Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Luke from East Brisbane asks:

I have decided to try my first do-it-yourself tile project. I will be putting a tiled floor in my bathroom, but am not sure which type to choose. I am confused by the various types that are available. Should I use porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, or something else?

Jane says:

Tiles are a product that will be in your home for years after theyre installed, so its worth investigating and understanding your options.

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Tiles are made out of several different materials and each has its advantages and disadvantages. For a bathroom, you will need a tile that is moisture and stain resistant. A tile with texture will be less likely to become slick.

Glazed ceramic tiles are a common type found at your local home improvement store. This material is durable and water resistant, but it also tends to have a slick, glass-like finish that can be slippery when wet.

Porcelain tiles combine the durability of ceramic with a low porosity, which means they will not absorb water and are very stain resistant. This material tends to be a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen floors. Porcelain styles are available that are almost indistinguishable from natural stone, giving you the beauty of stone with the durability and low maintenance of porcelain. This versatile material also comes in tiles that give the appearance of wood, which are ideal for rooms, such as basements, where the look of a wood floor can be combined with the qualities or porcelain.

Natural stone tiles come in a variety of types of rock, so it is vital to look at the specifications of the particular stone you are considering. Two popular stone tiles are travertine and slate. Travertine is popular in hot climates due to its cool feel. Slate is beloved for its colour variations, but it also has a rough, uneven texture that makes it difficult to use for flooring. All natural stone must be regularly sealed because it is not stain resistant.

If you are working in a room that has problems with unevenness, have concerns about tile weight, or you arent quite ready to use a tile saw, vinyl tiles may work for you. Vinyl tiles are light and easy to manipulate in difficult areas but of course cannot be continued through to the shower base as most tiles can.

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What sort of tiles for a bathroom?

How To Winterize A Sprinkler System
Watch Brad #39;s guide to winterise a sprinkler system.

By: Irrigationhub

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How To Winterize A Sprinkler System - Video

Kat Dalisay sheds tears

By: ben jason tesiorna

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Kat Dalisay sheds tears - Video

July 24, 2014, 4 a.m.

MENS Sheds mean more than a few old blokes building furniture or fixing pushbikes they also rescue people from depression and health issues.

MENS Sheds mean more than a few old blokes building furniture or fixing pushbikes they also rescue people from depression and health issues.

Brothers in arms (from left) Geoff Barker, from the Port Fairy Mens Shed, Crossley Mens Sheds Michael Lane and Ken Unwin, from the Simpson Mens Shed, ahead of the Mens Shed forum. 140723RG07 Picture: ROB GUNSTONE

Since being formed in Victoria 15 years ago as a way of giving older men something to occupy their spare time it has spread across Australia and overseas. It now encompasses unemployed young people and women seeking help after the loss of partners.

Representatives of south-west Victorian groups were in Warrnambool yesterday for a regional forum where Victorian Mens Shed Association executive officer Ric Blackburn was the keynote speaker.

We have a saying that men communicate best shoulder to shoulder, Mr Blackburn told The Standard.

They can feel safe about talking about whats going on in their lives.

There have been men who have intervened in suicide and others who sought help for health issues and early intervention for cancer.

Growth of Mens Sheds has been extraordinary. We dont tell members what to do, they decide for themselves.

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Sheds a shelter from darkness of isolation

Workers strike at Sydney's Barangaroo

More than 1000 workers have walked off the job, delaying construction at Sydney's Barangaroo development.

The share market is slightly higher at noon following positive data out of China.

The New Zealand dollar has shed almost a cent against the greenback after the Reserve Bank upped cash rates.

Macquarie Group has reconfirmed its full year profit forecast despite a disappointing first quarter.

The $A is higher, propelled by strong inflation figures and positive manufacturing data from China.

Newcrest has beaten gold and copper annual production targets but faces a $2.5 billion hit to mining assets.

South Korea has posted its slowest growth for a year in the second quarter after sluggish consumer spending.

Sydney has led a nationwide surge in median Australian house price growth in the three months to June.

Atlas Iron has planned to cut costs by up to nine per cent amid a slide in iron ore prices.

