"A Night of Song" in Doylestown Blends Art, History, and Music  Bucks County Beacon

Follow this link:
"A Night of Song" in Doylestown Blends Art, History, and Music - Bucks County Beacon

MTA polishes off 100th subway station rehab in project that piggybacks on track work closures  New York Daily News

Original post:
MTA polishes off 100th subway station rehab in project that piggybacks on track work closures - New York Daily News

Grout material and color: Read the label before buying any grout cleaner to be sure it is safe to use on the surfaces you'll be cleaning. Some are suited only for white, not colored, grout, and others can damage adjoining tiles made of natural stone, like marble or granite.

Cleanser form: Sprays and foams are easy to apply but can run or drip off vertical surfaces before the job is done, meaning you may have to reapply. And some may produce fumes that can be irritating, especially when used in small spaces. Thick gels stay in place longer, but they can take more effort to rinse away.

Scope of the job: Bleach is a great whitener and germ-killer, so if your grout is very badly stained with mold and mildew, a strong bleach-containing cleaner will be your best bet and will likely require the least amount of scrubbing. If you'll be cleaning dirty or discolored floor tile grout or you're fastidious about drying the shower daily and have only occasional spots, a milder formula should suffice.

Read more here:
7 Best Tile Grout Cleaners of 2024, Tested by Experts - Good Housekeeping

The disco ball is well on its way to making a comeback, and if its reemergence in interiors proves anything, its the magic of mosaic tile. But why stick to a single sphere of tiled goodness when you can introduce mirrored or colored glass to just about any surface? Whether youre looking to add color to an outdoor living space or texture to an otherwise humdrum bathroom, mosaic can easily step in to transform a space into something dynamic, dramatic, and full of sparkle. Below, we take a look at 19 rooms from the AD archive that utilize mosaic to its full potential.

Photo: Oberto Gili, AD, April 2017

Old-world ornament

Roman-style mosaics add a worldly feel to this Studio Peregallidesigned bathroom, while a wood vanity and side table add delicacy to the sea of stone and marble work.

Photo: Jon Miller, AD, March 2004

Tons of texture

Mosaic tile envelops this galley bathroom designed by Tigerman McCurry, creating the sense of a true escape for the homeowners. The frosted glass-pane doors further solidify this spa-like atmosphere. English sycamore cabinetry plays off the color of the mosaic while calling back to the adjacent walk-in closets cabinetry.

See more here:
19 Beautiful Rooms With Mosaic Tile in the AD Archive | Architectural Digest - Architectural Digest

Whether installed in a formal entryway, a gourmet kitchen, or a spa-inspired bathroom, a tile floor can be a luxurious and beneficial style element for nearly any space within a home. The cost to install tile floor depends on a variety of influencing factors, including room size, tile material, tile type, labor, installation location, and the overall scope of a tile installation project. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, homeowners can expect to pay between $500 and $5,000 for a tile floor, with an average installation cost of $1,910.

For those considering a tile installation project in their home, determining an accurate project quote is typically the first step. Get to know what goes into estimating a tile floor installation and what benefits this coveted type of flooring offers homeowners.

Want to install a tile floor?

Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring services near you.

Tile floors are a beautiful and versatile choice for multiple areas in the home. Tile has proven to be durable and is available in multiple sizes, several types, and countless designs. Tile floors are also hypoallergenic and low maintenance, making them an ideal choice for single dwellers, large families, and those who are choosing to age in place in their homes. But just how much is a tile floor installation? It depends on a variety of factors, including the following.

The size of the room being tiled greatly affects both the material cost and labor cost. Generally speaking, the larger a room, the more expensive a tile job will be. Tile installations are typically charged by the total square footage of a space. So a small bathroom floor may cost as little as $500 to tile, while a large kitchen floor may cost closer to $5,000 to tile.

When a homeowner is estimating a tile installation job cost, its best to start by measuring the room and calculating the square footage. Then, as they explore different tile materials and designs, it will be easier to see what falls within the budget and what to eliminate based on material costs alone.

Tiles can be made from a multitude of different materials. Each type offers benefits and potential drawbacks, and each has a unique price range. Ceramic tile is the most affordable, starting at just $1 per square foot, though some sizes and designs can reach $30 or more per square foot.

Travertine is another popular choice, costing between $2 and $30 per square foot. Other affordable materials include marble, porcelain, and slate. Stone has a large price range, falling between $2 and $200 per square foot.

For homeowners with a larger budget (or a very small space to tile), both granite and glass tiles may be an option. Granite tiles have a range between $10 and $200 per square foot, while glass tiles cost between $5 and $15 per square foot.

Some tile materials are also available in different types or finishes. Different types allow homeowners to customize the features of the space, whether its a slip-resistant floor or a detailed focal point on a bathroom wall.

A glazed tile offers better color protection and makes it easier to clean a tiled space. Tiles with a glazed finish cost between $3 and $30 per square foot. Unglazed tiles are more affordable at $2 to $15 per square foot.

Polished tiles can be slippery, which makes them better suited for countertops and backsplashes than floors. There are additional steps in the manufacturing process to give these tiles their smooth and shiny finish, which raises the price range to between $5 and $30 per square foot.

