You find U.S. Silica plants in Ottawa and a dozen other U.S. locations.
But starting Wednesday you also can find it on the New York Stock Exchange with the listing symbol of SLCA.
The initial public offering by U.S. Silica Holdings was 11,764,705 shares of common stock at a price of $17 per share.
The company announced it expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $42.5 million from the offering and intends to use approximately $34.5 million to fund future capital expenditures for its business, including the construction of its new resin-coating facility.
U.S. Silica Holdings, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Frederick, Md., is the second-largest domestic producer of commercial silica used for a variety of industrial and specialty products end markets.
During its 111-year history, U.S. Silica Holdings has focused on mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and deliver more than 200 products.
U.S. Silica's Ottawa plant is North America's largest silica production facility, mining fine grain, nearly pure quartz sandstone from the location's St. Peter sandstone deposits.
Ground and unground silica products from the Ottawa facility have a wide variety of applications, including glass production of all kinds, foundry and refractory sand, abrasives, polishes, paint and other fillers, filtration sand, frac sand and cement testing sands.
Silica sand mining began in Ottawa in the 1860s. At that time in Ottawa, glass manufacturing was one of the most important industries and the silica sand and glass manufacturing businesses grew simultaneously.
The Ottawa facility with an office at 701 Boyce Memorial Drive became part of U.S. Silica in 1987 and has a production rate of 2.2 million tons of silica annually.
2012年2月2日星期四
2012年2月1日星期三
Blackwoods 2012 catalogue to reveal new 'green' workplace solutions
The catalogue will present over 20,000 new products, including the new Blackwoods Greener Workplace Range, complete with technical information, sizing and conversion charts.
The 1,800-page catalogue reflects “the Blackwoods commitment to service the ever-growing needs of their diverse customer base, with the addition of new technologies and the broadest range of workplace essentials available,” according to the company.
Product types featured in the catalogue include: Site Safety and Traffic Control; Industrial Fasteners; Welding; Abrasives; Personal Protective Equipment; Industrial Clothing and Footwear; Safety Products; Oils and Lubricants; Hand and Power Tools; Hygiene, Janitorial and Cleaning products.
The catalogue itself will be printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved paper, meaning it is from a sustainable source; Blackwoods says each step of the print, pack and delivery process has also been monitored and implemented to reduce the impact on the environment.
“To minimise the impact of the paper production, printing and transportation – Blackwoods has also taken the industry lead and purchased carbon offsets,” said Blackwoods.
The 1,800-page catalogue reflects “the Blackwoods commitment to service the ever-growing needs of their diverse customer base, with the addition of new technologies and the broadest range of workplace essentials available,” according to the company.
Product types featured in the catalogue include: Site Safety and Traffic Control; Industrial Fasteners; Welding; Abrasives; Personal Protective Equipment; Industrial Clothing and Footwear; Safety Products; Oils and Lubricants; Hand and Power Tools; Hygiene, Janitorial and Cleaning products.
The catalogue itself will be printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved paper, meaning it is from a sustainable source; Blackwoods says each step of the print, pack and delivery process has also been monitored and implemented to reduce the impact on the environment.
“To minimise the impact of the paper production, printing and transportation – Blackwoods has also taken the industry lead and purchased carbon offsets,” said Blackwoods.
2012年1月31日星期二
3M Stock Worth $97: Trefis
3M continued its consistent performance as it delivered another quarter of steady growth driven by strength in the Americas region. This growth was broad-based as four out of the company's six divisions recorded solid growth. 3M competes with other industrial conglomerates like Dupont and Avery Dennison.
The company's revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 stood at $7.1 billion, up 5.7% compared to the prior year. This sales increase was driven primarily by acquisitions (+2.3%), with some organic volume growth (+1.3%). While 3M's gross margins shrunk for the fifth consecutive quarter to 46.5%, its net income increased to $954 million. The fastest region of growth for the company was Latin America/Canada where it recorded a 10% growth in sales while in the U.S. it recorded a strong 7% increase.
