The Art of Power Washing Siding
October 30, 2005
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by homeowners and contractors are:
Trying to remove the powdery coating called oxidation on aluminum siding. Removing this coating can cause discoloration and in some cases cause the siding to look like a completely different color. Using too much pressure can also force water up behind the siding where it will cause mildew behind the siding or in some cases, blow the siding off the house!
Washing the house from the top down or letting chemicals dry on the house, which may leave streaks on the siding.
Using a ladder to clean the upper areas of a house can result in serious injuries and death from slipping off the ladder. These are the types of mishaps that many people have when attempting to do a quick power washing of their home. If you decide to use a power washer on your home, here are some general guidelines to use.
Make sure the machine your using puts out a minimum of 4 gallons of water per minute and less than 1000 PSI.
Most homeowners will buy a machine from a hardware store that puts out 1,000 PSI but only uses 2 gallons per minute of water. While this machine may work, it will triple the amount of time to do the job properly. Be careful if your making your own house washing chemicals. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia can create a poisonous gas.
We suggest that home owners buy a siding wash that’s available in most hardware stores and follow the manufactures guidelines for the product. Leave the stronger agents to the pro’s or you may end up removing the paint along with the dirt!
The best way to clean siding is by using a power washer that has a chemical injector built into the machine. Using a chemical injector will allow you to pull the soap from the container, mixing it in the machine with water and spray it onto the house using low pressure starting from the bottom up. Make sure when using a power washer that you don’t shoot water or chemicals up under the siding, this can cause significant mold problems behind your siding.
Allow the chemical to dwell on the siding, then using low pressure, rinse the product from the siding. Make sure when your rinsing the product off the siding that you start at one end of the siding all the way to the end. Do not stop or vary your distance from the siding, or it will cause the surface to be cleaned un-evenly.
If your siding has small black dots that do not come off during cleaning but can be scraped off using your finger nail. You probably have artillery fungus on your siding. This can not be removed from the siding without causing damage. For more information on Artillery fungus, see the Artillery fungus page.
If you decide this project is more than you want to handle on your own, we would be happy to tell you how to do the job safely and correctly or to find a reputable and experienced company. Just give us a call.
Henry Bockman
President, Henry’s Housework Inc.
MHIC # 65039 Licensed, bonded and insured.
www.Henryshousework.com
301 353 9287
Henry Bockman has provided power washing, gutter cleaning, roof repairs and deck restoration services to over 10,000 commercial and residential clients for over 16 years.
Henry Bockman is currently the Maryland PWNA chapter president, serves on the Board of Directors for the National organization The Power Washers of North America and is also the Chairman for the Clean Across America campaign which he helped create in 2004. For more information on Henry Bockman and his company, Henry’s Housework, visit the website at http://www.henryshousework.com
Creative And Inexpensive Gift Ideas
October 30, 2005
I have a friend who works at a loan company. She starts getting busy around August — because her offices are flooded with people taking out loans for their holiday shopping. And she stays busy well into the new year — because a huge percentage of those people default on their loans. Why do we feel compelled to go so deeply in DEBT buying gifts? It seems as though every year the bar is raised — we are expected to spend more and more.
And where does all this spending get us? I can’t tell you how many of my organizing clients have literally piles of old Christmas gifts buried in their closets — items for which they really have no use, but feel guilty about cleaning out. I’m pretty sure that the holidays are not supposed to be about debt, guilt, and clutter! But you can also take steps on the “giving” side to make the holiday less stressful — for both you and the recipient:
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS PER PERSON
Some families feel like they need to have lots of presents under the tree for it to be a happy holiday. We finally had to ask our family to stop loading us down with a lot of “stuff” each year (although in much nicer terms!) We have limited our giving to one gift per person. And it’s made such a positive impact (less pressure, stress, and expense) that no one complains about having less to open on Christmas morning!
DRAW A NAME
I learned this technique from a big family (we’re talking 12 kids plus grandkids and extended family!) that couldn’t afford to buy gifts for everyone. Each year, they all put names in a hat — everyone pulls a name and buys a gift for that one person. That way, everyone gets a gift, and no one has to feel strapped during the holidays. then they plan a big party on Christmas morning where everyone opens their gifts.
FOOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT GIFT
Food is a great option — especially when you like to give a little something to everyone you know. Bake a huge batch of cookies or make sausage balls — or even the dreaded fruitcake (it’s actually pretty good when it’s homemade!) Then wrap a small bundle in colored cellophane and top with a bow. It’s festive, it’s inexpensive, it comes from the heart, it will eventually disappear (reducing clutter) — and everyone loves to eat!
MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS
Gift baskets have become the hip and happening gift over the last few years. You can customize the contents to the recipient’s interests and hobbies. But paying a gift basket company to put one together for you can cost more than a traditional store-bought gift. I will shop sales throughout the year finding neat little “gizmos” that would go well in a gift basket — a kitchen tool for my sister who loves to cook or something “cow” themed for my friend — and stash them away until the holidays. I also look for practical (a colander) or funky (a cow-shaped cookie jar) containers to use in place of the basket. The result is a gift that I had fun putting together, that really means something to the recipient, and that costs less than looks like it should!
GIVE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN A THING
You don’t always have to give “stuff” when a gifting occasion comes around. Some of the best presents I have ever received were events rather than “things.” And they don’t have to be expensive — one memorable gift for me was a day out with my friends at a state park (hiking, canoeing, and a picnic lunch). You can build some great memories, spend some quality time — and you don’t have to worry about your gift getting dusty or broken!
GIVE A HANDMADE GIFT
Handmade gifts have gotten a bad rap in the past — as being cheesy or poorly made. But you can put together some pretty cool handmade gifts. At least half of my Christmas decorations are made by someone in my family — and I get compliments each year on how nice they look. With craft stores springing up in abundance around the country, you can find tons of great high-quality, low-cost gift ideas. Handmade gifts have a “homey” feel that bought presents often lack — and you get the satisfaction of knowing that you created it yourself. And if you really want to turn on the old heart light, give a gift that one of your kids made!
GIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE
Gift certificates have also gotten a bad reputation — you couldn’t think of anything else, so you got a gift certificate. I happen to think that gift certificates are an excellent option, because it allows the person to get what they really WANT or NEED. And your gift certificates don’t have to be store-bought. You can give gift certificates for chores or events — babysitting or a night on the town. I recently gave a friend of mine a gift certificate for a day of horseback riding and sushi (?!) — two things her husband doesn’t care for — and she loved it.
MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION
This gift shows the real spirit of the season. You can choose from a variety of non-profit organizations — from adopting a whale to planting a tree to making a contribution to the Kidney Foundation. And hopefully your selflessness and concern for those around you will inspire others to do the same.
GIVE A PIECE OF NOSTALGIA
One year, I made photo albums for my sisters. I gathered up pictures of our parents and grandparents, them as children, family events we had attended together, and important moments in their lives. It was simple and inexpensive and I had a nice trip down memory lane putting it together. And I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten a better response to a Christmas gift. Anything that reminds people of the “good old days” is always well-received.
Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com — a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the “Get Organized” and “Organized For A Living” newsletters. Please visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information.
Raising a Self-Sufficient Teen
October 30, 2005
Teens don’t learn responsibility overnight. If you haven’t been working with your teen on gradually giving them a sense of independence and ownership of their lives, then you’re going to have your work cut out for you. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
By the time your children are in high school, they should be doing for themselves a lot of the things you’ve been doing for them all of their lives. What does your teen do when they have a problem? Run to you? Or try to solve his/her own problem, maybe coming to you for advice when they’ve exhausted their own resources?
I don’t know about you, but I want my daughter to be self-sufficient when she heads off to college. I want her to be able to choose her own friends, manage her own expenses, be up to the challenge of solving everyday problems in an effective and positive manner, and generally get her adult life off to a good start.
Sound difficult? Not if you start out with the small things. My teen told me most of her friends don’t even know where their moms do their grocery shopping. I couldn’t believe it. My daughter is involved with planning our meals (it’s in her interest if she wants a say in what we’re having to eat), and she goes to the grocery store with me every single week and helps me mark each item off the list. She reads labels, compares prices, and tells me when she thinks I’m spending too much money on something. And why does she care how much money I spend you might ask? Because our family’s finances are tight, and she knows that any money we save at the grocery store our family will be able to spend somewhere else. What a great life lesson.
Because our family’s finances are tight, my daughter has also learned how to budget. She is not directly involved in our financial planning, but she sees me making our budget and deciding the way we spend our family’s money. She knows that when more money than expected has to be spent in a certain area, that something else has to give. She knows that money doesn’t grow on trees. She’s started to budget her own money–tithing, spending some, and saving some.
