Windy City Painters response to water damage in a kitchen: Assessment and Inspection: Windy City Painters initiates the process by conducting a thorough assessment of the water damage in the kitchen. This involves inspecting the soffit above the kitchen cabinets and the side wall to identify the areas that require repair. The severity of the damage is carefully evaluated to determine the scope of the restoration. Insulation Replacement: In cases where water has damaged insulation, Windy City Painters removes and replaces the affected insulation to ensure proper restoration of the affected areas. This step is crucial for preventing future issues related to moisture and maintaining the integrity of the space. Drywall Replacement: Damaged drywall is carefully removed and replaced during the repair process. This includes removing sections of drywall that have been compromised by water, ensuring that the new drywall seamlessly integrates with the existing structure. Sealing Water Spots with Oil-Based Primer: To prevent any potential water stains from bleeding through the new paint, Windy City Painters applies an oil-based primer to seal water spots. This step not only ensures a smooth and uniform finish but also provides additional protection against future water damage. Cleaning and Restoration: After completing the repair work, Chicago painter takes the extra step of cleaning the entire area to ensure a neat and polished final result. This includes removing any debris or dust generated during the repair process, leaving the kitchen in a clean and presentable condition. Efficient Completion by Skilled Painter: Windy City Painters prides itself on efficiency, and the entire drywall repair job is completed within one day by a skilled painter. This quick turnaround minimizes disruptions to the homeowner's routine and allows for a prompt return to normalcy. Scheduling and Estimates: Customers looking to schedule an appointment or obtain an online estimate can easily do so by visiting the official website at www.windypainters.com. The user-friendly platform facilitates convenient scheduling and access to estimates. Customer Assurance and Reviews: Windy City Painters emphasizes customer satisfaction and provides the highest quality service. Potential customers are encouraged to check the company's 5-star reviews on Yelp ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/windy-city-painters-chicago-2) and Google, offering a glimpse into the positive experiences of previous clients. Windy City Painters offers a comprehensive and efficient drywall repair service, addressing water damage in kitchens with expertise, professionalism, and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

Schroeder Design/Build created seven different layout options and our clients selected an “L” shaped design that required removing a bearing wall. This allowed us to open up the kitchen area and create a laundry area that was formerly an under stair closet. The new kitchen features loads of counter space for working and cabinets and drawers for storage. Appliances were placed to maximize flow and prevent traffic jams. A well-planned layered light plan offers overhead, task and accent lighting throughout. The peninsula seating area allows the kids to sit and do homework or socialize while mom’s preparing meals. This kitchen remodel includes many special touches that make it perfectly suited for this family. The knee wall under the peninsula is tiled to prevent damage to the cabinets from accidental kicking while the kids sit on stools. There’s a niche behind the sink to add extra counter depth for plants.

Bath mats are vital elements in bathroom decor, beautifully blending style and functionality. These bath rugs offer essential moisture protection, ensuring your floors remain dry while providing slip prevention for safety. When choosing a bath mat, prioritize quality; look for options that are absorbent, comfortable, and add warmth to your space. Consider the size and proportion of the bath mat in relation to your tub and vanity. If you have a double vanity, you can select individual rugs for each sink or opt for a long runner rug for a cohesive appearance. Always measure your bathroom area to ensure a perfect fit, allowing enough space for doors to open freely. Durability is another crucial factor. Since bath mats frequently encounter water and foot traffic, choose rugs with a nonslip surface and rubber backing to enhance safety on wet floors. Many options are crafted from high-quality cotton, providing a soft texture and easy maintenance, as most are machine washable. However, some may require professional cleaning, so checking care instructions is advisable. Made with polyester, this multicoloured oriental print footmat is sure to add flair to your house. With it's Turkish roots, it is sophisticated and goes well with the latest trends. This piece is a practical accessory to enhance your aesthetics in budget.

