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.