A lot of my daughter’s friends wear expensive designer clothes. She knows we can’t afford to buy clothes like that for her, so we frequent local thrift and clothing consignment stores, shop bargain sales, and do a lot of yard saling. Sure, I wish I could spend more money on her clothes, but she still finds much of the same designer clothing her friends wear. Other friends are jealous of the good buys she finds. When my daughter grows up part of me hopes she can afford nicer things for herself. But deep down, I’m grateful for the life lessons she’s learning. Whether she has money or not, she will never want for anything because she knows how to get by no matter what her circumstances.
You might think your teen would think it a chore to go grocery shopping and shopping for second-hand clothing. My daughter doesn’t look at it that way. Partly she’s bored and wants to get out of the house, but going through these daily routines together is much of the time we spend together, hanging out and talking about other things on her mind. More than half of the time we spend in deep discussion takes place in the car driving from one place to another. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.
I’m not worried about whether or not my daughter is going to be able to take care of herself when she goes off to college. I’m certain she’ll be up to the challenge.
A freshman in high school this year, she has four more years to practice before she’s on her own. She cooks dinner once a week or so, does some of the laundry, and helps clean up after our pets keep the house clean. At her age, homework is most important to us and that takes priority over other things, so we don’t overload her with chores, but my main concern is that she knows HOW to do these things. Especially with something like cooking it takes time to learn some of these skills. And if you don’t have enough patience to help them learn something like how to cook, then let them learn through trial and error. Let them cook what they want to cook and let them even go buy the groceries to make it.
Let your teens schedule their own appointments and make other phone calls you normally make for them. I think everyone has a little fear of the phone at first, but after the first few times they’ll enjoy the responsibility they’ve earned.
And did you notice what effect these changes will have on your life? Less responsibility and demands on you! It’s a little hard to let go at first and you might have to take baby steps in handing over the reigns a little, but you’ll be so proud of your teen the first time they take initiative on their own. When they leave home you’ll worry less and know it was a job well done.
About The Author
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit her web sites at http://www.creativehomemaking.com and http://www.christian-parent.com
The Art of Power Washing Decks
October 30, 2005
Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started banning the use of pressure treated wood due to chromated copper arsenate (CCA), most people have decided to seal their wood decks as the EPA suggests to prevent the arsenic from leaching into the soil. Most homeowners use local companies to pressure wash their decks and siding to save valuable time and the expense of rental equipment and some prefer to do the job themselves on a hot summer day. If you decide to hire a contractor to perform the work for you, there are a lot of important questions you need to ask before you should allow them to work on your home. First, make sure the company your hiring has the experience and the right equipment to perform the job properly, using more than 1,000 PSI or less than 4gpm can cause damage to wood. In Maryland, your also required to have a Maryland Home Improvement License (MHIC) for sealing decks or any repairs and it must be listed in all advertising and vehicles.
Make sure that any contractor you hire has a copy of this license and a long history of performing work in the area also; check them out with The Better Business Bureau. Another way to protect yourself is to use a company with certifications and affiliations in their industry like The Power Washers of North America.
The PWNA is the recognized leader in developing and communicating the highest standards in ethical business practices, environmental awareness, and safety through continuing education and active representation of the membership. PWNA educated and trained contractors raise the level of professionalism and value to their customers, and run a National Clean Across American project from July 24th-31st for various charities. For information about this project see their website at www.pwna.org
Unfortunately, many homeowners have tried using an unlicensed or inexperienced contractor offering a lower price, in some cases this may end up with the job uncompleted or worse, done improperly causing thousands of dollars in damage.
It will cost more time and money to find the right contractor for you but it could cost far more, to hire a company without the proper experience or to do the job yourself. For example, most people don’t know that using household bleach to remove the mold and mildew from your deck will actually damage the woods lignin fibers. Or that too much pressure can also damage the woods surface and cause it to splinter or fur. To many companies have decided they could tackle it without the proper training and with most machines putting out an average of 3,000 PSI it can be dangerous to the operator and your property. Properly learning the techniques and training for cleaning wood takes time, training and a long-term investment, each deck or house is different and they all require special attention. First you have to find out if there is an existing sealer or stain on the deck and how to remove it properly. Very similar to painting, deck sealers and preservatives won’t properly adhere to a wood surface that has an existing sealer on it.
First this product must be removed from the deck using a stripping agent and you must take steps to ensure that the stripping agent will not harm the plants or siding on the home. Most deck stripping agents have a sodium hydroxide base that will remove the existing sealer or stain and then it can be washed off with a pressure washer using a maximum of 1,000 PSI. When using a pressure washer you must clean with the grain of the wood the entire length of the board. By varying your distance from the wood or not going with the grain you may cause marks and discoloration in the surface. If done carefully, this will leave you with a clean surface for the next step.