Finally, there are mosaic tiles to consider. Theyre much smaller than a standard tile, yet they cost more than most at an average price of $20 per square foot. Mosaic tiles are used to create more complex patterns and are great for eye-catching shower floor designs.

Porosity refers to how water absorbant a tile is. When a tile is less dense, water can more easily soak into it, which can lead a tile surface to prematurely break down. But whats also a concern is liquid other than water, which can permanently stain a porous tile. Also, porous surfaces can hold on to bacteria. This can be especially concerning when a porous material is being used for a countertop where food is prepared.

Tile porosity is rated and classified into four different categories. Non-vitreous tile is the most absorbent type of tile with an absorption rate of 7 percent. This type of tile is best suited for dry locations and should generally not be used on floors. It costs between $1 and $5 per square foot.

Semi-vitreous tile costs between $4 and $8 per square foot. This type of tile has a water absorption rate of 3 percent to 7 percent and is recommended only for flooring areas that experience very light traffic. Semi-vitreous tile can be used in bathrooms if a multilayer glaze is applied, but the tile must be resealed if the glaze cracks, which makes it a high-maintenance tile type.

Vitreous tile has an absorbency rating of up to 3 percent and costs between $4 and $8 per square foot. Most porcelain and ceramic tiles are vitreous and can be laid on the floor. Finally, impervious tile is the least absorbent at 0.5 percent, and as can be expected, costs the most at $5 to $10 per square foot. Impervious tile is frost-proof and can be used in outdoor settings as well as indoor ones.

Porous tiles should always be sealed before and after grouting. This is an additional material and labor cost to take into consideration, which will be dictated by the square footage of the job. In most cases, homeowners can expect to pay between $0.90 and $1.60 per square foot to seal grout, based on the size of the tiles.

Not sure which tile is best for your floor?

A pro can help. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring services near you.

Tile manufacturers use a specific rating system to classify tiles by strength. These different ratings help contractors know where a certain tile can be installed. The rating system includes five levels, denoted by class I through V.

Class I tiles are the weakest. They cant handle the weight of heavy foot traffic and should be avoided as a floor tile. They are great as wall tiles, though. Class II tiles are a bit stronger and best suited for low-traffic areas like laundry rooms or bathrooms. This type of tile is also well suited for walls. Class III tiles are fairly strong and ideal for walls, countertops, and areas with average foot traffic like a bedroom or office. Class IV tiles are quite durable and can be used anywhere in a home, including high-traffic areas like hallways, entryways, living rooms, and kitchens. Finally, Class V tiles are the strongest. Theyre mainly used in industrial or commercial spaces rather than residential.

In general, higher-rated tiles cost more. Its important to use a tile with a rating strong enough to handle the job, but theres no need to bust a budget over tile rating if a lower rating will suffice for the area being tiled.

Tile size, type, and location affect total labor costs. On average, installation costs fall between $3 and $15 per square foot, which translates to a per-hour rate of $60 to $120. Where a tile installation job falls within that range is mainly impacted by the size of the tiles. For example, larger tiles tend to cost more to install because they require extra steps, such as applying extra mortar to the back of each tile. Tiles measuring between 18 inches and 24 inches cost around $10 to $12 per square foot for installation.

Glass and mosaic tiles can also increase labor costs. They both require a smooth mortar surface, additional mortar, and a keen eye to detail for the job to come together in the end. The cost of labor to install glass and mosaic tiles can run between $12 and $14 per square foot. Traditional, smaller tiles, such as 12-inch porcelain tile, come with more affordable labor rates.

Floor tiles can be installed in nearly any room of a home. This also extends to outdoor spaces. Homeowners may want to keep in mind that not all tile types are suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces, though, and tiles should be placed accordingly.

The price to install a tile floor will vary depending on the location and the type of tile used. For example, the average cost to install tile in a 161-square-foot kitchen floor is between $1,208 and $2,415 depending on the tile material. The cost to tile a 75-square-foot bathroom floor runs between $563 and $1,125. Installing tiles outdoors can involve more prep work, as spaces need to be cleared and leveled beforehand. While indoor tiles can cost between $1 and $200 per square foot, outdoor tiles start at double the price and have a cost range between $2 and $200 per square foot.

Not all tile installation jobs have the same number of steps. Generally speaking, a project that takes longer to complete will be more expensive. If tile is being installed for the first time in a new-construction build, the surface is likely level and in great condition. Tile installation is quick and relatively easy in situations like this. But if existing tile or another type of flooring needs to be removed before installation can begin, this expands the scope of a job. Since more steps require more time and potentially more workers, labor costs can raise the cost of a tile floor installation.

The same theory applies to complex tile designs or uniquely shaped rooms that require extensive measuring and cutting compared with a standard square or rectangular space. When tile jobs require more experience and skill, the price can quickly go up.

Location can affect the cost of tile installation, and not just by room; even geographic location can make a tile job more or less expensive than average. There are a few reasons for this.

Cost of living varies by location. In densely populated urban areas, the cost of living is typically higher. This can result in higher material costs and labor charges. In more rural areas, a lower cost of living may reduce the cost of a tile installation job. Geographic location can also affect the cost of material due to shipping costs. Shipping materials to certain areas of the country costs more than it would to ship materials to other areas. Finally, certain areas of the country experience higher humidity levels. This can make it more difficult to install tile and may raise the cost of labor.

