By NAPSDecember 13, 2013 12:00 am

(NAPS)While you probably dont think much about electrical outlets, you should know that theres a whole new generation of receptacle wall boxes and accessories that can make your life easierand safer.

Heres a look at just a few of the more interesting functional electrical wall boxes now available:

A helping hand. The Carlon Retractable Work Surface Receptacle offers the convenience and safety of placing an electrical outlet on a work surface, where most electronic devices are used. When the outlet is not in use, it can be recessed below the work surface by pushing down on its cover; the outlet becomes accessible by pulling up the integral grip on its cover. The receptacle can be mounted easily with the holesaw provided. No wiring is required, as a six-foot cord connects the receptacle to an existing outlet.

Get it together. Wall-mounted, flat-screen televisions look great but dont peek behind them at the wiring; chances are theres a nightmare of outlets and cables. The Carlon Recessed Work Plate is an innovative way of organizing this wiring to make a neat, attractive installation. It also has an exclusive template feature that makes accurately cutting the box opening easier.

High and dry. Water and electricity dont mix. As Americans continue a trend of moving their living space outdoorseven having full kitchens poolsidetheres a growing need for safe electrical service that is weatherproof. To help, there are RedDot While-in-use Covers. They provide waterproof protection while the appliance is plugged in and are the first products to comply with the new National Electrical Code and UL requirements for weatherproof enclosures.

Energy efficient. There are now energy ratings for new homes similar to those on appliances. Thats where the new Carlon Draft-Tight Non-Metallic Box comes in. It incorporates a drywall flange covered with a foam gasket to provide a draft-tight seal. This helps improve the efficiency of the heating and air-conditioning system. Using this easy-to-install, energy-saving device will save your builder time and save you money.

Most of these receptacles are available at home centers. Since electricity is involved, its best to ask your electricians advice. Electricians can easily get them through their local electrical distributor.

For more information on these clever devices, go to http://www.tnb.com/ receptacles.

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Whats up with outlets

By Debbe Daley

The idea of renovating another kitchen is exciting in the planning stages. However, I never imagined to be taking down wallpaper ever again. Since my involvement in the wallpaper industry back in the late '90s, wallpaper has definitely taken a turn. I hung wallpaper in most of the rooms in my home at that time. As wallpaper is slowly making a comeback, this project has more windows than walls and wallpaper isn't necessary to enhance this space.

Daley Decor

In updating an oceanside bungalow where an open kitchen/living area will be transformed, the first stage in this remodel is the removal of colonial blue and white mini-print wallpaper applied by the original owner. The goal for the kitchen is to create a calm beach, relaxed and natural theme. Painting the existing stained wainscoting white and removing the wallpaper will enhance the view from the living and kitchen area for little money.

When hanging wallpaper, primer sizing the walls is a must. Sizing helps in the installation of wallpaper because it assists sliding and matching the paper's pattern at the seams and makes for easier installation. Sizing is a light acrylic fluid that helps the adhesion and also aides in the paper removal process.

When removing paper-backed vinyl wallpaper, the top vinyl design layer should peel off easily. With some soaking of the paper, the backing should wipe off with little effort. In this case, the original owners hung wallpaper over lightly skim-coated walls -- no primer, no paint finish, no sizing, just wallpaper directly onto the wall's surface.

With no sizing, implementing the proper steps of lightly scoring the top layer of the vinyl paper with a razor blade knife and spraying a solution of one part hot water with one part white vinegar was a nightmare. Without sizing, the wallpaper glue is absorbed by the surface of the drywall or skim-coated wall. Peeling off the paper turns into peeling off the top skim-coat layer and paper surface of the drywall in small pieces. It's not a pleasant outcome.

It takes patience and lots of soaking of the paper to remove the wallpaper without damaging the walls. In this case, sanding the walls and a new skim coat will be needed to achieve a clean look before painting.

Debbe Daley, owner of Debbe Daley Designs, is an interior designer with more than 25 years of experience as a professional interior redesigner, stylist, stager, trainer and project manager. Follow her blog at http://blogs.lowellsun.com/ daleydecor. She also blogs at http://debbedaleydesignsllc.blogspot.com/. Wallpaper Tips

* Before installing wallpaper, prep walls with acrylic latex-based primer/sizing.

