls Heating & Cooling has been around for many years offering a wide range of HVAC services. They are the one resource to go for air conditioning repair in Carmel IN apart from installation, servicing and maintenance.

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Original Source: Get Air Conditioner in Greenwood in Installed and Serviced by Professionals

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Get Air Conditioner in Greenwood in Installed and Serviced by Professionals - Digital Journal

YOUNTVILLE, Calif. On a sunny morning in Napa Valley, Americas most celebrated chef is reflecting on his career, the culinary empire it spawned and why he just spent $10 million to upgrade his famed restaurant, the French Laundry.

Thomas Keller describes himself as detail-oriented, a perfectionist and passionate about fine food and design. All of this is apparent in the chefs gleaming new workspace, a 2,000-square-foot state-of-the-art kitchen, which feels more like a sleek, modern art gallery than a cramped, hectic kitchen.

At 61 years old, Keller entertains the thought of slowing down. Just not right now.

Hes got a new restaurant project underway at New York Citys Hudson Yards. He flew to Hollywood last week for a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live. And he is clearly mindful of his legacy, which is part of the inspiration for remodeling the revered restaurant he opened in 1994.

Keller says he embarked on the French Laundrys renovation to ensure it thrives for the next 20 years. Aside from the new kitchen, theres a 16,000-bottle wine cellar, extensive solar paneling, a new office annex and 9,000 square feet of new landscape design. The renovation took more than two years and was not stress-free.

For weeks, I would wake up in the middle of the night and think, Oh my God, I ruined the French Laundry,' said Keller, who holds three coveted Michelin stars for the restaurant, and another three for its New York counterpart Per Se. The distinctions make Keller the only American chef, past or present, with two sets of three-star Michelin ratings.

On a tour of the new kitchen and the French Laundrys lush culinary garden, Keller is vocally enthusiastic about the upgrades. He is also gracious, and humble, when asked about his significance to the culinary world.

I dont wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and go, Im looking at the greatest chef in America. It very seldom comes up for me personally, he says. But when the issue is raised, he feels an enormous amount of responsibility, that burden of responsibility on my shoulders to make sure that Im trying to exemplify what that chef would be like.

As a measure of his ambition, Keller compares the French Laundrys remodel to the renovation at one of the worlds great museums, the Louvre in Paris, citing how I.M. Peis 1989 addition of the glass pyramid added a modern statement to a historical site.

The Louvre was iconic. It was historic. Everybody knew it. And the French Laundry kind of represented that for me, said Keller, who even presented his architect with two pictures of the Louvre one pre-I.M. Pei and one after to capture the essence of his vision.

Keller teamed up with Snohetta, an architecture and design firm that spearheaded the recent three-year renovation of the San Franciscos Museum of Modern Art. The restaurant stayed open during the construction, but the culinary staff relocated to a temporary kitchen built inside four shipping containers. Final touches on landscaping are wrapping up this summer.

To actually stand in the new kitchen is the ultimate reward. Its absolutely amazing, says 36-year-old chef de cuisine David Breeden, who has worked for Keller at the French Laundry and Per Se for 12 years.

Gone is the stainless steel austerity of most restaurant kitchens, this one is white, spacious and sunlit by skylights and wraparound windows overlooking a garden. It has swooping vaulted ceilings meant to mimic draped linen.

Keller describes it as more feminine than most kitchens because of its soft lines and curves. It was designed with attention to ergonomics, acoustics and ease of cleaning, including all walls and counters made of an anti-microbial material.

The countertops were raised several inches from the standard height to avoid backaches. Theres a ventilated ceiling that does away with the typical noisy overhead hoods. Now theyre embedded in the ceiling with infrared sensors that gauge the appropriate speed, rather than whirring at high all day long.

The attention to detail is typical of Keller, says Breeden. We call him the omnipresent chef, said Breeden, who described Keller as a master craftsman who guides by example in his search for that constant improvement, constant refinement and reflection.

Perfectionism comes with a price. The 9-course prix fixe menu, which changes every night, costs $310. But a meal for two with wine and a vintage after-dinner cognac could easily top $1,000.

