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The article reports on the way in which the real-estate developer Aaron Hirseh and his wife Angela converted the century-old Glen Echo church into their home.Their efforts at the interior designing and the alterations and changes to the structure are mentioned. Photographs of their home is also presented.

The article reports on the growing number of American homeowners who are spending an estimated 26 billion dollars on remodeling and repairs in the U.S. in 1974. It mentions that homeowners are remodeling in the said year because remodeling costs are jumping fast as well as home improvement loans are easy to come by and offer up to 90% of the equity in the house. It outlines the major jobs in remodeling such as replacing a roof, finishing an attic, adding a room, and redoing a kitchen.

The article presents several case studies related to cabin preservation in the U.S. Restorations include the former overnight camp in Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, a Vintage Lake Samish cabin in Washington and the transformation of a hewn timber granary into a house which later became a company office. Restoration tips from restoration expert Mark D. Johnson are also offered.

The article focuses on an incident where flood caused damage to homes in the West Virginia area including its Greenbrier County in which several people lost their lives. It mentions Mykala Phillips was the last flood victim and the Neighbors Loving Neighbors, a non-profit organization owned by politician Jim Justice, raised money for flood relief. It also mentions Justice used organization's money to pay for the repairs of homes, according to Habibi Mamone, resident of Greenbrier county.

The article presents the home-improvement design winners in the Master Design Awards 2012 in the U.S. It notes the gold winners in the award which include Architectural Resource LLC, Monarch Renovations, and Signature Interiors. It also mentions the silver and bronze winners of the competition which include Custom Design and Construction, CG&S Design-Build, and PMD Development LLC. A brief overview of the characteristics of the design is also provided.

The article focuses on the essential role of remodelers in providing people with special needs with comfortable and functional homes to improve the quality of their life in the U.S. It notes that remodeling for people with disabilities needs education to help remodelers understand and meet the special needs of their clients. It mentions the Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP) course which exemplifies the principles of equitable use, intuitive use, and low physical effort.

The article reports on the survey of assisted housing managers across the U.S. concerning their budget and management challenges. It shows that 95% of respondents consider increasing maintenance and repair needs as their top budget concern, followed by the rising contractor and personnel costs. It indicates that site managers are solving their biggest challenge involving maintenance issues by becoming more proactive about preventive maintenance.

The article features the top 200 contractors in the U.S. who clients should contact for home repair or renovation. The list includes Arlington Heating & Air Conditioning, Cascades Comfort Services and Chandler's Plumbking & Heating. It offers information about the six things that they should know about maintaining and installing hardwood floors. The author also suggests minor remodeling than big upscale renovation since it has better returns on investment.

The article offers tips on how a property management company prepares an apartment in three days in the U.S. It suggests the company to consult its records by sending out its renewal notices. It is advised to merge its orders for those items which should be replaced. It is also recommended to have proper planning for repairing, cleaning, and replacing.

The article focuses on the mortgage crisis in the U.S. The federal government has allotted billions of dollars to reverse the damage caused by the mortgage crisis, but according to the author, speculators from Wallstreet are worsening the situation by flipping property. Efforts to revitalize the property market by repairing and renting homes are stalled because banks are not lending for the fixing of the homes. The author adds that the financial industry has done no help but squeeze more money from the mortgage providers.

The article discusses several steps for documenting rehabilitation and repair costs to secure approval of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to manage sites. Securing and using a work order form to document the need for the repair or rehabilitation is considered a must. Written bids from at least three contractors or suppliers are needed if the expected cost of the repair or rehabilitation project exceeds 10,000 U.S. dollar. A purchasing agent should issue an order to authorize the purchase of items or services.

The article provides information on how for-profit owners can recover the cost of repairing certain damages through a special claim for damages with U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD). It points out local HUD offices will accept a fully supported damage claim for an unsubsidized only if the termination is due to the household's failure to recertify. Only damage to a unit caused by the household's negligence is covered and HUD requires that the damage claims is submitted within 180 calendar days from the vacated unit is available for occupancy.

