(PRWEB) July 23, 2014

Chicago-based OEM, Ellas Bubbles is well-known for their acrylic walk in bath development, production and distribution for USA and Canadian markets since 2005. Their mantra, Bath Luxury, and Safety at a Fair Price, is both their company goal and philosophy. In addition to their innovative and ergonomic walk-in bathtubs, Ellas Bubbles now offers a line of Ella made-to-order from scratch shower systems.

Offering these high-quality, durable products, at budget sensitive price points benefits our Network of Authorized Dealers, contractors, and their customers, said Ellas Bubbles CFO, Laima Vinklers.

Ellas Bubbles proudly announces that all Ella premium marine grade Gel Coated Fiberglass Showers are completely fabricated and built from the ground up at the factory in Tennessee. Instantly recognizable by their beautifully smooth, long lasting surfaces Ella showers pair good looks with safety and practicality. Positioned as sensible alternatives to the conventional bathtub, Ella Gel Coated Fiberglass Showers are an installers dream come true. No drywall is needed, plus an integral self-locking aluminum Pin and Slot System allows the shower walls and the pre-leveled shower base to be conveniently installed from the front. Adding to their thoughtful construction, the shower walls are reinforced with wood and fiberglass enabling grab bar installation wherever the customer needs them not where the studs are.

Stand out models include the modular design-savvy Ella Low Threshold Shower with a seat available in 5 sizes, 6 packages and 3 color options. Ella also offers multi-piece Barrier Free, wheelchair accessible showers available in 13 sizes, 8 packages and 3 color options. Both models are available in Standard packages, with brand name Hansgrohe and Ponte Giulio bath fixtures, or pick your own unique package.

Any questions regarding Ella Gel Coated Fiberglass Shower Systems should be addressed with their customer service department at 800-480-6850, by email at: info(at)ellasbubbles(dot)com, or by completing the Contact Us form on their website.

About Ellas Bubbles Ellas Bubbles, (http://ellasbubbles.com) headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a nationally distributed OEM of acrylic walk in bathtubs and accessible showers. Ellas Bubbles is committed to providing exceptionally manufactured products at a competitive price, while consistently providing quality customer service.

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By Virtue of Quality Ellas Bubbles Proudly Announces Ella Made-to-Order Shower Systems

Kulani Correctional Facility Related Coverage

The first group of 21 inmates were transported up to Kulani Correctional Facility in Hilo Monday morning.

The 280-acre facility reopened on July 1, 2014, after closing in 2009, resulting in the displacement of nearly 100 staff and the transfer of almost 200 Hawaii inmates to other state facilities.

There are currently 56 staff working at the facility.

Sixteen new ACOs started Basic Corrections Training on June 30 and will begin their jobs at Kulani upon graduation in August. In addition, 19 more positions are in various stages of recruitment.

Kulanis 200 low-risk inmates will return in phases. The rest will return in increments over the next five months.

Vocational training and substance abuse treatment programs will be added through partnerships with community providers and other state departments. The vocational programs include a Facility Maintenance Program, Agriculture/Horticulture Program and other technology career training programs.

The Facilities Maintenance Program teaches the inmates important trade skills like carpentry, drywall, solar installation, and electrical and plumbing fundamentals, said Kulani Warden Ruth Coller Forbes. The inmates will be helping to maintain and upgrade Kulani while learning important trade skills. We want them to leave Kulani as self-sufficient, productive members of society and never come back.

The Department of Public Safety is also working with kupuna from East Hawaii to develop programs based on traditional Hawaiian values.

In addition, the Departments of Agriculture and Labor are working with Kulani to develop a plan for a sustainable agriculture program that can help inmates develop essential work skills and provide fresh produce for the facility.

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First wave of inmates arrive at Kulani Correctional Facility in Hilo

BRISTOL, Va. The vacant remains of a former downtown Bristol car dealership have been converted into the state-of-the-art Birthplace of Country Music Museum, where craftsmen and their families toured Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Jessica Turner, the museums director, said she became teary eyed when the BurWil Construction trailer was removed from the property this past week.