Though not applicable to every tile job, there are additional costs and considerations that may come into play when estimating the total cost of a project. Is there old flooring that needs to be removed? Is the floor level? Are there customizations in the works? The following cost breakdowns can help a homeowner more accurately estimate their tile installation cost.

Sometimes tile can be installed over tile or a different type of existing floor. But most flooring manufacturers and tile contractors will recommend that the old flooring be removed before a tile installation begins. By stripping away old hardwood, laminate, or tile, the subfloor is exposed and can be inspected.

While this may be an additional cost to absorb, it can ensure that the new flooring is being installed on a safe and level surface. This can help extend the lifespan of a tile floor and add value to a homeowners investment. The cost to remove old flooring varies by type and condition. The cost to rip out existing tile and make any necessary subsurface repairs costs between $3 and $7 per square foot, or $5 per square foot on average.

Tiles cannot be installed on an uneven floor. If an uneven surface is present, it will have to be leveled before installation can continue. If the problem is minimal, a homeowner can usually tackle floor leveling on their own using a self-leveler, which is a type of concrete underlayment that creates a flat and smooth surface with minimal effort.

But for more severe uneven surfaces, a professional may need to handle the job. This is especially true if subfloors need to be replaced, beams need to be installed, or joists need to be repaired. Homeowners can expect to pay between $2 and $30 per square foot for professional floor leveling.

The subfloor is the very important middle layer of a flooring system. It offers a structurally sound flat surface to hold up the underlayment and finish floor. Because tile needs to be laid on an entirely flat surface, the subfloor needs to be in pristine condition.

Plywood is the traditional material used for a subfloor, and its an affordable and reliable choice. However, over time plywood can begin to break down. If the existing subfloor needs repair during a tile installation job, homeowners can expect to pay an average of $40 to $65 per square foot for a basic plywood construction. If a subfloor is made of concrete and needs to be resurfaced, the average cost is between $3 and $10 per square foot.

If the subfloor is too damaged to repair, a contractor is likely to recommend a full replacement at an average cost of $1,500 to $1,650.

Most tile jobs are fairly straightforward. However, there are a few customizations that homeowners may choose that can alter the final cost.

The first is tile patterns. These include diagonal, running bond (or offset), herringbone, step, cut corner, ashlar, and Versaille. When tiles are laid in any pattern other than straight-set rows, the total cost of the project can increase by 10 percent to 20 percent. This price increase includes additional materials needed for cuts along with the additional hours in labor. Patterns will almost always take more time to lay than straight rows of tile.

Heated flooring is another common customization. The national average cost to install heated tile flooring is $6 per square foot, falling within a range of $4.75 to $7.25 per square foot.

Tile flooring comes in a wide variety of materials. There are also many subtypes, finishes, colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from even after a tile material has been decided. Listed below are some of the most common natural and man-made tile materials, along with descriptions of their unique characteristics and varying cost ranges.

A rectified tile is one that has been finished on all sides so that each one is identical, making the tiles precisely uniform. With minimal grout showing, rectified tiles can provide a uniform look thats common in commercial spaces but can look great in a residential space as well.

Rectified tiles tend to be larger, typically measuring at least 15 inches square. The cost for rectified tile is between $0.50 and $15 per square foot for an indoor installation. Installing rectified tile outside will cost at least $35 per square foot.

Ceramic is a man-made material crafted from clay. It is fired once or twice for durability and then given a glaze that can be either glossy or matte in appearance. In most cases, glossy glazed ceramic tile is not rated for floor use since it is slippery.

Ceramic tiles are common and come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and designs. Theyre available in large-format size as well as small mosaics. For the homeowner who wants a lot of choices without going over budget, ceramic tile flooring is a great place to start. On average, ceramic tiles cost between $0.50 and $7 per square foot.

A top-rated pro can tell you which tile is best for you

Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring services near you.

Travertine is a unique stone material commonly used for tile flooring. Its similar to limestone in composition, formed inside hot springs, and contains small holes throughout the stone that need to be filled either before or during installation to prevent damage long term.

Travertine has a distinctive and striking appearance. Its available in four basic styles or textures, including brushed, honed, polished, and tumbled. Brushed has a matte finish, while polished is glossy. Honed is somewhere in between, and tumbled is treated to look aged and rustic. Travertine is a great modern tile option, costing between $2 and $30 per square foot. Like all stone construction materials, travertine should be sealed before grouting. This can add extra material and labor costs to the overall cost of a tile installation job.

Stone is a type of tile material with many subtypes, including travertine, slate, granite, and marble. Theyre all great as tile flooring but can be used around fireplaces or as a backsplash tile as well.

Compared to other types of tile, stone tiles require a bit more prep work and some ongoing maintenance. Sealing during installation ensures water doesnt reach any holes, pits, or tunnels that naturally occur during the formation of stone materials. Homeowners should also keep in mind that some types of stone are more likely to stain than others, like white marble. This can increase the cost of this type of tile when repair and replacement costs are taken into consideration.

