Archive for December, 2008

Vinyl Decking - Treat Yourself To The Best Deck Around

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Peter Crump asked:


The most important ingredient in vinyl decking is PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride. Manufacturers of this type of decking material add titanium dioxide to the mix so that the vinyl won’t yellow and so that it has UV protection. There are also other specialized components added so that the vinyl material can withstand the weather and heavy loads. When you look at what vinyl decking has to offer, one brand name to consider is Georgia decking.

Georgia vinyl decking comes in many different colors, which includes a color that closely simulates wood with grains running through it. The main difference between vinyl decking and wood is that the vinyl is very long lasting. Chances are you will be passed on long before the vinyl decking material wears out. This is something that you can say about wood. With vinyl as your choice of decking material, you don’t need to paint of stain the material to get the color that you want. The color is built right into the vinyl.

Many people, especially homeowners in Georgia, wonder about how vinyl decking reacts to changes in temperature and weather. It is normal for vinyl to contract and expand with changing temperatures, but even in cold weather vinyl decking material will not crack unless you put a tremendous amount of pressure on it. Georgia vinyl decking has the low maintenance that you want in a deck so that once you install it, you never have to do more than clean it as long as you have it.

Even white vinyl decking will not yellow under the bright glare of the sun. This is one of the questions that retailers of Georgia vinyl decking get asked quite often. Although you may notice a slight fading in the first three months, this is the natural process of the vinyl adapting to the conditions of the environment. Another interesting feature of vinyl decking material is that it will not ignite unless fire is held to it directly. However, as soon as you take the fire away, the vinyl will extinguish itself.

Although it is not recommended, you can paint vinyl decking if you wish. It is important for you to know that if you choose to do this, you will void any warranty associated with the vinyl decking material and you will have to keep doing it year after year. This kind of defeats the purpose of having low maintenance Georgia vinyl decking if you are going to paint it. It doesn’t take very much work on your part to keep the vinyl decking clean either. Simply hose it off and if you need to, you can use a mild detergent. Dirt, grime and stains will wash right off.



Francisco
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Melted vinyl siding - how to find a match to use to patch?

Monday, December 29th, 2008
Sue asked:


BBQ melted the siding before I bought the home. I can’t contact the previous owner (it was a foreclosure and empty for a year).

Is there a manufacturer’s number or information on the siding panels somewhere?

OR, should I ‘borrow’ a strip of siding from another more hidden area of the house and then replace that strip with a substitute (that might not match exactly).

Can I buy just one or two pieces of siding, or will I need to buy a whole box?

Carol

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Help- I need siding on my house-I want ssemless vinyl but how do you begin to pick colors?

Friday, December 26th, 2008
mcjih5 asked:


Help- after 15 years of hail the ins.co has agreed to replace the vinyl siding and roof on my house. We have a modest sized home in and average sized neighborhood- do I shock my family into thinking the house has moved and go for a big change or do I keep it the same-or similar. And so many choices how do you pick you colors so they arent just trendy? We live in the midwest. I picked out the roof shingles but may want to change the siding color- the trim will stay white because the main pillars are white. The house is a faded pale blue grey with dark blue door and accents-What about a darker slate grey w/ a red door and pewter roof? Too yuppie? Too suburbia? Help me make some guided chioces? I’m changing the outer metals from shiny brass to etched pewter. Any words of wisdom? I do have the most beautiful red maple trees in my yard that radiate such beuatiflul colors in the fall I don’t want to take away from the house or trees-I have 1 week to decide! House faces south.Thnx

Cindy
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A Guide in Choosing Vinyl And Wooden Blinds

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
asked:


Lately, vinyl blinds have tremendously increased in the market. During the early years, the traditional vinyl blinds were caused to easily bend and break. But now, a homeowner won’t have a hard time to fix these blinds because they were improved magnificently.

Most homeowners want a vinyl blind which adds a more sophisticated look to their house. They want vinyl blinds that can allow more light but comes at a cheap cost. People are after vinyl blinds which has both design and a good function to suit their needs and refreshment during relaxation.

In the earlier years, buying vinyl blinds will definitely cause you a lot especially when you are buying more than one vinyl blind. Now, vinyl blinds are made cheaper and you can choose from a lot of sizes depending on your budget. If you want to buy vinyl blinds, there are some things that you need to consider.

First will be the design and the color because the appearance will have to depend on the typical design of your house. There are several colors to choose from and some of them can even be personalized. If you can’t find a vinyl blind that matches the color of your house, you can ask the shops to make a special one for you with the right color.