The 62-seat restaurant is typically booked solid weeks in advance.

Keller has not cooked full-time in years but is still very much the face of the French Laundry, which is inside an old stone cottage in the heart of California wine country. And when hes in town, hes at the restaurant, impeccably dressed in in his custom-made chef jacket, tailored black pants and shiny black clogs.

During the flurry of a recent dinner service, Kellers guiding hand was at work plating caviar, making artful, final touches on dishes, instructing waiters on the details of each course and even helping out in the dishwashing area.

In the span of two decades, Keller has transformed the image of the American chef and the fine dining experience in America with his innovative, playful interpretations of fine French food, says Tim Ryan, president of the Culinary Institute of America.

Ryan describes Keller as a mixture of humility and ego. Unlike todays celebrity chefs, he had no reality TV shows but earned recognition through hard work in the kitchen, Ryan says, and to this day no one has matched his achievements or influence.

Thomas Keller is the most important chef in American history. Period. Ever, said Ryan in a telephone interview from New York. Im sitting right now in a building filled with 2,000 aspiring chefs. There is no one in the world I could bring here that would generate more excitement among the student body than Thomas.

In the streets of Yountville, Keller is a local celebrity. Tourists stop him in the street to take selfies together, or pose outside the French Laundry sign. His success has spawned a dozen other bistro-style restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Beverly Hills and Yountville, where he lives next door to the French Laundry when not traveling.

As hes grown older, Keller said, hes more comfortable with the idea of less running around. Ultimately, hed like to return full-time to his brand new kitchen.

One day do I want to come back and solely be here? Its a dream. It gives me great sense of comfort to be here at the French Laundry, said Keller, who has long talked of building an upscale Inn alongside the restaurant. So were looking at that.

Online: https://www.thomaskeller.com/tfl

Follow Jocelyn Gecker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jgecker

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Thomas Keller shows off his sleek new French Laundry remodel - The Republic

March 22, 2017 08:42 ET | Source: Nordecon

multilang-release

Nordecon Betoon O, a Nordecon Group company, entered into a contract with the lemiste City developers Mainor lemiste subsidiary piku Majad O for the construction of a parking house with a space for 428 cars. The facility will be located adjacent to the countrys largest office building, pik Building and in the first phase of the construction a historical Dvigatel production facility will be enlarged to a five storey 14,000 sqm parking house.

The value of the contract is 3.995 million euros plus value added tax. The construction works will be completed in summer 2018.

Nordecon (www.nordecon.com) is a group of construction companies whose core business is construction project management and general contracting in the buildings and infrastructures segment. Geographically the Group operates in Estonia, Ukraine, Finland and Sweden. The parent of the Group is Nordecon AS, a company registered and located in Tallinn, Estonia. In addition to the parent company, there are more than 10 subsidiaries in the Group. The consolidated unaudited revenue of the Group in 2016 was 183 million euros. Currently Nordecon Group employs close to 700 people. Since 18 May 2006 the company's shares have been quoted in the main list of the NASDAQ Tallinn Stock Exchange.

Andri Hbemgi Nordecon AS Head of Investor Relations Tel: +372 6272 022 E-mail: andri.hobemagi@nordecon.com http://www.nordecon.com

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Construction contract (pik Building parking house) - GlobeNewswire (press release)

MIDDLETOWN Town Council unanimously agreed Tuesday night to hire Danny Taylor, owner of Middletown-based DSM Construction, to serve as the general contractor for the renovation of its old Town Office Building at 7875 Church St.

The council moved into its current building at 7735 Main St. after mold was found growing in the town office and police station on Church Street.

Remediation company Madison Taylor discovered that the cause of the mold was groundwater seeping under the town office and a leak in the buildings roof. In order to keep mold from becoming a recurring issue, there will need to be some repairs and renovations to its foundation and roof.

The council wants to eventually move back into its original building, but to do so the mold will need to be removed.