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Wallpaper for the weekend warrior

Two Hilton Orlando Hotels Enhance Cellular Signal Coverage and Loyalty with RoamBoost

Two Orlando hotels are seeing guest satisfaction and loyalty soar after dramatically enhancing cellular signal coverage. Recently the Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista/Orlando installed RoamBoost, the exclusive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) solution offered by RoamingAround. RoamBoost enhances the local geography's coverage inside the building for all carriers, ensuring that all mobile calls, data transactions and communications are conducted quickly and securely. The properties are located at 11400 Marbella Palm Court, and both are owned and managed by Kalson's Hospitality Inc.

"Today our guests are elated now that they don't have to step outside of the hotel to make phone calls," said Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando General Manager Tony Keathley. "With RoamBoost's antennas installed on all the floors, including the meeting space, our guests are able to make calls from anywhere on premises. The installation process was impressive. It was seamless and didn't require any drywall repairs or roof penetration. We couldn't be more pleased with RoamingAround and the RoamBoost service."

Renee Rowe, general manager of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista/Orlando, said both properties tried using a cell booster from another company previously, but it did not work as expected.

"Our guests have a very low threshold for poor cell coverage and dropped calls," Rowe said. "Because there are so many lodging options available today, hotels that don't provide adequate cell service will lose business to their competitors that do. Today's travelers expect to be able to make and receive phone calls instantly. If your customers are inconvenienced to the point where they have to walk outdoors to make a call, chances are likely that they won't come back.

"Thankfully, our cell service concerns are a thing of the past due to RoamBoost," she said. "The RoamBoost team did a fine installation job, and the timing was perfect. We just hosted a regional owner's conference with 60 owners and 15 high level executives from Hilton Hotels present. We didn't receive one single cell service complaint."

A recent OSP World article titled "WEB EXTRA: Bad Cell Phone Reception Drives Away 54% of Adults From Returning to Hotels" reports that travelers aged 35 to 54 would look elsewhere or never return to, or select, a hotel for either business or leisure purposes if they knew it had poor cell phone reception."RoamBoost is designed to ensure that hotels don't lose business due to dropped calls or spotty service," said Michael Garvin, RoamingAround president. "For a fraction of the price of larger, more invasive amplification systems, RoamBoost can tailor a solution based on a specific property's needs and requirements. No matter where our antennas are placed albeit in the lobby, guestrooms, or meeting rooms mobile calls are crystal clear all the time."We are delighted that both the Hilton Garden Inn Lake Buena Vista/Orlando and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista/Orlando are now presenting environments that are keeping today's mobile guests happy and coming back," Garvin said. "RoamingAround is available immediately to help hotels address their most complex mobile communication and transaction challenges."

For more information on RoamBoost by RoamingAround, contact Sarah Smith at (978) 777-8787, Ext. 303, or email ssmith@roamingaround.com.

RoamingAround is a mobile solutions company focusing primarily on the hospitality sector. Using innovative solutions and the latest technologies, RoamingAround creates the kind of differentiation for its clients that increases occupancy, generates new revenue channels, strengthens customer loyalty and positively impacts guest experience. For more information, please contact Sarah Smith at (978) 777-8787 or email ssmith@roamingaround.com. More information can be found by visiting http://www.RoamingAround.com.

See more here:
Two Hilton Orlando Hotels Enhance Cellular Signal Coverage and Loyalty with RoamBoost

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) December 11, 2013

Acoustibloks All Weather Sound Panel noise barriers installed under the premium seating section of the new east side grandstand at Illinois State Universitys $27.6 million renovated football stadium diminishes loud compressor noise and gives fans a better game day experience.

All Weather Sound Panels are industrial grade acoustical barrier assemblies used to block excessive noise in industrial, commercial, institutional and community environments. These unique noise barrier panels are not just sound absorbing but also sound blocking. This allows them to not only absorb the loud mechanical noise, but also stop noise from penetrating through the panel.

The renovation of Hancock Stadium was needed to replace the outdated structures in the stadium that had been the home to Illinois State University since the early 1960s. The stadium lacked modern amenities and premium seating and entertainment areas that are common in todays modern college football stadiums. These premium areas are vital to bringing in additional revenue for the university.

The renovation focused on the stadiums east side area which was rebuilt and transformed into the stadiums new modern 7-story front entrance and premium seating area. The new east side structure now includes a 5,500 sq. ft. indoor club, seven private luxury boxes, catering area, more modern and expanded concession areas and restrooms, bleacher back seating areas, and a state-of-the art press box among other improvements. The improvements have doubled the seating capacity of Hancock Stadium and have created a stadium that the community can now be proud of.

