Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Warmer weather means more pesky insects we need to avoid, including ticks. Tick bites have been on the rise in recent years and there are a number of factors that likely contribute to this.

Ticks thrive best in warmer conditions, so increasing temperatures, both in the summer and winter, may result in a greater number of ticks and tick bites, said Matthew Aardema, an assistant professor of biology at Montclair State University.

Growing deer populations in certain parts of the country have also likely led to a greater number of ticks. And a larger proportion of people spending time outdoors engaged in activities like hiking or gardening, which have become popular pandemic era de-stressors, is another contributor to the increase in tick bites.

An increase in tick encounters can cause things like Lyme disease, which is also on the rise. In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 47,743 cases of tick-borne diseases. In 2019, the number rose to 50,865.

David Claborn, director of the Master of Public Health program at Missouri State University, said that in recent years, experts have been able to detect even more tick-borne diseases that were likely misdiagnosed in the past.

For instance, in the southwest Missouri region, two viral diseases have been identified in the last 15 years: the heartland virus and the bourbon virus, he said. These are not necessarily new viruses; we just know what to look for now and have sophisticated tools with which to identify them.

So how should you avoid tick bites, and what should you know about ticks in general? Heres a guide.

Where are ticks usually found?

Ticks are found nearly everywhere with the exception of high mountains; however, they are most likely to be in areas with heavy brush and tall grass, Claborn said.

They are especially abundant, he added, in ecotones, which are transitional areas from one dominant vegetation to another. For instance, the ecotone between heavily wooded areas to open meadow are particularly prime areas.

How can you tell if there are ticks in your area?

If you dont already experience it firsthand by seeing them on your companion animals, family or yourself, there are a couple of resources, said Jean Tsao, an associate professor in Michigan State Universitys Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

She directs people to the CDCs Regions where ticks live website for a breakdown of the different types of ticks and where they are most prevalent.

If you live in a state that has active tick surveillance, your state health departments website might have more detailed information, too, Tsao added. And this CDC page has maps for certain tick species, as well the risks of exposure to ticks infected with the Lyme disease bacteria.

Tick Encounter also provides information about ticks, and has a Tick Finder Map where people can submit photos of ticks in their region and share which varieties might be active in their geographic region at a particular time.

Experts are IDing the photos and collating the information, so its reliable, Tsao said.

Noel Hendrickson via Getty Images

How do you prevent tick bites?

There are a few methods you should practice. First, Aardema suggested wearing pants and socks that cover the ankles and lower legs when hiking outside.

When practical, pant legs can be tucked into the socks to prevent ticks gaining access to the skin, he explained. However, this may mean that ticks will try crawling higher up the body.

Opt for lighter-colored clothing, which makes it easier to see ticks before they start biting. And dont forget your insect repellent.

Apply a bug spray with at least 25% DEET to your clothing, especially the shoes and pant legs, said Aardema, who noted that non-DEET products have not been shown to be effective at preventing tick bites.

A tick searching for a place to bite is much easier to remove than a tick that has already started feeding, so check for ticks frequently during hikes or whenever spending an extended amount of time outdoors, Aardema added.

And after spending any time outside in tick-prone areas, you should thoroughly check for ticks on your body. Aardema said to do this even in the winter, if temperatures are above freezing.

Its important to inspect all areas of your body, including the scalp, behind the ears, under the arms, in the groin area, inside the belly button and behind the knees, added Jeannie Kenkare, chief medical officer at PhysicalOne Urgent Care. Take a shower if possible to help remove any ticks that have not yet latched on, she said.

Your dog or cat may also carry ticks in from the outdoors, even if they wear a flea and tick collar. Rachel Rubin, co-lead of the Cook County Department of Public Health in Illinois, said to run your fingers through your pets fur with gentle pressure to feel for any small bumps. Look in and around the ears, under the collar, between their legs, toes and around the tail.

You can also perform some maintenance in your yard to minimize your chances of tick encounters. Karen Reardon, VP of Public Affairs with RISE a national trade association dedicated to specialty pesticides and fertilizers recommended removing leaves, brush and weeds and trimming shrubs and trees around the perimeter of your home and edge of your lawn.

