Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Winters abrupt arrival with record cold this month also brought along an even less welcome event: an outbreak of house fires.

Fire department officials report the number is not particularly higher than usual this year. However, the cluster of fires in St. Joseph and the region reminds us how quickly an ordinary day can turn tragic.

Investigators have found a common cause among several fires in St. Joseph they occurred in older structures in which the electrical system was overloaded. Homes built 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago, were not designed to accommodate the pull of modern heating and cooling systems, as well as appliances and electronics.

An old adage holds true here: If in doubt about your homes wiring, have it checked out.

Research and experience also prove that moving to a newer house is not a foolproof way to escape the threat of fire. Because of the materials used in construction, newer homes often burn at a much faster rate than older structures. Synthetic materials both in the house itself and in the furnishings are more flammable.

Regardless of the age of your home or the type of wiring, two steps every homeowner and renter should take:

Install a smoke detector.

Keep it up to date.

St. Joseph Fire Inspector Steve Henrichson points out all smoke detectors can get dusty and batteries will run down on those not directly wired into the house current. Consider this a holiday-time reminder to check those batteries. Also, the National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

Winter will be with us for several months and these steps are worth it to keep your family safe from fire.

More here:
Wiring looms as threat

SAN FRANCISCO --

The unbelievable accident closed off parts of California and Montgomery streets in San Francisco's Financial District Friday morning. A window washer fell approximately 60 feet from an 11th story building, landing on a moving car below. The victim survived but is in critical condition. It's hard to believe the driver of that car was not hurt.

The window washer fell from the roof and landed on a Toyota Camry. All but the driver's area was caved in. The driver, Mohammad Al Cozai, narrowly escaped being critically injured.

"As soon as I made my left turn, then I saw something hit my car very hard. The impact was really hard. I didn't know what it is," said Mohammad Al Cozai of Dublin.

After landing on the car, the window washer fell onto the street. Witnesses ran to help.

Witness describes San Francisco window washer's fall

Cal/OSHA spokeswoman Julia Bernstein said the man suffered a broken arm and injuries to his side.

"I took off my jacket, I put it over him and I just started to direct traffic. I don't know anything about medical, so I did what I could," said witness Jess Cathcart.

The thud of the body onto the car and the shattering of the glass was what was, I guess shocking," said witness Sam Hartwell.

The man is an employee of Redwood City-based Century Window Cleaning. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for safety violations four times in 2008, including one serious violation that resulted in a $6,740 penalty, according to the agency's website. The case was eventually settled, and the penalty was reduced to $2,720, Bernstein said.

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San Francisco window washer survives 11-story fall

SAN FRANCISCO --

The window washer fell from the roof and landed on a Toyota Camry. All but the driver's area was caved in. The driver, Mohammad Al Cozai, narrowly escaped being critically injured.

"As soon as I made my left turn, then I saw something hit my car very hard. The impact was really hard. I didn't know what it is," said Mohammad Al Cozai of Dublin.

After landing on the car, the window washer fell onto the street. Witnesses ran to help.

Witness describes San Francisco window washer's fall

"I am a pre-med student, I said go get towels right now. He was unconscious and he is bleeding from the ears," said witness Bianca Bahman.

Cal/OSHA spokeswoman Julia Bernstein said the man suffered a broken arm and injuries to his side.

"I took off my jacket, I put it over him and I just started to direct traffic. I don't know anything about medical, so I did what I could," said witness Jess Cathcart.

The thud of the body onto the car and the shattering of the glass was what was, I guess shocking," said witness Sam Hartwell.

The man, an employee of Redwood City-based Century Window Cleaning. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for safety violations four times in 2008, including one serious violation that resulted in a $6,740 penalty, according to the agency's website. The case was eventually settled, and the penalty was reduced to $2,720, Bernstein said.

Originally posted here:
Window washer falls 60 feet from SF high rise onto car

Sudhin Thanawala and Kristin J. Bender , The Associated Press Published Saturday, November 22, 2014 3:49PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO -- A worker who fell 11 storeys from a San Francisco building onto a moving car, crushing its roof and sending shattered glass flying into the street survived but was in critical condition.

The man fell screaming from the roof of a downtown building Friday, but was conscious when paramedics reached the area, police said.

He remained in critical condition at a San Francisco Hospital Friday night, officials said.

The car's driver, Mohammad Alcozai, was not injured. He told KGO-TV that he's happy to be alive especially after his car's roof almost completely collapsed in the accident. He said he is praying that the worker survives.

"I'm very happy that I didn't get hurt," Alcozai told the news channel shortly after the accident. "Hopefully he can make it. I pray for him that he can make it."

Alcozai said he saw something hit his car shortly after making a left turn.

Witnesses described seeing a blue streak and the man's shadow as he fell and then hearing shattering glass as he hit the car and then rolled onto the ground. The roof of the car, a green Toyota Camry, was smashed in, and the rear windshield shattered.

Bianca Bahman, who was on the corner where the man fell, said she looked up to see his shadow and ran for cover.

