Related Links and Local Leader Press

Get Rid of Pesky Winter Ice Dams

When it comes to the pesky annoyances about winter in New England, where should we start? How about one that can actually cause some damage to your home: Ice dams. The same conditions that cause icicles to form (Snow-covered roofs, freezing temperatures) also lead to these thick dams of ice that build up along the eaves of your home. This can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your home. So what are some ways to prevent this from happening? First up on the list compiled by This Old House is the idea of using heated cables. These cables will help to combat ice dams, but make sure you install the cables before the bad weather starts to roll in. If it’s too late and you already have these problems, you can blow in cold air. Takign a box fan into the attic and aiming it at the underside of the roof where water is leaking in should freeze the water in its tracks and stop the leak in a matter of minutes.To read the tips article on This Old House, click here.

Rustic To Sleek Redesigns

This MyHomeIdeas article showcases the ideas and design behind two separate home renovations that barn-style homes into modern, elegant showpieces. First is a home in Winthrop, Washington that serves as a two-bedroom weekend getaway retreat that sits in a remote location with a stunning view of the nearby mountains. The kitchen, dining room and living areas features an open floor plan with 20-foot ceilings that really aids in opening up the area where the couple is likely to spend a majority of their time. In addition, the overhead trusses repeat a visual rhythm that adds scale to the great room. The second home is a sleeker barn-style home that also fits in with its surroundings. To read the MyHomeIdeas article, click here.

Existing Home Sales Improving

As stated above, it was a tumultuous year for the housing market, but the numbers reported in December allowed for it to go out on a high note, as 2011 posted a gain in full-year sales volume. The National Association of Realtors reported that the annual sales pace in December reached 4.6 million homes, which is up 5% from the pace set in November, and 3.6% from a year ago at that point. December’s numbers mark the third consecutive month that home sales improved and the fourth quarter sales volume as a whole lifted sales to 4.26 million homes, up 1.7% from 2010. To continue reading about these numbers in the CNNMoney article, click here.

New Home Constructions On The Rise

Following very solid November numbers, new home constructions were down just a bit in December, but still better than the year-over-year numbers. The Census Bureau reported that construction of new homes fell to 657,000 on an annual basis, which is down 4.1% compared to the strong November rates. But compared to the 2010 numbers, housing starts are up 24.9% and building permits are up 7.8%. David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders commented in the CNNMoney article that overall, it is a “decent report.” To read more on these statistics in the CNNMoney article, click here.

America’s Best and Worst Housing Markets Of 2011

In 2011, the housing market had plenty of ups and downs as it struggled to return to normalcy. Throughout the nation, different states and different cities felt the effects of the market fluctuation in various ways; some for the better and some for the worse. In a Yahoo Real Estate article, a Zillow survey of 1,000 of the largest cities nationwide identified the markets that represented the extremes at either end of the spectrum. Two local towns, Brookline and Arlington, came in at number three and number two respectively, on the side of “best housing markets” as they each had population percentage changes of more than 13%. To view the rest of this list, click here.

Homes Of The GOP Candidates

With the GOP candidates recently releasing their 2011 tax information, wouldn’t you be curious to see what their homes look like? Well, CNNMoney has put together a list—along with photos—of the remaining candidate’s homes throughout the nation. First up is the wealthiest candidate, who by no coincidence owns the most real estate. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney owns a $9.6 million Spanish-style home with direct access to a beach in La Jolla, California. According to the article, however, Romney plans to tear down the current home and replace it with a home that’s more than twice its current size of 3,000 square feet; which is sure to increase the home’s value. To see which candidate currently owns a $262,500 home, and to see the rest of the homes, click here.

S+H Construction Comments On Home Renovation Costs

S+H Construction, one of the premier residential contractors (and recognized Local Leader) in the Greater Boston area, announced that both homeowners and commercial building owners should expect a jump of up to 1 to 5% in renovation costs if the building contains lead-based paint. Because of recent regulations put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), certain protective measures are now required to remove lead-based paint, including during the demolition of walls and surfaces.

The procedures – not unlike the removal of asbestos – require extra time, materials, and specific paperwork that must be completed on every project. These requirements add to the overall project costs. The actual increase to the bottom line depends on several factors including the size of the job and the amount of lead paint present.“Clearly, there are good reasons for these laws,” said Doug Hanna, Principal at S+H Construction. “Lead should not be allowed in the environment, and kids in particular should not be exposed to lead dust during renovations.”

Homeowners should make sure when undertaking a renovation project, that the contractor:

• Has a Massachusetts Construction Supervisor’s license (CSL)
• Is registered with the Mass. Home Improvement Contractor Registration Program
• Is trained as a certified lead renovator
• Hire subcontractors that are trained as certified lead renovators
• Has a current certificate for General Liability Insurance
• Has a current certificate for Worker’s Compensation Insurance that also covers the owner of the company

For more information on S+H Construction and their RRP Certified lead paint removal services, please call (617) 876-8286, or visit the company website at www.shconstruction.com.

World's Wildest Snow And Ice Houses

In the past we’ve shared some of the world’s craziest houses, from floating former-airplane homes to a large beagle-shaped inn; but in this case, we are giving you a chance to see some of the world’s largest and most peculiar snow and ice houses. How about a huge snow castle in Japan that stands 80 feet tall and 250 wide, or a glowing castle in China that stands at over 150 feet and includes a replica of the Great Wall of China (which apparently also doubles as a 300-foot-long slide.) And for those willing to make the long road trip north; how about staying in a bedroom made entirely of ice in Quebec, Canada? These are just some of the homes featured in an article from This Old House. To read the article and view the homes, click here.