The article reports on the new rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on renovation, repair and painting of housing built prior to 1978. These rules require that homeowners should ensure that workers are trained and EPA-certified, that contractors and property managers should distribute brochures and keep records before starting the renovation, and that residents in the common area projects must be notified in advance. The EPA's definition of renovation is explained.

This article covers information related to home improvement in the U.S. ReStores are retail outlets run by Habitat for Humanity and sell new and used building products at a bargain price. Tips for reducing water use in the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom are given. The National Trust for Historic Preservation awards communities that are fighting to regain their individuality. The National Arbor Day Foundation published a hardiness zone map demonstrating the warm temperature of the country.

Reports on the increase of the sales of retailers in home improvement industry in the U.S. Reduction of interest rates; Number of stores added by Home Depot; Expansion of the construction services by BMHC.

Presents information on the summerhouse renovation project by decorator Thomas Jayne and architect Peter Pennoyer in Long Island, New York. Techniques used by the designers to increase light sources inside the house; Color schemes applied in the rooms; List of furnishings used to enhance the designs.

Provides information on a house owned by graphic designers Jessica Helfand and William Drenttel in Connecticut. History of the house; Design of the house; Details on the renovation of the house.

Features the renovated federal manor house of jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke and John Staelin in Clarke County, Virginia. Description of the manor house; Changes that were made in the interior of the house; Furniture used in decorating the renovated house.

Discusses the renovation of a 19th century farmhouse by its buyers, Howard Danelowitz and Mark Fisher in Columbia County, New York. Budget decided upon by buyers of the house; Indoor projects taken up by them; Requirements put forward by buyers to the architect Ed Klingler; Money saving tasks taken up by the men. INSET: FRONTIS PIECE.

The article presents tips on taking out a loan against the equity in one's house in the U.S. The S&P/Case-Shiller Home-Price Index indicates that home prices in the country decreased by an annual rate of 2.8% through May 2007. Many home-equity loans are used for financing household repairs and additions. The advantages offered by home-equity loans and other forms of credit are compared. INSET: Watch out for loan schemes that can imperil your home.

Presents various outdoor power equipment from member agencies of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). Benefits of the products; Focus of the 1998 Consumer Education Program of the OPEI; Safety recommendations in operating the equipment; TG1860G gas and TG1860 diesel models of Kubota Tractor Corporation; Walk-behind trimmers and mowers from Trim-A-Lawn company; Tecumseh Enduro or Briggs and Stratton engine from Swisher Mower and Machine Co. Inc.

Features the renovation of a house of couple Andrea and John Stark designed by interior decorator Penny Drue Baired in Westhampton, New York. Coziness of the bedroom; Style of the draperies; Elegance of the interior designs.

Features the English theme-renovated apartment developed by designer Brian McCarthy and architect Boris Baranovich in Manhattan, New York City. Furniture used in the living room; Type of paintings; Theme of the house.

The article warns the U.S. public against the unscrupulous home repair racketeers that victimize home owners in the country. These racketeers are victimizing people throughout the country in every branch of home repairs--electrical, heating and plumbing installations, painting and others. They have been cheating the public through their fraudulent model-house scheme, fake contracts, bait-switch advertising and other common frauds.

The article discusses how individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can affect Medicaid planning in the U.S. Medicaid has rules which limits asset transfers that create questionable poverty. IRA holders are advised to consult with an elder law attorney when they want Medicaid funding for long-term care. Also presented are ways to spend down an IRA, including the use of the money for bucket-list travel and home repairs.

The article offers advice on various topics such as housing, theater, and cash-or-deferred arrangement (CODA) in the U.S. It cites the book "The Old-House Journal New Compendum" which offers tips on what not to do in restoring and maintaining aged homes. Also, it cites David Landau of Murder To Go Inc. who has created a concept available for party fun. Meanwhile, it mentions the applicability of CODA which become part of employers' benefit plans.