The 3 Piece Bayside Sofa Set by Forever Patio (FP-BAY-3SS-SW) makes outdoor entertainment a delight with its ample seat space and contemporary design. The set seats 6 adults comfortably, and includes a sofa, a club chair, a loveseat, an end table with a Durawood top and a coffee table with a Durawood top. The Stone Wood wicker is made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), giving it variegated tones and tremendous durability. Each strand of wicker is infused with UV-inhibitors that prevent cracking, chipping and fading ordinarily caused by sunlight. Every piece is constructed with thick-gauged, powder-coated aluminum frames that make the set extremely durable and corrosion resistant. Also included with the set are cushions covered in fade- and mildew-resistant Sunbrella® fabric, available in a wide selection of colors. Order any of the Quick Ship fabrics and not only will your order ship in 7-10 business days, you will also receive an accent pillow for each seat! Set includes: one (1) sofa with cushions, one (1) club chair with cushions and one (1) coffee table. Features: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) all-weather wicker is infused with UV inhibitors that prevent fading and cracking ordinarily caused by sunlight. Thick-gauged, powder-coated aluminum frame offers long lasting durability and rust resistance. High-density, watertight Durawood table top with UV inhibitors is fade-resistant and easy to maintain. Sunbrella® cushion covers provide unmatched fade, moisture and mildew resistance, and can be easily unzipped for cleaning. Plush, overstuffed cushions are made from quick-drying polyurethane foam wrapped in moisture and mildew-eliminating Dacron fibers. Full-sized design provides deep, comfortable seating. Compare dimensions to lesser brands to see the difference! Removable suspension seating provides additional comfort and easy maintenance Designed to match the entire Bayside Collection. Call to build your own custom set.

Nicolock oyster blend rustico pavers being sealed in Huntington NY 11743. The sealing process begins with pressure washing the entire patio, removing all dirt/debris from the stone surface and in between the joints. Next, Nexgel Techniseal synthetic sand is applied in between the pavers joints and vibrated with a mechanical plate compactor. The plate compactor has rubber rollers to prevent the stones from cracking or scratching. This vibrating process allows the sand to fall in between the joints and density. Then, we clean the pavers with brooms and landscape blowers, to clean the excess sand from the pavers surface and to evenly spread the sand in between the pavers joints. The next step is to wash the pavers by misting water to penetrate the synthetic sand into the paver joints all the way down below the pavers. The sand and water activate a chemical reaction of the pollen that’s in the sand to cause the sand to harden. Finally, the application of the sealer, two parts components urethane dealer, specially formulated for Gappsi, is applied to the pavers surface and the sand joints to prevent stones from staining, extend their life cycle and further enhance their texture, color, and surface. Call Gappsi at 631-543-1177 for any cleaning, sealing, paver driveways/patio restoration and repairs in Huntington Bay NY.

$369.99 Eago TB346 has it all. Sleek modern design, slow close seat, dual flush system, WaterSense certification at a truly great price! Every EAGO toilet features ULTRAGLAZE which created a super smooth ionized barrier that prevents bacteria, mold, and debris from adhering to ceramic surfaces. ULTRAGLAZE lines the trap channels of the toilet to prevent blockages and naturally assist with flushing. EAGO’s EASY-FIT rough-in adapter system simplifies the installation process of the skirted designed toilet. Model TB346 One-Piece Siphonic Dual Flush Toilet Water Consumption: 1.1/1.6 GPF / 4/6 LPF Rough-In: 12″ / 305mm Certification: cUPC / WaterSense Size: 27 7/8″ x 15 1/8″ x 27 7/8″ Eago Toilets | Modern Bathware Inc. | eago@modernbathware.com | 416-561-2430 or Toll Free 1-800-492-3980

Ann Betten
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Baltimore.

Ann Betten
This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Baltimore.

2010 NARI CAPITAL COTY MERIT AWARD WINNER Baby boomers residing in this single-family colonial in Mclean, Virginia, wanted to make big changes indoors and out. First, they were tired of their back yard and old wooden deck. The neighboring lot sloped steeply downward, creating significant run-off that prevented any semblance of a lawn or landscaping from taking hold. Worse, it prevented the couple from letting their grandchildren or dog out to play. To address the issue, Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes excavated their entire yard so it was level. Then they designed and built a 5’ x 40’ retaining wall covered with ledger stone to separate the lots, installing an underground drainage system to keep runoff away from a new flagstone patio and surrounding plants and shrubs. Above the stone patio is a large no-maintenance deck reached via a wide stairway with matching railing. A 12’ x 18’ screened in porch sits to one side featuring cedar beaded ceiling panels and French doors that lead into the home’s dining room. Highlighting the interior renovations is a new gourmet kitchen with a custom-made wood cabinets and exotic granite countertops. The room’s focal point is a large island with a two-tier countertop and bar seating. Professional-grade stainless steel appliances include a gas cooktop, double-wall ovens, built-in microwave and dishwasher and large refrigerator. Other features include a porcelain tile floor, tile backsplash and a tray ceiling. A new master bathroom features floor-to-ceiling cabinets, a dark marble countertop and his and hers sinks. Contrasting light-colored marble floor and wall tile leads to a glass-enclosed shower. An adjoining walk-in closet completes the design.

