Glenn Haege, Special to The Detroit News Published 5:31 p.m. ET Aug. 3, 2017

Floor specialist Steve McNamara says luxury vinyl tiles are softer and more comfortable to walk or stand on than hardwood, stone or tile floors.(Photo: Riemer Floors)

Invented in the 1930s, vinyl flooring soon become the preferred option in kitchens, hallways and bathrooms in the 1950s and 60s due to its low cost and water resistance. And even if you were updating the floor in a kitchen or hallway 25 years ago, there was a good chance that vinyl flooring was still your choice because of its durability and ease of maintenance for such high-traffic areas. But over the years, vinyl floors lost popularity to ceramic tile, hardwood and natural stone as people looked for more stylish flooring options.

Today, however, vinyl is making a comeback with a luxury vinyl tile (LVT) category that provides improved durability and ease of maintenance over traditional vinyl flooring coupled with dramatic new styles that mimic tile or wood at a lower price point without the extensive installation or maintenance costs.

Todays luxury vinyl tile offers more style and design options and is more durable than the old sheet vinyl flooring, said Steve McNamara, vice president of hard surface products at Riemer Floors, (248) 335-3500, riemerfloors.com.

McNamara said LVT is softer and more comfortable to walk or stand on than hardwood, stone or tile floors, and is basically waterproof, making it a great choice for kitchens or other high-traffic areas. He also said one of the biggest advancements in the LTV category is an added wearlayer with aluminum oxide on top of the vinyl flooring that offers superior resistance to stains, scuffs and scratches and makes it much more durable than the old vinyl product.

While LVT with the wearlayer is more durable than traditional vinyl floors for normal wear and tear, it still can be susceptible to scratches if you are moving appliances, McNamara said. But because it comes in smaller sized tiles versus the old 12-foot version, you can replace individual tiles if they get damaged.

He said LVT also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes versus the old standard 12 foot wide sheets including plank, square, rectangular and octagon shapes to mimic hardwood, stone and ceramic tile. McNamara added that it is easier to install than ceramic or stone and there is even an option to have groutable luxury vinyl tiles to give them a more authentic ceramic tile look.

A big part of our business in the past five years has been in the luxury vinyl tile category, he said. It really replicates the look of hardwood or ceramic tile well but it can be 35 percent to 40 percent cheaper when installed versus ceramic tile and closer to 50 percent cheaper if you choose the LVT without the groutable option.

Some manufacturers of luxury vinyl tile flooring include Armstrong, armstongflooring.com, Mannington, mannington.com, and Mohawk, mohawkflooring.com.

Armstrong offers its Alterna line of luxury vinyl tile that looks like ceramic tile or stone, along with a Luxe Plank line that looks like hardwood. Manningtons Luxury Vinyl Sheet line also offers options for ceramic, hardwood and stone looks along with more traditional looking vinyl flooring available in 23 unique designs. And Mohawk offers 17 different styles that mimic tile, stone or wood floors.

Updating your flooring can make a huge statement in any room in your house, but especially in areas like the kitchen or hallway. And with luxury vinyl tile becoming a more durable and cost effective option, you may want to visit a showroom to see it up close and compare it to ceramic tile, hardwood or stone.

For more home improvement advice, call The Handyman Show With Glenn Haege" on WJR-AM (760) at (866) ASK GLENN, (866) 275-4536 between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday. The Handyman Show can also be heard on more than 135 radio stations nationwide.

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Luxury vinyl tiles rival ceramic and hardwood floors - The Detroit News

The luster of the neon returned late last week to the Melba Theatre in downtown Houston as an extensive renovation of the 1938 icon continues.

The project began last fall and includes extensive construction and renovations at the Melba Theatre, closed since the early 1980s, and adjoining business properties. A lobby was expanded, a concession area included, new restrooms added and dressing rooms developed. An early 1900s cigar case from Blankenship Drug, one of the towns first businesses, is in place in the concession stand. Instead of displaying tobacco, it will pitch snacks. The first neon M that graced the front of the structure will sit lit in a corner along with two original chairs which promises to a popular spot for this generations selfies taken by phone. Eighty years earlier, it was an occasional black and white snapshot.

