Ken Gillespie Photography/Getty ImagesHardwood floors are considered a timeless style and can be used in any room of your home. Butthe simple elegance and durability of hardwooddoesnt comecheap.

How much do hardwood floors cost?Hardwood floors can be pricey, especially when compared with other flooring types. In fact, the average cost of covering a 250-square-foot area is $2,300.

Before you install hardwood, the floor must be properly prepared for the new surface. Most homeowners have to factor in and budget for the prep work of a new hardwood floor.

First, old flooring must be removed and disposed of. Then, the floor has to be prepared with a subfloor the bottom-most layer of a floor before mounting the hardwood to it.

From the wood type to wood finish and all manner of decorative detail and patterns, there are multiple decisions when it comes to choosing hardwood flooring. Deciding on the hardwood floors you want is as much about the aesthetic as it is about how much you want to spend.

For example, engineered hardwood, or flooring manufactured out of wood veneer, is relatively inexpensive and highly durable but usually not as attractive as solid hardwood.

Choosing a solid wood floor provides a more natural feel and is easier to sand, stain and finish to your specifications. However, some solid woods are not as durable and may dent or scratch easily. Its important to consider how much wear and tear your floors will receive before making a final decision.

Whether youre installing hardwood floors on your own or hiring a contractor, there are some additional materials you may need to complete the project.

Adding borders and step detailing are extra costs but are usually necessary for completing the installation against walls or in adjoining doorways.

In addition, you will need to consider the cost of disposing of your old flooring. If youre working with a contractor, this cost will be rolled into your final bill. If youre doing the removal yourself, you will need to dispose of the old floor yourself.

While you may never be able to wholly recreate the look and craftsmanship of a professional flooring job, there are ways to save money and still have flooring that looks good and holds up over time.

However, installing hardwood flooring on your own comes with its own hefty investment of sweat equity.

Even so, some homeowners feel that investing their own labor into the project is worth the financial savings of paying for a professional flooring company.

Installation of traditional hardwood flooring can be contracted out to a professional flooring company that will provide the materials, prep work and labor for completing your flooring job.

The cost for each component is rolled into the final bill that you can pay as a lump sum or in installments.

If youre looking for high quality flooring that will last for years, you should consider the expense of hiring a professional flooring company.

Not only does professional installers have the experience and equipment necessary to install flooring, but they also have access to better quality flooring materials than average consumers do not.

While hardwood floors come with a sizable price tag, their durability make them a worthwhile home investment if youve got the budget to splurge.

To be sure, they will improve your property value and be a selling point to any potential buyer, should you decide to sell your home.

Costs can vary widely, depending on which type of wood you choose and whether you decide to do the project yourself or contract with a professional flooring company.

See more here:
How much do hardwood floors cost? - Bankrate.com

Noise is the hard sound caused from various sources. The noise from the industrial equipment, noise in the industries, from society noise and even from the neighbors all are considered to be the prominent factors contributing to the noise pollution. The introduction of acoustic materials for the acoustic products facilitates the users to reduce the noise levels in the premises. The construction sites, transportation and other internal and external factors produce sound adding to the noise pollution. The acoustic floor is the different floor or carpet used in such a way that it can control and reduce the noise levels in the area by absorbing the sound waves. The increasing demand for the industrial applications and growing awareness among the people about the severity of the noise pollution are few of the causes for the steady increase in the request of the acoustic floor market in the forecast period. Acoustic floors control the transmission of noise and vibration. Installation of acoustic floors in the residential areas also provides the solution for the noise control.

The factors favoring the growth of lightweight acoustic flooring systems include an increase in the indication about the health issues in the industrial and commercial areas due to increasing the noise levels, growing awareness among the people regarding the health effects of constant noise and ease of installation of acoustic floors. Moreover, the stringent government rules and regulations regarding the noise levels in different areas at different times restrict the users to use the noisy equipment. However, the prominent contributor to the noise pollution in the residential area is the community noise and noisy neighbor. Due to increase in the urbanization, the number of multi storied buildings are high, and thus the disturbances from the community or the neighbors are great. The lightweight acoustic flooring system proved to be the best solution for the noise control. The noise pollution has severe health effects such as hearing loss, disturbed sleep and increase in blood pressure, mental illness and even heart attacks. These factors thus contribute to the growth in the demand for the lightweight acoustic flooring systems.

