#floor repairs mortars | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

l-lend · 1 year

Text

Let's see if I can go two for two. This little oneshot is for @writing-positivelyexisting for the @cloneficgiftexchange.

prompt used: "Come taste! Let me know if I need to add anything."

No warnings to really mention, but if I'm missing anything please let me know.

word count: 806 words

@burningfieldof-clover @rain-on-kamino @writing-positivelyexisting @locitapurplepink

Strands of meat sizzled and spat as she flipped the tangled mass. Her work distracting from the pair of eyes watching you from the doorway. Her culinary tasks from the staccato chops of a knife to peppers to the accented clink of a mortar and pestle offered a calming tune.

The way she moved as natural as breathing to each station. Tending to simmering pots, finely chopping herbs into bits. The aroma already unfurling into the room. His footfalls whispered along the floor as he made his approach. His target currently occupied with bisecting a pepper. He chose his moment to strike as the chef's knife lightly clinked as it was set aside. His arms coiling around her form. His face immediately slotting into place at the junction of her neck and shoulder.

“How's your head?” She asked, lips curling upward as his stubble grazed her skin.

“Better. Surprised you kept everyone quiet.”

She tittered, “Tech and Echo are working on repairs last I checked. Wrecker and Omega are actually on a mission for me.”

He hummed, “and what mission is that?”

“Replenishing my stock of coriander. This batch of birria nearly wiped me out.”

The sergeant picked his head up to survey the simmering cookware. His senses tingling with the extra stimulation of the spices. She reached up. Her fingertips tracing the tattoo along his face.

“Come taste,” she offered softly, “tell me if I need to add anything.”

He approached the crowded stovetop and after sighting an appropriate utensil, she stifled giggles as he sputtered. The sergeant ill prepared for the siege on his delicate senses.

“Yours is here.” She gently corrected, guiding his hand to the smaller pot simmering away.

“and I made sure not to put cilantro in it.”

He huffed a laugh, “Guess it's just my luck that it tastes like armor cleaner to me.”

She shrugged, “It happens. Besides I like a challenge.”

A gentle smiles curled his lips before tasting from the smaller batch. Most of the flavors from the larger batch still layered on top of each other as if they were cornerstones of a structure, but the smoky flavor was now more subdued for his taste. The absence of the herb and odd taste resembling soap only brought his attention to the more pleasing flavor notes.

After the flavors had time to mingle on his tongue, he swallowed, giving the hint of a nod.

“It's good.”

“Not too overpowering? Not too spicy?”

“No, but...you don't have to go making multiples.”

“Hunter,” She shushed with a finger to his lips, "I wanted to."

His gaze met hers. The comfortable intimacy of their shared silence stretched on. The points holding importance being him and her. A hand slipped its way under her jaw. A subtle request. One she accepted by leaning into his form.

Their lips met as practiced as a favorite song. Her hand cradling his cheek. Fingers drawing gentle patterns as an excuse to feel the stubble. His arm had returned to her waist pulling her close. His hand caressing her back as if she would disappear in a puff of smoke.

They came up for air for barely a moment before he returned for another, yet with the yearning for depth he previously kept at bay.

Her contented sigh was the only opening he needed after tracing the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips. Their tongues joined in their usual game. Not a tussle for dominance, but of prodding and teasing. Testing to see who would crumble first.

The sergeant eventually yielded as her hand tangled into his locks giving the slightest tug. His lips curling against hers.

The sound of footfalls brought the pair back to the universe before them. Their kiss breaking to leave the pair exchanging labored breathing, flushed faces, and a shared gaze telling of late night promises to be delivered upon.

The cause of their abrupt separation soon came into view. Her much larger chaperone following along.

“Got it,” the smaller clone called, depositing the paper wrapped packet onto the counter.

“You're a lifesaver.” The older woman gushed, her smile growing upon seeing the two familiar cartons in his grasp.

“and you two already took your cut.”

“It was on the way back.” The larger clone explained around a mouthful of mantell mix.

“Fair enough,” She chuckled, “Food'll be ready in a bit. Think you two could drag those gearheads out of the ship?”

“You got it.” The larger clone replied, lowering one of the cartons to be grabbed up by his smaller cohort before taking their leave.

She broke the budding silence with a contented sigh before she began to feel the presence of a pair of familiar hands.

“Stand down, Sergeant.” She chided, leaning forward to capture his lips, “You'll get your dessert after dinner.”

#cfge #hunter x reader #sergeant hunter #hunter tbb

86 notes · View notes

waltwhitmansbeard · 2 years

Text

my fair lady: chapter one

this fic was inspired by @romeoandjulietyouwish's medieval au which i read in one sitting and then i could not stop thinking about for days. this is chapter one of idk how many but i got a bunch just sitting in my drafts lol. been sitting on these for a while. title is taken from the song of the same name by kaleo

Her heels click sharply along the stone floors, the staccato sounds jolting like small shocks of lightning down her spine. She keeps her shoulders back and her chin high, her expression neutral but pleasant as she nods her greetings at the bowing figures on either side of her. There's a bead of sweat beating a hectic path down the back of her neck; all these eyes on her, surely they can see she how she flounders, how she trips her way through every day, every meeting, every sentence?

Beneath the polite murmurs of "Your Highness" chorusing around her, there's a second set of footsteps, much softer and quieter than her own. Her shadow, the only thing that feels constant and reliable these days. As she approaches the throne room, the towering polished oak doors swing open before her. She passes through, tossing a wink at the goliath guarding one side, whose returning ear-to-ear grin nearly makes her laugh.

The chamber is sparsely decorated, only some tapestries and rugs and a few candelabras to distract from the centerpiece: a massive tree, its topmost branches scraping the fifty-foot-high ceiling, into which an ornate throne has been carved out of the trunk. The Seat of the Ashari, where her father should be sitting, where she is expected to sit in his absence. Keyleth approaches the tree and the council members gathered around it, and the shadowed footsteps behind her peel off to stand at a distance, always on guard. Instead of sitting on the throne, however, she turns just before it to face the council. "Good morning!" She winces internally at the natural cheeriness to her voice. She clears her throat and tries again, keeping her tone much more even. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Your Highness," the five reply with bows of various depths. When they straighten up, they're all looking at her, and she can feel her knees shaking beneath her gown.

"What news have we of the peace talks?" she asks, looking mostly toward the halfling Mistress of Defense.

"Your Highness," Lady Kima begins, "I have heard promising news from your father's retinue in Syngorn. Progress on ending this war with the Kingdom of Draconia is made every day, and I have been instructed to extend our ceasefire through at least the end of the month."

Relief floods Keyleth's body. "That is good news. Master Gilmore, will that give us time to open a new supply line for grain and other foodstuffs?"

"It'll be a tight squeeze, Your Highness, but you know I love nothing more than a tight squeeze."

Mistress Pike snorts a laugh at the same time that Lady Allura elbows Gilmore in the ribs, but the move does little to remove the shit-eating grin from his face—nor does it stop Keyleth from smiling herself. "Thank you, Shaun. Our people may not have reached starvation yet, but food stores are running low. We need all the help we can get." She sighs. "Anything else I need to be kept apprised of? Percy, how go the repairs in Pyrah?"

Adjusting his glasses, Lord Percival looks down at the notes in his ledger before answering. "Another shipment of worked stone and mortar are on the way to improve their defenses. I expect it to be arriving by the end of the week. Repairs should take another week and a half after that, assuming the weather holds."

"Wonderful. Should the peace talks not go the way we hope, at least our brothers and sisters in Pyrah won't be left defenseless." She smiles warmly. "I thank you all for your wise and invaluable counsel. I could not hope to step into my father's role as leader without your expertise and guidance. Please notify me at once if any news arrives from Syngorn." She nods once to dismiss the council members, who begin to turn and make their way out of the throne room. "Percival?" The Master of Development stops and turns back to face her. "A word?"

The rest of the council files out, and once Grog has closed the doors to the throne room once again, Keyleth collapses atop one of the colossal roots of the Seat of the Ashari, burying her face in her hands. "Oh gods, was that terrible?"

With a sigh, Percy drops his ledger to the floor and walks back toward his friend. "You're doing fine," he insists, kneeling before her so that he has to look up into her face. "You're overthinking things."

Keyleth snorts. "You can say that again."

"Look, do you trust us?" She lifts her head and looks at him, confused. "The council. Do you trust us to give you our honest opinions about what is best for the Ashari Nation?"

"Of course."

"Then trust us to let you know if we think you're making a bad call. The really scary conversations, those are happening right now in Syngorn. All sorts of deals and promises and plans are being made, in all sorts of secret back rooms, and your father is the one responsible for making sure all of them go exactly the way they need to for the future of your people. None of us is going to let you burn the house down in the meantime."

She smiles despite herself. "Thank you, Percy. You always know what to say."

"Because you're always in your own head. Come join the rest of us down here every once in a while, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Despite his station, Lord Percival stands, bends down to kiss the top of her head briefly, and then turns to retrieve his ledger from the floor. Before he leaves the chamber, he pauses to nod once at the figure lurking in the shadows. Then he, too, is gone.

There's a long beat of silence in the throne room, just the gentle creaking of bark as Keyleth shifts against the roots of the Seat. She hears him approach before she sees him. "Percival is right, you know." The voice is low in her ear, and her eyes slide shut at the sound. "You are too hard on yourself."

"I have to get this right," she whispers back. "I cannot let my people down."

His hands start gently braiding her hair, pulling it away from her face. "You could never. No one who loves her people as much as you do yours could be a disappointment. I can't promise you won't make mistakes, but I can promise that when you have their best interests at heart, you'll go right a hell of a lot more than you go wrong."

She turns, and Vax's face is inches from hers. He smells like leather and sweat and the night air in Zephrah. "You and I both know it is not only the interests of the people I keep close to my heart."

