Shopping for a new toilet? You may be surprised at the new standard.
I overheard a conversation at the hardware store concerning the new toilet water standard. If you are in the market for a new toilet in California, you will find that the new standard for efficiency is 1.28 Gallons per Flush. All new construction are required to have these High Efficiency Toilets (HET) as of January 1, 2014. We’ve come a long way. In the early 70’s most toilets were using 6.0 gallons per flush (gpf), which dropped to 3.5 gpf in 1978, and in 1994 … (28 comments)
California has long been a place of original ideas. Products and businesses seem to spring up on a regular basis that you would not see in many areas of the country. I'm not sure why that is but it often times leads to similar behavior in a growing number of cities.
I don't know if this idea has caught on in your neighborhood, but it is something that I have not seen until now. Would you wash your dog here?
Few places have the beauty of the California coast. Up and down the western coastline there is beauty to see. The sun, sand, and surf along the state of California is something we all can appreciate.
This shot was taking in Southern California near San Diego. What a beautiful day to be there today.
We have been suffering from a lack of rainfall in California for some time, and an emergency has been called. We were told that the rains were coming this week and it would be a strong storm, and it was. The drought is not over but we sure do welcome the precipitation. … (12 comments)
Is your contractor licensed in the State of California? Is the contractor the proper bond for his work? Does your contractor carry Commercial General Liability Insurance?
This last one can play an important role in your decision to enter into a contract for improvements to your home. Knowing a little bit more about this may help in making that decision.
Contractors are not required to carry Commercial General … (14 comments)
Anyone with a little time and money can go to their local governmental office and get a license. Licenses are issued every day in California for all sorts of businesses. That is not the license that you are asking about is it? Course not! You want to know if I am licensed as a general contractor in the State of California. If you plan on hiring a contractor to do some work for you, it is very important that you ask the right questions. The question … (42 comments)
There is so much in the State of California that could be photographed and be absolutely stunning. The gorgeous coastlines, the majestic mountains, countless streams and rivers, and lakes for recreation and relaxation – all add to the scenic beauty. And that’s just the beginning; there is so much more to this state. There is so much history in this part of the country; some of the buildings date back hundreds of years. Parts of the state still have old Spanish settler structures; the Gold Rush has left its … (24 comments)
Like most states, California has a lot of things to offer it’s residents. The California coast offers some of the most beautiful sunsets all year long, and I think I need to go see that again sometime soon.
One of the most beautiful sights that I saw while driving in Northern California this weekend was Mt. Shasta. I got this photo while driving south on Interstate 5, it’s such a large mountain you get many opportunities to get a good shot. The snow will be on the mountain virtually year-round. … (0 comments)
Beginning January 1, 2013 purchases of lumber products and engineered wood products for use in California will be subject to a one percent (1%) assessment based on the selling price of the product. This may not sound like a big deal at first, but this is just one more tax that will likely cost more to administer. I don’t know why the 1% assessment is being placed, but I don’t like it much. It will affect the contractor in much the same way as a sales tax, the contractor will … (8 comments)
I Don’t Think These Stair Would Be Legal in Sacramento, California
I got a chance to photograph these stairs to an upstairs unit while in Alaska. They would not pass inspection here in Sacramento California, to many building code violations.
Can you imagine carrying groceries up these stairs in the winter in Alaska?
Are you safe from the exposure to lead during renovations repairs and painting? Lead based paint has not been available to the public for many years, but there was a time when all paints had lead in it. The lead made for a great finished product, unfortunately the lead can be found in homes today and exposure to it can be harmful. The dust from sanding and demolition of older homes can raise the levels of lead in the air and it has been determined … (9 comments)
Billions of dollars in taxes are lost due to this illegal activity. Help in reporting this activity can be done through the California State Licensing Board (CSLB). This is from the CSLB Web Site:
Report Unlicensed Activity Unlicensed contracting is part of California's estimated annual $60 to $140 billion dollar underground economy. These individuals do not pay taxes, have insurance or bonds. It is not unusual for them to be involved in other illegal activities as well
What kind of activity needs to be reported? … (12 comments)
california: Top Ten Tips for Hiring a Contractor
- 01/02/12 03:32 AM
Top Ten Tips for Hiring a Contractor: 1.Hire only state-licensed contractors 2.Check a contractor’s license number online at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800.321.CSLB (2752). 3.Get at least three bids. 4.Get three references from each bidder and review past work in person. 5.Make sure all project expectations are in writing and only sign the contract if you completely understand the terms. 6.Confirm that the contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for employees. 7.Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less. Don’t pay in cash.
8.Don’t let payments get ahead of the work. 9.Keep a job file of all … (31 comments)
This is a lovely morning photo of the sun rising in Santa Cruz, California. The winds were calm, and the temperatures cool.
Being a novice at picture taking, it is not always easy getting the lighting right, this one seemed to be okay. J
Enjoy this day!
… (23 comments)
california: Road Art In California
- 08/14/11 05:21 PM
I was in Palm Desert and drove past some interesting road art. These were a series of large insects made of metal and painted bright colors for all to see. Not certainly wasn't your everyday landscaping, I had to turn around to get a picture of at least one of the "bugs".
… (8 comments)
california: A Good Contractor Knows The Air Quailty For The Day - Placerville This Week
- 08/07/11 08:14 PM
Now that summer is here, and temperatures reaching into the 90's, it's probably a good time to watch for air quality. I have found an Air Quality Index for Placerville, Ca. The Image is a forecast of this week. I have linked the site for future reference and your local index.
Not sure what Air Quality is? Well, here is a definition that is available at the Weatherbug site. What is AQI? The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health concerns you … (8 comments)
We recently had our oldest son graduate from college, he is home for a few weeks before moving to the San Francisco area to start his new job. This weekend our second son is going away to college in Marin, California. The college shuffle is such a great time. New excitement, new challenges, new friends. I think he will have a great learning experience, as well as a chance to play basketball at the college level. Marin, California
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… (6 comments)
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Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
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