G&M Home Improvement Services, Framingham MA

Smart thermostats

Alex Silva — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 12:07:31 +0000

Google Nest Thermostat Charcoal

$129.99 $9.99

After an instant rebate of: $100.00 Manufacturer Discount: $20.00

Meet the Nest Thermostat, the helpful thermostat with a cozy price. It can turn itself down to save energy when you leave the house. You can control it from anywhere with the Google Home app – whether you’re on an errand or on vacation. You can even change the temperature without getting off the couch or out of bed. Just say, “Hey Google, turn up the heat*.” The Nest Thermostat looks out for your heating or cooling system. If something doesn’t seem right, it can send an alert. And it’s easy to install yourself, usually in 30 minutes or less.

*Voice control with Google Assistant requires a compatible smart device.

Please visit this LINK,

add this product to your cart and/or confirm your eligibility for ConnectedSolutions.

SKU

5000.981-BUNDLE-MA

Drywall Installation, Repairs, Tape and Mud

Alex Silva — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:16:49 +0000

An avarage house can be drywalled in one or two days by two skilled workers. In large-scale commercial construction, the work of installing and finishing drywall is often split between the drywall mechanics, or hangers, who install the wallboard, and the tapers and mudmen, or float crew, who finish the joints and cover the fastener heads with drywall compound.[citation needed] Dry wall can be finished anywhere from a level 0 to a level 5, where 0 is not finished in any fashion and 5 is the most “pristine”. Depending on how significant the finish is to the customer the extra steps in the finish may or may not be necessary, though priming and painting of drywall is recommended in any location where it may be exposed to any wear.
Drywall screws for wood, with parallel-threaded woodscrew shanks and bugle heads

Drywall is cut to size, using a large T-square, by scoring the paper on the finished side (usually white) with a utility knife, breaking the sheet along the cut, and cutting the paper backing. Small features such as holes for outlets and light switches are usually cut using a keyhole saw or a small high-speed bit in a rotary tool. Drywall is then fixed to the wall structure with nails or drywall screws and often glue. Drywall fasteners, also referred to as drywall clips or stops, are gaining popularity in both residential and commercial construction. Drywall fasteners are used for supporting interior drywall corners and replacing the non-structural wood or metal blocking that traditionally was used to install drywall. Their function serves to save on material and labour expenses, to minimize call-backs due to truss uplift, to increase energy efficiency, and to make plumbing and electrical installation simpler.

When driven fully home, drywall screws countersink their heads slightly into the drywall. They use a ‘bugle head’, a concave taper, rather than the conventional conical countersunk head; this compresses the drywall surface rather than cutting into it and so avoids tearing the paper. Screws for light-gauge steel framing have an acute point and finely spaced threads. If the steel framing is heavier than 20-gauge, self-tapping screws with finely spaced threads must be used. In some applications, the drywall may be attached to the wall with adhesives.
Applying ‘joint compound’ to drywall.

After the sheets are secured to the wall studs or ceiling joists, the installer conceals the seams between drywall sheets with ‘joint tape’ and several layers of ‘joint compound’ (sometimes called ‘mud’), typically spread with a taping knife or putty knife. This compound is also applied to any screw holes or defects. The compound is allowed to air dry then typically sanded smooth before painting. Alternatively, for a better finish, the entire wall may be given a ‘skim coat’, a thin layer (about 1 mm or 1/16 inch) of finishing compound, to minimize the visual differences between the paper and mudded areas after painting.

Another similar skim coating is always done in a process called veneer plastering, although it is done slightly thicker (about 2 mm or 1/8 inch). Veneering uses a slightly different specialized setting compound (“finish plaster”) that contains gypsum and lime putty. This application uses blueboard, which has special treated paper to accelerate the setting of the gypsum plaster component. This setting has far less shrinkage than the air-dry compounds normally used in drywall, so it only requires one coat. Blueboard also has square edges rather than the tapered-edge drywall boards. The tapered drywall boards are used to countersink the tape in taped jointing whereas the tape in veneer plastering is buried beneath a level surface. One coat veneer plaster over dry board is an intermediate style step between full multi-coat “wet” plaster and the limited joint-treatment-only given “dry” wall.
Sound control

The method of installation and type of drywall can reduce sound transmission through walls and ceilings. Several builders’ books state that thicker drywall reduces sound transmission, but engineering manuals recommend using multiple layers of drywall, sometimes of different thicknesses and glued together, or special types of drywall designed to reduce noise.[14] Also important are the construction details of the framing with steel studs, wider stud spacing, double studding, insulation, and other details reducing sound transmission. Sound transmission class (STC) ratings can be increased from 33 for an ordinary stud-wall to as high as 59 with double 1?2-inch (13 mm) drywall on both sides of a wood stud wall with resilient channels on one side and fiberglass batt insulation between the studs.[15]

Sound transmission may be slightly reduced using regular 5?8-inch (16 mm) panels (with or without light-gauge resilient metal channels and/or insulation), but it is more effective to use two layers of drywall, sometimes in combination with other factors, or specially designed, sound-resistant drywall.[16]
Water damage and mold
Drywall water damage in a closet.