He holds her gaze for a beat, two, ten—it feels like a lifetime passes before his eyes return to his ministrations. "Are we having this conversation again, Your Highness?"

She sighs heavily, eyes sliding closed again. "You know I hate it when you call me that."

His fingers brush the nape of her neck. "I know you do, but when else am I going to get the opportunity to tease a princess?"

One eye opens to shoot him a look. "You better not be teasing any other princesses."

"Well, I really ought not be teasing this one." But his hands don't stop, and now her hair is intricately woven down her back, the braid tied off with a strap of leather he takes from his armor. He carefully adjusts the simple golden circlet around her brow, fitting it neatly within her braided hair. A hand comes to rest on her cheek, and she leans into the touch like a cat following a sunbeam along the floor. Of all the things she could do to ruin her nation, surely this is the most foolish. Yet the way her heart skips up into her throat at the feeling of his skin on hers, there is no way any god or man is supposed to be stronger than this.

There's a loud, officious knock on one of the doors to the throne room, and her cheek is suddenly cold again. Vax has disappeared, merged once more into the shadows from which he watches her at all times. Sighing again, Keyleth stands and smooths out her skirts, willing the flush to leave her face. "You may enter!"

A door creak opens, and Mistress Pike's brilliant blonde head pokes into the room. "Your Highness, if you have a moment, would you be able to come speak with the priestesses of the Dawnfather about the upcoming Highsummer celebrations?"

Keyleth's shoulders sink ever-so-slightly, but she smiles and nods all the same. "Of course." She looks over her shoulder. "Come along, Vax'ildan." She turns back to face Pike and sweeps out of the throne room, her familiar shadow following behind like a warm cloak in winter.

#critical role #critical role fic #cr fic #vaxleth #vaxleth fic #vox machina #vox machina fic #tlovm #tlovm fic #my fic #vaxleth au #my fair lady

54 notes · View notes

ask-de-writer · 8 months

Text

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to CLASSICAL FANTASIES

THE FISHERMAN'S LEG (Part 2 of 20)

A sequel to Dee 1/2 Demon

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

6373 words (work in progress)

TUMBLR EXEMPTION

Blog holding members of Tumblr.com may freely reblog this story provided that the title, author and copyright information remain intact, unaltered, and are displayed at the head of the story.

Fan art, stories, music, cosplay and other fan activity is actively encouraged.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

New to the story? Read from the beginning HERE.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

Soon they were all kneeling in their proper places in the Tribunal. Even Chansa the goat was sitting quietly by her mistress, Sunma. The stone mason was kneeling beside his friend and neighbor, Satsuna san.

Magistrate Lim knelt behind his low official table of black lacquer. The scribal table to his left was empty. He began, “Miko san, is there cause that you are not by my side making the record of this case?”

She bowed to him, answering, “I fear so, good Magistrate. I am one of those bearing this complaint, which has four parts.

“The first part, which is involved in the other parts also, is the direct violation of your written order requiring Minami san to have no thing to do with the Shop of Repairs and its customers, the Chiasu Estate properties, or the persons of Dee san, Patsu san, Satsuna san, and myself.

“The second part is the direct trespass of the Chiasu Estate property with vandalism of the fence about it and an attempt to cause serious harm to the Chiasu boat house which is being rebuilt.

“The third part is the trespass of the Shop of Repairs with unruly and violent behavior.

“The fourth part is laying violent hands upon Sunma san, dragging her from the table where she was sharing noon meal with us as an invited guest.”

Magistrate Lim nodded, grave of face. While taking out brush, ink and paper, he replied, “I see. Please bring me Fisherman Minami's file and then resume your proper place.”

Miko got up and went to another room. Soon she returned with the thick file which she gave to the Magistrate.

He leafed through the file and pulled out several papers. He carefully read through them before asking his constable, “Canra san, please tell me the circumstances of this arrest.”

From his place standing behind the kneeling Fisherman, he answered in an official voice, “I was patroling the market area when I heard Patsu san calling for a constable. When I arrived at the Shop of Repairs, I found Minami san on the floor unconscious. There was a luncheon laid out on the shop's table, one place of which had been scattered to the floor and its teacup spilled.

“As Minami san is barred from the Shop of Repairs, the properties of the Chiasu Estate, and from the near presence of the young ladies who run and administer them, I secured his arms.

“While I was doing that, the stone mason Imari san entered the shop. He had an empty package of powdered chalk which he stated that Minami had used to adulterate the mortar that they were planning to use this afternoon. I was informed that this action would have seriously weakened the mortar if it had been used.

“This constituted another trespass and violation of your written order as well as vandalism of the work on the boat house that the Chiasu Estate is presently re building.”

The brush in the Magistrate's hand was writing swiftly as he listened. Looking up attentively, he inquired of the whole group, “Is there more that I should know before actually hearing from the principals of the case?”

Patsu raised a finger and bowed to him, “There is another thing, but it is only indirectly related to this. I went to the fish market to buy us some large prawns for our luncheon. He was not in and there was nobody there to sell anything. I waited for fifteen minutes, during which four other customers came and left empty handed.

“Minami san returned at a run from the direction of the Chiasu boat house site. He railed at me that I was trespassing and to get out. I told him that I was waiting for him so that I could buy some prawns.

“He stated angrily that he would never sell anything to me or any of the others of the Shop of Repairs or our mothers.” She paused to chuckle and added, “As I left, I told him that he certaily would not be able to sell anything to us unless he was actually in his fish market and not out messing with what we are doing!”

Deceptively mild of voice, Magistrate Lim asked, “Minami san, did you actually say that to Patsu? Did you truly mean it?”

Knowing the cost of being caught in a lie in the Tribunal, Fisherman Minami growled, “I did. I will not serve them or their mothers.” He gestured rudely with his thumb at Patsu and the others, “Those girls are a source of great evil.”

Shaking his head sadly, Magistrate Lim drew yet another paper from the still thick file. “Please read this. It is the agreement that grants you the exclusive right to sell fish to the people of Sabo.”

While Fisherman Manimi was glancing through the document, Magistrate Lim quickly drew up another paper. As he took back the agreement, he said quietly, “This confirms what you have just told me, Minami san. If, after re reading the agreement, you stand by your statement, verify that I have written accurately what you said and sign it down the left side with this brush. I will then counter sign and seal it with the Tribunal's chop.”

As he slashed the characters of his name down the left side he snorted triumphantly, “There! It is official now! I don't have to sell any of you so much as a minnow and I won't!”

Magistrat Lim attached the new document to the agreement, saying, “It is true, you no longer have to sell to any person that you do not wish to. That unfortunately violates the agreement and voids your exclusive right to sell seafood. A primary requirement of the agreement was that you must sell to any who are not being unruly and who have the needful cash. Any other may now open a shop to sell whatever seafood they wish.

“We may now get to the arrest that has brought you here. I would first hear from the stone mason, Imari san.”

Satsuna's friend, the mason Imari, bowed deeply to Magistrate Lim and stated, “What you have already heard was most accurately related. My workers and I were having our noon rice in the shade of the newly rebuilt Chiasu warehouse. When Minami san sneaked in with the package of chalk, he looked about but failed to see us, in the shadow.

“When he opened the package and stirred its contents into our mortar mix, we yelled at him and gave chase. He fled to his fish market. Returning, we found the package and discovered that it was chalk. That ruined sixty five copper cash worth of mortar. I took the empty chalk package to Dee san.

“Satsuna san, who is wise in the ways of stone work, told the others what it meant. I asked if we should test the work already done to see if this evil trick had been done before.

“Constable Canra asked me to. We took a gimlet and tested the work already done. Just over a third of our work had already been ruined.

“The total of the loss, with removing the damaged work, cleaning the stones, repairing the walls, and the time lost that should have been used for new work, is of silver cash, one string and twenty two. Of copper cash, three strings and seven.”

“I see, Imari san. Thank you.

“Now, Dee san, what can you tell me of this affair?”

Dee smiled as she bowed the small bow that was her right, given by Lord Umayu. “Patsu san went to get us some things for our noon meal. We had hoped for some of those large rock prawns that the Fish Market sometimes has.

“She came back with the vegetables that we wanted but had to get some chicken for the reason that you have just heard. Between my Aspect of Fire and Satsuna's skill with seasoning, we cooked up a nice lunch, with plenty of both rice, chicken, vegetables and a sweet sour sauce to go over all.

“Sunma san and Chansa came by, which we expected. Not only are they welcome guests, we owed Sunma san five meals for one of the cheeses that she makes from Chansa's milk.

“Patsu was up, feeding Chansa some kudzu, which she loves.

“Minami san rudely charged into our shop. He was yelling that our shop was a place of business and that Sunma san should get out! He grabbed Sunma, dragging her away from her food.

Chansa defended Sunma san by butting Minami san behind the knees. At the same time, Patsu delivered a cross foot kick to his midsection. As he was falling and folding, Patsu pulled her knee back some and rabbit punched the back of his head, which bounced off her knee and knocked him out.

“Patsu called for a constable and Canra san answered. The rest you know.”

Patsu looked about brightly and held up a finger. When the Magistrate nodded to her, she returned the small bow, which, like all the girls of the Shop of Repairs, was her right, given by Lord Umayu. Smiling, she offered, “However this falls out, girls we need to make a boat to feed our families.

“Also, as we have always kept up the rent on our old acrobat show space, we could put up walls and a roof to sell any catch more than what we can use.”

Minami snapped, “You cannot! Only I can sell fish in Sabo!”

Magistrate Lim returned gently, “You are wrong, Minami san. You have officially breached your exclusive sales agreement. For that reason, they can.”

Facing Patsu, he reminded, “Patsu san, this is a Tribunal and certain rules must be followed. While you are correct about what you may do, this is the wrong situation to discuss it.

“For now, we must deal only with Minami san's recent indiscretion.”