Because of the different subtypes, sizes, and installation methods, the price range for stone tile installation is wide. A stone tile installation costs anywhere from $2 to $200 per square foot.

Tile that looks like wood is usually made from porcelain. This type of tile is great for spaces where water can be an issue (like bathrooms or kitchens) or for homes in warm climates where homeowners want the cooling benefits of tile but prefer a more traditional flooring look. On average, these authentic wood-looking tiles cost between $3 and $12 per square foot for indoor tile and up to $3 per square foot for outdoor tile.

To enhance their wood look, these tiles are typically cut into a rectangular shape to mimic traditional hardwood planks. However, theyre still priced by the square foot. For a homeowner who wants the rich warmth of hardwood floors but the durability and easy maintenance of tile, porcelain wood tile is the perfect compromise.

Porcelain is one of the most common tile materials. Its also one of the most affordable, coming in with a range between $3 and $10 per square foot for indoor tiles and a minimum of $3 per square foot for outdoor tiles.

Porcelain is stain-resistant and fairly dense, making it a great choice for areas of the home where high levels of moisture can be an issue for more porous materials. Porcelain tile is available in a wide variety of colors, designs, and styles. Its a tile material that can actually help an installation job stay on budget while exceeding design expectations. Contrary to typical assumptions, thin tiles are actually more expensive than thick ones because of the manufacturing process they go through to keep them durable despite the thinner profile. This is where knowing the rating of a tile comes in handy.

Marble is a metamorphic rock thats commonly composed of calcite or dolomite. These grains are locked together like jigsaw puzzle pieces, making marble quite porous in nature. This means that water, other liquids, and even bacteria can work their way through marble, leading to staining and potentially weakening the material over time.

Marble isnt known as a low-maintenance tile material, but it is stunning, so its aesthetic impact is what tends to attract homeowners. While it does have its weaknesses, marble flooring is still durable compared to other types of flooring.

Available in a wide range of colors and styles, marble tile can be cut and shaped to perfectly fit a space or design. It can also be glossy, matte, or tumbled. It does require a bit more prep work and may need to be sealed as ongoing maintenance. Marble tile costs anywhere from $3 to $50 per square foot.

Slate tiles tend to lend an upscale aesthetic to a design. When most people think of a slate tile, gray comes to mind, but its actually available in a multitude of colors. While slate has a naturally grooved texture, homeowners can opt for smooth, sanded slate tiles as well.

However, slate tiles do scratch easily. Although this can add a personal touch to some areas of a home (depending on the overall design), scratched slate tile can make other areas appear unsightly. Its considered one of the best tile options for bathroom floors because of how easy it is to clean. However, slate is porous so it will need to be sealed to prevent staining.

Slate tiles are on the high end of the price range when it comes to materials and installation. Homeowners can expect to pay between $4 and $20 per square foot for slate tiles.

Granite isnt a common tile choice for flooring, but it is often used on countertops or backsplashes. Compared with other types of stone tiles, granite tends to be the most durable. Its available in a wide range of colors and while typically polished, it can be found in a honed finish as well.

Because its easy to clean, granite is a popular choice. Its also a natural material and is resistant to scratches. All stone tiles are porous, but granite is one of the least. When properly sealed, granite tiles wont stain, though they may need to be resealed over time. Granite tile ranges from $10 to $200 per square foot.

Glass tiles are commonly used for backsplashes or focal walls, and they shouldnt be used for flooring or outdoor spaces. Theyre commonly found in shower wall designs and can even be used for countertops.

Its common to find glass tiles in earth tones, so they can also be used as complementary tiles to more intricate designs. Glass tile is very hygienic and easy to clean; grease, grime, and fingerprints are easily wiped away with an all-purpose cleaner. Many glass tiles are also made from recycled materials, making them a great eco-friendly choice. Once installed, glass tiles are hard to break, though they can scratch.

Glass tiles cost approximately $5 to $15 per square foot, making them a more expensive option. But compared to other tile materials, they offer many design and functionality benefits.

Cement tile offers fun, bold patterns that fit nearly any color palette. While this type of tile is a great bathroom floor tile option, its not perfect for every tile job. One benefit of cement tile is that its incredibly durablewith proper care, cement tiles can last a lifetime. Regular sealing is a must, though.

Cement tile installation differs from that of porcelain. When homeowners are searching for tilers near me, they will want to ensure the contractors theyre considering are experienced with cement tile; its important to note that dark grout is not recommended for cement tiles, as it can permanently stain the design.

Cement tiles are made from natural materials, so theyre environmentally friendly. However, theyre also a bit pricey, coming in between $30 and $70 per square foot. But they can offer a homeowner a truly custom look thats sure to outlast nearly every other type of flooring out there.

Tile is a popular flooring choice among homeowners, and for good reason. Listed below are just some of the benefits tile flooring offers when it comes to a familys lifestyle and a homes value.

Tile floors are versatile, making them suitable for nearly every room in a home. There are also a plethora of options when it comes to color, patterns, and designs. The fact that tile is easy to install compared to other types of flooring is what really sets tile flooring apart from other options.

With a bit of research on how to install a tile floor, some experienced homeowners may be able to complete the task themselves. Even if they decide to hire a tile contractor, very little base floor preparation is needed. This can save on labor costs. Finally, the low maintenance and durability of tile flooring means that after an easy and affordable installation, tile flooring will look good for years to come.

