Concrete foundations are very important in the construction of houses or other infrastructures especially if they are to be built above a troublesome soil. Foundations must be done correctly because this will determine the stability and safety of the building. The kind of foundation you will use will depend on the structure that you want to build above it. It is important to keep in mind that no matter how beautiful and strong a house is inside, if its base is not done or built correctly, it will easily corrode and get destroyed as time goes by.
We recommend that you read “Choose The Correct Concrete Foundations” by AAA Concreting for more information on selecting the appropriate concrete foundations.
There are three types of concrete foundations and choosing the right one is very important because this will be the base of your building.
This is a traditional concrete foundation which is usually used in freezing soil or cold places. This is done by making a T-shaped footing that will support the foundation. To do this, the frost line is first identified, after which, a footing is then placed below this frost line while the walls are then added on top of it. The footings are capable of providing extra support at the base of the foundation because they are wider than the walls. The walls will be built after the t-shape foundation has been placed and cured, once all of these are ready, the slab will now be poured in between the walls.
#2 Slab-on-grade foundation
Unlike the t-shaped foundation, slab-on-grade foundation is preferred in places where the ground does not freeze. This kind of foundation is made up of a thick layer of concrete called slab. When making a foundation using this technique, the slab is poured making sure that the edges are poured with extra slab to make them thicker. The purpose of this is to make a space for the footing that shall be placed after. Rods are also placed in the edges to strengthen the footing.
Slab-on-grade foundation are placed above crushed gravel in order to improve drainage, this is also commonly used as a foundation in grounds that do not freeze. In case it shall be used in a ground that freezes, insulation must be provided so that it won’t be affected by frost heaves. A wire mesh is also placed in the concrete to provide added resilience, durability and prevent cracking of the foundation.
#3 Frost protected
This technique is not only used for heated structures but it is also useful in preventing the ground or soil from freezing. It makes use of 2 layers of polyesterene insulators. The first one is placed outside the foundation wall and the other one is found at the base of the wall, above the gravel. These insulators maintain the heat in the foundation’s footings and prevent heat from escaping through the edges of the concrete. This style also makes the slab stay in place protecting the concrete from cracks due to shifting slabs.
Cool videos of why it is so great living in Minnesota!!
When you want to go out on a vacation, you do not have the break the bank to do it because there are many options available to you that are fun and affordable. Visiting Minnesota is a very good idea if you want to go on a vacation while being on a budget because everything is drive distance and you will have access to national parks, luxury resorts, dinner theaters, historical sites, and you can even go to Valley Fair which is a fantastic and fire class amusement park. Here is an excellent list that you will be able to follow if you want to have an amazing vacation in the beautiful state of Minnesota.
If you are someone that loves the great outdoors, then Minnesota will be heaven for you because there are so many outdoor attractions that you can check out. There is an astonishing amount of things you can do when you are in Minnesota, and for that reason, tourism is skyrocketing in this beautiful state.
The number of resorts, inns, and hotels is also increasing as well in Minnesota. However, the prices of property and real estate in Minnesota are also increasing because of the massive increase in tourists, migrants, and visitors. The developments in this state are proof that this is the place to be when you want to go on a vacation, especially a vacation that will not murder your wallet in the process.
When you are visiting Minnesota for the very first time, you will want to go to Lake Vermillion as this is the biggest lake in the state and it is without a doubt gorgeous. If you love to fish, then this will be heaven for you because there are plenty of different types of fish such as smallmouth bass, walleye, and also lake trout as well. If you are not a fan of fishing, you can make some canoeing trips, and you can also do some kayaking as well, which is pretty awesome to say the least.
Another excellent attraction to check out in Minnesota is the Minnesota Zoo, where you will be able to see many native as well as exotic animals. The zoo will have a lot of different activities that are both fun and education that kids and adults will be able to enjoy. The zoo is located in the Twin Cities, so if you are in the southern area of the state, this is a great place to spend some time at. If you are someone that loves being in the water, then you will want to see the Boundary Water Canoe, this is where you can go on rivers and lakes with a canoe and have the time of your life.
If you are into sports, then Minnesota has plenty to offer you with their fantastic football team the Minnesota Vikings and their top notch baseball team the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. The arena has some cultural showcases you can look at it, and they even include some family activities that are a load of fun. The giant Mall of America is also located in Minnesota as well, so if you are someone that enjoys shopping, then this is the best place for you to be within the country. You can shop and eat until you are dead broke, which is probably not what you want but still fun nonetheless.