The article focuses on development of affordable housing in the U.S. Topics discussed include gap between construction costs for building and their maintenance, reliance of developers on different sources of capital for covering costs of building, limited amount of tax credits and grants possessed by federal, state and local governments and project's net operating income (NOI) used by the lenders for calculation of payoff of developer's debt.

Last week it was pointed out that the government's meager housing program was due to its very meagerness, and that the inadequacy of its allotted funds was a gauge of the United States government's interest in it. An illustration of this statement is the recently suggested program for spending something like a billion dollars during the rest of 1934 on house renovations. That is how the government talks when it means business. There is nothing against house renovation as such, except when it is to restore a semblance of life to obsolete buildings that should be torn down.

The article reports on the services offered by the home-repair club Allied Homeowners' Association in the U.S. It mentions that the club is a group of repairmen who offer various services anytime in one call by repairing roof leakages, clogged drainage or a broken window. It also notes that the club consists of several plumbers, tree surgeons and swimming-pool pumpers.

This section offers news briefs on U.S. business and politics. The administration of U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower will release revised budget estimates for 1955. The U.S. Interagency Defense Mobilization Board decided not to allow fast amortization for defense plant modernization. The U.S. Department of Commerce will release a report on the spending patterns of American homeowners for home improvements and repairs, information that will valuable to contractors and home appliance manufacturers.

The article reports on the challenges faced by the U.S. homebuilding industry in 2013. It states that homeowners in the country are trying their best to maintain their homes and cut expenses during the recession. According to the author, the performance of the entire construction industry is badly affected by the declining economic performance of the country.

The article offers advice on making log homes in the U.S. last longer. It claims that a properly maintained log home has the potential to last hundreds of years. It suggests setting up a preventive maintenance program at the outset that involves protecting against sun and water. It also stresses that good design lasts a lifetime, like extending roof overhangs to keep rain, snow and sunlight away from walls. It also warns that weakened wood is vulnerable to fungi such as mold, sap stain and rot.

The article discusses the importance for home improvement contractors to understand the concept of housewraps in the U.S. Residential marketing manager Alan Hubbell of DuPont Building Innovations explains the requirement of the International Residential Code (IRC) regarding the need to use weather-resistant barrier and other water-management system behind all exterior cladding in homes. It also provides tips for contractors regarding the proper installation of housewraps to avoid problems.

The article offers guidelines on how to manage homeowners association members who avoid maintenance obligations in the U.S. According to community manager Kathryn Danella, establishing the maintenance standards under the governing documents is essential. The significance of sending a letter reminding members about their responsibilities is emphasized.

The article focuses on the benefits of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) retrofits in American houses. It says that the new system have reduced the visual and functional impact in the room and considered as highly energy efficient. It mentions that the integrated HVAC systems are small and flanged disks that are available in wood species matching the flooring or painted to coordinate with wall and ceiling treatments.

The article discusses some issues to consider to retrofit one's home and age comfortably in place. Leon Harper of the National Home Modification Action Coalition describes the typical American home as built for able-bodied young adults. It was mentioned that an aging-in-place program is one through which a dwelling is developed or retrofitted to meet the demands of an aging occupant. Bathrooms are usually targeted for aging-in-place and universal-design rehabilitations.

The article discusses the energy efficiency of log homes in the U.S. A study found that log homes outperform insulated framed houses in terms of energy efficiency. The author explains that there are several factors that influence the energy efficiency of log homes and these are design, housing location, construction methods and maintenance. It suggests that owners, producers and builders must consider these factors when planning and building the home.

The article reports on the need for quick inspections on apartment buildings to prevent insect infestations, bad odors or fire hazards. Ken Edmundson of the Ledic Management Group Inc. said that training maintenance staff to do inspections is a good way to detect the problems early. The article offers a checklist for the maintenance staff to follow when doing routine maintenance visits for inspections.