Don’t say I didn’t warn you, disconnect your garden hose and shut off the faucet and drain the supply pipe. NOW!
Every year people forget this little procedure and end up with a broken pipe and flood house. After the first frost you should definitely disconnect the garden hose or the water will freeze in the hose and the faucet and pipe. When water freezes it expands and the pipe will burst. There are two types of valves on the outside of the home the newer ones are called frost proof but can be shut off from the outside without danger of bursting. The older lawn faucet valves should be left open and shut off from inside the house. When you locate the valve on the inside there should be a little cap on the side of the valve to back drain the pipe. Make sure you do that.
There has been a strange issue with vinyl siding over the past 10 years…IT”S MELTING OFF HOMES!
The vinyl siding has melted because the sun’s heat reflects off of the surface of nearby low-E windows.
When the sun’s energy strikes low-E windows and skylights, it can re-radiate heat and cause significant melting.
Low-E glass commonly reflects 70% of the sun’s heat. This happens even when the distance between houses is 15 to 20 feet.
Siding products need to keep pace with advances in building technologies and building codes
In my opinion, low-E windows are not the problem. The code requirement for better windows is a good one because in many climates, 45% of a home’s air conditioning loads are the result of solar heat gain through windows. Low-E glass has saved Americans millions of dollars in energy .
So given the desirability of using low-E windows, but the potential attendant problem of melting vinyl siding, what’s the solution? It may be a new additive that vinyl siding manufacturers will turn to to prevent the problem.
To date, I’m only aware of one manufacturer that offers a vinyl siding product with this heat-resistive additive.
Many times we have damage to brick, block or stone on an existing wall.
To repair this wall take the following steps. Wearing leather gloves and safety goggles remove the damage portion with a masonry chisel and hammer. Either clean up the old unit by removing the mortar or replace with new piece if you can find something that is close to matching the existing one. Always soak the replacement piece in water for 5 minutes before installing. You also want to wet the area where the new piece will be installed. Prepare enough pre mixed mortar to complete the job and then get started. Trowel the mortar onto the sides of the hole. Set the unit. Now use the handle part of the trowel and nudge the unit in place. Do not use a hammer for set the block, brick or stone.
When it comes to setting post for a deck or fence it is important that they are installed below the frost line in your area. The Midwest will usually have a frost line of about 3 ft. Dig the hole with a post hole digger about 6” below frost line and fill with gravel, the hole should also be a bit wider than the tube. Back fill around the tube with the soil that was removed. The post can then be set in the tube using a concrete mix. Setting post in the ground without the tubes is not allowed in some areas due to building codes. The concrete tube helps in several areas. #1 the tube is lined with wax which allows the water to stay in the tube and not leach out into the soil. Secondly, the tubes help ensure the footings and plumb for optimum stability. Allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours.
If your deck needs a face lift you have to make sure it is clean and ready to accept the sealer.
If your deck needs a face lift you have to make sure it is clean and ready to accept the sealer.There are basically three types of sealers to use on a wood deck; toners, semi transparent and solid color stains. Toners are used for cedar and redwood decks and are primarily a clear sealer that protects the wood and allows the grain to show. Semi Transparent stains are for pressure treated wood and come in about 10 colors. They offer better protection to the wood then the Toners and also allow the wood grain to show. Solid color stains appear more like paint then a stain but offer the best protection to the wood.They come in many colors (as much as a 100) from wood tones to green.The solid color does hide the wood grain but works well on decks that have seen better days.
If you’re wood deck has not been taken care of over the years maybe you can start this year.
If you’re wood deck has not been taken care of over the years maybe you can start this year. Before we start the project would should try and clean and then restore the natural look of the deck.It requires two products; one would be the cleaner which is usually mixed with water and applied to the deck surface, then scrub and power wash off the deck using no more the 2,000 psi. By using more power you could damage the fibers causing them to fuzz at the surface.After the cleaning the wood it can be sealed but if it has weathered to a gray color you might consider restoring the natural wood look with a deck restoration product.This product is used like the cleaner and will bring some of the natural look back to the surface.You would want to restore the wood if you where using natural toner or natural semi transparent stain to the surface.