If you want a taste of the nightlife, then you will no doubt have the time of your life in Minnesota. If you want to have the taste of some of the best nightlife in the state, you will want to go to First Avenue which is a historical landmark and has some incredible musical acts.
When you need to rest from all of the activities, head on over to Lake Calhoun. Here you can sit back and relax, do some canoeing, fishing, swimming, or just take in the beautiful outdoors. So when you want to take a break from the city life, just go on over to Lake Calhoun and enjoy a very relaxing time.
So when you are looking for a great place to take your family on vacation, you will most definitely not go wrong going to Minnesota, because this state has everything you could ever want and the best part is that it is affordable. Minnesota has it all, and it will not eat up every dollar you have as well, so consider visiting this beautiful place.
If you are looking for 24-hour emergency fire protection services, then look no further than a fire protection services team. They are highly skilled and able to provide the very best in preventative maintenance and fire safety inspections. You can call them 24 hours a day, and they will respond quickly to give you the protection and service you need. There is no fire safety system that they won’t be able to handle for you.
This emergency team offers a wide range of emergency fire protection services. Among these are wet and dry fire system maintenance. The team can also create pre-action plans. These help stop fires before they can spread, using a variety of fire retardants, such as foam, clean agent and deluge systems. No matter what kind of fire safety system you have, an emergency fire protection team is experienced and capable of inspecting it and maintaining it. They can find flaws and problems, no matter how small, and prevent fire safety problems before they occur.
That’s the best way to handle any fire safety issue- to tackle it before it becomes a major problem. That’s why you want to make sure such services are available 24 hours a day. You can get the protection you need for your building and your property whenever you need it. They work with you to schedule a time for maintenance and inspections that works with your busy life. But they understand that you cannot always predict emergencies and that there will be times when you need such services outside of normally scheduled visits.
For those times, they offer round-the-clock emergency services, inspecting and maintaining fire safety equipment of every variety. They will work hard to keep damage to a minimum and protect your property. Their services include 24hr emergency sprinkler services and fire alarm inspection.
These teams understand fire safety systems like no one else. There is no problem too big or an issue too insignificant for them to take care of. They can handle the fire safety problems that other contractors cannot. That’s because they provide service when others are closed and unavailable. These companies are valued by their customers for our fire safety services, providing them with long-term care that ensures their safety and the safety of their property. You can depend on them to check all your fire protection systems thoroughly and to give you a full and detailed report every time.
Home appliances have become an essential part of modern day living and significantly add to its convenience and comfort. It is when these stop working or do not produce the desired results that it may become necessary to look at household appliance repair.
Check that the machine is getting power as it should and that the lack of function is not because of a blown fuse. Be careful to see that there are no open wires or other things that are preventing it from working.
One of the first things to do is to check whether the residential appliance is within the guarantee period that will often be a part of most devices. You would then have to take it to the original home maintenance shop from which you have purchased it and ask for free repairs or replacement.
Many modern day appliances give details in their manuals of simple ways of spotting problems, and if you do think you can follow these instructions and repair your appliance, make sure that you have the right tools. Often there may be faulty parts that need to be fixed, though it is always advisable to replace parts instead of attempting to repair them. You need to make sure that the part you get is suitable for the particular model of appliance and is from the original manufacturer.
It makes sense to call for professional help, especially in cases, where the device has complicated circuits and electronic devices that are not easy to decipher. Appliance repair shops can be found in all the main towns and cities, and it is up to you to locate the one that services your particular model of appliance that needs service. It can do no harm to ask them to guarantee repairs. Most major manufacturers of appliances have their suggested service technicians, and it makes sense to take advantage of them, as they will be assured of the proper technical guidance needed for the repair.
What’s the next best thing to an alcohol buzz? Getting that buzz by delicious means, of course! With so many tasty and exotic drinks only minutes away, why sip n’suffer through another subpar Sex on the Beach? The following drinks come highly recommended and all within the Minneapolis area. Be sure to give at least a few of these adult beverages a try in Minneapolis!
1.) Rojo’s Prickly Pear Margarita $$
Rojo Mexican Grill, in St. Louis Park’s West End, makes a variety of signature cocktails including several margaritas. Their Prickly Pear is the right amount of sweet: not too much, not too little. It’s a welcome change to the same old margarita, plus you can down this mother with an order of their excellent Carnitas Tacos. Tastes so good, even the guys will get over their fear of ordering a pink drink. Not a fan of sweet? They also make a Jalapeno Margarita that my husband also gives 2 thumbs up:
2.) St. Petersburg’s Chocolate Espresso Martini $$$
Have you ever wanted to visit Russia? Yeah, neither have I. But with only a small amount of effort and short drive to Robbinsdale, you can experience the food and drink of Mother Russia without the stray dog euthanization. Oh, that was cold. Even I disgust myself sometimes. But I digress.