As general contractor, Taylor will coordinate and oversee the entire renovation project though it has yet to be determined whether his company will be in charge of the roof and structural repairs. He would also select a remediation company to get rid of the mold and clear the HVAC system.

Councilor George Smith will work with Taylor to determine the entire scope of the project and the extent of repairs to be done to make the old town office usable again. It is unclear how much the renovations will cost. Based on estimates, it will cost $20,000 to $27,000 just to remove the mold.

In February the council amended its current budget to allow up to $250,000 to be used to pay for the repairs and renovation of the town office at 7875 Church St. In the next fiscal year, the council could spend another $250,000 on the renovations to the Church Street building.

Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV said the towns budget is looking overwhelmingly good for the upcoming fiscal year, and that there is expected to be a $300,000 surplus.

Also at the meeting, Frederick County Sheriff Lenny Millholland gave an update on the search for a new police chief, following the departure of former interim chief, Warren M. Houde.

According to Harbaugh, Houde resigned on March 6 after the Frederick County Sheriffs Office made the council aware of a major issue. Harbaugh did not elaborate on what the issue was.

Following Houdes departure, Millholland was named Middletowns interim police chief. He said at Tuesdays meeting there have so far been seven applications for the police chief position, and that the application deadline is March 27.

Millholland told the council that after all applications are received, an investigative committee will review the applicants and narrow them down. The process will involve interviews, polygraph tests and background checks. How long the process will take to select a candidate is not certain, but Millholland said he hopes it will be before July.

In my perfect little world, Im looking to 30 to 45 days, Millholland said. But well just see. Im hoping that the [applicants] that we have are quality people and you will have a chief of police that will be someone that you can bank on.

In regards to the towns security, Carolyn Aliff said that due to the assistance of the Frederick County Sheriffs Office she has seen more police in Middletown during the past month than she has the entire time since she had moved there. Council member Scott Fink thanked Millholland for stepping in as police chief and doing this town a great justice.

Council member Jeff Pennington, on behalf of the towns Planning Commission, said he strongly suggests the council begin to look at and refer to its Comprehensive Plan that is supposed to guide the future growth of the town.

Theres some value in it in how we go about making long-range decisions, Pennington said.

The plan, last updated in 2013, currently plans to 2033. The Planning Commission wants to update the Comprehensive Plan this year, but wants feedback from Town Council. Pennington said he is trying to re-establish the communication between the Planning Commission and the council.

Fink also expressed interest in rebuilding the relationship between the commission and council.

Pennington will schedule a joint meeting between the two entities. If updated this year, the Comprehensive Plan will provide a guideline of the towns future until the year 2037.

Attending the work session at the Middletown Town Office at 7735 Main St. were Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV, Vice Mayor Tom Simon and council members Carolyn Aliff, Jeffrey Pennington, Carole Snyder Jones, George Smith and Scott Fink.

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Middletown Town Council agrees on company for office building renovation - The Winchester Star

Christopher DeVargas

A section of Palace Station is shown under construction as part of a multimillion-dollar remodeling project, Friday, March 17,2017.

By Thomas Moore (contact)

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Palace Station will soon be ditching its train motif as a multimillion-dollar renovation project on the 41-year-old casino continues.

The remodeling began last fall, and work on the parking lot and landscaping has been completed. Work is progressing on the exterior, and workers will soon convert the steam locomotive theme to a more current mid-century modern design, Station spokeswoman Lori Nelson said.

As part of those changes, the six faux locomotive noses and the train cars on the front of the building facing Sahara Avenue will be removed and may be donated to the Neon Museum.

The donation is not a done deal, Nelson explained, because of the logistics of dismantling and transporting the heavy pieces. Once theyre gone, however, she said Palace Station will sport very clean lines and a very contemporary look.

Its not clear if the train theme will be abandoned completely. Its still front and center on the casinos marquee that sits at the northeast corner of the property, near Sahara Avenue and the Interstate 15 on-ramp. Nelson said management has not yet decided what to do about the sign.