With the cooling of the Chinese economy and weakness in the consumer market, growth in Asia fell considerably from previous quarters to about 3%. The surprise has been Europe where, in spite of macroeconomic conditions and softness in Western European demand, the company was able to register 4% growth. The company's operating margins decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 19.2% from the prior year mainly on account of higher pension costs. To contain these pension costs, the company has put a freeze on hiring in developing countries. See our complete analysis for 3M.
The Industrial and Transportation division was the company's fastest growing segment in the fourth quarter, as sales increased 14.3% from the prior year to $2.4 billion. The division saw double digit growth in abrasives, aerospace, industrial adhesives & tapes, energy & advanced materials and auto OEM, while operating income of $472 million was up 14% from the prior year. Sales increased by 17% in Asia Pacific, 15% in the U.S. and 12% in Europe.
The company also won some new business which holds strong promise for future periods. 3M won major contracts from auto majors for catalytic converters and cabin noise reductions while 30% of its growth in tapes and adhesives came from new applications in medical devices, specialty vehicles and construction markets. 3M is also partnering with a systems integrator to deploy the world's largest solar collector in the Mojave Desert region.
The company's revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 stood at $7.1 billion, up 5.7% compared to the prior year. This sales increase was driven primarily by acquisitions (+2.3%), with some organic volume growth (+1.3%). While 3M's gross margins shrunk for the fifth consecutive quarter to 46.5%, its net income increased to $954 million. The fastest region of growth for the company was Latin America/Canada where it recorded a 10% growth in sales while in the U.S. it recorded a strong 7% increase.
With the cooling of the Chinese economy and weakness in the consumer market, growth in Asia fell considerably from previous quarters to about 3%. The surprise has been Europe where, in spite of macroeconomic conditions and softness in Western European demand, the company was able to register 4% growth. The company's operating margins decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 19.2% from the prior year mainly on account of higher pension costs. To contain these pension costs, the company has put a freeze on hiring in developing countries. See our complete analysis for 3M.
The Industrial and Transportation division was the company's fastest growing segment in the fourth quarter, as sales increased 14.3% from the prior year to $2.4 billion. The division saw double digit growth in abrasives, aerospace, industrial adhesives & tapes, energy & advanced materials and auto OEM, while operating income of $472 million was up 14% from the prior year. Sales increased by 17% in Asia Pacific, 15% in the U.S. and 12% in Europe.
The company also won some new business which holds strong promise for future periods. 3M won major contracts from auto majors for catalytic converters and cabin noise reductions while 30% of its growth in tapes and adhesives came from new applications in medical devices, specialty vehicles and construction markets. 3M is also partnering with a systems integrator to deploy the world's largest solar collector in the Mojave Desert region.
2012年1月30日星期一
3M Exhibits State-of-the-art Scale Control Water Filters at Hotelympia 2012
3M's filter portfolio protects professional catering equipment from expensive scale build up caused by hard water, helping reduce product downtime and service costs
Bracknell, UK, 30 January 2012 - Diversified technology company 3M will exhibit its Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration system and high capacity anti-scale filter on Stand S1113 at Hotelympia 2012, the UK's largest exhibition for foodservice and hospitality, taking place 26 February to 1 March at ExCeL, London. These popular filters offer an enhanced taste experience for the consumer while lowering the operating costs of catering equipment in commercial kitchens, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels.
The ScaleGard LP2-BL (SGLP2) Dual Port Reverse Osmosis System from 3M is a compact, wall-mounted unit designed to deliver great tasting filtered water every time. The system provides two water qualities for specialty coffee and flash steam applications, which means that only one filtration is required for all the back-of-house catering equipment typically found in a professional kitchen - from steamers and combi ovens to ice machines, bulk coffee brewers and espresso machines. These are all expensive pieces of equipment to buy and maintain so the elimination of multiple filtration units presents significant cost and time savings.
Using twin RO membranes, the system purifies mains water, removing solids and minerals that can cause limescale and corrosion problems typically associated with flash steamers, thereby helping to minimise equipment downtime and servicing costs. Also, as a non-electric system, with filtration driven by incoming water pressure, the system offers high reliability with low ownership costs, immunity to power outage and enhances energy efficiency.
