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For the space to perform acts of devotion, veneration, or religious study, see Place of worship.

A church building, often simply called a church, is a building used for religious activities particularly worship services. The term in its architectural sense is most often used by Christians to refer to their religious buildings but can be used by other religions. In traditional Christian architecture, the church is often arranged in the shape of a cross. When viewed from plan view the longest part of a cross is represented by the aisle and the junction of the cross is located at the altar area. Towers or domes are often added with the intention of directing the eye of the viewer towards the heavens and inspiring church visitors. Modern church buildings have a variety of architectural styles and layouts; many buildings that were designed for other purposes have now been converted for church use; and, similarly, many original church buildings have been put to other uses.

The first Christians were, like Jesus, Israelites resident in Roman Israel who worshiped on occasion in the Temple in Jerusalem and weekly in local synagogues. Temple worship was a ritual involving sacrifice, occasionally including the sacrifice of animals in atonement for sin, offered to the God of Israel. The New Testament includes many references to Jesus visiting the Temple, the first time as an infant with his parents, see Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. The early history of the synagogue is obscure, but it seems to be an institution developed for public Jewish worship during the Babylonian captivity when the Jews (and Jewish Proselytes) did not have access to a Temple (the First Temple having been destroyed c. 586 BC) for ritual sacrifice. Instead, they developed a daily and weekly service of readings from the Torah, and possibly also the Prophets, followed by commentary. This could be carried out in a house if the attendance was small enough, and in many towns of the Diaspora that was the case. In others, more elaborate architectural settings developed, sometimes by converting a house and sometimes by converting a previously public building. The minimum requirements seem to have been a meeting room with adequate seating, a case for the Torah scroll, and a raised platform for the reader.

Jesus himself participated in this sort of service as a reader and commentator (see Gospel of Luke 4:1624) and his followers probably remained worshipers in synagogues in some cities,[citation needed] for example the Cenacle in Jerusalem. However, following the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, the new Christian movement and Rabbinic Judaism increasingly parted ways (see also List of events in early Christianity). The Church became overwhelmingly Gentile sometime in the 4th century, the era of Constantine I and Christianity and the later setting up of a state church of the Roman Empire.

The Syrian city of Dura-Europos on the West bank of the Euphrates was an outpost town between the Roman and Parthian empires. During a siege by Parthian troops in AD 257, the buildings in the outermost blocks of the city grid were partially destroyed and filled with rubble to reinforce the city wall. Thus were preserved and securely dated an early decorated church and a synagogue decorated with extensive wall paintings. Both had been converted from earlier private buildings.

The Dura-Europos church from 235 AD has a special room dedicated for baptisms with a large baptismal font.

In Greek, the adjective kyriak-s/-/-n means "belonging, or pertaining, to a Krios" ("Lord"), and the usage was adopted by early Christians of the Eastern Mediterranean with regard to anything pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ: hence "Kyriaks okos" ("house of the Lord", church), "Kyriak" ("[the day] of the Lord", i.e. Sunday), or "Kyriak proseukh" (the "Lord's prayer").

In standard Greek usage, the older word "ecclesia" (, ekklesa, literally "assembly", "congregation", or the place where such a gathering occurs) was retained to signify both a specific edifice of Christian worship (a "church"), and the overall community of the faithful (the "Church"). This usage was also retained in Latin and the languages derived from Latin (e.g. French glise, Italian chiesa, Spanish iglesia, Portuguese igreja, etc.), as well as in the Celtic languages (Welsh eglwys, Irish eaglais, Breton iliz, etc.).

In the Germanic and some Slavic languages, the word kyriak-s/-/-n was adopted instead and derivatives formed thereof. In Old English the sequence of derivation started as "cirice" (Ki-ri-keh), then "churche" (kerke), and eventually "church" in its traditional pronunciation. German Kirche, Scottish kirk, Russian tserkov, etc., are all similarly derived.

The earliest identified Christian house church is the Dura-Europos church, founded between 233 and 256.

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Church (building) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Appliance Repair Katy
Appliance Repair Katy by AM Appliance Repair. We are an Appliance Repair Company in Katy, TX. We have been serving the greater Katy area for many years. AM A...

