SPACE talks

  Outdoor Spaces Offer Style And Comfort ( NewsUSA )  – If you enjoy relaxing and entertaining on your porch or patio, you are not alone.Today’s homeowners love being outdoors, and design professionals are being tasked with creating extravagant outdoor living areas with all the creature comforts that are typically found indoors – a task they’re accomplishing with natural building materials such as cypress.Mark Tuck of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association,  www.CypressInfo.org , says, "Cypress is a beautiful wood that looks exotic. More importantly, it is a durable wood that – when properly installed and maintained – provides long-lasting performance. It’s perfect for outdoor use!"Unlike other species that need to be pressure-treated with chemicals for outdoor use, cypress comes by its durability naturally. When growing, cypress trees produce cypressene in their heartwood. This preservative oil protects the wood from the elements, and it repels insects such as te...

  Yes, Homeowners, It’s Time to Prepare for Storm Season ( NewsUSA )  – Sponsored by GAF – Here we go again?Five to nine hurricanes – with as many as four "major" ones boasting sustained winds of 111-plus mph – is what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just predicted for this year’s storm season. In other words, they’re calling for an "active" six months or so through the end of November.And while no one’s saying we’re in for a repeat of last season’s devastating triple whammy – yes, we do mean Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria – ask anyone still dealing with the havoc of having had their house battered in one of those storms if they don’t still wonder what more they could’ve done to be better prepared."It only takes one storm to devastate a community," said Acting FEMA Deputy Administrator Daniel Kaniewski.Read on for some of the best advice on readying for the next (inevitable) storm.* Check your insurance. The coups de grace for many o...

    Tips (Including Virtual Reality) For Avoiding Home Improvement Blunders ( NewsUSA )   Sponsored by GAF – Want proof of how carefully you need to weigh the alternatives before making upgrades to your home?Look no further than the Florida couple who last year decided to have their house painted to look like artist Vincent Van Gogh’s famous canvas "The Starry Night." It wasn’t just that it was such an odd choice for an exterior that it attracted tourists – sort of the local answer to New York’s Madame Tussauds – it was that the city of Mount Dora took them to court over it."Graffiti," the city called it."First Amendment!" countered homeowner Lubek Jastrzebski, an immigrant from Communist-era Poland, who argued that the city code didn’t address house colors and aesthetics.Yes, that’s an extreme example of unintended consequences. But even though legally the homeowners wound up off the hook, anyone now contemplating shelling out significant bucks on home im...

Facebook drew flak from the international community for allegedly censoring posts on its social media platform calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation over the spiraling crisis of the coronavirus pandemic in India Facebook told users that posts that included #ResignModi were “temporarily hidden” because “some content in those posts goes against our Community Standards.” According to BuzzFeed News, the people in India could not view these posts even as  those in the US, Canada or the UK could see them  with a simple search. The posts remained hidden for about three hours, but after the first report on this was out, Facebook allowed these posts to be seen in India, backtracking its previous decision related to community guideline violations. “Because the posts were hidden, it’s unclear what content violated the rules of a company whose executives have often expressed a commitment to open expression,” the report read. According to reports, soon after the BuzzFeed s...

  Five Hot Trends in Hardwood Flooring ( NewsUSA )  – More than ever, homeowners are appreciating the added value – aesthetic and monetary – that hardwood floors bring to a home."They also offer what can be an overwhelming variety of possibilities and choices," says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center,  www.hardwoodinfo.com . "Here’s a look at five top flooring trends that will help if you can’t see the wood for the trees." Made in America "There’s a growing demand for American-produced hardwoods," says Michael Martin, President and CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association."It’s part of the general trend toward locally-sourced materials of all kinds in the U.S."Consumer concerns about sustainability, quality, safety, and environmental factors are more easily addressed when a hardwood is domestically grown and milled. Plus, the U.S. offers an unrivaled range of readily available species suitable for flooring. Stains a...

  The Story of the Barcode: Past, Present, and Future ( NewsUSA )  – Same-day delivery. Self-checkout. Buy online, pick-up in store. Countless modern shopping conveniences that are currently available can be traced back to the debut of a seemingly simple technology with a powerful impact on global commerce – the barcode.Today, the barcode is used by millions of people everywhere, every day. However, its creation required decades of collaboration with grocery industry leaders to establish its design, use, and ultimately cement its place in retail. This year, we celebrate the definitive moment in history when 45 years ago, the first Universal Product Code (UPC) was scanned – a milestone that led to unprecedented economic opportunities and the variety of shopping options we enjoy today. The Barcode’s Origins Few shoppers today remember a time when product prices were manually entered at a cash register. Before checkouts featured barcodes and scanners, long lines snaked ...

  Weathering The Storm Starts at The Top ( NewsUSA )  – While property damage caused by extreme weather often makes headlines, even isolated spring and summer storms can wreak havoc on your home’s  roof .When functioning as a system, the right roof uses components to help protect your home from the elements in three key areas. First, the roofing system helps defend against weather-inflicted damage. Second, the roofing system is designed to protect against moisture intrusion. Finally, the roofing system helps a home breathe with balanced attic ventilation.As such, it’s a good practice to make sure your home’s roof is in optimal condition before storm season gets underway. The following tips can help prepare your roof to weather nature’s storms.Look for damage: Some weather damage is easily visible. For example, divots on shingles or missing shingle granules may indicate hail damage. Thin, horizontal lines where granules have worn off may also indicate that a storm has affe...