For water and coffee applications, the SGLP2 Reverse Osmosis System provides a second RO-filtered supply, which is recombined with a controlled quantity of mains water via a blending valve to maintain a consistent mineral composition. This source of Recipe Quality Water is then passed through a 3M cyst-rated filter to deliver tailored quality softened, particle-free water as the starting point for great-tasting coffee and ice.
At filter end-of-life, the RO membrane cartridges can each be replaced quickly and easily by in-house staff using 3M's Sanitary Quick Change (SQC) cartridge attachment, helping to save the cost of service calls. In daily use, the system also contributes to reducing water consumption, delivering savings in both supply and waste water costs compared to traditional RO systems.
The ScaleGard Pro (SGP) P1175 Anti-scale Filter from 3M provides a high capacity of 6000 litres, which increases convenience for owners and reduces equipment downtime by extending the filter change-out interval. The filter matches the high level of filtration achieved by other SGP filters to ensure effective removal of scale-forming minerals. It also features 3M's SQC cartridge attachment.
The SGP1175 Anti-scale Filter's proportional bypass provides consistent hardness reduction for repeatable water quality and scale prevention, while also ensuring that all water passes through 3M's carbon-block post filter for chlorine and odour removal. This unit is fitted in the SGP1175BN-E fixed-bypass variant of the new high-capacity filter. An additional variant, the SGP1175-E, is a non-bypass version providing a cost-effective alternative capable of protecting the heating elements of equipment such as steamers. Preventing scale build-up in coffee vending machines and steamers helps maintain optimum efficiency, enhancing business performance by minimising energy consumption and the costs of machine downtime and service calls.
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Its culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better.
The $27 billion diversified technology company has, since 1902, been creating innovative products that help make the world healthier, safer and more productive. Well known 3M brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate and Scotch-Brite.
3M employs some 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. The UK and Ireland is home to one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA, employing more than 3,500 people across 19 locations, including 10 manufacturing sites.
Products manufactured in the UK include coated abrasives, occupational health and environmental safety equipment, adhesive tapes, industrial microbiology products, drug delivery systems, high-performance coatings, secure documents and passport scanners.
Bracknell, UK, 30 January 2012 - Diversified technology company 3M will exhibit its Reverse Osmosis (RO) filtration system and high capacity anti-scale filter on Stand S1113 at Hotelympia 2012, the UK's largest exhibition for foodservice and hospitality, taking place 26 February to 1 March at ExCeL, London. These popular filters offer an enhanced taste experience for the consumer while lowering the operating costs of catering equipment in commercial kitchens, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels.
The ScaleGard LP2-BL (SGLP2) Dual Port Reverse Osmosis System from 3M is a compact, wall-mounted unit designed to deliver great tasting filtered water every time. The system provides two water qualities for specialty coffee and flash steam applications, which means that only one filtration is required for all the back-of-house catering equipment typically found in a professional kitchen - from steamers and combi ovens to ice machines, bulk coffee brewers and espresso machines. These are all expensive pieces of equipment to buy and maintain so the elimination of multiple filtration units presents significant cost and time savings.
Using twin RO membranes, the system purifies mains water, removing solids and minerals that can cause limescale and corrosion problems typically associated with flash steamers, thereby helping to minimise equipment downtime and servicing costs. Also, as a non-electric system, with filtration driven by incoming water pressure, the system offers high reliability with low ownership costs, immunity to power outage and enhances energy efficiency.
For water and coffee applications, the SGLP2 Reverse Osmosis System provides a second RO-filtered supply, which is recombined with a controlled quantity of mains water via a blending valve to maintain a consistent mineral composition. This source of Recipe Quality Water is then passed through a 3M cyst-rated filter to deliver tailored quality softened, particle-free water as the starting point for great-tasting coffee and ice.
At filter end-of-life, the RO membrane cartridges can each be replaced quickly and easily by in-house staff using 3M's Sanitary Quick Change (SQC) cartridge attachment, helping to save the cost of service calls. In daily use, the system also contributes to reducing water consumption, delivering savings in both supply and waste water costs compared to traditional RO systems.
The ScaleGard Pro (SGP) P1175 Anti-scale Filter from 3M provides a high capacity of 6000 litres, which increases convenience for owners and reduces equipment downtime by extending the filter change-out interval. The filter matches the high level of filtration achieved by other SGP filters to ensure effective removal of scale-forming minerals. It also features 3M's SQC cartridge attachment.