Patsu smiled as she bowed to Magistrate Lim, “I do apologize to the Tribunal. It was such a fine idea that I felt the need to give it voice. I should not have been so impetuous.”

Returning her bow, the Magistrate smiled, “Your apology is accepted, Patsu san.”

Bowing politely to Sunma he requested, “Please tell me of this unfortunate affair.”

She gave him the deep bow that he was due as she replied, “It is as you have heard. On Firstday of this week, I sold the Shop of Repairs one of the cheeses that I make from Chansa's milk. They offered to pay me by my choice of ten of copper cash or five luncheon meals shared in their company along with some fodder for Chansa, too.

“I chose the shared meals, of which I have received two. Today was the third one. It was interrupted by this miscreant laying violent hands upon me and spoiling my serving, which spilled when he dragged me from the table.”

She smiled at Patsu and at Chansa as she went on, “Both Patsu san and my Chansa came to my defense. Patsu then called for a constable and Canra san answered. The rest you know.”

He bowed to Sunma and inquired, “What outcome do you wish of this affair?”

She bowed back and stated firmly, “While I know that the others only seek civil remedies of Minami san; fines that he can pay off over time, I wish to make the assault on me a criminal charge. Set him the fine as a criminal, which he must pay in only one day, or be sent to the gaol or work on the roads of Sabo.”

To be Continued

<==Previous ~~ NEXT==>

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to CLASSICAL FANTASIES

#THE FISHERMAN'S LEG #Part 2 of ?#Classical Fantasy #sequel to DEE 1/2 DEMON #WORK IN PROGRESS #Written by De Writer

7 notes · View notes

blueiskewl · 2 years

Photo

Discoveries in Pompeii Reveal Lives of Lower and Middle Classes

The latest discoveries in the excavation of Pompeii’s Regio V neighborhood are fully furnished utility spaces, of great archaeological significance for the details they preserve of a common domestic context in the 1st century Roman town.

The room was found in the House of the Enchanted Garden, a beautifully frescoed home with a lararium (a shrine to the household gods) that is one of the largest ever discovered in Pompeii. In 2021, archaeologists undertook an excavation and restoration of rooms on the ground floor in front of the lararium and the stories above it. They uncovered four rooms, two on the ground floor and two above, that were furnished. One was unfinished, with unplastered walls and an earthen floor, a jarring contrast in a house so decorated with such fine frescoes. The unfinished room was used for storage.

Archaeologists were able to make casts of the furnishings in the room which left a cavity in the hardened ash that could be filled with plaster. One room contained a bed frame and a pillow. The texture of the fabric was imprinted in the ash and is visible on the plaster cast. It is a very simple cot with ropes strung across the sides. There isn’t even a mattress, let along any decoration. Next to the bed was a wooden trunk divided into two compartments. The lid was open, but broken when the beams and floorboards of the story above collapsed in the eruption. Inside the trunk, archaeologists found a terra sigillata saucer and a double-spouted oil lamp depicting Zeus in the act of transforming into an eagle. Next to the trunk was a circular three-legged table with a shallow ceramic bowl containing two small glass bottles, a blue glass saucer and a terra sigillata bowl.

In the storage room, archaeologists were able to make two casts: a shelf and a group of wooden planks in different sizes, cuts and finishes, tied together. This was probably a collection of raw materials for assorted home maintenance projects from furniture patching to roof repair. Outside the room in a small hallway another utilitarian treasure was found: a tall wooden cabinet with at least four doors and five internal shelves. The top of the wardrobe and the front doors were damaged when the floor above the room collapsed. The remains of jugs, amphorae, bowls and plates were found on the damaged top shelf.

The excavation of the upper rooms revealed materials that were in the process of collapsing onto the rooms below. Of enormous archaeological value is a unique group of wax writing tablets. The group consists of seven triptychs tied both vertically and horizontally by a cord. A large cupboard, collapsed in the eruption, was also excavated. It contained different types of common use ceramics for kitchen and dining, as well as fine terra sigillata ceramics and glass. There was also a set of small bronze vessels, including a basin with palm leaf-shaped handles and a small jug decorated with a sphinx and lion’s head. Another special treasure is an incense burner shaped like a cradle with a male figure at one end. The polychrome paint coloring the figure and decorating the cradle with geometric designs is perfectly preserved.

The excavation overlapped onto a residential property behind the House of the Enchanted Garden, and there the plaster cast technique revealed the imprint of cane lathing in the mortar of a collapsed false ceiling. The cast shows the guts of Pompeiian construction: bundles of caning tied together by a thin cord and covered by a gauze-like fabric to separate the lathing from the wet mortar. Casts were also obtained of what appears to be wood paneling on the north, east and south walls of the room. Some are carved with coffered decoration; others are inlaid with delicate bone elements.

#Discoveries in Pompeii Reveal Lives of Lower and Middle Classes #House of the Enchanted Garden #archeology #archeolgst #ancient artifacts #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #roman empire #roman history

76 notes · View notes

o-craven-canto · 1 year

Text

Extracts from Alan Weisman, The World Without Us, 2007. The book considers the material aspects of human civilization and how long they would last, unattended. If humans were to vanish from Earth, if all maintainance and repairing work ceased, what would happen to what we leave behind?

(The book went on to inspire two speculative documentaries, Life After People by History Channel and Aftermath: Population Zero by National Geographic, emphasizing different aspects of it. They were neat.)

Chapter 2: Unbuilding Our Home

No matter how hermetically you’ve sealed your temperature-tuned interior from the weather, invisible spores penetrate anyway, exploding in sudden outbursts of mold—awful when you see it, worse when you don’t, because it’s hidden behind a painted wall, munching paper sandwiches of gypsum board, rotting studs and floor joists. Or you’ve been colonized by termites, carpenter ants, roaches, hornets, even small mammals.

Most of all, though, you are beset by what in other contexts is the veritable stuff of life: water... moisture enters around the nails. Soon they’re rusting, and their grip begins to loosen... As gravity increases tension on the trusses, the ¼-inch pins securing their now-rusting connector plates pull free from the wet wood, which now sports a fuzzy coating of greenish mold... When the heat went off, pipes burst if you lived where it freezes, and rain is blowing in where windows have cracked from bird collisions and the stress of sagging walls. Even where the glass is still intact, rain and snow mysteriously, inexorably work their way under sills. As the wood continues to rot, trusses start to collapse against each other. Eventually the walls lean to one side, and finally the roof falls in...

While all that disaster was unfolding, squirrels, raccoons, and lizards have been inside, chewing nest holes in the drywall, even as woodpeckers rammed their way through from the other direction... Fallen vinyl siding, whose color began to fade early, is now brittle and cracking as its plasticizers degenerate. The aluminum is in better shape, but salts in water pooling on its surface slowly eat little pits that leave a grainy white coating... Unprotected thin sheet steel disintegrates in a few years. Long before that, the water-soluble gypsum in the sheetrock has washed back into the earth. That leaves the chimney, where all the trouble began. After a century, it’s still standing, but its bricks have begun to drop and break as, little by little, its lime mortar, exposed to temperature swings, crumbles and powders.

If you owned a swimming pool, it’s now a planter box... If the house’s foundation involved a basement, it too is filling with soil and plant life. Brambles and wild grapevines are snaking around steel gas pipes, which will rust away before another century goes by. White plastic PVC plumbing has yellowed and thinned on the side exposed to the light, where its chloride is weathering to hydrochloric acid, dissolving itself and its polyvinyl partners. Only the bathroom tile, the chemical properties of its fired ceramic not unlike those of fossils, is relatively unchanged, although it now lies in a pile mixed with leaf litter.

After 500 years, what is left depends on where in the world you lived. If the climate was temperate, a forest stands in place of a suburb; minus a few hills, it’s begun to resemble what it was before developers, or the farmers they expropriated, first saw it. Amid the trees, half-concealed by a spreading understory, lie aluminum dishwasher parts and stainless steel cookware, their plastic handles splitting but still solid... The chromium alloys that give stainless steel its resilience... will probably continue to do so for millennia, especially if the pots, pans, and carbon-tempered cutlery are buried out of the reach of atmospheric oxygen. One hundred thousand years hence, the intellectual development of whatever creature digs them up might be kicked abruptly to a higher evolutionary plane by the discovery of ready-made tools...

If you were a desert dweller, the plastic components of modern life flake and peel away faster, as polymer chains crack under an ultraviolet barrage of daily sunshine. With less moisture, wood lasts longer there, though any metal in contact with salty desert soils will corrode more quickly. Still, from Roman ruins we can guess that thick cast iron will be around well into the future’s archaeological record, so the odd prospect of fire hydrants sprouting amidst cacti may someday be among the few clues that humanity was here...

In a warmer world... drier, hotter desert climates will be complemented by wetter, stormier mountain weather systems that will send floods roaring downstream, overwhelming dams, spreading over their former alluvial plains, and entombing whatever was built there in annual layers of silt. Within them, fire hydrants, truck tires, shattered plate glass, condominia, and office buildings may remain indefinitely, but as far from sight as the Carboniferous Formation once was.

No memorial will mark their burial, though the roots of cottonwoods, willows, and palms may occasionally make note of their presence. Only eons later, when old mountains have worn away and new ones risen, will young streams cutting fresh canyons through sediments reveal what once, briefly, went on here.

***

Chapter 3: The City Without Us

Under New York, groundwater is always rising… Whenever it rains hard, sewers clog with storm debris… With subway pumps stilled… water would start sluicing away soil under the pavement. Before long, streets start to crater. With no one unclogging sewers, some new watercourses form on the surface… Within 20 years, the water-soaked steel columns that support the street above the East Side’s 4, 5, and 6 trains corrode and buckle. As Lexington Avenue caves in, it becomes a river.

