Agreed on the price, on the surface it is insanely high.  

When the windy season (or rain, if we get any in a given year) arrives in autumn, I take it down; the tarp generally lasts 2-3 years before needing replacement.Anyway, I'd like to replace that with a robust permanent structure, which I'm envisioning as being a similar structure as the tarp thing; two corners attached to 2x4s in the eaves, the other two out in the yard attached to a 2x4 or 4x4 set of wood posts, fastened securely to the cement surface in the yard. 

A majority of the populous had some reliance on the social welfare system in some form or fashion for some duration, be it gov. spending on infrastructure projects to create jobs, food allocation systems etc..

I think painting exterior brick could actually take value away from the house because it changes the existing maintenance-free surface to something that will need maintenance (re-painting) in the future.  

Easy to clean usually means easy to reach, smooth surfaces with few crevices where gunk can hide.

I only know of a couple people starting to scratch the surface of this dilemma.

I would go with these and have them in a kitchen that has granite, but not for a cutting surface which means you will seal them. 

Every insurance policy is different; however, most insurance policies have language within their policies as to what an insured needs to do when a loss occurs, and to report the claim in a "timely" fashion.

(It's liable to be location specific, so may be best to describe it in generic terms so people can interpret it where it applies.)David:Sorry about that - I usually define all my acronyms at first use, but missed here.A Phase 1 Environmental Assessment (or Appraisal) is abbreviated in a variety of fashions: Phase 1 EA, Phase 1 EvA, EA-1.  

I did this in round robin fashion until I ended up with the loan I accepted; -4.5% initial rate (Prime + 1)-5 year adjustment (interest rate to adjust to Prime + 1) -9% interest rate cap (maximum interest rate possible)-15 year term – fully amortized (Fully Amortized – meaning no “Renew & Adjust”…just adjust) -No Covenants (They can only call my note due if I did NOT make the payment…they could not call the note due based on any ratios;debt vs. income or appraised value vs. loan balance, etc.) #4.