Use pesticides around your homes perimeter and as a targeted barrier treatment, she said. You can also hire a professional to treat your yard with an effective insect repellent, she added.

How can you tell if you have a tick bite?

A tick bite might go unnoticed if the tick is no longer attached and if it does not cause any immunological reaction, like if the area is not itchy or does not cause a rash.

Tick bites generally are not itchy and do not cause rashes on their own, but if some people have been bitten by ticks in the past, their bodies might mount an immune response to the salivary proteins of a tick bite because the immune system has seen those proteins before and has created antibodies, Tsao said. So, the bite site might be itchy and there might be redness, just as they might to a mosquito bite.

If the tick transmits a pathogen such as the Lyme disease bacterium, there may be a circular rash, which is also described as a bulls-eye rash that grows from the tick bite. Tsao said that if an American dog tick or a Gulf Coast tick transmits a spotted fever to you, you might have a different kind of rash.

VioletaStoimenova via Getty Images

Should you remove a tick if its embedded into your skin?

Tsao said yes, you should always remove a tick thats biting you. If the tick is infected, the longer its attached, the higher the probability that it will transmit the pathogen to you, she explained. And the sooner you remove the tick, the greater the chance that you will prevent transmission.

To remove a tick, Tsao said to use a fine-tipped pair of tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Then, pull up on the tick with even steady motion (without twisting or rapid movements).

If small parts of the tick break off and remain in the skin remove them if easily removed, but otherwise just leave it alone and the body will push it out over time, she said. Try not to squeeze the body of the tick as you grasp it, as this could make it more likely for the tick to infect you.

And stay away from other DIY removal strategies. We often hear of people using petroleum jelly or matches to kill the tick while it is attached to the skin. This is not effective and may of course cause much more harm to the skin, said Andrew S. Handel, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Childrens Hospital.

After removing the tick, Tsao said to wash the area with soap and water or alcohol. She suggested saving the tick so that if you do become sick, it can be used for identification by the physician to determine the course of diagnosis and treatment. This can be especially important, as different tick species transmit different pathogens. Take clear photos of the tick and send them to Tick App or Tick Spotters to have experts ID the tick for you.

What should you do after a tick bite?

If you have removed a tick, Kenkare said its important to monitor for symptoms for at least two weeks.

The most common symptoms of illness related to tick bites include fever or chills, fatigue and body aches, she said. A rash is also a sign that you should seek out medical treatment.

Additionally, the site of a bite can become infected, so watch for any redness, swelling or increasing pain. If you develop any of these symptoms after a tick bite, you should immediately seek out medical care from your primary care or from your local urgent care, Kenkare said.

While Lyme disease is the most common infection transmitted by ticks, there are other illnesses that can also come from tick bacteria. These illnesses often present with similar symptoms including fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting and all require medical attention, Kenkare explained.

But just because youve been bitten, it doesnt necessarily mean youre infected. While tick bites are always concerning to me as an urgent care physician, its important to remember that not all ticks carry disease, Kenkare said. A medical professional can thoroughly examine the bite, the story and the conditions surrounding it to determine if any further testing or treatment is needed.

More here:
What You Need To Know About Ticks, From Preventing Them To Treating Bites - HuffPost

August is nearly upon us, so heres your to-do list.

Theres still time to plant portulaca, purslane, marigold, zinnia, copper canyon daisy, caladiums and ornamental grasses for immediate color. Many great types of salvia are available. Use spider lilies, fall crocus, fall amaryllis, mums and asters for later flowers.

Plant fall vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, cabbage, kale, radishes, turnips, carrots and green onions.

Plant buffalo and Bermuda grasses by seed or sod. Plant St. Augustine and zoysia by solid sod.

Use horseherb, liriope, ophiopogon, Persian ivy and other ground covers in shady areas where turf is struggling. Wildflower seeds are better planted now than in the fall.

Prune declining flowering plants to encourage more blooms. Its an excellent time to prune trees and shrubs since they can heal and start growing better in the summer than in fall or winter. No flush cuts or pruning paints, please.

Foliar feed all plantings with Garrett Juice or compost tea. Also drench the soil of any new or struggling plants. Apply the Sick Tree Treatment to any stressed woody plants.