Drywall is highly vulnerable to moisture due to the inherent properties of the materials that comprise it: gypsum, paper, and organic additives and binders. Gypsum will soften with exposure to moisture, and eventually turn to a gooey paste with prolonged immersion, such as during a flood. During such incidents, some or all of the drywall in an entire building may need to be removed and replaced. Furthermore, the paper facings and organic additives mixed with the gypsum core are food for mold.

The porosity of the board—introduced during manufacturing to reduce the weight of the board, lowering construction time and transportation costs—enables water to rapidly reach the core through capillary action, where mold can grow inside. Water that enters a room from overhead may cause ceiling drywall tape to separate from the ceiling as a result of the grooves immediately behind the tape where the drywall pieces meet becoming saturated. The drywall may also soften around the screws holding the drywall in place and with the aid of gravity, the weight of the water may cause the drywall to sag and eventually collapse, requiring replacement.

Drywall’s paper facings are edible to termites, which can eat the paper if they are infesting a wall cavity that is covered with drywall. This causes the painted surface to crumble to the touch, its paper backing material having been eaten. In addition to the necessity of patching the damaged surface and repainting, if enough of the paper has been eaten, the gypsum core can easily crack or crumble without it and the drywall must be removed and replaced.
Drywall damage caused by termites eating the paper, causing the paint to crumble.

In many circumstances, especially when the drywall has been exposed to water or moisture for less than 48 hours, professional restoration experts can avoid the cost, inconvenience, and difficulty of removing and replacing the affected drywall. They use rapid drying techniques that eliminate the elements required to support microbial activity while also restoring most or all of the drywall.

It is for these reasons that greenboard[17] and ideally cement board are used for rooms expected to have high humidity, primarily kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
High sulfur drywall illness and corrosion issues
Main article: Chinese drywall

A substantial amount of defective drywall was imported into the United States from China and incorporated into tens of thousands of homes during rebuilding in 2006 and 2007 following Hurricane Katrina and in other places. Complaints included foul odour, health effects, and corrosion of metal within the structure. This is caused by the emission of sulphurous gases. The same drywall was sold in Asia without problems resulting,[citation needed] but U.S. homes are built much more tightly than homes in China, with less ventilation. Volatile sulphur compounds, including hydrogen sulphide, have been detected as emissions from the imported drywall and may be linked to health problems. These compounds are emitted from many different types of drywall.

A number of lawsuits are underway in many jurisdictions, but many of the sheets of drywall are simply marked, “Made in China”, thus making identification of the manufacturer difficult. An investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, was underway in 2009.[18] In November 2009, the CPSC reported a “strong association” between Chinese drywall and corrosion of pipes and wires reported by thousands of homeowners in the United States. The issue was resolved in 2011 and now all drywall must be tested for volatile sulfur and any containing more than 10 ppm is unable to be sold in the US.
Fire resistance

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Drywall is made primarily from gypsum (CaSO4•2H2O). As its chemical formula shows, gypsum contains chemically combined water (approximately 50% by volume). When gypsum panels are exposed to fire, heat is absorbed as a portion of the combined water is driven off as steam. This chemical process is called calcination. The thermal energy that converts the water to steam is thus diverted and absorbed, keeping the opposite side of the gypsum panels cool as long as there is crystalline water left to be converted into steam or until the gypsum panel is breached. In the case of regular gypsum board, as the crystalline water is driven off, the reduction of volume within the gypsum core causes large cracks to form, eventually causing the panel to fail due to loss of structural integrity. This is similar to the cracking that can be observed in a dry lake or river bed.[19]

When used as a component in fire barriers, drywall is a passive fire protection item. In its natural state, gypsum contains the water of crystallization bound in the form of hydrates. When exposed to heat or fire, this water is vaporized, over a range of temperatures from 80 to 170 °C (176 to 338 °F) (see calcium sulphate), retarding heat transfer until the water in the gypsum is gone. This makes drywall an ablative material because as the hydrates sublime, a crumbly dust is left behind, which, along with the paper, is sacrificial. Generally, the more layers of Type X drywall one adds, the more one increases the fire-resistance of the assembly, up to four hours for walls and three hours for ceilings.[20] Evidence of this can be found both in publicly available design catalogues, including DIN 4102 Part 4 and the Canadian Building Code on the topic, as well as common certification listings, including certification listings provided by Underwriters Laboratories and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). “Type X” drywall is formulated by adding glass fibres to the gypsum, to increase the resistance to fires, especially once the hydrates are spent, which leaves the gypsum in powder form. Type X is typically the material chosen to construct walls and ceilings that are required to have a fire-resistance rating.

Fire testing of drywall assemblies for the purpose of expanding national catalogues, such as the National Building Code of Canada, Germany’s Part 4 of DIN4102 and its British cousin BS476, are a matter of routine research and development work in more than one nation and can be sponsored jointly by national authorities and representatives of the drywall industry. For example, the National Research Council of Canada routinely publishes such findings.[21] The results are printed as approved designs in the back of the building code. Generally, exposure of drywall on a panel furnace removes the water and calcines the exposed drywall and also heats the studs and fasteners holding the drywall. This typically results in deflection of the assembly towards the fire, as that is the location where the sublimation occurs, which weakens the assembly, due to the fire influence.

