Waterproofing and sealing exterior doors
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
To better protect your home from water entering through the exterior doors, there is a way to waterproof it effectively and sealing properly. Here are some ways that this can be accomplished:
- A door cloth in the door frame is great for paint droplets.
- Extending a second drop cloth over your entire work space is beneficial too.
- Putting sawhorses over the drop cloth will hold the exterior door.
- Using a fan in your second workspace will help with ventilation if there is no air flow.
- Inspect the seams and apply caulk if it hasn’t been already. Fill in spaces, etc.
- Add a layer of exterior primer on the tops and sides. Allow to dry for several hours.
- Apply primer and paint to the front of the exterior door as well as to the bottom and the sides.
- Hang the door on its hinges and close.
- Apply weather stripping in place.
- Set the door and drill holes.
For detailed information on how to do this effectively go to eHow.com.
Source: eHow
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The difference between hard water and soft water
Friday, January 6th, 2012
When it comes to water, water is just water right? Wrong! It most definitely does not have anything to do with how water feels in texture etc. If this is true then what is the difference between the two types of water? It has to do with mineral content.
Hard Water is pretty much everywhere and makes up the water supply in the entire United States. Why? Because it’s from ground water. Makes sense right? As rainwater collects it becomes part of a water source or spring. Because water seeps through rocks it automatically picks up the minerals that it runs across. Water is basically just said to be “hard” because it may contain minerals such as: sulfur, lime, magnesium, and calcium.
Soft water is simply this; soft water does not contain as many minerals as hard water. Surface water found in lakes, ponds, etc., is also known as soft water as hardly any minerals have touched it. Sodium is generally used in water softeners to remove hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
Hopefully this has helped you distinguish the differences between hard water and soft water. You may have heard the terms brought up in conversations but really never gave it a second thought. If you are ever faced with the question; “Do you use hard water or soft water in your home?” You will be confident in your answer.
Source: eHow
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Waterproofing your basement
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Basements can be tricky when it comes to heavy rains, etc. Because they are the lowest part of the home they are more susceptible to flooding. You can prevent this problem by waterproofing your basement. You can either hire a professional or simply just do it yourself. If you are interested in saving money, like many of us are, then DIY waterproofing may be the route you take.
Here are some excellent tips on how to waterproof your basement efficiently and effectively without breaking the bank:
- You will first want to stop any leaks and seepage present in your basement. This will take committment on your part and effort but you can complete this task. You need to figure out where the leaks are coming from and how and why? The leaks can come from three types of issues:
- The house may have settled causing water to seep in
- Poor workanship from when the house was originally built.
- Water pressure from outside
- Before you waterproof your basement you will need to repair any holes and cracks. A waterproofing compound is essential for these types of issues. Regular waterproofing mix is great for hairline cracks in the wall. Larger cracks need to be cleaned and patched before filling in with the mix.
- Epoxy and and latex cement is great for repair jobs or as a waterproofing coating.
If your issues are deeper than just cracks and holes you may be way over your head in the job. This is when it’s best to just contact a professional to take care of stubborn issues.
For details on how to close cracks and holes, waterproofing the wall and floor after patches and repairs, and packing a leaking repair joint, you can view it on doityourself.com.
Source: DIY
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Waterproofing vs. Painting
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
Paint is designed to coat and protect surfaces, and give it aesthetic appeal.
Waterproofing is applied much thicker and is designed to flex with your building.
Your building does flex and will its entire life.
Paint is not required to flex with it, and so doesn’t. This means when your painted building flexes your paint cracks. These cracks allow moisture in.
The point of waterproofing is to give a building a seamless barrier that doesn’t allow moisture in but also allows the building to breath and move.
If it can’t breathe will have serious moisture build up on the inside, causing many of the interior mold/mildew issues we see today.
Coating your building right is significantly cheaper than fixing rotting wood siding, spalling concrete, and interior mold.
If you have any questions, or if you would like a free estimate please call: (904) 271-2077
DIY Waterproofing the basement
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Image by Marvin Nauman/Wikimedia Commons
Are you concerned that water may leak through your basement causing you to pump out large quantities of water resulting in massive damage? With more and more rain most likely to pass through it’s easy to forget about the basement and what could happen if water did leak through.
Don’t fret, there is a way to waterproof your own basement. This will take a lot of time and effort but once it is completed it will be worth protecting your property. Here is 10 tips on how to keep your basement dry according to doityourself.com
10 Tips for a dry basement
- Make sure that any water present is flowing away from the house. Make sure no puddles are forming around the foundation, especially landscapes.
- Downspouts and gutters may be necessary to keep water away from your house. When installing make sure they are at least 5 to 6 feet away from the house itself.
- Water resistant paint is advised to avoid any water leakage.
- Using a dehumidifier will keep access moisture in the basement areas.
- Put rocks and gravel all around the basement.
- Insulate your water pipes. This will help avoid condensation around cold water pipes from building up.
- Metal window wells for the basement windows are ideal for preventing water retention.
- Do not dry any clothes in the basement as this contributes to humidity and moisture.
- All of your appliances should vent outdoors. For example washer and dryer vents should be installed but facing outdoors.
- Install exhaust fans in basement bathrooms since they can be contributors to humidity levels.
For more ideas on how to waterproof your basement yourself (DIY), go to do it yourself waterproofing for a complete list of ideas.