However, the various factors such as availability of substitutes such as sound damping, software for the noise absorption and the cost of installation can affect the global lightweight acoustic floor system market in the forecast period 2017-2027.

Global Lightweight Acoustic Floor Systems: Segmentation: Based on the type of flooring, global lightweight acoustic floor systems market is segmented into: Fixed, Spring; Based on the type of material used, global lightweight acoustic floor systems market is segmented into: Concrete, Rubber, Wood, Fiberglass, Foam; Based on the application, global lightweight acoustic floor systems market is segmented into: Industrial, Manufacturing, Construction, Mining, Energy, Automotive; Commercial: Hospitals, Hotels, Education Institutes, Offices, Sport Venues, Art and Entertainment; Residential

The Global Lightweight Acoustic Floor Systems market regarding flooring type is gaining traction through its spring solution. Fixed type of flooring is the conventional flooring process where the construction is made whereas the spring solution leads to cost effective solution as it installs the springs and the acoustic material over the floor to reduce the noise levels. Regarding materials, the fiberglass, wood, and concrete lead the material market for the lightweight acoustic flooring system.

In the application segment, the global lightweight acoustic floor system market is driven by the commercial applications. The use of light weight acoustic flooring system finds major applications in offices, education institutes, healthcare, hotels and much more. Hospital and hotels segment is expected to gain traction in the future owing to significant effects of noise on the patients and the environment.

Geographically, the global light weight acoustic flooring system is segmented into seven regions namely, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Japan and the Middle East and Africa. The North America and Europe are the mature markets regarding demand generation due to increasing concern about the noise pollutions. The adoption of advanced technology and methodology in these areas facilitate the growth of acoustic flooring system in these regions. Asia Pacific is expected to lead the market in the forecast period due to increasing adoption of the acoustic product in the construction, government rules and regulations restricting the noise levels in the regions and increase in the noise pollution as compared to previous few years. These factors trigger the demand for the acoustic flooring system in Asia Pacific.

Some of the prominent players for the lightweight acoustic flooring systems includes: Mason UK, Kinetics Noise Control Inc, Farrat Isolevel Ltd, Rockcote Resene Ltd, Monarfloor Acoustic Systems Ltd, Cellecta Ltd, Knauf Insulation, Saint-Gobain Isover, Ubiq, YOSHINO GYPSUM CO., LTD.

Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4720

Read the original post:
Interesting Research Report on the Future of Lightweight Acoustic Floor Systems Market 2017 2027 - LANews By Abhishek Budholiya (press release)...

Yuval Steinitz.(photo credit:OHAD TZVEIGENBERG/POOL)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus efforts to appoint his confidant, National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz, as the next Jewish Agency chairman received a boost on Friday, when the incumbent chairman Natan Sharansky said he would welcome the appointment.

Sharansky told The Jerusalem Post that Steinitz is a serious candidate who understands the organized Jewish community and would be welcomed by leaders around the world. He said he was glad Netanyahu proposed such a candidate but stressed that he had nothing against anyone who has been mentioned as a possible chairman before.

Steinitz, who returned on Thursday from a family vacation in Vietnam, has said in the past he ruled out taking the post, but he is now ready to consider the possibility. But he has said that even if he is approved for the post in a vote that could be held as early as February, he would not take up the position until June. He intends to devote the next 10 months to reaching key goals in his ministry.

When the cabinet voted on June 26 to freeze its resolution to create a state-recognized egalitarian prayer section at the southern end of the Western Wall, Steinitz was the only Likud minister to vote against the decision.

He has said since then that he did not take into account the possible agency appointment when he voted, and that he opposed the June 26 decision because he believes it was mistaken.

Steinitzs appointment is expected to come as part of a deal in the Likud in which Netanyahus ally, coalition chairman David Bitan, will replace Steinitz in the cabinet. Bitan told reporters at Netanyahus pre-Rosh Hashana toast on Wednesday that the prime minister had promised him he would end his Knesset term as a minister.

