Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Washington A world-famous symbol of democracy is going under cover, as workers start a two-year, $60 million renovation of the U.S. Capitol dome.

Curved rows of scaffolds, like Saturns rings, will encircle it next spring, enabling contractors to strip multiple layers of paint and repair more than 1,000 cracks and broken pieces. The dome will remain illuminated at night and partly visible through the scaffolding and paint-capturing cloths. But the Washington icon and portions of the Rotundas painted ceiling that lies below will be significantly obscured for many months.

The project is beginning just as the nearby Washington Monument sheds scaffolding that was used to repair damage from a 2011 earthquake.

Half-completed when Abraham Lincoln stood beneath it to summon the better angels of our nature in 1861, the Capitol dome has since towered over Washington, which limits building heights to 130 feet. Time, however, has let water seep through hundreds of cracks. The water attacks cast iron, which continues to rust and rust and rust, said Stephen T. Ayers, Architect of the Capitol.

This first major renovation in more than 50 years should add decades of structural integrity to the dome, which Ayers calls perhaps the most recognizable symbol across the globe. The $60 million undertaking will heal inner wounds, he said, without changing the way the dome looks from the ground.

Much of the work will be done at night and on weekends. It wont be as flashy as the 1993 helicopter removal and return of the 19-foot Statue of Freedom from the domes top.

The Capitols crowning piece is actually two domes, one nested under the other like Russian dolls, and separated by a web of cast iron braces hidden from view. From the ground it looks like a massive structure that would be too heavy for the building to support if it were indeed made of the solid stone it appears to be.

Instead it is cast iron painted to look like masonry. The lighter material and open space between the inner and outer domes create a physically sustainable structure. But its by no means puny.

The domes iron and masonry weigh 14.1 million pounds, said Kevin Hildebrand of the Capitol architects office. He led reporters up narrow, spiraling stairs that reach the Rotundas top, and then give access to the in-between world of girders separating the two domes. Ultimately the steps lead outdoors, to a panoramic walkway beneath the 12-columned lantern, or tholos, topped by the Statue of Freedom.

After a 1990 rainstorm left puddles on the Rotundas stone floor, workers found that bird nests had clogged gutters atop the Capitol, helping water penetrate outer walls and streak interior surfaces. Then they found bigger problems. Hundreds of cracks and pinholes in the cast iron exterior added to the seepage.

Read this article:
Renovation Starts on U.S. Capitol’s Dome

The author has posted comments on this articleVijay Desouza, TNN | Dec 29, 2013, 04.02AM IST

PANAJI: Goa chamber of commerce & industry (GCCI) on Saturday urged the Centre to make special provisions to give boost to the Goan economy which is affected by the closure of mining operations in the state and suggested extension of tax exemption under 80IB to new units to be set up in the state, particularly the backward talukas.

Goa's economic situation and the areas where the union finance ministry can chip in, were discussed by a GCCI delegation headed by its president Narayan Bandekar when it had a meeting with the newly appointed finance ministry Sumit Bose. A representation was also submitted to Bose.

The Chamber also suggested removal of inverted duty structure, virtual SEZ status for specific industries like IT, Electronics and Pharma and early implementation of GST. The Chamber recommended extention of Tax Holiday under section 80ID for tourism infrastructure projects like golf courses, theme parks, amusement parks etc to give a boost to the tourism industry.

While requesting the finance secretary to direct the banks to be more sympathetic to the mining related borrowers like truck / barge / machinery owners by offering them some relief till the mining activity resumes again, the Chamber also requested for concessions for mining service providers who have some service tax liabilities but are not able to discharge them as they have not been receiving payments of the bills raised by them.

Continue reading here:
Goa chamber of commerce & industry petitions finance ministry over pending issues

C K Birla rasing his hand during passage of a resolution at the 70th annual general meeting Hindustan Motors Limited in Kolkata in August 2013. (File Photo: PTI)

While Birla did not reply to reporters' queries after the company's AGM (annual general meeting), the company's managing director and CEO Uttam Bose said that it was becoming very difficult for the company to manage daily operations due to poor cash flow.

Today's decision reflected Birla's thinking that his stepping down would pave the way for the entry of strategic investors and allow for greater flexibility during discussions, the company said in a statement.

During the 18-month period under review beginning April, 2012 and ending September 2013, HM incurred a loss of Rs 71.20 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 29.96 crore in FY2011-12.

The company's accumulated losses have exceeded its net worth at the completion of the extended financial year ended September 30, 2013.

