|
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
HUD Names Savannah a 'Preserve America' City
At a City Hall ceremony Monday, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young awarded Savannah the designation of a Preserve America Community. Joining HUD Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young was Savannah Mayor Otis S. Johnson, Alderman Van Johnson, as well as members of the Coastal Heritage Society, the Historic Savannah Foundation, and other local leaders.
"When we cooperate and work together for the common good, good things happen, and this is one of a series of good things happening in our community," Johnson said.
Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. First Lady Laura Bush is the honorary chair of Preserve America.
Mr. Young cited the City's commitment to preservation in its comprehensive plan, and strong partnerships with the Coastal Heritage Society and Historic Savannah Foundation while marking the designation in Council Chambers.
"Preserve America communities, neighborhoods, and grant recipients know the importance of historic preservation to the economic, educational, aesthetic, and cultural life of America, as well as to their residents, their visitors, and especially to their children," said HUD Atlanta Regional Director Bob Young. "The citizens of Savannah, Georgia, do a great job of preserving and promoting their heritage."
Savannah was a pioneer in historic preservation in America, establishing the county's largest urban National Historic Landmark District in 1955. The Davenport House, the catalyst for that effort, was given the Preserve America Presidential Award in 2005.
The Historic Savannah Foundation's revolving fund has been a national model for saving and rehabilitating endangered historic buildings.
The City's comprehensive plan includes an entire chapter dealing with sustaining its cultural and historic resources, and calls for creating design guidelines for historic neighborhoods and for rehabilitating domestic, commercial and industrial sites for affordable housing. Savannah is home to more than 20 museums, sharing its heritage with visitors and residents alike.
One recent partnership with the Coastal Heritage Society involves archaeology, preservation and interpretation of Battlefield Park, which includes 14 historic railroad structures and a Revolutionary War battlefield. The Roundhouse Railway Museum, a National Historic Landmark, is on this 25-acre site. Archaeologists have located the site of the original fortification and a historically based redoubt has been constructed to help interpret the battle. Residents have approved $14 million in sales tax funding for preservation projects at Battlefield Park.
Smarter Gardening for Curb Appeal
Click Here
HURRICANE ESSENTIALS: How-To Board Windows
As a hurricane approaches, protecting your home becomes a priority. One of the most vulnerable areas for damage are the windows, so it is essential to consider installing boards. Often the task of boarding windows takes quite a bit of time. And when a hurricane is approaching, time is of the essence.
There are 2 options when boarding windows: attaching directly to the structure or attaching using clips.
Design Considerations
Most building codes don’t include provisions for storm shutters. Those few that do have design requirements only if shutters are provided. According to these codes, shutters should deflect less than the shutter span (in inches) divided by 30 (for instance, a 40-inch span should not bend more than 40/30 = 1.33 inches when the wind blows).
They also should bend less than 2 inches maximum and should remain at least one inch away from the window when under full wind force.
The easiest designs are those that simply cover the opening with a structural panel. In wood-frame construction, panels can be nailed over the openings when a hurricane approaches. Buildings made with concrete blocks require advance preparation.
In some cases, stiffeners may be necessary to limit deflection of the shutter against the glass. Stiffeners function best if the 2 x 4s are on the outside of the shutter and oriented with the narrow edge against the shutter.
Note: The shutter design shown here will provide significant protection from hurricane-force winds. This serves as a guide only. It does not include all possible shutter, anchor and fastening systems and the installer must adjust all dimensions to compensate for particular installations and hardware used. These shutter designs by no means represent all possible workable designs and can always be upgraded to provide even greater margins of safety and protection. All shutter designs herein are intended to be temporary, and mounted and removed from outside the building. All designs are based on wind pressure capacities only.
This APA hurricane shutter design is based on pressures associated with a design wind speed of 120 mph.
Building codes are currently being reviewed for possible changes. Before constructing shutters, therefore, it is important to check with your local building department for an update on current code requirements.
Using Window Clips
To help ease the process and to cut time, there is a product available that can make boarding easier and more effective: PLYLOX™ window clips.
Some facts about window clips:
• Available in a variety of economical package sizes and quantities.
• Clips securely attach to 1/2" plywood which the fits into exterior window casings. No special tools, caulking, adhesives or glue required. Install and remove with one person.
• Clips create rigid, safe, temporary attachment of plywood to brick, wood, or stucco window casings. No nails,
screws, bolts or brackets will permanently damage your property.
• Clips require no drilling into your home or window casings
• Clips hold plywood sheets in window casings as well or better than any hardware available today.
• Clips are rugged and will last year after year. If you move, take them with you.
