Things to Remember before You Remodel Your Home

When women are still young, even when they grow up, they dream of a house they want to live in. Some want it big, cozy, Victorian or modern. Sometimes the things you dream of might not turn out the way you want it to be if you don’t plan it ahead.

First, you have to visualize your dream home. You can sketch your ideas about your remodeled home. If you want to expand a room, think of how you will use the extra space. An unnecessary bigger room may overwhelm your home or will affect traffic patterns.

Second is to think ahead. You may want to have an additional space; it will not make sense if you’re planning to sell the house in a few years. A luxurious bathroom can price the value of your house beyond the values in your neighborhood. In addition, does it meet your family’s need in the future?

Third is count your money. Additional expenses are bound to happen. Although you want to that porcelain countertop, you have to canvass materials to know how much exactly you might spend.

Fourth is choosing the right team for the project. Make sure the people you work with are licensed, qualified, insured and you’re comfortable to work with.

Fifth is negotiating a contract. Things might go wrong sooner or later. Misunderstanding will arise and it’s best to have a written contract and make sure everyone agrees before you start working.

Sixth is getting a permit. A building permit assures that the remodeling meets local building codes and safety regulations. Generally contractors will do the paperwork but smalltime will not.

Finally you must be prepared that you’ll encounter problems along the way. You must always have a plan A to Z! The bigger the project the more disastrous it can get. There will be equipment breakdowns, shortage of supply, miscommunications and delay. Therefore you must have a few friendly rules to your contractors. Tell them where to park their trucks, what must and must not do. When things are becoming stressful, take a day off and go to a spa. You deserve it after a hard day from working.

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How to Combat Indoor Air Pollution in Norcross

When you are at home, you should feel comfortable. Aside from enjoying the right heating and cooling in the house, you should also be sure that the air circulating from these appliances is clean. Your family’s health will be affected by dirty air around the house.

Before anything else, you should know that the indoor air circulating in the house because of your heating and cooling system circulates at an average of 50 times per day. That has negative effects for a person who has asthma and allergies. To control bacteria in the house that’s circulating through the air and minimize airpollution, you should consider an indoor UV-generating lamp.

By using an ultraviolet system, you can reduce the contamination of the air around you. By reducing air pollution, you are reducing the growth of new microorganisms in your house.

Ultraviolet rays are good outdoor purifiers because of its property to inhibit growth of bacteria, germs, fungi, and even molds and viruses. With the presence of UV light outdoors, contaminants flock inside the house where they start breeding. In fact, airpollution inside the house is 70 times more than what is found outside.

Even though UV is invisible, it is lethal to microorganisms in the air. What it does is it penetrates the contaminants and breaks down their molecular bonds. Even if the germs are not killed, they will be sterilized. You can get rid of bacteria that cause anthrax, diphtheria, cholera, and typhoid easily through this.

Purifying the air that’s circulating inside the house is one of the most important things you have to remember. On top of being comfortable thanks to your heaters and air conditioners, you must always think about the health of your family.  

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Start Kitchen and Home Remodeling Now

Your budget certainly affects the kitchen remodeling project you have in mind. Before you begin, you need to make sure that you find someone who can make your kitchen look creative without costing too much. However, a smaller budget does not mean that you will have a cheap looking home remodeling project. With these tips, you can get a great-looking kitchen without spending too much.

Do not limit your choices to high-end designers. Remodeling the kitchen involves replacing your counters, cabinets, flooring, or tables with better looking ones. These do not have to be expensive. Try walking into a showroom without any expectations and you will be surprised at the pieces that suit your budget.

Find a talented designer who knows what’s best for you. You want everything that’s ideal for your kitchen, but let’s face it. Not all of them are feasible. You need your homeremodeling contact to tell you if you are better off with an alternative that will last longer and still look good instead of those fancy countertops you want.

Tell the remodeling expert everything. Do not go light on the details. Details on where you want the appliances to go, how you want the kitchen to look, what kind of theme you have in mind, and the flooring you prefer all need to be known by the expert. Without these important details, you and your contractor might have different ideas on what to do with the kitchen. The details you tell the designer will also determine the final budget price, so you need to be very specific with the things you want.