Downtown Houston Inc., the organization leading the project, said Monday occupancy of the building is expected this fall after several improvements are completed:

Sound and lighting installation required for productions, meetings and other events, which might at some point even include an occasion movie. That work may begin as early as this week.

Hanging of curtains around a new stage that is considerably bigger than the original one built by the original owner, Bessie Kelly. It is now 25 feet in depth and fills the width of the building. Curtain material to act as a sound barrier was installed earlier on walls.

Final finishes on the neon is required on the front exterior of the building and around a marquee, which also is being refurbished. Employees with Missouri Neon in Springfield worked four days last week.

Chairs will be ordered soon to allow for a fall opening. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Downtown Houston Inc., P.O. Box 170, Houston, Mo. 65483

Installation of seating on the just-painted original concrete floors. It is estimated 166 will be included. A campaign is under way to raise additional funding for seating. Many families, businesses and classes have joining together to adopt a seat or multiple ones, but additional help is needed. The cost is $250, and a name plate is added to the chair that recognizes the donor or honors someone. Chairs will be ordered soon to allow for a fall opening. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Downtown Houston Inc., P.O. Box 170, Houston, Mo. 65483 or dropped off with volunteers Vera Gladden, Becky Edison, Kathy Richardson or Brad Gentry.

Flooring that includes tile in the concession area and restrooms and carpet in the lobby and dressing rooms was finished Friday. Carpet work will return for the aisles after seats are installed.

Organizers met last Thursday to work on a rental agreement for the use of the Melba. A full day of usage will cost about $100.

Funding for the project comes from donations through the Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program and private and corporate donations and grants.

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Group raising funds for Melba Theatre seats - Houston Herald

1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption Deborah Reynolds, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz deputy commander, gives remarks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new German Canteen at Sembach Kaserne, Aug. 1. The new canteen can serve 40-50 patrons at its location in Bldg. 90. (Photo Credit: Ms. Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM)) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption (Far Right) Installation Management Command-Europe Director Michael Formica and (Far Left) IMCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Ulysses Rayford hold the ribbon while (inside right) U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Commander Col. Keith Igyarto and (inside left) USAG RP Deputy to the Commander Deborah Reynolds and (middle) Merida Hicham, German canteen contract lease holder, cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the new canteen for business, Aug. 1. Hicham, who formerly worked at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks canteen, brings his expertise to serve the Sembach community. (Photo Credit: Ms. Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM)) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption Merida Hicham, contract lease holder and manager of the Sembach German Canteen prepares food at the restaurant grand opening, Aug. 1. Hicham's high standards were well known at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Canteen, and he now he brings expertise to Sembach. (Photo Credit: Ms. Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM)) VIEW ORIGINAL 4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption Patrons finish their meals at the grand opening of the German canteen on Sembach Kaserne. The new canteen is located at Bldg. 90. Hours of operations are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. (Photo Credit: Ms. Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM)) VIEW ORIGINAL

SEMBACH KASERNE, Germany -- Employees here celebrated a welcomed addition to their installation food options with the grand opening of a new German canteen Aug. 1, enhancing the quality of life for those who live and work on the kaserne.

"This ceremony doesn't just represent years of planning and financial investment, it also highlights the ongoing transition in bringing much-needed installation and infrastructure support to a growing community of professionals that actually represent all of our military services at this unique headquarters complex," said U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Deputy to the Commander, Deborah Reynolds. "Until now, there has never been a canteen at Sembach, so this will be a very welcome addition."

About 1,500 personnel to include local national team members work on the installation, so food choices can be limited sometimes -- especially with lunch break time constraints.

So the garrison invested more than $1 million dollars to take care of people by refurbishing the building and purchasing new kitchen equipment. To that end, the Directorate of Public Works staff were instrumental throughout the process to ensure the building could open its doors for business.

The new canteen, formerly a thrift store, was transformed into an eatery over the past year and a half, said project manager Daniela Heath with the garrison's Directorate of Public Works.

"Many renovations took place to make the facility what it is today," she said. "Several items were renovated or replaced to bring it up to current standards to include some of the structure, roof and fire-protection systems."

Inside, the building was reborn with new paint, ceilings, flooring, modernized bathrooms and newly-installed, state-of-the-art kitchen appliances, Heath said.

Merida Hicham was awarded the lease contract for the canteen June 30 and is no stranger to restaurant work. His high standards were well known at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Canteen, and he now he brings his friendly personality and expertise to Sembach.