Water deeply and as infrequently as possible. Your garden and landscape will usually need more water this month. Potted plants and hanging baskets need water daily. Lava sand broadcast freely will greatly help hold moisture and reduce watering needs.

The best pest control results from planting adapted plants, maintaining healthy soil and avoiding high-nitrogen fertilizers and toxic chemical pesticides. This simple approach protects the beneficial microbes and insects so that destructive pests are rare.

For the few pests that do show up, first spray with non-killing repellents such as garlic and garlic pepper tea. If that doesnt stop them all, move to the lowest toxicity killing organic pesticides such as orange oil, spinosad and quality neem products. Add an ounce of liquid molasses to any of the liquid products per gallon to make them more effective and last longer.

Apply beneficial nematodes for grubworms and other soil pests. Spray orange oil for chinch bugs. Do not use pyrethrum products for these or any other pests. Apply dry molasses to the entire site for fire ants. Spray Bt or spinosad products for any caterpillars chewing foliage.

Whole ground cornmeal applications stop all the lawn fungal diseases brown patch, gray leaf spot, take-all patch, etc. Use at about 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Hydrogen peroxide can help with various diseases and control algae in ponds and water features. See the specifics on dirtdoctor.com.

Garlic, cedar oil, liquid Bti and oil of eucalyptus products sprayed in an alternating sequence give the best control of mosquitoes.

Mow weekly, and leave clippings on the lawn. Spray noxious weeds with 20% vinegar with 1 ounce of molasses added per gallon. Carefully spot spray in beds and turf. This also works to control suckers on the bases of trees and other woody plants.

Link:
August is the time to plant fall vegetables, color and more - The Dallas Morning News

Of the more than 750 Irish Water treatment plants across the country, 70 are in a drought or at the risk of drought with the majority of these in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Wexford and Donegal.

Irish Water, which produces 1.7bn litres of drinking water every day, says that there has been no impact to many customers living in these counties, however, there are "targeted night-time restrictions" to ensure supplies during the day.

With recent high temperatures, the demand for treated drinking water has increased, particularly in tourist and coastal areas.

The utility says it is working closely with local authorities to maximise the amount of clean drinking water and make sure it is available to all customers.

Tom Cuddy, Head of Asset Operations with Irish Water said the unusual weather of 2021 has put pressure on areas that are reliant on groundwater sources.

Irish Water is continuing to urge the public to conserve water to ensure a consistent supply for all during this busy time. Demand for drinking water has increased significantly in many supplies across Kilkenny. Learn more https://t.co/G4Gp9W0biL. pic.twitter.com/N3zXvjL6gi

"While we saw more rain than usual in May it followed one of the driest Aprils on record and in some areas of the country we have had little or no rain since early June," he said.

"Over the past seven days, there has been less than 1mm across the country and some stations in the Dublin area reporting 0mm."

Mr Cuddy added: "While temperatures are expected to drop next week, longer-term forecasts predict drier than normal conditions will continue into August.

Irish Water says there are currently no plans to implement a water conservation order as the majority of water treatment plants continue to provide unrestricted water supplies.

However, in an effort to conserve water supplies and avoid unnecessary usage, the public is being urged not to use garden hoses or pressure washers and not to use paddling pools in an effort to conserve water.

Irish Water says small changes can have lasting results including:

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Night-time restrictions in place as 70 Irish Water treatment plants at risk of drought - Irish Examiner

Food scraps: What to do?

Wondering whats the least environmentally harmful way to handle your kitchen scraps?

Backyard composting is the best, according to the city of Madison recycling program.

For those without the time, space or expertise, there are private curbside composting services.

Derek Fry, owner of Curbside Composter, said most of his customers tried composting before signing up for his weekly pickup service, which costs $336 a year.

"They dont want mice in their yards anymore," Fry said.

Have a garbage disposal? You could put it down the drain, said Michael Keleman, manager of environmental engineering for Racine-based manufacturer InSinkErator, which commissioned an academic study that found food waste can enhance the sewage treatment process while generating methane that can be captured for reuse.

By sending it to the treatment plant youre not only making fertilizer, youre also making energy, Keleman said.

Not so fast, cautions Kathy Lake, pollution prevention manager for the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, who warns that grease and fats can clog your pipes, while grit such as egg shells requires a lot of water to transport and can be hard on pumps and other equipment.