In addition to adding landscaping and removing the trains, a new main entrance and porte cochre will be constructed. The company is also updating the look and feel of part of the interior and adding a new bingo room.

It goes back to our roots, Nelson said. When it first opened in 1976, we opened as The Casino with 100 slot machines and the snack bar. And then a year later, the first expansion happened with the addition of a bingo room, and the casino was renamed Bingo Palace.

Nelson said the room will be themed and run much like the bingo rooms at Red Rock Resort and Santa Fe. It's nightclub meets bingo, she said. There's a DJ who comes in, and theres special lighting. If someone at your table wins bingo, everyone at the table gets a shot. You're going to see a lot of that kind of fun programming here at Palace Station as well.

The company has not disclosed an exact cost of the project because the renovation is being done in phases, and the status of future phases is still being discussed.

When current renovation is complete in mid- to late-spring, the Feast buffet will be moved from the second to the first floor and the casino will add two restaurants.

Current project

A new porte cochre/valet at the casino entrance facing Sahara Avenue. It will join the current porte cochre/valet entrance at the hotel tower

Complete remodel of the front casino exterior facade

A new bingo room. The space housing the current bingo room will be revised over the project's span

Parking lot improvements, including repaving, landscaping and lighting

Some interior casino floor upgrades with new finishes and fixtures

The next phase

Creation of a new Feast buffet on the casino floor (the current Feast Buffet is located on the second floor above the casino where the meeting and event space is located).

Addition of two new restaurants (details to come at a later date)

Courtesy Station Casinos

The Bingo Palace, which Frank Fertitta Jr. would eventually rename Palace Station.

Historic upgrades and renovations

1976: The Casino opened. It had a 5,000-square-foot casino with 100 slot machines, a snack bar and 90 team members)

July 1977: Renamed Bingo Palace. The first expansion included a bingo room, buffet and other amenities

April 1978: 60,000-square-foot addition

August 1980: Work began on an expansion that included a race and sports book that opened in March 1981 and a new buffet and new bingo room that opened in November 1981

November 1983: Bingo Palace name evolves into Palace Station along with another expansion

March 1991: Hotel tower opens with an additional 25,000-square-foot casino expansion

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Train leaving the Station: Railroad theme jettisoned in Palace Station's renovation - Las Vegas Sun

Patch.com

Designer Wins Award for Long Grove Home Remodeling Project Patch.com In the case of a remodeling project at one Long Grove home, suburban designer Maury Jones configured an addition that merged two families, all while giving them the privacy and independence they were seeking. Jones works for Normandy Design Build ...

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Designer Wins Award for Long Grove Home Remodeling Project - Patch.com

Local News

Mar 21, 2017

MARSHALL Along with a community meeting, Marshall Public School community open house and tours have been scheduled to provide information and answers regarding the referendum vote on April 18.

The community open houses and tours are scheduled on two different occasions 9-11 a.m. on Thursday and 5-7 p.m. on March 27. The tours provide an opportunity to learn more about the needs within the district. It allows time to observe the school buildings firsthand in addition to asking questions. Tours will be provided by building administrators and school board members.

Weve got open houses and indoor tours at all of the buildings Park Side, West Side, the middle school, the high school, MPS Superintendent Scott Monson said. We just really want people to come out and see the sights.

The community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 29 at the MPS district office school board meeting room at MMS.

The Marshall School Board is asking voters to consider approving a $39.4 million building bond referendum. An additional question will also be on the ballot, asking whether or not a $1.25 million renovation of the unused swimming pool area should be made into a multi-purpose space at the Marshall Middle School.

Weve talked before about how, if you dont have students or children enrolled in the district, you may not have been in some of the buildings for a number of years and theres a lot to celebrate and we want people to see the great things going on as well sometimes when you can see the buildings and what were talking about when you can see those things visually, it makes a difference. Monson said. It ultimately helps everyone become a more informed voter, and thats really what our efforts have been focused on.

During a comprehensive Facilities Study Committee process from which students, staff, parents and community members gave input four primary priorities were identified. Those needs the reasons for the referendum are: safety and security at each school building, increased space and opportunities for early childhood education, additional classroom space to accommodate increasing student enrollment at all grade levels and increased space and courses for career and technical education.