Bitans associates leaked that if Steinitz does not leave the cabinet, another way to bring about a vacancy would be for Netanyahu to appoint Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan as the next ambassador to the United Nations. But Erdan has rejected that post in the past and is not expected to accept such an appointment.

If Bitan joins the cabinet, there will be a battle over the chairmanship of the coalition, a post whose profile has risen considerably under Bitan. Freshman MKs Yoav Kisch, David Amsalem and Mickey Zohar would fight over the job, which might be the only way they could obtain enough name recognition to be elected to the next Knesset.

Others thought in the past to be candidates for the Jewish Agency post have included Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs head Dore Gold, former ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, Keren Hayesod chairman Eliezer Sandberg and Maaleh Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel, who was officially chosen as the World Likuds candidate for the job.

Share on facebook

Read the rest here:
Sharansky supports Steinitz as possible Jewish Agency chairman replacement - The Jerusalem Post

This content was published on September 3, 2017 5:54 PMSep 3, 2017 - 17:54

Pierre Maudet, Isabelle Moret and Ignazio Cassis at theRadical Party gathering on September 2, 2017

The Radical Partys recommendation of three potential cabinet candidates has yielded approval and predictionsin the Swiss media.

On Friday evening, the Radicals nominated Ignazio Cassis, Isabelle Moret and Pierre Maudet as possible successors to Didier Burkhalter. Heres a round-up of reactions from various newspapers over the weekend.

The Tages-Anzeiger, Bund and Le Temps newspapers wrote that the three-person ticket made sense, and as the Neue Zrcher Zeitung (NZZ) put it, the Radical Party had done its job and offered the parliament a good selection. However, the NZZ also wrote that the party had chosen the path of least resistance, and had lacked the courage to narrow it down to the two most qualified: Cassis and Maudet. Then again, the next three weeks would provide Moret with the chance to showcase her skills.

Tages-Anzeiger and Bund pointed out that after 18 years without a cabinet minister from Ticino, the time was right for Cassis seen as the favourite. The newspaper Blick also described Cassis as nearly elected already, but acknowledged Maudets chances as well. Le Temps suggested that Cassis would have an easier time because the votes of parliamentarians from French-speaking Switzerland would be split between Maudet and Moret. The newspaper 24 Heures predicted that parliamentarians from German-speaking Switzerland would favour Cassis.

La Tribune de Genve said that Maudet was undoubtedly the big winner in the run-up to the election because he is well-respected in German-speaking Switzerland. Yet it, too, acknowledged that Cassis was the favourite.

Parliament will choose a Burkhalters replacement on September 20.

Form for signing up for free newsletter.

Sign up for our free newsletter and get the top stories delivered to your inbox.

swissinfo.ch and agencies/sm

Link:
Newspapers react to cabinet nominees - swissinfo.ch

The king ordered huge blocks of choice stone to be quarried, so that the foundations of the house might be laid with hewn stones. I Kings 5:31 (The Israel Bible)

Construction workers begin work on the new settlement called Amichai, meant to resettle the evacuees of Amona, in Shilo Valley, on June 20, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The government will allocate funds to restart work on the settlement of Amichai, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu confirmed Sunday at the weekly cabinet meeting.

The new community will serve as a replacement town for the former residents of Amona, a settlement outpost adjacent to the existing town of Ofra. The residents were evicted in early February from the original site after the High Court of Justice ruled that the outpost had been built on private Palestinian land.

To compensate the residents, the government approved construction of a new community on March 30, two months after the demolition of Amona, but after initial groundbreaking, work was halted in July due to budget constraints after the government failed to transfer funds to the Binyamin Regional Council.

The families have been housed in the Ofra field school since the eviction.

I would like to thank you Interior Minister (Aryeh Deri) for allocating a budget from your ministry, Netanyahu said. We would like to take a government decision in the wake of this decision and to advance with the construction of the community (Amichai), Netanyahu said.

The Interior Ministry will provide some NIS 55 million in funding for the works and and additional NIS 5 million for temporary solutions for the evicted Amona residents.