You have to be very careful with what you put in the sewer system, Lake said. A little bit is OK, but its not something we would promote as the go-to solution.

And while the Nine Springs treatment plant does capture methane to power its own operations, any excess is burned off.

In Dane County, where landfill gas is captured, cleaned and sold as renewable fuel, the most sustainable approach may actually be to put it in the trash, said James Tinjum, an expert in waste and energy at UW-Madison. The best thing to do is just manage it at the large-scale basis at the landfill.

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With clock ticking on Dane County landfill, focus turns to reducing food waste - Madison.com

Every once in a while, you find a company that does everything right and is willing to stand up and proudly make real promises. Twin Cities Siding Professionals is that kind of company. Were the kind of company that makes you feel comfortable and secure in your decision.

And weve got armfuls of awards, thousands of thrilled customers, and outstanding warranties in writing to prove it.

Were Terry & Kristen Stamman and we launched Twin Cities Siding Professionals in 1995. We decided right from the start that average standards in home improvement were too low. Too many guys with a truck and a business card call themselves a contracting business and do the bare minimum or even lousy work and say good enough.

To that we say: No.Not Us.NOT EVER.

Our customers dont want an inferior workforce. They want a great experience from beginning to end. Our customers dont want a job missing key components just to have a low price. They know only a complete and comprehensive scope of work will satisfy them. They know, at the end of the day, the only job they want done is a job done right. And they know only a company with an amazing amount of integrity can deliver that.

Typical Contractor:Rushed consultation followed by a quick quote and often high-pressure sales tactics thrown in to try to close the sale leaving you with anxiety about having made the wrong decision.

US:A relaxed, thorough conversation about your goals for your project to ascertain your wants and needs, followed by a comprehensive inspection of the project area. We return later (at your convenience) to give you a detailed recommendation and a quote you can 100% rely on knowing that you made the right decision for your family and your home.

Typical Contractor:Puts little thought into what products they install and try to sell on price alone, even if it means flimsy products and low long-term value that ends up costing you money in the future.

US:Every SINGLE product we carry has been thoroughly researched and is a PROVEN best solution on the market.

Typical Contractor:Corner cutting is justified if the homeowner wont see it or they dont think it will be a problem later. Underprice job to get the sale and then figure out how to cheapen the job to still make money on it. After all, time is money and if you need to rush to the next job

US:Experienced, proven crews with a 67 point audit they use during your entire job. The job is constantly being inspected so every part is done right not just the cosmetic finish. And our crews know that if at any point something is done wrong, they will have to start over and do it right. Period. End of story. We go the extra mile so you feel safe and secure knowing the right job is being done on your home

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Twin Cities Siding Professionals | St. Paul, MN | James ...

How Were Asbestos and Cement Sheets Used?

Asbestos cement products, including asbestos cement sheets and pipes, currently make up approximately 90% of the worlds asbestos production. The vast majority is used to make asbestos roofing. While asbestos cement sheet production in the U.S. ended in the 1980s, it remains legal to import the product from other countries.

Fibrous asbestos cement is more durable than drywall and easier to work with than concrete, and they have numerous applications in construction, including use as roofing and siding. Today in the U.S. the fibers in cement sheets are usually made of cellulose, a substance found in plants, but for nearly 80 years they were primarily made with asbestos.

These sheets were installed in homes, military bases, public buildings, industrial settings and job sites.Asbestos cement sheet was once synonymous with fibrous cement sheet, and it has also been generically called AC sheet and fibro. U.S. companies stopped manufacturing these types of asbestos products, but asbestos cement sheets are still popular building materials in developing nations such as India and China. These products are dangerous because with age and damage they become friable, or easily crumbled, making them likely to release asbestos fibers.

Asbestos products are notoriously difficult to identify visually. The best approach is to have a suspicious product tested. Workers should assume that older corrugated roofs and flatsheets are likely to contain asbestos.

American brands of asbestos cement sheets include:

Other companies that manufactured asbestos cement sheets include:

Manufacturing and working with asbestos cement sheets may lead to asbestos exposure. A 2009 study conducted in Thailand, where the use of asbestos cement sheets is common, found that roof fitting polishers endured the highest levels of asbestos exposure while working with asbestos cement sheets. Workers involved in the manufacturing of asbestos cement sheets also experienced high exposure handling bags of raw asbestos fiber.