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Countertops - Corian - Darien CT
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DIY flooring installation information by floor type

A DIY flooring installation can be a fun project if you have the right tools, materials, and skills for the floor type you want to install. The degree of difficulty, time and effort required to complete a professional looking flooring installation will vary greatly depending on the floor type you choose and the floor you plan to install over. Choose a floor type to get more installation information and understand if a DIY flooring installation is right for you.

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Not ready to install the floor yourself? Find a Store with Armstrong Certified Installers.

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Peel & Stick adhesive backed vinyl tile is a fast and easy DIY installation project and a great way to give any room a new quick makeover.

Vinyl Tile Installation

Alterna Tile is an excellent alternative to ceramic or natural stone tile. It is also one of our more challenging DIY floor types.

Alterna Tile Installation

So easy to install, anyone can become a DIYer. Exclusive Lynx technology makes Luxe Plank one of our best floors for a DIY installation.

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Expert advice on how to install hardwood floors from start to finish, including tools and materials, preparation, layout, cutting, and fastening

A successful hardwood floor installation is certainly one of the most rewarding do-it-yourself projects. New hardwood flooring can transform a room with warmth, beauty, and styleand it can also give the person who installed it a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Installing a new hardwood floor can completely transform a room.

Because installing hardwood flooring is usually a major, expensive home improvement, it pays to ensure a quality, durable result. The key is proper preparation.

Make sure that the subfloor will provide a good, solid, flat base and that the use and conditions of the room wont have a negative impact on the flooring. Too much foot traffic on a new floor or excessive temperature or humidity swings can diminish the quality ofand sometimes even ruinwood flooring. Proper preparation techniques depend upon the type of flooring youre installing and the conditions of the base that will be beneath it.

Before you get too far into your project, be sure to read the information in the tab above, Preparing Floors for Hardwood. More about selecting, preparation, and storing your flooring follows here. Then work your way through the numbered links at top right, which will guide you step-by-step through laying out, cutting, and fastening your wood flooring.

As discussed in theWood Flooring Buying Guide, solid- and engineered-wood floors differ significantly. Because solid-wood flooring is milled from lumber, it has a tendency to warp, twist, expand, and contract with changes in moisture and temperature. But because engineered-wood flooring is made from layers of wood sandwiched and bonded together, it is more stable and resistant to changes caused by extreme temperatures and humidity.

You can install a solid-wood floor on a conventional raised plywood subfloor or on a properly prepared concrete slab (see Preparing Floors for Hardwood) but only if the surface is above grade (it must be no more than 3 inches lower than the ground level outside) because moisture, which is typically present beneath below-grade floors, can be very damaging to solid wood. If your floor is below grade, choose a different material. Engineered-wood flooring may be installed above or below grade.

Bathrooms and kitchens are another story. Though moisture is present in both areas, you can protect the surface of a solid-wood floor with a sturdy, protective finish.

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How to Install a Hardwood Floor | HomeTips

Temperature and humidity can affect flooring planks. Acclimate the flooring in the house for 48 hours before installation. Stack the laminate flooring being used flat on the floor. Remove any plastic wrapping from the boxes and leave air space around each box to allow air to freely circulate around them. Have about 10 percent more flooring than the square feet of area of the room since you'll waste just a little when cutting some pieces.

Clean the subfloor to make sure it's free of any dirt and debris. If installing on top of a new concrete floor wait until the floor is fully cured. Using a pry bar and hammer, carefully remove all base molding (if necessary) and place it out of the way.

Start by laying out the vapor barrier one row at a time from the longest wall of the room. When joining two sheets of barrier together, follow the manufacturer's directions. Some manufacturers will have you overlap the vapor barrier and some will have you butt each row against the previous one.

Lay a piece of flooring flat on the subfloor and up against the door jambs. Use it as a guide to mark the jambs so that the new flooring can slide underneath the jamb. Use a flat saw or a coping saw to cut the jambs, making sure to cut parallel to the subfloor. This will give the floor and jamb a nice finished look without having to remove the entire jamb.

For the best appearance, lay planks parallel to the longest wall. Install the first plank with the groove toward the wall. Place 1/2" spacers against the wall and push the first plank up against them. These spaces create an expansion gap so that the floor can "breathe" (expand and contract) and not warp or buckle. This gap will be covered later with base molding. The spacers also allow the floor to have a firm base to install against. Place the spacers about every 12 inches along the wall and at the end of each plank against adjoining walls.

