Clogged overflowing gutters can lead to rotten fascia boards and even cause damage to the foundation. Clean them during dry weather starting at the downspout and working back. Wear gloves and use a gardening trowel or a scoop made from a plastic container. Rather than throwing the leaves and debris away, put them on your compost pile. After the gutters are clean, use a garden hose to wash out the inside, and check to be sure the downspouts are flowing freely.

For more detailed information on cleaning and repairing your gutters, see our article on The Trouble with Gutters.

Painting the outside of your house needs to be done regularly to provide protection for the siding and trim. A good paint job requires a lot of prep work, which is as important as the painting itself. Houses built before 1979 should be tested to see if the existing paint contains lead, since breathing or ingesting sanding dust from lead based paint can lead to lead poisoning. Regardless, always wear an approved dust mask or respirator, as well as safety glasses or goggles, when scraping or sanding paint.

Here’s how to go about it:

• Treat any mildew with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water mixed with a little detergent or TSP in a pump up sprayer. Rinse off after 10-20 minutes.
• Pressure wash the house to remove any loose paint and dirt, being careful not to damage wood siding or trim, and allow to dry thoroughly.
• Scrape the house to remove any peeling paint using a paint scraper and putty knife.
• If needed, sand the wood smooth with a rotary sander. The goal is not to remove all the paint, just the part that is loose or peeling. Feather out the edges so it looks smooth.
• Use a stain blocking primer over bare wood to prevent knots and sap from bleeding through.
• Caulk any gaps or cracks with a high quality, paintable caulking.
• Apply two top coats of a good quality exterior paint, being sure to follow the directions on the can.

For more information, check out our article on How to Paint Anything Outside.

Shrubs that are too close to your house can deflect rain onto the siding and prevent moisture from drying out. This can result in rotten wood and provide a fertile environment for mold and mildew to grow. It can also result in a termite infestation. Keep bushes trimmed back at least 12” to 18” away from your house and well back from air conditioner units.

Moving heavy boxes can be hard work, but there are some simple tricks that will save your back and make the job go much easier.

When moving a box on carpet, put a piece of heavy (6 mil) plastic sheeting under it.

Use a piece of 1” x 2” lumber as a handle by rolling it up one end of the plastic. This will keep the plastic from tearing, and make it easier to pull.

Pull the handle to drag the box easily across the floor.

To keep from scratching a smooth floor—like hardwood, vinyl, or tile—use an old blanket or moving pad to pull the box across it. Another handy moving tip is to turn a piece of furniture that has legs on its side before attempting to move it.

Most driveways and patios develop a crack or two in the concrete over the years. These can be caused by everything from tree roots and movement of the soil to freezing and thawing cycles in the winter. Rather than breaking up the slab and pouring a new one, you might want to consider repairing it using a concrete resurfacer.

Start by using a pressure washer to remove any mold, mildew, and dirt. After wetting down the slab, a special masonry cleaning solution is added to the reservoir on the pressure washer and sprayed on the surface.

Once the cleaner has been applied, a high pressure nozzle is attached to the washer and the surface is thoroughly cleaned. Be sure to clean out the cracks out as well, removing any dirt or loose concrete so the patching material will adhere to the concrete.

Next, mix up enough Quikrete® Concrete Resurfacer with water in a five-gallon bucket to fill the cracks.

A mixing paddle chucked in a ½” drill makes preparing the patching material easy.

Make the mixture a thick consistency, and pour in on the cracks.

Use a flat edge trowel to force the mixture deep into the cracks.

Then smooth out the surface.

After allowing the material to dry overnight, a much thinner batch of resurfacer is mixed up. Before applying it, wet the concrete down to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Once everything is ready, the resurfacer is spread on the slab using a rubber squeegee. Getting a nice even coat without lap mark can take a bit of practice.

When the resurfacer starts to set up, a broom with an extended handle can be used to give the fresh concrete surface texture and prevent it from becoming slippery when wet.

The resurfacer can handle foot traffic after it has set up for about six hours, and cars can drive on it once it has cured for 24 hours. It really made this patio look new again with a whole lot less work than pouring a new slab.

Since wood decks receive constant abuse from the elements, they require periodic cleaning and refinishing to protect them and keep them looking their best.

Start by applying deck cleaner to all the surfaces of the deck and railing using a pump up sprayer. Cleaners often contain strong chemicals, so be sure to read the warning on the container and protect your eyes and skin from contact.

After allowing the cleaner to work for the recommended period of time, a pressure washer is used to clean the deck. Pressure washers deliver a concentrated blast of water at anywhere from 1,000 to 3,500 pounds per square inch and may be purchased or rented at home improvement centers or rental stores.

Use care when pressure washing your deck and don’t overdo it. Pausing for too long in one spot or holding the nozzle too close to the surface can actually damage the wood. For large open areas, a deck scrubber attachment can make pressure washing even easier.

After the deck has been cleaned, it’s time to perform any necessary repairs. Wood movement caused by exposure to the sun and rain can cause nails to work their way out of the board, so drive any protruding nails flush with the surface or replace them with deck screws. Repair or replace any badly deteriorated boards and use a sander to smooth rough spots—especially railings—to prevent splinters.

Once the deck has dried thoroughly, refinish it with a tinted deck stain or clear sealer. Deck stains come in solid colors to hide the grain of the wood and semitransparent shades that allow the wood grain to show through. Since stains and sealers are much thinner than paint, they can be applied using a pump up sprayer as well.

After spraying an area, go back over it with a paintbrush while the sealer is still wet to work it into the cracks and spread the finish out evenly.

If you maintain your wood deck regularly, you’ll be rewarded with many years of service and enjoyment.

I’d like to add some extra smoke detectors to my home, but I want to make sure they’re reliable. Do I need to have them hardwired? - Amy from Ohio

Smoke alarms are one of the best safety features you can buy for your home and can be purchased for as little as $7. While smoke detectors are hardwired into houses in new construction, battery powered unit are best for existing homes. They are easy to install, but you need to remember to changes the batteries about twice a year. Install at least one smoke alarm per level of your home near the bedrooms, and another in the garage.

Interior decorator Diane Berry of Unique Designs, Inc. discusses how to work with a client to design the perfect master bedroom suite. In addition to a bed with upholstered headboard; the room will include a reading area, desk for writing, and a built-in breakfast bar.

Schluter-Ditra Tile Underlayment is a polyethylene membrane that replaces ½” cement backer board when applying tile over a plywood subfloor. At only 1/8″ thick, it can significantly reduce the finished height of a tile floor. The flexible membrane comes in rolls and weighs only two ounces per square foot. After being cut to length, it’s set in a bed of thin-set mortar then covered by another coat of thin-set in which the tiles are laid. The membrane acts as an uncoupling layer to prevent cracking as well as providing waterproofing in one easy application. It’s available at The Home Depot stores.

To make a composite deck look like new again, try cleaning it with a product specifically designed for composite decks like Corte-Clean. This eco-friendly product removes everything from mold and mildew to grease and barbecue stains, all without harmful chemicals or bleach. After mixing the concentrated liquid with warm water, spray it on and let it sit for 10 to 45 minutes. Scrub the surface if necessary then hose it off.

More information on this project can be found at (638) Today’s Addition (Part 2).