Baylen is 9 years old and was diagnosed at age 6 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in October 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. DMD is a rare disease caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the body from producing a protein called Dystrophin, to which there is currently no cure. In lieu of Dystrophin, his muscles are slowly being encompassed with scar tissue. Without Dystrophin the scar tissue will eventually take over his muscles until they cannot perform adequately for his body. Since his diagnosis, he has taken to lego building and gaming, which are activities he can participate in without causing any damage to his muscles. Unfortunately the game room in his house is located upstairs while his room is located downstairs making it difficult for him to participate in these activities without assistance or pain from walking up the stairs. One of the biggest issues is at night, when his legs are in pain, he ends up in his parents room which prevents anyone from getting a restful night's sleep. A room where he feels comfortable and safe would greatly help both him and his parents. It would also be beneficial for his room to have more space for lego building and play video games without having to walk up the stairs.

Photo: Jordana Nicholson © 2016 Houzz
Example of a country home design design in Kansas City

Always make sure that the air ducts for your air conditioner are checked periodically to clean out the dirt that builds up as the dirty vents can strain the HVAC system and affect the indoor air quality. Read the blog for detailed information.

AirField installed an AirPave grass fire lane for their porous flexible paving at Baptist Trinity Residential Hospice, creating a beautiful, functional, ecological friendly solution to facility access. An installation of an AirField Systems grass fire lane at Baptist Trinity Residential Hospice brings green building benefits and incredible strength to a beautiful new facility. A time lapse photo series highlight the installation process of the 6,747 PSI sand filled 100% recycled geocell technology, providing the strength of asphalt and concrete while relieving some of the burden of costly storm sewers and drainage. This new installation highlights the benefits of paving with grass, as well as the comparative ease of installation. Concrete and asphalt surfaces occupy twice the area of buildings and are the most detrimental to clean water. Concrete and asphalt surfaces dominate the landscape of our urban environments and prevent rainwater from being filtered naturally. They send harmful polluted water straight into our streams, rivers and lakes. In urban America, concrete and asphalt pavements produce two thirds of our excess water runoff. They are responsible for significant hydrocarbon pollutants on our ground and in our water, causing ground water decline, and resulting in local water shortages. These concrete and asphalt surfaces also create huge increases in temperature known as the urban “heat island effect”. The pollution caused by impervious surfaces deteriorate the quality of our storm water runoff and create large overflows that our storm sewer systems cannot handle. It is also important to realize that the urban forest force is drastically diminishing, causing CO2 levels to rise, which in turn causes global warming. With all the negative influences of impervious pavements now is the time to turn our attention to alternatives for the benefit of the environment. From fire lanes, overflow, and event parking, to temporary and stadium parking, reinforced grass parking systems deliver the same strength and durability of asphalt and concrete without the negative affects mentioned above. These incredibly strong geocells reinforce grass parking, prevent rutting from traffic, protect turf roots, and promote beautiful grass. Reinforced grass parking structures, also know as grass pavements, enhance the environment by naturally filtering auto and truck liquids such as oil drippings, antifreeze overflows and many other leaks and spills. They also help with air pollutants after they have been knocked to the ground by rainwater and greatly reduce hot surface temperatures thus fighting global warming and the “heat island effect”. Grass pavements allow our groundwater to be naturally replenished, the roots of trees to breathe, and they help our streams and rivers flow cleanly in dry hot summers. A large part of the solution to urban environmental problems is under our feet. By paying appropriate attention to the everyday materials on which we walk and drive, we can replenish renewable resources, restore the natural regenerative processes, and produce a cleaner, healthier, safer, more sustainable world in which we must live. Porous pavements are potentially the most important development in urban watersheds since the invention of storm sewers. By routing rainwater directly into the earth as nature intended, the need for costly storm water structures can be drastically reduced. Reinforced grass parking has built in permeable spaces through which water and air can pass. Although some porous paving materials are nearly indistinguishable from nonporous materials in construction and superficial appearance, their environmental effects are qualitatively exponential. They allow air, water and heat to dissipate into the environment naturally helping to save the planet. AirField reinforced grass parking provides beauty and comfort, and with the unbeatable price and performance of AirDrain you can’t go wrong. AirDrain is the reinforced grass pave system the industry has trusted for years !!! Airfield Systems, LLC 8028 North May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-359-3775 Installer – GREENPRO Landscapes Kevin James 9847 Stewart Rd Arlington, TN 38002

