Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Q. Bees and wasps are making our home theirs. How do we deter them from doing this? We've had D-Bug and Terminix come to no avail.

A. Where do the insects make your home theirs? If they get inside, you need to find how they get in, and caulk and seal the entry points. If they make nests under the eaves, you can use a wasp and hornet spray that shoots 12 to 20 feet. Wait until dark when they are home sleeping and spray the nest.

If your house has large beams supporting the roof that extend beyond the walls to the eaves, this is an ideal place for insects to enter because the beams may have shrunk just enough to let them crawl in. Caulk all sides of the projecting beams where they exit the wall.

Other potential entry points include around the electric entrance cable (where they can nest inside the electric meter), a dryer, bathroom or kitchen vent, and fuel delivery pipes.

With the few details you gave me, that's the best I can do.

Q. I just recently noticed that hornets and bees have started making small nests by both corners of our garage door. The good thing is that it is toward the outer side of the garage. My husband used a broom and brushed away the nests, but just recently I've noticed that they have started all over again.

Why have they chosen that corner again and how can we permanently eradicate them?

Your helpful advice is highly appreciated.

A. I don't know why the wasps and hornets chose those corners, except perhaps that they select hidden places. They often choose spaces between structural members in roof overhangs or secluded spots in corners under a roof by a chimney, a projecting wall or any other similarly protected area.

I suggest that you buy a wasp and hornet spray and apply it to the nests in the evening when they are home. The residue will prevent new wasps from choosing the same location to build new nests.

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Seal off entry points to cut off insect invasion

Foster City, Calif. (PRWEB) August 11, 2014

When it comes to home improvements enhancing marital bliss, a dream kitchen is the top addition on the wish list of Americans, according to a new survey of 2,000 homeowners by HSH.com.

A bigger yard, finished basement, walk-in closets and a man cave were other popular answers.

Here is how married individuals ranked their most desired home improvements:

1.Dream kitchen 23.39% 2.Bigger yard 19.06% 3.Finished basement 16.46% 4.His & hers walk-in closets 15.23% 5.Man cave 13.72% 6.Two master bathrooms 12.20% 7.Two master bedrooms 9.96%

While 58.7 percent of respondents said that a bigger house would also equal happier children, 58.6 percent said that a larger abode wouldnt necessarily mean theyd be having more kids.

These improvements dont come cheap, though, with a state-of-the-art kitchen costing $109,935, according to Remodeling.com.

"At least in this case, happiness costs money," said Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com. "Some of these bliss-inducing improvements will require either deep pockets or a deep equity position and the use of a home equity loan or line of credit to make them come true. If the project will require extensive renovations, a 'home improvement mortgage' such as the FHA 203K or a Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation mortgage may be the vehicle to achieve some of these happiness goals. Of course, some desired 'improvements', such as a larger yard, might only be realized by finding a new home."

While a dream kitchen was the top answer both overall and for women, a man cave was the No. 1 addition that husbands would like to see. In fact, each gender had polar opposite rankings of what improvements would make them the happiest.

Mens top improvements:

Link:
A Quarter of Americans Believe a Dream Kitchen Would Make Marriage Happier

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) August 11, 2014

VOLT Lighting, a direct-to-consumer manufacturer and distributor of premium-quality lighting products, announced today the introduction of LED PAR Lamps (Bulbs) to their growing line of LED light sources. This addition is a continuation of VOLT Lightings strategy to provide homeowners and contractors with affordable high-performance LED versions of all commonly used bulbs.

PAR lamps, well known for their use in outdoor security and accent lighting, are commonly used in ceilings, under awnings and mounted high above garages all areas difficult to access when changing bulbs. Switching to VOLTs lifetime LED PAR lamps means forever eliminating the risk and inconvenience of changing these bulbs while saving up to 85% in energy costs.

Alan Brynjolfsson, VOLT Lighting president, remarked on the new line, Our LED PAR Bulbs have some unique comparative advantages: The light is warm, pleasing and matches the look of existing incandescent bulbs. Our PAR LED bulbs are rated for wet locations so they can be mounted indoors or outdoors. They are dimmable and have the longest warranty in the industry lifetime.

VOLT Lighting introduces five models of these popular bulbs that vary in size and wattage:

Ty Russum, Commerce Director, explains the companys online advantage, When consumers search for lighting products on the Internet, they can end up in one of many lighting (so-called) super stores or they can end up at VOLT Lightings website; every super store site has higher prices and products that may be good or poor quality its nearly impossible for the consumer to make an informed decision. On the other hand, at the VOLT site, customers find a streamlined selection of high-quality products (with easy-to-understand descriptions and videos) at incredibly low prices. It makes it easy and fast for consumers to buy the lights they need.

VOLT Lighting is also known for fast shipping and excellent customer service. Recently awarded with Googles Trusted Store certificate, the company has fully stocked warehouses nation-wide with one- or two-day delivery to most locations.

About VOLT Lighting Based in Tampa, Florida, VOLT Lighting manufactures and distributes high-performance indoor and outdoor lighting products. VOLTs line of durable outdoor LED fixtures and indoor LED light bulbs carry an unconditional lifetime warranty. For more information, go to http://www.voltlighting.com or contact the company at customersupport(at)voltlighting(dot)com or 813-978-3700.

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VOLT Lighting Adds High-Performance LED PAR Lamps to Retrofit Line

The New Clark: A Conversation with the Architects
Paul Goldberger, architecture critic for Vanity Fair, moderates a discussion between the key architects involved in the Clark Art Institute #39;s campus expansio...

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The New Clark: A Conversation with the Architects - Video

[FR] Pier Solar and the Great Architects - MD [Odysse - Chapitre I]
Retrouvez-moi sur http://www.twitch.tv/evunz.