Now that you have used a deck stripper to remove the last sealer, the surface must be neutralized so the sealer will absorb and adhere to the wood. Wood and other surfaces can be neutralized using citric or oxalic acid to bring them to a neutral Ph level, Oxalic acid will also remove tannin or leaf stains and also those iron or rust stains from rusting furniture. Now your wood surface is ready to be sealed and there are many other options to consider. The various sealers can be confusing to some but it’s important to use a product that has ultraviolet protection from the suns rays. Most sealers have some UV protection, various oils to moisturize the wood and mildew prevention to fight the growth of mildew and mold. The best UV protection can be found in sealers that contain a pigment or stain, almost all of these products form a film on the woods surface, that may wear off with foot traffic or pets, they are semi-transparent allowing the woods natural grain to show while adding a tint of color to the surface. They will also help blend the over all color of the wood if some of your lumber has a different shade than others.
You can also use products with solid colors, which don’t allow the natural wood grain to show through and in most cases they usually appear to be painted when completed. Then there are preservative-based deck sealers that will penetrate into the wood. These products come in clear and different stain colors and they tend to last the longer because they penetrate into the wood. This allows the oils in the sealer to penetrate into the wood, which keep the wood from dry rotting, cracking, and also blocks the suns UV rays. These preservative sealers will hold up twice as long as the surface film forming agents and they will extend the life of the wood.
Henry Bockman
President, Henry’s Housework Inc.
MHIC#65039 Licensed, bonded and insured.
www.Henryshousework.com
301 353 9287
Henry Bockman has provided power washing, gutter cleaning, roof repairs and deck restoration services to over 10,000 commercial and residential clients for over 16 years.
Henry Bockman is currently the Maryland PWNA chapter president, serves on the Board of Directors for the National organization The Power Washers of North America and is also the Chairman for the Clean Across America campaign which he helped create in 2004. For more information on Henry Bockman and his company, Henry’s Housework, visit the website at http://www.henryshousework.com
Set Positive Goals And Strive To Achieve Them
October 30, 2005
On 31st January 2005, two students from my martial arts school took tests to gain important qualifications in the modern martial art of Choikwangdo.
Choikwangdo is a martial art which concentrates on self-defence, health and success in general. It was founded in 1987 by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mick was testing for blackbelt and Nicky was testing for second degree blackbelt.
Both had been training for years to reach these goals. They had passed one smaller grading after another until they were near the top of the ladder ready to take a big step to a new level.
They had a deadline every one or two months to aim at when the next minor grading would take place. The reward of passing the grading and the fear of failing it also pushed them on.
The standard martial arts escalator of reaching one belt after another is a powerful and systematic motivator.
Both Mick and Nicky were role models to everyone in the way they achieved their goals.
After Christmas they stepped up their training to the point where they were oblivious of all else except what they needed to know for the big test.
They attended all the available lessons and spent most of those single-mindedly focusing on their test syllabus. One of the top instructors, John, spent hours teaching and helping them both.
Mick and Nicky both showed a quiet but unstoppable determination in the actual test.
At one point Mick hit one of the focus mitts or pads which are used as a target with the weaker part of his hand and dislocated his little finger.
It was sticking out at an angle which made most people gasp in horror. Mick was concentrating so much on achieving his black belt that he did not hesitate for a moment. He rushed over to me, held out his hand and said
‘Go for it’.
I was as stunned as anyone else by the dislocation but under the influence of his confidence that I could put things right, grabbed his hand and yanked his little finger away from the rest of his hand for about a quarter of an inch (in the direction it was now pointing) and then relaxed my grip.
Mercifully, his finger popped back into place and he continued with his grading without batting an eyelid. Two of the other blackbelts thoughtfully bandaged his injured finger to another finger so that he would be less likely to damage it again.
Both Mick and Nicky were exhausted by the end of the grading but their determination and desire to achieve their goals carried them through.
Their friends in the class gave them continuous encouragement as well and a standing ovation when they achieved their first and second degree blackbelts.
The first line of the pledge in Choikwangdo is:
“To set positive goals and strive to achieve them.”
Both Mick and Nicky achieved their goals by first having a keen desire to reach the prestigious award of a blackbelt and, in Nicky’s case, a second degree blackbelt.