Im really excited about having this particular group in the museum this weekend, because yall built this thing, Turner told construction staff. And you have your own stories to tell about what part you made happen in the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

BurWil began construction on the former Goodpasture Motor Company building site in January 2013. The 24,000 square foot brick facility, originally constructed in the mid-1920s at the corner of Cumberland Street and Moore Street, will open to the public on Aug. 1 as the new BCM Museum.

It hasnt been your ordinary construction project, Turner said.

The building was in poor condition when contractors began working last year, said BurWil project superintendent Anthony Huff. The brick exterior and some other structural components are all that remain of the original building, which also housed a cab company, a shoe store and a barber shop. Musical performances and other recreational activities have also taken place in the building.

It was originally built as a parking structure, said Huff, who noted that the second floor was sloped for drainage and resulted in several challenges.

During the first phase, BurWil President and Project Manager Bill Price said, the building was gutted and lead paint and concrete slabs were removed.

We took it down to the base structure, he said.

Overall building improvements, such as installation of new floors and electrical systems, were completed during the second phase. The last phase involved the installation of exhibits and audio-visual components of the museum.

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History up close and personal

Peter Vandenbelt

BACKING THE WARD SYSTEM: Leo Martinez, pictured here from a visit in February, is a former city councilmember who favors district elections.

Leo Martinez and Barry Cappello Take On City Hall over DistrictElections

NEVER HAPPEN: There are some things that arent going to happen very soon. The Chicago Cubs will not win the pennant. Congress will not vote Vlad the Impaler Putin Mr. WorldDemocracy.

And Santa Barbarans are not going to approve City Council district elections, at least not in my lifetime. Its more likely to rain for amonth.

Never mind that our present at-large voting system is profoundly unfair, undemocratic, and corrupt to boot, according to former city attorney BarryCappello.

BarneyBrantingham

What? The good citizens of St. Barbara, so proud of their imagined good-government nobility, are unheedingly perpetrating some Chicago-ese crime against itscitizenry?

So it seems, and Cappellos preparing the groundwork for a lawsuit against the city, citing the California Voting RightsAct.

Councilmembers, however, are not only opposed to district elections but declined in a recent tie vote to even let the public decide. I had a long phone conversation on the subject the other day with bombastic former councilmember Leo Martinez (its impossible to have a short one withLeo).

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S.B. Corrupt? Say It Aint So

Skinnys drywall
Drywall installation.

By: SkinnysDrywall331

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Skinnys drywall - Video

Sonance Architectural Series Dry Wall Installation
A walk through video for Sonance Architectural Series dry wall installation. http://www.sonance.com/in-wall-in-ceiling/architectural-series.

By: SonanceSpeakers

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Sonance Architectural Series Dry Wall Installation - Video

July 8, 2014 - Meeting needs of architects and contractors, ProSTUD with corrosion-inhibiting DiamondPlus Coating complies with 2012 International Building Code, 2012 International Residential Code, and 2013 California and 2010 Florida Building Codes. DiamondPlus attaches to zinc-coated substrate of steel during coating process and formspermanent bond. Coating penetrates into zinc-coated substrate to fill voids, cracks and pores. In tests, product did not exhibit 3% surface rust even after 240 hr. ClarkDietrich 9100 Centre Pointe Drive West Chester, OH, 45069 USA Press release date: June 26, 2014

West Chester, OHIO ClarkDietrich Building Systems, a leading manufacturer of steel framing products, today announced the launch of ProSTUD(R) with DiamondPlus() Coating - the next generation of its popular ProSTUD Drywall Framing System. Building code compliant for nonstructural applications, ClarkDietrichs newest offering combines ProSTUDs benchmark performance with the corrosion-inhibiting properties of DiamondPlus coating, resulting in the highest performing drywall framing system in the industry.