The ants have invaded the home and what can we do?The first thing is check on the outside of the home nearest the room where you have seen the ants.Chances are you see a stream of ants heading to and entering your home through a small crack.I just had this problem and made this observation.Ants are always looking for water and food and all always looking for cracks and crevices to enter.To eliminate this problem, apply caulking to the opening the ants have found.This will slow there process to the inside of your home.Use Terro dust around the perimeter of the exterior of the home. This will create another barrier discouraging the ants from entering the home. Terro bait stations that are not harmful to children and pets can be stationed around the baseboards on the interior of the home. The ants will take the bait to the queen killing her and the colony.
Retaining walls can be built by the homeowner but without have it engineered I recommend going no higher then 4 ft.First dig a trench about 12” deep and pour in 4 to 6” of washed gravel. Once the gravel has filled the space use a tamper to compress the gravel. Set the blocks along this gravel shelve and begin to make sure they are level. About 6” of the block will be underground, using a level make sure the side to side and the front to back is level.Now place the block next to the one that was just set and make sure it is level to the existing block.Fill the inside of the block with gravel to add stability and strength and use the tamper again.The second course of block should rest comfortably on top of the first course.Each block should be place half way over the seam of the bottom block and again filled with gravel.When the wall is high enough a cap will set on top of the wall. Using a product like Allen block will give you many choices in design and color for your retaining wall.
When you install a cedar fence you have a decision to make when it comes to protecting it from the weather. Cedar can be left alone to age naturally but it will turn gray and have black streaks on the surface so it is best to protect it.You have several choices to make when protecting it and they range from stain to paint or just a clear protectant.A clear protectant will keep the cedar color but will quickly break down from the UV rays of the sun and begin to turn silver and gray.Using a stain or a clear with just a slight tint will protect and last much longer then the clear.Solid color stain or paint offers the best protection but you lose the beauty of the natural cedar. So my choice is a slightly tinted clear stain ….it offers good protection and the natural look.
Keeping water away from the house is very important to the structure. Water that ponds near the foundation needs to be controlled and there are two ways to tackle this problem. First, if you can add topsoil to the areas that have sunk, this will eliminate the water from ponding. If additional soil can not be added because of the height of the soil already on the house, a French drain should be installed. This is and underground drain pipe that collects water when the soil is saturated and allows for the water too disperse. The ipe is 4” in diameter and installed under the ground a couple of feet deep. It lays on a bed of gravel and should slope to the area of the property that has a natural fall. The fall of the pipe should be abou 3/8” per 10 feet. As the water gathers in the pipe, the slope of the pipe will remove it from around the house.
In many parts of the country hardwood mulch is spread under trees to minimize weeds but be careful. As cheap mulches decay they shoot a fungus spore in the air. This fungus is called artillery fungus and is almost impossible to remove from the substrates of our homes. This fungus is shot as high as 30 ft. into the air and collects on siding, shutters and windows. There is no effective way to remove from siding. It can carefully be scraped off of glass using a single edge razor blade. On siding try an enzyme product like Zymeaway. You can apply and then vigorously scrub with a stiff fiber scrub brush and then rinse. My suggestion is to resist using inexpensive hardwood mulch because the only way to remove the artillery fungus from your home is by razor blade or sandpaper.
You can build a mortar less block wall and it can actually be stronger then if you used mortar.The wall would be built in the same manner by first creating a footer to support the wall.Your first course of block will be set on the footer with an 3/8” bed of a product called Quikwall. Now stagger stack the block just like you would normally do only no mortar is used. After you have stacked the block wall, wet the wall down with water and with a trowel apply Quikwall over the entire block surface on both sides. This application should be about an 1/8” thick and be applied in an upward direction. If for some reason you stop with the application stop in the center of the block not in a horizontal seam.