They then reached these awards through:
? A clear vision of what they wanted
? Belief that they could achieve their goals
? Monthly and two monthly deadlines in which to achieve the next step on the ladder
? Regular training and grading which built up their momentum and confidence step by step
? Long hours of consistent preparation with others and on their own
? A lazer like focus on what they needed to know and do.
? A ferocious determination to keep going whatever happened.
? The encouragement and support of their friends and instructors
The attitudes and attributes shown by Nicky and Mick can be seen in martial arts classes all over the world.
They can of course be applied to achieving any goal in life and the first line of the Choikwangdo pledge (mentioned above) provides a great mission statement for anyone, whether they are a martial artist or not.
“To set positive goals and strive to achieve them”
Resource box:
John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams. They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.
The title of the first book is “36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now!” The book can be found at this URL http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php
You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine so long as you do not alter it and keep the resource box as it is.
17 Tips For Getting Balloons to Last Longer in Hot Weather
October 30, 2005
In warm weather, latex balloons will typically only last outside for a day. As you know, sun, wind and heat will biodegrade the latex. With that said, however, there are tricks you can do to raise your odds of getting them to last more than a day outside.
1) Use only high quality balloons like Qualatex. I’ve also heard that some people have used Bellatex and Tilly balloons with some success. Quality makes a huge difference.
2) Avoid using latex balloons whenever possible. After a few days outside, we have seen them completely disintegrate when touched.
3) Qualatex’ Polyurethane Duo balloons are designed for outdoor use. They will last longer and look better for extended outdoor use than any latex or foil balloon. They are a bit more pricey but can really take away the headache of shrinking and disintegrating balloons. For larger Duo balloons like 18″, it may be cost effective to rent them. The Duo balloons can also be used to leverage small latex balloons. Underinflate your smaller latex balloons and use the lift power of the big balloon to raise them.
4) Always underinflate to allow balloons to expand when absorbing heat. We’ve found the method that works best is to over-inflate the balloon and then release air until the balloon is slightly underinflated. This helps the balloon to breathe and expand more easily, and it is not as brittle. Underinflating does little good unless you overinflate first.
5) Use balloons two sizes larger than you would normally use.
6) Inflating balloons with the same temperature air as they will encounter outdoors can actually help to retain their shape better.
7) Helium does not work well outdoors in the heat. If you need to use helium-filled latex, try to use large balloons like 24″ and inflate to only around 16″. Over- inflate with air first, release the air and then re-inflate with helium. You don’t want to waste your helium when you pre-inflate.
8) After your balloons are inflated, consider applying a product called “Balloon Shine.” It can protect your latex balloons from the sun’s UV rays. It’s best to experiment with this days before to see if it will work.
9) While Hi-Float is used to make balloons float longer, it is not generally meant for outside use. If you want your balloons to float longer outside, you should plan on doing daily touch-up work to your balloon arrangements. Be sure to include this in your budget.
10) Balloons simply will not last outdoors overnight. As the cold air shrinks the balloons and then they expand in the sun the next day, they will pop like crazy. This can be avoided by simply bringing all balloons indoors in the evening.
11) Use white balloons as much as possible. They reflect the sun and fade less.
12) Avoid darker balloons. They will absorb heat and pop faster. If you need darker colors in your balloon decor, use ribbons to accent in a darker color.
13) Keep in mind that extreme heat speeds up the balloon leakage process. So, in temperatures close to 100 degrees, the helium will escape much faster, drastically reducing float time. If you can find a way to shade balloons, it can slow the process, somewhat.
14) Do not use water to cool down balloons. As the water dries on the latex, it becomes slightly sticky. Balloons can stick together causing them to pop as balloons they expand in the heat.
15) Mylar foil balloons last longer outdoors than latex. Just allow for normal expansion and shrinkage. The downside is that in the hot sun the foil will not hold its color or sheen. There will be a noticable difference by the end of the day.
16) Whenever possible, use some kind of framework to give your balloon decor structure that can withstand wind and heat. This can also be helpful for helium-filled balloons that will lose float time in the heat.
17) We’ve found that if balloons are going to pop in the heat and sun, the will usually do so within the first hour. So, you’ll have a pretty good indication of whether it will work if you set up early.
While it can be difficult to do balloon decor outdoors in the heat, it is certainly not impossible. Just use the above tips to greatly improve your odds.
Passionate about advertising balloons, Kathryn Parisse is editor of The Balloon Newsletter. Subscribe and get answers to all your balloon decor, twisting, and advertising questions at aBalloonaDay.com.