Growing enrollment has been a driving force in need for the referendum vote. In 2010, district-wide enrollment was recorded at 2,139 students. In 2013, student enrollment was at 2,240. In 2016, MPS enrollment had grown to 2,459 students. Demographic studies show that the district enrollment will continue growing for many years to come.

If the referendum is approved, Park Side Elementary School would be converted to a pre-K through first-grade building, with nine kindergarten rooms, nine first-grade rooms, seven early childhood rooms, one Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) room and one Early Childhood Special Education room (ECSE). That would involve adding 7,200 square feet, remodeling 12,300 square feet and constructing a safe and secure front entrance, totaling $4.5 million.

West Side Elementary School would be sold or repurposed if the referendum is approved. A new elementary school for grades 2-4 which would be built on the Marshall Middle School site would be built, totaling $21.9 million.

The new building would consist of 81,500 square feet, which includes 27 classrooms and a 650-student capacity. Also included would be: eight special education classrooms and support spaces, two multi-purposes and tech learning labs, media resource centers, two music rooms, kitchen prep areas and a full-size basketball gymatorium with seating for 700.

MMS would still house fifth- through eighth-grade students, but four additional classrooms would be built, as would two science labs. A yes vote would also give the go-ahead for orchestra room and Family And Consumer Science (FACS) lab upgrades in addition to the conversion of the early childhood area to art and technology lab. If the second question regarding the swimming pool is approved, the MMS effort would total $3.2 million.

At Marshall High School, a single-story addition, which would allow for more classroom space, increased space for agriculture and increased safety features, totaling $9.1 million. The plan includes an additional 25,250 square feet and the remodeling of 6,500 square feet, for a 1,050 student capacity. It also involves expanding the team lockers and locker rooms, cafeteria, woodworking and welding areas.

For questions, call 507-537-6924, refer to the district website at http://www.marshall.k12.mn.us/referendum2017 or email to referendum2017@marshall.k12.mn.us.

If anybody has questions, they can call the office, Monson said. Were certainly not limited to providing tours of the sites during these times, but these are community-wide open houses. If it doesnt work for these times and days and somebody wants to get into the buildings, wed be more than happy to help them with that if they want to give us a call.

Referendum voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 18 at Marshall National Guard Armory (500 Timmerman Drive). Those who wish to vote early can do so by stopping at the district office at 401 South Saratoga Street (Marshall Middle School).

MARSHALL Marshall School Board members learned about the many ways students and staff have been using ...

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School district to have open houses and tours - Marshall Independent

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. Called all kinds of names hall bathroom, powder room guest bath, half bath, little's girl's or boy's room it's probably the smallest room in your home.

And, all too often, it's the most blandly decorated room in our home. And worse still, it's probably the room most often frequented by your guests.

So, why not let your imagination and creativity flow into overtime? Make a bold statement in the room. Work on creating a focal point. It's not uncommon for these small room to have no window, and let's face it, there's not much beautiful about a toilet and vanity.

Here are a few ideas you might way to incorporate, when considering giving this room a complete makeover.

1. Start with the vanity: Replacing a plain laminate top with a beautiful granite surface might be just ticket. Or, how about considering some of the handsome furniture pieces that are not only graciously designed but fully functional as well. They are totally designed to give a small powder room a fabulous focal point.

2. Use dramatic wallpaper: It could certainly reduce the boxy feeling these small rooms are typically known for. Think about selecting something exciting and spectacular. Today's faux finish wall coverings come complete with embedded jewels and crystals. Just think of the drama you can create.

3. Your flooring: How about replacing that vinyl with a new tile floor. Even a multi-patterned area rug might add just the right touch to this oft-used space.

So how about it? Get up right now and go and look in your powder room. Could it use a little makeover or a large redo? If so, contact a remodeling expert to help you create a room your guests will be unable to stop raving about.