Settlement leaders welcomed the move. After many long weeks in which work on construction of the new community has not progressed, and after a very difficult roller-coaster week, which finally resulted in the cabinet decision, we cautiously welcome the decision which will bring about a resumption of works, said Avichai Boaron, head of the Amona residents committee.

Palestinian landowners, the nearby village of Jalud and Israeli NGOs have petitioned the High Court of Justice in late August for an injunction against construction of Amichai, saying it would prevent the Palestinian landowners from accessing nearby farmland.

Continue reading here:
Work to Resume on First New Settlement in 25 Years - Breaking Israel News

The Porches residences are some of the most spectacular and impeccably crafted homes ever built in Steamboat Springs. The interiors feature hand-hewn beams and hand-distressed floors, which blend seamlessly with the finest cabinetry, granite counter tops, and luxury finishes.

Custom ranch stone fireplaces and generous outdoor living spaces contribute to the overall sense of enduring quality and mountain ambiance. All the Fractional / Private Residence Club homes are furnished with the same care and attention to detail that goes into construction. From the down-filled couches to the top-end billiards tables in each residence, everything is of the finest quality and built to last for many generations to come.

The exteriors at The Porches pay homage to the great western legacy of Steamboat Springs. With varied exterior materials including natural color palates, stains, and corrugated metal, the entire project has a distinctly natural and classic appearance.

Not only do the exteriors of our luxury homes for sale look beautiful, they are also specifically designed for the rigors of the Steamboat climate in both summer and winter.

Other features of the residences include double car garages, professional kitchens, air conditioning, air cleaning and humidifying systems, Pella brand professional grade windows, and, of course, comfortable and inviting porches.

Go here to see the original:
The Porches of Steamboat - Luxury Homes For Sale Steamboat ...

share

pin

email

If you've ever had the pleasure of sipping sweet tea on a sun-drenched wraparound porch down South, you might have looked up to find a colorful surprise.

Porch ceilings in the American South (and parts of the Northeast) are almost always painted blue whether the rest of the home's exterior is white, yellow, pink or any other color of the rainbow.

It's no coincidence.

It's not a trick of the light ... but it is a trick.

"First, theres the folklore," explained Ellen ONeill, the director of strategic design intelligence at Benjamin Moore. "Then, theres the feel-good factor."

Color us intrigued!

The folklore piece refers to the concept of "haint," a Southern variation on the word "haunt" that refers to a ghost or spirit. "Blue represented water, and apparently spirits cant traverse water," said O'Neill. "People would paint the ceilings, the window trim, and sometimes the doors (to keep spirits away)."

What started as superstition has since translated into a design trend. "No one would think twice about painting their porch blue, because their grandmother's and their parents' (porches) were blue," ONeill explained. "It's permeated into porch design."

In fact, the pale blue-green tint is now known in design circles as "haint blue."

These are the most popular porch ceiling hues among Benjamin Moore customers.

Even if you don't believe in ghosts, a blue ceiling adds plenty of benefits from a design perspective. "A blue sky is an optimistic thing to look at. It reminds us of daybreak; it wards off gloomy weather and delays nightfall," said O'Neill. "Painting a ceiling blue brings in nature and the sky."

Plus, you don't have to worry about it clashing with the house. "Regardless of the rest of the paint colors we see houses with yellow or pink facades with blue ceilings, and it doesnt look like paint palette," O'Neill explained. "It looks like 'Oh, of course, thats the sky.'

And there's one more perk: Blue paint is believed to keep bugs and birds from nesting. While some think this is due to the heavy doses of lye that used to be in the paint supply, there's a psychological argument, too.

"If an insect perceives that a ceiling is really the sky, it instinctively wouldnt nest there," said O'Neill. "It depends how deep you want to go into the brain of an insect ... but it's not unlike how ladybugs will land on a white house. It's a visual trick."

Whatever the reason, it sounds like spending some time under a blue ceiling won't leave us feeling blue!

Go here to see the original:
What is 'haint blue'? Here's why Southern porches have blue ceilings - Today.com

Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch @JimWeiker

Why do dogs get to have all the fun, with their fancy-schmancy dog houses and dog runs and dog beds?