These new indoor areas require ventilation, cooling, heating and also refrigeration for concession and entertainment areas which require the use of noisy compressors. These machines typically result in a combination of two noise sources: noise that was already there in the signal, now amplified; and noise created by the actual circuit design and components of the compressor. Compressors often draw complaints for loud humming, rumbling, scraping, thumping and vibrating, rattling, squealing, or pop and bang sounds.

At Hancock Stadium and most stadiums in general, the noisy compressors and other mechanical equipment are located under the concourse level which typically pose a noise problem if not properly addressed with an acoustical barrier like Acoustibloks All Weather Sound Panels. These panels are available in various sizes up to 4 x 12 foot, are approximately 2.44-inches thick with aluminum frame and have a perforated aluminum grille. They are all welded, with tubular enforced eyelets in the frame allowing use of anchors or tapcons for wall mounting. All Weather Sound Panels contain the companys signature product, Acoustiblok sound mitigating material which is a 1/8-inch thick heavy mineral-filled viscoelastic material which stops sound from penetrating through it. This is a very meaningful advantage over conventional "sound absorbing" panels which stop sound reflections but are poor sound barriers.

All Weather Sound Panels are rigid and self-supporting. They can be used like building blocks to permanently or temporarily enclose a noise source such as chillers, generators, and other machinery. The product widely is used in industrial and commercial facilities where loud, ongoing noise is a concern.

David Vance is senior vice president of Associated Constructors, a Bloomington, Illinois multi-trade subcontracting construction company that performed the interior finishing work for the Hancock Stadium renovation project. The company has been in existence for 29 years.

We installed two sections of Acoustibloks All Weather Sound panels in areas that were approximately 16 X 70 feet. The panels were suspended with unistrut metal framing system and 3/8 inch threaded cable rod on the same slope on the bottom of the bleachers, said Vance.

See the article here:
All Weather Sound Panels Give Football Fans a Better Experience at Illinois State University's Renovated Hancock Stadium

Drywall installation on a curved wall
Dan Foltz and William installing a sheet of drywall on a curved wall.

By: Lester Picker

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Drywall installation on a curved wall - Video

BIKE CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA PART 3 JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA GO PRO
BIKE CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA 5 JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA GO PRO VIDEO SPONSORED BY EZ DRYWALL INSTALLATION 904-993-3433 SERVING ALL OF NORTH FLORIDA A wallboard...

By: L JR

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BIKE CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA PART 3 JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA GO PRO - Video

CAR CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA LOOP ATHLETIC FIELDS STADIUM JACKSONVILLE FL GO PRO
CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA 5 JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA GO PRO VIDEO SPONSORED BY EZ DRYWALL INSTALLATION 904-993-3433 SERVING ALL OF NORTH FLORIDA A wallboard pane...

By: L JR

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CAR CAM UNIV OF NORTH FLORIDA LOOP ATHLETIC FIELDS STADIUM JACKSONVILLE FL GO PRO - Video

Drywall installation is not a difficult task, and with a little practice you should be able to achieve results worthy of a professional. The time-consuming part comes with finishing the joints (also known as "taping and mudding"). Here are some suggestions for keeping the finish work as simple as possible. Keep butt joints to a minimum. The long edge of a drywall sheet is tapered. This provides space for the tape and joint compound that are used to seal the joint. The short edge of a drywall sheet, however, is not tapered. When two of those edges meet, we call it a butt joint. Butt joints are tougher to finish; the tape and compound have no choice but to create a small, visible bump in the wall or ceiling.

Its not always possible to avoid butt joints, but you can try to keep them to a minimum. With drywall that is installed horizontally, using longer sheets of drywall is one way to do this. But when you do have to deal with butt joints, stagger them so that they dont run from the top to the bottom of the wall.

Long sheets of drywall can be tough to handle inside the house, but you wont face that problem in the garage. If you cant find long sheets at your home store, look for a building supply store in the area that deals with contractors. You can have them deliver and unload the drywall right into your garage.

For walls that are higher than 8 feet, consider using 54-inch wide sheets of drywall to minimize the joints. And on walls that are 4-feet wide or less, hang the drywall vertically to eliminate a joint.

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Drywall Installation - Tips for Better Drywall Installation

Read these tips and instructions on how to install drywall. Following these instructions can help you to save time and effort and end up with a neater job. Inside this document you will find information about: Estimating Materials Needed Advance Planning for Drywall Installation Cutting Drywall Vertical or Horizontal Installations Applying Drywall to the Ceiling Wall Application of Drywall Finishing Touches

ESTIMATING MATERIALS NEEDED

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For example, if your room measures 14x16, this equals 14' + 14' + 16' + 16' = 60 or 15 wallboards required. To allow for areas such as windows, doors, fireplaces, etc., use the deductions listed below: deductions for each: door : 1/3 wallboard (A) window : 1/4 wallboard (B) fireplace : 1/2 wallboard (C) The actual number of wallboards for this room would be 13 pieces (15 pieces minus 2 total deductions). Always use the next highest number of wallboards when the perimeter total is between ranges shown in the table. These figures are for rooms with 8' ceiling heights or less.

