Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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Having a house fire is one of my greatest fears, especially when I'm away from home and my paranoia is allowed to imagine up all sorts of horrendous scenarios. I'm the kind of person who checks the stove and heater before leaving the house, fusses over the electrical wiring, and takes special care when snuffing candles -- and not just I remember a friend losing his home to arson when I was a kid.

I always think that one of the best way to deal with your fears is confronting them head on, so I researched the progression of a house fire to understand how and why they happen. Having that information is key to the other part of the battle: reducing the chance that one will happen to me, using sensible, evidence-tested means.

It can take as little as 30 seconds for a small spark to turn into a conflagration from which people have only a few minutes to escape, thanks to the increasing number of highly flammable materials being used in home construction and kept around the home. Synthetic materials are a part of our lives now, but unfortunately, they don't offer the fire resistance available from cotton, wool, linen, and similar fabrics and other natural materials.

Almost half of house fires start in the kitchen, typically on the stovetop, where something boils over and onto a hot burner. That's actually an easy point to catch and stop a fire, if you don't lose your cool: you should have a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires in the kitchen, along with baking soda if necessary. Both substances will cut off the supply of oxygen to the fire, knocking out a critical leg of the fire triangle (fuel, air, and heat).

If your kitchen is dirty (including your range top or hood), the fire can spread very fast. Grease may spatter across counters covered in debris, jump to the table, and snake its way across kitchen messes, with flames leaping behind, causing the fire to leap around the kitchen. Within seconds, the kitchen will be a haze of flames and smoke, which will make it hard to see or escape. Heat rises, carrying heat and vapors into the upper levels of the house.

The more the fire spreads, the hotter the air inside the house becomes. At this point, it would be difficult to breathe without incurring serious lung damage, and parts of the house would be reaching the point of spontaneous combustion because of the heat. That's when you get a phenomenon called flashover, where abrupt and very rapid combustion effectively causes a room to explode with flames. Once one room catches fire, flames will quickly spread, and a home can be fully involved within minutes of the initial flames.

The second most common cause of house fires is heating equipment, which is why it's important to make sure yours is in good working order, so have an LA HVAC technician take a look at your system if it hasn't been checked in a while. Careless smoking, electrical equipment, and candles come next, followed by playful kids, out-of-date wiring, flammable liquids, Christmas trees, and barbecues. Tragically, many of these causes can be addressed before they cause a major house fire, and programs are even available in some cases to help people mitigate their fire risks (for example, Christmas light trade-ins let people get rid of older strands of lights in exchange for new LEDs).

A few simple measures can radically reduce the risk of fires in the home. Anything that produces heat or an open flame shouldn't be left unattended, and should be regularly serviced (if applicable -- obviously, your chimney needs to be swept, but candles don't require regular servicing!). Keeping your house clean and as free of dust and flammable chemicals as possible will limit fuel that a fire could use to spread, while installing fire extinguishers and fire detectors so you can act fast when the worst happens is strongly advised (and legally required, in some areas).

You should also have a fire plan in place. With only minutes to escape in an emergency, you need to know exactly how you're going to get out and where you're going to meet up with family members. Once you're free of the danger zone, you can communicate with first responders about who might still be inside and what to do next. It helps them to know where the fire started (if you know), and if you have information about the electrical wiring, plumbing, and floor plan, make it available so they can plan their strategy more effectively.

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The progression of a house fire

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- You know the saying, everything is bigger in Texas?

That's definitely true in The Woodlands, where we found one of the largest, most expensive homes in the Houston market.

The more than 33,000 square foot mansion is tucked deep in the heart of The Woodlands. The French Renaissance-inspired home also has an additional 7,000 square feet of patio space. The three stories soar above the four acres of surrounding property, but it's the interior that truly stands out.

Listing agent Arlene English says you will find 12 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, and nine kitchens (five full and four mini-kitchens).

Out of the eight unique bedroom suites, the master is the largest, taking up 3,000 square feet, the size of most homes. The master bedroom has his and her showers, his and her walk-in closets, a full sitting area with a fireplace, and a private salon.

The other seven suites are like staying in a luxury hotel.

A palatial office is filled with rich wood, crackling fireplaces, and plenty of bars.

