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Home Improvement

How To Resurface A Pool

Swimming pool surfaces deteriorate over time and you need to refinish your pool to keep it looking new and beautiful. You hire a pool contractor to resurface your pool. However, if you’re a DIYer, keep reading to learn how to resurface your pool.

When To Resurface Your Swimming Pool?

You may need to resurface your concrete pool every eight years. However, if you notice some deterioration signs like surface stains, cracks, coarse texture, loss of pebbles, and discoloration, you can schedule a pool to refinish sooner.

Step By Step Instructions For Resurfacing A Swimming Pool

Before starting, create an estimate of the project’s cost. Prepare a list of the items you need and go to a store where you can check the cost of all the items.

Prepare The Area

You will need to clear the area surrounding the pool. You should remove furniture from the patio and near the pool, electronics, and other pool accessories. Use weather-resistant dropcloths in the area surrounding the pool to avoid dust and stains.

Moreover, while the pool is filled with water, check all the features of the pool to make sure they are functional. For instance, if a filter is faulty, you should repair or replace it first before going ahead with pool resurfacing.

Drain The Pool

From the central pump of your pool, change the settings to drain so it drains the pool water. If the pool pump is not accessible or not working, you can use a small submersible pump to force water out of the pool.

Repair Damages

Get inside the empty pool and look for cracks and crumbling, and other types of damage. If there are a few small areas that need patching, you should do. However, if you see any part of the pool that appears as a bigger problem, you should let a contractor inspect the pool to advise what you should do about it.

Clean The Pool

For cleaning the pool, you should first remove things like leaves and stones by hand. After that, go ahead with pressure washing the entire pool surface. This should remove stains, mineral deposits, algae, and other things.

Keep in mind that you must be thorough with the cleaning because even if a small amount of dust or debris is left, it can cause problems in refinishing the pool.

Strip The Existing Materials

For plaster, fiberglass, and composite surfaces, you should use the method of sandblasting. Make sure to wear safety gear during this operation.

After completing the process, use a vacuum to remove dust and debris. After this, remove the clothes you used during sandblasting and take them to an area somewhere else where you can easily clean them.

Keep A Check On The Weather

For the project to go well, you should select days when there is no possibility of precipitation and gusty winds. This is because the materials you’ll use for resurfacing require some time to dry up and rain or wind can hurt that.

Select The Materials

There are many options for surfacing materials. To keep it simple, you can choose a plaster or fiberglass finish. They are also cost-effective.

For choosing a finish, choose a long-lasting one such as pebble, concrete, ceramic tile, or quartz. They will be less likely to allow stains and algae growth.

Epoxy Paint

Use an epoxy primer that is specific for pool surfaces and apply it to your pool. When it’s dry, brush on 3 to 4 coats of top-coat epoxy on areas that are difficult to reach. When applying epoxy, sand the surface before each coat.

Spread Plastic On The Pool Surface

Create the plastic mix by putting the dry plaster components and water in a big bucket. Mix the plaster enough to reach a thick consistency. Use a trowel to spread it on the entire pool surface.

Apply Fiberglass

Take a thin seal coat and cover the surface of the pool with this liquid using a sprayer or paint roller. After this, spray a coat of resin. Then, roll and sand the layers and let them dry. Basic epoxy paint dries within a few hours. However, plaster and fiberglass take many days to dry up.

Afterward, check the features of the pool like lights and plumbing fixtures, and refill the pool.

Conclusion

Resurfacing your pool can drastically improve the appearance of your pool and increase its lifespan. Consult pool builders Long Island for proper resurfacing of your pool.

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Home Improvement

6 Chimney Cleaning Myths Busted

To prevent corrosion of the chimney and avoid chimney fire, it’s essential to regularly clean your chimney. There are many misconceptions and myths surrounding chimney cleaning that can put homeowners at risk if they start following everything they hear about chimney cleaning. Therefore, we are busting common misconceptions that may be a good clue for you to get help from chimney sweep services for a chimney cleanup.

Myth #1: Metal chimneys don’t require annual cleaning

You can find different types of chimney flue liners like stainless steel and cast-in-place liners. Chimneys without a liner are considered hazardous so a chimney liner is an important part of chimneys.

Stainless steel is the metal commonly used for flue liners and its many benefits like it’s non-corrosive and can withstand the high amount of corrosive smoke and chemicals passing through the chimney. However, similar to other types of chimney liners, stainless steel liners require cleaning as well.

