Archive for May, 2012
Colorado Roofing Company Donates Labor
National non-profit organization “Homes for Our Troops” and Colorado Springs Roofing Company team up to put a new roof on disabled Army Corporal Nick Orchowski’s home.
The owner Jerry Fristoe as well as 8 other employees of Integrity Roofing and Painting donated 7 hours of free labor to complete the roof for the quadriplegic Army Veteran. Other volunteers and companies also were at the home on Sunday May 13th to build a home to accommodate Orchowski’s special needs.
New Homeowner Thanked All Who Participated
Nick Orchowski thanked the companies and volunteers at Friday’s opening ceremony. Orchowski became quadriplegic in 2004 while serving in Bagdad, he was thrown from a vehicle that was attacked by insurgents. He fractured 3 vertebrae and was immediately paralyzed.
Homes for Our Troops was founded in 2004, their mission is to help those who have selfishly given to our country and have returned with disabilities since September 11, 2001. By raising money, building materials and professional labor they are able to provide free of charge, homes to enable injured veterans and their families the maximum freedom of movement and ability to live more independently.
Integrity Roofing and Painting have offices in Colorado Springs and Denver Colorado and Dallas/Ft. Worth and Houston Texas.
Branitree Historic Old Library begins Roof Restoration
Phase 1 of restoring the old public library in Braintree Massachusetts has begun. Phase 11 is replacing doors and windows and phase 111 will be completing the handicap accessibility.
Phase 1 is removing and restoring the 140 year old slate roof. While replacing the slate, roofers will inspect the deck and framing beneath the roof. The copper ridge, caps and finials will be restored. New copper gutters and downspouts will also be installed.
General Contractor T. Cooney Inc. and subcontractors NER Construction Management Inc. and Meadows Construction Company will work closely with the Historical Agricultural firm Bargmann Hendrie and Archtype Inc. who will oversee the project.
Money Approved Over a Year Ago
Last July the town of Braintree approved to pay for the restoration from the community preservation funds. The project is expected to cost $218,000. The town will receive $45,000 reimbursement from the Massachusetts Historical Commission Mass Preservation Project Fund if the work is completed by the end of June.
In 1870 General Sylvanus Thayer proposed to help fund a fireproof library for the town. The public library opened in September 1874 and was the town library for 79 years. The Braintree water department now operates out of the historic building.
In 1999 a new 3 level public library was built across the street from the Old Thayer Library.
Historic Memphis Building Expanding For New Services
One of the oldest buildings in Memphis, The Orpheum, received a 1-acre parcel of land to expand its development this summer. The land was given to the Orpheum Theater with the purpose of helping the activities center expand into a new three-story performing arts center. Already home to some of the biggest events in Memphis, the new Orpheum expansion will facilitate the center’s mission to provide a place for community members to attend and hold events.
Reaching Old and New Heights
The Orpheum was originally the Grand Opera House, built in in 1890. Located on the corner of Main an Beale Streets, the original theatre was the main source of entertainment for Memphis residents and featured some of the biggest names off Broadway. It was renamed the Orpheum in 1907 because of its involvement as part of the Orpheum Circuit of vaudeville.
In 1923 a fire broke out that damaged shut down operations and burnt the original building to the ground. The rebuild was completed in 1928 at a cost of over $1.5 million, which included the entire building and a new roof. It operated as one of Memphis’ premier event centers for nearly 55 years before it was closed in 1982 for renovations.
Over the years, the Orpheum has undergone an extensive rebuild that doubled its original size and a $5 million renovation project designed to restore the historic opulence of the building. Since then the building has boasted one of the most celebrated building designs in Memphis. Architects, Memphis roofers and contractors alike all respect the evolution that the Orpheum has undergone over the years. Now that the building is set for yet another expansion, the community is excited to see what the building’s addition has in store.
Roof Collapses on 4 Victorian Townhomes
The Roof collapsed on 4 adjoining Victorian townhouses in Stockwell London Tuesday night. Fortunately everyone was able to run out of the collapsing building in time and no one was hurt. Residents said they heard a loud rumble just before the roof fell.
4 engines, fire rescue, ambulances and a helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras were sent to the L1 million dollar townhouses. There was a lot of rubble in the street and the rescue team used the thermal imaging to make sure no one was trapped beneath the debris.
Unknown Why Roof Fell
Structural engineers told residents it could be many things to cause the collapse, one of which is ‘diurnal drift’. London experienced a change in temperature 17c in the previous 24 hours. They said other reasons could be too many layers of tile on the roof or the insulation could have been improperly installed and condensation made the roof too heavy, or improper roof repair.
So far the insurance company is hesitant to pay for the roof damage, they are saying the collapse could be normal wear and tear and that is not covered, or an act of God because of the heat wave, again not covered under the insurance policy.
Oklahoma Roofer Stands Out For Service
Roof contractors come a dime a dozen, which makes it hard for a homeowner to know who is among the best in the industry. While there are plenty of roofers to choose from around the country, a few stand out to serve their customers and make a positive impact on their local communities.
Facing Challenges With Quality Service
Roofing in Oklahoma is a bit different than other parts of the country, mainly because of the additional challenges they face with the weather. The potential for snow in the winter, 100+ temperatures in the summer and the risk of tornadoes in the spring all present obstacles for a roofer to perform high quality work.