Cosponsored tests result in code recognized designs with assigned fire-resistance ratings. The resulting designs become part of the code and are not limited to use by any one manufacturer. However, individual manufacturers may also have proprietary designs that they have had third-party tested and approved. This is provided that the material used in the field configuration can be demonstrated to meet the minimum requirements of Type X drywall (such as an entry in the appropriate category of the UL Building Materials Directory or in the Gypsum Association Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual) and that sufficient layers and thicknesses are used. Fire test reports for such unique third party tests are confidential but may be made available to code officials upon special request.

It’s important to consider deflection of drywall assemblies to maintain their assembly integrity to preserve their ratings. Deflection of drywall assemblies can vary somewhat from one test to another. Importantly, penetrants do not follow the deflection movement of the drywall assemblies they penetrate. For example, see cable tray movement in a German test. It is, therefore, important to test firestops in full scale wall panel tests, so that the deflection of each applicable assembly can be taken into account.

The size of the test wall assembly alone is not the only consideration for firestop tests. If the penetrants are mounted to and hung off the drywall assembly itself during the test, this does not constitute a realistic deflection exposure insofar as the firestop is concerned. In reality, on a construction site, penetrants are hung off the ceiling above. Penetrants may increase in length, push and pull as a result of operational temperature changes (e.g., hot and cold water in a pipe), particularly in a fire. But it is a physical impossibility to have the penetrants follow the movement of drywall assemblies that they penetrate, since they are not mounted to the drywalls in a building.

It is, therefore, counterproductive to suspend penetrants from the drywall assembly during a fire test. As downward deflection of the drywall assembly and buckling towards the fire occurs, the top of the firestop is squeezed and the bottom of the firestop is pulled. This is motion above that caused by expansion of metallic penetrants due to heat exposure in a fire. Both types of motion occur because metal first expands in a fire, and then softens once the critical temperature has been reached, as is explained under structural steel. To simulate the drywall deflection effect, one can simply mount the penetrants to the steel frame holding the test assembly. The operational and fire-induced motion of the penetrants, which is independent of the assemblies penetrated, can be separately arranged.

Drywall provides a thermal resistance R-value (in US units) of 0.32 for ?3?8-inch board, 0.45 for ?1?2-inch, 0.56 for ?5?8-inch, and 0.83 for 1-inch board. In addition to increased R-value, thicker drywall has a higher sound transmission class.[22][citation needed]
Type X drywall

In Type X gypsum board, special glass fibers are intermixed with the gypsum to reinforce the core of the panels. These fibers have the effect of reducing the size of the cracks that form as the water is driven off, thereby extending the length of time the gypsum panels resist fire without failure.[19]
Type C drywall

Type C gypsum panels provide even greater fire resistance than Type X. As with the Type X panels, the core of the Type C panels contains glass fibers, only in a much higher percent by weight. In addition to the greater amount of glass fiber, the core of the Type C panels also contains vermiculite, which acts as a shrinkage-compensating additive that expands when exposed to elevated temperatures of a fire. This expansion occurs at roughly the same temperature as the calcination of the gypsum in the core. It allows the core of the Type C panels to remain dimensionally stable in the presence of fire, which in turn allows the panels to remain in place for a longer period of time even after the combined water has been driven off.[19]
North American market

North America is one of the largest gypsum board users in the world with a total wallboard plant capacity of 42 billion square feet (3.9 billion square metres) per year, roughly half of the worldwide annual production capacity of 85 billion square feet (7.9 billion square metres).[23] Moreover, the homebuilding and remodeling markets in North America in the late 1990s and early 2000s increased demand. The gypsum board market was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the housing boom as “an average new American home contains more than 7.31 metric tons of gypsum.”[24]

The introduction in March 2005 of the Clean Air Interstate Rule by the United States Environmental Protection Agency requires fossil-fuel power plants to “cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 73%” by 2018.[25] The Clean Air Interstate Rule also requested that the power plants install new scrubbers (industrial pollution control devices) to remove sulfur dioxide present in the output waste gas. Scrubbers use the technique of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD), which produces synthetic gypsum as a usable by-product. In response to the new supply of this raw material, the gypsum board market was predicted to shift significantly. However, issues such as mercury release during calcining need to be resolved.[26]
Types available in the US and Canada