"I'm very excited to open the canteen here," the new manager said. "I received great training and managerial experience at ROB for two years. I'm happy to serve the customers at Sembach and hope they will come here and enjoy our food."

Brenda Reta, chief of the Military Personnel Division at Kleber Kaserne, was one of the patrons who received a complementary lunch after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"The facility is beautiful. It's clean and has a nice atmosphere," she said. "I really enjoyed the food -- it was delicious and well prepared."

The canteen is located in Bldg. 90, across from the old commissary on Sembach. Hours of operations are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays and can be reserved for parties.

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Sembach Kaserne opens new German canteen - United States Army (press release)

Hardwood floors can add quality and value to nearly any room in the house. Though theres no substitute for an experienced professional, you, too, can install hardwood floors with a little elbow grease and ingenuity. Take a cue from the experts at Don Dickel Floors and follow these instructions to install new hardwood flooring.

Step 1) Remove all base trim and undercut all door jambs. Sweep or vacuum the subfloor.

Step 2) Establish a starting point. (Pro tip: starting parallel to the longest wall will give you the best visual effect, as long as the subfloor is free from sagging). If a moisture retardant is used, overlap the seams by 2-6 inches.

Step 3) Measure the room across from where you want to start. Check the manufacturers recommended expansion for the product you are installing. Measure back from the wall that distance and snap a chalk line.

Step 4) The first two rows should be long straight boards. Lay the first row on the chalk line. Predrill the first row. (Pro tip: if you nail the first row behind the base trim line, you wont see the hole the nail makes.) Then blind nail the same board and the second board. Nailing should be 8-10 inches apart, closer for wider boards.

Step 5) Rack (lay) the floor. When laying out the floor, the end joints should be 6 inches apart. (Pro tip: for the best appearance, open the boxes and lay out the floor 10 rows at a time. Remove the boards you dont like.)

Step 6) Install the floor. (Pro tip: you are the final inspector of the wood. Check all pieces for dents or finish irregularities before you nail it down). Begin flooring installation with several boards at a time, nailing every 8-10 inches and 1 1/2 inches from the ends. (Pro tip: if you come across a board that is warped and doesnt want to fit, tip your nailing gun a little and hit it. That should bring the board in.)

Step 7) The final rows that cant be blind nailed will need to be top nailed. Predrill the hole with a bit slightly smaller than the nail, then nail it to ensure holding power (an 8d finishing nail is recommended). (Pro tip: always make sure your cuts extend close enough to the wall to be covered by the base molding.) Rip the last row so there is proper expansion parallel to the end wall. If it is less than 1 inch, glue it to the board preceding it.

Step 8) Install the base molding. Clean the floor and enjoy. (Pro tip: check with the manufacturer for cleaning instructions. Always follow the manufacturers recommendations for best results.)

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MICHIGAN CITY When it comes to the scoop on product knowledge, long-term customer relationships and expert craftsmanship, owners John and Suzie LaRocco have it covered.

Their 41-year-old business, LaRocco Floor Coverings at 1615 Franklin St., is easy to spot. Theres a giant old-fashioned milk bottle on the roof.

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Proud to be a Mom-and-Pop - News Dispatch

Photographed by Ana Kamin for Lonny.

Floors are the foundation of a room. But while living with an unsightly fifth wall can cause some serious interior angst, (get outta here, 70s linoleum!), updating it can also be a major undertaking. So, to help make the prospect of an underfoot overhaul a little less daunting, we turned to Homepolishdesigner Ana Claudia Schultz.

Below Claudia gives us a flooring 101, sharing everything from quick fixes to timeless materials to exactly what professionals you should hire for the job. (And yes, in most cases, Claudia does not recommend updating your floors solo.) If youre tired of that cheap, outdated, or otherwise eye-offending situation happening south of your feet, read on and remedy that frightful floor with confidence.

Whats the first thing to consider when choosing a new floor?First you have to consider the room and its use. If the area is part of the rest of the space, then you need to consider whether you want to match it for fluidity or break up the space.

How much does replacing your floor typically cost?It depends on the material and price per square foot, and on the contractor's bid. It can be as low as $1.50 per square foot for flooring, to up to hundreds per square foot. Some contractors take the price of the material and match that for installation costs, or it's a flat fee. If the design is mosaic and a lot of labor, then it will cost more no matter what.