Capital Roofing LLC is a family owned and operated roofing company that offers Northeastern Oklahoma residents professional roofing services. They provide new roofs, roof repair, roof maintenance and inspection services. They specialize in asphalt shingles, metal, wood or even tile roof materials. Their roofers are highly trained and handpicked for their professionalism. At Capital Roofing, only licensed and bonded employees are hired to become part of their roofing team.
Capital Roofing has proudly served Claremore, Owasso, Tulsa, Pryor, Catoosa, Oologah, Inola, Broken Arrow, and the surrounding areas for many years and strive to continue the same high quality services for years to come. The offer unmatched customer service and maintain their positive reputation by treating customers with respect, offering honesty and integrity in their work.
For more information about Capital Roofing, visit: http://capital-roofing.net.
Roofing Contractor Gets 5 Year Sentence
John Robert Mulinski a 50 year old resident of Covington Washington was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for defrauding victims in Montana. He faces similar charges in Washington and California.
Mulinski is also ordered to pay $138,000 in restitution to the victims he defrauded in Great Falls, Flathead Valley and Hot Springs. Between June 2010 and February 2011 Mulinski operated as a roofing contractor for Sunrise Quality Construction in Flathead Valley Montana.
Defrauded Homeowners, Subcontractors, Advertisers and Employees
In the December trial the victims said he lied about his real name, took their money and either never started or never finished the roof job. Some victims said he changed his price during the roof repair and performed work that wasn’t needed.
Other complainants were subcontractors, advertisers and employees that said Mulinski never paid them for their services.
Judge Donald W. Malloy presided over the trial where Mulinski was found guilty on wire fraud on December 9, 2011. During sentencing Mulinski apologized to his victims and said he hopes he can regain peoples trust in the future.
Wire Fraud Definition
18 U.S.C. § 1343 provides: Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
Flipping Houses: Avoiding A Bad Roof
Although the real estate market has been in turmoil for a while now, home investors haven’t lost steam. In fact, many people who “flip” houses for a living have found the foreclosure saturated market to be quite lucrative. However, not all home investors are out to produce the highest quality product and some cut corners in areas that could be costly for the buyer.
Cutting Corners, Adding Risk
The sole mission when flipping houses is to minimize cost and maximize profit. Unfortunately, this sometimes means skimping on materials and leaving out essential renovations. When it comes to roof repair or replacement on a home intended for flipping, more often than not the roof is neglected. What tends to happen on a home undergoing quick renovations for a quick sale is that the roof is patched to meet basic code requirements. If the home does get a new roof, it is often the bottom of the line and cheapest roof material. This leaves the buyer with some additional tasks to ensure they get a quality home.
If you are considering buying a renovated investment property or house that has been in foreclosure, make sure you look for the following:
- A detailed disclosure statement from the seller, which may discuss potential issues with the home.
- A sale history of the home to be sure the home hasn’t transferred hands more than twice in the last 90 to 180 days, this could be a sign of a bad investment track record.
- A warranty of any work completed, especially for the roof repair or replacement.
- A report from an unbiased inspector to ensure that the work was completely properly.
School gets Durable Lining Roof Cover
The high school in Davidsville PA will be getting an energy efficient lining to cover their aging roof. While the roof is still structurally sound, it shows signs of wear, the white water proof lining is expected to last for 15 years.
The roof is past its warranty and replacing it with a new roof would have cost the Conemaugh Township Area School District $1.2 million. The durable lining will cost considerably less at $393,275.
Completed This Summer
Cleveland based Garland Co. manufactures the lining and roofing contractors at TMR Roofing based in Saltsburg will install the lining. Installation will take place over the summer break and expected to take a month. They are hoping to have the roof work complete before school resumes in the fall.
The Conemaugh Township Area High School was built in 1938, the latest major renovation came in 2004 with the construction of a new athletic stadium.
Debate over Historic Roof Removal
In Hays Kansas, Dave Gray, the owner of the property next to Singers Music Venue has asked permission to remove the historic roof. The State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) was asked to approve the removal of the downtown buildings roof to make an outdoor smoking area. Built in 1946, the building is part of the Chestnut Street District and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
While waiting for the SHPO recommendation, Gray hired a roof contractor to remove the old shabby roof. Allegedly while removing the top, the roof trusses fell and the roof had to be completely taken down.
Alter the Historic Character
In the meantime, SHPO denied the request stating removing the roof would alter the historic character of the building. Grays next step was to appeal to the Hays City Commissioners since they have the power to override SHPO’s decision.
City Attorney John Bird said he was disturbed that the city was faced with this situation and that the building owners did not apply for a building permit prior to starting the roof repair. While some commissioners were in favor of approving the roof removal so the building owners could go on with the improvements. The commissioners voted to table the issue until Gray can make additional attempts to work with the SHPO.
Memorial Day Roof Scams
As families gather to spend time together and remember our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, scam artists will be on the prowl for new victims. Unfortunately, holidays bring out some of the worst in business related crimes and many fraudulent companies see a time of celebration as an open door for tricking consumers.
Awareness
The Better Business Bureau has released a warning to consumers to be on the lookout for scams over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. Anyone from handymen to roof contractors has the potential to be represented by the worst of the worst. Although there are plenty of high quality roofers around, many fraudulent companies impersonate the good hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.
In order to combat these risks to homeowners, the BBB has outlined a list of the most common scams observed around this time of year:
- Roof salesmen offering deals for military servicemen or those displaying support for the soldiers
- Solicitors posing as representatives from the Veterans Administration, asking for personal or financial information
- Salesmen offering pre-approved Veteran loans for mortgages or credit cards
- Impersonate servicemen asking for financial help to get home or pay for medical bills