Cats deserve some love, too.

And with "catios," theyre getting plenty of it from some central Ohio homeowners.

Catios, like their occupants, can be many sizes, but they are basically screened porches for cats.

They allow indoor cats to leave the house without wandering off or getting exposed to other animals.

Larger catios can be closed off from the house with a door, just like a screened porch, but most are connected through a pet door or an open window, allowing cats to come and go as they please.

Owners say catios have revolutionized their pets lives. (The cats declined to comment.)

They spend hours out there. My boy cat especially, Marley, begs to go out, catio owner Linda Blount-Jacobs said.

She built a second-floor catio on her East Side home two years ago with the help of her father, Dave Blount.

>> Join the conversation at Facebook.com/columbusdispatchand connect with us on Twitter @DispatchAlerts

Blount-Jacobs catio is a screened space, 2 feet by 4 feet, that rests on the roof of her Florida room and is accessible from a second-floor window.

Dana Russell went a step or two, or three beyond. He built what amounts to an addition onto his South Side home for the eight indoor and two outdoor cats that he and his wife, Debbie, care for.

Two screened porches one about 12 feet by 20 feet, the other about 4 by 8 are attached to the rear of his home.

"They love it out here," Russell said.

On the Northwest Side, Linda Orenchuk built a catio onto the back of her home for her five cats that, like Blount-Jacbos' catio, is accessible through a window. The space is more modest than Russell's, but the goal is the same.

"It just bothers me that a creature cant have sunlight or fresh air," Orenchuk said. "But if we let them out, theres the danger of disease or injury and they'll get the birds."

Cat experts say catios can serve important functions for cats, beyond simple exposure to the outdoors. Catios provide entertainment and exercise, especially if they are outfitted with climbing structures.

"Theyre happier, like any of us, when they get a little exercise. Theyre less stressed," said Kellie DiFrischia, co-director of Columbus Dog Connection, an East Side rescue shelter for both dogs and cats. "It's visual stimulation. Its really invaluable.

"Giving the cats an opportunity to climb is important," she said. "Its such a natural behavior for cats and gives them an opportunity to get up high."

Columbus Dog Connection includes a 16-by-16-foot catio outfitted with logs and other play things. DiFrischia said the staff is hoping to expand the furnishings with some donated lumber.

For cat owners considering building their own catio, experts caution that it's important to take the specific cat into consideration. Not all cats enjoy the outdoors, said Michelle Matusicky, an assistant professor at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Although plenty of cats are in need of enrichment and a catio could certainly provide it plenty can either be outright frightened or overstimulated, which could result in further behavioral issues in the home," she said. "So watch your kitty closely if you are going to attempt to take him/her outside."

Some experts also cautioned that catios can potentially expose cats to fleas and diseases.

Matusicky advised pet owners who are building a catio to make sure it includes no sharp edges or isolated ledges that would require a dangerous leap. She suggested designing a space that includes plenty of interesting spaces for a cat to explore paths, hiding spots and perches.

And finally, pet owners need to make sure any catio is secure. Orenchuk learned that lesson when she discovered an opossum in her catio one morning before letting her cats out.

Ohio State's Veterinary Medical Center and other pet experts will be on hand next weekend during the Fall Home Show & Pet Alley at the Ohio Expo Center to answer pet owners' questions on catios or other topics.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

Go here to see the original:
Screened-in 'catios,' latest home trend, give felines safe places to enjoy outdoors - The Columbus Dispatch

The heat is on for Southland air-conditioning repair businesses.

Just ask Ken Singer, owner of Morflow Air and Heating in San Fernando.

Right now, you could have another 100 air-conditioning businesses opening their doors, and wed all be busy, said Singer, who has owned the business for 35 years. Were talking about 100 calls a day right now. But were only working for our clients in the computer. If theyre not in the computer, they have to call somebody else.

A strong high-pressure system and weak onshore flow are causing dangerously high temperatures in Southern California, according to a National Weather Service statement. And there was no respite on Friday, as temperatures reached 111 degrees in Woodland Hills, tying the record for the date set in 2007.