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Kiwi sheds a cent on Wheeler's words

By Sam Lewis, associate editor Follow Me On Twitter @TheSJLewis

The food distributors California business has been penalized $19.4 million for allowing perishable foods to be stored in sheds without refrigeration units

In a major breach of the cold chain, Sysco has been found guilty of warehousing perishable foods uncooked meats, seafood, and milk in unrefrigerated storage sheds. The company, along with its seven subsidiaries within the state, has been ordered by a California court to pay a fine totally nearly $20 million. The district attorney of Californias Santa Clara County, Jeffrey Rosen, says the offense is a significant breach in consumer trust. When we go out to eat with our friends and families, we should be assured our meals are safe to eat, says Rosen. It is not a luxury for our food to be handled with the utmost professional care to ensure it is not dangerous; that is your right, and that is the law.

What's The Impact Of Big Data In The Cold Chain?

According to the case, Syscos food trucks delivered smaller food orders to the unrefrigerated sheds. The orders would later be picked up the companys workers, using personal vehicles rather than the companys, to bring customers their orders. But this isnt the first time Sysco has been in the news for unacceptable cold chain practices. Last year, the companys practices were uncovered by a local television station. That event prompted an investigation of the companys food storage practices throughout California by the states Department of Public Health. That investigation led to an enforcement proceeding directed by the DAs offices in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Eventually the investigation found that Sysco used 22 total unauthorized food storage facilities in California. Most of these units were not refrigerated or properly sanitized.

Protect Your Brand: Ensuring Food Safety & Compliance With A Quality Management System

The nearly $20 million fine includes $15 million in penalties, $4 million in restitution of which $1 million will be contributed to California food banks and $3.3 million will go toward a five-year, California program to pay for the endeavors of state inspectors who enforce food transportation laws. Finally, Sysco will be required to make a company-wide food-safety program that promises that dangerous, illegal, cold-chain, food-storage practices will not occur again.

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Sysco Receives Nearly $20 Million In Fines For Unrefrigerated Food Storage

Ten California counties, including eight in the San Francisco Bay Area, have settled a civil lawsuit filed against the Sysco Corporation regarding storing perishable foods in unrefrigerated and unregistered storage sheds.

Sysco Corporation will pay $19 million in restitution, costs and civil penalties for allowing seven operating companies to store the food in at least 22 unregistered storage sheds, according to the Marin County District Attorneys Office.

The other Bay Area plaintiffs are Alameda, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma countries. The judgment against Sysco was entered July 17 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The complaint alleged that between 2009 and 2013, Sysco used refrigerated food trucks to transport products for some customer orders in the food industry to the sheds that were not registered with the California Department of Public Health.

The perishable food products were picked up throughout the day by Sysco marketing associates in unregistered personal vehicles for delivery to Sysco customers, the DAs office said.

The complaint also alleged Sysco engaged in misleading advertising regarding food safety standards.

The CDPH investigated the practice after a NBC Bay Area undercover investigation. The department found some of the 22 storage sheds also were unsanitary, according to the DAs office.

Sysco voluntarily ceased the alleged practices when the civil action was taken by the district attorneys offices.

One of the sheds was in the Greenbrae area of Marin County.

The results of this consumer protection enforcement action are a great accomplishment in enhancing food safety for not only Marin County residents, but for consumers statewide who could potentially be affected by unsafe food handling practices, Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said.

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Marin among 10 counties to settle in food storage lawsuit

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Photos courtesy city of Cupertino Rendering for "Main Street Cupertino", a mixed-use project slated for the north side of Stevens Creek Boulevard between Finch and Tantau avenues.

Cupertino residents will soon have a new place to unwind with a snack or adult beverage past the stroke of midnight.

On July 15, the Cupertino City Council unanimously granted Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar permission to stay open until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and to midnight on Sundays. The restaurant will have a full interior bar.

In May, Lazy Dog officials announced the chain would be coming to Main Street Cupertino, a mixed-use project now under construction. The casual, family-style restaurant is known in Southern California for its from-scratch menu and extensive bar menu, which lists beer from local and regional breweries.

The restaurant includes a 1,416-square-foot exterior patio and 1,321-square-foot service yard. It will have 240 regular seats, 16 bar seats, 68 exterior patio seats and up to 30 employees per shift, according to a city staff report.