ADVANCE PLANNING FOR DRYWALL INSTALLATION

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How to Install Drywall | DoItYourself.com

Drywall (also known as plasterboard, wallboard, gypsum board, sheetrock, or gyprock) is a panel made of gypsum plaster pressed between two thick sheets of paper. It is used to make interior walls and ceilings. Drywall construction became prevalent as a speedier alternative to traditional lath and plaster.[1]

In many places, the product is sold under the trademarks Sheetrock[2] or Gyproc.[3][4][5] In New Zealand the category is known as "plasterboard" or "gib board" (originally "Gibraltar board"), the latter being a proprietary brand name but now largely a genericised trademark.[6][7][8][9]

The first plasterboard plant in the UK was opened in 1888 in Rochester Kent.[citation needed]Sackett Board was invented in 1894 by Augustine Sackett and Fred Kane. It was made by layering plaster within four plies of wool felt paper. Sheets were 36" 36" 1/4" thick with open (untaped) edges.[10]

Gypsum Board evolved between 1910 and 1930 beginning with wrapped board edges, and elimination of the two inner layers of felt paper in favor of paper-based facings. In 19109 United States Gypsum Corporation bought Sackett Plaster Board Company and by 1917 came out with a product they called sheetrock.[11] Providing efficiency of installation, it was developed additionally as a measure of fire resistance.[12] Later air entrainment technology made boards lighter and less brittle, then joint treatment materials and systems also evolved.[10]

Rock Lath was an early substrate for plaster. An alternative to traditional wood or metal lath, it was a panel made up of compressed gypsum plaster board that was sometimes grooved or punched with holes to allow wet plaster to key into its surface. As it evolved, it was faced with paper impregnated with gypsum crystals that bonded with the applied facing layer of plaster.[13]

A wallboard panel is made of a paper liner wrapped around an inner core made primarily from gypsum plaster. The raw gypsum, CaSO42 H2O, (mined or obtained from flue-gas desulfurization (FGD)) must be calcined before use to produce the hemihydrate of calcium sulfate (CaSO4 H2O). This is done in kettle or flash calciners, typically using natural gas today. The plaster is mixed with fiber (typically paper and/or fiberglass), plasticizer, foaming agent, finely ground gypsum crystal as an accelerator, EDTA, starch or other chelate as a retarder, various additives that may decrease mildew and increase fire resistance (fiberglass or vermiculite), wax emulsion or silanes for lower water absorption and water. This is then formed by sandwiching a core of wet gypsum between two sheets of heavy paper or fiberglass mats. When the core sets and is dried in a large drying chamber, the sandwich becomes rigid and strong enough for use as a building material.

Drying chambers typically use natural gas today. To dry 1 MSF ( 1,000 square feet (93m2) ) of wallboard, between 1.75 and 2.49 million BTU is required. Organic dispersants/plasticisers are used mainly to reduce the amount of water, hence reduce the eventual drying time, needed to produce gypsum slurry flow during wallboard manufacture.[14]

Drywall panels are manufactured in 48-inch (1.2m) and 96-inch (2.4m) wide panels in varying lengths to suit the application. Common panel thicknesses are 12-inch (13mm) and 58-inch (16mm), with panels also available in 14-inch (6.4mm) and 38-inch (9.5mm). Both 12-inch and 58-inch panels of Type X (a gypsum board with special core additives to increase the natural fire resistance of regular gypsum board[15]) are used where a fire-resistance rating is desired. Sound transmission may be slightly reduced using regular 58-inch panels (with or without light-gauge resilient metal channels) but more effective are using two layers of drywall sometimes in combination with other factors or specially designed, sound-resistant drywall.[16]

Drywall provides a thermal resistance R-value (in US units) of 0.32 for 38-inch board, 0.45 for 12-inch, 0.56 for 58-inch, and 0.83 for 1-inch board. In addition to increased R-value, thicker drywall has a higher sound transmission class.[citation needed]

In Europe plasterboard is manufactured in metric sizes, with the common sizes being corollaries of old imperial sizes.

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Drywall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia