Even though traffic on Pacific Coast Highway whizzes by Point Dumes newly rebuilt county fire station at speeds over 50 mph, its hard to miss the new tile mural out front.

The vibrantly colored work of art is eight feet tall in some spots, 45 feet long and depicts Malibu scenery while wrapping around a corner of the new station. Tapestry of Dreams begins with a brightly colored rolling carpet that turns into the scenery of Malibu.

I had to be respectful about not doing something too crazy, local tile artist Matt Doolin said. Im surprised at how far they let me go with the bright colors.

Doolin, co-owner of Topanga Art Tile, spent over eight months designing, creating and installing the new mural. When the county first sent out requests for proposals to artists for the project in 2012, Doolin said he thought, Wow, this is perfect for me, even though he knew hed have plenty of competition.

I sent a very passionate letter of interest that got me in the door, Doolin said. It referred to the local community, the fact that Ive grown up here and that Im connected to the local environment by spending a lot of time in Malibu surfing, hiking and camping.

Doolin also thought it helped that Topanga Art Tile was well known locally after being founded by his mother in 1978, and that he also designed a countyproject for the Topanga Library in 2006.

Dozens of contenders for the art project were given the opportunity to look at drawings of the future fire station before submitting proposals. The county encouraged submissions by tile artists because of Malibus history of manufacturing art tiles, and because of the tilework in the historic Adamson house.

It took a committee of 12 people to review the proposals, including members of county administration, the Malibu community, contractors and the fire department.

Nature was the big theme that everybody wanted sun, sand and surf, Doolin said. Many times, the theme [for fire station art] is firefighters fighting a fire, and they really wanted something else.

Malibu Arts Commission member Scott Hosfeld said he really liked the fact that L.A. County allowed them to be part of the vetting process. He thinks the finished mural is gorgeous.

The rest is here:
Fire Station 71 Mosaic a Real Piece of Work

At its second Module Developers Conference, Google showed a video of Project Ara's second prototype phone, Spiral 2. Google ATAP

At its second Module Developers Conference, Google showed a video of Project Ara's second prototype phone, Spiral 2.

Project Ara is Google's modular phone project. Spiral 2 would consist of a skeletal frame and 11 modular tiles that snap on via electro-permanent magnets. Google ATAP

Project Ara is Google's modular phone project. Spiral 2 would consist of a skeletal frame and 11 modular tiles that snap on via electro-permanent magnets.

With Ara, a cracked screen doesnt force anyone into buying an entirely new phone. You just get a new screen. Google ATAP

With Ara, a cracked screen doesnt force anyone into buying an entirely new phone. You just get a new screen.

Now, it looks like Google's push to market Project Ara will also hinge on ultra-customization, because buyers can design their own tiles. Google ATAP

Now, it looks like Google's push to market Project Ara will also hinge on ultra-customization, because buyers can design their own tiles.

Technically, this can happen because the modules will be made from injection-molded polycarbonate plastic that can withstand high resolution printing. Google ATAP

Technically, this can happen because the modules will be made from injection-molded polycarbonate plastic that can withstand high resolution printing.

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Googles Betting That Custom Skins Will Make Its Modular Phone Sexy

Families evacuated from a block of flats in Bebington yesterday after a man began hurling tiles from the roof were allowed back home this morning.

Residents in Conway Court had to find somewhere else to stay last night after the amount of damage caused in the incident meant necessary repairs could not be carried out yesterday.

A large area around the block of flats was cordoned off on Tuesday after a shirtless man climbed on the roof and began ripping off tiles.

Police spent several hours negotiating with him after he went back into one of the flats, and the situation was resolved when a 47-year-old from Birkenhead was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and affray at 2.30pm.

VIEW GALLERY

He was kept in custody overnight and was being questioned by officers at a police station in Merseyside today.

Magenta Living, which has nine flats in Conway Court four owned by leaseholders, including the one involved in the incident spoke to residents last night about securing temporary accommodation and kept an officer on site to offer advice and support to those affected.

The housing association has now confirmed that residents were able to return to their homes this morning after the roof was made safe.

Repair work was set to get underway today by roofing contractors, with hopes it will be completed by the end of the week.

A spokesman for Magenta Living said: Work to make the damaged roof safe, secure and watertight was completed last night, and residents were able to return to their homes this morning. Our roofing contractor is now installing scaffolding to the site so that the major works that need carrying out to the roof can start.

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Wirral flats roof tile - evacuated families back home this morning

State officials charged with overseeing the $272.7 million State Capitol renovation are warning that the projects cost could go up as a result of a dispute over how space will be allocated in the renovated building.

The Capitol Preservation Commission was supposed to approve a major work package for the project Wednesday, but it delayed action because theres no agreement in place yet for space allocation.

A Thursday deadline for approving the work package loomed before the commission. The package, which includes mechanical and electrical work and finishes, needs to be approved to keep the overall project on track.

Delays could add up to $680,000 a month to the projects cost, the commission said Wednesday.

The commission agreed to meet again Jan. 22 to consider approval of the work package. The hope is that the tenants will have reached a deal by that time, so the project can stay on schedule and avoid cost overruns.

The main tenants the House, the Senate, and the offices of the governor, the attorney general and the chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court have to sign off on the space plans before the work package can be approved.

Gov. Mark Dayton, who chairs the commission, declined to go into specifics about whats holding up a deal. But he said progress has been made and he expressed confidence that a deal will be in place by Thursday, Jan. 22.

We know we have to get it done by next Thursday, Dayton said after Wednesdays meeting. The contractor [JE Dunn] just told me that they can live with that. I can never give a 100 percent guarantee, but I will give a 99 percent guarantee that we will have this project approved next Thursday.

At issue is work package 4, which includes mechanical and electrical work such as fire-protection systems, light fixtures, historic lighting restoration, data and fiber-optic cabling, and distribution of mechanical systems from the vertical shafts.

It also includes finishes such as interior stone repair, restoration of wood doors and historic hardware, restoration of wood finishes, finish carpentry, casework and millwork, ceramic tile floors, bathroom finishes, painting, flooring and window treatments.

Original post:
Tenant dispute delays award of Capitol renovation contract

6 Earl Drive, Muttontown, NY 11791
See the full tour at http://jumpvisualtours.com/120557 Stone Hill at Muttontown Gated Lifestyle Community. Brand New!!! Rare Immediate Occupancy!!!..3 Finished Levels with Walk Out Lower Level...

By: RobertaEllimanLI

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6 Earl Drive, Muttontown, NY 11791 - Video

Tile $20.00

After its battery dies, I'm not sure I will still be so worried about where my stuff is that I'd pay for Tile all over again.

Im always excited when a product that was previously only compatible with iOS devices finally makes its way to Android. But with Tile, a pocket-sized, Bluetooth-enabled gadget that keeps track of your stuff, the wait may not have been worth it.

The Tile fits on your key ring or sticks to your wallet with an additional adhesive pad.

Lets start from the beginning: Tile was crowdfunded back in 2013 by thousands of backers who felt that this was the kind of device that could properly track their stuff. The gadget eventually arrived last summer for iOS devices.

Tile costs $25 a piece (with discounts for mutli-tile packs) and is about as big as a matchbook. You will have to buy more than one Tile if you plan to track multiple things. It has a keyring hole so you can easily attach it to your keys, or you can stick it to things with the included adhesive square. It's a tad on the thick sideabout as thick as two quarters stacked up on top of one anotherand though it isnt bulky, its still a significant addition to your keychain, or wherever you put it. Its also water resistant and constructed out of durable material, so you dont have to worry about it falling apart.

Tile isnt too thick, but its still a significant addition on your keychain.

Tile is helpful for people who tend to misplace common things, like keys or a wallet. If you do lose something with a Tile attached to it, you can ping it via Bluetooth and it will play an adorable chiptune melody until youve confirmed that you found it. If its too far out of range, you can then use the Community Find feature available within the app to locate it. Since Tile doesnt have GPS tracking built-in, it relies on other users with the Tile app to locate your missing square. That location information is then registered as the last place it was seen. Its like a virtual lost and found and you dont have to be a Tile user to help out others.

Put Tile on your keys and never lose them again. If you have Bluetooth on, of course. And if the battery inside the Tile still works. And if youre within range.

The good news is that all of Tile features work well, save for a few awkward times that the Tile app couldnt figure out that my keys were right next to my phone. Tiles Bluetooth range extends up to 100 feet, and as long as other Tile users have Bluetooth on, youll be able to track where you stuff is. The tunes that Tile emits are loud enough to hear in a noisy house, too.

Read more from the original source:
Tile review: Would you pay $25 a year to find your keys (maybe)?

Nine Year 11 students from Tile Hill Wood School tested their problem-solving skills during a three-day World of Work workshop.

The event, run by BT in Birmingham, was based on TV show The Apprentice where they were expected to rise to the challenge and improve entrepreneurial team building skills.

Pupils from three other schools, including Woodlands Academy in Coventry and two from the Birmingham area, also attended.

They were put in mixed teams where they had to practise their problem-solving skills and present their ideas and concepts to The Boss.

The winning team, Pegasus, were crowned as the champions at the end of the day.

A Tile Hill Wood spokesman said: The girls learned so much from the whole experience, including tips from experts within BT which enabled them to build on their presentation skills.

The event was so successful that BT wish to run it next year and have requested that the girls at Tile Hill Wood School take part again.

Link:
Tile Hill Wood girls prove themselves in workshop challenge

2014 fall tile work in Illinois.
2014 Tile project.

By: Bfarms

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2014 fall tile work in Illinois. - Video

Our contentious basement issue continues with the always controversial topic on whether to drywall the ceiling, or drop it with a suspended tile.

Drop ceilings are a long time favorite because they allow the homeowner access to the vast amount of wiring, ductwork, and plumbing pipes that tend to weave themselves across the joist system. As a result, drop ceilings tend to make homeowners sleep a little easier due to the fact they feel they can react more quickly to a leaky plumbing joint, or block in the drainage pipe, without too much disruption. Once youve buried your mechanical systems in behind the drywall, youve pretty well committed to never modifying or touching this stuff for the life of the home.

So, before deciding on either drywall or a suspended ceiling tile as your finished product, the question youre going to have to ask yourself is when was the last time you needed access to your ceiling? If the answer is never, then theres little risk in drywalling over an area that is, or has been up to this point, perfectly secure. However, drywall may not be the answer if you suspect that the mechanical systems running the course of the ceiling joists may be somewhat less than code compliant. This state of non-compliance is usually confirmed when clothes hangers and binder twine form the backbone of the support system keeping the duct work in position, or when your best home buddy is a plumbers snake, due to the mass of gnarled elbows and joints that regularly require your de-clogging attention. Thats why we fix the ceilings mechanical issues before finishing anything, even with a suspended tile. Sure, a grid system with tiles does provide accessibility, but it aint easy. Removing and manipulating tiles that are often installed in less than the four-inch suggested minimum space, usually result in damage to the product. Plus, any time a ladder is part of the repair process, the risk of injury and damage to the homeowner increases twofold.

So, lets get the venting and plumbing systems working at 100% before choosing either drywall or a suspended tile. Or, best case scenario, and if possible, have your plumber and heating/cooling contractor re-direct the piping and duct work to a non-finished part of the basement. What about using a combination of both drywall and suspended tile? Perfect! This way, areas that are to be drywalled can be further sealed with a Roxul, safe n sound insulation, providing a little soundproofing for any future theater room, or office space, since sound insulation works equally well in keeping sound out, as well as in.

Before installing the ceiling, youll have to first wrap the supporting beams. This can be accomplished with either pine planks, wainscoting, primed MDF, or drywall. If the idea is to have beams that are stained, or painted a darker color, and you see it as beneficial to emphasizing their existence, real wood is the obvious choice. Otherwise, most basement beams sit a little lower than what we feel comfortable with, and are better un-emphasized with the smoother finish of paintable MDF or drywall. Although Im not a big fan of steel wall studding, only because it wont accept a nail for picture hanging, wrapping your overhead beam, or framing any low spot in the basement with steel studs, is definitely easier than working with wood. All youll need are 2x2 steel studs and a couple of pounds of self-tapping steel screws. Steel studs are lightweight, cut easily with a pair of tin snips, and fasten together extremely well. Plus, steel studs are always straight, wont twist, and dont crack, so they offer a definite advantage over regular 1x3 or 2x2 lumber. Be sure to use a 1-1/4 inch, pan head screw, as opposed to a standard tapered, or wood type screw, when when fastening the steel studs to the wood joists or beam. The flat surface of the pan head screw is a better match for the steels thin construction.

Good building.

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Handyman Hints: Drop the ceiling?

Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeros radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona. Here are questions about home maintenance and improvement from the Southern Arizona area.

Q: I have just remodeled my bathroom; the work was finished this week. Some people have advised me to seal the travertine tile shower; others say no, I dont have to do it. Is it necessary?

A: Yes, you do have to seal it, because travertine is a porous stone that can be etched by acidic substances. But first, you have to let the grout dry out completely after the travertine has been put on by the remodeler. Its probably going to do that in three to five days, but waiting two weeks would be better.

Once you are ready to seal the stone, brush a thin layer of epoxy resin over the surface to fill any holes in the top layer. Allow it to dry thoroughly and then brush on another layer. Then mix the stone sealer and apply it with an applicator brush, moving in one direction. Check to make sure that you dont miss any areas or add too much or too little sealer. Allow to dry thoroughly before taking another shower.

Q: I have a problem with my flat roof; I have to paint it every year to keep it sealed. What can I put on top that would give more protection and reflect heat as well?

A: A white elastomeric roof coating could work well for you. It can be used on metal, foam or concrete tiles. But before you put it on, you need to thoroughly clean the roofs surface. Preparation is 90 percent of the job. Start by cleaning up any dirt or debris. Then use a pressure washer to finish the cleaning. Youll also want to repair any cracks or problem areas. The coating can be applied with a roller, brush or sprayer. Once the coating is on, it should last several years and help cool the interior of your house.

Q: I recently had a glass-enclosed porch added onto the back of my house. The builder seems to have done a good job, including adding extra flashing, but now there are four places inside on the ceiling of the porch that leak when it rains. I inspected the stucco parapet on the roof that is just above the porch and the stucco is pitted all over with tiny holes. Could those holes be the problem?

A: If you are sure the builder installed the porch properly, then that stucco parapet could indeed be the problem. If you have woodpeckers living in the area, they most likely have done the damage. You need to have a competent painter come in to fill those holes with elastomeric caulk and maybe even re-stucco the parapet. Then you can repaint.

Q: I have a townhouse where the tile flooring has cracked inside my kitchenette. The crack is near where the floor meets the outside wall, and when it rains, water comes up through that crack in the tiles. There is also a drainpipe right outside the wall. How can this problem be fixed?

A: Someone will probably need to excavate outside the townhouse down to the footing at the bottom. Then the concrete foundation area will need to be thoroughly cleaned and sealed. You may also need to redirect the water from the downspout to eliminate a source of water affecting this problem.

Link:
Porous travertine tile in a shower must be sealed