Floor tiles are impact-resistant. Depending on the material, a tile floor can last for decades. In fact, porcelain tile is harder than granite. Whether its used on a high-traffic floor or on a kitchen countertop, tile can withstand years of abuse without showing any signs of wear and tear.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are produced using clay, which is a sustainable resource. Stone tiles also last a very long time. So while a highly durable tile floor may be a smart financial investment for homeowners, its also a great eco-friendly option.

For a long-lasting floor, choose tile

Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring services near you.

Tile floors are simple to maintain. Basic cleaning methodslike sweeping and moppingkeep tile flooring free of dust and debris while also eliminating bacteria. Theres no need for harsh detergents or chemical cleaners with tile flooring either, making them a greener choice when it comes to flooring material.

While other flooring types require routine maintenance and sealing to keep it looking good, tile flooring can look just as beautiful after several years as it did when it was initially installed.

Tile flooring is great for nearly every geographic location and climate, but its especially suitable for warm or temperate climates. Since tiles tend to feel much cooler and dont retain heat, they can help keep a home as energy efficient as possible. A tile floor paired with a couple of ceiling fans can be all a space needs to stay cool, even with the air conditioning turned off.

And for those worried about tile floors being too cold in the winter, theres always the option to add underfloor heating during installation. This is usually more efficient than forced-air heating as it eliminates the loss of energy from heating ducts.

Allergies and asthma are common health struggles for many. While its impossible to control triggers outside of the home, it is possible to keep living spaces as hypoallergenic as possible. Tile flooring is one way this can be accomplished. Because of their hard and slick surfaces, tiles dont trap dust or other allergens. Theyre also resilient to water, making them less likely to develop mold and mildew.

Tile floors also dont require the use of harsh chemicals or cleaners. This can help improve the air quality in a home, which is not the case with other flooring types. For example, carpet fibers trap pollen, dust, dirt, and pet dander that can be released back into the air. Laminate flooring can release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, including formaldehyde and methylene chloride.

For homeowners who already know how to lay tile, this project can be a DIY job. The steps for different types of tile can vary slightly, but when it comes to installing ceramic floor tile, the steps are fairly simple. However, homeowners without tile installation experience may find themselves quickly out of their depth when it comes to installing a tile floor.

Even homeowners who feel confident they can install a tile floor on their own can run into unexpected roadblocks. First, the cost of tools can quickly add up. To complete the job safely and efficiently, a homeowner needs safety goggles, a tape measure, a level, a tile cutter, a notched trowel, a rubber grout float, a tile nipper, and potentially even more. All of these tools can cost more than $450, which adds to the DIY budget unless the homeowner happens to have these tools on hand. For the average homeowner, this is not a realistic prospect.

Theres also experience to consider. When someone has never laid tile before, its easy to make mistakes. This can add up to lost time and wasted materials, both of which come at a price. Homeowners who tackle tile floor installation to save money may find themselves paying more than they anticipated if they need to call in a professional to help fix any mistakes they made. The cost to fix an improperly installed tile floor at some future point can be expensive, even if the initial installation was cheap.

Finally, tile floors with intricate designs or customizations such as radiant heat will be too difficult for many homeowners to attempt. Additionally, if the project requires subfloor repair or any other type of construction, a professional can ensure the job is done right the first time. Searching for floor installation near me is the best way to find a contractor who can handle all the different aspects of a tile installation quickly and safely.

Tile floor installation if no DIY job

Get free, no-commitment project estimates from flooring services near you.

A tile floor installation can be a large financial investment. Thats why its always important to look for areas where money can be saved without sacrificing overall quality and design. The following tips can help homeowners stay within their budget on a tile floor installation project.

While searching for tile installation near me is the first step for homeowners to take when considering a tile installation job, the next step is to narrow down their options. This can be done quickly and efficiently by asking the appropriate combination of any of the following tile contractor questions.

A tile floor can improve a homes aesthetic appearance and monetary value. The cost to install tile floor depends on a variety of factors, but the investment is always worth it. For the homeowner who still has concerns about installing tile in their home, the following list of common questions and answers about tile installation may be helpful.

Read more:
How Much Does It Cost to Install Tile Floor? - Bob Vila

This is a second piece based on the Hot Chips 34 talk by Intel on Meteor Lake and its client strategy. We already covered Meteor Lake, so this is going to be a larger article about the disaggregated future. Make no mistake, this is a new era of chip design.

At Hot Chips 34 (2022) Intel discussed its journey from monolithic die chips that it produces for most of its segments today, to the disaggregated future.

Intel has been co-packaging chips for some time.Intel Ponte Vecchio is perhaps the best example of where the company is heading with 47 different tiles integrated on a single package. Currently, that might be supported by high-end GPUs, but it may also be too much complexity in the client space where ASPs are much lower.

One item that Intel has been consistent on messaging since it started going down the tiled approach publicly is that different transistors optimally work on different processes. Moving to tiles allows Intel to match the transistor type to process.

Intel also has a packaging line that spans 2D technologies as well as 3D technologies like its Foveros line.