The color of your vinyl blinds will add to the look of your house. If your house looks dull with the old windows, you can create an amazing look by placing vinyl blinds which matches the color. After putting vinyl blinds, you will notice that your house will look spectacular and a little sophisticated.

The vinyl blinds can also be customized depending on your choices and preference. Vinyl blinds are known to be the cheapest choice in vinyl blinds. If you are quite short on a budget, vinyl blinds is the best choice. The main advantage and benefit of vinyl blinds is that they are easier to clean because of its figure and feature.

The finish or the outer of the vinyl blinds will not easily warp or crack like the wood vinyl. To make sure that you get the best vinyl blinds, you can buy it online or through your local warehouse supply. You will be surprised and amazed to find out that vinyl blinds are offered with the best deals that will surely fit your budget.

Wooden Blinds

Some people say that it is impractical to use wooden blinds because it is expensive and can rot much faster than plastic blinds. However, this is not entirely true, there are wooden blinds manufacturer that makes very good quality wooden blinds than can last for a long time and can be very affordable.

Wooden blinds can certainly make your home more beautiful and can really make a room with these blinds really stand out from the rest of the rooms. Wooden blinds are also very refreshing to the eyes and can relax you even if you’re tired from work by just looking at it.

Today, many people from all over the world are considering installing wooden blinds in their home to make it more beautiful. The timeless beauty of the natural look of wooden blinds can now be seen in traditional and contemporary homes.

Wooden blinds can also look great in offices. Some even say that because of the relaxing effect of wooden blinds, they work more efficiently.

You can never go wrong with wooden blinds. If you want to make your home more beautiful, you just have to install wooden blinds in every window of your home. There are different styles of wooden blinds. You can install woven wood blinds, wooden Venetian blinds or wooden vertical blinds. You just have to choose which style can make your home a lot more beautiful to look at.

Wooden blinds are also ideal for beach houses or even in mountain cabins. If you have these kinds of properties, you can consider putting wooden blinds to add to the nature effect.

Wooden blinds are more beautiful if it is not painted or in their natural color. Different wood types have different colors. Wooden blinds are available in different wood types. You only have to choose which wood type and wood color can enhance the look of your home or room.

Wooden blinds also come in different sizes. So, before buying a set of wooden blinds, you should consider the size of the window. You should measure how tall it is, and how wide it is so you can tell the wooden blinds salesman about it. You can also have one made for you in carpentry shops or you can simply make one yourself if you have the proper tools and skills for it.

The timeless and natural beauty of wood can really make your home more inviting if you install wooden blinds on your windows.



Lewis
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can I deduct vinyl siding cost on my tax?

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
PacMan asked:


I put vinyl siding on my home last year and I want to know if i can deduct the total cost on my tax return.

Tara
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Important Information For Installing Vinyl Siding

Monday, December 22nd, 2008
David Faulkner asked:


Vinyl siding as most people realize is the best alternative to any other siding for thier home. In fact chances are that your home uses vinyl siding. If you are planning to reside your home, you need to follow the installation directions to the letter.

Installing vinyl siding can be completed successfully as certain installation procedures are followed. Different contractors have different techniques for doing this job, however, they all follow some basic principles. Here you will learn some of the more important principles to know about siding.

Required Materials You Need Handy

As with any home project with installing siding you need very materials and tools to get the job done with a professional finish. The good news for you is that installing vinyl siding requires only basic tools that many people already have on hand. You will require a tape measure, circular saw, and a chalk line with a level along with a hammer. A few of the more specialized materials, but still quite common in are a utility knife, a ladder, a framing square, somewhere to cut the material, a power drill, a caulk gun, and tin snips. Really the only specialty tool you will need when installing the siding is a zip unlock tool that is not necessary but makes your job much easier.

Prepping the Surface

It is very important when installing vinyl siding to properly prepped the surface. The installation surface must be solid and smooth. Additionally now is the time to install any house wrap or exterior insulation to help increase your homes energy efficiency. If there are any leaks present in the wall you will never have a better time than now to fix them. Fixing these leaks will add to the longevity of both your siding and your home.

Trimming

The first step for installing vinyl siding is properly a fixing all the trim pieces. These pieces are required to hold your vinyl siding and place, and helps to keep them level. The installation order is as follows: install any corner posts, followed by light blocks, then J channels, and finally accessories such as dryer vents, entry cornices, and arches. If you have any questions simply consult your instructions, or a home improvement center. For more info see http://www.homesidingreview.com/Comparing_Prices_On_Vinyl_Siding/ on vinyl siding retailers.

