Get Your Patio Clean For Winter

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:56:43 +0000

Winter is almost upon us so it’s time to make some final preparation to your patio and decking before the frost sets in and there are a lot of good reasons for you to do this. Home maintenance not only keeps your garden and surrounding area looking nice but it also helps to prevent any future repairs, or at least prevent them.

A prime example of this would be decking, leave your decking dirty and covered in leaves over the winter months and it will lead to accelerated corrosion and rotting of your timber deck board and in the long term you will have to replace your boards up to two years earlier than you would if you prepared and protected them in readiness for the winter.

Preparation of the boards is a simple job and should be done towards the end of August, any further into September and the boards will already be starting to shrink as a result of the Winter chill beginning. First sweep down the boards with a stiff brush removing all of the top layer of dirt and general rubbish, next concentrate on areas with stubborn stains. Use a stiff wire brush for these areas using a circular motion to ease off the layer of grime. Finally using a bucket of warm soapy water, wash down the decking area ensuring it is clean and free of all debris.

Should I use a jetwash or powerwash? In short, yes that is quite acceptable but it is important to note that you must be careful not to damage any of the boards due to the high power nature of the pressure washer. It is possible using this method to bring up small pieces of board in particular where they have been screwed down, disallowing rot and infestation to enter the board leaving it highly susceptible to future damage and thus a need to be replaced.

Once you are satisfied with your cleaning you can leave the deck to dry in what is left of the summer sun and relax in the knowledge that your deck should now be in a position to last the winter without damage from the frost on cold weather.

If you have the time, it is also worthwhile noting that wooden fence panels should be treated in a similar fashion in particular because of the brittle nature of the wood used in the manufacturer of such fencing. Due to the contact they have with the soil and earth this also leaves them open to attack from mites and other wood eating creatures. The onset of green mold is also a major factor and this should be removed from all fencing panels before the Winter months.

As with a lot of things, prevention is nine tenths of the cure and a little hard work in prepping up your garden before the big frost will undoubtedly save you a great deal of time in the long run. It also means that you can have the satisfaction of hibernating in front of your warm open fire safe in the knowledge that your garden i clean and tidy and should remain that way till it’s time to roll out the barbecue and patio furniture and once again enjoy the summer sun.

About the Author:
Paul Disley is a gardening guru at Karcher.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Get Your Patio Clean For Winter

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Tips For Preventing Winter Mold Outbreaks

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:22:03 +0000

The wet season can also be the mold season in many areas of the country. Mold is often found near sources of water where it can easily grow and reproduce. As it grows, mold can breakdown and compromise the integrity and strength of the source in which it lives. When large amounts of mold spores grow, they can also compromise the health of the people living near it. Mold can be killed, but if it is not removed properly, it can remain in the area just cleaned and the dry spores can be released into the air.

There are professional mold remediation services that can help get rid of the mold in your home as well as any molded personal affects like documents, photographs and book. However, prevention is the best way to help keep your lungs healthy and homes and buildings strong. Rapid Refile has put together a few easy to follow tips on how you can help thwart mold from infesting your home. Below is a sample of what they say are real-life preventive measures a home owner can follow to reduce the likelihood of mold damage.

Home Mold Prevention Tips:

• Make sure there is good air circulation in your home by using exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Turn off the water flow to broken appliances and pipes to reduce mold growth.
• Replace cracked or defective mortar in basements.
• If you find your basement is wet or has water leaking into it, inspect the outside drainage systems for problems.
• Spread moisture-barrier materials like heavy roofing paper or polyethylene film in crawl spaces over the soil.
• Make sure there is good ventilation in the crawl space and, if possible, do not enclose it.
• Get rid of humidity or dampness within a building by heating it for a short time. After heating, open up the doors and windows, or use an exhaust fan, to let out the air that is moist.
• If there are freezing temperatures, take precautions against burst water pipes by insulating them.
• Make sure all the seals on the windows and doors are in good-working condition.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Make sure the ground around your building slopes away from the foundation so water does not collect around or enter in to it.
• Act quickly if you see condensation on windows, pipes, or walls inside a building. Dry out the area and determine if the source of the condensation is from a leak or the result of high humidity.

If your home or parts of your home become flooded by broken pipes or heavy rains consider the following advice:

• Work fast. Call in a mold remediation service, which will help in the cleaning and disinfecting of your home from toxins and spores mold can release.
• Lower the humidity and temperature in the building by turning on an air conditioner and a dehumidifier to slow mold growth.
• Dispose of moldy items in a sealed bag.
• Recoverable objects that can be saved should be frozen (which deactivates mold) or dried out. Mold remediation services can assist with restoring many of your items, including documents, pictures, and books.
• Make sure there is good ventilation within the building affected. Use a fan, if necessary, to promote good air circulation.
• Remove as much standing water in a building as quickly and safely as possible after disconnecting all electronic equipment inside the building.

Many simple steps can be taken to prevent mold damage as well as water damage during the winter months. This New Years, assess your home for any potential trouble spots that may promote mold growth and take the necessary precautions to keep your home safe and protected from the damage that water and mold can cause.

Ben Anton is a writer for Rapid Refile.
Visit the Rapid Refile disaster recovery website to read the rest of this article and learn more about preventing document water damage and other home disasters.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Anton
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Preventing-Winter-Mold-Outbreaks&id=1833606

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