Part of the challenge with doing consumer devices in tiles is that Intel needs to manufacture at scale. That means that Intel needs to have a process that is relatively low-cost to implement. Foveros is the line of technologies that Intel is using across much of its next-generation portfolio.

There are a number of Foveros generations and it has evolved since it was discussed at the 2018 Architecture Day.

The next generation gives more density to the connections but also lowers the power consumption of passing bits. This is critical as power per bit transferred (usually expressed as pJ/bit) can be a huge cost in multi-chip solutions. Power saved transferring data is power that can be re-purposed to doing work. In modern systems we often here anecdotes about the power of moving data through the system is greater than the power used doing useful work.

While Ponte Vecchio is the current high-water mark for processors we have seen, Intel is moving to a similar, yet scaled-down approach for its client chips.

Although we already covered Meteor Lake, we are going to use the slides as examples of what is going on.

Intel has a base tile that carries power and data connections up to the tiles that do work above.

By changing to a tiled approach with this base die, there are trade-offs. The first one folks mention is cost. Intel says that the cost of adding the base die is relatively offset by the cost savings of being able to use smaller dies aligned to the most efficient processes. In the client space where CPUs compete on pricing that can have $10-20 deltas, adding $100 more to manufacture a chip in this manner is not feasible.

With this approach, Intel can design different compute tiles. Some may have different core counts and core types. Those tiles can also have different caches. Caches take up a significant amount of area on a tile. Having a compute tile with a relatively standard interface to the rest of the device means that Intel can innovate on new generations of cores or new generations of process nodes and then easily integrate them into existing products.

The graphics tile can similarly be revised over time.

The SoC tile is interesting because Intel says the display, imaging, and media are better suited to this tile than the GPU tile. What Intel did not say, is that once there is a hardware accelerator, or there is display for perhaps four outputs, then this does not need to necessarily be changed with every generation. Pulling features out to the SoC that will span multiple generations means that Intel can focus efforts on revising the CPU and GPU tiles without having to validate that the display function works on a new process node that the future GPU is using as an example.

The I/O extender tile can be a number of things. Looking beyond Meteor Lake, features like PCIe Lanes, USB lanes, and more can be broken out into tiles and then integrated.

That is exactly where Intel was going with its cost discussion. As mentioned earlier, there is a tax in terms of disaggregating, but Intel believes it is relatively small.

Intel also believes that by being able to target different types of process nodes for different types of tiles, it will help offset the disaggregation tax.

Intel also believes that being able to take advantage of new transistors sooner, it can help to offset the disaggregation tax as well.

We will quickly note here that this is at a 36-micron bump pitch. At a 25-micron Foveros Direct level, that disaggregation impact would be even less. Given that, Intel did not get into Lunar Lake details, but its diagram shows an Arrow lake CPU/GPU tile refresh while keeping the SoC and I/O tiles. Lunar Lake is something different, but perhaps Intel already showed us the future.

Two years ago, we coveredSoC Containerization A Future Intel Methodology. Much like how monolithic applications have been migrating to microservices, Intel is moving from monolithic dies to smaller tiles. Meteor Lake/ Arrow Lake looks a lot like an evolution of the 2020 era Multiple Dies from the IP/SOC Methodology Change. The CPU is its own tile, the GPU is its own tile, but the I/O tile has been split into two.

The next evolution Intel discussed was breaking things out to individual IPs. It could then make smaller chiplets. By doing so, it can then innovate faster on each IP. Intels product groups would then need to take the IP blocks and compose chips based on those IP blocks for different market segments.

Perhaps the more interesting aspect to this is not just what Intel is showing above, but then taking a step further and looking at its integration efforts. The company released UCIe which the industry is rapidly gravitating to in order to facilitate a chiplet ecosystem.

The implications of this are huge. For the consumer space, do we see more integration to the CPU package as it becomes less expensive to add I/O via I/O tiles (e.g. higher-speed networking, AI acceleration, or more?) Across Intels portfolio, will that mean that a Dell Core i9 has a different silicon tile integrated into it versus a HP or Lenovo tile?

Going beyond just the vendors themselves, this has a huge implication on how Intel will need to operate moving forward. Moving to a tiled approach may mean Intel can actually make highly differentiated solutions. A product manager instead of having to take the consumer Core-based die and then specing ECC will be on and coming up with the speed and core count portfolio for the Xeon E series may be able to choose P-tiles, E-tiles, AI-tiles, networking tiles, I/O tiles, and all of them may not be from Intel. That is an enormously different task than the product teams have realistically done in the past.

For the market, that will bring a new dynamic. A VPN appliance vendor may be able to get a custom encryption chiplet integrated just for its machines. A HPE and Dell EMC server may use different flavors of Xeons. Perhaps a Dell Core i7 will no longer work in an ASUS Core i7 (this already happens with AMD PSB.) Are there market-specific requirements for accelerators on the I/O die that make chips region specific like Blu-rays?

While Intels Hot Chips 34 talk was focused on its client Meteor Lake solution, the more impactful implication may be what it means for Intel, other companies in the industry, and Intels customers. If a true chiplet marketplace develops, then the pace at which we get new innovations can increase. It may also create chaos for largely structured markets that we have had for the past decade or two.