Whenever it is, the repeated freezing and thawing make asphalt and cement split. When snow thaws, water seeps into these fresh cracks. When it freezes, the water expands, and cracks widen… As pavement separates, weeds like mustard, shamrock, and goosegrass blow in from Central Park and work their way down the new cracks, which widen further… The weeds are followed by the city’s most prolific exotic species, the Chinese ailanthus tree… As soil long trapped beneath pavement gets exposed to sun and rain, other species jump in, and soon leaf litter adds to the rising piles of debris clogging the sewer grates.

The early pioneer plants won’t even have to wait for the pavement to fall apart. Starting from the mulch collecting in gutters, a layer of soil will start forming atop New York’s sterile hard shell, and seedlings will sprout…

In the first few years with no heat, pipes burst all over town, the freeze-thaw cycle moves indoors, and things start to seriously deteriorate. Buildings groan as their innards expand and contract; joints between walls and rooflines separate. Where they do, rain leaks in, bolts rust, and facing pops off, exposing insulation. If the city hasn’t burned yet, it will now… with no firemen to answer the call, a dry lightning strike that ignites a decade of dead branches and leaves piling up in Central Park will spread flames through the streets. Within two decades, lightning rods have begun to rust and snap, and roof fires leap among buildings, entering paneled offices filled with paper fuel. Gas lines ignite with a rush of flames that blows out windows. Rain and snow blow in, and soon even poured concrete floors are freezing, thawing, and starting to buckle. Burnt insulation and charred wood add nutrients to Manhattan’s growing soil cap. Native Virginia creeper and poison ivy claw at walls covered with lichens, which thrive in the absence of air pollution. Red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons nest in increasingly skeletal high-rise structures.

Within two centuries… colonizing trees will have substantially replaced pioneer weeds. Gutters buried under tons of leaf litter provide new, fertile ground for native oaks and maples from city parks. Arriving black locust and autumn olive shrubs fix nitrogen, allowing sunflowers, bluestem, and white snakeroot to move in along with apple trees, their seeds expelled by proliferating birds… as buildings tumble and smash into each other, and lime from crushed concrete raises soil pH, inviting in trees, such as buckthorn and birch, that need less-acidic environments…

In a future that portends stronger and more-frequent hurricanes striking North America’s Atlantic coast, ferocious winds will pummel tall, unsteady structures. Some will topple, knocking down others. Like a gap in the forest when a giant tree falls, new growth will rush in. Gradually, the asphalt jungle will give way to a real one.

***

Chapter 7: What Falls Apart

(context: this chapter describes Varosha, a city in Cyprus evacuated in 1974 after the Turkish invasion, and left abandoned until 2019)

[Two years after abandonment] Asphalt and pavement had cracked… Australian wattles, a fast-growing acacia species used by hotels for landscaping, were popping out midstreet, some nearly three feet high. Creepers from ornamental succulents snaked out of hotel gardens, crossing roads and climbing tree trunks… Concussions from Turkish air force bombs, Cavinder saw, had exploded plate-glass store windows. Boutique mannequins were half-clothed, their imported fabrics flapping in tattered strips…

Pigeon droppings coated everything. Carob rats nested in hotel rooms, living off Yaffa oranges and lemons from former citrus groves… The bell towers of Greek churches were spattered with the blood and feces of hanging bats.

Sheets of sand blew across avenues and covered floors… Now, no bands, just the incessant kneading of the seathat no longer soothed. The wind sighing through open windows became a whine. The cooing of pigeons grew deafening.

Varosha, merely 60 miles from Syria and Lebanon, is too balmy for a freeze-thaw cycle, but its pavement was tossed asunder anyway. The wrecking crews weren’t just trees, Münir marveled, but also flowers. Tiny seeds of wild Cyprus cyclamen had wedged into cracks, germinated, and heaved aside entire slabs of cement…

Two more decades passed… Its encircling fence and barbed wire are now uniformly rusted, but there is nothing left to protect but ghosts. An occasional Coca Cola sign and broadsides posting nightclubs’ cover charges hang on doorways… Fallen limestone facing lies in pieces. Hunks of wall have dropped from buildings to reveal empty rooms… brick-shaped gaps show where mortar has already dissolved. Other than the back-and-forth of pigeons, all that moves is the creaky rotor of one last functioning windmill.

In the meantime, nature continues its reclamation project. Feral geraniums and philodendrons emerge from missing roofs and pour down exterior walls. Flame trees, chinaberries, and thickets of hibiscus, oleander, and passion lilac sprout from nooks where indoors and outdoors now blend. Houses disappear under magenta mounds of bougainvillaea. Lizards and whip snakes skitter through stands of wild asparagus, prickly pear, and six-foot grasses. A spreading ground cover of lemon grass sweetens the air. At night, the darkened beachfront, free of moonlight bathers, crawls with nesting loggerhead and green sea turtles.

***

Chapter 10: The Petro Patch

If, in the immediate aftermath of Homo sapiens petrolerus, the tanks and towers of the Texas petrochemical patch all detonated together in one spectacular roar, after the oily smoke cleared, there would remain melted roads, twisted pipe, crumpled sheathing, and crumbled concrete. White-hot incandescence would have jump-started the corrosion of scrap metals in the salt air, and the polymer chains in hydrocarbon residues would likewise have cracked into smaller, more digestible lengths, hastening biodegradation. Despite the expelled toxins, the soils would also be enriched with burnt carbon, and after a year of rains switchgrass would be growing. A few hardy wildflowers would appear. Gradually, life would resume.

Or, if the faith of Valero Energy’s Fred Newhouse in system safeguards proves warranted—or if the departing oilmen’s last loyal act is to depressurize towers and bank the fires—the disappearance of Texas’s world champion petroleum infrastructure will proceed more slowly. During the first few years, the paint that slows corrosion will go. Over the next two decades, all the storage tanks will exceed their life spans. Soil moisture, rain, salt, and Texas wind will loosen their grip until they leak. Any heavy crude will have hardened by then; weather will crack it, and bugs will eventually eat it.

What liquid fuels that haven’t already evaporated will soak into the ground. When they hit the water table, they’ll float on top because oil is lighter than water. Microbes will find them, realize that they were once only plant life, too, and gradually adapt to eat them. Armadillos will return to burrow in the cleansed soil, among the rotting remains of buried pipe.

Unattended oil drums, pumps, pipes, towers, valves, and bolts will deteriorate at the weakest points, their joints… Until they go, collapsing the metal walls, pigeons that already love to nest atop refinery towers will speed the corruption of carbon steel with their guano, and rattlesnakes will nest in the vacant structures below. As beavers dam the streams that trickle into Galveston Bay, some areas will flood. Houston is generally too warm for a freeze-thaw cycle, but its deltaic clay soils undergo formidable swell-shrink bouts as rains come and go. With no more foundation repairmen to shore up the cracks, in less than a century downtown buildings will start leaning.

… When oil, gas, or groundwater is pumped from beneath the surface, land settles into the space it occupied… Lower the land, raise the seas, add hurricanes far stronger than midsize, Category 3 Alicia, and even before its dams go, the Brazos gets to do again what it did for 80,000 years: like its sister to the east, the Mississippi, it will flood its entire delta… flare towers, catalytic crackers, and fractionating columns, like downtown Houston buildings, will poke out of brackish floodwaters, their foundations rotting while they wait for the waters to recede.

… Below the surface, the oxidizing metal parts of chemical alley will provide a place for Galveston oysters to attach. Silt and oyster shells will slowly bury them, and will then be buried themselves. Within a few million years, enough layers will amass to compress shells into limestone, which will bear an odd, intermittent rusty streak flecked with sparkling traces of nickel, molybdenum, niobium, and chromium. Millions of years after that, someone or something might have the knowledge and tools to recognize the signal of stainless steel. Nothing, however, will remain to suggest that its original form once stood tall over a place called Texas, and breathed fire into the sky.

I cannot really describe the feeling I get from reading these portions in particular, only that it’s the strongest I ever got from any book. It’s certainly not one of joy: I don’t want humans to disappear -- in fact, there are a lot of humans among my family and friends -- and I don’t want human civilization to vanish, after the unspeakable effort it took to put together, with all the promise that, despite everything, it shows. It’s not one of sadness or fear, either. I suppose it’s just one of awe, of terrible grandeur, similar in kind to what I feel when considering the alien horror and beauty of evolved life, its sheer multi-layered complexity, or the unthinkable vastness of geological time.

#quotes #books #longpost #deep time #aesthetic

17 notes · View notes

creepysora · 1 year

Text

Memories of the Upper Cathedral Ward would populate his nightmares, up until the day they followed him into one.

Looking back, he wished he had found nothing but death. He could still feel the damp cold of those stone floors creep all the way up to his spine. He could still smell the ever-present odor of brackish water, salt and rot mixed with formaldehyde and disinfectant. He still remembered how the hazy sweetness of Lumenflowers thickened the closer he moved towards faint whispers not quite muffled by strong walls and stronger doors.

He should have packed sedatives.

It's finally here! Cold enough to Crystallize, my story for @vermilionzines' For Whom the Bell Chimes - Bloodborne NPC zine!

This story is about Simon the Harrowed, and what turned a hunter of the Healing Church against said Church. I think it's because he found the same terrible things we did, and wanted to write about that.

Much thanks to the brilliant @rococospade-main for the invaluable help with this story, and even more for the friendship that came with it!

The first seeds of doubt, it seemed in retrospect, were sown by those who try to eradicate every last sprouting bud. The wild frenzy of conviction allows room only for the hardiest vines to grow, scarce and worn and tiny, but impossible to tear out once the first shadows take root within a foundation of cracked faith.

For Simon, it was hard to pinpoint when the cracks appeared in his belief in the Healing Church. Growing doubt ate away at the solid foundations of long-assumed truths, snaking through the mortar of reasonings he had repeated time and time again. By the time he conceded his heretical musings to himself, the roots of a million misgivings had already eroded the faith he had clung to beyond repair.

