The Orange Police Department has put together a fantastic list of tips for both Adults and Children to ensure that you have a safe and happy Halloween. The most important thing to remember is to have patience and pay attention to your surroundings at all times. You can click here for a printable copy of the tips from the Police Department.

Tips for Adults

• If attending parties, remember to not drink and drive. Always have a designated driver.
• Use extra care when driving on Halloween. There will be many pedestrians, especially children. Stay alert, be patient, and drive more slowly. Pay special attention when backing out of a driveway or parking space.
• Don’t drive with a mask on. It will limit visibility. Make sure your costume will not interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle.
• Keep pets indoors or secured in backyards. Costumes, heavy pedestrian traffic and unusual noises could create difficult situations involving your pets.
• Make sure the front of your home is illuminated and free of tripping hazards.

Tips for Trick-or-Treaters

• Where possible, trick-or-treating should be done before dark.
• Children should be accompanied by adults or older siblings.
• Those accompanying children should carry a cell phone for emergency calls.
• Openly discuss with children appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
• Remind children not to eat treats until they have been inspected. Adults should inspect candy and discard any unwrapped, spoiled or unusual items.
• Trick-or-Treaters are more visible in a group.
• Never cut through alleys or vacant lots.
• Remind children never to enter the home or vehicle of a stranger.
  Children should carry flashlights and wear something reflective to make them more visible after dark.
• Remain on sidewalks and only cross in crosswalks.
• Never assume the driver of a vehicle sees you.
• Immediately report suspicious activity to the police.

  THE ORANGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BURGIN CONSTRUCTION WISH YOU A SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN!

Yes, I know. For all of you who grew up in the 80’s I’ve just managed to get a song stuck in your head that you never thought you’d have to hear again. And, while you may hate me for that, I’ll try to make it up to you with rest of this blog!

Recently, while researching new materials and trends for bathroom showers, I came across the Ebbe Square Shower Drain. Now, while shower drains have never been the most exciting portion of a shower, these really caught my eye. Not just for their looks, though they definitely stand out and add a touch of luxury, it was the lack of screws. You heard me, no screws!

My bathroom cleaning pet peeve has always been taking out the screws on  the drain cover (please oh please don’t let me lose one down the drain) and prying it off in order to clean the cover or clean out the drain. Ebbe drains include a uniquely designed twist and pull “grate puller” which is used to quickly and efficiently remove the grate for easy cleaning or replacement. Brilliant!

That alone was enough to sell me on the product but there are many other features that make these unusual square drains a hit:

• 10 finishes – polished chrome, bright brass, black chrome, brushed nickel, antique pewter, polished copper, oil rubbed bronze, brushed bronze, polished nickel and satin nickel.
• Square shape – It’s easier to cut tile to a square drain than to cut, nip and grind to fit a round one. Simple cuts are easily made, and waste little precious time. Ebbe drains are sized to match standard ½”, 1”, 2”, and 4” tile without cutting. When cutting is needed, cuts are straight saw cuts. No grinding to match a radius. Consider the how much easier mosaics will be to install.
• Grout Locking Perimeter Edges – One of the most distinct features of the ebbe drain body is its heavily undercut Grout Locking Edges. These features insure that the ebbe drain is thoroughly attached to the surrounding mortar and structure.

If you’d like more information on the Ebbe Square Drain or need help in planning your bathroom remodel please give us a call at 714-558-1094.

While I am a blogger, I am also an avid blog reader, especially when it pertains to the Home Improvement industry. I generally am a major stickler for ensuring that our blogs are original and that I am not simply repeating what someone else has said but today will be a bit different. During my usual rounds of my regular blogs this week I came across one that had some really fantastic ideas. So, I decided to share it with our readers, of course, with a link back to the original source – Ecohome Magazine (www.ecohomemagazine.com).

As always, if you need help with any of your Home Improvement projects please give us a call at 714-558-1094 or visit our website at www.burginconstructioninc.com!

Simple steps—from visual tricks to ventilation—can help maximize smaller house plans.   -   By: Katy Tomasulo

With the shrinking economy and a growing interest in sustainable building, many pros and consumers are opting for smaller footprints that make more efficient use of space without sacrificing style or luxury.

Excel Homes, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of custom modular homes, offers a broad range of styles and sizes. Steven Saffell, director of architectural design and innovation for the company, offers up these trends and tips for maximizing space and altering the illusion of size without giving up amenities or comfort.

1. Combine spaces, but define them. The trend toward great rooms connecting the kitchen to the living room and/or dining room has remained for some time. To continue that vast, open feel but still define each space, incorporate subtle room separation with columns, by changing the floor height with a sunken sitting area, or by simply changing the flooring. Excel Homes is incorporating “visually connected room dividers,” a more stylish twist on the passé half wall. These include two-sided fireplaces between the kitchen and living room or built-in bookcases with see-through glass backs.

2. Find a happy medium for ceiling heights. A desire for energy efficiency has started to trump consumers’ need for soaring ceilings. To maintain the grand effect of a high ceiling, incorporate soffits or trim to create shadow lines; sculpted ceilings create interest and draw the eye upward, Saffell says.

3. Connect with the outdoors. Well-thought-out outdoor spaces are increasingly extending livable space outside the home’s footprint. Connect them to the indoors with larger or multiple patio doors.

4. Get organized. Clutter can make smaller spaces feel cramped and uncomfortable. Use the “ship-building” theory of “a place for everything” by thinking out where everyday items, such as vacuum cleaners, will go. Upgrade closets with built-in organization systems rather than just rods. “Organize their lives as well as their outfits,” says Saffell.

5. Let in the light. Daylighting goes beyond installing extra traditional windows with typical views. Something as simple as installing a ribbon of windows above or below kitchen cabinets can help brighten up the space and make it feel larger. In bathrooms, high, narrow windows let in light while maintaining privacy; transoms on interior bedroom walls are another option.

6. Keep the air moving. Stagnant air can make a home feel tight. Design for air movement, including clerestory windows and interior transoms.

7. Future-proof unused space. Outfit unfinished basements and walk-up attics with wiring and plumbing in anticipation of future remodeling.

8. Leave the master suite alone. Though square footage of master bedrooms may be down slightly, the desire for an escape is keeping the cozy, well-appointed master suite on the top of homeowners’ lists. Saffell says the master bath, like the kitchen, is still an area buyers are willing to pay more for. They also still want a separate tub, but are more likely to outfit the shower with jets and select a soaking tub instead, “investing more in the things they’re going to use on a daily basis.”

To view and comment on Excel Homes’ latest design ideas, visit the manufacturer’s Drawing Board blog at www.exceldrawingboard.com.

Katy Tomasulo is Deputy Editor for EcoHome.