Installing Roofing Felt!

Let's Do It!

 Getting a new roof is not a big job, well it's not a big job if you're not doing it. Whether you are completing your own roof job or hiring a contractor, theres a few things to know about roofing. If for no other reason than to know it is being completed correctly. The first step of Roofing is installing the underlayment. Most notably Felt. Felt underlayment acts as a water proof barrier between the roof decking and the outer roofing material.

Exterior Wood Preservative!

Let's Do It!

For years we have used Cuprinol 10 as our wood preservative. We always bought a couple cases at

Copper Green!

the time. When you have good products that are simple, work well, and you have confidence in them, that's what you do. Some woods have preservatives already built in at the lumber mill and others are added in on site. As Deck and Fence builders we have always used Cuprinol 10 as an additional preservative on all of our cut ends. This is where moisture is wicked up and the wood splits or cracks. Using a wood preservative helps to seal those ends and prevent rotting and deterioration. Imagine my surprise when I went to order 3 cases and my local Sherwin Williams rep told me the company had stopped making the product, and they were out of stock. Dang the crazy environmentalists, sometimes they do good but sometimes they do bad. That was a great product.        

          Anyhow I have started using a new product, well, new for me at least called "Termin 8 Copper Green". It can be applied by dipping, brush, roller, or spray. It is green or black in color, and is made for  above and below ground use. It protects from Termites, Carpenter ants, and Beetles. It preserves from Rot, Mildew, Moss, and Fungus.

How to Keep Up On Home Maintenance?

Let's Do It!
 
                                               I like to break it down into small and large tasks.

Home Maintenance Man!

The small tasks, are things I can do for myself, such as paint the back door, replace a torn screen, patch a crack or hole in my driveway, clean out the gutters and so forth. Big things, whether they be from an emergency/accident, force of nature, or from scheduled maintenance, should be planned for. You and your spouse should be keeping a list of the smaller items, otherwise known as the honey do list. Some things if not seen to, can cause major problems, and turn into costly money mistakes. These include anything with a leak, that collateral water damage can be costly.

Real Estate Agents, will you do what it takes?

Let's Do It!

          I've seen the numbers I know very few house's are selling. If you haven't got out of that typical mode of real estate thinking, it's time. By that I mean sitting in front of your computer waiting for the phone to ring. Prospective buyers are few and far between. The banks aren't handing out mortgages like before. Isn't this gonna be the third or fourth "Summer of recovery". The President isn't going to do anything, he's totally devoid of ideas. He's still on the spending money money kick. To get a new President with fresh ideas is still a year away. Will the new Mayor Winnecki be able to do anything, I thought he would have some big innovative changes, a sweeping new program, but really nothing from him this week. So far I'm disappointed, and I voted for him. So what to do?

Forming Small Concrete Pads!

Let's Do It!

Concrete Form Nails

          Working with concrete is mostly for the professional,  that's due to the fact that concrete sets up fairly fast, and must be worked in the time allotted. However anyone can learn it, and pour a small pad with a helper or 2. Pouring a small pad for a piece of  air conditioning equipment, perhaps a small 10 x 10 Patio, or a side walk, are all homeowner type jobs. Here are some tips for framing up your small concrete job. You will need to have following materials:
                                          Wood Stakes,
                                          Steel Stakes, 2 lbs hammer to drive
                                          2 x 4's of the proper lengths for the job,
                                          Reinforcing Mesh or rebar
                                          Shovel & Rake
                                          Tape Measure
                                          Concrete Form Nails
                                          Wheel Barrow

Building the Framing

          All concrete requires some type of form. Some are built above the  ground but most of the ones a home owner would use are below ground level. The concrete comes up to ground level. To start, I lay out my basic design on the ground using spray paint. I lay out the framing perimeter about 4 inches wider than the frame will be to allow for the stakes. Then dig down to the desired level. Normal pads are 4 inches or more in depth. You should put in a 2" layer of gravel for drainage. So shoot for between 6 and 7 inches depth. Too deep and you cost yourself  more in concrete. Too shallow and your pad will not stand up. Set up the 2 x 4's along the desired path of the pad. Drive a few wooden stakes to hold the 2 x 4 and you can nail it in place or clamp it to them. We prefer to clamp them so we can adjust them. At this time make all your adjustments as pertains to the width, height, and shape of your framing. You may have to take out more dirt or add it back in. If you add it back in make sure to tamp it back down solid. Make sure to establish any grade or slope desired. If it is patio, it should be graded to drain away from the house. The standard formula is a drop of 1/4 inch per foot from the house to the outside edge. So for an 8 ft long slab, it would need to drop 2 inches from the house to the outer edge. After all adjustments have been made then drive the steel Stakes in and nail them to the 2 x 4 framing. For framing curves use long piece of Hardboard siding, cut down to a width of six inches. It is strong and flexible.
Installing the Reinforcing
          Cut the wire netting and lay in the form. Overlap any edges by at least 6 inches.

             You are now ready to pour crete.