Hour 1
Brick Home Update
Susie’s son has gray brick on his home, and she wants to know if they can brighten up the brick with a concrete stain. Her son does not want to paint the brick, and she wonders if the stain is a better solution.
The problem with painting brick is that it doesn’t allow the bricks to breath because it completely encapsulates them. While concrete stain might work on the mortar, it isn’t designed for bricks. A better alternative might be a limewash like Romabio which is a mineral based coating. It will provide the color change you want while still letting the bricks breath.
Flawed Floor Fix
Flaws and defects in existing concrete floors can make finishing a basement or garage difficult. Some floor coverings can mask these rough spots, but they must be corrected if you want to apply a decorative coating, paint or vinyl to the surface. Rock Patch from Daich Coatings is designed for exactly this kind of situation.
Rock Patch is a pre-mixed polymer and stone formula that is designed to fill, level, and resurface cracks, shallow holes and pitting on concrete surfaces. Because it’s pre-mixed and cement-free there’s no dusty mixing process. You apply it with a trowel or a squeegee, depending on the size of the repair area. From there it can be sealed, used as is or you can apply a paint or decorative finish over it.
Hour 2
Titebond
Adhesives and sealants are important tools for most Do-It-Yourselfers. Like most tools they are constantly changing so we asked the experts at Titebond* to tell us about what’s new.
TiteGrab Plus* is a brand-new multipurpose construction adhesive for both exterior and interior use. The immediate strength of its hold is the outstanding trait. To secure a one-pound object to a vertical wall you only need a three-inch bead of the adhesive.
The company is also introducing a new acrylic sealant called Titeshield*. Its claim to fame is its ability to withstand UV rays and stretch with building materials as they expand and contract. This makes it ideal for caulking windows and doors.
Seasonal Home Improvement
As homeowners, the chores we need to tackle change with the seasons so it’s important to stay on top of the things that need to be done now. Our 4 Seasons Fall Checklist is designed to help you take the guesswork out of the process.
Most of the items on the list cost little or nothing to do and most take only a few minutes to accomplish. With a little effort and a little time you can keep your home maintenance up to date and provide yourself some peace-of-mind.
Best New Products
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Simple Solutions
Grass Seed Spreader—To evenly spread grass seed over a small to medium size area try this trick. Find a plastic blueberry or raspberry container, the kind with small slits in the sides, and fill the container with grass seed. Now you can gently shake it over the prepared soil to easily distribute an even layer of seed.
No-Scratch Chair Legs—Folding metal chairs can scratch and gouge wood floors when the tubular metal legs cut through the protective rubber caps. To prevent this, replace the old rubber caps with new ones, but before installing them place a nickel inside each cap. Now, the end of the metal leg will rest against the nickel, not the rubber cap.
