Fixing your deck stain?
The overall stain of your deck is part of what gives it its charm. The more you use your deck, the happier you are with your deck, but the more you can expect to wear away at the original stain of the wood. If your deck has been in need of a new deck stain for a while now, it's time to actually get around to it and update it with a fresh new look. You don't have to be a deck expert to get this done; you just need the right instructions.
First, you'll want to apply a deck stripper to the deck. This won't solve everything for you, but it will prepare the deck for what will happen in the next steps. Make sure that you choose the appropriate stripper for the kind of wood you have; if you have any questions about this, try asking someone at the local hardware store for some advice, or at least do an internet search on the type of wood you're using.
After this part of the job is finished, you'll want to rent a pressure washer. When you bring it home, be sure that your deck is clear of the big stuff (tables, chairs) and the small stuff (stones, debris). Why? You're going to be spraying down your deck with a high-intensity spray, and you don't want to send anything flying!
In conjunction with the deck stripper you've already applied, your pressure washer should be able to peel off the old stain to your deck, or at least give your deck a new, uniform color. You might also be able to incorporate deck cleaners that remove old stains; once again, questions should be directed to your local hardware or home improvement store. Once you've stripped the stain, wash it out and let the deck dry over the period of a few days.
Now that you've removed the old stain, it's time to select a new stain. You might have had something in mind already, but if you simply wanted to fix the old stain, you've got some thinking to do. Choose a stain that works well for your wood, and if you can, make sure to test the stain on an idle piece of wood to see that it has the color you like.
Once this is ready, you should be good to apply the new stain to your wood. You'll want to let it dry and set in before using your deck; after a period of a few to several days, your deck should be looking brand-new and properly stained. Congratulations! You've fixed a deck stain. Now if you could just get that wine stain out of your shirt...
Photo Credits: Jeff_Werner
Originally posted 2009-09-03 03:20:33.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 30, 2010 in
Backyard, Deck, Handyman, How to Fix
Need a new computer?
Things to Consider When Buying A Printer
Printing papers, copying, faxing and the like has become almost required in this day and age even to function in normal everyday life. Whether you’re doing it for work, or doing it for hobby purposes, having a quality printer is essential. What do you look for when you buy a printer though? Are there certain features that make one printer better than another, or are the all in the same league? This article aims to guide you into making a purchase on a printer that you will not regret.
1. Consider Your Needs- It’s important before you do anything that you consider your needs and why you’re buying this printer. If you’re buying for a company, it might be a good choice to make sure that this printer has a high volume of ink and that it has wireless access as well as the ability to fax. If you’re buying a printer for home, however, you might just want a simple printer that is less costly and fits your basic needs. It can even be questions like do you want to print in color or do you only need black and white text? The price of printers varies greatly, but unusual capabilities such as fax and wireless networking tend to make printers cost more.
2. Consider the Amount of Use- This may seem like an odd piece of advice, but this can drastically change the price of which you pay for your printer. If you’re printing multiple pages quickly, or if you need them quickly, you may want a higher PPM (page per minute) ratio than if you’re just using your printer to print a few pages every few days. Considering how much use is also important when comparing what kinds of ink each printer uses. Ink is often expensive and annoying to come across after you’ve bought your computer, this means that if you’re a power user you may want to find a printer that consumes less ink or that gets more out of the ink it uses.
3. Consider Brands and Companies- It’s always important to note where you’re buying your technology from, as some companies are more reputable than others. You not only want a good value from the company you look at, but you’re also hunting for good service and support for once you’ve actually acquired your printer. Prices on Amazon or from company websites are often cheaper than buying them in a retail store, making online purchases from a company more desirable.
If you get nothing else out of this article, please take away with you that it’s important to consider what you need when you purchase new technology. If you get more features than you’ll actually use, then it’s apparent that you overpaid for your printer.
Photo Credits: krossbow
Originally posted 2009-09-29 03:14:35.
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... and focuses on:
Posted by Fix Handyman on June 21, 2010 in
Computer, How to Fix
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