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[FR] Pier Solar and the Great Architects - MD [Odysse - Chapitre I] - Video

Need further proof that the Arts District is the coolest place to be? Well then, chew on this: Caf Gratitude is setting up shop inside the upcoming Yards retail space at the One Santa Fe residences.

The organic and vegan restaurant, which already has locations in both Larchmont Village and Venice, will be opening a restaurant at the Yards' mixed-use space, which is also going to be home to Malin + Goetz, New York's artisan Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a community arts center, and the Manhattan Beach-based GROW Market.

Caf Gratitude is starting construction now and hopes to open by early 2015. Like the other locations, they'll be doing breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as their awesome cleanse programs. (We tried one earlier this year and loved it.)

"As an LA-native, it's been thrilling to see how the area has developed in recent years, and we are humbled by the opportunity to join such a dynamic community," says Lisa Bonbright, CEO of the Caf Gratitude in SoCal.

The Arts District location will be serving brews from their neighbors at Stumptown Coffee. The space is sure to be a stunner, as it's been designed by Wendy Haworth, who also curated the gorgeous, bright, and airy space at Gracias Madre.

Rent at the residences at One Santa Fe is hardly what it used to be in the Arts District, with studios ranging from $1,860-$2,010. So, it looks like they are in the right space for an affluent, upwardly mobile clientele.

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Caf Gratitude Opening In Downtown's Arts District

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

By: Bill Redekop

Posted: 08/11/2014 1:00 AM | Comments: | Last Modified: 9:57 AM | Updates

Enlarge Image

Doug Bergman and the Beausejour landmark he was 90 per cent finished restoring before it burned down July 20. The house is a complete loss. BILL REDEKOP/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Aug 7,2014

BEAUSEJOUR -- Suggest to free-spirited Doug Bergman his life sounds like a Jimmy Buffet song, and it turns into a eureka moment. "I worship him! He's my hero."

But the song with Bergman's name on it took on a sadder cast recently -- a pinch of regret, a dash of self-reflection and a heaping helping of Margaritaville.

On July 20, after returning from a wedding, Bergman discovered his house on fire. It's a 110-year-old heritage house he had been restoring for 20 years -- the restoration was 90 per cent complete. It was a gorgeous abode with a sort of curving mansard roof and two gables jutting out from each of three sides except for in back. It also had a widow's walk on the roof. A widow's walk was more common in seaports where supposedly a wife would watch for an incoming ship with her husband aboard. If the ship didn't come in, she knew she was a widow.

Bergman thinks his heritage home may have been a "kit house," one of those house designs you bought out of the Eaton's catalogue a century ago. People driving by would often stop and ask to peek inside the local landmark.

Bergman's trouble is he can't recollect much of what happened the night of the fire. He admits he came home hammered from the wedding reception. There's nothing illegal about being drunk -- a cousin drove him home. The fire was just smouldering in back of the house, otherwise his cousin would have seen the fire and helped him.

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Ordeal over burned home leaves man fuming

Photo courtesy of All Decks and Improvement

This addition by All Decks and Improvement, when completed, housed a new master suite.

This is the first of four articles on building an addition to your home. Look for the next installment on July 17.

Summer is the season when things grow - your lawn, your garden - and possibly your house, too! Today, rather than "trading up," many people are opting to expand their present homes. And what better time for such a project than during this warmer, and often more relaxed, time of year?

PHOTO COURTESY OF thinkstock

More people today are choosing to add on to their present homes, rather than moving.

THE BENEFITS

Building an addition not only lets your family enjoy more elbow room now, but also may increase the future value of your home.

Additions have become popular these days because fewer homeowners are able to sell, said Fred Hirsch of Comfort Guard Contracting, Lodi. "People were holding onto their money because of the economy, but now they feel safer," he said. "They want to put it into their home and bring up the worth of the property."

"It is harder to sell a home today, so people are opting to add on to get more comfortable living space," agreed Ellen Tesauro, owner of All Decks and Improvement, Wayne. But she also cautioned, "You need to be careful - don't overspend on adding more rooms than are needed."

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Need more room? Time to add on!

CEDAR FALLS | The R.J. McElroy Trustees recently awarded a $200,000 matching grant to support the remodeling project of the Hartman Interpretive Center's east wing.

The Friends of Hartman Reserve, along with the Black Hawk County Conservation Board, last May announced plans to renovate a portion of the center, citing energy inefficiencies, structural elements that must be replaced and lack of programming space.

Plans specify a ground-level entrance for greater accessibility; a four-seasons room with a larger deck; a library; a restroom; and a separate classroom to allow educational programming indoors.

"The award is a tremendous endorsement of our plans to remodel the East Wing," said Connie Svoboda, development coordinator at Hartman.

Because it's a matching grant, donors from this point forward will see their contribution multiply dollar for dollar until the $200,000 is raised.

Svoboda said contributions to the capital campaign have been steady. She hopes the challenge from the McElroy Trust will accelerate progress toward the fundraising goal of $2.2 million.

Donations are tax-deductible.

Donors can go online at http://www.HartmanReserve.org to view plans and download a pledge form or contact Svoboda for an appointment.

Civic organizations can learn about the renovation by inviting members of the Friends of Hartman Reserve Board to speak. To schedule a visit, call (319) 277-2187.

Hartman Reserve Nature Center is at 657 Reserve Drive. The Interpretive Center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Trails are open from sunrise to sundown daily.

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Hartman Reserve received McElroy Trust grant toward remodeling project

Roofing: Snapping a straight vertical chalk line - Hip Roof
This method worked out well for me when roofing the hip portion of my home. The hip was 30 #39;x15 #39;, the center line helped keep the rows from "snaking". On the ...

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Roofing: Snapping a straight vertical chalk line - Hip Roof - Video