Image by Alexcua
Are you wanting to pressure wash your house siding, sidewalk, roof, or even your deck? You can attempt to do this yourself but it may be better to hire a professional to do the job.
Before I examine reasons why to have a professional do the pressure washing, let’s look at the benefits of pressure washing so that you can compare and contrast any ideas or opinions you may have.
According to Adam Maxwell over at ezinearticles.com, here are some benefits of pressure washing:
- It’s not as expensive as you think. Don’t replace with new siding, etc. Try pressure washing first to see the outcome. You may be saving yourself a lot of money in the long run.
- Pressure washing removes any mold present. Mold can cause health problems and allergic reactions. Mold can grow outside of the home so pressure washing even the outside of the home is very beneficial.
- Your roof shingles will last longer. Pressure washing your roof to remove anything like mold etc, will give your roof a longer life so to speak.
- Quality insulation and energy efficient. Pressure washing does more than one would think. Pressure washing aids in proper insulation, etc.
Now that you are brought up to speed on the benefits of pressure washing, let’s look at the reasons why it is better to have a professional do it vs. yourself:
- It’s cheaper to hire someone as purchasing the equipment yourself may be more costly. Everyone wants to save money right?
- You will most definitely save time if a professional does the pressure washing for you.
- The end results will be far greater than that if you do it yourself (DIY) Because a professional is trained in this line of work they understand how to produce quality work. If you know nothing about pressure washing, you will most likely end up doing a poor job.
Source: Ezine
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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
Before you go and purchase a pressure washer let’s take a brief look at the definition of a pressure washer and what it exactly entails.
According to Wikipedia a pressure washer is a “mechanical sprayer that uses high-pressure water to clean and remove mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such as buildings, vehicles, and concrete road surfaces.”
Now that you have been brought up to speed on what exactly a pressure washer is and does, how exactly does one use a pressure washer?
According to an eHow contributor, here is how to use a pressure washer effectively:
- It’s important to read all the instructions and operation manuals that come with your pressure washer. Every model is different so it’s important to follow the instructions exactly as stated.
- Develop a plan for your project that you would like to pressure wash. For example, for pressure washing siding or a fence, work from top to bottom etc.
- Select the proper tip or nozzle for your project. All nozzles attach to the end of your pressure washer hose. Each nozzle determines the water pressure.
- Decide if you would like to use some sort of cleaner involving heavy cleaning chemicals. This will make the project easier to clean.
- Be sure to wear proper eye protection like googles and wear some sort of gloves before you get started with the pressure washer. Consider wearing ear plugs or headphones to protect your ears from the loud motor if your ears are sensitive.
- Make sure all connections are tight on your pressure washer before starting. Loose flying objects can cause injuries.
- Always test the pressure washer and the spray before using it on any project.
- After you have established the proper spraying distance, pass over object repeatedly until clean.
- If you are going to use a cleaning chemical be sure to let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
For tips and warnings on using your pressure washer go to eHow.
Do you have any tips or advice that you would like to share with us regarding usage of a pressure washer? Please feel free to share your experiences with us.
Image: Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Believe it or not the type of paint you use absolutely makes a difference. Why? Well a good example of this would be using paint that you would use on metal buildings on a baby’s nursery. You definitely do not want to make this mistake as there is a variety of paint out there for specific projects. Let me break down different kinds of paint that you would use on specific projects to give you an idea how it makes a difference.
Paint for a picket fence
Liquid fence rubberized coating is ideal for painting a picket fence. The coating is fortified and used on barns, stalls, sheds, and fences.
Water-based paint
This type of paint will work for picket fences as it works well with changing weather conditions. It also dries very quickly
Oil-based exterior paint
This particular paint blocks stains which you want for your picket fence.
Paint for bookshelves
Latexis perfect for bookshelves as it is easier to clean up since it is water soluble.
Oil-based is nice for painting a bookshelf as it avoids sticking but it may be harder to keep clean.
Powder-Coated finish is mainly for book collectors who want to see their bookshelves last a long time.
Paint for painting your kitchen
According to eHow “choosing the right paint for your kitchen is a complex task.” If you want the best quality go with Behr or Glidden available at most home improvement stores.
Try to find the kind that prevents molding and mildew stains. This is a plus, especially for your kitchen where you are preparing food.
Go with a semi-gloss finish for the walls. It’s easy to keep clean. For the doorways and trim try using a high gloss finish.
As you can see, the type of paint you use makes a difference depending on the room or project.
What is your experience with paint? Any tips and advice? How about paint disasters. Please share your stories with us.
Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How can you get your insurance company to pay for roof damage?
This is an excellent question. Maybe you currently have roof damage but you are fearing what the insurance company is going to say after filing the claim.
According to Distinctive Roofing, LLC, “insurance companies sent teams from all over the country to handle the large amount of claims. The claims ranged from hail damage to wind damage.”