Exposure to asbestos from cement sheets is known to cause asbestos-related diseases such as:

If you formerly worked with asbestos cement sheets you should monitor your health for signs of respiratory or gastrointestinal disease, including difficulty breathing and abdominal distension. Anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease should seek the opinion of a specialist to access innovative treatments.

People at risk of exposure from asbestos sheets include:

Also learn how to choose an attorney and how to qualify for compensation. Your free guide will be shipped overnight.

Asbestos manufacturers are held liable in U.S. courts for the diseases their products cause because they were aware of the dangers and chose not to protect or warn workers and consumers. Decades of lawsuits have revealed internal company documents confirming these corporations knew they were putting employees and the public at risk.

Many former tradesmen and factory workers, including asbestos cement sheet workers, have sued manufacturing companies over occupational asbestos exposure.

In addition to personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits, anyone harmed by asbestos products may file claims seeking settlements from asbestos trust funds founded by companies that went bankrupt. As part of their bankruptcy reorganization plans, asbestos companies had to develop trust funds for victims of asbestos exposure.

For instance, a series of corporate mergers and sales left Armstrong World Industries responsible for all the asbestos exposure caused by Keasby & Mattison, including its asbestos cement sheets. Today claimants can seek compensation from the Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust, which has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in claims since 2006.

It is important to speak with a qualified mesothelioma attorney to learn about the lawsuits and trust funds your case may be eligible for. You may also qualify for other forms of compensation such as VA claims, treatment and travel grants, workers compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers asbestos corrugated sheets to be a Category II, nonfriable material, which means it is dangerous and the material should be abated prior to demolition or renovation. Although designated nonfriable, the sheets can become friable with age and damage.

If the material is not damaged, it may be removed by driving the nails through the sheet or cutting off the nail or screw heads. Damaged asbestos sheets, however, are subject to much stricter regulations.

Each piece of corrugated sheet or sheathing should be removed whole and kept wet to prevent asbestos dust from getting into the air, and all materials should be disposed of according to the laws of each state. As a general rule, the agency recommends all asbestos-containing materials be abated by licensed professionals.

By the 1980s, the rising tide of personal injury lawsuits over diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma compelled manufacturers to finally phase out the production of asbestos cement products in the United States. However, despite the grim reputation of asbestos in developed nations, a quick online search will reveal asbestos cement sheets are still widely available for sale in other parts of the world and remain legal to import into the U.S.

In the 1950s, the National Gypsum Company added corrugated asbestos roofing to its Gold Bond line of products, cementing the building materials popularity with home builders, farmers and factory owners alike.

In 1907, Keasby & Mattison became one of the first companies to produce corrugated asbestos sheets. Workers pressed a mixture of cement, water and chrysotile asbestos between metallic plates with heavy pressure to squeeze out excess water and create a corrugated pattern, which appears as a series of parallel ridges that add strength to the cement sheets. K&M named its brand of corrugated sheets after the town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, where its factory was located.

The company promoted Ambler roofing and sidings comparative lightness, ease of application, weather and fireproof qualities, pleasing appearance and permanence. Early clients included the Draper Company in Massachusetts, the Shenango Furnace Company in Pennsylvania and the Bell Asbestos Mines in Canada. When a fire broke out in one of the Bell mills, the asbestos siding and roofing reportedly contained the blaze, backing up K&Ms claims.

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Asbestos Sheets - Roofing & Siding Product Overview

In August 2009, Isaac Holguin established Elements Roofing, a family-based business to bring these services to underserved rural communities in Northeastern Colorado.

Isaac applied his background in construction services to provide roof repairs and installation, seamless gutters, and siding repairs. Isaac stated, Growing up in the Sterling area instilled in me a sense of pride and commitment to community. Now I want to bring my uncompromising workmanship, high-quality materials, and attentive customer service to your roofing project.

Elements Roofing understands that your home is your most valuable investment, and your familys most important shelter. They are dedicated to bringing their brand of reliable roofing, gutters, and siding repairs and installation to your home. In 2020, They expanded their service areas to include Denver, Auroraand Fort Morgan.

