Roofing Estimate

Store brands at 12.99, national brands at 15.99!

Coffee prices haven’t changed much for the raw green beans; I still buy mine for almost the same price as two years ago @ http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.greencoffee.mvc.php

The popularity of ‘gourmet’ and specialty coffees (as well as people showing their willingness to buy a cup of coffee for $2-3) has shown those companies that they can charge more and make better profits. A small part of the price increase is also due to higher fuel/transportation costs; that can also be seen in other grocery items like milk.

my roof is over 23 years old and springing leaks i called a couple roofers but they want more than what my house is worth,does any body know of a good roofing contractor that is reasonable in prices and trust worthy to do the job right

Try roofing by dennis they are real good and reasonable and been around for a long time

web site is http://roofingbydennis.weebly.com

Half the crap on the news is. Grade A BS! Someone has got to be savvy and up on this!? Its pissin me off and I know I’m not alone here! Lol thanks to all who answer!

Why is gas so high? Same reason as always: Because they can.

Unlike other products that compete in a free market, we buy much of our oil from OPEC, which is a collection of oil producing countries. Even though there are different companies within OPEC, OPEC sets the prices – not the market. So if OPEC wants gas to be $10/gal, everyone has to make gas $10/gal.

OPEC isn’t stupid, however. They know if they make gas TOO high, Americans will start seriously thinking about things like mass transportation, and cars powered by electricity and hydrogen. So they raise gas as high as we can tolerate it without selling off our SUV and riding a bike or bus to work instead.

So while OPEC says that the riots in Libya have caused an instability in the Middle East, and results in higher gas prices, it’s all BS. OPEC wants to charge as much as possible for gas at all times, and any reason they can use to raise gas prices is a good one.

Is it like health care, the fear of leaky membranes, and fear mongering media hype
is protect and dry, just two of the words of a fear monger in politics, or is it that underarm, dry feeling, of the drying agent, that causes the lymp glands to develop the cancer

Shingles are made from petroleum which is oil and this is expensive to make. Everything today is way out of line. All about the fair trade.

The cost of building a sunroom is cheaper than the traditional houses. The do-it-yourself sunroom kits can save the labor charge. Usually. the sunroom cost includes the material cost and the labor cost. Sunrooms can range from $12.000 – $70.000 depending on the total area. the material and the design. They are economical as they repay you back more than 70% of the investment cost is can be built more easily and quickly than the traditional houses.

Placing a sunroom in front of your house may make your house look beautiful. but at the same time it can disrupt your budget plans. Thus. along with selecting the best material for the sunroom. you also need to fit the cost within your budget. In order to do so. you need to properly plan ahead of purchase to solve financial issues from the beginning. For proper planning. you need to know the approximate cost of sunrooms including raw materials. labor cost and furniture items. Only then will you be able to judge the type of material that you need. the roofing system and other furniture items required to decorate the room. The benefit of placing a sunroom is that it adds space to the existing rooms and the whole process takes less than a few weeks. This time is much less compared to the time taken to build the traditional buildings out of bricks and mortar. Moreover. the cost of building a sunroom is also cheaper than the traditional ones. They are the best solution for increasing the living area in a cost efficient manner. There is nothing called a constant sunroom cost. The cost of the sunroom varies depending on the size of the room. the material used to build the room. drainage facility. location. ventilation. style and design of the sunroom. If you are staying in a hot and humid area. you need to spend more on the cooling system. Similarly. if you are residing in a freezing cold region. you have to shell out extra cash to install a heating system for the sunroom.

The cost depends not only on the climatic condition of the region. but also on various other factors. It depends on the terrain of the region. Rugged terrain required thick and good quality flooring that can last for longer period of time. Similarly. places covered with snow or having extreme climatic condition required deep flooring system to restrict the floors from expanding and contracting with weather fluctuations. The cost also differs from one contractor to the other depending on labor cost. If you have budget constrains. you can opt for the do-it-yourself sunroom kits and save yourself a lot of expenses. It can be a tiring experience. but if you love outdoor activities and adventure. you are sure going to enjoy it. Other than these factors. you also need to consider the cost of furniture to decorate the sunroom. First chalk out the total expense required for building the sunroom. Depending on the amount spent. you can buy the furniture items accordingly. If you have more money left even after constructing the sunroom. opt for luxurious furniture to give the room an elegant look and appeal. If you find the sunroom construction cost exceeding your budget. restrict yourself to purchase only the necessary furniture items required for that particular room.