The SGP1175 Anti-scale Filter's proportional bypass provides consistent hardness reduction for repeatable water quality and scale prevention, while also ensuring that all water passes through 3M's carbon-block post filter for chlorine and odour removal. This unit is fitted in the SGP1175BN-E fixed-bypass variant of the new high-capacity filter. An additional variant, the SGP1175-E, is a non-bypass version providing a cost-effective alternative capable of protecting the heating elements of equipment such as steamers. Preventing scale build-up in coffee vending machines and steamers helps maintain optimum efficiency, enhancing business performance by minimising energy consumption and the costs of machine downtime and service calls.
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Its culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better.
The $27 billion diversified technology company has, since 1902, been creating innovative products that help make the world healthier, safer and more productive. Well known 3M brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate and Scotch-Brite.
3M employs some 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. The UK and Ireland is home to one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA, employing more than 3,500 people across 19 locations, including 10 manufacturing sites.
Products manufactured in the UK include coated abrasives, occupational health and environmental safety equipment, adhesive tapes, industrial microbiology products, drug delivery systems, high-performance coatings, secure documents and passport scanners.
2012年1月16日星期一
Solar panels coming to utility poles in Montclair
The solar panels that Public Service Electric & Gas Co. has been putting up across northern and central New Jersey will soon be coming to Montclair.
Starting next Monday, Jan. 23, contractors for PSE&G will start suspending the panels about 15 feet off the ground on utility poles in the township, as they've done in many neighboring municipalities, including Clifton, Verona and Cedar Grove.
Cary Africk, the Township Council member for Montclair's 2nd Ward, said the 5-foot-wide by 2.5-foot-high panels are fine on major thoroughfares, where they will likely be camouflaged amid the busy streetscape. But Africk was concerned that the solar units could spoil the look of quieter, residential streets, he said.
"People will get used to it on streets like Grove Street, where there is so much other stuff," Africk said. "But in a residential area, it will have a much greater impact.
"It has the potential to be very ugly, depending on where they put them," Africk said. "It can blend in, or people can drive around and say, 'What is that?'"
The look of the panels has caused a stir in some nearby towns such as Verona, where PSE&G delayed installing the units after township officials expressed misgivings.
Verona's township manager, Joseph Martin, said last October that municipal officials were holding meetings with PSE&G reps about the program and he was hoping that, especially along Bloomfield Avenue, where the township invested money to spruce up its business district, "we can work with Public Service just to avoid putting panels in that area."
Fran Sullivan, a PSE&G spokesperson, said the panels are "no more intrusive than any other piece of equipment on those poles."
Sullivan was uncertain how many panels would be going up in Montclair. Work crews scout for locations that seem to fit the bill, and once they find a good spot they set up a unit, a process that takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Under PSE&G policy, utility poles with a clear exposure to the southern sky and that have access to the proper-voltage electric wires are eligible for the solar units. The panels will only be mounted on poles where they won't conflict with existing equipment.
"We don't pre-survey the town. The crews go out with a supply of panels and if they find a pole that meets the criteria, they install the solar unit," Sullivan said.
When the entire "Solar 4 All" project is complete later this year, there will be 180,000 to 200,000 utility-pole-mounted panels across the state providing a combined 40 megawatts of solar-generated electricity. That's enough energy to power about 6,500 average-size New Jersey homes annually. So far more than 120,000 panels have been installed.
PSE&G estimates that the project's environmental impact on air quality will be on par with removing about 3,800 cars from the road for one year.
In Montclair, workers will not be putting up the panels in designated historic districts, meaning the Upper Montclair and Montclair Center business districts and the Pine Street Historic District should not have any panels within their confines.
But the rest of Montclair is fair game, unless an objection is raised based on safety concerns. A complaint grounded solely in aesthetics won't be enough to have a panel removed or prevented from being installed.
"We can't go into some towns and follow this policy in this town and not in that town," Sullivan said. "We have been absolutely evenhanded about installing these solar units."
He said PSE&G is "willing to talk if there is some kind of real issue" with where a panel is situated, but generally "there are not a lot of exceptions."