Measuring Plywood for Clips
Work left-to-right, floor-by-floor. Measure each window casing and record each measurement. When using clips, EXACT measurements are essential to the plywood and the clips fitting firmly into the spaces. Small errors can lead to recutting the plywood. When using clips, the true height should be the measured height from top to bottom of the casing minus one quarter inch. The true width should be the measured width from side to side of the casing minus one quarter inch. This will give the needed eighth inch clearance all the way around the entire window for a snug fit.
Installing the Clips
• Place the clips on each plywood cover (if the window is 24”x24” or smaller, only two clips are needed).
- Each clip should be placed on the edge of the plywood cover no more than 24 inches apart.
- Make sure the tension legs are facing towards you.
• Push the plywood covers with the clip tension legs to the outside firmly into the casing.
• Clips work as well in round windows as they do in rectangular windows. You can adjust the number of clips used to account for different shapes and sizes of windows.
Removal of Boards with Clips
• Press in on the plywood.
• Put you finger behind the tension leg and pull the tension leg towards you. Work with the clips on one side of the plywood sheet. (A screwdriver can help)
• As the tension legs are pulled away from the brick the plywood sheet comes right out. Carefully remove the plywood sheet from the window. For large sheets of plywood you may need a helper.
• Remove clips from plywood and store in a dry place.
• Store the plywood for re-use.
Anchoring the boards to Tapcons
• Work left-to-right, floor-by-floor. Measure each window casing and record each measurement.
• When attaching with Tapcons, 5 inches needs to be added to BOTH the height and width so there is sufficient coverage around the window frame.
• Now that your plywood is measured and cut, you’ll need screws, masonry anchors and large washers.
• Drill holes 2 1 /2 inches from the outside edge of the plywood at each corner and at 12-inch intervals.
• Place the plywood over the opening and mark each hole position on the outside wall.
• Drill holes with the appropriate size and type of bit for the anchors. Install the anchors, the plywood, and the bolts to make sure they fit properly.
• On wood-frame houses, make sure that the anchors are secured into the solid wood that frames the door or window and not into the siding or trim.
• Mark each board so you will know where it is to be installed and store them and the bolts in an accessible place.
Installing Polycarbonate Panels
Now, there is an alternative to plywood that is not only 60% lighter but also provides natural light into your home when power is out and indoor lighting is unavailable.
You’ll need to first make sure your window coverings are strong enough to keep your windows intact. Because most home building codes don’t cover this issue, the proper standards of covering strength are not common knowledge.
Polycarbonate panels are 200 times stronger than glass and they have been approved by the Florida Building Code and the Texas Department of Insurance. They also come with a 10 year limited warranty. These panels are significantly stronger than plywood and they are less likely to allow projectiles to break through your windows and into your home.
Installing Polycarbonate Panels
• To help ease the process and to cut time, there is an installation kit containing all of the parts you need to install a panel. Also, each polycarbonate sheet has large scale instructions attached to the board.
• Work left-to-right, floor-by-floor. Measure each window casing and record each measurement.
• When attaching panels, 8 inches needs to be added to BOTH the height and width so there is sufficient coverage around the window frame.
• Using your measurements, mark off the panel and cut using a circular saw. Since the edges may be rough, sand them using 100 or 120 grit sandpaper.
• Mark holes 6 inches from the end of the panel for each corner. Equally space the remaining holes from the center of each side with a maximum of 14 inches between each hole.
• Drill holes at each of those marks.
• Place the board over the opening and mark each hole position on the outside wall.
• Using a hammer drill, drill holes in the structure using a masonry drill bit.
• Insert the tapcons into the holes and place a washer over each Tapcon.
• Place the polycarbonate over the washers. Secure the polycarbonate using washered wingnuts.
Don’t forget to mark each piece of polycarbonate that you have cut so you will know where it is to be installed and so you can use it again. Your windows are now protected against the damaging winds of hurricanes. Remember to save and store all materials you have used in case you would like to use them again in a future storm.
Materials/Products:
Recommended Items Item Number
1⁄2 inch plywood 12192
2 x 4 inch wood strips
Bertha Polycarbonate Storm Panel 62215, 64135
Bertha/EMS Clear Wall Panel 81 Piece Hardware Kit 64024
Plylox Clips 136077
Circular Saw 136556
Large Washers 68882
Black & Decker 24 V Hammer Drill 136533
5/32 Tapcon Drill Bit or 3/16 Tapcon Drill Bit
2 inch Coarse Thread Drywall Screws 60038
3/16 or 1⁄4 Inch Width by 2 1⁄4 or 2 3⁄4 Length Tapcons 74247, 79367, 55086
Tape Measure
Screwdriver/Nutdriver
Permanent Marker and Paper
Find more helpful tips and How To guides on lowes.com/howto
Prepare your home. Protect your family. These “How-To’s” are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Lowe’s Customer Handouts © are a Lowe’s Marketing Publication. © 2006 All rights reserved.
*********************************************************************************************************************************** |