Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Good news: You no longer have to leave home to get key items such as groceries, booze and pet food. New "get it now" services allow you to have them delivered right to your door, often the same day (if not the same hour).

"You don't have to go shopping; somebody does all that work for you and schlepps it to your house," said Sucharita Mulpuru, a retail analyst at Forrester Research. "There are pros for the customer."

The catch? You may be stuck at home for a fixed window of time, waiting for it to be delivered. And you may be charged a membership fee or a premium for the service.

We ran the numbers on more than a dozen services, offering door-to-door delivery of everything from laundry to liquor, to see which ones are worth it.

By Lucy Maher, special to CNBC.com.

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From dog food to dry cleaning--apps that deliver

Total Installation Cost Range: $850 - $2,000 Average Materials Cost: Average Labor Cost: Avg. Time to Complete: 6-8 Hours, 2 Installers

Usually Includes: Tankless Water Heater, Labor, Tools & Supplies

When you want to have instant hot water or want to use the water in their home more efficiently, the installation of a tankless water heater may be the right answer.

If you have a tankless water heater installed in your home you can also save space by removing your bulky tank water heater that is constantly losing heat. With a tankless model, the water stays hot all the time and your utility bills may be lowered as much as 24% to 34% less, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

Most often,tankless water heater installation is done by a plumber or HVAC contractor and most of the cost is based on what tankless water heater you want installed, as well as the complexity of the installation. On average, a tankless water heater can be installed in under 8 hours by a plumber and their apprentice. This job may take longer and additional fees will most likely be involved if there is extensive prep work that is needed or if there is a need for additional plumbing or pipes.

In this guide, youll learn about the tankless water heater installation processes and any special skills or tools you may need. The cost to install a tankless water heater could be affected by many different factors and we will help you understand more about those items and how to get cost savings.

Tankless water heater installation estimates will usually include:

A plumbing contractor will most likely use the table of supplies and tools listed below to install a tankless water heater. This list is fairly extensive, but to be completely prepared you should probably have all of these on-hand if you want to try out a tankless water heater installation on your own. You or your helper should have quite a bit of knowledge in plumbing and wiring before you try to do the job yourself.

Your total tankless water heater cost can be effected by many factors. If any modifications are needed in either the wiring or plumbing, there will be additional costs. As an example, if you currently have a tank water heater in your utility closet where the pipes come in at the bottom of the wall, there may be a need to re-route piping so that the tankless can be installed where the water temperature is at its prime. Installing the tankless in the correct location helps with the flow and speed of the water.

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Compare Tankless Water Heater Installation Costs

News

Friday, January 16, 2015

By KATHY CLEVELAND

Staff Writer

A couple of weeks ago, someone living in the outskirts of Brookline got very lucky.

A passerby noticed smoke coming from the front porch and called for help, and fire damage was confined to a small area of the porch.

The problem was wood ashes a common cause of winter fires when they arent disposed of properly, Brookline Assistant Fire Chief Scott Knowles said.

January is a peak month for house fires, and local fire officials have some tips for avoiding the devastation of a winter fire.

These fires are usually caused by heating equipment, and on average, wood stoves, fireplaces and other forms of alternate heat are involved in more than 60,000 reported U.S. home structure fires a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable, J. William Degnan, state fire marshal, said in one of his recent newsletters.

Read more from the original source:
Fire officials warn of winter dangers

Provided by Networx.com

1. Rustic Backyard Pond with Watering Can

A gorgeous water feature installation completes the picture of Jamie D's charming rural home. Powered by a pond pump, water filters into the spacious pond through a galvanized watering can for a uniquely rustic effect.

2. Pond in a Box

If you're not blessed with a big backyard or are not able to dig on your property, try the Empress of Dirt's ingenious pond in a box. That's right -- container ponds are the natural successors to container gardens. Add some bright flowers for a splash of color.

3. Bubbling Rock Water Feature

Kid-friendly pondless water features are safe and low-maintenance. Theresa Farrell Hathaway drilled natural rocks with a masonry bit and threaded them with flexible tubing to create this simple and inexpensive fountain with an authentic bubbling sound.