UltraMedia featured in Electronic House magazine: "Reaching this point of acoustical nirvana required plenty of calculations, CAD drawings and calibration, says Mike Brock of custom electronics design and installation firm UltraMedia, Richardson, Texas. His company worked directly with the manufacturer—Auralex—to make sure every inch of wall surface, both inside and out, was covered with the perfect type and amount of acoustical material. “We sent the room dimensions and the planned locations of the video projector, speakers and other equipment to the engineers at Auralex,” Brock explains. Using this information, the company was able to specify products and determine their proper placement. “This was the first time where I actually had the manufacturer come down and take an active role in the project and it really worked to everyone’s advantage,” Brock continues. Home-Theater-Wolf-Projector.jpg Auralex’s help with the design of the acoustical treatments afforded Brock the time to implement other sound-enhancing solutions. For example, he filled the hollow metal legs of the bar with sand to prevent them from resonating during loud passages in movie soundtracks. A thick, heavily padded carpet was added, and the general contractor constructed the shell of the room with sound-reducing drywall and installed a solid core door to prevent audio from seeping out into other areas of the house. Lastly, the sound system was calibrated. Unlike many acoustically treated theaters, where the speakers are installed within the walls and covered with special fabric, in this room UltraMedia kept the nine Vienna Acoustic speakers completely exposed. The front three Vienna Acoustics Klimt Music speakers (as well as two REL sub bass units) were positioned on the floor, and the back six speakers were mounted to the surface of the walls. “The cherry in this theater are the Klimts,” says Brock. “We really dialed them in for the best possible sound.” By “dialing in,” Brock means using his and his team’s critical listening skills to position the speakers properly, then using the Integra receiver’s built-in Audyssey technology (a combination of sophisticated software and microphones) to calibrate the speakers to compensate for any acoustical anomalies. The end result: audio perfection." Photo credit: UltraMedia, Inc.

Heated valley and eave to prevent ice buildup and damage.
Gray one-story wood exterior home photo in Salt Lake City

Erika Bierman Photography
Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Los Angeles

THEME The main theme for this room is an active, physical and personalized experience for a growing boy. This was achieved with the use of bold colors, creative inclusion of personal favorites and the use of industrial materials. FOCUS The main focus of the room is the 12 foot long x 4 foot high elevated bed. The bed is the focal point of the room and leaves ample space for activity within the room beneath. A secondary focus of the room is the desk, positioned in a private corner of the room outfitted with custom lighting and suspended desktop designed to support growing technical needs and school assignments. STORAGE A large floor armoire was built at the far die of the room between the bed and wall.. The armoire was built with 8 separate storage units that are approximately 12”x24” by 8” deep. These enclosed storage spaces are convenient for anything a growing boy may need to put away and convenient enough to make cleaning up easy for him. The floor is built to support the chair and desk built into the far corner of the room. GROWTH The room was designed for active ages 8 to 18. There are three ways to enter the bed, climb the knotted rope, custom rock wall, or pipe monkey bars up the wall and along the ceiling. The ladder was included only for parents. While these are the intended ways to enter the bed, they are also a convenient safety system to prevent younger siblings from getting into his private things. SAFETY This room was designed for an older child but safety is still a critical element and every detail in the room was reviewed for safety. The raised bed includes extra long and higher side boards ensuring that any rolling in bed is kept safe. The decking was sanded and edges cleaned to prevent any potential splintering. Power outlets are covered using exterior industrial outlets for the switches and plugs, which also looks really cool.

Ann Betten
Photo of a traditional landscaping in Baltimore.

This project is a great example of how the different divisions under Provost Companies can come together to create exceptional results for this construction project in Wellesley, MA. This project consists of the initial site work including, excavating and re-grading the property to improve drainage and access. Our construction division was tasked with replacing some of the exterior siding and installing a new deck on the home. To provide more value to the client we installed waterproof taping on the top of all our joists to help prevent moisture from entering. We leave the bottom and side open so it can breathe. This prevents moisture from falling directly into the inevitable splits (specifically at the top of the joist where it will take direct rain and water infiltration) that occur in PT lumber. This wasn’t our idea, and we aren’t taking credit for it, it’s just a best practice we follow to provide more value to the client. Yes, using steel joists is a superior solution but steel is often outside of the budget. Our landscape construction team was tasked with re-grading the yard, installing a bluestone patio and fieldstone retention wall.