Regular white board, from 1?4 to 3?4 inch (6.3 to 19 mm) thickness
Fire-resistant (“Type X”), different thickness and multiple layers of wallboard provide increased fire rating based on the time a specific wall assembly can withstand a standardized fire test. Often perlite, vermiculite, and boric acid are added to improve fire resistance.
Greenboard, the drywall that contains an oil-based additive in the green colored paper covering that provides moisture resistance. It is commonly used in wash rooms and other areas expected to experience elevated levels of humidity.[27]
Blueboard, blue face paper forms a strong bond with a skim coat or a built-up plaster finish providing both water and mold resistance.
Cement board, which is more water-resistant than greenboard, for use in showers or sauna rooms, and as a base for ceramic tile.
Soundboard is made from wood fibers to increase the sound transmission class.
Soundproof drywall is a laminated drywall made with gypsum and other materials such as damping polymers to significantly increase the sound transmission class rating.
Mold-resistant, paperless drywall with fiberglass face[28]
Enviroboard, a board made from recycled agricultural materials
Lead-lined drywall, a drywall used around radiological equipment.[29]
Foil-backed drywall used as a vapor barrier.[30]
Controlled density (CD), also called ceiling board, which is available only in 1?2 inch (13 mm) thickness and is significantly stiffer than regular white board.
EcoRock, a drywall that uses a combination of 20 materials including recycled fly ash, slag, kiln dust and fillers and no starch cellulose; it is advertised as being environmentally friendly due to the use of recycled materials and an energy efficient process.[31]
Gypsum “Firecode C”. This board is similar in composition to Type X, except for more glass fibres and a form of vermiculite, used to reduce shrinkage. When exposed to high heat, the gypsum core shrinks but this additive expands at about the same rate, so the gypsum core is more stable in a fire, and remains in place even after the gypsum dries up.

Waste
Further information: Gypsum recycling

Because up to 12% of drywall is wasted during the manufacturing and installation processes and the drywall material is frequently not re-used, disposal can become a problem. Some landfill sites have banned the dumping of drywall. Some manufacturers take back waste wallboard from construction sites and recycle it into new wallboard. Recycled paper is typically used during manufacturing. More recently, recycling at the construction site itself is being researched. There is potential for using crushed drywall to amend certain soils at building sites, such as sodic clay and silt mixtures (bay mud), as well as using it in compost.[32] As of 2016, industry standards are being developed to ensure that when and if wallboard is taken back for recycling, quality and composition are maintained.

Shaker White Kitchen Cabinets

Alex Silva — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:22:43 +0000

Shaker White Premium Kitchen Cabinets

Why Choose us

We have all sizes in stock delivered in 24hrs
We custom make any cabinets sizes
We offer better prices
Kitchen design services available

Premium Kitchen Cabinets Line

Get top quality kitchen cabinets for your money

Cabinets are all Solid Wood doors
Plywood box 1/2″ and 3/4″
Soft Close Cabinets Doors and Drawers
High Quality Hardware
Dovetail Drawer Construction
Stained and Finished Sides
All cabinets come win custom shelves

Affordable Prices:

Call today for a Free Estimate!

Phone: (508) 380-3326 – Email: alexsilvausa@yahoo.com

Sink Cabinets Options:

SB30 | SB33 | SB36 | Corner Sink 36| LS 36

Base Cabinets:

B09 |B09 P.O | B12 | B15 | B18 | B18 P.O

B21 | B24 | B27 | B30 | B33 | B36 | B39

Dishwasher Panel – Island Back Panel – Custom Columns

The panel will be finished on both sides.

The front edge of the panel is not finished so the stile must be used.

Filler can be trimmed to 3/4″ if necessary.

Drawer Base Cabinets:

DB12 | DB15 | DB18 | DB24

3 drawer base cabinet. Top drawer front is 6-1/4″H,

bottom 2 drawer fronts are 11-1/8″H.

4 drawer base cabinet.

Drawer fronts are 7-5/16″ high.

Lazy Susan (Corner base cabinets)

LS33 | LS36 | Blind Base Cabinet

Easy reach corner cabinet with a bi-fold door that takes up 33″ or 36″ of wall space from the corner out, on each wall.

This cabinet has 1 adjustable wood shelf.

Extra shelf can be added

Storage and Pantry Cabinets

PC18W x 84 H | PC18W x 90H | PC24H x 84H | PC24H x 90H | 24″ Microwave / Oven Cabinet

Wall pantry cabinets that has 2 doors. It has 1 stationary and 5 adjustable shelves. Top door is 35″H and bottom door is 49-1/4″H. There will be a decorative horizontal stile in the middle of the bottom pantry door.

Oven cabinet with two 29″ high doors on top and three 7-3/4″ high drawers on bottom. There will be 1 shelf behind the top doors. Oven opening dimensions are 26 1/2″W x 24-3/8″H (can be widened up to 29 1/2″ if necessary). The oven cabinet can be modified to fit a double oven or oven/microwave combo by removing drawer boxes and pieces of the face frame. There is a 7-3/8″ high horizontal stile above the oven opening and a 7 1/2″ high horizontal stile below the oven opening. There are also 1-3/4″ high horizontal stiles between each of the bottom drawers.

Wall Cabinets are 30 or 36 Inches High

W9 | W12 | W15 | W18| W21 | W24 | W27 | W30 | W33 | W36

Wall Cabinets Corner in Diagonal

W24 x 30 or W24 x 36

Above Fridge and Stove Cabinets

Stove 30″ | Fridge 36″

Extra Accessories for cabinet installation an finishing details

Base Filler 6 x 36
Crown Molding 8 Feet
Dishwasher panel
Fridge End Panel
Toe-kick
Wall and cabinet Filler 3 Inches

Real Estates in Framingham MA

Alex Silva — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 22:11:49 +0000

2018 Real Estate Referral Program.

Our clients always need an agent and we are loyalty to our co-workers that delivery business to us and help us to grown. In exchange for that we do like to share our best real estates agents with our clients. We need you too.

