Granite countertops are a beautiful and versatile material for kitchens and baths, but even stone surfaces will develop visible wear and damage over time.
Homeowners can perform preventative care for stone countertops, and, when an unsightly chip or scratch appears, even some repairs and patches. Hiring a professional isn't always necessary for these repairs, and with a little investment, the often greater expense of calling a granite repair service can be avoided all together for most issues.
First, sealing the stone regularly is a "must" to prevent stains and scratches. All kinds of options exist for sealing granite, but most homeowners simply purchase a common stone sealer like those found at a hardware store. Follow the application guidelines on the sealer bottle.
Small cracks and split seams can be filled and strengthened. This requires getting a hold of polyester and/or acrylic adhesive (each with activator). Use liquid acrylic for small cracks and knife grade polyester glue for wider seams. Polyester color kits are used to match the glue color to the stone.
As a temporary, cosmetic fix, one industry secret for covering up small chips and cracks is to use a good old permanent marker. Find one that matches the darker spots in the stone and use a finger to smudge the ink in, breaking up the pattern of the crack or chip. This can be covered with some clear nail polish or acrylic if available.
We've been following the toxic Chinese drywall story this past year and a Federal investigation from the Consumer Products Safety Commission just released a report stating,
"a strong association exists between chemicals contained in Chinese drywall installed in thousands of homes at the height of the housing boom and electrical problems in those homes."
"drywall is a possible cause of respiratory problems reported by homeowners, brought on by hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the imported drywall in combination with formaldehyde, which is common in new homes."
As proof of this connection builds it becomes more apparent that proper blame should be assigned and homeowners who have suffered with this be rightly compensated.
2100 Homeowners mostly in Florida, Louisiana and Virgina have filed complaints ranging from a rotten eggs smell to respiratory problems and other health issues. There are so many factors involved that have created this perfect storm but the introduction of the toxic dryall seems to be the lynchpin.
Featured writer Deren S. Monday wants to pass along 4 DIY skills to his kids. The first was building a fence that rots before it falls. The second is laying a caulk bead properly.
I never appreciated the wonders of caulk until adulthood. I thought caulking was as simple as squeezing out a fat bead and walking away. How wrong! Turns out once I started remodeling my house, and actually caring (ok, obsessing) about quality, I needed a new caulk strategy.
So, I did a little asking here and there, and came up with my current caulking rules:
1. Surface prep - Clean your surface thoroughly with a wet rag before applying caulk.
2. Bead thickness - The bead need be just thick enough to cover the gap.
3. Wet finger rule - Always, always, always use a wet finger to immediately smooth the bead.
4. Gun quality - Buy a good quality manual caulking gun once and use it for 20 years.
5. Cap it for Reuse - Buy one of those 79-cent caulk tube caps that pressure fit to the nozzle and get more use out of one tube than you could imagine.
Brick flooring has been an appealing aesthetic for centuries, making up the roadways and walkways for cities. Modern times have brought bricks indoors, where they continue to give an appealing aesthetic sensibility, no matter what your mode of decor.
Whether your home is elegantly furnished or, casual and comfy, brick flooring can be a welcome addition, especially as it easy to care for and very durable.
Here are some basics to brick flooring:
1. Many options - A brick floor can be laid down in a number of patterns, allowing you to match your outdoors and indoor style, or not! It's all up to you.
2. Easy application - Brick flooring for indoor use is usually composed of thinly cut bricks, anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2" thick, and is also available in other thicknesses as well. In terms of installation, brick flooring is applied in the same manner as tile, with a mortar or other adhesive.
3. Durability and Use - Once in place, brick flooring offers the benefit of being remarkably sturdy, wear and tear resistant and even fireproof. Not only that, but brick flooring provides an anti-slip surface that is fade-resistant.