The first thing to do is obviously contact your insurance company to see if they can possibly replace your roof. Believe it or not there are specific steps you need to take in order to possibly get your roof paid for. So, get a pen and paper and take notes even if you currently do not have roof damage. It’s always good to be prepared.
Steps to getting your damaged roof replaced and paid for
- According to Melvin Richardson over at eHow, it’s important to review your insurance policy. This will tell you if your roof is covered or not. Your roof may not be covered in certain situations so pay attention to the fine print to see if you will be spending an arm or a leg on a new roof.
- Call a local contractor to come out to your home to inspect the damage. Most likely he will survey the situation with some snap shots and from there you can determine what to do.
- File a claim with your insurance company ASAP. Give them details of the situation. Your insurance company will recruit an insurance adjuster to come out to thoroughly examine the damage to your roof. Be sure to present all important documents from your recent inspection. The contractor should not begin work until everything has been approved.
- When your claim has indeed been approved, call a contractor of your choosing so that he/she may begin work immediately. It’s important to observe their work to see if it is done professionally. You do not want quick and cookie-cutter work. Make sure the contractor takes pride in his work with outstanding results.
For information on why home insurance may deny roof claims go to ezine articles.
Have you experienced roof damage? If so did your insurance company pay to have it replaced? Please feel free to share your experiences. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Are you ready to swing into spring? Spring fever is definitely coming early this year so why not kick it off with your family in Jacksonville?
In a previous post I briefly outlined a list of events and activities for you and your family to enjoy in the month of February. Check out what’s going on in Jacksonville in March according to the Florida Union Times (Jacksonville.com.)
Fairs and Festivals
Saint Augustine Lions Seafood Festival
When? Friday, March 11 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Francis Field, St. Augustine FL
Clay County Agricultural Fair Opening Day
When? Thursday, March 31 @ 10:00 am
Location: Paul E. Reinhold Agricultural Fairgrounds, Green Cove Springs FL
For more events in March go to Fairs and Festivals
Music
The Jacksonville Blues Festival
When? Friday, March 11 @ 8:00 pm
Location: Moran Theater, Jacksonville FL
James Taylor
When? Tuesday, March 22 @ 8:00 pm
Location: Moran Theater, Jacksonville FL
For more events in March go to Music
Performing Arts
John Mellencamp- No better than this Tour
When? Saturday, March 5 @ 7:30 pm
Location: Moran Theater, Jacksonville FL
Spring Awakening
When? Thursday, March 24 @ 7:30 pm
Location: Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
For more events in March go to Performing Arts
Education/Campus
Art Matters Lecture Series: “New Acquisitions”- Debra Murphy
When? Wednesday, March 2 @ 10:30 am
Location: MOCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville FL
Florida Master Naturalist Program
When? Tuesday, March 15 @ 6:00 pm
Location: Duval County Extension Service, Jacksonville FL
For more events in March go to Education/Campus
For a complete listing of fun family activities and events in the Jacksonville area go to the Florida Times Union for more information.
Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Looking for something fun to do with your family in the coming month?
The City of Jacksonville has a variety of fun events for you and your family to participate in.
According to the Florida Times (Jacksonville), there is an abundance of fun things going on that may be of interest to you and your family. Check these out and mark your calendars! These are just some of the events that will be going on in Jacksonville! Come on down.
Arts and Crafts
ImprovEffect at MOCA
When? Thursday, Feb. 10 @ 7:00 pm
Location: MOCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville FL
Layers, A Visual Dialogue
When? Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Avondale Artworks, Jacksonville FL
For more February events go to Arts and Crafts
Community
12th Annual Fur Ball Gala: Pets in the City
When? Saturday, Feb. 5 @ 6:30 pm
Location: Omni Hotel Jacksonville, Jacksonville FL
Community Connections’ Mardi Gras 2011
When? Friday, Feb. 4 @ 7:00 pm
Location: The Carling, Jacksonville FL
For more February events go to Community
Dance
Winter Dance Concert
When? Thursday, Feb. 10 @ 7:30 pm
Location: Swisher Theater, Jacksonville FL
Tango Inferno
When? Tuesday, Feb. 22 @ 7:30 pm
Location: Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, Jacksonville FL
For more February events go to Dance
Sports and Outdoors
Jacksonville Giants vs. Mobile
When? Sunday, Feb. 6 @ 1:00 pm
Location: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville FL
LaCrosse-2011 Sunshine Classic
When? Sunday, Feb. 20 @ 12:00 pm
Location: EverBank Field, Jacksonville Fl
For more February events go to Sports and Outdoors
For a complete listing of activities and events in Business and Tech, Education/Campus, Fairs and Festivals, Food and Dining, Music, Performing Arts, Shopping, Visual Arts and more got to the Florida Times Union (Jacksonville.com)