The sizzling will prevail in the Southland. The mountains and valleys of L.A. County will continues to see temperatures ranging up to 112 degrees today. Coastal cities, of course, will be cooler but still hotter than normal. And while the weather was expected to cool slightly over the Labor Day weekend, the region will see another round of above-average heat next week, said NWS meteorologist Philip Gonsalves.

The sweltering heat has caused so many air conditioners to blow out that at Morflow Air and Heating, 10 employees are working about 10 hours a day, Morflow said.

And when its this hot you have to have two people per truck, Singer explained, adding they make sure to be properly hydrated.

The San Fernando business has had a nonstop summer of air-conditioning work.

I can think of only one or two weeks where it cooled down a little bit, Singer said. But we were so busy working on catch up work, we didnt notice it.

Freddy Alvarez, owner of U.S. Air Services in Pacoima, has also had a busy summer.

We keep on falling behind and behind and behind and behind, Alvarez said on Friday. All the (air-conditioning) machines are working to their capacity, but some of them in one way or another are not in the greatest condition. And people, because of the intense heat, will do whatever it takes. Theyll do whatever they have to do to get it repaired fast. Its been pretty hectic.

Alvarez, whose company has three workers including himself, said he sometimes turns into a couples therapist.

Theyre about to just divorce or worse because one of them doesnt understand why the air conditioning cant be fixed immediately, Alvarez said.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the states power grid, issued a statewide Flex Alert on Friday, that called for voluntary electricity conservation through the evening.

Despite that call, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power set a record for a second consecutive day for peak electricity demand. The demand reached a peak of 6,555 megawatts mid-afternoon Friday, besting the record of 6,502 set on Thursday.

Advertisement

Strain on the system continued to lead to power outages. As of 5 p.m. Friday, about 9,300 DWP customers were without power.

The weather service again urged area residents to protect themselves from such heat-related illnesses such as heat strokes by avoiding strenuous work outside, staying hydrated, wearing lightweight, light- colored clothing, checking on friends and neighbors especially the elderly and by never leaving children, seniors or pets in cars parked in hot weather, even for a short time and even with windows cracked open.

Go here to see the original:
As LA heat sparks a record in Woodland Hills, air-conditioning businesses sweat it out - LA Daily News

Following the catastrophic flooding in Houston and surrounding regions, it is important that homeowners who eventually return to their homes not attempt to restart their heating and air conditioning systems before a complete assessment of the units can be made by a qualified contractor.

The major point is that after a flood or storm surge from a hurricane or tropical storm, homeowners are advised to take important safety precautions with regard to their homes heating and cooling systems. A house or basement exposed to standing water can damage a homes heater, furnace, air-conditioning, ventilation, and heat pump system putting a family at risk. Click on the blue and white box to find the information.

Rex Goodman, director of communications for Goodman Manufacturing Co. LP, based in Waller, Tex., says some units might very well start up, but that's not necessarily an indication that the unit is safe to operate.

"I cannot provide an estimate of the number of units that would be functional after being submerged," Anderson told Contracting Business, "but I remain surprised hearing how many units actually start when energized after being under water."

Anderson says one scenario is that the unit might initially work but will fail soon, given the conditions that occurred during the time the unit was under water.

"Given that flood water is dirty and contains lots of grime, its likely that the condenser unit coil is coated," Anderson says. "Thus, the unit may operate but at much lower efficiency levels than the unit was designed to provide. Further, the unit may be subject to premature failure given the extra effort required to override the inefficient coil."

Standing water in a yard, house, or basement can damage a homes heating, cooling, and water heating equipment, in ways that are not always readily apparent putting families at risk, says AHRI President & CEO Stephen Yurek. We advise homeowners to play it safe and replace, rather than repair, flood-damaged heating, cooling, and water heating equipment."

Resources at Goodman and The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) have prepared a detailed fact sheet that contains pertinent information related to the use of water damaged HVAC systems and ductwork.

See the original post here:
After Harvey: Goodman Urges Caution With HVAC System Restarts - Contracting Business