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.

Insulated Replacement Windows

How Well Insulated Are Replacement Windows?

Windows and doors account for 50% of your homes heat loss! Buying new windows can be a challenge if you don’t know how to tell them apart. Windows are measured in their center and assigned a “R-Value”. A single pane (piece of glass) has a R-Value of 1 and a simple double pane window has a R-Value of 2. When you add a layer of Low E glass the rating jumps to 2.8 and if you add Argon gas the number jumps to a 3.6. A triple pane window with Argon gas brings the number up to 4.3. A window with E-Max glass tops the ratings with a R-Value of 9!

Can you image how much warmer your home would feel with replacement windows that insulate as well as your walls? Changing your windows from single pane to the triple pane E-Max windows can cut your heating bill by as much as 30% or more. In the MA & RI area FHI Windows is the only window company that sells the E-Max windows. If you live in another area you can contact FHI Windows and they will put you in contact with a local dealer.

Hiring an Exterior Cleaning Contractor

Choosing the right exterior cleaning contractor is not easy when you are bombarded with false advertising, misleading claims, and confusing information. Here are a few mistakes to avoid when choosing an exterior cleaning professional.
1. Choosing a company without testimonials. Any reputable company, with a good customer base, should have customer testimonials. If their clients are not saying good things about them, how can you expect good results?
2. Choosing a contractor based on low price. If you choose a company based only on price, it may be because you had nothing else to base your decision on. There are better things to base your buying decision on when it comes to protecting your investment. Professionalism, quality, knowledge, appearance, perceived value, and customer service are all things that should be considered when choosing a power washing contractor. Moreover, some companies market strategy is to bid low to get the job, they are then forced to cut corners and sacrifice quality in order to turn a profit.
3. Choosing a contractor whom does not offer a power washing guarantee. Why should you have to pay for a job that you are not satisfied with? Not all power washing companies offer a guarantee. If they do, the guarantee may be limited. Ask the company if they offer a money back guarantee, and then make sure they include it on the written estimate.

Doing a little research and asking the right questions will allow you to choose the right contractor for the job and avoid any unwanted problems.

Vinyl Siding Contractor

MR Siding Inc., is now online and ready for internet traffic. Our new vinyl siding website is full of information on the different types, styles and colors of siding that are usually hard to find online. We have detailed information on Certainteed, Alcoa, Crane and Heartland vinyl siding and will soon add information about vinyl replacement windows and roofing products.

We welcome everyone looking for information on vinyl siding to visit our new site and if you are a North Carolina resident, feel free to request an estimate to have one of our sales associates visit you and expain all of the options that are available with vinyl siding.

Thanks and visit us frequently for updates and lots of information of various home impovement tips for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) enthusiest.