Photographed by Nicole Franzen for Lonny.

Can you pick out and install new floors yourself, or should you hire professionals?Do not install yourself unless you are more than handy, but also have amazing talent to do so. Even with engineered wood floors [you should hire help], because the installation may be easy but the finishing touches are just as important. How did you finish the edges? Does your baseboard cover the edges or do you not have baseboards and need to cut the wood perfectly on the edge? What about transition on a turn? All things to consider.

Who, if anyone, should you hire?A great contractor makes a great designer look amazing. Always hire a great contractor, with or without a designer. One of the roles of the designer is to make sure we help you make the right decisions once for the overall look for the room and home instead of re-doing and replacing it in the near future.

What materials are most durable? Best bang for your buck?Bang for your buck is porcelain, even for faux wood, and it's more durable than engineered wood. Natural stone is most expensive and least durable. You will need to constantly maintain it.

Are there any quick-fix options to improve the look of your floor without replacing it?If you have wood floors, always consider keeping them! Don't cover them up and re-stain them, even if they have a parquet pattern. Parquet has a bad rap, but it adds texture. Plus, it's always better than carpet.

Photographed by Amy Bartlam.

Current trends?Natural oak finish is back! And it's the least expensive way to finish your natural wood floors. White and bleached oak is "out", which was one of the most expensive options for staining.

Any flooring that never goes out of style?Wood, no matter what finish, because it can go out of style one year and a few years later, come right back.

Anything else to consider in choosing a new floor?You need to love it! Ignore trends. Love everything in your home and it will always put a smile on your face.

Photographed by Nicki Sebastian.

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Expert Advice: Help, I Hate My Floors! - Lonny Magazine

I was one of those kids with perpetually grass-stained knees who reveled in the acquisition of new scrapes and bruises and the accumulation of mud under my fingernails. Being dirty was an accomplishment. My big brothers were always dirty when they got home from work, always covered in sawdust or mortar and stinking of sweat and construction site dust. They were two of the coolest people I knew and I wanted nothing more than to be dirty, just like them.

With age came invitations to accompany them on jobs, which was inevitable. It was a family flooring installation business, and it belonged to all of us, even me. At work during my preteen years, I wore whatever clothes I owned that were too old or ill-fitting for school. I was fragile and spindly back then and did not look the part of a construction worker, but I took pleasure in dressing up (or down, as it were). I liked fetching tools and earning the rips in my pants and pulling splinters from my palms. I liked the fatherly banter from strange men on job sites, pointing out how I was really something and shouldnt my parents be proud.

At school, I experimented with different kinds of clothing. Id always loved reading The Baby-sitters Club, a series in which a main character crafts outlandish outfits, so I figured it would be fun for me to do the same. Homemade jewelry, oversized sweaters with leggings, vibrant skirt-and-tights combos. My creations werent well-received. Once, a classmate asked me out on a date as a joke while his friends stood nearby and snickered. Another poured a pile of outdoor debris, literally sticks and stones, into my backpack when I wasnt looking. As a middle-schooler, these moments felt excruciating. I retreated into my books and spent most of my time in the library, the second safest place in the world after my beloved construction sites.

At 16, I worked after school as an actual, paid flooring installer. I nailed hardwood and built tile showers and eventually started directing crews of men twice my age. I made decent money and bought work clothes that were practical and made me feel attractive. Low-cut, flare-legged jeans that looked good with a leather belt and tool pouch. Tees slim enough to show off my figure but loose enough for me to stick my hand under and fold them up to wipe the sweat off my forehead.

I felt confident in those clothes. I liked that I could walk into a hardware store or lumber yard and be taken seriously. I liked how the strange men had started looking at me with intrigue, as if I was really something but in a way that was different than before. By my junior year of high school, I had figured out how to dress for the acceptance of my peers: polos with logos, denim skirts, overpriced leather sandals. I made friends and even dated a couple of the more popular boys but I clung to the edges of their world with difficulty. It was only after the bell rang, after I slipped out of my itchy teenage skin and back into my grimy work one, that I felt comfortable. Everything else was just pretending.