Elements Roofing can be contacted at 123 Broadway St, Sterling, CO 80751. Call them at 970-522- 7636 or visit elementsroofing.com and like them on Facebook.

Please join the Logan County Chamber of Commerce in congratulating Elements Roofing as this weeks Business of the Week and for their efforts in tying our community together!

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Business of the Week: Elements Roofing - South Platte Sentinel

JACKSON, MI -- Franklin Street in Jackson is closing for a week in August for a Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity, Blitz Build.

The street is closing to through traffic from Jackson to Mechanic streets while two houses are constructed starting Monday, Aug. 16. It is anticipated construction will be complete Friday, Aug. 20.

The road is being closed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily to accommodate volunteers and equipment needed for the build, said Troy White, assistant city engineer.

The two houses are a part of a larger project to build six two-story houses adjacent to the new Jackson YMCA on the corners of W. Franklin, S. Mechanic and W. Mason streets.

The six houses will make up the DeLand Pointe neighborhood, Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanitys first neighborhood development, said Wendy Clow, executive director.

The neighborhood was named for the DeLand family, which had a homestead at the intersection and has a historical significance to the Underground Railroad, Clow said.

Volunteers will work alongside staff and contractors to raise walls and roofs, install siding and weatherize homes.

The Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity invited sponsors, companies and volunteers from around the city to participate in the Blitz Build to raise and enclose the first two houses.

The event will kick off Monday, Aug. 16, with a First Responders Day, where Jackson Police Department, Jackson Fire Department, Michigan State Police and Henry Ford Allegiance Health staff will frame the first floors and prepare construction of the second floors.

Other participating companies during the week include CertainTeed, Gerdau and Jackson Area Association of Realtors.

We will have groups volunteers each day who will literally raise walls, we will have a big crane there to put the trusses on the roof and get the house enclosed by the time the week is up, Clow said.

Greater Jackson Habitat will use the southeast portion of the YMCAs parking lot for the event. YMCA member may use the citys parking lot across W. Wesley Avenue for free.

More from MLive:

Free ice cream is on the menu at Brooklyns Swiss Swirl today

Balloons take to the sky to kick off return of Hot Air Jubilee

Faster Horses headliner Luke Combs pays funeral costs for families affected by tragedy at the event

Construction is shutting down Shirley Drive for a month in Jackson

Pork-a-Palooza fundraiser brings barbecue competition to Jackson

Read the rest here:
Blitz Build on 2 houses will close Franklin Street for a week - MLive.com

ByKen CalverleyandChuck Breidenstein

DETROIT, July 22, 2021 ~ Construction mistakes are actually fairly common in housing, but most are small and rectified quickly and the property does not suffer from them. Some take a little more effort to correct than others.

A few decades ago, the Inside Guy spent a day with a site superintendent and was touring a custom home under construction in an upscale subdivision. The exterior of the home was complete while the interior was bare studs midway through installation of the mechanicals, including wiring, plumbing and HVAC.

On the second floor, Inside Guy noticed a framed opening in the common wall between house and garage. Bisecting the opening on a rough diagonal was the top of the garage roof. You could stand at the opening and look down into the garage or look up across the finished garage roof. The Inside Guy stuck his head through the upper opening to note the siding was complete and contractors had neatly trimmed all around the opening.

When this was called to the attention of the superintendent his printable response was, We added a window late in construction and nobody told me it was misplaced and never installed! Dont you dare ever tell anybody what we just saw. What the Inside Guy wouldnt have done for a camera at that moment!

Though that mistake was corrected, we wrote last week about some of the mistakes made in housing that stay with the home until an owner has to make the correction. We promised some more of those this week. In no particular order, here are a few more.

Poorly designed, installed flashings. Flashings are devices used where dissimilar materials meet and are intended to prevent leaks where those parts of the house are joined. They should be mechanical, that is, a material integrated into the construction intended to last as long as the building itself.

Common places where we require flashings include any roof penetration such as chimneys or vertical walls and pipes and any wall penetration such as windows, doors and pipes. Caulks and tars are not sufficient as mechanical flashings.

