Clean Water Treatment

Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category

Building concrete steps
Concrete stairs will be the most efficient and cost effective way of getting in or leaving a multi-story home or building since they require the least amount of upkeep, and if cracks develop, it is fairly inexpensive to repair them. They are made by first building a frame out of wood, putting gravel in the filler space and then filling the wooden frame with cement. Learning how to construct them is a skill worth knowing, regardless that the work itself might be strenuous and physically draining. This is the list of materials and tools you will need in order to finish the project: a tamper, a shovel, concrete mix, half-inch plywood, a finishing trowel and an edge trowel, 2-by-4 lumber, a hammer, cooking spray. A wheelbarrow will be needed for preparing the concrete, or you could rent a portable cement mixer. In order to avoid potential dangers such as the buildup of water, which will make them slippery or icy, you will want to make sure the steps are leveled and surfaced properly. In case you decide to paint them, only special kinds of paint should be used for these purposes, and slip-proof paint is the type generally recommended.

Protecting your home’s concrete
The ideal concrete sealers are produced out of epoxy resins which water-proof the surfaces of driveways, patios, floors and counter-tops as well. To prevent the progress of advanced water damage you need to frequently check out all the concrete structures around your house and seal them if necessary. When the cracks are major it may not be enough to put on a sealer, as you could be looking at serious structural problems that will involve an inspection by a professional. Putting a sealant on a garage floor or kitchen countertop will prepare that surface for simpler cleaning. It could require a week to apply and dry two or three coats of sealant, but after that there is not much maintenance required and it’s a job that almost everyone can do. If your house has a basement it is especially important to seal small cracks so that you can stop mold from establishing a presence in your home.

Decorating your concrete
No matter if you’ve just poured a concrete slab or your concrete is decades old you can produce an excellent look by treating it with an acid wash. As the metallic salts in the acid stains interact with the lime component in concrete it creates gorgeous, permanent colors that never chip, peel or fade. The most commonplace decorative acid stains are different versions of blue-green, black and brown but other more vivid colors are also on the market. Acid stains on fresh concrete will produce a different look than on older concrete, which is actually the optimum surface. Depending on the acid wash you choose you will create looks similar to marble, wood or natural stone. The concrete floors in your house or outside can be turned into objects of beauty, whether it is the floor of your livingroom or the patio in the back where you have your barbecues. Whether or not you have the tools and skills to apply an acid wash, you can at least prepare the concrete by cleaning off all the grease, dirt and dust. Once the surface is prepared the concrete stain is put on either with a sprayer or a paint brush but both of those methods require skill and are typically best left to a licensed contractor.