Homecoming was in October. Id stopped by a little mall boutique after school, on my way to help one of my brothers install porcelain tile in a kitchen, and I had a small selection of dresses draped over my arm. I approached a saleswoman.

Hi, can I try these on?

She evaluated me slowly. Her gaze cascaded from the top of my head (ponytail tucked under a baseball cap speckled with dried thin-set mortar) to my T-shirt and jeans, which were technically clean but had seen better days, and on down to my crusted-over work boots. She cocked her head to the side and gifted me with a pitying smile that was somehow also a frown.

Aww, honey, she whispered. Of course you can.

She thought I couldnt afford them.

Another time I walked into the restroom of a busy lunch joint. A little girl was sitting on the edge of the counter waiting for her mother, who was in a stall. I smiled at the girl and took to washing my dirt-caked hands at the sink. The girl stared at me, her eyes wide with concern.

Mommy!? There's a man in here.

These moments didnt hurt my feelings the way the rocks had years before, but I do remember them. I remember thinking about my brothers, how Id been to restaurants and clothing stores with them at their grimiest, and Id never seen them on the receiving end of a pitying smile. And while I can't confirm this, I would bet their degree of cleanliness (or lack thereof) never caused onlookers to mistake them for women.

I installed full-time for a few more years and then quit. I didnt stop enjoying it, but tides do change and Im the type who can get tired of anything. I worked in retail for a while, then transitioned to office life, where, like in high school, I learned how to dress for acceptance. Cardigans, dresses, flats, funky accessories that doubled as conversation starters. Now I work from home as a writer and am pleased to once again have the rare luxury to wear only what is needed. Because I live in Florida, that means shorts and tank tops.

Somewhere along the way, I tossed my dirty old work clothes. I miss them at times.

I miss them on nights when a gang of blue-collar workers are laughing over a round of beers at the bar. I miss them on mornings when Im feeling particularly nostalgic, when I stop at a gas station and crews are fueling up, chugging cheap coffee, and icing down coolers of bottled water. I've missed them on so many occasions when looking like a man or at least like a member of the mens club would be more beneficial than looking like a woman.

I could always get some more clothes like the ones I used to wear, rub dirt on them, maybe pull a few threads loose at the seams. But of course, it's not really about the fabric. I miss the camaraderie of my crew, the weight of a tool pouch against my left hip, and how unbreakable I felt wearing outfits meant to be broken in. I miss being a dirty woman who made clean people uncomfortable. I miss using my jeans as napkins.

I could dress for the reactions I want, but theres no practical reason for me to wear a pair of crusty work boots out to the bar or mall. And if theres one lesson I learned from my roots, one thing about myself Ive come to terms with once and for all, its that I just like practicality no pretending.

Recently, I decided to install a backsplash in my kitchen. It had been years since Id used any of my tile tools, and when I dug them out of storage, I realized my sawblades were dull. I drove to a home improvement store to buy replacements.

There are multiple ways to cut tile. You can use a wet saw, which looks like someone flipped a table saw upside down and stuck it in a tiny bathtub. You can use a tool called a scorer. Or you can use nearly any small, handheld dry saw as long as you switch the toothed blade out for a smooth diamond blade. (Teeth are for cutting wood.) I prefer the last option, though it works best if the tile isnt too dense otherwise it will heat up and chip all to hell.

At the store, I asked an employee where to find their diamond blades. I was wearing a floral tank top, nice shorts, and a pair of Vans. He must have misheard me. He must have thought Id asked not for blades, but for a long-winded lecture about how they work and how tile can only be cut with a wet saw, no exceptions. After 10 minutes of this I went off to find the blades myself.

The backsplash looks great, by the way.

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I Miss the Clothes I Wore as a Construction Worker - Racked

Everett Harding, and employee of the Cincinnati Floor Company, installs new unfinished wood slats for the new gym floor at Whiteoak High School. The project began on June 1, 2017 with the removal of the previous flooring and is expected to be completed by August 1, 2017.

Ryan Applegate | The Times-Gazette

The Whiteoak High School gymnasium is currently undergoing a significant facelift, as a new wood floor is being installed at the facility. Cincinnati Floor Company (CFC) was contracted to perform the tear down of the old floor and the installation of the new floor. The Bright Local School District (BLSD) has also entered into a maintenance agreement with CFC for annual maintenance and prevention measures.