Bathroom Basics

Is your bathroom boring or minuscule? Don't despair colors and patterns can give a lift and fool the eye into seeing a larger space. Remember, it's not the amount of space, but what you do with it that counts.

The first step in decorating and or remodeling your bathroom is selecting the theme or mood you want to portray. Once you've decided, then the creativity begins.

If you want to "open up" your bathroom, select a color scheme that is light pale colors tend to recede and will visually expand the room. To achieve a sense of the dramatic, you may want to select rich, vibrant colors instead. Deeper colors appear to advance and the room will appear cozier.

Window treatments for bathrooms generally are required to supply function and beauty privacy is a must. Pleated shades, vertical, cellular shades, silhouettes would all fit the privacy ticket.

All are resistant to moisture and can supply complete privacy. There are many fabric treatments to enhance your bath's dcor. Coordinating fabrics can even be used as shower curtains to complete the look.

So, what are you waiting for? If your bathroom is ho hum, wake it up with color and fabric and who knows, maybe it will help you wake up in the morning too!

Kristen Fencl is an award winning professional interior decorator and owner of the Decorating Den Interiors located in Incline Village. Visit http://www.decdens.com/kristenf to learn more.

Original post:
Lake Tahoe Home: Treat your powder room with the respect it deserves - Sierra Sun

ATLANTA - You just moved into a new place and its amazing... except for one thing: the walls are an awful drab beige color. It reminds you of a prison or maybe a run-down retirement home. Plus, you can tell the paints been there for more than a few years. Its faded in places and there are smudges, chipping here and there. Youd really like to liven up the place and get some dramatic color on the walls, but what if the landlord says "no?"

Here with the answers is real estate expert John Adams:

Question: Can I paint if I am told that painting is not allowed?

John: That military grade off-white is pretty boring and institutional, isnt it? Sure, you can throw up some posters, but overdo it and the place starts to look a little too much like a teenagers bedroom. It may seem the easiest way to personalize your pad and bring a little flair to it is to paint a wall or twoor a mural, if youre so inclined.

Yes, you can paint, even though the landlord says you can NOT. But there may be a price to pay in the future.

Q: Like what kind of price? John: Well, at the very least, your lease agreement says clearly that you agree to return the property to the landlord at the conclusion of the lease in the same condition in which you received it, normal wear and tear excepted.

Q: What does that mean? John: It means that the landlord has the right to expect that the walls will be the same color when you LEAVE as they were when you MOVED IN.

Q: And if they are not? John: Then the landlord usually has the right to repaint the walls which you painted to any color he chooses, including military off white, and make YOU pay for it.

Q: Wait a minute. You just said that under the lease, one of the exceptions was ordinary wear and tear. Right? John: Thats right.

Q: So, isnt it ordinary to paint walls from time to time, and dont you normally get to choose the color? John: Yes, the property typically needs to be painted from time to time, but the decision on when to do that and what color rests with the landlord, not with the renter. For example, what if you are into darkness, and decide to paint all the walls and ceilings gloss black? While it is true that the apartment may have needed a paint job, it is also true that the landlord will be required to repaint all those surfaces when you move out, because most renters do not want a gloss black apartment.

Q: But what if I choose a lovely pastel blue for the living room, and a really pleasant creamy yellow for the kitchen - I am really GOOD at picking popular colors! John: From the landlords perspective, the color you choose is not relevant. The fact is that you agreed to return the property in the same condition it was on the day you moved in, and now it is different.

Q: Well, thats just crazy. John: It may be crazy, but thats what is in your lease, and that is what the law says.

Q: Is this just in Georgia? John: No, its essentially the same everywhere. Even if you do a great job and the color makes your apartment look better than a page in a magazine, youre still gonna have to paint it back to that drab off-white color before you move out.

Q: How can I get around this? John: Read your lease. Then ASK PERMISSION TO PAINT. If your landlord says YES, get it in writing. If he says NO, understand that you will either have to repaint when you move out or pay the cost of having it repainted. If youre using a pastel paint, maybe thats not such a big deal. But if youre going with a bold blue or a forest green, know that itll take several coats of that pale color to cover up the darker one later onand paint aint cheap.