The Church — an older hunter, a clergyman, someone — had sent some of the Harrowed to the outskirts of the city, somewhere south of Hemwick, but still shadowed by the beautiful grand spires of Yharnam’s ecclesial weald. They were to spot and snuff out the first signs of the beastly plague that had taken too soon and too often, even among the ranks of the Church, turning into martyrs hunters and blood saints alike. While he often spent days in squalor posing as a beggar, Simon didn’t mind his duty. It bound him twofold to Yharnam and the Church: discovering early what threatened the lives of the city he treaded through like a ghost.

Except he did not find any signs of the scourge there.

He had returned to report as much, to the highest possible entity. The Vicar had been gentle. Understanding. Rueful, and pitying, and they might just as well have held a blade to Simon’s throat.

“Simon,” the Vicar had said, the glow of a hundred candles dancing on their face, “I take it you understand how valuable your work is to the Healing Church. To Yharnam.”

Simon could see fine silver-woven thread coming undone at the hem of their heavy clerical robes. The effigy of the First Vicar lay hidden in the darkness, as did the portraits of previous Church leaders, their long-dead eyes still piercing him like arrows.

“The city relies on us. And we rely on you. We cannot allow for… mistakes.” The Vicar had stepped very close now.

As they took Simon’s hand in theirs, he could feel how soft they were, the gentle touch of warmth sudden on his skin. Even without the light tricking his eyes, Simon recognized several blood gems on the rings adorning their hands that many hunters would — and had — died for. The Vicar’s eyes were clear as he met them, pupils crisp and dark and devoid of any sympathy. His throat went dry, as if the iron bite of hallowed blood mixed with the heavy scent of incense was getting to him.

“The last thing the Church — the last thing this city — needs is a repeat of the tragedy of Old Yharnam,” they said, tightening their grip on Simon’s hands. “Or an infection within our own ranks. Do you understand, Simon?”

Simon understood.

In his mind, festering doubt finally made itself known, breaking through his eroding mental walls like mold: Why would the Church harm their own?

Full story on AO3!

#Bloodborne #Simon the Harrowed #Bloodborne zine #For whom the bell chimes zine #From Software #Fromsoft games #soulsborne #gore #body horror #Healing Church #acid writing #my writing #bloodborne fanfiction

18 notes · View notes

dariyasite · 5 months

Text

Application of bitumen in building

Bitumen has numerous applications in the construction industry, primarily serving as an adhesive and waterproofing material. Its versatile properties make it indispensable in various building-related functions. Here are some key applications of bitumen in construction:

1. Roofing and Waterproofing:

Bitumen 60/70 is extensively used in roofing systems to provide waterproof membranes for flat roofs. Traditional bitumen roofing membranes consist of layers of bitumen sprayed with aggregate, with a carrier fabric made of polyester or glass in between. Polymer-modified bitumen sheets have become the standard for flat roof waterproofing. Bituminous roofing membranes can also be recycled easily, enhancing their sustainability.

2. Wall Sealing:

Bitumen 60/70 plays a crucial role in sealing walls, providing protection against water and moisture intrusion. It is applied to substrates such as bathrooms and toilets, which are constantly exposed to moisture, to prevent water penetration and safeguard the underlying structures.

3. Floor and Wall Insulation:

Bitumen 80/100 insulation is widely employed for building waterproofing, both horizontally and vertically. It effectively prevents water penetration into floorboards and walls, offering reliable protection. Bitumen's chemical and physical properties make it easy to work with and highly durable.

4. Sound Insulation:

Bitumen's sound-absorbing properties find applications beyond construction. It helps reduce noise transmission, such as the sound of footsteps under floor coverings. Special tar mats in cars and elevators utilize Bitumen 80/100 for sound insulation.

5. Electrical Cable Insulation:

Bitumen's low electrical conductivity makes it suitable for use as an insulating material for electrical cables. It helps protect the cables and prevent electrical hazards.

6. Other Uses:

Bitumen 80/100 & bitumen 60/70 finds application in various other areas, such as the paper industry and the manufacturing of paints and varnishes. Its thermal insulation properties are beneficial in different contexts.

From an ecological standpoint, bitumen is highly regarded for its long lifespan. It remains a popular construction material, with significant demand both domestically and in international markets. The producer of bitumen in Iran exports a large percentage of its production to other countries such as Singapore, Dubai, Panama.

In residential construction, plastic-modified bitumen (KMB) coatings are commonly used for insulation. They compete with bitumen-free FPD (Flexible Polymer Disc) seals, which are easier to apply and offer faster repair options.

Overall, the applications of bitumen in the construction industry are extensive, ranging from roofing and waterproofing to sound insulation and electrical cable insulation. Its versatility and durability make it a valuable material in various building-related functions.

Important Considerations Before Using Bitumen:

1. Surface Preparation:

Before applying bitumen, it is crucial to ensure that the surface is clean, dry, and free from any contaminants. Even the presence of dust, dirt, or grease can hinder the adhesion of the bitumen coating and compromise the effectiveness of the seal. Additionally, the surface should be free from frost. If there are old incompatible coatings, they must be removed. In the case of older buildings, previous applications of bituminous paints may not provide a suitable surface for polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) coatings.

2. Repairing Cracks and Unevenness:

Prior to applying bitumen, any cracks or unevenness on the surface should be repaired using appropriate materials like repair mortar or leveling compounds. This ensures a smooth and uniform surface, promoting better adhesion and a more effective seal.

3. Additional Preparatory Measures:

In some cases, additional preparatory measures may be necessary. One option is to use a layer of synthetic resin on the coarse-pored bed or to apply a sealing slurry. A sealing slurry is a waterproof mixture of cement and plastic that allows water vapor to pass through. The advantage of using a sealing slurry is that it can adhere well to old bituminous coatings, providing an ideal substrate for applying a thick new bituminous coating.

By following these steps and ensuring proper surface preparation, you can optimize the adhesion and effectiveness of bitumen coatings in various applications.

What are the suitable means for repairing cracks and unevenness on the surface before applying bitumen?

There are several suitable means for repairing cracks and unevenness on the surface before applying bitumen. The choice of repair method depends on the severity of the damage and the specific requirements of the project. Here are some common methods for repairing cracks and unevenness:

1. Crack Fillers and Sealants:

For smaller cracks, crack fillers or sealants can be used. These materials, such as asphalt-based crack fillers or specialized concrete crack sealants, are designed to fill and seal cracks, preventing water infiltration and further damage. They are typically applied using a caulk gun or trowel.

2. Repair Mortar:

Repair mortars are suitable for filling larger cracks, holes, or areas of unevenness. These mortars are made from a blend of cement, sand, and additives to enhance adhesion and strength. They can be mixed with water to create a workable paste and then applied to the damaged areas using a trowel or other appropriate tools. Repair mortars are commonly used for repairing concrete surfaces.

3. Leveling Compounds:

Leveling compounds, also known as self-leveling underlayments or floor levelers, are used to create a smooth and level surface. These compounds are typically made from a blend of cement, fine aggregates, and additives. They have a fluid consistency that allows them to flow and self-level over uneven areas. Leveling compounds are commonly used to repair uneven concrete or subfloor surfaces before applying flooring materials.

4. Patching Mixtures:

Patching mixtures, such as asphalt patching compounds or repair mixes, are specifically designed for repairing asphalt surfaces. They typically contain a combination of asphalt binder, aggregates, and additives. These mixtures can be applied to fill potholes, repair damaged areas, or smooth out unevenness in asphalt surfaces.

5. Resurfacing:

In cases where the damage or unevenness is more extensive, resurfacing the entire surface may be necessary. This involves applying a new layer of bitumen or asphalt mixture over the existing surface to create a smooth and uniform finish. Resurfacing can help address multiple issues, including cracks, potholes, and unevenness.

It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and best practices when using any repair materials. Additionally, proper surface preparation, including cleaning and removing loose debris, is essential before applying any repair method.

ATDM CO is a manufacturer and exporter of Bitumen 60/70, offering three different quality grades available in drums, bags, and bulk quantities. Our products are classified into premium, second, and third types, each with varying production costs and facilities. We provide a wide range of options to accommodate different customer needs and volume requirements.

#bitumen #bitumen 60/70 #bitumen 80/100 #bitumen 60/70 specs #bitumen penetration grade 60/70 #bitumen 60/70 specification #bitumen 60 70 #atdm co llc.

2 notes · View notes

echodrops · 1 year

Text

The Promises I Made (2022)

...Aha ha ha...

Well, at least that’s over, I guess? I feel such a bone deep exhaustion I don’t even know what to say about this last year. Does anyone? One more year older, I suppose. Last year at this time I felt like I really needed to take it easy on myself going into 2022, but that just led to me drifting aimlessly through this last year as if stuck in a bad dream. Things really are still very rough...

2023 seems to be gearing up for another year of “Who knows?” Will it be better? Will another disaster strike? Let’s hope the former, and not the latter!

This year, like every year, there will be a new set of 50 promises to keep (or break), but in the mean time, here’s how I did on the promises from 2022!

Promises I Made (2022):

1) Get the Utah house chimney repaired before it falls down.

Status: Kept. It doesn’t look “brand new,” but it is properly sealed now and with new mortar between the bricks. Crisis averted.

2) Get both bedroom floors sanded in the Utah house upstairs.

Status: Broken. The Utah house needed a lot of improvements and unfortunately this wasn’t one of them that got done.

3) Get the Utah house sprinklers up and working ALL the way for this summer.

Status: Broken. I literally tried so hard to get someone out to work on these damn sprinklers and not a single person got back to me on this. Guess I’ll have to try again next May...

4) Actually get the back fence fixed up and the greenery back there trimmed and managed.

Status: Broken. I hate those goddamn vines so much. I HATE THEM.

4) Get an official exercise routine including walking/jogging, please.

Status: Somewhat kept. Most of the year I was pretty bad on this; however, I have a new puppy and she is learning to walk so I do got 4-5 miles a day now that she’s managed to work up to that.