CFC is a locally owned flooring installation and maintenance company based in St. Bernard, Ohio. The company has been in business since 1894 as an installer and manufacturer of wood flooring. According to the companys website CFC has installed numerous gym floors locally as well as nationally including the practice courts for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA and historic Assembly Hall on the campus of Indiana University (Bloomington).

The project will cost the BLSD $150,000 all of which, according to BLSD superintendent Ted Downing, has been fully funded through the general fund of the district. Downing told The Times-Gazette that the floor should last up to 50 years as long as it is taken care of and maintained properly.

The BLSD Board of Education decided to move forward with this project after it was discovered, during the last school year, that the wood panels were beginning to break and that it was likely they would continue to break if something was not done to remedy the problem. We looked at things and figured if we dont replace it we are going to keep nickel and diming. It needs to be fixed, said Downing. Downing also pointed out that the roof on the gym, and other parts of the school, was leaking leading to the accelerated deterioration of the gym floor. Downing also said, When they took everything out of here there was still water sitting on the concrete under the gym floor. They had to delay work on the new floor by a week to let it dry before they started the installation project.

Because of the differences in concrete pouring practices and advanced technology that is used to level the concrete in the present day CFC has had to re-laser and readjust every board that has been placed to fit the gym floor.

Along with the new floor the gym has also been the recipient of new backboards, new lights, an air conditioning system, and new visitors side bleachers. The money that the BLSD will save by using LED lighting throughout the school is being used to help fund the air conditioning system not only in the gymnasium but also in other parts of the school. The installation of the new air conditioning system in the gym is one of the key aspects of maintaining this floor for a long time. The climate controlled environment will allow the wood to avoid a tremendous amount of the stress the old floor had to endure simply by allowing the wood to not draw moisture and extending the overall life span of the floor, Downing told The Times-Gazette.

The district has also undertaken several other improvement projects in the last few years including the re-paving of the school parking lots and the construction of a soccer field. Downing advised that if there are enough kids we are going to be using the soccer field this coming year. There are also plans to build a batting facility for the baseball and softball teams, the facility will be located behind Whiteoak High School.

When asked about the impact the improved facilities will have on the athletes at the school Downing said, First of all, if you dont take care of your facilities how are you doing to have any pride in them? If you have pride in where you play and what you are in it means a lot more to you. Downing went on to say, Its like your home, you cannot let your home go and not do stuff. Since I came on board the Board of Education and the treasurer and myself have all been working together and we are getting stuff done. We are trying to bring back a lot of the pride that had gotten away for a while.

The gym floor was started on June 1 and is expected to be finished by August 1 for the start of the 2017 volleyball season. If the floor is not finished by then we can practice in the elementary school gym. There are advantages to having a second gym, Downing said.

Along with the improvements to the facilities the district also intends to offer bowling as a varsity sport in 2017 and will be offering more classes at the high school for the 2017 school year.

Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.

Everett Harding, and employee of the Cincinnati Floor Company, installs new unfinished wood slats for the new gym floor at Whiteoak High School. The project began on June 1, 2017 with the removal of the previous flooring and is expected to be completed by August 1, 2017.

http://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Whiteoak-Gym-Floor-Replacement.jpgEverett Harding, and employee of the Cincinnati Floor Company, installs new unfinished wood slats for the new gym floor at Whiteoak High School. The project began on June 1, 2017 with the removal of the previous flooring and is expected to be completed by August 1, 2017. Ryan Applegate | The Times-Gazette

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Whiteoak High School gets new gym floor; part of ongoing district renovations - Hillsboro Times Gazette

DeWalt is expanding its 20V Max System to include the worlds first pro-grade 18 GA flooring stapler, the DeWalt 20V Max Flooring Stapler. This new stapler can drive18 GA 1/4-inch narrow crown staples from 1/2- to 1-1/2-inches for installation of solid and engineered hardwood ranging in thickness from 3/8- to 5/8-inch. It features a contact arm optimized for flooring, tool-free adjustable base, and a brushless motor.

If youve ever put in the effort of tongue and groove flooring installation, you know what a challenge it can be. Not only is your body in an uncomfortable posture bent at the back, weight on your knees for long periods of time, but then theres the standing up and kneeling down again for trips to the saw for cutting pieces to length or for notching around doorways. The nailer or stapler is usually powered by a gas cartridge or a compressor and hose to which you must be tethered.