4. DIY Clacking Bamboo Pond Embellishment

Another soft-sounding water feature is this Zen-inspired garden decoration. The clacking bamboo is delightful to us humans, but is rumored to be an effective deer deterrent. The Garden Frog Boutique cut and dried her own bamboo to add to an existing pond on her land.

5. Rain Waterfall from a Storage Bin

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Water features add charm to your house and garden

Winter-related slips and falls have a significant negative impact on American businesses each year, resulting in time off work, temporary employee costs, overtime for existing employees and increased insurance costs, said Mike Britt, president of Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. To avoid these costs this winter, employers need to be extra vigilant, and employees should exercise extreme caution in the months ahead, Britt states, adding that in the Midwest states last winter, one-third (29 percent) of workers compensation claims resulted from slips and falls.

As temperatures drop and winter hazards increase, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and the Michigan Workers Compensation Agency (WCA) are reminding employers and employees to exercise caution when working in the cold and snow.

Every employer should have an effective safety and health management system in place to protect its most valuable asset: its employees, said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. As part of this program, they should prepare for winter conditions and provide helpful information to their employees on how to avoid injury and illness.

Worker injuries can negatively affect a businesss bottom line, resulting in increased workers compensation and insurance costs, overtime, and lost work days for employees, said WCA Director Kevin Elsenheimer. By taking the proper safety precautions this winter, job providers can avoid nasty slips and falls that will cost them in the future.

Lower workers' comp costs save employers on overhead expenses and give them additional resources to grow their business, hire new workers, and increase their employees salaries says a press release.

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Winter slips and falls have negative impact on American businesses

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Lebanon A proposal to remove more than 30 acres of trees from airport property along Poverty Lane is set to receive another look by the City Council tonight.

Residents submitted letters to councilors in November and December, urging them to revisit the pending tree-clearing project. Among the objections raised are concerns about the effect on property values, impacts on wildlife habitat , and potential increases in noise and light from the airport and nearby Interstate 89. They have also questioned the need for the tree clearing.

After initially rejecting the project which in addition to denuding 33 acres of trees will include removing 38 obstruction lights, replacing them with two 110-foot slow flashing beacons, and moving a fence the council approved the $1.2 million project in phases in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Ninety percent of the work is set to be paid for through federal funds, with the state and city each contributing 5 percent.

Though councilors set tonights meeting to discuss the issue, there is no indication they intend to change course. They have said the project is necessary to improve visibility for pilots along the southern side of the east-west runway, northwest of Poverty Lane and south of Interstate 89, and to comply with federal regulations and requirements by the citys insurer.

People who do this for a living at the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) say this is a risk, Mayor Georgia Tuttle said of the trees in a phone interview Tuesday. When a pilot flies into an airport with fog, storm or rain, they have to have more than a narrow landing zone.

In a memo included in the councils packet for tonights meeting, Airport Manager Rick Dyment said that the city committed to comply with FAA safety guidelines when it entered into an agreement with the federal government to operate and maintain the airport in 1941. Subsequently, the city has agreed to 39 FAA grant assurances tied to federal funds.

Dyment particularly pointed to FAA grant assurance No. 20, which requires that the airport take appropriate action to assure that such terminal airspace as is required to protect instrument and visual operations to the airport ... will be adequately cleared and protected by removing, lowering, relocating, marking, or lighting or otherwise mitigating existing airport hazards and by preventing the establishment or creation of future airport hazards.

FAA spokesman Jim Peters said in an email that the tree removal project is in accordance with federal regulations and will help to ensure the safety of the airport.

Federal air safety regulations require airports to identify and mitigate obstructions that may impact airport operations, Peters wrote. The obstruction removal project will enhance the safety of Lebanon Municipal Airport by removing obstructions.

With the support of federal funds, the city completed an obstruction study in 2009, which identified some of the hills and trees surrounding the airport as interfering with safe landings and takeoffs. It would be totally unrealistic to remove all obstructions, Dyment said in an interview on Tuesday.

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Logging Plan For Lebanon Airport Up for Review

Lebanon Most members of the Lebanon City Council stood by their previous decision to move forward with a project to remove more than 30 acres of trees on airport property along Poverty Lane, despite some residents pleas that they reconsider the work during a discussion at City Hall on Thursday.