In remodeling a kitchen, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. You don’t have to feel bad that you couldn’t afford those fancy floorings, because they might not even be suitable to the climate. Proper communication with a remodeling contractor can give you an idea of what’s good for your kitchen from an expert’s perspective. 

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Norcross Shows Appreciation at Annual Police Dinner

The Norcross PD Foundation held its fourth annual appreciation dinner for the city police department.

Saturday evening marked the fourth annual Norcross Police Department Appreciation and Awards Dinner Ceremony.

Locals and Norcross Police members attended the awards dinner, which was hosted by Hopewell Baptist Church and steered by the Norcross Police Department Foundation. Sedric Drew was the Master of Ceremonies, and Mayor Bucky Johnson and Norcross Police Chief Warren Summers announced awards.

Summers officially took the position as chief last December, so this year was his first year giving awards.

"The only time a police officer is acknowledged in the media or by the community is when something goes wrong, but when things are going well, no one says, 'Thank you.' No one says, 'We appreciate you,'" said Hopewell's Bishop William L. Sheals as the guest speaker for the evening. "That's why we're here tonight."

"The dinner turned out great," said Arlene Beckles, one of the founding members of the Norcross Police Department Foundation and member of the 2012 Steering Committee.

"We have a full band this year, and we have more sponsors," said Gwendolyn Johns, the NPDF founding member who spearheaded the appreciation dinner.

Officers were recognized for major incidents that have occurred in the past year in Norcross:

·                                 The shooting of Nick Jackson II in his Autry Street home in February, which led to the initial capture of six suspects;

·                                 The spa shooting that resulted in a murder-suicide off Buford Highway;

·                                 And an incident where an officer was able to help a victim during a rape in progress at Wood Chase Apartments, and other officers assisted.

Addition awards were given for overall performance and to city members who have helped Norcross Police in different ways.

For the full list of awards and recipients, click here.

The 2012 sponsors include RockTenn, Thompson O'Brien Attorneys at Law, Advanced Disposal, Gas South, Bleu House Cafe, Stop the Clock Photo, Rushton & Company, the Gwinnett Braves, the Gwinnett Gladiators, Norcross First United Methodist Church, Ace Trucking, Norcross Lions Club, Jane Holbrook, and Al and Barbara Karnitz.

http://norcross.patch.com

Norcross Job Alert: Sept. 4

Norcross-area businesses are looking for catering drivers, maintenance technicians and more.

Gas prices are high and commuting is becoming more expensive. We want to help.

Check out the following jobs in the Norcross area.

Associate

Intertek Consumer Goods is looking for an Associate in the Norcross area. Associates are responsible for overseeing lab quality control, data analysis, client storyline packaging and more. Applicants must have exceptional analytical skills and a logical, linear thought process. A bachelor's degree in arts or science is required, but an engineering degree is prefered. Full benefits are offered in addition to 401k and paid time off. Apply for this position online.

Servers, Bartenders, Hosts

Oceans Bar & Grill are looking for experienced Servers, Bartenders and Hosts. Applicants should be outgoing, enthusiastic and customer-friendly. Availabilty on weeknights and weekends are a must. Apply in person at the Jimmy Carter restaurant Thursday through Monday, with specific details here.

Bilingual Maintenance Technician

An experienced Bilingual Maintenance Technician is wanted by Princeton Properties in the Norcross area. Applicants for the full-time position should have two years of multi-family maintenance experience; fluent in Spanish; must have their own tools; diagnostic and appliance repair skills; skills in plumbing, boiler, electrical, carpentry and painting; and more. Full benefits, a 401k and paid time off is offered. Check out the online post for more information on this position.

Catering Drivers, Food Production

Corner Bakery Cafe in Peachtree Corners is looking for Catering Drivers and Food Production. Applicants must pass a motor vehicle report, review food prep sheets, prepare and deliver food orders, and more. Complete compensation and a benefits package is offered to employees. For more details, click here.

Festival Workers

The Peachtree Corners Art Fest is looking for Festival Workers. Different paid positions will cover setup, the information booth, cleanup and more. Compensation is $6 per hour. Sign up for this position online.