If you have a problem with an invasion of gnats in your home here are a few solutions.Gnats enter the home a couple of ways; brought in with fruits and vegetables, plants carried in the house or gnats entering the drains in your home.After you have removed all fruits and vegetables in your home and removed or used an insecticide on the plants, use a shallow bowl and put cider vinegar and Dawn soap into the bowl.The gnats will be attracted to the vinegar and with the help of the soap it will drown the gnats.Also pour a cup of ammonia into the sink drain and that will solve your problems.
Even though many of us enter our home through the garage , our guest still enter through the front door. If you are thinking about selling your home you really need to pay attention to the entrance way. Don't underestimate the power of a front door. People make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a house on whether this house feels like a home.Little things can mean a lot to potential buyers or friends coming for a visit.A working door bell or a classic chime is very inviting. Don't forget the overhang or an awning or portico, above the front door, these should be cleaned and a fresh coat of paint applied.Replacing a front door with a new fiberglass door will really set the house off and save energy at the same time.
Just about time to remove the screens in the next 6 weeks or so.This is a good time to remove the old screen and replace it with new.If you happen to have the older screen where the screen is held in place with a metal wire you can remove that piece.When you go to purchase the new spline you will find one size too small one size too large.The larger size will work by using this technique.Allow the spline to sit in the sun for a couple of hours making it very pliable.When you begin to install it, stretching the spline will make it thinner in diameter allowing it to fit in the screen channel.Now using a spline tool roll the spline into the channel holding the screen it place.
Over the past several years many of us have experienced Asian ladybugs infesting our homes.Between the months of Sept and October the Asian ladybugs looks for a home to winter over.
Studies have shown that Asian lady beetles are attracted to illuminated surfaces. They tend to congregate on the sunnier, southwest sides of buildings illuminated by afternoon sun. Homes or buildings shaded from afternoon sun are less likely to attract beetles.
Dwellings near woods or fields are especially prone to infestation, although those in other locations can be infested as well. Once the beetles settle on buildings, they seek out crevices and protected places to spend the winter.
They often congregate in attics, wall cavities, and other protected locations.Typical locations include cracks around window and doorframes, behind fascia boards and exterior siding, and within soffits, attics, and wall voids. Structures in poor repair with many cracks and openings are most vulnerable to infestation.
Get out the caulking and vacuum cleaner before they enter your home.
On a recent show we talked about saving money by flipping over the deck boards rather then purchasing new decking.That is certainly a way to save money but a listener wrote me a couple of tips that I thought I would pass on to you. First, consider that the boards may have been placed on top of the deck with the best side up which means when you flip the board it may not look so great.He also told me that it takes a lot longer the just flipping the boards.Removal is difficult and he found it best to remove the cent board from underneath if possible the work from the surface of the deck with a wonder bar or claw hammer. Total saving about $400. Time spent flipping 36 boards 2 days.
Just about half way through the cooling season and here are a couple of things to do.
#1The outside compressor unit needs to be cleaned.You have been blowing those grass clippings up against the unit all summer and the unit needs to breathe.. Take a hose and clean of the screen material surrounding the unit.It is best to clean the unitfrom the inside out.
#2Change the filter in the air handler on the inside of the home.The pleated filters are great filters but restrict too much of the air flow.If you are using pleated filers use the 4” pleats or low air restrictive filters. It is best to change a standard filter every 30 days and the pleated filters every 90 days.
If you are considering buying a garage door here are a few things to consider. Budget and design.Prices range from $500 up to $2500 on average.The design can be very important if a large area of the front of your home is the door. Insulation. Insulated doors can help with the overall energy efficiency of the home for garages that are attached to the home.If one or two of the primary living areas join the garage it is even more important. Maintenance. Steel doors require less maintenance then wood. Building code requirements.In many parts of the country there is a wind rating for doors. Type of material the door would be made of; Wood, aluminum, steel or the new type of composites. These can be a low maintenance alternative to a wood door.