Q: If I am OK with losing my security deposit, then is it OK? John: No, you are still legally responsible for any damage done to the property, and what you have done is considered DAMAGE under the lease. If your security deposit fails to cover the full cost of the damage, then the landlord can sue you for the difference beyond your security deposit. That could ruin your credit.

One more thought: you may plan on living in this place for a year or more, but something unexpected might happen that has you moving on sooner than you thought. In an emergency situation, you dont want to be stuck with that added responsibilityand if its a financial emergency that sent you packing, youre likely going to want to get as much of your security deposit back as possible.

If you decide you want to paint anyway, know that there are consequences.

If you have an awesome landlord, you may be able to sit down and agree on a neutral color thats not quite as barrenthen you wont have to worry about the four coats of paint its going to take to change your bedroom back to off-white after youve painted it black. Once youve had your discussion, type up an agreement you both can sign, saying you have approval to paint and agree to repaint it to the original color before you leave (or that you and your landlord have agreed its okay for you to leave it as is).

The bottom line: Discuss remodeling plans BEFORE you sign the lease or be prepared to forever hold your peace. If you want full control over your living quarters, buy your own house!

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Remodeling rights for renters - FOX 5 Atlanta

Question: I want a strong window shutter for security and storms, but I dont want it to block my outdoor view. Is a rolling shutter strong enough and will it improve the efficiency of a large window?

Answer: Installing rolling shutters can protect your windows and sliding glass doors from damage during severe weather. In some hurricane-prone states, such as Florida and the Texas coast, new homes or ones doing major improvement projects are required to install approved rolling shutters. In other parts of the country, they are also popular for energy savings and security benefits.

Energy savings with a rolling shutter can be significant, especially over large windows and glass doors. Considering only the insulation value of the shutter slats, a rolling window shutter can triple the R-value of a standard window. Additional savings come from the dead air space which is created, reducing air leakage and blocking the suns heat and fading rays during summer.

A rolling window shutter operates similarly to an old roll top desk. It is mounted in outdoor vertical tracks on each side of a window or door and rolls up into a small box mounted above the window or door. The individual slats are often only one to two inches tall and interlock with each other. The mechanism to raise and lower them is indoors. There also is an emergency hand crank rod that can be used outdoors.

When the shutter is lowered covering the entire window, some shutters still allow natural light to come indoors. Each interlocking flange connecting the slats together has long narrow holes. When the shutter is completely lowered against the sill, these holes are hidden. As the shutter starts to lift, the slats separate to expose the holes while the bottom slat is still resting on the window sill.

There are several slat design options. The least expensive is made of hollow rolled sheet metal. Metals become stronger and stiffer from the rolling and forming operation. Another option is this same type of roll-formed slat with insulation in the cavity. This makes it a little stronger and provides more insulation. The strongest and most expensive slats are heavier extruded metal.

The type of opening device and controls will be determined by the type and size of the rolling shutter you install and the level of convenience you desire. If a shutter is difficult and inconvenient to open and close, you will end up just not using it as often as you should for the greatest energy savings and storm protection.

When installing a shutter over a normal-size window, an inexpensive pull strap operator is effective. For larger shutters or heavier extruded ones, a hand crank is a good choice. This is still reasonably priced and easy to use. For the most convenience, electric operators are available. With modern electronics, groups of shutters can be operated from just one control.

Question: I am going to add some wall insulation to an old farm house when I reside it. I plan to use real cedar lap siding. What is the proper method to nail it after the insulation and sheathing are installed?

Answer: Ring shank nails are best because they grip tightly and should not pop. Use either aluminum or galvanized steel nails to eliminate rusting. Hammer the nail head in just flush with the siding surface.

The proper nailing location is just above the edge of the piece of siding below. Never try to nail through two pieces of siding with the same nail. Do not nail up too far though or the siding is more likely to split.

Excerpt from:
Installation of rolling storm shutters - Palm Beach Post