Power washing or pressure washing services are widely accepted and are popular among home owners today. Pressure washing services for home owners include whole house washing, concrete cleaning, deck maintenance, wood home restoration and low pressure roof cleaning to name a few.
Other services can include heavy equipment washing, truck fleet washing, car washing and detailing, building washing, paint prepping and other commercial and industrial services. Pressure washing as become so popular that many companies have become more specialized in a few of the services available, which is good news for the home owner.
It's always better to find a specialist in a service of interest as opposed to a jack of all trades type of company. Pressure cleaning is a proven way to increase your homes curb appeal which has been documented by the president of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers to increase the value of your home.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Garden Style Kitchen Windows
The Garden Window is growing in popularity for a Kitchen Window. These windows extend out approximately 18 inches past the wall giving the homeowner extra space and depth perception. The home garden window also increases your energy efficiency with dual or triple glazing options. They come with casement windows as the vents on the side and picture windows in the middle and roof sections. These are usually a vinyl replacement window with a few different color options available. The seat and side profile is commonly birch or oak veneer. The kitchen garden window is a great option for simultaneously increasing space while decreasing fuel bills.
Another great kitchen window idea would be installing a bay window. You need a minimum of 48 inches in width for most manufacturers to make this window. The kitchen bay window similarly uses a birch or oak veneer seat and side while extending out approximately 24 inches. The side vents can be either casement windows or double hung replacement windows. The middle window is standard as a picture window. The bay windows usually have a 45 or 33-degree angle. They have to be finished off on the exterior with a roof.
The final selection for kitchen windows is the double hung or casement windows. The double hung is usually installed over the sink like garden windows. These window slide up and down for ventilation and tilt in for cleaning. Conversely, the casement window cranks out to 90 degrees for air and the homeowner can clean by sticking their hand out on either side of window. The screens are on the inside of the casement window while the double hung has the screen on the outside.
In the suburbs of Chicago Skokie replacement windows have mostly casements windows above their sinks. Evanston replacement windows near Skokie we have installed more double hung vinyl replacement windows.
Another great kitchen window idea would be installing a bay window. You need a minimum of 48 inches in width for most manufacturers to make this window. The kitchen bay window similarly uses a birch or oak veneer seat and side while extending out approximately 24 inches. The side vents can be either casement windows or double hung replacement windows. The middle window is standard as a picture window. The bay windows usually have a 45 or 33-degree angle. They have to be finished off on the exterior with a roof.
The final selection for kitchen windows is the double hung or casement windows. The double hung is usually installed over the sink like garden windows. These window slide up and down for ventilation and tilt in for cleaning. Conversely, the casement window cranks out to 90 degrees for air and the homeowner can clean by sticking their hand out on either side of window. The screens are on the inside of the casement window while the double hung has the screen on the outside.
In the suburbs of Chicago Skokie replacement windows have mostly casements windows above their sinks. Evanston replacement windows near Skokie we have installed more double hung vinyl replacement windows.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Deck Cleaners The Myths and Truths
Deck Cleaners The Myths and Truths
Deck cleaning is surrounded by myth. The big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s cater to a mass market. The deck cleaners that are sold in these stores almost always contain sodium hypochlorite better known by its common name, household bleach. There is a problem that arises when using sodium hypochlorite. When wood decks are constantly exposed to bleach, they degrade. The lignin in the wood gets broken down and is washed away. In addition, this type of deck cleaner leaves an unnatural whitening to the wood’s surface. If you apply a stain or pigmented sealer after cleaning you can end up with a blotchy finish.
A true professional deck contractor will use deck cleaning products that contain sodium percarbonate. This mild chemical agent is the precursor to sodium hydroxide and is contained in the brand name product OxyClean™. OxyClean by itself is not a perfect wood cleaner. It contains too many fillers and byproducts. Products that contain sodium percarbonate will effectively kill mold spores. The oxygenating power of the chemical will bring dirt to the surface. Percarbonate is also an good emulsifier of oil based stains.
After the deck cleaning process is complete a wood professional will usually pH balance the deck with a brightener. Brighteners are acidic and help to bring the wood back to its natural balance. This also creates an uninhabitable environment for mold re-growth. Stain finishes will now get a better “bite” and will last longer.
Deck cleaning is surrounded by myth. The big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s cater to a mass market. The deck cleaners that are sold in these stores almost always contain sodium hypochlorite better known by its common name, household bleach. There is a problem that arises when using sodium hypochlorite. When wood decks are constantly exposed to bleach, they degrade. The lignin in the wood gets broken down and is washed away. In addition, this type of deck cleaner leaves an unnatural whitening to the wood’s surface. If you apply a stain or pigmented sealer after cleaning you can end up with a blotchy finish.
A true professional deck contractor will use deck cleaning products that contain sodium percarbonate. This mild chemical agent is the precursor to sodium hydroxide and is contained in the brand name product OxyClean™. OxyClean by itself is not a perfect wood cleaner. It contains too many fillers and byproducts. Products that contain sodium percarbonate will effectively kill mold spores. The oxygenating power of the chemical will bring dirt to the surface. Percarbonate is also an good emulsifier of oil based stains.
After the deck cleaning process is complete a wood professional will usually pH balance the deck with a brightener. Brighteners are acidic and help to bring the wood back to its natural balance. This also creates an uninhabitable environment for mold re-growth. Stain finishes will now get a better “bite” and will last longer.
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