For each plank, match tongue to groove and tap it into place using a scrap piece of flooring to protect the planks. Make sure the pieces fit snugly together and that there are no gaps along the length of the planks. While installing subsequent rows, stagger the joints of the flooring. When starting a new row, offset it six to eight inches so the joints at the ends of planks are not lined up row to row (which can weaken the floor and create a too-uniform look).

The last plank will need to be trimmed to fit. To mark the plank to the correct width place a plank directly over the next to last plank and place another on top of that and slide the top plank until it sits evenly against spacers against the wall. Draw a line along the plank below the top plank along the edge of the top plank. This will mark the width of the gap between the next to the last plank and the wall. Rip cut the plank along this line and install.

Install any thresholds between the end of the flooring and any open doors where the flooring ends. Thresholds come in different styles to accommodate the kind and height of the flooring the new laminate floor butts up against. Remove the spacers and install base molding to cover the expansion gap.

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How to Install Laminate Flooring : How-To : DIY Network

Find out what installation type is right for you based on your skill level and the flooring types you are considering. Some floors are easy to install, while others require a professional touch. Determine your DIY skill level, view installation tips, and decide the best flooring installation option for you.

This video will help you to decide which flooring installation method is right for you. Whether you are planning to install your new floor yourself or hire professionals Armstrong can help. If you decide you want to complete your own flooring installation, be sure to visit our DIY Flooring Installation center to learn about the skills and tools needed to complete any type of flooring installation. If you are going to be hiring professional flooring installers, visit a nearby flooring store to find trusted Armstrong installers near you.

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Vinyl sheet floors can be installed three different ways: modified loose lay, glue-down with releasable adhesive or glue-down with permanent adhesive. Consider hiring a professional installer for your vinyl sheet installation.

Installing Vinyl Sheet Floors

Alterna vinyl tiles are available in large 16 x 16 tiles for ease of installation. Alterna can also be grouted immediately after installation, so theres no need to wait.

Installing Alterna Floors

Luxe Plank is easy to install just peel the release paper from the back of the plank and press it into place. You can also easily reposition the planks if you want to move them.

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Flooring Installation from Armstrong - Flooring and Ceiling ...

ArchiExpo: Ecobuild Special: A Conversation with Annie Chu from Chu+Gooding Architects, 2013
Annie Chu from Chu+ Gooding Architects tells us about her practice #39;s approach to eco-building in Los Angeles. http://www.cg-arch.com/

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A sting operation exposes architects of Aam Aadmi Party
A sting operation on nine different members of AAP including Shazia Ilmi and Kumar Vishwas shows them demanding cash for raising funds for their party in ret...

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money section Saving & Spending Real Estate Business & Career Insurance Retirement Investing eHow Now eHow Business Running a Business Operating a Business How to Plan Retail Store Space

Brenda Priddy

Brenda Priddy has more than 10 years of crafting and design experience, as well as more than six years of professional writing experience. Her work appears in online publications such as Donna Rae at Home, Five Minutes for Going Green and Daily Mayo. Priddy also writes for Archstone Business Solutions and holds an Associate of Arts in English from McLennan Community College.

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Planning the arrangement and placement of merchandise and other items inside a retail building is one of the most important parts of operating a retail store. With the wrong design, a company can lose sales by having customers who are confused with the layout or who are unable to find what they are looking for. A well-arranged retail space can even help customers spend more because they are attracted to more expensive items. The planning process will take several days or weeks, and it should not be rushed.

Use the measuring tape to chart the dimensions of the retail space. Create a to-scale diagram of the area on graph paper, including all windows, doors and unmovable objects, such as columns and counter tops. Make several copies of this bare draft.

Read all regulations for the retail space including building codes and fire codes so you understand the limitations of the space. Some regulations may include rules regarding how close together merchandise can be and how much space is required near doors or windows.

Look at other retail stores of similar size and shape to help formulate a plan for your own space. You can also look at retail design magazines for inspiration.

Take one of the copies of the retail space and create an initial plan for the placement of merchandise, storage and any other features that your retail space needs. Consider where you want to place featured items and arrange storage near the back of the store or away from prime shopping space.

Place large cardboard boxes inside the store to simulate the appearance of the space according to your drawing. Make any adjustments as necessary, such as widening the aisles, adding additional counter space or moving featured display areas to a more prominent location.

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How to Plan Retail Store Space | eHow