Birla was appointed chairman of HM in November 1997. Birla had also relinquished the post of directorship in the company.

Link:
C K Birla steps down as chairman of Hindustan Motors

The author has posted comments on this articleRadheshyam Jadhav, TNN | Dec 28, 2013, 04.25PM IST PUNE: The food processing sector has witnessed fast growth, employment generation and export earnings in the recent past according to the press release issued by the central government. In major indicators, the growth in this sector has been better than other industries and the economy as a whole.

On its part, the ministry of food processing industries has contributed to encouraging investment into the sector, improving infrastructure, evolving better standards, removing bottlenecks and initiating R&D and skill development.

The National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) was approved in June this year followed by quick formulation of guidelines to states. The ministry has taken a number of steps for encouraging investment into the FPI sector; these include issuing expression of interest (EOI) for setting up 15 cold chain projects, information dissemination on resources and facilities available in different states, creating an investor portal, and modification of guidelines for setting up cold chains. On the Ministry's initiative, concessional duty on food processing machinery is under consideration of the government.

Read the original:
Food processing sector registers fast growth

The author has posted comments on this articleTNN | Dec 28, 2013, 03.58PM IST PUNE: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal for providing non-plan budgetary support of Rs 116.86 crore for liquidation of statutory dues (provident fund, gratuity, pension, employees state insurance and bonus) and salary and wages from April 1, 2013 to August 31, 2013 in respect of eleven Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Department of Heavy Industry. The units are Hindustan Cables Ltd., HMT Machine Tools Ltd., HMT (Watches) Ltd., HMT (Chinar Watches) Ltd., Nagaland Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., Triveni Structurals Ltd., Tungbhadra Steel Products Ltd., Nepa Ltd., HMT Bearings Ltd. Hindustan Photo Films Limited and Tyre Corporation of India Ltd.

Revival/closure plans of Hindustan Cables Limited, Triveni Structurals Ltd., HMT (Watches) Ltd., HMT (Chinar Watches) Ltd., Hindustan Photo Films Ltd. and HMT Machine Tools Ltd. are yet to be finalized; revival plans of Nepa Ltd. and Nagaland Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. have recently been approved; revival plans of HMT Bearings Ltd. and Tungbhadra Steel Products Ltd. are yet to materialize; and disinvestment of Tyre Corporation of India Ltd. is under process. It was, therefore, considered essential that the interim financial support from the Government be provided so that the operation of these companies may not be affected.

Non-settlement of these liabilities has been causing serious hardship not only to the employees of the companies but also adversely affecting the day-to-day operation of the companies resulting in further deterioration of their performance.

Go here to see the original:
Payment of statutory dues, salaries, wages in sick units

Shiplap Walls, Finished Yard | The Essex House, Episode 8 (2013)
Master carpenter Norm Abram visits Essex #39;s last shipyard. Host Kevin O #39;Connor and general contractor Tom Silva build shiplap barn board walls and a mantel. L...

By: This Old House

Here is the original post:
Shiplap Walls, Finished Yard | The Essex House, Episode 8 (2013) - Video

In Search Of Professional Kitchen Remodeling in Cleburne TX?
Ring us now! Or visit us. Our firm can guide you in planning and works effectively with the remodeling process. That #39;s why you don #39;t have to think about it. ...

By: bikentalda maismje

Here is the original post:
In Search Of Professional Kitchen Remodeling in Cleburne TX? - Video

In Need Of The Best Kitchen Remodeling in Doole TX?
If you have questions, ring us now! Or visit us. Our company assists you in outlining the things you need for your soon-to-be remodeled kitchen. We work with...

By: Lynn Horton

Original post:
In Need Of The Best Kitchen Remodeling in Doole TX? - Video

Interior Designer Miami Springs FL | (305) 871-1648 | Southeast Design
Interior Designer Miami Springs FL | (305) 871-1648 | Southeast Design http://www.sedainc.com/ Southeast Design Associates, Inc. was founded by architect, Ma...

By: SouthEast Design

See more here:
Interior Designer Miami Springs FL | (305) 871-1648 | Southeast Design - Video

Hvac | Furnace | (661) 214-7175 Newhall, Air Conditioning Service Newhall, ca
Air conditioning service - we offer air conditioning service in Newhall , CA. our Hvac air conditioning service includes the following: furnace, air conditio...

By: Phill Grimm

See the original post here:
Hvac | Furnace | (661) 214-7175 Newhall, Air Conditioning Service Newhall, ca - Video