We appreciate your business, so we create this top 2018 real estate referral list to reward our real estates based on referrals to us and to our clients to known our best local real estate agent if they are not already working with a realtor. We are always looking for motivated agents to help our clients find the perfect home. Thanks for checking us out today!

We hope to work with you in the near future.

05 REF

Beth Shuman – Hammond Residential

www.bethshuman.myhammondagent.com

Sales Associate, SRES – Brookline, MA

Newton Office: (617) 731-4644 Ext. 232

– Email Beth Shuman Today!

– View my Listing Here »

02 REF

Willie Mandrell – Mandrell Company

www.angelawright.myhammondagent.com/

Broker and Principal Owner – Boston, MA

Boston Office: 617-297-8641

– Email Mandrell, Willie Today!

– View my Listing Here »

01 REF

Angela Wright – Hammond Residential

www.angelawright.myhammondagent.com/

Sales Associate, SRES – Brookline, MA

Newton Office: 617-566-8379

– Email Angela Wright Today!

– View my Listing Here »

01 REF

Clark Broden – ERA Key Realty

www.era.com/ERA-Key-Realty-Services

Sales Associate, ERA Key Realty,

Framingham Office: (508) 769.0797

– Email Clark Broden Today!

– View my Listing Here »

01 REF

Geraldo Franca – MEGA Realty (Speaks Portuguese / English)

www.homesbymega.com/

Sales Associate, MEGA Realty,

Framingham Office: 508-371-5932

– Email Geraldo Franca Today!

– View my Listing Here »

Real Estates in Framingham MA. Real Estates in Sherborn MA, Real Estates in Dover MA, Real Estates in Natick MA, Real Estates in Wayland MA, Real Estates in Ashland MA, Real Estates in Holliston MA, Real Estates in Hopkington MA, Real Estates in Medway MA, Real Estates in Brookline MA, Real Estates in Newton MA

Framingham to Boston Interior and Exterior Painting Contractor

Alex Silva — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 16:28:12 +0000


Cozy Cottage An eclectic palette brings out the cottage charm of this Craftsman style bungalow. Light, warm grey is cooled by the blue–green tones of the trim colour, and accented by a muted orange—green’s complementary colour—on the door. Body: revere pewter (HC-172), Trim: night train (CC-720), Door: firenze (AF-225)
	revere pewter HC-172 night train CC-720 firenze AF-225


A nature–inspired colour scheme blends with the surrounding landscape. A traditional mossy green is accented by misty grey trim, while an organic red–brown hue creates an inviting front door. Body: wethersfield moss (HC-110), Trim: horizon gray (2141-50), Door: cougar brown (2106-40)
	wethersfield moss HC-110 horizon gray 2141-50 cougar brown 2106-40


Bucolic Bliss Warm, honeyed yellow, echoing the colour of golden fields, is accented by the creamy trim colour. Rich wrought iron (2124-10) on the front and garage doors adds a touch of sophistication. Body: golden straw (2152-50), Trim: powder sand (OC-113), Doors: wrought iron (2124-10)
	golden straw 2152-50 powder sand OC-113 wrought iron 2124-10


A play of neutrals lends a polished look to this traditional farmhouse. The cool, medium–tone grey is accented by a warm grey on the trim. Doors painted in smoky blue create a look of harmonious elegance. Body: storm (AF-700), Trim: barren plain (2111-60), Doors: philipsburg blue (HC-159)
	storm AF-700 barren plain 2111-60 philipsburg blue HC-159


Transitional Style Rich brown tones set against warm tan beautifully accent this home’s architectural details. On the doors, warm yellow-brown completes the harmonious interplay of earthy hues. Body: arizona tan (2162-50), Trim: brown horse (2108-30), Doors: rich clay brown (2164-30)
	arizona tan 2162-50 brown horse 2108-30 rich clay brown 2164-30


Warm, pink-beige tones form the basis of this fresh palette. The lighter trim colour accents the house colour as well as the stone facade of the entrance. The grey door makes an elegant statement. Body: shore line (CC-364), Trim: harmony (AF-90), Doors: silhouette (AF-655)
	shore line CC-364 harmony AF-90 silhouette AF-655


Country Manor An analogous colour scheme of buttery beige hues creates a pleasing palette with a warm coastal feel. The front door, painted in a rich, spicy orange, creates a welcoming entrance. Body: boardwalk (CC-410), Trim: timid white (2148-60), Door: etruscan (AF-355)
	boardwalk CC-410 timid white 2148-60 etruscan AF-355


An ethereal blue-grey body colour, complemented by a deep blue front door, elegantly highlights the entrance’s stone facade. The trim in off-white with a hint of grey completes the stately look. Body: winter lake (2129-50), Trim: winter snow (OC-63), Door: baby seal black (2119-30)
	winter lake 2129-50 winter snow OC-63 baby seal black 2119-30

How to prevent water damages from ice dams

Alex Silva — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 22:45:05 +0000

One way to do that is to make sure that you don’t get ice dams this year. We talked to Ben Weil, extension professor of building energy at the University of Massachusetts, about how to prevent ice dams and what to do if you get one.Here’s what you need to know.

What is an ice dam?

“An ice dam happens when there is snow on a roof and there is some differential heating on the roof,” Weil said. “Usually the heat is coming from inside, and it melts the snow and the liquid runs down the roof toward the eve where there is no longer enough heat and then the water refreezes.”

This leads to icicles coming off your roof, which – though they look really cool – can cause a lot of damage.

How does it happen?

Weil said there are two ways for the snow to melt, the first way being through heat loss from the house.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is an ice dam?

This leads to icicles coming off your roof, which – though they look really cool – can cause a lot of damage.

How does it happen?

Weil said there are two ways for the snow to melt, the first way being through heat loss from the house.
02/25/15– CARLISLE –Dmitry (cq) Lipinskiy (cq) uses steam to break up icicles on Carlisle home. He owns Icedam Liquidators, a Minnesota-based company, which drove a crew to the Boston area for a couple of weeks to help people clear their roofs and clear out their ice dams. They have been overwhelmed with people asking for help (globe staff photo :Joanne Rathe section: MAGAZINE reporter: francis storrs topic: 030815flextime )

Dmitry Lipinskiy uses steam to break up icicles on a Carlisle home last winter. He owns Icedam Liquidators, a Minnesota-based company, which drove a crew to the Boston area for a couple of weeks to help people clear their roofs and clear out their ice dams.

Joanne Rathe / The Boston Globe

“The temperature from the indoor air is like 70 degrees and it comes in contact with the roof deck” if there is a leak in the house, Weil said. “That’s why often you can look at roofs and see the pattern of air leakage showing up in the snow.”

The second way is through letting heavy snow pile up on your roof.

“Like the Eskimos knew, snow is not a terrible insulator,” Weil said. “If you pile up two feet of snow, you have more insulation than by code for a wall.”

The snow closer to the roof is going to be closer to the inside temperature because of the snow’s insulation. Weil said the only way to counteract this is to have more insulation in the attic.

So what’s the big deal? Icicles are cool.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is an ice dam?

This leads to icicles coming off your roof, which – though they look really cool – can cause a lot of damage.

How does it happen?

Joanne Rathe / The Boston Globe

The second way is through letting heavy snow pile up on your roof.

“Like the Eskimos knew, snow is not a terrible insulator,” Weil said. “If you pile up two feet of snow, you have more insulation than by code for a wall.”

The snow closer to the roof is going to be closer to the inside temperature because of the snow’s insulation. Weil said the only way to counteract this is to have more insulation in the attic.

So what’s the big deal? Icicles are cool.

Well they do look cool, but they can cause all sorts of problems. As The Boston Globe reports, once the icicles are formed from the melting and refreezing, they can block other water still on the roof from dripping off. The Globe writes, “The draining water hits the ice dam, backs up under the roof shingles, finds cracks and openings in the roofing, and eventually manifests itself as an interior water leak.”
Wellesley, MA., 03/20/15, Construction on a home with serious ice dam damage. Workers Mike Jones, right, and Cam Gommad work on a damaged ceiling. Story about how contractors are exceptionally busy following crazy winter weather. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Construction workers try to fix a home with serious ice dam damage last winter.

Suzanne Kreiter / Globe staff

Weil said that just last winter (which we know was particularly bad) he saw many people that needed to have their entire drywall replaced on the second floor or needed their entire electrical system to be redone.

“We are talking lots and lots of money,” Weil said.

How can you prevent this from happening?

“The most important thing is preventing air leakage from inside the house from anywhere into the roof system,” Weil said. Before it is too late and winter is upon us, you should get your roof checked to see if there are leaks – a group like MassSave could help you with that.

Or, if you go outside and look at your roof when it has frost on it, take a picture and look where there might be strange lines where there isn’t frost. Weil says, “something is causing the frost to melt and that’s an indication of where the snow will melt.”

A second thing you can do is to get more insulation in the attic. He said this is pretty easy if you have a flat attic and more difficult if you have a cathedral ceiling.

“A third strategy, NOT of equal value,” Weil emphasizes, “is proper roof venting. It makes it so that if you have enough outside air travelling up the underside of a roof deck the temperature of either side of a snow roof assembly will be what the outside temperature is and you won’t have melting unless it is a warm day.”

This will make your problems worse, however, if you haven’t already blocked air leakage nor proper insulation.

How can you fix the problem if you already have it?

“There are a number of solutions that are really Band-Aids to an ice dam problem,” Weil said. “Very commonly all over the Northeast you see metal edging, the bottom two feet of a eve has metal roofing. The idea is that the snow will slide off, and often times it doesn’t. The metal can help but it’s not treating the problem.”

Ice dam in Newton, Massachusetts, Feb. 22, 2015 credit: Heather Hopp-Bruce/Globe staff

Ice dam in Newton, Massachusetts in Feb. 2015.

Heather Hopp-Bruce/Globe staff

The only thing that is worse than this to Weil are heater strips that turn on when the temperature gets blow a certain number, which melts the snow on the roof.

“They might help get you through a winter but is not a solution,” Weil said.

In conclusion

Make sure you home doesn’t have air leaks and make sure you have the proper insulation and keep an eye on your roof throughout the winter months.

“Energy is relatively cheap so it is a hard sell to get people to air seal and insulate as an energy saving tool, but as a maintenance cost avoidance budget this is one place where you don’t have to pay for it with energy savings you can pay for it for avoiding ice dams

– See more at: http://www.boston.com/real-estate/news/2015/12/21/ice-dam-basics-how-prevent-them-and-avoid-lot-costly-water-damage/EEyHKdEqSK6VAQGxFyw4iJ/story.html?s_campaign=bcom%3Asocialflow%3Afacebook#sthash.aadVHALC.am1BlGOP.dpuf

Garden & Retaining Wall Materials

Alex Silva — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:06:03 +0000

Garden & Retaining Wall Materials

Verazzo Stone
	Keystone Verazzo Stone® is finished on two sides and allows the look of a random-pattern system without requiring a mixed pallet or multiple pieces. It is easy to install and features Keystone’s proven pin connection system to make aligning units effortless. Each Verazzo Stone unit is andled on both sides, providing different face lengths that allow for tight fitting straight line walls and radii at curves.
Compac II Unit
	The improved geometry of the Compac II allow for easier installation and increased connection strength with geogrid reinforcement. This unit allows for various positive connections with reinforcement to build walls in excess of 50 feet tall.* The lighter weight and shorter tail design of the Keystone Compac II unit make it easy to handle. Units are available in tri-plane split or straight face. * With proper engineering
Arbor Stone
	The Keystone Arbor Stone has the natural look of quarried stone and its earth tone colors blend with any landscape. Its secure, interlocking design make installation easy. These units are used for small, non-structural landscape walls. Walls should not exceed 1.33 feet in height.
Standard II Unit (Special Order)
	The Standard Unit remains the industry leader. Its height-to-depth ratio delivers a structurally sound, engineered wall system with superior construction stability, durability and strength. The standard is the choice for tall walls and critical structures. With reinforcement, Keystone Standard II walls can be built in excess of 50 feet tall.* Units are available in tri-place split and straight face. * With proper engineering
Keystone Victorian Stone (Special Order)
	Ideal for residential and commercial construction, Keystone Victorian Stone provides unique benefits for both the contractor and owner. Large open core space in the center of the unit ensures sufficient infill placement and reduced weight for ease of handling. The Keystone Victorian Stone system has a clean uniform appearance the blends harmoniously with any landscape setting.

Interlink Wall Systems
	The new Interlink block gives a whole new concept to retaining walls, with the latest in style and a touch of the Mediterranean. Interlink blocks are laid as a vertical wall (without any setback) and therefore eliminate many problems arising from curves and corners.

Concord Wall®
	Concord Wall® is one of the most versatile and widely accepted retaining walls on the market. It’s perfect for all applications, including walls, planters and step construction. Concord Wall’s modular units interlock with a built-in setback that automatically forms the correct slope, ensuring a stable wall.
Roman Wall®
	Split and weathered looking, Roman Wall® boasts a distressed appearance that gives the impression that it has been around for decades. Admired as much for its versatility as its look, Roman Wall® can be used to form straight or curved walls, as well as planters and steps.
Brussels Dimensional Stone
	The antiqued or weathered appearance of Brussels Dimensional Stone is a great alternative to expensive natural stone products. These highly adaptable units can be used to build planter walls, steps, specialty features and act as an edge restraint.
Estate Wall®
	The unique antique-textured finish of this majestic wall recreates the appearance of aged, natural rock. Create virtually any seat wall, planter, step or pillar design with these multiple length units.

Ashland landscaping project

Alex Silva — Wed, 13 May 2015 21:57:50 +0000

spring project in Ashland ma.

– demolition of old walkway

– new bluestone steps

– natural stone veneers

– new walkway using unlock bricks

The cost of this project is around $5000 but the house value increased much more

call now for a free estimate 508-380-3326 IMG_3799

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling, Framingham MA.

Alex Silva — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 21:13:22 +0000

We offer complete kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling services for Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Dover, Sherborn and all metrowest residents.

Full kitchen design, cabinets installation, hardwood and tiles floors, countertops and more.

jQuery Slider

WordPress Slideshow

As a general contractor I am able to complete most the work without sub-contracting. That way I save a lot of time on waiting for sub-contractors to show up. From framing to finish, insulation, drywall and painting all being done by my-self and a helper as need. Contact me for a price according your budget.

Call me and get your remodeling dream started today!

Walkway Catalog Ideas

Alex Silva — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:04:53 +0000

Walkways and Patios can use a variety of forms, textures, random shapes and patterns.

To help you I am collecting pictures and ideas from past jobs done and sharing it here.

To create your perfect walkway or patio we need to known the following:

– The measurements of your walkway or patio.

– The design (curving or stray lines) on your walkway or patio.

– The pattern of the bricks and stones.

– The material to be used for your walkway can be:

BRICK PAVERS

We work with the following Boston Brick Dealers:

– Unilock Website» | Download Free Catalog

– Ideal »

– Cambridge Pavingstones »

– Techo-Block»

Each dealers offers dozens of different brick pavers texture, sizes and color. Most common sizes are 3×6, 4×6, 6×6 and same pattern for 8″ bricks

CONCRETE SLABS

We can do the poured concrete walkway or we can use concrete slabs from our dealers.Please contact us about your design and ideas.

