Real Estate

How to choose and match brick veneers for new construction and additions

admin

My neighbor spent over $200,000 to add a beautiful addition to her traditional brick-faced Cape Cod home. But when the masonry contractor laid the bricks, he couldn’t even match the color of the mortar to the original part of the house. Worse still, the new shiny white mortar clashes with both the new and old brick. The house now has a garish and jarring appearance and the cost of repair is prohibitive.

Brick veneer is the most durable and beautiful material that will protect your home from the elements. Brick is virtually maintenance free and will last for generations. Living in the Detroit area, it’s easy to see that the brick in all of the dilapidated buildings is still in beautiful condition and, in most cases, can be salvaged and reused. Brick veneer is more expensive and you will have to live with your choice for as long as you own your home. Whether you’re planning an addition or building a new home, the money, time, and effort you put into choosing the design, the bricks, the mortar, and most importantly, the contractor, will pay back many times over in long-term value. .

Here are some ideas to keep in mind when choosing or combining brick cladding

• Cost: perhaps it would be better to sacrifice square footage for quality and beauty

• Design: Long, tall walls should be broken up with a vertical course of bricks, a stone ledge, or bricks that vary in color and texture. Staggered wall design with inside or outside corners to give vertical definition to the house.

• Use “offset” (brick protruding from the wall in random or patterns) of bricks to create interest

• Make the addition narrower or wider than the existing house for inside or outside corners to make it easier to blend brick and mortar.

• How does the house fit into the neighborhood? A traditional style house needs darker reds and more texture with gray mortar. Field stone, granite or sandstone can be used with care

• Contemporary homes may use whites, blushes or neutral colors and plain or glazed bricks. Mortar can be bright white

• A skilled and experienced mason will take the time to try various mixes to match the mortar. Remember that it is the SAND of the mortar that must match. Ask to see other work the mason has done and be prepared to pay a little more

• Many sizes and profiles of bricks are available. We have a slab-built farmhouse in our neighborhood that used long, low-profile bricks with a subtle rippled texture. Coupled with a pitched roof and deep eaves, this home would be the envy of Frank Lloyd Wright himself!

• Design roof and gutters so that downspouts can be used to hide the seam between old and new brick. There are many decorative gutter and downspout products available. Visit a local gutter and siding supply house

• A faux copper downspout with a fancy guide head (or conductor) can also be used to hide a seam.

• Many faux half columns are available in various metallic and paintable materials.

• Carefully use high quality horizontal beveled or vertical batten siding in your design

• More windows, entry doors, shutters, and small round or octagonal or larger windows can be used to break up large brick walls.

• Be careful when using brick in gables. Due to the slope of the roof at each end of the brick courses, the careless mason will get lost; vertical joints will not line up and the wall will have a wavy, amateurish look. A small window high in the gable would be good in this circumstance.

• And remember to choose shingles and roofing materials at the same time. For example, using a metal roof on an addition can be a way to make the addition “complement” the original house rather than attempting an exact “match” (for the few of you who are confident, brave and daring). you can use a combination of materials and design to “contrast” the original house; I have seen it done and to wonderful ends!)

And finally a special mention when using stone. A cobblestone cabin looks like this because it is a cabin! A cabin is a small house. A large stone house must be designed very carefully. Avoid long, tall walls of stone cladding.

Mixing stone with brick veneer can produce a pleasing effect. Try to imagine that you are building your house on the old ruins of a stone fence or an old manor house. The bottom corners, some around the front door, and a few random spots on the wall are all that’s needed.

The brick is made in local kilns using clay quarried from the banks of nearby rivers for centuries. The brick you find made in New England can clash with the landscape of the house you build in Texas. The same is true if you use that blush pink brick you loved in Florida for a house built in Wisconsin. The brick must be of the same origin as the house. Contemporary or traditional; single-story ranch or two-story colonial; semi-detached or split-level home; new construction or addition, everyone needs the right brick veneer to enhance long-term value and style.