Chalking Out The Cost

The price of sunroom can range from $12.000 – $70.000. It has been estimated by The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) that the sunrooms repay you back more than 70% of the investment cost. The sunroom construction cost includes the cost of materials and labors. It is estimated that an average sunroom may require $10. 400 material cost. For constructing the deck. it required approximately $1500 material cost. For preparing the stairs. the approximate material cost comes to $270. With floor improvements and roofing system. the total amount of material cost for constructing an average sunroom will be around $13.500 – $14.000.

The second important factor to consider while chalking out sunroom pricing is the labor cost. For preparing the sunroom. the labor charge will be around $ 11.000. For constructing the deck. the labor charge will be approximately $1650. Similarly. constructing stairs takes up around $200 – $250. Including the flooring and roofing system. the total labor cost for constructing a sunroom
comes to around $12.000. If you merge these two factors. the total sunroom cost will be around $25.000. The sunroom prices also vary depending on the material that is used. You can construct an aluminum sunroom with energy efficient exterior and interior and thermally broken panels. You can even construct the sunroom with wooden panels and beams to lend a classic touch to it. Vinyl cladding sunrooms are common ways of building the Georgian and Victorian conservatories. The sunroom cost also depends on the types of doors and windows that you plan to insert. You can opt for sliding doors and windows with double locking features and childproof handles. You can even select the French doors with removable screens.

Investing Well In Sunrooms

The cost depends on the style of the sunrooms. There are various roof designs including cathedral. conservatory. straight and curved. The roofs are generally made of aluminum with a special coating to restrict the harmful rays of the sun from entering. Among the building material. vinyl costs the least. Aluminum costs more than vinyl. but its insulating power is not that efficient. Wood is the most expensive of all the materials and demands proper care and maintenance. The sunrooms provide you with all season comfort and luxury. Thus. there is a natural tendency to spend more on sunroom to make it a more luxurious and cozy place to stay. Make sure to chalk out the total amount of money you can afford to spend on this project before you opt for any sunroom design or contractor in order to strike the perfect balance between your need and budget.

Mr.Andrew Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/an-idea-on-sunroom-price-118254.html

It is easier said than done to make a profit in the real estate market nowadays. Those that manage to consistently turn a profit on real estate investments have been working in that field for years and are using proven strategies in order to minimize risk.

1. Achieving High Profit

The most sensible rules apply. Firstly, keep costs low. The more you can save on materials and labor, the more money you will make when all is said and done. Next, sell to the highest bidder. Don’t be afraid to negotiate down to a lower price but secretly keep a minimum that you won’t go any lower than to ensure your sale will be profitable.

2. Do It Yourself

You can do much of the labor yourself in order to save a vast amount of money. For example, you can get a licence to inspect buildings and in this way you won’t have to pay inspectors ever again. A good inspection can save you thousands in the form of foregoing falsely attractive deals and providing bargaining chips when you are making the deal.

3. Repairs Equal Big Money

Even the simplest little details like washing the windows or freshly vacuuming the carpets can add thousands to the value of the home. Of course, if there is a real repair that needs doing, and you aren’t licenced, don’t attempt to do it. No one is expecting you to be a good sales associate and an inspector and an electrician and a plumber, the list goes on and on. Low quality roofing and carpet sales should help to boost the value of the home significantly.

4. Outsource

You can be a bit thirfty when paying for labor. Get two of your buddies to help do the yardwork and pay them for a job well done. Professional landscaping companies charge by the hour and if you have a tree in your yard a lot of leaves and fallen branches can accumulate. Once youve selected the lesser known companies you will outsource to, don’t passively accept unnecessary fees with ridiculous prices. In today’s world it’s absurd to pay $50 to deliver a few dozen papers across town, but tacking on charges like that is common practice. Take your time looking for property, lenders, title companies, insurance brokers, agents and more. The more you shop around, the better!