5) Related to that, lose at least 20 pounds. 2020-2021 was not kind to me and the stress eating was real.

Status: Ugh, broken. See the above “sat around and did nothing but work for 3/4s of the year.”

6) Successfully set up and use the Roomba my family got for me to hopefully cut down on allergies.

Status: Broken. Okay listen. I was all ready to do this, then I got a P U P P Y. Who chews everything. The Roomba would not survive. It’s stationary until she gets a bit bigger and stops chewing.

7) Keep up with the specialist appointments that my doctor is making for me. No more getting confused on dates and missing…

Status: Kept. I actually managed to get in to see the RIGHT specialist this year who actually diagnosed my issues correctly. Too bad the recommended treatment is surgery that will be several thousand out of pocket...

8) Go see the dentist again because I think I broke/chipped one of my old fillings and it is not feeling good.

Status: Kept. The old filling was indeed broken, but it has been fixed!

9) Finish all the books I received as gifts from 2020 through 2021. It’s rude not to finish books people gave you out of love.

Status: ...Ahahaha. Broken. More books appeared, rather than disappeared, from the list.

10) Organize my documents (especially student papers)—my desktop and documents folders give me nightmares just looking at them.

Status: Damn, broken. I could have done this, but I didn’t think to do it before I left town for the holiday, and now I’m not on my home computer to do it. RIP.

11) Get my new SSD hard drive fully installed and working before going back to work.

Status: Kept.

12) Get a decent paper shredder to shred old mail.

Status: Broken. I completely forgot I made this promise. I do still need a shredder though. D;

13) Get the fucking post office to STOP delivering other people’s mail to my house. 90% of the mail that comes to the mailbox isn’t even for me and it is driving me C R A Z Y.

Status: Broken. Jesus fucking Christ. I am trying so hard. I talked to the postmaster TWICE and they still won’t stop delivering other people’s mail.

14) Get the Texas house dishwasher fixed… I’m so tired of washing dishes by hand… How do people do this, oof.

Status: Broken. I could have and I just didn’t.

15) Get a plumber to stop the dripping spare bathroom faucet and also check behind the wall in the side bathroom… This is gonna be expensive, ugh.

Status: Kept. It was fucking expensive.

16) Talk to an HR rep about my retirement savings so that I can consolidate my retirement accounts. I have been putting this off for like five years now.

Status: Broken. I completely forgot I made this promise. But damn I also still need to do this, lol.

17) Do at least one artwork to actually use that new paint program I bought.

Status: Broken. Oof.

18) Pay my credit debt down by at least $2000. I’m still paying off the hell year but I hope I can make progress on this.

Status: Broken. I was doing so good for a while there, then my car had a major issue that cost over $2000, my back fence blew down in a storm and cost $1700 to re-fence, and I had to pay over $800 for the above-mentioned plumbing fixes... Back in debt again. Fuck you, 2020s.

19) Be a super prepared boss and be ahead of the game on all major requirements for the semester, rather than feeling like I’m playing catch-up all the time.

Status: Broken. Spring 2021 was really good. I thought I did really well that semester. Fall 2021... was a nightmare. Just a complete disaster. I felt so far behind on everything from Day 1. I’m just praying I can do better this year.

20) See a groove-billed ani. This will be the year!

Status: DUDE, I kept this promise so hard that I no only saw a groove-billed ani, I ALSO saw a smooth-billed ani, which is like 100 times rarer. I saw some great birds this year!

21) Make it to 3500 followers on tumblr. You should follow me. I’m awesome. :D

Status: Broken. Despite the porn bots best efforts in November/December, I did not, in fact, make it to 3500. I would have had to POST something to get new followers, after all.

22) Update HaaH at least once. I will do this, no matter what.

Status: Broken. Jesus fucking Christ, I’m so bad at this.

23) Finish streaming all the new Marvel stuff with Kacchan.

Status: Broken. I was REALLY, REALLY close to caught up. Then Marvel released like 50 new movies and 500 new TV shows and I am very much giving up on this lmaooo.

24) Save up to finally buy one of those Ember heated tea mugs.

Status: Kept. My family bought me one for Christmas!

25) Do a better job of working with and representing the other disciplines in my department. I’m really good at advocating for English, but Communication and the foreign languages under my department need more support, and I need to step up for them.

Status: Kept, though mostly by necessity. All our full-time Spanish instructors retired so guess who had to help redo all the Spanish curriculum despite not speaking Spanish???

26) Use the sugar scrub Echo. Just use it. Pamperrrrrr yourself for once…

Status: Broken. It’s RIGHT THERE. Every day, I look right at it, and did I use it? Not even once.

27) Help my parents save money on their bills by consolidating their services and making some calls to retention of these companies for them.

Status: Somewhat kept? I honestly did try very hard on this one and was prevented from succeeding by my parents just being completely unwilling to change, even to save themselves money. Oof.

28) Bird watch in at least three brand new locations this year. I have a tendency to just go back to the places I know, and I’m probably missing some really great birding sites.

Status: Broken. I bird watched one brand new location this year, but alas, only one.

29) Keep up my medicine prescriptions successfully without letting them lapse.

Status: Kept. The new medicine is like the one thing standing between me and death, so I don’t usually forget it anymore lol.

30) Play with my dog and cat more often. They’re bored because I’m working too much, I know.

Status: Somewhat kept. I tried this year to cut down on the amount of work I brought home, but other situations made it really difficult to do so. My poor cat in particular definitely needs more attention.

31) Call an exterminator to finally get the ants that keep coming in from somewhere actually dealt with, instead of just spraying them with bug spray even other week and calling it good.

Status: Kept, in that the ants are gone? After I went away for the summer, there was no water running in the house, so the ants stopped coming in, and even after I came back at the end of summer, they just never came back? So I’m counting that as a promise kept?

32) This is super nerdy, but my bro got me the FFXIV cookbook and made me promise to actually use it, so I guess I’d better at least try to make something from it.

Status: Ooops. I forgot I made this promise. Broken.

33) Speaking of FFXIV: This year, I’ll obtain every in-game orchestrion roll. I’m already 80% of the way there.

Status: Broken. See, the issue with this promise is that they keep adding MORE orchestrion rolls... Not sure what I was thinking lol.

34) Get a new rose bush for the front of the Texas house and keep it alive.

Status: I did not do this. Broken.

35) Get King’s prescriptions moved to the closer vet so I don’t have to keep driving two hours away each month to get his medicine.

Status: Kept, in a sense. I was able to move his medicine over to the new vet, but unfortunately, there didn’t end up being any point to it. At the end of January in 2022, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He lived until April 2022 and then passed away. My beloved boy...

36) Buy the Noragami volumes I am missing from my collection and do a full re-read of the series so that I can write meta about it again. Right now it just feels like there are so many things I can’t properly remember…

Status: Broken. I still greatly want to do this, but at this point, I’m kind of just waiting for the end of the manga so that I can officially catch up and re-read it from start to finish.

37) Go to Zion National Park with Derby.

Status: Kept. We hiked so much.

38) Go horseback riding on the island. I’ve never ridden on a beach before!

Status: Broken. I did not do this, RIP.

39) Eat healthier. Maybe cutting out snacks is too much to ask, but at least replace some average meals with salads, etc. and overall make an effort to actually eat better. Sometimes the fact that I feel garbage is my own fault.

Status: Mostly broken. The stress was so real this year.

40) Related to feeling like garbage: NO MORE WORKING AFTER 9PM. If it’s a real emergency, okay, but otherwise, it is time to set a boundary about working from home after hours.

Status: Broken. I must have been on crack when I made this promise, because honestly there is no way I could possibly have done the job I have without working to midnight many nights of the year... Someone save me...

41) Get a new office chair, an actual nice one, and some plastic to go under the chair to make it easier to move around.

Status: Broken. I... probably should have remembered to check in on the promises more than a few times this year because I also totally forgot this one.

42) Finish decorating the main office. I’ll feel better if my workplace reflects the level of professionalism and school spirit that I envisioned it having this year.

Status: Broken. I know exactly what I want to do with the rest of the office that isn’t decorated, I just never got around to it. T_T

43) Ensure our department successfully meets all its IEP goals this year.

Status: Kept! We were the first department to confirm completion of all goals!

44) Try to be more comprehensive with giving feedback to students. I’m always good at providing detailed comments on essays, but I’d like to spend more time commenting on smaller assignments too this year.

Status: Broken. I was trying in Spring 2022, but in fall, I was double over-loaded on courses on top of all the administrative work I had and could barely keep up grading at all, let alone give more feedback.

45) Write an FFXIV fic. Even if it’s just a one-shot, write something for this series. I need to express my love…

Status: Kept! I wrote a whole bunch for #FFXIVWrites and even received an art prize for participating! <3

46) Be more proactive about the cleaning. No more accidentally forgetting to take the trash can out to the curb. At least once a month do a full dust and vacuum of the house, not just the one room I spend the most time in (my office lol).

Status: Surprisingly, kept. I don’t really know why, but my house was somehow much cleaner in the latter half of this year. Did I unlock the secret stress cleaning routine?

47) Participate in NaNoWriMo. Even if I don’t finish, just participating again will feel great.

Status: Broken. There was zero chance I could have done this while overloaded on courses.

48) Get a screen door put on the side door of the Texas house. This really needs to happen and I can’t believe I just remembered.

Status: Broken, although not for lack of trying. I did actually have someone come to try to measure for a screen door, but it turns out the door is not a standard size and it would be way too much money to get a custom screen door made.

49) Don’t forget anyone’s birthday or any other holidays this year. (I forgot a close friend’s birthday last year due to being stressed with work and I’m still upset with myself over it.)

Status: Mostly kept. I did better this year--not perfect, but better!

50) I will keep my promises!

Status: OOF. Mostly broken promises this year. 2022 was another hard one. I’m on the struggle buss.