The up-slope side of a chimney or wall where it penetrates the roof should also have a cricket or saddle built to divert water around and away from the wall or chimney. This is essentially a small peaked roof (it somewhat resembles a saddle) that overlays the main roof.

Installation of proper mechanical flashings and counter-flashings is quickly becoming a lost art form.

Wiring that is under fed. We often see what we consider to be too many devices like lights and receptacles on a single electrical circuit. While the circuit may meet code minimum, it isnt practical from the perspective of anticipated use. Even with all our energy efficient gadgets we use more energy today than ever before and proper house wiring needs to reflect that.

HVAC Ducts poorly designed. Weve said before the duct system is the poor step-child of the mechanical systems in housing. Air should flow smoothly through a duct system that is balanced with supply and return duct.

Installers are often the last to have access to the framed dwelling and many times have to make-it-work with a supply or return air duct that has too many bends creating poor air flow.

Poor framing design. Framing should be designed and installed to anticipate loads and installation of mechanicals like toilets and ducts. You should never have to cut a floor joist to accommodate a plumbing pipe.

Framing should be stacked to effectively allow for load transmission from top to bottom of building, minimize wall framing density and create larger cavities for thermal insulation.

Oftentimes floor framing will meet minimum code for the three Ss species, span and spacing while still allowing for bounce in a spongy floor. A little additional investment during construction can avoid this.

Poor exterior concrete placement. We have talked about concrete in several previous articles, but two issues loom large. Proper base materials and water drainage.

Sidewalks, patios and drives should be installed on 4-6 inches of well compacted, drainable materials. We want materials that will not hold water and will not wash out from beneath the concrete, like we often see where a drive meets the curb. Sand can be a great base except that it is easily washed out.

Water drainage off the concrete requires only moderate slope and placement of the concrete such that the top of the slab is above anything around it, including the lawn. We want water drained off of and away from the concrete. Concrete is too often placed such that the ground around it is at or above the top of the placement.

Our list of such issues is long. At some future date we will endeavor to complete it. Meanwhile, know that everything in a house can be corrected. But it is far better and certainly more cost effective to get it right the first time. Like you should be able to expect from the professionals at InsideOutsideGuys.com

For more housing advice, listen to the Inside Outside Guys every Saturday and Sunday on News / Talk 760 WJR from 10 a.m. to noon or contact us at InsideOutsideGuys.com.

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The Inside Outside Guys: Housing Problems, Part Two - WJR

Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows is a leading company committed to offering exceptional roofing, siding, and window installation. In a recent post on their site, they outlined the process involved when working with them.

Sioux Falls, SD Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows have highlighted the detailed process in their projects, including Sioux Falls roofing.

A customer can send the pictures of the exterior of their dream Sioux Falls residential or commercial property and measurements if possible. Also, they can share the ideas of what they would like in terms of roofing, siding, and windows, including colors. With enough information, the experts can give a fairly good idea of how much the exterior renovations will cost.

With Callaway Roofing, Siding and Windows, clients will be immediately put at ease, feel listened to, and appreciated. The company boasts friendly, knowledgeable roofing, siding, and window specialists. They will meet the customer in person and learn what they want, the specifications required, and the space to be worked on. It doesnt end there; the experts will sit with the customer and show them all the many options in roofing, siding, and windows that will meet their unique needs and budget.

The team will provide a detailed, itemized estimate for a Sioux Falls roofing, siding, or window installation with all the information needed. They will go ahead to explain everything and ensure the client understands what will be done, how long it will take, and the cost. With Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows, clients will have peace of mind knowing their Roofing Sioux Falls home is in the right hands.

About Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows

Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows are proud to be locally owned and operated by Jason Callaway. They are dedicated to serving the Sioux Falls area, including Hereford, through providing exceptional residential and commercial roofing, siding, and window installation services with a smile.

Media ContactCompany Name: Callaway Roofing, Siding, and WindowsContact Person: Jason CallawayEmail: Send EmailPhone: (605) 937-8494Address:1903 S. Phillips Ave City: Sioux FallsState: SDCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.siouxfallsroofingsidingwindows.com/

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Callaway Roofing, Siding, and Windows Outlines the Process Involved Working with Them - Digital Journal