NATURAL STONES

The most used natural stones for Boston, MA for walkways, patios and walls are:- Pennsylvania stone- Blue Stone- Flag StoneThe shape of the blue stone can be uniform or rectangle and square shapes. The pattern may vary according your design for mixing square blue stones with rectangle ones. Please send us your ideas or design.

Town of Framingham

Alex Silva — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 00:30:32 +0000

The Town of Framingham it’s “business-friendly.”

And for the first time in a long time, businesses believe the Town.

“Framingham is Awesome” – Ian Barrett, creative boss for MediaBoss Television
“Service without Attitude”- Peter McAree, CFO of HeartWare Inc.
“I believe in Framingham” – Justin Krebs, partner at Normandy Real Estate Partners

These were some of the testimonials given at re-launch of the Town’s Choose Framingham campaign at the Genzyme campus on Mountain Road in Framingham. Genzyme, in recent years has invested $500-plus million in Framingham, and now employees more than 2,000 in town.

For years, the Town of Framingham was known as a place not very open to new or existing businesses.

The Town has a split tax rate, that charges businesses more than residents, and at a commercial tax rate much higher than neighboring Natick and Marlboro.

And the Town of Framingham was known for having a convoluted, confusing and complicated process for permitting of new projects, along with a perception that the Town would take its time with the process, if it approved the project at all.

That has all changed, according to business and town leaders who spoke at the event Wednesday night.

“Framingham is back in the game,” said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. “We will take nothing for granted when it comes to your business needs and your business success.”

The launch event caps a year-long internal effort to overhaul the town’s approach to economic development, including establishing economic development zones, streamlining permitting processes, and hiring a director of economic development.

The goal of the changes was “”Stop hindering, start helping,” explained Halpin, who will celebrate two years leading the Town next month. “This signals a new day for Framingham and its approach to attracting companies and creating economic growth.”

Choose Framingham was adopted as the town’s slogan four years ago by then Selectmen Dennis Giombetti, who recently stepped down from the board, but was in attendance at yesterday’s event.

And Choose Framingham is what a handful of business leaders said they did, with the help of Town officials.
Justin Krebs of Normandy Real Estate Partners said he had heard about Framingham’s anti-business perception, when he wanted to redevelop property at 15 Pleasant St.

But he met with Halpin and Planning Board Administrator Amanda Loomis, who promised the project could do through the Town in 6 months.

“We were done in 4½,” said Krebs.

Paul Logue, vice president and general manager at Genzyme, echoed the same sentiments. His company’s latest $8 million project needed permitting to go through smoothly and quickly, as a late project could mean losing $1 to $2 million a month.

Logue said he met with Halpin, who made a lot of promises and commitments.

“I told him great, but I am a results guy,” said Logue.

“We had a very, very successful process with the town,” said Logue.

Many of the business leaders who spoke, praised Town Manager Halpin and the new leadership team he has assembled.

“Bob was true to his word,” said HeartWare CFO Peter McAree on discussing his company’s relocation to its new world-wide HQ on Old Conn Path in Framingham.

But the Town does not plan to rest on its recent successes.

“We want to prove to you that Framingham is very serious about growing business in Framingham, bringing in new business and working with existing business,” said Framingham Selectmen Chair Charlie Sisitsky. “We want to help you grow and keep you in town.”

Editor’s Note: Listen to Sisitsky talk to business leaders in the attached video.

“Our new campaign is meant to send a clear message to the town, the region and all of Greater Boston that Framingham is open for business,” said Halpin.

“Framingham is already one of the region’s leading innovation hubs but we’re committed to making it an even greater place to do business,” said Halpin, noting that the town is home to some of the country’s best known brands, including Genzyme, Staples, TJX, and Bose. “Going forward, we want to expand and attract companies across the spectrum – from large, established firms to small entrepreneurial ones.”

Framingham is home to some of the country’s best known brands, including Genzyme, Staples, TJX, Bose, Cumberland Farms, Gulf, etc.

“Going forward, we want to expand and attract companies across the spectrum – from large, established firms to small entrepreneurial ones,” said Halpin.

Source: http://framingham.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/town-of-framingham-announces-it-is-businessfriendly?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-1-post&newsRef=true

Get your project financed

Alex Silva — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 23:54:22 +0000

We are glad to refer lenders and home loans companies for your remodeling or investments needs.

Get up to $25,000.00 cash for your home remodeling needs

Website: http://www.admiralsbank.com

Home Improvement Lending division
15 Park Row West, Providence, R.I. 02903
tel 401-248-7335 | fax 888.622.2573 | amalhotra@admiralsbank.com

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Gallery Post

Alex Silva — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 21:37:51 +0000

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Aenean orci arcu, cursus sed enim nec, gravida accumsan neque. Suspendisse non libero vitae tellus aliquam rutrum. Etiam elementum, nulla vel elementum dictum, lectus lorem dignissim purus, at convallis mauris lacus vehicula dui. Nulla quis viverra nulla, sed facilisis dolor. In hac habitasse platea dictumst.

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