Checking the Panels

Of course, as with most home improvement projects, it is important to first check your materials before installing vinyl siding. Check to ensure that your vinyl panels are scratch and dent free, the right length, and most importantly that you have the right quantity. Once you start installing vinyl siding there is nothing more annoying than running short of the required panels and having to make another trip to the home improvement store, or even worse having to order another batch.

Final Installation

Properly affixing the vinyl to the side of your home is by far the most important step when installing vinyl siding to ensure the longevity of your home and the vinyl siding. The nails must be driven neither too tight or too loose, but exactly plumb to the house. You must also take the proper nail so as to avoid corrosion.

Installing vinyl siding is much easier than installing other forms of siding, and can be done by the average DIY homeowner. It is just important to take the proper preparations before beginning to ensure a smooth ride when installing your vinyl siding.



Yvonne
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While pouring our porch the concrete splattered onto the vinyl siding.How can we remove it without damage?

Friday, December 19th, 2008
rvbazzell asked:


We recently added a concrete porch across the front of our house.While pouring the concrete some of the concrete splashed onto the gray vinyl siding. I tried a pressure washer set at a low pressure and it took a small amount off. How can I remove the concrete without damaging my vinyl siding?

Carlos
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How To Repair Damaged Vinyl Flooring

Monday, December 15th, 2008
Tim Evans asked:


Vinyl floors are so popular because they are very easy to clean and maintain. The high quality flooring that is produced today requires very little maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping. However, vinyl flooring is not immune to tears or holes. If this occurs, there is a way to repair the damaged flooring without replacing the entire floor. It is a pretty easy fix if you have a remnant piece of vinyl flooring that you can match it to. If you don’t have a remnant piece of flooring you can usually check with a local flooring store who will often have a large selection of remnants in stock. In this article we will discuss the best method to repair a damaged vinyl flooring.

To get started there are some tools and materials that you will need which include a carpenters square, a utility knife, a notched trowel, a remnants of vinyl flooring, lacquer thinner, liquid seem sealer and vinyl floor adhesive.

1. The first thing to do is to thoroughly clean the section of flooring that is to be replaced with soap and water. Allow the floor to completely dry.

2. Take a piece of the remnant flooring and cut it slightly larger than the damaged area. Make certain that the patterns match. Place the piece over the damaged area and secure it to the floor using masking tape.

3. Using a utility knife, carefully cut through both pieces of flooring. This will ensure that the replacement piece will be the exact size.

4. Remove the masking tape and both pieces of flooring. You may have to use the utility knife to gently pry the edges free of the damaged piece. After you have removed the damaged piece, scrape the remaining glue off of the area underneath.

5. Using the notched trowel, take the vinyl adhesive and spread it on the area. If the area is too small to use a trowel, you can use a small putty knife to spread the adhesive. Allow the adhesive to set up according to the manufacturers recommendations.

6. Once the adhesive has set up, take the remnant piece of vinyl and carefully set it in place. Press the vinyl down gently and use a damp rag or sponge to remove and adhesive that protrudes from the sides. Be careful not to press too hard on the vinyl because doing so may create a dent in the new piece of vinyl. A good way to keep constant even pressure is to use a flat weight and place it on top of the replacement vinyl until it fully cures. Refer to the adhesive manufacturers recommendations for cure times because they vary with different adhesives.

7. Once the vinyl has fully cured, remove the weight and clean thoroughly using a damp sponge to remove remaining adhesive. If there is remaining adhesive that will not clean up with a damp sponge, you will need to use lacquer thinner to completely remove it. If there are some edges which appear to be uneven, you can use your finger to gently smooth them out.

Using these guidelines, you can repair most vinyl flooring easily.



Sue
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How much to charge per foot for Vinyl siding?

Sunday, December 14th, 2008
Pepper asked:


Want to start a business installing vinyl siding & would like to know the scale for charging.Would you also do it for labor or do you do it just per foot?
Thanks in Advance!

Glen
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Should window frames be caulked when installed in vinyl siding?

Friday, December 12th, 2008
stickyfuzz asked:


I have a new house. The window frames are not caulked on the outside where the vinyl siding butts to the window frame. Should they be caulked? Seems like a blowing rain would get behind the siding.

Susan
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