Kept: 16

Somewhat kept/somewhat broken: 3

Broken: 31

Good luck, 2023′s Echo!

#50 promises #new year's resolutions #IRL stuff

15 notes · View notes

frauleindermorgen · 1 year

Text

potions get yer potions here

“You could make stink bombs with these,” Aphie points to the small game and the bundles of herbs. “Or maybe a potion or two…”

- 3x bundles of herbs + 1x questionable small game = 1 vulnerary (?) - 2x bundles of herbs + 2x questionable small game = 1 stink bomb

healer (?) squad @nagaficat @valkyrrian

tw: brief mention of a dead animal, and animal skin!

“There’s something comforting about this,” Micaiah said, washing her bare hands after setting the various squirrel skins out to dry; not only did their repaired home base now have functioning walls, and a floor to boot, they’d renovated enough of the apartment next door to have a balcony of sorts. The view outside was, well, what they had all come to expect of the place: mostly red skies and sand, but somehow the sun’s rays still managed to reach here and it made doing the laundry and other chores much easier.

“I used to make poultices near everyday when I was young,” Micaiah explained, going back to sit next to where Deirdre had their makeshift mortar and pestle. It seemed Cecilia had figured out what odd fire magic (or equivalent) the stoves her used with a little help from the Mechanic and Aphie, and Micaiah dutifully brought over some of the herbs ready to be boiled Deirdre had prepared.

“Though... I suppose I am little worried about how effective this will be as a vulnerary drink. Half of these planets I have never even seen before, though they at least remind me of what we had in Daein. What about you, professors?”

Suffice to say they would certainly have to test their potions first before sharing with the others.

#KEruins2023 #nagaficat #valyrrian #((almost went on a tangent about micaiah n her feelings on hunting/prey animals))#((one day ill write that vegetarian post but idk what triggers go where when u make a post entirely about how ur muse feels about game))

7 notes · View notes

deadeyepools · 1 year

Text

Why opt for a vinyl swimming pool?

The backyard Vinyl Swimming Pools are increasingly sought after by those wishing to build a leisure space at home. Discover this type of pool and its advantages. Because of its excellent value for money, the vinyl composite pool is one of the most popular projects. Find out how this type of swimming pool is made and know its advantages and maintenance at the time of maintenance.

The vinyl composite pool is not as rigid as the fiber pool. It is their coating that differs. It covers the structure, usually masonry, built below ground level. Check out how to build a vinyl pool from scratch:

The construction begins with the demarcation of the land because the pool can take shape and size chosen by the customer.

As soon as the land is delimited, the space is dug and prepared to provide for the swimming pool installation.

Then an iron trellis suitable for the installation of the swimming pool is installed, and a layer of mortar and waterproof plaster on the ground is deposited.

The walls are then covered with concrete blocks that adapt to any type of soil, whether dry, sandy, or wet.

Then the finishes are made for the installation of the devices, such as the suction, the evacuation of the water, the bottom drainage, and the return.

Finally, the vinyl coating is applied to cover the entire structure, and a vacuum system does its fixing.

The vinyl is custom-made and will be spread all over the pool to the walls. The pool-filling process can then begin. During this time, an industrial vacuum removes the air between the bag and the pool structure. In this way, the coating will not present creases or deformations.

Since it is a waterproof material, vinyl composite is also an excellent choice for those who need to renovate a concrete swimming pool, for example, with leakage problems.

In this case, prior maintenance is required to repair holes and broken tiles. A pre-vinyl cover is also applied so that the coating does not get abraded with the rest of the materials used.

The advantages of the vinyl swimming pool

Vinyl pools offer many advantages:

Cost: construction requires less material and less labor to finish, resulting in shorter turnaround times and faster delivery

Waterproofing: the vinyl does not require the application of another waterproofing material since it already fulfills this function by itself, which also reduces costs

Maintenance: There is no need to replace materials like broken tiles.

Cleaning: vinyl is easy to clean and has a more hygienic appearance

Size and shape: as the construction of the vinyl is custom-made, there is no size or format limit for the construction of the pool

Customization: there are a large number of prints and colors on the market. For example, you can even personalize the vinyl by printing a logo or a coat of arms.

If you are embarking on the project of creating your vinyl swimming pool, it is recommended that you pay attention not only to the quality of the flooring but also to the construction of the structure. It is important to always call on the Best Pool Builders in North Carolina that will provide you with expert work. This will ensure the best value for your pool.

#poolbuilders #bestpoolbuilders #pool #poolconstruction #poolrenovationservices #classicpooldesign

2 notes · View notes

capaic · 2 months

Text

Transform Your Tiling Projects with CAPA FLEX!

Experience unparalleled precision and reliability with CAPA FLEX, our advanced tile adhesive solution. Featuring a unique gel-like texture, CAPA FLEX offers effortless application and superior adhesion on a wide range of surfaces, including vitrified tiles, natural stones, and large format tiles.

Say goodbye to worries about tile slippage or uneven surfaces – CAPA FLEX ensures a flawless finish, every time. Whether you're tackling residential renovations or commercial installations, trust CAPA FLEX to elevate your tiling projects to new heights of excellence.

Join the countless professionals who rely on CAPA FLEX for its unmatched performance and versatility. Step up your tiling game with CAPA FLEX today!

To know more about tile gel adhesive manufacturers and tile adhesives for vitrified tiles visit: https://capaindia.in/product/capa-flex/

0 notes

markstonesworld · 1 year

Text

What Services Does a Handyman Offer?

You might be curious about how many tasks a single handyman offer. A handyman is a person who performs maintenance tasks efficiently. Well, there is no doubt that a handyperson who is good with his hands can master multiple handy skills and execute them flawlessly without effort. There are two primary reasons for a handyperson to learn various skills. The first reason is to raise income chances. The more jobs you can perform, the more projects you will get and the more money you will make. The second is to be more productive and fulfill the needs of society.

You can search on your browser “handyman repair near me.” There are a lot of companies and contractors that provide handyman services in your area. You and I are going to have a look at some of the most common jobs performed by a handyman.

Services Handyman Offer

It is not obvious that a handyman must offer all the services. They can vary on the basis of specialty and certifications. For instance, if a person provides only one service doesn’t mean he is unskilled or a newbie. It can be possible that he must have specialized in that specific field. Here are some services in detail.

Drywall Install & Repair

Drywall installation is a process in which a sheet of the finished material is applied to the wall. Drywall installation doesn’t involve plaster or mortar application. Drywalls are made of paper and gypsum. It is not a hard-to-do process, but most people don’t want to take it on or prefer to get it done by a professional to ensure perfection. Almost every handyman can perform this task.

Tile Installation & Repairing

The tile installation job has remained handy and done by labor as it it is norm. This process gives your walls, floor, or counters a water-resistant and smooth feel. It is a fragile time taking process and requires perfection. Make sure to hand over this job to someone with sound experience in tile installation or repair.

Furniture Assembly

Furniture assembly is a job most people like to take on themselves, but those who do not have time or don’t want to hassle themselves contact companies to provide the handyman needed for the job. A furniture assembler assembles different components to make a final piece of furniture. It is not a hard job, and anyone good at assembling with a little experience can do it.

Renovation

Renovation is a time-consuming procedure, and it will be good if you hire a skilled person to remodel your home or a commercial structure. The renovation includes the demolishing and reconstruction of any structure. You can renovate your old kitchen to give it a fresh feel or update your bathroom with new styles. Make sure to find a suitable handyman who has performed similar tasks before.

Painting And Staining

Painting and staining are similar to each other. They both are used to make wooden structures beautiful. Painting covers the top of the wood and hides the marks and other damages, while stain soaks in the wood, maintaining its natural beauty with a flat and sleek finish. Both jobs are not that hard and can be done by anyone, but hiring a professional will add perfection.

Minor Plumbing Services

Handyman also provide minor plumbing services repairs such as pipeline blockage, faucet leakage, valve replacement, vanity repair, showers, and vent pipes and others. Handyman Plumbers can solve handyman problems.

Doors/ Windows Repair And Installation

Another most demanded job from a handyman is installing and repairing doors and windows. The installation of windows and doors is a quick process. You need to drill some screws. Other than that, the varnishing is also a part of repairs. It gives the wood a strong and shiny appearance.

General Electrical Services

The general electrical issues are not the ones you can take by yourself. Assigning an electrician to perform the task and solve the problem will be safe. Minor repairs that handymen do are installing electrical circuits, electrical distribution mending, and restoring indoor and outdoor lighting systems.

Conclusion

The most important thing we learned from this blog is hiring a professional handyman for a specific job increase the chances of success and perfections. Some handypersons are skilled and can perform multiple jobs efficiently. If you want to get any job done as mentioned above, you can contact Allin1-Handyman. They are offering the services of handyman on call all across Irvine.

#woodstock #handymen #allin1handymen

2 notes · View notes

homeimprovementway · 10 days

Text

Porcelain Tile Adhesive: Ultimate Guide

Porcelain tile adhesive is essential for strong and durable tile installations. It provides a reliable bond for ceramic and porcelain tiles. When it comes to tiling projects, choosing the right adhesive is crucial for the success and longevity of the installation. Porcelain tile adhesive ensures a secure and long-lasting bond for your tiles. With various options available in the market, it's important to consider factors such as the type of tile, substrate, and environmental conditions. Whether it's for wall or floor applications, selecting a high-quality porcelain tile adhesive will ensure your tiles stay in place for years to come. Understanding the different adhesive types and their specific applications will help you make an informed decision for your tiling project.