Lazy Dog at Main Street will have the same Rocky Mountains feel as many of its other locations, with rustic decor and accents such as fireplaces and a massive chandelier crafted from Aspen logs, ledge stone, and fabric- and leather-lined booths and chairs.

The restaurant will also feature dog-friendly patios with ample seating and fire pits. The bar and exterior patios will house multiple flat-screen televisions tuned to sporting events.

"I can imagine people that are coming in jet-lagged from some place in the world, staying in the hotel on Main Street, or working late in the lofts who would really appreciate having a place to be after midnight," Vice Mayor Rod Sinks said.

The building exteriors will feature stone cladding throughout, with particular emphasis on the entryway, which will also have steel awnings.

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Main Street Cupertino's Lazy Dog Restaurant granted late-night hours

Historic Schoolhouse To Become First Restaurant At Chaffee Crossing

By John Lovett Times Record

A new Red Rooster Bistro restaurant is being planned to occupy the historic Maness Schoolhouse in Fort Smith.

The Fort Smith Planning Commission approved a request this week from RUM Inc. to zone the unzoned site for commercial use in preparation for renovations to the building, including construction of a large kitchen and enclosure of a patio. The structure, built by the Works Progress Administration, is in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Its a nice thing to get that thing preserved, said Pat Mickle of Mickle Wagner Coleman Engineers, agent for RUM Inc. Its in pretty tough shape on the inside.

Plans call for the 120-seat restaurant to have two driveway entrances from both Wells Lake and Massard roads. Fifty-five parking spaces already are on site.

Construction could start as early as September pending Fort Smith Board of Directors approval next month. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program division of the Department of Arkansas Heritage also will have to OK the plans.

Ronnie Rouse, a partner with RUM Inc., and property co-owner Jim Meadows said the initial cost estimate for renovations is between $200,000 and $250,000. The planning commissions approval comes with requirements for stormwater drainage and Chaffee Crossing design guidelines.

Brenda Gregory of Red Rooster Bistro said RUM Inc. approached her several months ago.

They said we want to build you a new restaurant and I thought Nah thats all right, and then they said at Chaffee Crossing and my eyes bugged out and I changed my mind, Gregory said. Theres going to be a big demand for a restaurant out there, and Ill be glad to be the first.

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Historic Schoolhouse To Become First Restaurant At Chaffee Crossing

Construction on Washington Countys first Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant will begin in September, with an opening date set for early next year.

South Strabane supervisors on Tuesday night unanimously approved the final land development plans for the restaurant at the Old Mill shopping center after the fast-food chain requested and was granted a variance on the number of parking spaces needed.

The 4,900-square-foot restaurant with 136 dining rooms seats and a double drive-through will be situated on a lot near Max & Ermas and is expected to open in January or February.

Were looking forward to being a part of the second wave of the (Old Mill) development, Chick-fil-A development supervisor Scott Goodson said.

The vote was preceded by a testy exchange between Supervisor Ed Mazur and the companys local attorney, Jonathan Kamin, over whether the restaurant was in compliance with the townships ordinance regarding parking spaces. Kamin said the company requested a variance to reduce the number of required spaces from 113 to 66, which is closer to its national average.

Sorry our ordinances dont comply with your national averages, Mazur said.

Actually, your ordinances dont comply with anything Ive seen in Western Pennsylvania, Kamin said. Theres no more land to be had for this piece of property.

Kamin said the lower number of spaces is closer to what the restaurant needs because 60 percent of its business is from drive-through customers. He added South Strabanes ordinance, which requires more parking spaces for fast-food sites than sit-down restaurants, is out of whack compared to other communities. The townships zoning board allowed the variance last month.

Meanwhile, a plan to expand a restaurant and bar at The Golf Club of Washington at 599 Country Club Road was tabled because it did not provide enough new parking spaces on the grounds. Ken Westcott, who represented the golf club at Tuesday nights meeting, said he has been given conflicting information from the township engineer and other officials about how many new spots are needed in addition to the 72 spots for the nine-hole golf course.

Im not getting a clear answer on that, Westcott said. This has been a frustrating process. I just want to get an answer for this process.

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Chick-fil-A to open in South Strabane early next year