To eliminate standing water problems around your house your foundation must be waterproof. Foundation drainage codes require a natural slope away from the house for water flow. Drain pipes, downspouts or a sump pump also can all pipe water away from the house.
Clean and seal your deck and take next year off? It can be done. Use oxygen bleach to get a beautiful clean. Power washing will chew up the soft wood of your deck. Penetrating water repellents made of synthetic resins soak into the wood. These are not film forming sealers that will feed algae and mildew. Follow the directions and then take a year or two off.
Artificial stone can be applied directly to a wood wall substrate for a great stone wall look. The materials used will be: treated lumber for posts and beams; plywood for the sub-wall; and tar paper, galvanized wire lath and mortar for setting the stones.
A brick patio draws raves. Create patios of ceramic tile, stone, concrete, stamped concrete, concrete brick or clay bricks as well.
Splits in wood siding allow water to seep into your home. The siding installation worker is probably the culprit. Before installing new wood siding, all split pieces should be removed. Then, make sure a water barrier membrane is in place beneath the siding to repel water.
A patio of concrete will be your heart's joy if you take time to create your patio design. A concrete patio should allow for ample space to accommodate the amenities you desire. Plan your concrete patio design with room for people and any plantings, furniture or barbeque you may desire. Space to move about is imperative to patios you will enjoy. Beautiful, often used outdoor rooms will result if you plan your patio design carefully.
Termite pest control is important to consider before you buy a home with a history of termites. Pest control experts can inspect your home and tell you if the house needs repairs. There are many methods to eliminate termites, but it's better to inspect twice before buying once.
Roofs require maintenance, like any other part of your house. An annual inspection should suffice for most asphalt shingle roofs. Check the roof flashings and shingles for nail pops. Other roofing materials like slate, metal and tile require less upkeep.
Wood siding can develop mildew stains, especially in wooded areas. The best water repellent stains to use contain synthetic resins. The higher the price, the better the stain. You can also clean your wood siding with Oxygen Bleach.
Vinyl siding has always tried to imitate the look and feel of real wood siding. But if you pushed against vinyl siding you would know instantly you were dealing with an imposter. The addition of foam insulation and new texturing methods has created a vinyl siding that does a fantastic job of simulating real wood.
Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Complete the form below and each week you'll get:
Unsubscribe at any time. We respect your email privacy.