5. Haggle

Don’t be afraid to haggle on the price of a property. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should negotiate in bad faith or try to trick people into selling for far less than their asking price. Home owners that feel they have gotten the bad end of a deal might find other ways to wreck your projects in ways you only discover later.

6. Tricks Of The Trade

Buy some low cost flowers and have your property cleaned professionally. Leave lights on during the day to brigten up rooms. You can even play some ambient music at a low volume or put out snacks for visitors.

John Morris
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/getting-the-most-money-out-of-selling-your-house-63374.html

Choose the best heat reflective paint on the market today. Choose Insultec.

Don’t let roof repairs get you down. If the simple mention of roof restoration or repairs causes you to shudder, then you’re not alone. But you don’t have to spend a bundle on your next roofing project, gone are the days of unnecessary and excessive spending to ensure that your roof is in its best shape. Insultec heat reflective paint has revolutionized the roofing industry. There is currently no other product on the roofing paint market today, that can be used in so many effective ways to combat rising energy prices, extreme temperatures, and harmful weather damage.

It’s a simple fact that if you own a business then repairing your roof is an undertaking that you will eventually face, but what you may not know is that heat reflective paint can save you time and money. There is no room for procrastination when it comes to repairing your roof; the longer you wait the more likely is that you’ll have extensive and costly damages. Whether you are making small repairs or need a total roof replacement, heat reflective paint can be incorporated to make sure your roofing project is a success. Insultec is a heat-reflective insulator and waterproof sealant that contains no ceramics.

Developed in Australia over a decade ago, Insultec heat reflective paint has been scientifically proven to lower the temperature of buildings by 47% by reflecting heat rays and ultra violent light. The inert co-polymer compounds and pigments in this heat reflective paint protect your roof from heat and water damage and can reduce your summer cooling costs by up to 61%. Millions of people in more than 23 countries have benefited from the use of Insultec on their metal and flat roofs, walls, and other structures.

Heat reflective paint is unsurpassed in its ability to effectively waterproof a roof and to encapsulate asbestos. Every year thousands of industrial and business roofs are damaged by rain, mold, and fungus. Once your roof is damaged by rain it’s vital that the affected areas are treated immediately. Insultec heat reflective paint can provide an air tight seal that will cover existing rain damage and prevent future exposure. Dealing with asbestos is a serious and dangerous issue that many businesses’ face each day.  Asbestos should only be handled by professionals who can use heat reflective paint to seal or encapsulate the asbestos, ensuring that it does not become airborne.

Using Insultec heat reflective roof insulation is a great method of energy conservation and roof restoration. Don’t settle for inferior ceramic based paints that lose their effectiveness after just 1 year, choose the best. Choose Insultec.

Mark Andrews

For many, their kitchen is the most important room in their house. And most real estate experts agree that the best way to improve or raise the property value of a house is to remodel the kitchen. The four major components of a kitchen remodel usually involve replacing the major appliances, installing new floors, replacing or re-facing the kitchen cabinets, and installing a new countertop. Let’s focus on that final component – replacing your current kitchen countertop material with a new one.

Naturally, it involves more than just running off to the store to pick out a new countertop for your kitchen. You will first need to consider how much you want to spend. You also need to think about how much time and effort you’ll need to spend to maintain your new countertop. Finally, you’ll want to seriously consider the style and look you want in your kitchen. Whatever type of countertop you install, it will be the focal point of the entire room.

The very first type of countertop that pops into the mind of every anxious kitchen renovator is granite. However, there are many countertop materials to choose from – and granite is only one of them. These days, a kitchen remodeling hopeful can select tile, stone, acrylic, concrete, stainless steel, and laminate, even wood!