Stainless steel won’t corrode, but creosote and soot buildup will occur on the liner. Creosote and soot are black materials that can catch fire if enough amount of them builds up. Therefore, you must clean your chimney at least annually to sweep away creosote and prevent a chimney fire and avoid damage to the house.

Myth #2: You can skip cleaning the chimney of an unused fireplace before beginning its usage

This can sound convincing that if you haven’t used the fireplace, you don’t need to clean the chimney before starting to use it.

When a fireplace isn’t used, it won’t produce smoke. As a result, you won’t find any soot or creosote buildup on the chimney. However, chimneys collect dust and debris over time even when they are not in use.

If you don’t have a chimney cap installed on the unused chimney, it will become an ideal nest for birds and rodents. They create their home in your chimney and as the chimney is not in use, you won’t notice it.

This will block your chimney and if you happen to use the fireplace, the room will become smoky because no or less smoke will make out of the chimney and most of the smoke will turn back and enter the room.

Even if an unused chimney has a chimney cap, dust and debris must be cleaned before using the fireplace. So, make sure you clean your unused fireplace and chimney before using them.

Myth #3: No need to clean a chimney before liner installation

If your chimney didn’t have a liner installed or your existing liner is damaged, you will consider relining your chimney. However, make sure to clean your chimney before the flue liner installation. Failing to do so will keep a layer of creosote between the chimney walls and the liner.

Myth #4 You can DIY chimney cleaning

Chimney cleaning requires expertise and special equipment. This makes sure that the whole chimney is properly cleaned without leaving any spot uncleaned. A DIY chimney cleaning can be improper, might leave a spot, or leave contaminants that might cause problems like smoky fireplaces and chimney fires.

You can DIY your chimney cleaning every month, but for a thorough cleaning, you must hire an expert.

Myth #5: Softwoods create more creosote

Another common myth about chimney cleaning is that softwoods create more creosote and they must be avoided. But the fact is that creosote buildup is affected by the moisture content in the wood. Wood with higher moisture levels will create more creosote in comparison to firewood that has lesser moisture levels.

Freshly cut and green wood has high moisture while seasoned wood has lower moisture. Therefore, use seasoned wood for a lower rate of creosote buildup in your chimney.

Myth #6: Burning orange peels in the fireplace can clean the chimney

Orange oil has properties that can remove grease and is used in many cleaners. However, burning orange peels in your fireplace won’t clean the chimney. Your room will smell like oranges, but that’s it. The best method of chimney cleaning is by getting an expert to sweep it properly.

Conclusion

Your chimney will require cleaning annually if you regularly use it. Moreover, an unused fireplace and chimney should be swept by a chimney cleaning service Ellicott City before starting its usage to prevent a chimney fire.

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Home Improvement

Do Roots Of A Tree Damage House Foundations

Every homeowner wants a natural touch in their home that takes the aesthetic appeal to the next level. While trees have several benefits to offer, they can also prove to be threatening due to which you may need to cut them down by hiring tree services. We are going to discuss how trees can turn from being a blessing to something you should look out for if their roots grow near the house foundations. Let’s begin!

Trees Can Cause Concrete Settling And Foundation Damage

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to planting trees is homeowners believe that trees can be planted anywhere. The truth is that trees need to be planted in areas that do not threaten the foundation and structure of the house. In addition to that, you might have come across some cases where homeowners had to dig up their yards to repair the network of drain pipes. This is because the trees are planted in areas that are affected by the roots as they expand.

Even though it takes years for the roots to expand, once the damage is done, the homeowners have to spend a lot of money and risk the tree’s life to fix the issue. There is a reason experts suggest planning the planting of trees. Anything that can come in contact with or influence the foundation or structure of the house should be kept at a distance.

Another thing to keep in mind is the condition of the soil also plays an important role in terms of damaging the foundations. You might have heard the term “Concrete Settling” which is rare nowadays but can be dangerous if it occurs.

If it occurs, the concrete may crack and can damage the foundation of your house. However, if there is a root disruption, you will hardly notice it especially if it’s a new house.

Signs Of Tree Roots Under The Foundation

Now that you know that tree roots can damage the foundation and structure of your house, it is important to become aware of the signs as well. The first sign you might notice is that your house is slanting towards the tree.

This happens due to moisture loss. As a result, the house may tilt to one side causing the foundation to detach. Additionally, you might notice visible foundation damage to your house. It could be that the trees in the surrounding or adjacent are sucking up all the moisture.

Some trees are naturally built to drink loads of water on a daily basis. Therefore, the soil beneath your foundation is left with almost no moisture leading to its collapse. And finally, if your sewerage or other networks suddenly leak out of nowhere, you might be surprised to find out that the culprits are the tree roots.