City officials reiterated their reasons for supporting the tree removal, saying that the trees are obstacles for pilots landing or departing from the airports east-west runway, the tree removal is required by the Federal Aviation Administration and, should the city fail to move forward with the project as planned, it would risk losing federal grant money and insurance for the airport.

We have to follow FAA guidelines, said Mayor Georgia Tuttle to the 25 residents and airport users gathered. If we dont do the safety project because its a known danger ... they wont allow us to have insurance because we are declining to fix something that we know about.

In addition to clearing 33 acres of trees, the $1.2 million project includes removing 38 obstruction lights, replacing them with two 110-foot slow flashing beacons, and moving a fence. Ninety percent of the project is expected to be funded by the FAA, with the state and the city each contributing 5 percent.

The sole city councilor to speak in support of revisiting the issue, Steve Wood, whose Poverty Lane orchard abuts the airport, suggested the city consider scaling back the project to remove only the tallest trees. He argued that the decision to remove the trees was not in the interest of safety, but the citys response to threats by the FAA.

We have not acted in the interest of safety, he said. We have acted as children being told by Daddy what to do.

Wood said that the city struggles to maintain the current safety precautions it has in place, noting that there are 8-10 bulbs out in the existing obstruction lights.

If were so concerned about liability, why arent we replacing the light bulbs? he asked. We should revisit this.

Airport Manager Rick Dyment said replacing the 38 obstruction lights with two taller slow flashing beacons will make them easier for airport staff to maintain.

Due to concerns relating to the projects potential effects on property values, the environment, sound and light, residents requested that the council return to the negotiating table with the FAA to see if the number of trees to be removed could be reduced or delay the project until the city completes an airport master plan, which officials said would take two years.

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Lebanon Airport Trees Will Be Cut

TORONTO While most homeowners dont give much thought to whats behind their walls, proper insulation is of key importance to having a comfortable, healthy home. Besides keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, insulation can help lower your energy bills, prevent mold growth and also keep unwanted noise out.

Insulation helps keep outdoor air from getting inside your home and conditioned indoor air from escaping. This is achieved by trapping pockets of air and slowing down the in/out process.

In winter, heat flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors, the U.S. Department of Energy states on its website. Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.

The Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) compares a properly insulated house to dressing for the weather.

A wool sweater will keep you warm if the wind is not blowing and it is not raining. On a windy, rainy day, wearing a nylon shell over your wool sweater helps keep you reasonably dry and warm. A house is similar, the CMHC website says. On the outside, underneath the brick or siding, there is an air barrier that does the same thing as the nylon it keeps the wind from blowing through. Then there is the insulation (like your sweater) and a vapour barrier, which helps keep moisture away from the house structure where it can do damage.

Insulation is rated based on a measurement of resistance the material has to the movement of heat. This is most commonly referred to as an R-value. The higher the R-value the more effective the insulation is. Local building codes list recommended R-values for each area of your house (these R-values are required for new construction). Improper installation of insulation can lower the R-value of the material you are using so its a good idea to follow the manufacturers instructions or hire a professional to do the installation.

Cold floors and walls in the winter and hot inside air in the summer, mold growth, high energy bills and uneven heating or ineffective cooling are all signs of a poorly insulated home, according to the CMHC.

There are many different types of insulation available. The type you use depends on where youre insulating or what R-value you require. Below is a rundown of the most common types of insulation used in homes these days.

Fibreglass: This is the pink stuff most people think of when they think insulation. Fibreglass in batts is available at most home improvementcentres and is easy to install, offering an R-value of 3.0 3.7 per inch, according to the CMHC. Loose-fill fibreglass is also available, but requires to be blown into the space youre insulating and should be installed only by a professional in order to get the most benefit from it.

Mineral fibre: Like fibreglass, mineral fibre in batts is easy to work with and available at most home improvementcentres (this is usually a sturdier material with a brownish colour). While mineral fibre has a lower R-value (2.8 3.7 per inch, according to the CMHC), benefits include better fire resistance and sound-proofing capabilities. Loose-fill mineral fibre is also available, but like loose-fill fibreglass, it should be installed only by a professional as well.

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What you need to know about home insulation

Wood Storage Sheds for Midland MI, Chesaning MI, Sanford MI, Willard MI.
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Wood Storage Sheds for Midland MI, Chesaning MI, Sanford MI, Willard MI. - Video