When it comes to exteriors for your home, stucco is one of the best to have. It's insulating, easy to take care of and compared to other materials, very cost effective. However, after a few months in some areas or years, it can tend to look a bit dingy. Here are some tips to help keep your stucco looking fresh for many years to come.

1. Keep it clean.

Stucco's bumpy nature means that it's going to collect dirt and not uniformly. If you live in an area where there is a lot of wind, it can be even worse. It's a good idea to powerwash your stucco at least once a year, and more often if necessary. A good wash can make your stucco look brand new, especially if it's white.

2. Whitewash if necessary.

This is an old technique that dates back hundreds of years. In fact, there are entire villages in Europe that grind to a halt for a week out of the year so that everyone can whitewash their homes. If you've got a white stucco house you can give it a quick and cheap facelift with a whitewash. If you're not familiar with the term, it's basically watered down white paint that is used to refresh a surface every year. You may not need to whitewash your stucco every year, but it does give it a nice look if you do.

3. Pick a color that will wear well.

While you may like a dark color for your home, this may not be a good choice when you're dealing with stucco. There's a reason that so many stucco homes are white or light colored. This material is subject to a lot of abuse and it will show up pretty easily if you're using a dark color. If you live where there is a lot of sand or blowing dirt the problem can be even worse. It's best to pick a light color that will not fade as quickly and can be easily refreshed whenever necessary.

4. Watch out for holes.

As stucco ages, it can be apt to crack. You'll need to keep an eye on your home, especially if it is already quite old. Luckily, cracked stucco is easy enough to fix and it won't be very serious. However, you'll need to make sure that the damage is only exterior and not structural before you get to patching the area.

5. Don't put off repainting.

Stucco will need to be repainted every so often, and it's best not to let it get out of hand. Check for spots of wear and address the issue right away so that your home doesn't start to look rundown.

With proper care, stucco can last for several years and even though it does have some downsides, it's still pretty easy to take care of. The key is stopping problems before they get out of hand. A simple preventative whitewash every year can help you cut down on a lot of issues.

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Originally posted 2008-11-20 17:13:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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This is a quick, no nonsense kind of guide dedicated to all things wallpaper border. If you want to know how to install the right wallpaper border for your space, keep reading!

Wallpaper Borders

Using wallpaper borders is something that can change the way a room looks completely. Wallpaper borders are made of the same materials and follow the same concept as regular wallpaper, but offer ease of installation along with only adding a little bit of decoration to the room. Your traditional wallpaper comes in 21 inch by 30 foot dimensions. Borders on the other hand range between 6 to 9 inches wide. Here is what should be known about the sizes available.

Wallpaper Borders that are 9 Inches or Larger

If you have a home that features really high types of ceilings, or if you are attempting to use a wallpaper border for the purpose of creating a chair rail in a room that is really large, then the best type of wallpaper border for you to use is going to be a wide one. If you are using a wide wallpaper border in a room that has seven foot tall ceilings or even lower ceilings, then the border is simply going to end up looking bulky or clumsy and out of place in the room which is not what you should be attempting to achieve when it comes to installing a wallpaper border in your home..

Wallpaper Borders that are smaller than 8 Inches

If you are looking for a way to add a wallpaper border to a room that is smaller, or if you are simply looking for some kind of small decorative flair that you can add to a room, then it would be wise for you to choose a smaller style of wallpaper border when redoing the room. The best type of wallpaper border for you to use in a room that is designated for a child is a six inch border. Many kitchens and many bathrooms are also going to look their absolute best when you choose to use a wallpaper border of this particular size. If you are installing a wallpaper border in a room where you would like the border to be a real focal point for the room, then choosing a slightly larger border may be in your best interest, but you should not go beyond around 7 inches or 8 inches, because otherwise you are simply dealing with something too bulky.

Keep in mind that the size of the wallpaper border that you choose is going to have a large impact on how the room is going to look overall. You do not want to have to uninstall a wall border because you made the wrong choice, so make sure that you explore your options and choose wisely when installing a wallpaper border in any room of your home.

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Whether you are selling your home, or you just want it to look its best, curb appeal is something that must be focused on. You can add quite a bit of value to your home with just a few simple fixes, but before you start, it is important to think about what your home’s curb appeal currently says, and what you would like it to say.

We all make assumptions based on what we visually perceive. If that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t be told not to judge a book by its cover. But the truth is, we do judge by exterior appearances, whether we realize it or not, and if your home is sending the wrong message, you may be driving off potential buyers. In order to get started, it’s a good idea to get in front of your house and take a picture.

We recommend this step because you may be missing things when you’re just looking at your house normally. We get inured to certain details, like that coil of hose you’ve been meaning to put away for three months, and we start to block out areas that may need a little help. By taking a photograph of your home from your curb, you’ll be getting a fresh perspective. You may also want to drive around and look for homes that evoke the response you’re looking for from your own home. Take pictures of them (if the owners don’t mind) and compare them.