Then you might have to contend with the inconsistency of the nailing angle and splitting of groove rails. You could use a flooring nailer with a hammer for consistent angles, but that can be tiresome, especially for large jobs. DeWalt might just have a solution with theDeWalt 20V Max Flooring Stapler that just intuitively looks like it will make your flooring installation life a whole lot easier.

Youll immediately notice the cordless nature of the tool the first of its kind. Cutting the cord/hose is probably enough to convince most people that this stapler is superior to most. But theres much more here. The staplers adjustable, non-marring base gives it an upside-down orientation when in use and ensures proper fastener angle every time. You can quickly slide the stapler down the groove and fire off fasteners quickly with the tool-free selectable trigger for sequential or rapid sequential actuation. To add to the potential speed, molded to the traditional trigger is a paddle trigger which allows the user to sink staples just as fast as the motor will cycle.

In addition to all that good stuff is a brushless motor which extends tool and battery life, work lights, and a bottom load magazine. We have a feeling that the DeWalt 20V Max Flooring Stapler is a big leap forward for flooring installation. It might not eliminate the bent-over and kneeling posture required, but it certainly looks like it will significantly cut down on the time you have to be in it.

Link:
DeWalt 20V Max Flooring Stapler Unleashed - Pro Tool Reviews (blog)

By Kaitlin Junod lexington@wickedlocal.com

The Lexington Permanent Building Committee and DiNisco Design met on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the construction at Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools, the Hastings School and the new preschool and community center at Pelham Road. While all projects are progressing on schedule and on budget, DiNisco presented new design elements and adjustments for the Hastings School and the Pelham Road site.

Pelham Road

Following a summit meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the School, Appropriation and Capital Expenditures Committees earlier this month, Donna DiNisco of DiNisco Design reported that the final decision at the Pelham Road project is to tear down the existing building and construct a new Lexington Childrens Place. A robust schematic design is projected to be ready to present at the fall special Town Meeting, scheduled for Oct. 16 and 18.

While the design for a brand-new LCP is moving forward, plans to devote part of the Pelham Road site to an expansion of the Lexington Community Center have been put on the back burner for now. At a summit meeting in August, committee members and selectmen will decide on the projects next steps.

We just want to continue to look at it holistically to see what makes sense from the community center aspect of it, DiNisco said. Its taking a pause and not rushing into a decision that might not ultimately be the best decision for the community center.

Hastings Elementary

The Hastings Elementary School project is officially in the design development stage, said DiNisco. The biggest change to the buildings design was the decision to shift its orientation slightly south to increase the space between the school and the bordering properties to the north and reduce the length of the retaining wall between them.

According to DiNisco, shifting the building further south would increase the distance between property lines from 30-35 feet to 60 feet in some places, but it would not affect the overall square footage of the building. The adjusted design would have some impacts on the outdoor space, reducing walkways and planted areas near the playground.

Andrew Clarke and Curt Barrentine of the Permanent Building Committee expressed concern that the students would be losing out on active play space, but DiNisco said she was confident that the total 43,000 square feet of play area could be maintained. She emphasized that the design is still in the works, and that the plans presented at the meeting were not finalized.

The only downside of shifting the building would be compromising the north-south solar orientation of the classrooms, which was the driving factor behind the old design. This means that with the shifted building, some classrooms could experience glare from the sun depending on the time of day, but DiNisco said these impacts were not major, and were outweighed by the budgetary and logistical benefits of the new design.

Clarke and Diamond

June was a productive month for the Clarke Middle School project, according to a report made to the committee. Demolition for the interior renovation began, as did preparations for relocating the gas line at the bridge. In July, permanent power will be installed, interior demolition will be completed and a pedestrian bridge will be installed. Demolition at the entry plaza and parking lot will also be completed, with the hopes of installing underlying structures and new utilities there.

At the Diamond Middle School project, drywall in the classroom addition is complete, with the prime and first coats of paint finished. Throughout June, priorities included demolishing the buildings existing boilers and starting installation of lockers, flooring and ceiling tiles. In July, the committee hopes to finish installing lockers, start millwork and have permanent power at the site completed.

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Brand-new building pitched for Lexington Children's Place - Wicked Local Wakefield