See more here:
Intel Enters a New Era of Chiplets that will Change Everything - ServeTheHome

One of the main draws for The Pink Stuff is the claim that its 100 percent naturalas in, it is not nearly as harmful as many of the household cleaners out there these days. (Its 100 percent on the website and 99 percent on the jar.) Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) dont disclose everything thats in a product, so we cant vet every ingredient in The Pink Stuff. Only chemicals that are considered hazardous must be listed, so other materials may not appear in the data sheet. CR reached out to Star Brands for comment but received no reply.

It could very well be made of materials you can find in nature, but the term natural only conveys emotion, no meaningful, scientific, standardized definition of the properties of the contents, Dickerson says. It reads like a marketing play to address peoples concerns for safe cleaning products.

As with foods, its important to keep in mind that natural ingredients arent necessarily safer than synthetic chemicals. Natural ingredients can be allergens, and under U.S. regulations, fragrance ingredients dont need to be disclosed even though some can be irritants.

For what its worth, one of the ingredients in The Pink Stuff is perfume. But the subtle floral scent didnt bother me, unlike many noxious cleaning products Ive tried, abrasive or otherwise.

Go here to read the rest:
The Pink Stuff: How It Works and Surfaces It Can Hurt - Consumer Reports

COLUMBUS The Ohio Association of Commodores is announcing that David W. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Summitville Tiles, Inc., headquartered in Summitville, and owner of the Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, in Hanoverton was recently inducted as Grand Commodore of the Ohio Commodores during its annual summer meeting in Columbus.

Johnson succeeds Sam Covelli of Covelli Enterprises, one of the nations leading chain restauranteurs.

The Association of Ohio Commodores is a group of men and women appointed by the Governor of Ohio after having been nominated and recognized for their business acumen, civic leadership and community engagement.

Gov. James A. Rhodes formed the Association of Ohio Commodores in 1966 for the purpose of assisting the state of Ohio in advancement in all areas contributing to the growth of and development of the state and greater prosperity of its citizens. The association was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio in 1971 as a non-profit organization and now its members are primarily involved with supporting economic development efforts all across Ohio in conjunction with the office of the governor and lieutenant governor.

A nonpartisan organization, the Association is comprised of a diverse and dedicated membership of more than 500 civic leaders located all 88 counties of Ohio. Members include the governors cabinet, government officials at the local, county and state level, university presidents and administrators, banking and legal professionals, leaders of trade organizations, chambers and economic development organizations, and senior management executives of large, medium and small manufacturers from across Ohio, representing a wide variety of industries.

Johnson has served on the Board of the Association of Ohio Commodores, as a regional director for northeast Ohio and most recently as the second in command of the Association. He brings a wealth of experience in business and civic engagement as a 25-year board member and past chairman of the Ohio Manufacturers Association; current board member of the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation; vice president of the American Studies Center & Radio America in Washington, DC; and treasurer of the Ohio Republican Party. He has been CEO of his familys 100-year old tile and brick manufacturing company, Summitville Tiles, Inc., for the past 32 years. Summitville Tiles is one of the leading and one of the oldest ceramic tile producers in America today.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Read the original:
Johnson inducted as Grand Commodore | News, Sports, Jobs - The Review

It took astrophotographers Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne over nine months to edit their final image. It's comprised of more than 200,000 shots pieced together to make a single photograph. Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne hide caption

It took astrophotographers Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne over nine months to edit their final image. It's comprised of more than 200,000 shots pieced together to make a single photograph.

Two astrophotographers have teamed up to produce an out-of-this-world photo of the moon, capturing over 200,000 shots to create a single image.

Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne collaborated last November to push their photography skills to the limit. Their finished product was posted online Saturday, and is currently gaining lots of attention on Reddit.

The two stargazers first connected over Reddit and then Instagram, sharing and commenting on each other's work over the past three or four years. After recognizing one another's strengths in photography, they decided to team up for a photoshoot of Earth's moon.

"When he and I put our heads together we were able to make something a little off brand for both of us, which is cool," McCarthy told NPR. "The whole thing is assembled like a mosaic, and each tile is made up of thousands of photos."

McCarthy said he specializes in detailed photographs, taking tens of thousands of photos to capture the geographical features on the moon's surface. Matherne, who prefers to shoot deep space photos, specializes in colors.

Over the course of a single evening, McCarthy shot over 200,000 detailed photos of the moon from Arizona, while Matherne shot another 500 images from Louisiana to capture color data. They combined their work by stacking the photos on top of one another to create a detailed image of the moon in spectacular color.

"Andrew aimed purely for the detail side whereas I aimed purely for the color side," Matherne said. "That allowed us to get the full moon."

To capture all of the color and details on the moon's surface, Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne focused on different aspects of the shoot. McCarthy shot over 200,000 images focusing on the moon's details and Matherne shot another 500 to capture the vibrant colors. Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne hide caption

To capture all of the color and details on the moon's surface, Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne focused on different aspects of the shoot. McCarthy shot over 200,000 images focusing on the moon's details and Matherne shot another 500 to capture the vibrant colors.

They spent the next nine months bouncing edits and ideas off one another about the edits, using photo editing programs to help produce the best image possible.