GRANITE

Let’s start with the most popular: granite. Granite countertops are the most popular but also the most expensive. Why? Besides the beautiful surface, granite is extremely heat and scratch resistant. A granite countertop is very durable and will last a long time. A granite countertop will never go out of style and granite slab installation will greatly increase the value of the house. The drawbacks? Other than the expense, granite is a natural stone and it is porous. A sealer will be required to prevent staining. One alternative is to use granite tiles in place of a massive slab. The cost savings on the tiles is high. It is important to not use the granite surface as a cutting board as it will dull the finish (and ruin a knife or two.)

OTHER NATURAL STONES

Besides granite, there are other various stone surfaces that can be used on kitchen counters. Quartz, marble, limestone, soapstone, and slate surfaces are very popular today. Marble is smooth and cool, perfect for food preparations directly on the surface. It’s not as durable as granite and requires more sealing maintenance to protect from staining. Slate is very durable and has such a unique surface that it can really stand out in a kitchen. As slate has been used as a roofing material, it doesn’t require as much sealing protection, but some upkeep is still needed. Limestone is very porous and spills must be treated quickly to prevent staining. It has a natural, weathered look that can deepen and darken over time. Natural quartz has a look similar to slate but does not stain or scratch as easily. Engineered quartz has been gaining popularity as well, but the costs are considerably more (engineered materials are a quartz composite product mixed with epoxy, polymers, and small stones or pebbles for a unique look and feel.)

TILE

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile has been popular in kitchens for decades. It comes in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and designs. The tiles can be a small as a square inch and as large as six square inches. The tiles are durable and also have some of the same heat and scratch resistance qualities as granite. The porcelain tiles are usually more expensive than the ceramic tiles, but the porcelain tiles are-more durable and the hardest fired type of tiles. Drawbacks of tile? It can chip easily, more expensive than laminate alternatives, and the grout can be an issue. When putting the tiles together, there are grout lines between each of them and grout can stain very easily. It will require a lot more maintenance to keep it looking good. Because of the grout issues, the ability for the tiles to break and chip easily, and the overall cost, it is best to leave the installation work to a professional.

CONCRETE

Concrete is not only for sidewalks or driveways. A concrete countertop is pigmented and can be polished into a smooth and shiny surface that can resemble any natural stone. The counters can be molded in a factory or cast on site. Concrete is rather porous and needs to be regularly sealed, similar to granite, to resist stains. It can be made into any shape and have any thickness. Concrete is also heat and scratch resistant. The counters can be made in a variety of colors and textures. Drawbacks on concrete? The sealer that is required is not the only protection needed. The sealer needs to be waxed every one to three months to prevent stain and water damage, so maintenance can be extensive. You cannot cut on the concrete surface without leaving marks. Concrete is also very expensive.

STAINLESS STEEL

A restaurant would probably be the first thing one would think of when it comes to a stainless steel kitchen counter. But there is a reason most restaurants use this material. Durability, stain and water resistance, low maintenance, a myriad of size and shape choices are just a few of those reasons. It’s also very easy to clean and you can put a hot plate or pan on the surface without worry of damaging it. Drawback – many don’t like the “industrial” look of it. It can be rather expensive to have made. Cutting on it can leave marks and it can be easy to dent. It’s important to make sure the surface is at least 18 gauge and has eight to ten percent nickel in it.

WOOD

Sometimes called Butcher Block Countertops, a wood counter is usually made from strips of maple or oak that has been glued together. But just about any hardwood can be made into countertops. Bamboo countertops are the latest trend! Wood counter material has a warm, beautiful look that can come in a variety of shades and textures. It’s perfect for people who want to cut directly on the surface of their counter. It can be sanded and resealed in the event of any deep cuts, scratches or stains. It can be easy to install and the prices are reasonable. Drawbacks? Wood is not very hard and can easily burn, scratch, or dent. The wood can warp or turn black near sinks from regular water contact. And it requires regular sealing.

LAMINATE

Formica is the most common name for laminate counters. It’s made of a thin layer of plastic glued to particleboard or wood. Plastic laminate counters are very inexpensive, lightweight, and available in an endless supply of colors and patterns. It is very stain-resistant and, as a plastic material, it is easy to clean. Because it comes pre-formed, it can be easy for a do-it-yourselfer to install. Drawbacks to Formica? While these counters are somewhat durable, they do not last forever. Laminates are not heat or scratch resistant but they are stain resistant. Abrasive cleaners can dull and scratch the surface. Warping or water spots occur with excessive exposure to moisture. The color or pattern can fade with time.

ACRYLIC/SOLID SURFACE

Solid surface counters are manufactured tops that are custom-made for any application. Popular companies include Corian, Avonite, and Swanstone. These surfaces are durable, water resistant, easy to clean, non-porous, and are even resistant to mold and bacteria. And nicks or scratches can be sanded away. Drawbacks include problems handling hot pans on the surface, high expense, and the excessive weight requires a good strong cabinet base (similar to natural stone.) Some do not like the plastic or “fake” look of the material, but the material does have a wide range of colors to choose from.

Replacing the kitchen countertops is only one step in your goal to renovate the kitchen, but it is considered the biggest step by many. You can really make a statement about your kitchen and your home with the right selection of countertop material. Of course, once you take care of those worn out counters that came with the home, it will really make those old cabinets, flooring, and appliances stand out! It’s all just part of the process of increasing the value of your property. When you’re ready to take the plunge and install those granite countertops, contact ConstructionDeal.com to find a local countertop professional to handle the work (click here to find an expert in your area!)

http://www.constructiondeal.com/pub/customer/article/Countertops101.pub

Timothy Clark

Rio Tinto starting divestment of borates and talc businesses worth up to $1.2 bn

Rio Tinto has started the sale process for its borates and talc businesses in a process which could raise raise $1.2 billion.

Miner Rio Tinto Ltd/Plc has started the sale of its market-leading borates and talcs businesses, picking investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort to run the process, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

A sale of the two units, estimated to be worth up to $1.2 billion, would be a small step towards Rio’s (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) plans to sell $15 billion of assets to repay debt. Rio is also countering an unsolicited takeover bid worth some $60 billion from rival BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc (BLT.L) (BHP.AX).

The Anglo-Australian miner had planned to sell $10 billion of assets this year but said in October it was reviewing that timeline given challenging financial markets.

This sale is at an early stage and is likely to draw interest from both industry rivals and financial investors, the sources said.

The two units might fetch roughly $1.2 billion, with borates as the more valuable at around $1 billion, analyst Charles Kernot at Evolution Securities in London said.

“It is quite an exclusive club to belong to, with Rio Tinto and Turkey effectively being the two most important borate producers in the world,” he said.

“Historically the borates business has been quite a solid business for Rio Tinto, which has helped the company in past downturns to be able to pay its dividends and things like that.”

A spokesman for Rio Tinto in London declined to comment.

Shares in Rio closed 0.31 percent lower in London at 2,562 pence, while BHP shares shed 2.32 percent to 905 pence.

SWEET SPOT

The sources said market turmoil and scarce debt financing made valuing the business difficult, but its smaller size might make the sale less challenging than those of Rio’s packaging business, valued at $5 billion, and its Alcan Engineered Products unit.

“These (assets) are somewhere nearer the sweet spot of being able to be acquired by both the financial community and the industrial community,” one of the sources said. “I know it will be double-digit numbers (of interested possible bidders).”

The businesses could be sold separately or in one block, the source said.

U.S. chemical groups and French industrial minerals group Imerys (IMTP.PA) could be strategic bidders, while private equity players might also be interested, Kernot said.

U.S.-based Rio Tinto Borax supplies nearly half the world’s refined borates, minerals used in fibreglass, detergents and ceramics.

Sister company Luzenac produces more than a quarter of the world’s talc, which is used in paper, paints, plastics, ceramics, rubber, personal care and roofing.

Borax and Luzenac are part of Rio Tinto Minerals, which had earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $227 million in 2007, on revenue of $1.23 billion.

