It’s that time of year…the sounds of baseball, birds chirping in the air, a leisurely walk through the park with your family. It’s all just around the corner.

Many people begin to think about outdoor projects, like deck restoration. Most decks need to be stained roughly every 2 years. There is just no way around it. From the wind, the rain, and the snow to all the foot traffic; decks take a beating all year long.

Many people have heard pressure washing a deck is bad. Well, this can be true. Many people don’t realize what a pressure washer can do. Using the red nozzle from the pressure washer to clean your deck will look like Zorro came over for the family barbecue and had a run in with old arch enemy.

Deck Cleaning should be done using about 800 psi or less. Start about 3 feet away from the board, and gradually work yourself closer to the board so you can gauge the effectiveness of the cleaning. Remember, always go with the grain.

Popularity: 57% [?]

Whether you just built your home and want to decorate, or if you have owned your home for years, now it is time to choose area rugs to accent your home. With the many styles to choose from it can be difficult trying to decide on that one perfect piece of perfection.

Looking for the right rug is not rocket science. Know what your decorating style is for a particular room. Keep that information in mind when looking at various area rugs.  Oriental rugs can be used in a variety of different rooms. If you have an old world-style, French, or English country room these are the perfect places to place an oriental rug.

If your room is more of the modern taste you may consider looking into manmade rugs with an exotic design. In cottage, American country and garden-style rooms you can consider using a hooked rug or a rage rug. When selecting the right rug, remember it is as much inspiration as it is perspiration. Figure out what you want in a rug and then go look for it - it’s there waiting for you to find it!

Popularity: 77% [?]

What is the best Replacement Window?  This depends on the homeowner’s needs as well as their location. Replacement Windows in Illinois, which is our territory, should have good insulating properties to ward off exterior elements. Winters can be pretty brutal here so your home replacement windows must have appropriate insulating glass requirements to withstand these extreme temperatures. 

Triple pane can bring in the best energy ratings in windows. The replacement windows should also be insulated in the frames if homeowner selects vinyl windows, which would otherwise be hollow in the chambers. Therefore this combination of of good thermal performance in the glass and window frame can battle these temperature extremes in regions similar to Illinois.

So How about the cost of replacement windows? Well this depends on some of the above insulating glass options as well as the type and brand of tour replacement window. In regards to the glass options a triple pane window with Krypton glass and low e, which is the most energy efficient choice available, is usually costs around 20% more then the double pane low e argon selection. Normally if the homeowner is staying in their home more than 5 years the investment can be recouped.

The other main factor in replacement window cost is the type or brand of the replacement window. Wood windows can cost upwards of 40% more than vinyl windows because they usually have to be custom made which drives up the price. It seems that a vinyl replacement window with a high performance glass package such as triple pane along with insulated frames would be the best value for the consumers searching for replacement windows in Illinois.

Popularity: 92% [?]

Can a pressure washer really damage your home or property? The answer is that a pressure washer can absolutely do damage if not used properly. The most common occurrence of damage is caused by using too much water pressure. Most people believe that high pressure is what does the cleaning after all it is called a pressure washer.

The truth is that most pressure washers, even the consumer grade washers sold at the big box stores, simply put out too much pressure for pressure washing decks and most other exterior cleaning projects around the home. The exception would be concrete but care still must be taken to avoid damage.

The proper way to clean a deck or your homes siding is by relying on the appropriate cleaners to do most of the work so that high pressure is not necessary. Too much pressure can force water behind vinyl siding which can cause water damage. On a wooden deck, excessive pressure can easily fur the wood leaving unsightly wand marks and scars which will show through the sealer and take away from the beauty of the deck.

High pressure should never be used on asphalt shingles, doing so will remove the granules and lessen the longevity of the roof. If you are not experienced using a power washer it may be best to hire a professional cleaning company to do the work for you, just make sure they use low pressure methods.

Popularity: 100% [?]