Last Updated on January 6, 2020
As temperatures slowly start to creep up the thermometer, the promise of summer and enjoying time outdoors is almost within reach. Set aside a weekend now to clean and seal your deck to make sure it is in peak condition for barbeque season.
Most decks need to be resealed every 2-3 years, but a quick test can let you know if it is time to attend to your outdoor space. Take a cup of water and sprinkle some on the deck surface. If the water quickly soaks into the wood, the deck is ready for a resealing; if the water beads up, however, it maybe not be time yet.
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Last Updated on March 24, 2011
Part II of our Spring Cleaning Series
Regardless of your daily, weekly or even monthly cleaning habits, when spring rolls around it’s time to give the house a good once over. Dedicate an upcoming weekend to banishing dust, dirt and grime from your home to ensure you’ll start with a clean slate for the warm summer months. Beyond basic vacuuming and wiping down sticky surfaces, there are lots of things that need to be done around the house to make sure your home is a clean and healthy family environment.
Tackle each space listed below and your house will be ready for entertaining in no time. If the thought of so much cleaning makes your eyes start to glaze over, pick a room or two each week and slowly work your way around the house over the course of a month.
Kitchen: Take this annual opportunity to dust refrigerator coils at the bottom of the unit using a vacuum attachment or coil brush. Reseal grout lines on floors, walls and countertop tiles with a penetrating grout sealer. Defrost the freezer and clean it thoroughly with a baking soda solution.
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Last Updated on March 22, 2011
This is the first installment in our Spring Cleaning Series
Weekend projects and tackling that honey-do-list can seem daunting at times, but when you have a clean and organized space to complete projects in, those projects become almost fun. Here are a few tips and tricks to get your garage into a cleaner, work-friendly environment.
Down and dirty
The first logical step, and the least enjoyable, to any garage project is a thorough cleaning. While a quick round with the leaf blower will take care of most dirt and dust, actually sorting through piles that have accumulated in the garage will be a huge help in organizing the space. If the kids’ toys are taking over all usable space, let the youngsters go through their belongings and discard old and unused items. Cash in on your junk pile by joining in a neighborhood yard sale, or start your own. Use any profits to invest in some new garage organization supplies.
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Last Updated on January 6, 2020
April showers are just around the corner now, but in most places it is still feeling like winter has a firm hold on the weather. What better way to break out of a winter funk than by getting together plans for an updated patio or outdoor space? Nothing says spring has arrived like a classic barbecue with neighbors and friends. Make sure your backyard is looking up to par now so you will be free to enjoy it all summer long.
If your patio has seen better days, spruce it up with new granite surfacing or mosaic tile work. Sleek stone tiles provide a modern utilitarian look to outdoor spaces whether they’re used as flooring or on countertops. There’s nothing like flipping burgers on a new grill built into a tiled outdoor kitchen to make you the talk of the town. For a more natural look, flank your barbecue with granite counters that provide durable and lasting work space to prep everything from hotdogs to kebabs. Because of granite’s natural hardness, it will resist deterioration in outdoor spaces, ensuring a beautiful surface for years to come.
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Last Updated on September 20, 2022
Installing custom granite countertops in your home is a prominent way to define the style of your unique space. While creating a customized counter might make your wallet start to tremble, there are some easy and affordable ways to create a custom look without breaking the bank.
Traditional countertop installation involves giving up use of your kitchen while a team of contractors rip out existing furnishings and mount new counters in the space, possibly damaging your floors and walls during the demolition period. This installation process can take anywhere from several days to several weeks. Time is money, and more time spent kicking up dirt and dust in your home is certainly less money you have to spend on achieving the custom look you want.
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Last Updated on January 6, 2020
Since the dawn of domesticity, granite countertops have been the bee’s knees of classy kitchen surfaces. Today, however, tuned-in business owners are realizing this natural material has uses far beyond the housewife’s cutting block. The same key functions that have been attracting homeowners to granite for decades offer even greater advantages for a productive workplace.
To create this stone, various minerals combine deep below Earth’s surface as molten rock cools slowly, giving granite its trademark crystalline appearance. The density of granite, contributed to its volcanic origins, prevents bacteria, mold and mildew from forming on its surface. This quality ensures your products, equipment and employees will stay clean and healthy in their work environment.
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Last Updated on September 20, 2022
If budget cuts at home mean you had to forego the fancy wine cooler, but you still need a place to stash your bottle collection, look no further than the kitchen counter. Industrious DIY-ers aimed at creating eco-friendly home furnishings have been making their own recycled glass countertops for years now by mixing crushed wine bottles with a concrete base. Luckily, for those of us who consider popping a cork to be more than enough work for one day, commercial vendors have caught on to the recycled glass trend.
Recycled glass countertops are made using up to 72 percent recycled materials, allowing you to feel good about helping the environment while giving your old countertop a much needed upgrade. The same properties that make glass tough enough to last more than 4,000 years in a landfill are what make it strong and durable in your home. Today, glass from building demolition, windshields, traffic lights and pickle jars all find a second life as recycled countertops.
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