Lower cash flow will result for Rio after it said this week it will slash iron ore output by as much as a third for the rest of the year, joining its Brazilian rival Vale (VALE5.SA) to halt a fall in prices as Chinese (cnmining) demand slumps. Assuming downbeat commodity price forecasts, Rio might be $1.2 billion short of making a debt payment of $9 billion due before October 2009, UBS said in a research note, saying that meant the company might need to make asset sales or cut capital expenditure.

tristass

“It should be about this big…”

My six-year-old son’s voice trailed away as he paced off an area in our back yard about the size of a blimp hangar.

“…and about that tall…”

He pointed to the top of the tallest tree in the neighborhood, but had the Sears Tower been on Bellaire Avenue he would have chosen it instead.

“…And it should be red…”

My two-year old interrupted: “and yellow…”

 “…with a windmill on top, and a rope ladder, and a slide, and a swing, and…can you build it today?”

“Well,” I said, and started to explain that before we could even start to build his new tree house, plans had to be drawn; cost estimates had to be calculated, and we hadn’t even picked out a site yet.  It was a pretty big tree house so we might need a structural engineer.  Could I build it myself or would I need to get competitive bids from contractors?   I was just getting to the part about applying for a building permit when he broke in:

“Dad,” he said, “you can do it, you’re an arky-tek.”

(Slight pause as I choked down the lump of pride rising in my throat – how could I say no to that?)

“Okay.  Hand me my credit card, son, we’re off to the lumberyard.”

Like a lot of architectural projects, this one started off with a clash of dreams and reality.  As the “director” of a project, I’m often challenged to sort out the possible from the impossible and simultaneously create something beautiful, useful, and lasting.  And if my client is open to alternatives and willing to explore options to control the cost, then we’ve got a realistic chance of bringing the project in near the budget.

But the budget for the “castlefort”, as my kids had now come to calling it, was only $300.  And even that began to look like a distant dream when we got to the lumberyard.  Yikes!  For a minute, I thought the prices were in Yen.

I just needed utility-grade lumber, not the straightest, smoothest boards on earth; not perfect knot-free specimens lovingly hand-carved from trees that had lived long and happy lives and in the end, had fallen softly into thick beds of pine straw – just plain old 2 x 4’s.

Eventually, I culled out the worst looking boards from the bunch and talked the store manager into a sizeable discount.  We were back on budget.

I’d known early on that the biggest problem we faced in the siting and design of our tree house was the lack of trees, or at least trees that could support a tree house.  But there is always another solution lurking in the background, hidden behind the pile of baggage in my brain that keeps trying to tell me what a tree house should look like.  The solution was really quite simple when I realized that it wasn’t so much that the tree house had to be up in a tree, it just mostly had to be up.  And so we built it on stilts in a simplified version of coastal construction where pilings are sunk into the sand to hold up the floor deck.  With my six-year old supervising, I set four 4 x 4’s into postholes and filled them with concrete.

The rest of the project had many of the elements of a “real” house; framing, siding, roofing, painting, even indoor/outdoor carpeting.  I balked at my son’s request for electricity and cable TV but gave in on the chimney/skylight.

Painting was collaboration between my kids, my wife, and me; the adults handling the outside while the kids tackled the interior décor.  To the relief of our neighbors, the exterior complements the house.  The inside, however, looks like an oven after a particularly bad lasagna explosion.  But the kids love it, and so do I.

Right from the beginning the castlefort was a huge hit with the neighbors and their kids. At every party it’s the first place the kids go and it is the center of activity for almost every game they can think up.  But then a funny thing happened – the neighbor kids started asking their dads when they’d start building their castleforts. For at least one dad, the pressure was too much; his tree house is on schedule for a late spring completion.

One evening my wife and I were sitting on the deck watching the kids play tag around the castlefort.  “Honey”, I said, “I wonder how old the boys will be when they get tired of playing in the castlefort?”

“I don’t know if they ever will,” she said.  “Right now it’s a big toy but eventually it’ll be a secret hideout, or a cabin for summer sleepovers with their friends,” “Why maybe they’ll even invite their girlfriends over to see it someday.”

“Girlfriends?” I said. “Girlfriends?”  We looked at each other for a moment and suddenly the realization of what she’d just said hit her.

“Ten years, babe,” I said.  “Then it’s coming down!”

Richard Taylor, AIA