The bar is located on the 2nd level of the building, which is located on 36th Street & France Avenue. They have a restaurant and banquet hall off to the right and the bar on the left. Visiting is a unique experience in itself: blue metallic wallpaper and a neon sign of St. Petersburg Russia are just a few of the relics that will make you feel like you’re not in the Midwest any more. Tacky decor aside, I can tell you from experience, you will not be disappointed with their delicious martini’s made from infused Vodkas. I myself, am not a martini fan but when I go to StP’s, I go with a large group of HUGE martini fans. All of us agree that the best martini on the menu is the Chocolate Espresso martini, a frothy little number made with chocolate syrup and their espresso infused vodka. WARNING: This drink is dangerously delicious!!! It’s like a chilled coffee drink at Caribou….you almost can’t taste the vodka. Because of this, it is hard to have just 1. After 2, you’ll need a cab ride home. After 3, you’ll want a 4th and after 4th, well, experience shows that you will end up in the VFW downstairs singing Sweet Caroline off key to a crowd of 60-something retired, and very amused vets. A big “derr” here but worth mentioning anyways, St. Petersburg also makes a very good White (and Black) Russian.
3.) Oyster Shooters at Sea Salt Cafe $$$
Oyster fans rejoice! Enjoy your favorite seafood on a totally different level!
Open once the snow melts and until the first snow flies, the Sea Salt Cafe is an outdoor restaurant that serves excellent seafood with a picturesque view of the Minnehaha falls.
Oyster Shooters: Oysters, Vodka, Egg, Sriracha, Lemon, Green Onion. Delicious!
Sea Salt serves all of the fresh seafood that Stella’s would, but their hidden treasures are these oyster shooters, basically an raw oyster with vodka and some other tasty accouterments. Sea Salt makes a variety of these tasty shots and serves them in little mason jars over ice. Plus, with a large variety of local brews and wines, this venue has something for every boozehound, beer lover, wino and lush.
4.) Devil’s Spit Bloody Mary at Famous Dave’s. $
Yes, I know. Recommending a drink at franchised restaurant might be considered a faux pas, but to anyone who has not tried this, you are missing out!!!
The D.S.B.M. is for people like a big bite with their food and drink (Spicy-haters, this bloody mary is not for you).
Famous Dave’s mouth-watering Devil’s Spit Bloody Mary
Derived from their also delicious barbarque sauce with the same name. The glass is lined with salt, pepper and cumin and usually comes with the garnishes you see here. However, if you visit the Famous Dave’s in uptown, you can make your own unique cocktail with their Bloody Mary bar. Beef sticks, olives, pickles….a big step up from the same old celery stick. Famous Dave’s even sells their devil’s spit bloody mary mix in some groceries stores so you can make your own at home. It may sound lame, but the drink mix is just a delicious without alcohol as it is with. Just typing this is making me salivate. I can’t hold out. I have to make me one of these. BRB.
5.) The Lowry’s Battle Cat $$
The Lowry is located at 2112 Hennepin, in Lowry Hill, hence the name. They do 3 things very well and will tell you so on the side of their building: Whiskey, Oysters, Eggs. Sound delicious yet?
The Battle Cat actually contains none of these, but is the most popular drink there. It’s a unique hybrid: vodka, orange curacao, lemon & cranberry juice with a splash of Summit EPA. Strange yes, but strange tasting, no. The Summit blends perfectly and adds a delightful twist to the taste. My husband always orders this number when we visit the Lowry.
Have any drink suggestions? Comment below! Don’t forget to subscribe today to keep up to date on what to eat, drink, see and hear in Minneapolis and Minnesota! Links to bars are below.
Whirlyball is a fun and exhilarating game that people of all ages and abilities can play and it just so happens that Minnesota is lucky enough to host a single Whirlyball court in Maple Grove; a former movie theater right off I-94, south of the Weaver Lake Road exit. We had driven past this place about a dozen times, my husband’s face pressed up against the window of our car each time with the wonderment of a 9-year old, before I gave in and rented out a court for his birthday party this March. Whirlyball was definitely something new for us and everybody else at the party.
How to play
Although the venues may vary, the rules are always the same in Whirlyball: Up to 10 people (5 on each team) speed around the court in “Whirlybugs” passing a wiffle ball with handheld nets between players to score a goal. The goal post is similar in height to a regulation size basketball net backboard.