The panels have undergone testing in which they have withstood 110 mph winds, plus PSE&G has not "had any incidents of snow falling off and injuring someone," Sullivan said. The panels heat up as they collect energy from the sun, and that rise in temperature prevents significant accumulations of snow from forming on the panels.
PSE&G decided to go with pole-attached units since its service area is heavily developed and populated, and this would provide a means to generate solar power without acquiring land or the rights to put up solar panels on the ground or on rooftops, Sullivan said.
Starting next Monday, Jan. 23, contractors for PSE&G will start suspending the panels about 15 feet off the ground on utility poles in the township, as they've done in many neighboring municipalities, including Clifton, Verona and Cedar Grove.
Cary Africk, the Township Council member for Montclair's 2nd Ward, said the 5-foot-wide by 2.5-foot-high panels are fine on major thoroughfares, where they will likely be camouflaged amid the busy streetscape. But Africk was concerned that the solar units could spoil the look of quieter, residential streets, he said.
"People will get used to it on streets like Grove Street, where there is so much other stuff," Africk said. "But in a residential area, it will have a much greater impact.
"It has the potential to be very ugly, depending on where they put them," Africk said. "It can blend in, or people can drive around and say, 'What is that?'"
The look of the panels has caused a stir in some nearby towns such as Verona, where PSE&G delayed installing the units after township officials expressed misgivings.
Verona's township manager, Joseph Martin, said last October that municipal officials were holding meetings with PSE&G reps about the program and he was hoping that, especially along Bloomfield Avenue, where the township invested money to spruce up its business district, "we can work with Public Service just to avoid putting panels in that area."
Fran Sullivan, a PSE&G spokesperson, said the panels are "no more intrusive than any other piece of equipment on those poles."
Sullivan was uncertain how many panels would be going up in Montclair. Work crews scout for locations that seem to fit the bill, and once they find a good spot they set up a unit, a process that takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Under PSE&G policy, utility poles with a clear exposure to the southern sky and that have access to the proper-voltage electric wires are eligible for the solar units. The panels will only be mounted on poles where they won't conflict with existing equipment.
"We don't pre-survey the town. The crews go out with a supply of panels and if they find a pole that meets the criteria, they install the solar unit," Sullivan said.
When the entire "Solar 4 All" project is complete later this year, there will be 180,000 to 200,000 utility-pole-mounted panels across the state providing a combined 40 megawatts of solar-generated electricity. That's enough energy to power about 6,500 average-size New Jersey homes annually. So far more than 120,000 panels have been installed.
PSE&G estimates that the project's environmental impact on air quality will be on par with removing about 3,800 cars from the road for one year.
In Montclair, workers will not be putting up the panels in designated historic districts, meaning the Upper Montclair and Montclair Center business districts and the Pine Street Historic District should not have any panels within their confines.
But the rest of Montclair is fair game, unless an objection is raised based on safety concerns. A complaint grounded solely in aesthetics won't be enough to have a panel removed or prevented from being installed.
"We can't go into some towns and follow this policy in this town and not in that town," Sullivan said. "We have been absolutely evenhanded about installing these solar units."
He said PSE&G is "willing to talk if there is some kind of real issue" with where a panel is situated, but generally "there are not a lot of exceptions."
The panels have undergone testing in which they have withstood 110 mph winds, plus PSE&G has not "had any incidents of snow falling off and injuring someone," Sullivan said. The panels heat up as they collect energy from the sun, and that rise in temperature prevents significant accumulations of snow from forming on the panels.
PSE&G decided to go with pole-attached units since its service area is heavily developed and populated, and this would provide a means to generate solar power without acquiring land or the rights to put up solar panels on the ground or on rooftops, Sullivan said.
2012年1月12日星期四
Your new to-do list
Today's homes are filled with components that weren't so common years ago. They make your home more efficient and less work. You can't ignore them entirely, though. So, as you plan your chores and projects for the coming year, here are some to keep in mind.
These ancient materials are more popular than ever. Not all stones need sealing. Ask your stone pro. Buy the best sealers you can afford. Grit and acids are the biggest threats to marble and limestone. So:
Clean surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available at hardware stores) or a mild liquid dish detergent and warm water. Go easy on the cleaner or soap, because too much can leave a film. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Do not use abrasive cleaners, or ones with lemon, vinegar or other acids.
