My heart goes out to the victims of Hurricane Irene. I feel your pain. (And I promise not ask this inane question: Why would you live/rebuild where hurricanes can hit? I’ve been to Vermont. I know why you live there.) Six years ago, when the federal levee system failed in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina,…
I didn't even know how much I loved old covered bridges until I saw this video of one washing away during Hurricane Irene, and I cried! It was built in the 1870s. This is what Kathy's Remodeling Blog is all about, treasuring and restoring our heritage, our past, our history. I can't believe how emotional…
This post ran previously on Kathy’s Remodeling Blog, but it’s good to repeat now, following Hurricane Irene: Just the other day, someone posted a comment on this blog saying his company’s website listed FEMA-approved contractors looking for work. FEMA, as you probably know, is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which steps in after disasters. The…
Who could have predicted this? I'm not referring to radical climate change exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels. Scientists have been telling us about this for decades. There is no real question about this. If you're not into science, however, then the research and conclusions of the vast majority of scientists won't mean much.…
With a hurricane on the way, you have a long list of things you wish you’d done earlier. They include: • Installed some kind of shutters or hurricane-resistant windows • Bought a generator to avoid the long lines at Home Depot or Lowe’s • Bought a small air conditioner and small refrigerator to run off…
This is brilliant benevolence. The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans has teamed up with Catholic Charities to raffle off boots decorated by celebrities, chefs, sports figures, politicians and others to benefit victims of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The raffle happens Sept. 17 to 19 at the inaugural launch…
From Builder Magazine: Who will rebuild Haiti and provide permanent shelter for the ravaged country’s now estimated one million homeless people? InnoVida, a Miami-based building materials manufacturer, says it can–just not with the standard residential combination of steel, concrete, and wood. Instead, the company is donating houses made with a product it debuted at last month’s…
Just the other day, someone posted a comment on this blog saying his company's website listed FEMA-approved contractors looking for work. FEMA, as you probably know, is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which steps in after disasters. The only trouble with directing homeowners toward a list of FEMA-approved contractors is that there is no such…
As you have seen on CNN.com and other news-gathering sites, the hills above Santa Barbara are ablaze once again, and the fire is threatening to sweep down into the city. Climate change is here and we must respond by building and remodeling our homes to face weather-related problems. The easy days of thoughtless building practices are…
Not too long ago, I came home from my evening walk to find the power in the neighborhood was out. Did I panic? I did not, thanks to various bits of technology. I sat in my favorite chair with three items not immediately dependent on the power grid: my cellphone, my laptop computer and my…