Types Of Porcelain Tile Adhesives

When it comes to porcelain tile installation, selecting the right adhesive is crucial for a successful and durable outcome. There are different types of porcelain tile adhesives available in the market, each with its own unique properties and application methods. Understanding the various types of adhesives and their suitability for specific projects is essential for achieving a professional finish. Powdered Adhesives Powdered adhesives, also known as dry-set mortar, are a popular choice for installing porcelain tiles. This type of adhesive requires mixing with water to create a workable consistency before application. It offers excellent bond strength and is suitable for both interior and exterior applications. Powdered adhesives are ideal for high-traffic areas and can be used on floors, walls, and countertops. Ready-mixed Adhesives Ready-mixed adhesives, also referred to as pre-mixed or mastic adhesives, come in a ready-to-use form, eliminating the need for mixing. They are convenient and easy to apply, making them suitable for DIY projects and small-scale installations. However, they are not recommended for areas prone to moisture or temperature variations, as their bond strength may be affected over time. Ready-mixed adhesives are best suited for interior wall tile applications and light-duty projects.

Best Practices For Using Porcelain Tile Adhesive

When working with porcelain tile adhesive, following the best practices is crucial for a successful tile installation. Proper surface preparation and application techniques can make a significant difference in the durability and longevity of your tiled surface. Surface Preparation - Ensure that the surface is clean, dry, and free of any dust or debris. - Repair any cracks or uneven areas on the substrate before applying the adhesive. - Use a suitable primer to improve the bond between the adhesive and the surface. - Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for preparing different types of surfaces. Proper Application Techniques - Choose the right type of adhesive based on the size and type of porcelain tiles being installed. - Apply the adhesive using the recommended trowel size and technique to ensure proper coverage. - Work in small sections to prevent the adhesive from drying out before placing the tiles. - Use spacers to maintain consistent spacing between the tiles for a professional finish.

Comparison With Other Adhesive Types

Versus Thinset Mortar Thinset mortar is a traditional tile adhesive made from cement, sand, and other additives. It is commonly used for setting ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tiles. However, porcelain tile adhesive offers distinct advantages over thinset mortar: - Porcelain tile adhesive has a faster drying time compared to thinset mortar. - Porcelain tile adhesive provides better adhesion for large format tiles. - Porcelain tile adhesive is more flexible, reducing the risk of cracks in the tile. Versus Epoxy Adhesives Epoxy adhesives are known for their exceptional strength and durability. When comparing porcelain tile adhesive to epoxy adhesives, consider the following: - Epoxy adhesives offer superior bond strength, making them ideal for heavy-duty applications. - Porcelain tile adhesive is easier to work with and requires less preparation compared to epoxy adhesives. - Porcelain tile adhesive is more cost-effective for standard tile installations.

Top Brands And Products

When it comes to choosing the right porcelain tile adhesive, it's important to consider the top brands and products available in the market. Here are some of the leading brands and their popular products: Floor And Decor Floor and Decor offers a wide range of porcelain tile adhesives, catering to various project needs. Some of the top products from Floor and Decor include: - Product 1 - $22.99 - Product 2 - $13.84 - Product 3 - $17.98 Add more products if necessary Home Depot Home Depot is another renowned retailer providing reliable porcelain tile adhesives. Check out some of the top products available at Home Depot: - Product 1 - $8.19 - Product 2 - $16.94 - Product 3 - $45.00 Add more products if necessary Amazon.com Amazon.com offers a diverse selection of porcelain tile adhesives from various brands. Here are some top-rated products available on Amazon: - Product 1 - $16.94 - Product 2 - $25.94 - Product 3 - $49.99 Add more products if necessary Lowe's Lowe's is a trusted destination for quality porcelain tile adhesives. Explore some of the top products offered by Lowe's: - Product 1 - $22.50 - Product 2 - $18.49 - Product 3 - $6.99 Add more products if necessary These top brands and their products provide a range of options for your porcelain tile adhesive needs, ensuring you find the best fit for your project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrNu0g_zC74

Cost Analysis

Cost analysis for porcelain tile adhesive can vary based on the brand and quantity needed. Prices range from $4. 74 to $189. 00 per unit, with top brands including Loctite, Alco-Flex, and Mapei. Epoxy is known to be the strongest type of adhesive, providing a durable, high-strength bond for porcelain tiles. Price Range Of Porcelain Tile Adhesives Porcelain tile adhesives come in various price ranges, depending on the brand, quality, and quantity. The price range of porcelain tile adhesives varies from $4.74 to $189.00, based on the supplier and product specifications. Factors Affecting Cost - Brand Reputation: Well-known brands may offer higher-priced adhesives due to their established reputation for quality. - Adhesive Type: Epoxy adhesives generally tend to be more expensive due to their stronger bonding capabilities compared to regular ceramic adhesives. - Quantity: Bulk purchases often lead to lower costs per unit, making it a cost-effective option for larger projects. - Supplier: Different suppliers may offer varying price points for the same adhesive, so it's essential to compare prices before making a purchase.

Faqs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Porcelain Tile Adhesive: What Adhesive To Use For Porcelain Tile? Answer: Epoxy adhesive is the best choice for porcelain tiles, providing a durable and high-strength bond. It consists of resin and hardener that, when mixed, create a strong adhesive perfect for porcelain tiles. Do You Need Special Adhesive For Porcelain Tiles? Answer: Yes, using a special adhesive like epoxy is crucial for porcelain tiles due to its ability to create a strong and long-lasting bond that is impervious to moisture and chemicals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Adhesive Do You Use For Porcelain Tile? For porcelain tile, the best adhesive is epoxy, which consists of resin and hardener, producing a durable bond. Other options include Alco-Flex Polyurethane Adhesive, Super Glue, and Flexi-Tiler. Epoxy provides a strong, moisture-resistant bond suitable for various tile types. Do You Need Special Tile Adhesive For Porcelain Tiles? Yes, you need a special tile adhesive for porcelain tiles to ensure proper adhesion. It is important for the longevity of the installation. What Is The Difference Between Porcelain And Ceramic Tile Adhesive? Porcelain tile adhesive is specifically designed for porcelain tiles, while ceramic tile adhesive is for ceramic tiles. The main difference lies in their bonding strength and flexibility. Porcelain tile adhesive provides a stronger and more flexible bond compared to ceramic tile adhesive. Can You Use Ready Mix Adhesive On Porcelain Tiles? You can use ready mix adhesive on porcelain tiles for a strong bond and easy application.

Conclusion

Choosing the right adhesive is crucial for your porcelain tile project. Epoxy adhesive offers a strong, durable bond suitable for various applications. Consider factors like moisture resistance and flexibility when selecting the best adhesive. Trust quality brands like Loctite for reliable results. Your tiling success awaits! Read the full article

0 notes

melbcontainers · 10 days

Text

The Ultimate Guide to Buying 20ft Shipping Containers for Business

In recent years, 20ft shipping containers Melbourne-wide have gained immense popularity for their versatility and practicality in various industries. These containers, originally designed for transporting goods across the globe, have found new life as cost-effective solutions for businesses seeking storage, office space, retail outlets, and even innovative architectural projects.

If you're considering purchasing a shipping container for your business, this ultimate guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Understanding 20ft Shipping Containers

First things first, let's understand what a shipping container is. These containers are standardised, weatherproof, and made from durable materials like steel, designed to withstand the rigors of transportation across oceans. A standard shipping container typically measures 20 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 8.5 feet tall, offering ample space for various business needs.

Benefits of 20ft Shipping Containers for Business

Cost-Effective Storage: One of the primary reasons businesses opt for 20ft shipping containers is their cost-effectiveness. Purchasing a container is often much cheaper than building a brick-and-mortar structure.

Mobility: These containers are designed for transportation, making them easy to move from one location to another. This mobility is particularly beneficial for businesses with changing needs or those operating in temporary locations.

Customisability: Shipping containers are incredibly versatile and can be easily modified to suit different business requirements. Whether you need storage, office space, or a retail outlet, these containers can be customised to meet your specific needs.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Before you purchase a 20ft shipping container for your business, there are several factors you need to consider:

Condition: Decide whether you want to buy a new or used container. While used containers are more affordable, they may require repairs and may not be as aesthetically pleasing as new ones.

Purpose: Determine how you plan to use the container. Will it be used for storage, office space, a retail outlet, or something else? Your intended use will influence the modifications you'll need.

Permits and Regulations: Check local regulations and zoning laws to ensure you can legally place a shipping container on your property. You may need to obtain permits before making your purchase.

Delivery and Placement: Consider how the container will be delivered to your location and where it will be placed once it arrives. Ensure you have enough space for delivery and that the ground is level and stable.

Where to Buy 20ft Shipping Containers

There are several options for purchasing the shipping containers:

Direct from Manufacturers: You can buy new 20ft shipping containers Melbourne and beyond directly from manufacturers or authorised dealers. This option ensures you get a high-quality container that meets industry standards.

Used Containers: Many companies specialise in selling used shipping containers. While these containers may show signs of wear, they are often more affordable than new ones.

Online Marketplaces: Websites list for both new and used shipping containers. However, buying online comes with risks, so be sure to do your research and buy from a reputable seller.

Customisation Options

Once you've purchased your 20ft shipping container, you can customise it to suit your business needs. Here are some popular customisation options:

Insulation: Insulating your container will help regulate temperature and protect your goods from extreme heat or cold.

Windows and Doors: Add windows and doors to turn your container into a functional workspace or retail outlet.

Electrical Wiring: If you're using your container as an office or retail space, you'll likely need electrical wiring for lights, computers, and other equipment.

Interior Finishing: Consider adding interior walls, flooring, and shelving to maximise space and functionality.

Final Thoughts

The shipping containers offer businesses a cost-effective, versatile, and customisable solution for a wide range of needs. Whether you need extra storage space, a temporary office, or a unique retail outlet, a shipping container can provide the perfect solution.

By understanding your 20ft shipping containers Melbourne needs, researching your options, and carefully planning your purchase, you can find the perfect shipping container for your business. Source: https://melbcontainers.blogspot.com/2024/05/the-ultimate-guide-to-buying-20ft.html

0 notes