Is your company hiring? Announce it in Norcross Patch's Classifieds.

http://norcross.patch.com

Indian Trail Hardware in Norcross, Georgia Adds U-Haul Rentals

NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Angel Alonso, owner of Indian Trail Hardware, located at 1155 Indian Trail Rd., recently added U-Haul truck and trailer rentals to the home improvement/hardware business he has been operating since 1990.

Families needing the finest in moving services now will have increased convenience and a shorter distance to travel when moving, which not only will make their move easier but also will have the positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. U-Haul partnering with business owners across North America to increase convenience for customers while helping our environment is just one of the programs that support U-Haul Company's Corporate Sustainability initiatives.

Indian Trail Hardware can now offer its customers a variety of moving equipment and supplies designed specifically for moving household furnishings, including moving vans, open trailers, closed trailers, furniture pads, appliance dollies, furniture dollies, tow dollies and auto transports. Indian Trail Hardware also will offer sales items to protect their customers' belongings and make moving easier, such as heavy-duty boxes, which are made of up to 90 percent recycled content and are available in a variety of sizes.

"We were dealers previously and wanted to reunite our business with the surrounding customers moving in and out of the neighborhood," Alonso said. "The home improvement-hardware store makes a perfect fit with the do-it-yourself mover."

"U-Haul is proud to be partnering with a quality independent business such as Indian Trail Hardware," exclaimed John Brick, president, U-Haul Company of Central Georgia. "Angel is a great example of the type of successful business relationship U-Haul has established in order to build and maintain a strong network of more than 15,000 independent dealers across North America."

For more information, or to rent your moving equipment today, call 770-806-6634. Business hours of operation are: Mon. – Sat. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Resources:

·                      Georgia fun facts and educational information for kids, parents, and teachers: http://www.uhaul.com/SuperGraphics/46/Venture-Across-America-and-Canada-Modern/Georgia!

·                      U-Haul caring about the future and our environment:  http://www.uhaul.com/About/Sustainability

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About U-Haul

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel-efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100% biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others atuhaul.com/sustainability.

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the choice for the do-it-yourself mover. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the Company to maintain the largest rental fleet in the do-it-yourself moving industry which includes trucks, trailers and towing devices. U-Haul also offers storage throughout North America. The Company provides industry leading moving and storage boxes and an extended line of packing supplies to protect customer possessions. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket. The Company supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard grills as one of the nation's largest retailers of propane.

Contact: Joanne Fried Kelie Hale U-Haul Public Relations (602) 263-6194 (602) 263-6772 fax

SOURCE U-Haul

Norcross Arts Center Looking for Student Design Team

An outdoor sculpture made of salvaged telephones is planned for downtown, but the Norcross Arts Center is asking for design help from students in Gwinnett.

Calling all art groups and students!

Norcross Arts Center Director Lori Sturgess is searching for students in the Gwinnett area to work on outdoor sculptures to be placed downtown.

Students would help Sturgess design a piece of art made from salvaged AT&T phones and phone parts, which she and Sustainable Norcross saved from a Cemetery Street home last year.

The arts director kept onto the pieces for a year and a half until she found a way to recycle the outdated materials.

"The concept of creating a series of outdoor sculptures out of all these parts was born, and the proposal was created by artists meeting at the Norcross Arts Center," wrote Sturgess in a call-out flyer for students.

The group of students, led by either a parent, mentor or teacher, would meet with Sturgess to have a design charrette and shell out ideas on the sculpture for one month. Sturgess herself then would execute the 3D design and install the sculptures in Heritage Park, the walkway area betweenNorcross City Hall and The Nest. After several months, the work would eventually move permanently to The Nest grounds at 17 College St.

Sturgess said she aims to have all the sculptures completed by December before it gets too cold. Students will be given credit as a team, and certificates of participation also will be presented in a formal ceremony.

For those interested in helping out or for questions about the project, contact Lori Sturgess at 678-429-3005 or lori.sturgess@gmail.com.

http://norcross.patch.com