Treated Lumber - Clean & Seal
Treated lumber, by its very nature, has massive quantities of moisture in it when it leaves the treatment plant. Untreated boards are stacked inside a giant vacuum chamber. The air in the chamber (and from inside the cells of the wood) is sucked ... [... more]
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Drain Your Crawl Space
DEAR TIM: My husband and I are interested in buying a new home, but we found out that the lot the house was built on has two natural springs located on either side of the lot. The contractor had two French drains installed to divert the water ... [... more]
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Concrete Overlays & Associations
Often the concrete below the surface is in good shape. The surface peels away because the cement which holds the sand and gravel together was very likely diluted by the installer. This happens when the finisher sprinkles water onto the concrete ... [... more]
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Deicing Salt And Concrete
Also, a February 2003 Board of Montana Flathead County Commissioners minutes document called "Magnesium Chloride on Roads" on Corrosion-Doctors.org attests to magnesium chloride's corrosiveness on aluminum and steel. In a corrosion comparison .. ... [... more]
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Home Exterior Custom Options
Raised foundations seem to be a thing of the past. Virtually every new home I see today has its foundation too deep into the ground. This defect can cause enormous drainage problems and possible building code violations. It is also the source of ... [... more]
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Veneer Plaster Manufacturers & Information
If you would really like to find out more about the different veneer plaster systems which are available and which one might work best for you, contact USG Corporation (http://www.usg.com). They have an excellent book which is loaded with ... [... more]
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Independent Deck Finish Results
It is not uncommon for the testing procedure to look at the samples after 6 months and then continue on with the testing until certain products begin to fail. Preliminary results of this ongoing, independent testing on penetrating ... [... more]
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Cleaning Concrete Oil Spots
Clean concrete can be treated to help minimize the penetration of oil and water that contains dirt and pigments. Some of the best products are clear water and oil repellents that contain silane and siloxane ingredients. These chemical solids help ... [... more]
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Decks
Your cost concerns must be based on a past experience. You probably purchased a piece of clear all heart redwood. This is the most expensive part of the log. There are many grades of redwood that are very economical and will do well for your ... [... more]
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Deck Product Manufacturers
If you are looking at a product that is manufactured by some other company, it may be a good product. One way to determine this is by cost. The resins and UV protectors used in these products that do the actual sealing or protecting are often the ... [... more]
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Barrier Free Kitchen Design
All of the base cabinets that you choose should have ample pull out bins, shelves, etc. This allows all of the cabinet contents to be within easy reach of someone sitting in a wheelchair. It is also a handy feature for those who are not disabled. ... [... more]
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Concrete Sealants
When using sealants it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to follow the manufacturer's directions and instructions. I can't emphasize this enough. Read the directions carefully before opening the product. Pay attention to the air temperature. When the ... [... more]
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