Shopping Product Reviews

Chevy Convertibles are making a comeback

admin

With much of the American auto industry in jeopardy at the start of the new decade, it may seem like an unlikely time for a company like Chevrolet to make a successful comeback, but with new model sales of some of its classic designs on the rise. They seem poised to do just that. Automotive trends may come and go, but convertibles have proven enduring appeal, thanks to their unique combination of luxury and excitement. Even people who know next to nothing about cars often fantasize about driving a convertible down the highway with the wind in their hair and the sun on their back. Unfortunately, not all convertibles are created equal, and if you want the full open-top driving experience, you’ll need to choose your convertible wisely. Chevy offers two models that are great options for convertible fans: the Camaro and the Corvette.

The Chevy Camaro is an American icon, but in recent years it has begun to look dated and has fallen out of favor with car buyers. In 2010, however, Chevy reintroduced a Camaro with a stunningly updated design that’s sleek and modern without sacrificing classic Camaro looks. In-vehicle fuel efficiency is also better than ever, an important consideration with the rising cost of gasoline weighing heavily on motorists’ minds. And, perhaps even more importantly, the car experts at Ward’s recently awarded the Camaro one of their prestigious Auto Interior of the Year awards. Like the car itself, the interior of the Camaro blends modern sensibility and technology with the classic looks that made the Camaro famous around the world, and the end result is a car lover’s dream. Gauges are easy to read yet elegantly understated; an ambient lighting system creates a luxurious ambience for your driving experience; and USB ports allow drivers to connect mp3 players so they can listen to their music in style, among many other features. The Camaro is no longer synonymous with a bygone era of muscle cars; instead, it is a viable and exciting option for modern drivers from all walks of life.

Similarly, the Chevy Corvette is a vehicle that was established early on as an icon of American culture. Even little girls pretended to drive their Barbie dolls into vette models. However, somewhere along the way, the Corvette began to lose popularity in terms of actual purchases. Fortunately, like the Camaro, Chevrolet has decided to refresh and reinvigorate the brand for an entirely new generation of car owners, as well as classic Corvette enthusiasts eager for a new model for 2010. For American sports car fans , there is simply no better brand than Chevrolet. Whether you prefer a Camaro or a Corvette, it’s clear that Chevy convertibles are making a strong comeback in the 21st century auto market.

Sports

Changes, signings and Heatley

admin

At times like these, it can be hard to believe that NHL hockey isn’t being played right now. Despite the offseason, the hockey world is truly awake and buzzing with big-name player movement, a frantic free-agent market and enough rumors and speculation to drive anyone crazy.

On Friday night, the Colorado Avalanche traded “Captain Canada” Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings. In exchange, the Avalanche got defensemen Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey, as well as a fifth-round pick next year. The deal works well for both teams, but the Kings get the best of it. While the Avalanche need defense, what they really lack are responsible, positional d-men and a power-playing first or second quarterback to complement John-Michael Liles, neither of whom Preissing or Quincey have proven to be. Ryan Smyth, while prone to injury from it, plays hard every at-bat. He has an intense drive towards the net, and should fit in nicely with Anze Kopitar in Los Angeles.

My hometown team, the Ottawa Senators, made a big splash recently by signing sharpshooter Alexei Kovalev from the rival Montreal Canadiens. Many Habs fans are upset with general manager Bob Gainey for signing him free agents and letting players “walk” to opposing teams. A few days before the Sens signed Kovalev, the Toronto Maple Leafs took defenseman Mike Komisarek. Unfortunately, Habs fans always seem to have something to be upset about…

As for what Kovalev does for the Senators, that remains to be seen. He is an incredible discus man with tremendous skill, but issues have been raised about both his attitude and his consistency. There is also the question of where and with whom he will play. In Montreal, Kovalev was used on the top line most nights and amassed more ice time per game than any other Canadiens forward. In Ottawa, he could possibly be used in the second row, or play with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, who would take some of the pressure off Kovalev and maybe even inspire him to play more responsibly defensively. But much of this hinges on the outcome of a situation I have refused to write about, until now. Danny Heatley.