Players have to hit the backboard in the center to score a point against the opposing team. Periods last nine minutes. A referee is usually on standby to make sure that nobody is engaging in any foul play (ie: players hitting other players with their nets, net-on-net contact) and help in case a ball gets stuck. Players are told to stay in their Whirlybugs at all times.
Think it sounds easy? Not so fast.
First, Whirlybugs don’t exactly act and drive like bumper cars. Standard bumper cars have vertical posts on the backside that are powered by overhead grid. Since those posts would obstruct the gameplay, Whirlybugs are instead powered by plates on the floor . Also, there’s no steering wheel but rather a crank that the players have to turn in order to move forward, turn a corner or back out. It definitely takes some getting used to. There was more than one Whirlybug pile up that night, some taking more than a few minutes to undo.
Locking keys in the car can be quite a frustrating experience. Assuming that you have chosen not to risk hiding a spare set of keys, here are some things that you can do to attempt to gain entry into your car without a key.
If you usually tend to leave your keys in your car often, it can be advisable to hide an extra set of keys somewhere on the vehicle. A small magnetic box that can stick to the metal surface of a steel frame or body is best. Ensure that you place it in a hard-to-reach obscure area where it won’t jiggle loose and fall off.
You need to get professional assistance if your car has door locks recessed inside the interior door handle.
Luckily, most new car models come with electronic door openers that won’t allow you to lock the doors while the keys are in the vehicle. The downside is that if you ever lose the device, it could cost you hundreds of dollars and several days to replace and you will probably have to get the car towed to a dealer who will then order a replacement key.
If your vehicle uses an electronic door opener, you might get the door opener, but if you have lost it outside the vehicle, you may be unable to start the vehicle without it.
Finally, if you require professional assistance, you can call emergency road assistance and ask whether they can open the door. If not, you should ask them to send an auto locksmith. Fortunately, the auto manufacturer codes each car key, and if you have the key code along with some personal identification, the locksmith will make you a new key. Write down you key code number and keep it somewhere safe where someone at home can read it for you if you are facing an emergency.
Contractors is a company or a group of individuals that requires a contract to perform a service by providing materials or labor in order to do a job. Concrete repair contractors are responsible in repairing or restoring concretes like water tanks, buildings, foundation of bridges and even dams that are made with concrete. Concrete repair contractor jobs are very essential because it lies in their hands and it is their responsibility of the solid foundation and overall result of their jobs and services.
Why concrete requires repair. Here are some well-known reasons why concrete requires restoration and repair:
What to find if you are unsure if concrete needs to repaired and restored? Here are a few things to consider:
Ensure that the building, parking lots, bridges and other infrastructures’ concrete will continue to be strong and safe in future years because it might need concrete repair contractor’s help in restoration. The safety and durability of the structure of a building, parking lots, bridges, tunnels and dams are in the responsible hands of the concrete repair contractors. They are required to be well-equipped to do their duties and responsibilities as contractors.
We didn’t have a ton of time on today, so we kept it close to home with a trip to Lebanon Hills. If you haven’t made it out there, you are missing out! It is definitely worth the drive to take a nice quiet walk in the woods.
I’ve always enjoyed maps, and one of my favorite aspects of Lebanon Hills is the way things are set up for easy navigation through the myriad of looping trails within the 2,000 acre park. Every intersection has a unique reference number, which allows you to easily locate yourself on the map. Then, just choose where you want to go next! They even have posts with arrows pointing down the trail to other reference numbers, to make sure that you are properly oriented. Fool proof!
This is an absolutely perfect introduction to maps for kids, or for yourself if you rely a little too heavily on that GPS or smartphone. This system also gives you the ability to take a detour if you have a bunch of energy at the end of your planned hike, or cut one short if you just aren’t feeling up to it. I have seen this system at a couple other parks within the last year and certainly hope that it will become more common.
I’ve added a link to the trail map so you can get an idea about what I’m talking about. The main part of the park is on page two of the link.
The visitor center is also worth a visit, especially if you have kids under 5. There is a pretty neat little play area with blocks, books, crayons, and other things to amuse them. They also make an effort to attract a large variety of birds in a feeding area behind the building, which can be viewed from inside.
They also have a sandy beach in the summer, and rent out a variety of boats. They have a network of lake trails and portages within the park. This would be a great way to warm up for the a trip to the Boundary Waters! I will definitely be back to try out the canoes, and will be sure to post after that.
Feel free to leave a comment about Lebanon Hills or your favorite place to find peace and quiet in the Twin Cities; we’d love to hear from you!
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