There have been many incidents in the past and continue to do so where the roots puncture the pipes and result in expensive repairs for the homeowners.

How To Prevent Root-Related Damage?

If you have been observing some root-related damages over time, you should take several steps to prevent the situation from turning worse. For instance, one of the ways to prevent root damage is by installing a root barrier. To do so, you will need to dig up all the way down to the foundation of the house.

During the process, you can cut any roots that come your way while installing the barrier. This is going to be a costly and tiring process but will prevent your house from being damaged by weather cycles and root growth in the future.

Another way to prevent tree roots from damaging the house is by opting for tree species that are slow-growing and have less aggressive rooting tendencies. Instead of opting for silver maples, willows, and elm trees, go for sugar maple trees.

And finally, the best way to prevent root damage is by considering how big the yard is and the location where the tree will be planted. If you do not have enough space, you should opt for tree species that do not grow extremely tall.

Conclusion

Concluding, preventing root-related damage is pretty easy if you are wise with your tree-planting decisions. If a tree is damaging your house foundation, have experts from tree removal companies Kensington to fell the tree and stop the roots growth.

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Home Improvement

7 Must-Have Drain Cleaning Tools

When you observe any issue in your sewer lines then you contact the sewer cleaning service to come over and resolve the issue. There are different types of tools that are required for cleaning the drains such as.

Drain Cleaning Camera

It is one of the handiest items for sewer cleaning services as it helps them to get the inside view of the pipe and locate the blockage. It is very useful because finding the location of the blockage is the most time-consuming task. Inspecting the pipes for residues and dirt has been made easier with these drain cleaning cameras. Once the location has been found, the plumbers can use the most effective techniques to clean the drains. However, not every drain cleaning contractors believe in using these cameras hence it is optional.

Drain Snakes

Drain snakes are commonly used to resolve small drain problems such as toilet or sink clogs. It can be used to remove a bunch of hair or a clump of dirt. Drain snakes are normally like a long and narrow metallic strip that easily goes inside the sink drain, tub drain or toilet. You can put the drain snake in the drain and push it a little so that whatever is clogging the drain breaks and gets stuck in the drain snakes, so it is easily pulled out.

However, mostly drain snakes are used along with a tool having a loop and a hook at one end that grasps the clogging stuff pretty easily. Augers are also used in removing objects like small toys or jewelry.

Hydro Jet Equipment

It is the most widely used equipment by sewer cleaning services. Hydro jetters or water jetters are the tools through which water comes out with very high pressure and this equipment has a nozzle that is inserted in the pipe which needs to be cleaned. Once it is inserted, water is supplied to the pipes and all the contaminants are knocked away including the toughest ones. It is also effective in eliminating gravel, sand, toilet paper and tree roots from the sewer pipes. Almost every drain cleaning contractor believes in using this technology. However, the usage also depends on the type of clogging issue you are facing in your drainpipes.

Kinetic Warm Ram

This device is quite similar to hydro-jetting equipment. However, hydro jet uses highly pressurized water to remove the debris whereas, kinetic warm ram supplies compressed air to the pipes in order to remove the contaminants from the drainpipes. This tool needs to be handled carefully because mishandling can cause wreckage in the pipeline because of compressed air. So, make sure that you handle it very carefully while doing it yourself otherwise professionals can do this for you very easily and much more effectively. Kinetic warm ram could be used to clean kitchen sinks, shower drains, laundry tubs, bathtubs, lavatories and floor drains.

Grappler Hook

It is efficient in removing solid particles causing clogging in your sewer and drainpipes. Grappler hook helps in eradicating even the large items like cans, bottles and even the particles of rocks. So, with the help of this tool, your drain issues would definitely be resolved pretty easily.

Rodders

Rodders are very helpful when you have to remove contaminants from your drainpipes that are causing clogging within them. These are semi-rigid cables that can be easily inserted into the pipes to push the debris out or to catch them in the rod so that they come out of the pipes as you pull the rodder.

Video Pipe Inspection Equipment

The drains are not certainly cleaned by a thing device, however, it is used by the plumbers to determine the inside condition of the sewer pipe. It can help in locating the area of issue and could also be used after the cleaning process has been completed to make sure if there are any residues remaining and the process is done in the right way.

The aforementioned drain cleaning tools are very effective in getting rid of clogged pipes and drain issues. You can either consult a drain cleaning contractor to get drain cleaning done by professionals or do it on your known following some basic instructions.