Exterior Painting Made Easy

Weather can cause our homes to look a little grim during the year, which is why giving it a nice coat of paint can help make your home look brand new. Of course, there are certain ways in which you must go about painting, which is why may people stray away from the task or hire people to do it for them. If you want to save money, there is a few steps you can take to give your house the makeover of your dreams while having fun doing it.

            Houses get dirty over time and you don't want to waste time painting a home if the exterior is dirty because the paint will look muddy when you're finished. If you have a power washer then pull it out of storage and get to spraying down the house. A water hose can work just as well, but remember you will need to spray it onto the home.

            Once the home has been washed and is dried from the wind you will need to check around for any chips in paint or damage to the home. This can also cause imperfections in your home and will make you have to chip over damaged areas or go over certain places multiple times to get a good coat on the home. You must also make sure to tape around the door and window fixtures with tape that is to remove.

            When you finally pull out your paint you might want to find something that covers the open fluid so that you don't get dirt or other stray items in the clean paint. This can easily be done with plastic wrap or a painters blanket. Fill up paint gun or roll fresh paint on a roller and begin covering the home with one even layer. After you have covered the house you may need to go over your work a second time to cover up the paint that was on the house before and do keep the home a more colorful look.

            When the home is finished you will want to go over your trim with a different color so you can have a nice accent. This is usually done with a simple paintbrush as it will help  keep the paint in the specified area. You might also need to do a double coat here, but this step will take a lot less time. After you've finished pull up all the tape and clean up your supplies.

            Painting your home can be a lot of fun and makes the neighborhood look amazing. With these steps you will have a professionally painting home you can be proud of in no time.

            

Wall Repair

Walls are exposed. Yes, they are exposed to to a constant supply of dangers. One bad movement while carrying a piece of furniture and the wall can get hurt. A kid playing a round with a ball can bounce the ball on the wall and thus ruining what other wise would be some smooth and nice walls. It is possible to try to cover the blemishes temporarily but sooner or later, the walls inside your home will need some treatment. In today's homes, dry wall is the most common material used as wall base base materials. 

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Dry wall is a type of wall material that is found in relatively new homes. Dry wall, also known as plaster board, wall board, gypsum board, or gyprock, is a panel that is made out of gypsum plaster that is pressed between two thick sheets of paper. Dry walls are fire resistant and can be made water resistant too, so that they can be used in damp places, such as bathrooms and basements.

In order to repair dry walls, here are the steps that should be followed:

1) The first step is preparation. You can put a piece of drop cloth or a newspaper to catch all the debris below. Also, it is important to gather the necessary protective gear, such as safety goggles and a dust mask and to use these items so as to minimize any risk.

2) Now it is time to do some sanding. Now, the sanding doesn't have to be super rough. In fact, it has to be a light sanding. The purpose of this is to remove little flecks of the drywall or any hanging paint from the surface. Now, to do this light sanding, you can use an 80 grit or 100 grit sanding block. You can also use a sanding paper.

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3) There will be times where you also need to use a utility knife. The utility knife will help you remove any torn pieces of the dry wall. Now, it is important to use the utility knife to gently cut the torn pieces. Again, the secret is to do it in a gentle manner. Also, use a wipe after all the removing process is done to remove any bits that remain in the dent.

5) Now, it is time to pull out your putty knife. Yes, a putty knife is just as helpful as a utility knife. Using the putty knife, apply joint compound to the dent. After smoothing the repair, allow it to dry.

6) Now, after the surface is dry - yes, you are now very close to the finish line - it is time to use a fine grit sand paper, around 150 grit, for instance, to finish off the repaired surface. 

The Steps to Staining Windows

It is seldom that we think about the windows in our home, except when there is a cold breeze coming through and we think of shutting the windows down. 

Yet, the harsh reality is the a home's windows really take a beating. For instance, sun, moisture and the weather are hard on the windows. In addition, time has an impact on the sill, with the finish degrading over time. Thus, sooner or later it will be time to sand and strip part of the window and, sometimes, the entire window. Here is what you'll need and how to do.

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In order to stain your windows you will need paint and varnish remover, stain, clear finish, a 120 and a 180 grit sandpaper, wood putty, and masking tape.

1) The very first step to accomplish the project is to sand the existing finish as necessary. You can begin with a 120 grit sand paper until most of the work is done. Then you can use a 180 grit sandpaper to create a smoother surface. However, if the finish is damaged beyond repair, you can remove it.

2) Now it is time to use wood putty to fill holes. After the putty dries up, do not forget to sand these areas.


3) After fixing the holes, it is now time to use masking tape to avoid getting the finish on the glass. In the sash window, remember to mask the two side edges too so that the finish won't stick when you open the window.

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4) Fourthly, after stripping the window, you can now apply the stain (if you want to darken or make its color warmer) and finish. Here you may encounter that the wood will not absorb the stain unevenly. However, by following the steps above carefully, you will avoid many of these problems.

5) Finally, it is time to remove the masking tape from the glass as soon as the finish starts drying up. This will prevent adhesive residue.

Common Foundation Problems

There is a multitude of problems that can damage a house's foundation. Some of these problems include efflorescence, cracks, chipping, disintegration among others. Here we will learn how to deal with two common problems: efflorescence and cracks.


Efflorescence

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Efflorescence involves a white powdery substance that appears under the home. This substance is due to the growth of salt crystals caused by evaporation of salt-laden water. The mineral salts have leaked to the surface. 

Here are the steps to remove efflorescence:

1) Using a brush remove the efflorescence. You can apply a vinegar solution or a muratic acid solution to the brush.

2) Allow the solution to do its work for 10 minutes.

3) Use water to rinse the affected area.

Cracks

While small cracks are normal and no cause of alarm, large cracks in a foundation can contribute to problems with your home's structural integrity. If cracks become a problem, it may be necessary to consult with an engineering and see what has to be done. However, if the cracks are small enough to be repaired, then:

1) First clean the area by chipping away loose material.

2) Now, you can mix dry patch powder and water so that the end result is a think paste.

3) After wetting the crack with water, it time to apply the patch paste into the crack with a trowel. 

4) Use a trowel to scrape away any excess and to smooth out the paste. 

The Foundation and Floor Frame

So you are ready to start with the (never ending) task of maintaining your home. Where do you start in this long road? Well, for starters, it is a good idea to realize that your home is made up of different systems and fixtures.

In this article, we will start by describing the systems that will require your attention from time to time and that are found on the exterior of your home. Let's start with the foundation and floor frame:

Foundation and Floor Frame

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Even though it is through that every area of your home will require your attention from time to time, there are some areas that require more attention. And these areas can be usually found on the exterior of your home. The main reason is that the outer elements, sun, wind, and rain, pay a toll on your home. These are main sections in the exterior:

1)  The Foundation: A home's foundation could be a basement, a crawlspace, or a concrete slab. It's task is to help a home stay put. It is thus important to check for cracks and to deal with moisture.

2) The Floor Frame: The floor frame is composed of floor joists, beams, and the subfloor. The joists and beams rest on the foundation while the subfloor is fastened to the floor frame. The most common task for floor frame consists of silencing squeaks. 

It is also important to fix out of level floor, as this can contribute to damage to the entire structure of your home.