Closed, or sealed, crawl spaces are touted as efficient - and healthy - alternatives to the traditional vented crawl spaces. They're certainly drier and cleaner and brighter, so you shouldn't mind sticking your head under your house from time to time. And you absolutely should, experts say. Don't ignore this chore.
Check regularly to make sure no moisture is getting in. If there's a dehumidifier, make sure it's working.
Look for condensation. And "If you see standing water, you have a real problem," Charlotte, N.C., home inspector Bob Boucek said.
More complete inspections and repairs are best left to experts. Check your attic, too.
Vinyl windows are tough, and extremely popular. They should get a yearly inspection.
Clean window tracks of debris, says Burt Harold, a rep for Pella Windows. Make sure weather stripping is sound and making proper contact. Replace as needed.
When cleaning, never use abrasives. That can damage the vinyl skin of the window. If you need to lubricate a track, use pure silicone spray, not WD-40.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caulking. When washing windows, be cautioned that bleach can discolor dark vinyl colors. And, remember, window films can void your window warranty.
It won't rot. It holds paint. And it's very durable. It's the siding of choice on many new homes Often called HardiePlank, it's almost trouble-free. Still, inspect annually.
If caulking fails, water can penetrate the joint and damage the wood and framing behind the siding. If you're going to check your home's exterior less often, says Charlotte home inspector Dave Hahn, use caulk rated for at least 20 years, and longer is better. Choose a quality silicone or polyurethane.
Minor dents can be filled with auto body putty. Follow the instructions on the can and, just as if you were working on a car, don't stint on the sanding. Uneven spots will show. For larger areas, cut out damaged fiberglass with a grinder. Repair with mat and resin from fiberglass repair kit. Prime, then paint. with 100 percent acrylic.
Stainless steel is hot for kitchens because it looks good, resists rust and cleans easily. The biggest complaint about stainless is that the fridge shows all those little handprints.
Clean with a specialty product such as 3M Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish. Such products create a barrier against fingerprints.
Avoid products with chlorine; mild abrasives can scratch. Read labels.
There are six times as many connections that can leak, six times as many shower heads that can clog. Check regularly and clean with CLR or some other solution. You can use white vinegar to clear a shower head that has been clogged with mineral deposits. Place vinegar in a plastic bag, enclose the head and secure the bag to the shower neck with a rubber band or twist tie. Let stand for at least two hours.
Early on, composite decking was billed as a trouble-free - and chemical-free - alternative to treated lumber. You still have to clean it.
The best way to prevent stains is to sweep or hose off regularly.
To wash, use a commercial composite deck cleaner. Jomax is one popular brand.
For stubborn stains, allow solution to sit for a few minutes and scrub with a bristle brush.
Be careful with power washers. Some decking manufacturers recommend against them, and using one can void your warranty. Other makers suggest smaller washers with no more than 1300 PSI, with the fan tip no closer than 8 to 10 inches from the surface.
The best known maker of composite decking, Trex, recommends that you wash your deck twice a year, in spring and fall, to prevent mold and mildew.
If you've invested in expensive technology consider protecting your investment with regular service by a professional. Builders, inspectors and other experts say that's always wise. Don't let the contract lapse.
Follow the manufacturer's advice for care and service.
Owner's manuals are online. Just check the product for a model name or number, and go to the company site. The manual should answer most questions. Many have helpful pictures, and there's usually a toll-free hotline on which an expert can answer questions.
These ancient materials are more popular than ever. Not all stones need sealing. Ask your stone pro. Buy the best sealers you can afford. Grit and acids are the biggest threats to marble and limestone. So:
Clean surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available at hardware stores) or a mild liquid dish detergent and warm water. Go easy on the cleaner or soap, because too much can leave a film. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Do not use abrasive cleaners, or ones with lemon, vinegar or other acids.
Closed, or sealed, crawl spaces are touted as efficient - and healthy - alternatives to the traditional vented crawl spaces. They're certainly drier and cleaner and brighter, so you shouldn't mind sticking your head under your house from time to time. And you absolutely should, experts say. Don't ignore this chore.
