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Applying semi transparent deck stain is an ideal way to add color to your patio as well as protect it. Being aware of the various tips and hints that can be followed during the process of applying the stain will ensure that you achieve a decent result.
Tip #1 – Preparation
In order to ensure that the stain takes properly, it will be necessary to prepare the surface in readiness of accepting the solution. In addition to sweeping up any dirt and debris that may be present on the deck, take some time to give it a more thorough cleaning. If you do not have a pressure washer, a scrubbing brush will be sufficient. Pay particular attention to any marks on the surface as this can result in voids in the stain if they are not taken care of. If any stains have seeped into the wood of the deck, rectify this by gently resurfacing the affected sections with sandpaper. Ensure that you wipe away any resultant dust after this process before beginning to apply any stain.
Almost all Americans use household cleaning products — from dish detergents to bathroom cleaners and floor polish to scouring pads. Most of us are exposed to cleaners on a daily basis, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [source: Davies]. Even if we don’t use cleaners, it’s likely we’re regularly come into contact with them at work, school or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health and planet. Health effects associated with cleaning products include asthma, contact dermatitis, burns to the skin and eyes and inflammation or fluid in the lungs. Long-term repercussions may include reproductive problems, cancer, heart disease and other health issues.
Everything always comes back into fashion. Whether its retro clothing, vintage cars, or designer antiques, 
people love it when the past catches up to the present again. But bringing a little history into the home isn’t just limited to decorative knick-knacks and old-fashioned furniture. It can extend to the actual construction of the house as well. Reclaimed wood has become a popular way to recycle pre-existing wooden structures by incorporating them into newer homes.
Some people think that a few squeaks in a floor give a home character, to others squeaks are a major pain in the neck. If you agree with the folks who think floors just shouldn’t make any noises, you may be in luck. As long as you have access to the underside of that squeaky floor, you can probably fix your squeak. Unfortunately however, if you have finished ceilings below your squeaky floor, your chances of being able to fix it without taking on a major project are hit and miss.
Renewable flooring materials like Bamboo cost less than hardwood and look great. Bamboo grows significantly faster than hard wood so it is sustainable. Some bamboos grow to over 60 feet in just 6 months.
Question: Radiant floors are touted as saving energy, although they’re fairly expensive. A 2002 BuildingGreen.com article, Radiant-Floor Heating: When It Does-and Doesn’t-Make Sense, suggests that radiant floors aren’t necessarily a good option in passive solar or superinsulated homes. Is that still accurate today or have there been recent developments we should know about? – Cynthia Free, Portland, Oregon
Answer: Radiant-floor heating is a great heat-distribution option … for lousy houses. In new construction, I argue that it makes a lot more sense to take the $10,000 or more you would spend on a radiant floor slab and put it into the house envelope (R-40 walls, R-60 roof, R-20 foundation, triple-glazed, double-low-e windows, etc.). Get the heating load so small that just a small woodstove or electric mini-split heat pump would provide all the heat that’s needed; in a compact house you won’t even need distributed central heat. It’s not only a matter of economics, but in a superinsulated house, a radiant slab isn’t a good thermodynamic fit, because to avoid overheating the space the slab temperature has to be kept so low (just a degree or two above the air temperature) that it won’t even be warm to the touch.
Solar thermal radiant floor heating is an old idea that has been made new again. Many years ago, both the Greeks and Romans heated the floors of baths with wood fires. The concept makes perfect sense – heat rises, after all. Today, solar energy is used to heat water that runs through piping in the flooring. Floors have a thermal mass, so they act as a sort of battery, storing heat for long periods of time. Read more…
adiant heating systems involve supplying heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. The systems depend largely on radiant heat transfer: the delivery of heat directly from the hot surface to the people and objects in the room via the radiation of heat, which is also called infrared radiation. Radiant heating is the effect you feel when you can feel the warmth of a hot stovetop element from across the room. When radiant heating is located in the floor, it is often called radiant floor heating or simply floor heating. Read more…
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