"As he was coming down, he was definitely screaming," Bahman, 31, a pre-medical student at San Francisco State University said.

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Window washer survives 11-storey fall in San Francisco

GE Heat Pump Water Heater Install
This video describes the installation of a GE hybrid electric heat pump water heater. I searched for how to videos on this model but couldn #39;t find any so dec...

By: Jeff Bonner

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GE Heat Pump Water Heater Install - Video

For many people with backyard ponds, fountains and other water-garden fixtures, the arrival of cold weather means draining the pipes and pulling the plug.

But water gardens can be attractive winter gardens, too, with the right preparation and landscaping.

Turning off a garden's water fixtures might not be necessary, depending on where you live, said Keith Folsom, president of Springdale Water Gardens in Greenville, Virginia. Their wintertime effect is always different and attractive with the use of landscape lighting and the right plants.

We had an extremely cold winter here last year but it wasn't a problem, he said. Pay attention and know how much water you're using below the ice. You have to keep that flow topped off.

Ensure that water lines and fixtures are drained if you do decide to turn them off so they won't expand with freezing and break, Folsom said. Running water, on the other hand, prevents icing. That's one of the reasons I tell people to keep them running.

Landscaping around water fixtures can mean simply adding a few evergreens for contrast against snow, or stringing some lights around the ice.

Tips for preparing your pond for the winter freeze-up:

Remove debris before it can decompose. That prevents organic rot, loss of oxygen and an accumulation of toxic gases. But the bigger problem comes if you stir it up, Folsom said. That can turn up bacteria that will be harmful to fish in winter.

Use netting. Cover the water with a screen, sweep the surface with a long-handled net or install skimmers like those used to vacuum swimming pools.

Prune. Pinch off aquatic plants as they die. Reposition your hardy potted water lilies into deeper water.

See more here:
Keep backyards alive in winter

This floating tap can be found on the Spanish island of Menorca. The thick jet of water conceals the support and water pipes of the installation, making it appear to float in midair. The Dubai Fountain sits in front of the Burj Khalifa and features five rings of jets that can shoot water 50 stories high. The world's tallest indoor fountain, which receives up to 20,000 visitors a day, can be found inside a Lotte Department Store in Busan, South Korea. A water spout at the apex of a skull symbolizes birth, rebirth, wisdom and community at the Turning Heads Fountain in Walnut Creek, California.

Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (Seoul)

Swarovski Crystal Head Fountain (Austria)

Fountains of Bellagio (Las Vegas)

The Fountain of Wealth (Singapore)

Tap fountain (Menorca, Spain)

Jet d'Eau (Geneva, Switzerland)

Crown Fountain (Chicago)

Dubai Fountain (United Arab Emirates)

Aquanura, Efteling (Netherlands)

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World's most spectacular fountains

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ??

Here is a list of road projects around the Heartland scheduled for Sunday, November 23.

Butler County, MO

Route 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulders repairs. This section of roadway is located from Old Route 72 to Route B.

Existing lanes of Route 67 from CR 323 to Route 160/158 will be signed as Route C. The north end of Route C (existing Route 67) will remain closed for about two months as work is completed at the intersection of Route 67, Route C, and CR 323.

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Property owners adjacent to the bridge will have access to their properties. A marked detour is proposed here:

From the north: Route 61 south to Route KK, west on KK to I-55, south on I-55 to Route E, then east on Route E to Route 61. From the south: Route 61 north to Route E, east on Route E to I-55, north on I-55 to Route KK, then east on KK to Route 61. Maps are available at MoDOT's Sikeston Office on N. Main St. Property owners can request a hearing in writing if affected.

Pemiscot County, MO

Route J in Pemiscot County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the roadway.This section of roadway is located between Reed Street and Cleveland Street.Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, Nov. 25 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Heartland road projects for 11/23

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You can save on remodeling by preparing a space as much as possible before the builders arrive. With the proper tools, removing a non-load bearing wall is a simple task, and loads of fun.

First, make sure the wall you want to remove isnt load bearing and shut off the breaker if there is power running to an outlet or switch in the wall.

Then assemble your tools, which will include: a reciprocating saw, a flat/pry bar, a box cutter, and a hammer. You should also wear work gloves and eye protection (unlike Josh in the above video from eHow).

Start by removing any trim or moulding using your flat bar and hammer. Then use your knife and cut through the tape and mud that is at the seams along the ceiling and corners.

Then the fun begins! Using your hammer, break through the plaster and pull it off to reveal the studs. Remove the vertical studs using your recip saw and pry up the floor studs with your flat bar. Check out the video above to see the process in action.

Tool Tip Basics: Tearing Down a Wall [eHowatHomeChannel]

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Safely Remove A Non-Load Bearing Wall

Ceramic Tile work Engineering Work Civil Engineer
ceramic engineering work civil engineer.

By: Kurd Engineer

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Ceramic Tile work Engineering Work Civil Engineer - Video