Once you have your picture in front of you, write down your instant impression of your home. Is it welcoming, junky, a bit run down, elegant, happy….etc… Find the emotion that comes to mind first and this will be your starting point for making improvements. At this stage, it is a good idea to write down your goals so that you can keep them in front of you when you begin implementing the changes.

Now that you know what your home’s curb appeal says, it’s time to find out if you need to change that, and how to go about it. For example, if your first reaction was “wow, that is one messy yard,” you can start to take the steps to clean it up. Try focusing on one area at a time and take a picture each time your tasks are completed. This helps you keep a running log of your progress and will allow you to see what is changing from a different perspective.

It may take a few tweaks to get your home to the point where the first impression is where you want it to be. Just be patient and take your time. If you are under the wire and need to sell your house quickly, you may need to move a little faster and try to get more done at once until you have your desired result.

With a little effort and the right perspective, your home’s curb appeal can say exactly what you want it to.

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Originally posted 2008-11-12 05:40:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Your deck is subject to all kinds of weather, and within a few years, it's easy to end up looking like you need a completely new one. If you want to keep your deck looking brand new for years to come, there are a few techniques that you can use. Some should be applied when you first install the deck, but the rest can be implemented as simple maintenance chores.

Let's start with picking the right kind of wood for your deck. If you love redwood or cedar, keep in mind that these woods are going to need to be sealed more often. Pine is the most durable, but then again, it will end up looking the roughest over time. The key is finding the right kind of sealant that is rated for your area. If you get a lot of rain, look for a heavy duty waterproofing sealant. If sun is the main issue, look for a sealant that is fade resistant. When you apply the sealant to your deck, make sure that you use enough and let it dry completely between coats for the best effect.

Now, let's move onto maintenance. The first step you're going to need is powerwashing on a regular basis. Don't blast off your sealant with too much pressure, but make sure that you do keep your deck clean. Light woods in particular will need some extra care to make sure they don't end up looking dingy. Aim for washing it at least once a month and more often in areas that are prone to more wind and dirt.

If your deck is already in trouble, don't worry! Fixing it is a snap. Most people can do this on their own and will not need the help of a professional. First, you'll need to completely clean off your deck and then sweep it to make sure that all dust and debris has been removed. If the wood is cracked, misshapen or overly rough, you're going to need to sand down these spots. This has the added benefit of revealing the healthy wood under the surface.

Once you're ready with either clean or sanded wood, you can either restain your deck or add new sealant and keep it the same color as it already is. Once again, allow for enough drying time in between coats and do it on a day where there is no wind to avoid bubbles in the finish. After the stain is dry, apply a least a few coats of sealant to give it a great shine and protect it from water.

If your deck never got these benefits in the first place, it's not too late to seal it for the first time. Clean it, sand it, stain it and then seal it. It will look like new in just a few hours. Decks do best when they are regularly cared for, so make sure that you schedule more than enough time in to do your part.

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Originally posted 2008-11-19 05:02:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Asbestos - This is a type of magnesium silicate that was used in a variety of different construction products because it was stable as well as fire resistant. Exposure to asbestos through the inhalation of loose fibers has been associated with a number of different forms of lung cancer or lung disease.

Asphalt - This is a bituminous type of water that is often employed in a variety of different roofing materials because of the fact that it is capable of waterproofing.

Backfill - This is soil or a type of gravel that is used in order to fill in a wall or a foundation.

Backflow - This is a reverse flow of liquid such as water into a water supply pipe, which is caused when there is negative pressure in the pipes.

Ballcock - This is a valve for a toilet tank water supply that is controlled with the help of a float ball.

Baluster - This is one out of a series of supporting elements included in making a handrail work.

Base Sheet - This is the bottom layer of a built up roofing design.

Batter Boards - These are designed to be temporary structures responsible for holding strings so that the corners of a building can be located and properly squared.

Beam - This is a horizontal frame that is designed to carry a load in a roof or to span an open space.

Bitumen - This is a term that is commonly applied to a variety of mixtures of hydrocarbons that are naturally occurring, but excluding coal. Asphalt is an example of a bitumen substance.

Blue Print - This is a method of copying that is used most commonly for architectural of CAD drawings. It is typically used in order to describe how a structure is going to be built based on preliminary drawings of the construction method. Blue prints may include designing, estimating, planning and permit securing information on them.

Board and Batten - This is a method of applying siding where the joints between the boards are covered up using strips of narrow wood.

Board Foot - One board foot is a piece of wood that measures one inch thick and twelve inches square.

Bonding Strip - This is a thin metal strip that can be found inside armored cable or BX cable, and the purpose of this strip is to back up the cable's primary ground.

Bridging - This term describes when wood blocks are installed in an X pattern to stabilize floor joists and to position the joists properly.

Butt Joint - This is what you have when two lumber pieces are fitted together at the ends.

Bundle - This is a package full of shingles.

Butt Edge - This is the shingle tab's lower edge.

BX Cable - This is also known as an armored cable, and is a metallic cable that contains wiring for A/C. This wire is typically used whenever the wiring would be exposed otherwise.

Photo Credits: Trebosc

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