During the coating process, DiamondPlus attaches to the zinc-coated substrate of the steel and forms a permanent bond. The coating penetrates into the zinc-coated substrate to fill voids, cracks and pores. This process accounts for the superior corrosion resistance of ProSTUD with DiamondPlus.

In averaged data, traditional G40 began failing at 120 hours. It rapidly reached the testing failure threshold of 10 percent surface rust at 192 hours. By comparison, ProSTUD with DiamondPlus Coating did not exhibit 3 percent surface rust, even after 240 hours

We are thrilled to provide architects and contractors with another innovation that will enhance the performance of wall assemblies, said Bill Courtney, CEO, ClarkDietrich Building Systems. Rigorous testing has proven that ProSTUD with DiamondPlus has properties that far surpass the corrosion protection of traditional G40 steel studs.

Evaluation services, such as Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI) has recognized equivalent or EQ coatings through its Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR) program.

In early 2014, ATI issued a CCRR confirming that ProSTUD with EQ coatings (now known as ProSTUD with DiamondPlus Coating) complies with the 2012 International Building Code(R), 2012 International Residential Code(R) and the 2013 California and 2010 Florida Building Codes.

Introduced to the market in 2009, the patented ProSTUD Drywall Framing System combines innovative design with high-strength steel that sets the industry benchmark for high-performance drywall framing. The diamond embossed web creates stiffness, thereby reducing flange fade and screw spinout during drywall installation. The strong, lightweight stud and track also cuts and handles easier than conventional flat studs.

For more information, visit http://www.clarkdietrich.com

About ClarkDietrich Building Systems ClarkDietrich Building Systems is the leading manufacturer of a full-line of drywall studs and accessories, structural studs and joists, metal lath and accessories, shaft wall studs and track, interior finishing products, and connectors and accessories for commercial and residential construction. Quality manufacturing, a full-line offering, national distribution, engineering services and responsive customer service position ClarkDietrich Building Systems as the largest and fastest growing manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing in North America. Clarkwestern Dietrich Building Systems LLC is a 75/25 joint venture with Marubeni-Itochu Steel America Inc. (MISA) and Worthington Industries, Inc.

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Drywall Framing System is optimized for corrosion resistance.

Step 1 Measure the width of the wall and cut the sheet so it's about 14 inch shorter. Have someone help you position the sheet tight against the ceiling, and begin driving 114-inch screws in the middle of the panel at a convenient height. Step 2 Once the first screws are in place put in the rest, working your way from the center of the panel toward the outside. Drive the screws 16 inches apart into all of the studs. Step 3 A longer wall may need more than one sheet of drywall. Start by hanging a full sheet as before. Tack it in place, and then drive screws every 16 inches into the studs. Step 4

If the sheet covers a window that has yet to be installed, cover the window with a drywall panel and insert a few screws for positioning. If you have a drywall router, plunge the router into the approximate center of the window and cut sideways and vertically until you find the edges. If you don't have a router, use a handsaw.

If the window is already in place, take off the window trim and cut the window opening in the drywall sheet before you hang it. Lay out the cut by positioning the sheet along the floor and marking where it meets the bottom edge of the windows. Measure from the ceiling to the window top to lay out the top edge of the cut.

Begin the bottom row with a shorter piece so that the seam in the top row will not be directly above the seam in the bottom row. Position the piece, lift it with a panel lift, and screw it in place. When the small piece is in place, install the longer piece.

There should be a slight gap between the floor and the drywall so that the drywall won't jam against bumps in the floor. Baseboard will cover it later. If necessary, trim the sheet to leave about a 12-inch gap.

Using a spiral saw is the most effective way to cut space for outlets. Note the height of the outlet box and draw marks on the floor to show where it is. Remove the wires and screw the drywall in place, covering the box and driving just enough screws to keep the drywall in place. Find the inside edge of the box by plunging the spiral saw into the box and cutting sideways to the edges in a counterclockwise direction.

