If you’ve ever used an exterior stain on an outdoor project, you know it can be messy. Applying wood stain typically requires multiple steps, including rolling or brushing on the stain, wiping it in, cleaning up brushes and storing leftover stain. Then there’s scrubbing the stain off your hands. It’s enough to ruin an otherwise good Saturday.
When many consumers decide to add a new deck or replace an existing one with a low-maintenance composite version, they typically discover an overwhelming amount of information available. Homeowners might find themselves faced with many options and have questions about how to choose the right product. What type of composite decking is right for me? How do I choose from the different types of deck boards? What color combinations are right for my home?
Coordinating décor throughout the home is well known to homeowners. Everyone aspires to a home that flows seamlessly from one room to another, integrated in look and feel by paint colors, flooring and window treatments.
If the economic downturn means a new house isn’t realistic right now, consider adding an outdoor room to your home. You can extend your kitchen, expand the family room, create a meditation place — the possibilities are endless. The best part? There’s no need to take out a second mortgage, because you can do it yourself.
Ice sends thousands sliding, slipping and falling each year. And unfortunately, many of those falls result in serious injury. You can’t control the weather, but you may be able to keep ice from forming on your walkways. One innovative company, HeatTrak, manufactures outdoor mats that, when plugged into an electrical outlet, melt snow and ice at a rate of two inches per hour. Commonly used by businesses and university campuses, HeatTrak mats have recently become available to homeowners.