An asphalt driveway should last 20 years or more if it is properly installed.Having a driveway installed improperly usually consist of the contractor not using enough materials during installation.A 8” gravel base should be installed before any asphalt is applied to the area.After this has been compacted, at least 3” of asphalt should be applied aver the stone.Asphalt is more flexible then concrete and does better in colder climates because of the heaving and thawing of the soil. To maintain an asphalt driveway I recommend sealing every three years or so depending on the sealer that is used.The most important task to do is make sure the cracks are sealed every year.If an area begins to break up, remove the asphalt and use more gravel and a bag of asphalt patch.
Well its grilling season and I just did some seasonal maintenance to my gas grill that I thought I would pass along.First pull out the cooking grates and soak them in hot water and Dawn liquid soap or a 50-50 solution of ammonia and water. You also might want to get a putty knife and scrap the inside of the grills hood.That black stuff that looks like peeling paint is actually just carbon from cooking.For the top of the grill I have found product that re designed to clean cook tops do a great job.The synthetic side tables on a grill are also cleaned with soft scrub.Use a wire brush on the Flavorizers and inspect the hoses and you are ready to go.
We have cleaned it, stripped it, sanded it, sealed it, painted it, and we still don’t like it.That’s right it the deck in the back of your house.So I bring another solution.A liquid amour resurface that is pre mixed and covers about 50 sq ft a gallon, plus in comes in 10 colors. Deck Restore is a coating and can be applied over wood surfaces to a new look finish. The coating is a ¼” thick and is rolled onto the surface.It fills cracks, exposed splinters and looks awesome after a dry time of couple of hours.This polymer is pre mixed and has proven to stay flexible for years when exposed to sun, cold, heat and Mother Nature at its worst. Deck Restore works on composites.Whey replace that old pressure treated wood …You can use Deck Restore.
Patios and sidewalks made of pavers make a great looking walkway. How you seal the pavers or the sand you use can make a difference in the success of the job.Sealers that are designed for pavers will create a sheen to the pavers and the sealer should also solidify the sand to eliminate ants from tunneling in the sand and prevent weeds from growing in the sand between the pavers.
PowerLoc sand can also be used in the installation of the pavers that will prevent these problems.This type of sand will also not track into the home. When installed dampen the PowerLoc sand with water and in becomes rigid and eliminates a lot of problems normally caused by paver sand.
Horizontal concrete surfaces should be sealed every 3-5years.If you stamped concrete the same is true but the sealers are different.First test the concrete to see if any sealer is still in the concrete. Pour water onto the surface and if it soaks in the sealer is gone.If the water puddles the sealer is still in the concrete. Old sealer must be removed, a bonding etching agent should be used. Use soap and water if the sealer is out of the concrete.Rinse all cleaner from the surface before applying a high solid gloss or wet look sealer.This can be applied in 3 ft sections and a second coat should be applied after 3 hours of dry time to give it look you desire.
If you have drain pipes that exit water into a sloping yard, creek or swale make sure it is properly draining.These pipes are usually installed around a foundation to take the water away from the home.They are also connected to downspouts that move the water away from the foundation.In order for these to drain properly they need to have a slope of about ¼” per 10 feet.They also need to be free of debris so that they can properly exit the water.If these pipes become clogged with mud or become disconnected under ground they can cause water issue in and around your home.I recommend getting an umbrella out during a rain and go to the exit pipe to make sure everything is working the way it should be working.
If you are installing new pressure treated wood on your deck here are a couple things to keep in mind.Yes, you can stain and seal your deck within a few weeks of installation.If you are going to paint or use solid color stain on your deck you need to wait a year before you start that process.When anchoring the wood to the joist I recommend deck screws that are stainless steel or titanium, that will eliminate corrosion.If you encounter bleached lines going across the grain of the wood, that is usually caused by millwork and can be sanded out with a belt sander.Black ink grading stamps can also be sanded out with sandpaper.If you stain and seal the wood with an oil base sealer wait 48 after the deck has been washed or rained on.Acrylic sealers can be used within 2 hours of rain.