About a month ago, media reports surfaced about Dany Heatley requesting a trade from Ottawa. Despite all the speculation that has occurred since then, there is still no clear picture of why Heatley wants out. The consensus seems to be that he has a lot to do with coach Cory Clouston, and his technique of taking ice time from players he feels aren’t giving 100%. Heatley was apparently upset about spending what he felt was too much time in the second row under Clouston.

When Heatley applied for the trade, he provided a list of teams he wanted to go to: Kings, Rangers, Sharks, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Canucks and Bruins. When the trade request and list of potential teams was mysteriously leaked, the story blew up. This close to draft day and free agency, many felt Heatley was “handcuffing” Senators GM Bryan Murray, especially since the roster was up. Heatley was publicly criticized by Leafs general manager Brian Burke and Kings assistant general manager Ron Hextall.

But then, on the eve of July 1, there was a deal. Only the deal didn’t work out. The proposed trade would have sent Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers for the return of Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid. Heatley, however, refused to waive the no-trade clause in his contract … after demanding a trade. Sure, Edmonton was never on Heatley’s roster, but it was all a real blow to the Senators’ organization, not to mention the three Edmonton players who are now stuck where they’re apparently not wanted.

At present, rumors indicate that the Oilers may still be in the running for Heatley, as there has been speculation that he might resign from the NMC after all. The Columbus Blue Jackets, another team that wasn’t on Heatley’s roster, are also rumored to be trying to get him. Of the teams on the list, only the San Jose Sharks seem to be a possible destination, although I see it as unlikely.

Others think Heatley will remain a senator.

In other NHL news, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has hired another defenseman, Francois Beauchemin. Beauchemin played with Burke for the Anaheim Ducks, helping the team win the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Other notables included Rick Nash agreeing to a long-term deal that kept him in Columbus and Ryan Clowe signing in San Jose for another four years.

Check back soon for news on the free agent situation in Chicago and more signings!

-Josh Lind

Relationship

How to create healthy recipes for dinner?

admin

Nowadays, more and more people try to eat well. But unfortunately not everyone knows the basic rules of healthy eating. Luckily, they are simple and you can learn very quickly to create your own healthy dinner recipes.

First of all, each meal must be balanced. What does it mean? It should contain some poultry, lean meat, ocean fish, shellfish, some brown rice, whole wheat pasta, grains or potatoes with the skin, the right spices, and plenty of vegetables.

Second – all products must be before their expiration date.

Third, you must prepare your dishes correctly. You can boil, cook, grill, roast, simmer or steam. Avoid frying, particularly deep fat frying. This is probably the unhealthiest way to make meals. And remember: many of the vegetables can be eaten fresh. They have the most vitamins and nutrients then.

Here are some sample recipes based on the tips above:

Grilled or steamed cod with cooked brown rice and cooked corn on the cob.

Grilled or steamed chicken breast with cooked whole wheat pasta, steamed broccoli and cauliflower.

Grilled or steamed salmon with bulgur wheat, fresh watercress, rocket leaves and spinach.

Roasted or steamed turkey breast with couscous and steamed Brussels sprouts.

Boiled king prawns with cooked brown rice pasta, fresh chilli and cooked peas.

All of them are easy to prepare in a short time. Remember, you can freely mix ingredients to create your own recipes based on these rules.

What about the spices?

You can use it however you like, but you should restrict the salt. Instead, you can use Himalayan salt or sea salt. But not too much.

Some spices are exceptionally healthy, such as turmeric, curry, ginger, cumin, garlic, and fresh parsley.

You should use a little olive oil for grilling. You can also add a few drops to fresh vegetables or meals before serving.

Fourth: dinner should not provide more than 540 calories. This is the maximum. In practice, you should adapt this value to your individual needs. It can be 30 to 40% of your daily demand. But 540 calories is an extreme limit for everyone.

Fifth: avoid carbonated drinks. It contains a lot of sugar and empty calories. You can drink plain water, red bush without sugar, green tea or fresh fruit juice. A glass of red wine with some dishes from time to time is also a good idea.

That is all! These simple rules will certainly help everyone eat well and stay fit.