The house is lit with 42 chandeliers along with 2,200 other lights, more than 100 doors, and three elevators.

The entire third floor is an entertainment complex, including a luxury theater, gentlemen's lounge, soda fountain, and a game room.

Outside you can find a spectacular pool with two spas and waterfall.

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Inside Houston's most expensive home for sale

SPOKANE VALLEY - A 21-year-old Coeur d'Alene man was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana operation at a Spokane Valley home in which 273 plants were recovered.

Cole Brown was booked into the Spokane County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance. More arrests are pending.

Brown told police he had been staying off and on at the home on north Conklin Road and also living in Coeur d'Alene.

"Detectives hope to stem any trend from developing where Idaho marijuana growers set up illegal operations across the border in Washington to try and take advantage of more lenient state laws regarding the drug," a Spokane Valley Police press release states.

Detectives served a search warrant at the Spokane Valley home and discovered the rental house had been converted into an alleged illegal marijuana growing operation.

A male and female were staying part time in one of the bedrooms, and tending to the plants that were in various stages of maturity, the press release states. The home's wiring and ventilation had been altered to accommodate commercial grow equipment and there were signs of mold growth and other issues in the home associated with long-term indoor grow operations.

Neighbors in the area had become suspicious when they never saw the new renters, the press release states. All the windows were blacked out and vehicles parked mostly behind the house, hidden from view.

Detectives conducted surveillance and noticed that all the vehicles frequenting the residence had Idaho plates. Further investigation established probable cause for the search warrant.

Brown and an adult female, who was not arrested and also claimed to be living in Coeur d'Alene, both smelled of marijuana, but claimed no knowledge of a marijuana growing operation at the house, according to police. Neither claimed to use or grow marijuana for medicinal reasons.

Excerpt from:
Cd'A man arrested during pot bust

10408 Saint John Dr | Laura Janski | Home Has It All
Take a Virtual Tour : http://tours.realvisionstudio.com/tour.php?tourid=38151 referrer=youtube.com Look no more...this home has it ALL!! Pristine waterfront ...

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AHS Home Warranty Training
Learn how to protect your buyers and sellers with a home warranty!

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3 Bed 2 Bath HOME FOR SALE | 5906 Midnight Ln Louisville, KY 40229 | $129,900
Offered FOR SALE by AcklesWilliams Real Estate: Look no further if you #39;ve been seeking an Updated 3-4 Bed, 2 Full Bath Brick Ranch with an Awesome Finished B...

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1027 Green Rd, Madisonville, TN 37354 - MarriedToRealEstate.com
http://1027greenrd.IsNowForSale.com?rs=youtube For more info and pics, Text "154840" to 79564 2 bed/ 1 bath home with bonus area This home is eligible for a ...

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Harrisburg, PA (PRWEB) February 26, 2014

Residential Warranty Company, LLC (RWC) - an innovator in the warranty industry and the nations leading new home warranty provider - is happy to announce that its joining forces with affiliates to launch a special membership drive.

For a limited time only, RWC, HOME of Texas, and MHWC are waiving the $295 registration fee for all New Membership Applicants.

Simply visit RWCs new online membership application, which starting March 1st through March 31st, 2014, comes with no registration fee. Homeowner references, supplier references, and inspector references are not required, making it easier than ever to become a member in RWCs home warranty programs.

If you havent considered membership in RWC or one of its affiliates recently, maybe its time to give RWCs home warranty plans another look.

Benefits of RWC Membership:

To revel in the benefits of RWC membership, join today.

ABOUT RWC

Residential Warranty Company, LLC is a leading provider of insured home warranties to the building industry. Builders seeking options in coverage, sensible home warranty protection, and assistance in dealing with customer service, choose RWC. In business for over 30 years, RWC has warranted over 3 million homes and is rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best. An extensive menu of choices in both home warranties and general liability insurance is available, enabling builders to reduce their liability and increase the marketability of their homes. Become a member today: http://www.rwcwarranty.com.

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Residential Warranty Company Launches a Limited-Time Membership Drive

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OnGARD home security products are tested and certified by Global Security Experts. Our user-friendly website allows you to easily navigate to the most appropriate products for your individual...

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