Matherne and McCarthy said though their work is technical, it's not out of reach for other photo enthusiasts. All that's required is a camera, tripod and a star tracker. Aspiring astrophotographers can take their work to the next level by purchasing a telescope, but the two said it's best to develop basic photo skills before taking that next step.

But astrophotography isn't as simple as point and shoot. One of the most difficult parts of the job, McCarthy said, is practicing patience.

A successful shoot relies heavily on clear skies and limited light pollution. Most nights McCarthy walks away empty handed, but that makes successful shoots all the more meaningful.

"If you can't handle that, then you're not going to get to the point where you're getting these great pictures," he said. "Anybody can do it, but it takes a special temperament."

Read more from the original source:
Two photographers snapped an out-of-this-world photo of the moon - NPR

Gigi Janko stands in front of the remains of several burnt structures that she is disassembling along Riverside Avenue in Wellsville for a longitudinal work of art. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

WELLSVILLE Two years ago, a young woman was looking for adventure and found it while browsing the real estate listings online.

Gigi Janko never expected that she would find herself ripping apart remnants of fire-ravaged structures one block from village hall to assemble her latest work of art.

Not too bad for a woman who had returned to school, graduating college at age 17, after having to drop out in seventh grade.

I had a tad unconventional educational experience, she recalled while sitting at a riverside picnic table. She recounted how several years after dropping out in middle school that she enrolled in the inaugural year of a pilot program at Bard College at Simons Rock in Barrington, Mass. A pricey residential liberal arts college, the program allowed her to start college early and put a tremendous focus on the students love for learning and academics. Although she had started with the pursuit of mathematics, Janko found her true calling in the study of fine art particularly dance and ceramics.

The college prides itself on allowing students to explore the subjects they love unlike conventional colleges.

This municipal riverside block, which serves as Gigi Jankos canvas, is only several blocks from the Wellsville Fire Department, where she serves as a volunteer firefighter. Janko came to Wellsville several years ago after finding several burned structures online and purchasing them, including an abandoned church to the left (which serves as an indoor studio of sorts), and the scorched structure to the right. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, most days one can find her disassembling the burned structures and laying out the pieces in this canvassed foreground, where they will eventually find their way into her latest longitudinal art presentation. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi).

Before moving to Wellsville two years ago, she had worked as a semi-professional dancer in New York City. Once here, she joined the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, where she currently is on live for completion of her project.

She described this latest work as a longitudinal sculpture, which includes salvaged items from the properties within several blocks in Wellsville.

I didnt really have a direction for my next project; however, I found this listing online and the price was right, she said.

After visiting Wellsville and seeing the properties, which are located along Riverside Avenue, she decided to go with it.

In addition to the large scale visible pieces that ultimately will be included in the sculpture, she acknowledged that some other pieces represent a very important cross-section that she will include in the final product. This could included photos, fabrics and ceramic tiles made from 3D prints as well as recorded conversation over the last year with her mother, Cressey Belden.

These pieces of charred debris are laid out in front of this burnt structure along Riverside Avenue in Wellsville by artist Gigi Janko with precision as she seeks to incorporate them into her latest sculpture. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Whether wood or brick from her properties many fire ravaged items will find their way into the sculpture. She owns properties at 103 11th St., 1021 Riverside Ave. (where she expects the work will be located), 1034 and 1036 Main St. and 402 Ninth St, according to the Columbiana County Auditors website.

Janko uses the former Immaculate Conception Church, which she also now owns, as a makeshift studio. Glancing around the church interior, one views magnificent stained glass windows that remind visitors of its former life as well as pallets filled with art history slides, melted DVDs that survived the blaze and power tools.

She never envisioned that she would someday be mastering them.

When I got here, I couldnt even use a drill. Now you see me most days (wielding) a crowbar and sledgehammer, she added.

Her working title for her project is Gratified Bulimia, which includes not only the remnants showcased in the final sculpture but the entire performance, which includes inventory of diets, ingredients, games, essential oils, religions, photos and games as well as ceramic tiles made from 3D prints.

Artist Gigi Janko admires the brickwork inside one of the charred structures that she is disassembling by hand as part of her latest sculpture on her Wellsville riverside compound. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Boarding guests will stay in the neighboring white house until the performance concludes, enjoying open tea with the baked goods generated from the performance, where she will bake recipes selected from as many different sources she can find.

First, I would like to say that I dont make autobiographical art. It is made of the world but is a world of its own. All components are a part of the sculpture. The performance is the lifetime of the sculpture like its pulse, she concluded. Fundamentally all elements compose the sculptures anatomy. I am a sculptor.

Janko hopes that she will have the work complete in fall of 2023.

Artist Gigi Janko works in the interior of a nearby Wellsville church structure, where she stores some of her materials from the outside elements. (Special to the Review/Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

EAST LIVERPOOL The East Liverpool City School District Board of Education with an-vote passed School ...

NEW CUMBERLAND An adjustment to the policy concerning leaves of absences without pay for Hancock County Schools ...

EAST LIVERPOOL Cancer diagnosis numbers in the city are dropping and thats good news, city Health ...

See the original post here:
Wellsville transplant finds inspiration along river | News, Sports, Jobs - The Review