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May 06, 2009

Time for a little spring spruce-up...

Keep your concrete walks and driveways looking their best with a good scrub. Use a stiff broom to brush nonpolluting detergent into a wet concrete surface, then rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.  Alternatively, buy or rent a good pressure washer and clean the surface using a mild detergent.

Once you have cleaned the surface, consider sealing it with an appropriate coating/sealer.  You will be surprised at how easily oil and other stains will be released after sealing.

Finally, if you are repairing cracks in your concrete, sprinkle some dry concrete mix on the wet repair material, the repair will then become less obvious.

May 22, 2009

Never quite sure what kind of caulk to use...

For indoor projects -- such as filling in drywall or plaster gaps before you paint -- look for an acrylic-latex caulk. These are easy to use since cleanup can be done using water. They also can be painted over as soon as they cure.

For outdoor projects -- use 100-percent silicone sealant.

Use mold- and mildew-resistant caulk in bathrooms and kitchens.

And to ensure a neat job, read and follow the directions - it’s really worth it and use a quality caulk-gun.

Time to 'Green-Up'

Southern and western exposures of a building tend to receive greater sunlight and weathering than other sides.  Carefully planning landscaping choices and building materials for these areas will aid keeping utility usage/costs down and achieving the greatest performance from materials.

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