Check regularly to make sure no moisture is getting in. If there's a dehumidifier, make sure it's working.
Look for condensation. And "If you see standing water, you have a real problem," Charlotte, N.C., home inspector Bob Boucek said.
More complete inspections and repairs are best left to experts. Check your attic, too.
Vinyl windows are tough, and extremely popular. They should get a yearly inspection.
Clean window tracks of debris, says Burt Harold, a rep for Pella Windows. Make sure weather stripping is sound and making proper contact. Replace as needed.
When cleaning, never use abrasives. That can damage the vinyl skin of the window. If you need to lubricate a track, use pure silicone spray, not WD-40.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for caulking. When washing windows, be cautioned that bleach can discolor dark vinyl colors. And, remember, window films can void your window warranty.
It won't rot. It holds paint. And it's very durable. It's the siding of choice on many new homes Often called HardiePlank, it's almost trouble-free. Still, inspect annually.
If caulking fails, water can penetrate the joint and damage the wood and framing behind the siding. If you're going to check your home's exterior less often, says Charlotte home inspector Dave Hahn, use caulk rated for at least 20 years, and longer is better. Choose a quality silicone or polyurethane.
Minor dents can be filled with auto body putty. Follow the instructions on the can and, just as if you were working on a car, don't stint on the sanding. Uneven spots will show. For larger areas, cut out damaged fiberglass with a grinder. Repair with mat and resin from fiberglass repair kit. Prime, then paint. with 100 percent acrylic.
Stainless steel is hot for kitchens because it looks good, resists rust and cleans easily. The biggest complaint about stainless is that the fridge shows all those little handprints.
Clean with a specialty product such as 3M Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish. Such products create a barrier against fingerprints.
Avoid products with chlorine; mild abrasives can scratch. Read labels.
There are six times as many connections that can leak, six times as many shower heads that can clog. Check regularly and clean with CLR or some other solution. You can use white vinegar to clear a shower head that has been clogged with mineral deposits. Place vinegar in a plastic bag, enclose the head and secure the bag to the shower neck with a rubber band or twist tie. Let stand for at least two hours.
Early on, composite decking was billed as a trouble-free - and chemical-free - alternative to treated lumber. You still have to clean it.
The best way to prevent stains is to sweep or hose off regularly.
To wash, use a commercial composite deck cleaner. Jomax is one popular brand.
For stubborn stains, allow solution to sit for a few minutes and scrub with a bristle brush.
Be careful with power washers. Some decking manufacturers recommend against them, and using one can void your warranty. Other makers suggest smaller washers with no more than 1300 PSI, with the fan tip no closer than 8 to 10 inches from the surface.
The best known maker of composite decking, Trex, recommends that you wash your deck twice a year, in spring and fall, to prevent mold and mildew.
If you've invested in expensive technology consider protecting your investment with regular service by a professional. Builders, inspectors and other experts say that's always wise. Don't let the contract lapse.
Follow the manufacturer's advice for care and service.
Owner's manuals are online. Just check the product for a model name or number, and go to the company site. The manual should answer most questions. Many have helpful pictures, and there's usually a toll-free hotline on which an expert can answer questions.
2012年1月11日星期三
Flap Discs for Right-Angle Air Tools Boost Productivity
BobCat abrasive flap discs from Weiler are designed to deburr, grind and blend using a right-angle air die grinder, resulting in increased productivity with fewer change-overs and increased product life. The flap discs replace small-diameter coated blending discs for weld blending and finishing applications. The 2" and 3" flap discs also are suited for detail work and for hard-to-reach areas.
The discs are available in zirconium grain in angled and flat configurations with grit sizes ranging from 36Z to 120Z. Angled discs provide maximum aggression and are best used at an angles ranging from 15 to 25 degrees, while flat discs are suited for smoother grinding and enhanced conformability, and are recommended for use at a range of 0-15 degrees.
The discs are available in zirconium grain in angled and flat configurations with grit sizes ranging from 36Z to 120Z. Angled discs provide maximum aggression and are best used at an angles ranging from 15 to 25 degrees, while flat discs are suited for smoother grinding and enhanced conformability, and are recommended for use at a range of 0-15 degrees.
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