If you are using a hand saw, rub the edges of the box with lipstick and put the drywall panel in place with two screws for positioning. Remove it, and cut along the lipstick marks on the back of the panel. Reattach the panel and add drywall screws as necessary.

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How To Install a Dry Wall at The Home Depot

With the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution underway, consumers want the ability to control devices in an automated and easy manner. The home automation market has also received a fillip recently, thanks to efforts from some high-profile vendors. Ubiquiti Networks is tackling the IoT market from the enterprise / SMB side. Due to the nature of that market segment, Ubiquiti's building automation product line (mFi) is loaded with features, and is quite flexible too. We had reviewed the mFi mPower and found it to actually present great value for the money despite being targeted towards business users.

Today, Ubiquiti is launching a couple of additions to the mFi family. The mFi-MPW is similar to the mFi mPower in terms of providing electrical outlets with remote switching (over Wi-Fi) and energy monitoring capabilities. The only difference is its in-wall design which allows users to replace the existing wall outlets while gaining automation aspects. The industrial design allows for blending of the device into the current setting (no odd protruding contraptions out of the wall / loose power strip hanging off the outlet). The mFi-MPW comes in black, with a white colored option (mFi-MPW-W) also in the mix.

The second device provides new functionality by acting as a switch / dimmer. Unlike traditional switches, the mFi-LD and mFi-LD-W come with touch panels. Toggling the lights is achieved by tapping while dimming control is provided by sliding the fingers on it (similar to a mouse pad). Obviously, the device can be controlled via Wi-Fi and energy monitoring is available. More details about the switch / dimmer can be found here.

While basic control and monitoring can be achieved via the web-interface, the usage of the mFi Controller Software allows for setting up scenes and other home automation aspects. SSH access is available (similar to what power users have enjoyed with the other mFi devices), opening up a host of possibilites for developers of home automation integration systems. In terms of hardware installation, many home users might prefer the services of a licensed electrician for installation (but, this is quite similar to what one had to do for the Belkin WeMo Light Switch, a play aimed purely at the residential market). The other issue is that all the Wi-Fi circuitry takes up some space, and the outlet is actually 1.6" deep (which might be too big for some gang boxes).

Retail availability is still a bit of a hit-and-miss, as Ubiquiti tends to operate through a distributor network. However, on the basis of my previous experience, I believe we should be able to grab these on Amazon pretty soon.

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Ubiquiti Networks Launches mFi In-Wall Manageable Devices

TAMPA Repairs are nearly finished on flooded sections of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, where a gasket joining two water pipes blew out on Fathers Day.

County workers were replacing drywall this week in Commissioner Mark Sharpes office on the north side of the building where the flooding occurred overnight June 15. Sharpe is out of the office on vacation but will be able to move back into his second-floor headquarters next week.

Sobiks Subs, a favorite lunchtime spot for county workers and visitors on the first floor, reopened last week.

The flooding occurred when a gasket on the fire suppression sprinkler system burst on the third floor of the 28-story building at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. The county had to open up the walls in Sharpes office to fix the pipes.

In addition to Sharpes office and the cafe, there was some damage to Commissioner Al Higginbothams outer office, also on the second floor.

The County Center was closed for a day, but employees continued to answer central phone numbers as well as emails.

The fire suppression system underwent a five-year inspection in April by Piper Fire Protection. A number of gaskets were replaced during that inspection, said Joshua Bellotti, interim director of Real Estate and Facilities Services.

That includes removing some of the valves to inspect them and when they do, they replace the gaskets, Bellotti said. A lot of gaskets were replaced.

But one of the gaskets replaced in April failed on Memorial Day causing a leak, though without the extensive flooding that happened several weeks later.

Bellotti said it hasnt been determined whether the leaks were caused by faulty gaskets or bad workmanship during the installation.

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Flood repairs almost done at Hillsborough County Center