You might want to take a walk around the home, especially if you're seeing a little moisture down in the basement. Remember, the land itself, the ground, needs to slope away from the basement, away from the foundation. Adding mud this time of year is not out of the question, if you do have land sloping toward the foundation. And when it does snow, don't pile the snow up against the foundation or you're going to have problems. Another thing is the downspouts. This pipe is buried, goes to a drainage system around the foundation. And it's very important to follow it and find out where it's depositing the water. In this case, we have a pipe in the back yard, and it is free flowing. But sometimes debris does stuck in that, putting moisture up against the foundation, causing the basement to leak. If your downspouts don't go underground, you could exit it on a pile of rocks or also can get little splash trays like this. Again, you're just trying to keep the water away from the foundation, keep the water out of the basement. Any roof problems, you can get to the hardware store, get some patch. This here is a roof cement that is able to be applied to a wet surface, it's just called wet roof cement. This is an elastomeric, also able to be applied to a wet surface. Elastomeric means it's got some stretch to it.
It's that time of year when ants invade our homes. There's the big black carpenter ants that are living in decaying, wet wood. Or whether it's the sweet ants that want into your home, they want to find water and food. Our process to eliminate them starts on the outside of your home. If you have mulch, I'd like you to get a spade, go out and just kind of pull the mulch away from the home. And you don't have to pull it away far, just about six inches or so. If you have an ant problem, you'll probably see ants down in the soil or down in the mulch themselves. So take a look at the foundation, make sure there are no cracks if there are, get some caulking and go ahead and fill those up. That's how they're entering your home. Now the first thing you want to do in our ant defense is creating a barrier. Terro Ant Dust is great for that. It is a dust, it is a barrier dust that works up to six to eight months. All you need to do is sprinkle it around the foundation itself, that creates a wonderful barrier. Now, for the ants that have already gotten into your home, there's also a very wonderful l product. This is very safe too, even if you have pets or small children. This is Terro ant bait. It's a combination of a sweetener and of course a liquid. You just tear off the tab, put it against the baseboard. The ants take it back to the colony. And that's where the queen is, that's what we've got to eliminate. So, pull the mulch away, dust it, get some bait on the inside. No more ants.
We finally got some cool weather, and that means every field mouse is going to be looking at your home for a place to winter over. When you go to the hardware store you're going to find all kinds of things to take care of mice, from sonic alarms that put out a high pitched sound that's supposed to scare away the mice, to different types of poison for mice and rats. Kind of stay away from that because once they ingest this, they look for water. I know the water is supposed to be on the outside of your home, but if they don't make it you're going to have another problem, it's going to smell kind of bad. Also there's glue traps, there's everything you need to get rid of a mouse, but I have to tell you the best is the good old mouse trap. You just put it up against the baseboard, that's where mice run. Little piece of cheese or some peanut butter and you got him. So how can you even prevent the mice from entering your home. Couple things you might want to look at, any gaps in the foundation or around doors. That can be taken care very easily with an expandable foam. Another area I want you to take a look at is the area at the bottom of the garage door. Most garage doors have a piece of weather stripping, a piece of rubber like this that goes from the door to the concrete floor. If you have one, make sure it's nice and smooth along the concrete, make sure it's aligned, if not, you can replace it, keeping the mice out in the cold.
A big trend nowadays is dressing up the garage and a lot of people find themselves wanting to paint a garage floor, or stain a garage floor. However, in a lot of cases, there's already a coating on the garage floor, such as here. You can see this coating right on top of the cement, and what you also see is that it's beginning to chip and peel. So if you decide to paint the garage floor with a regular type paint, or an epoxy, and I'd certainly recommend the epoxy, step one is you've got to remove that previous coating, because if you don't, you're only painting the coating, which is already failing. Now, how would you remove something like that? You can either grind it off or sand it off, I'd stay away from the liquid strippers. If you do not have a coating on there, there's a good chance that you have some oil. If you have any oil or tar, you're going to have to remove that before staining or painting. Remember, preparation is the always the key. Also, you can see how tightly troweled that concrete is? That means you're going to need to clean and etch it. You can etch it with a type of masonry etcher. I'd stay away from the acid bases. This very, very safe, yet does the same type of work. Again preparation is the key.
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