Decks-N-Patios

Replacing a flooring system and not installing new floor registers that match the new floor is an unsightly mistake, yet easy to overlook.

If you are a homeowner, then you will have to hire a flooring contractor at some point, to replace or cover up the carpet, vinyl, hardwood or some type of flooring in your home.

And when you do, make sure you get all of the accessories that go along with the new floor, as well as match the scheme of the house and/or room where it is being installed.

One of the most common mistakes that degrade the intended look of a room is replacing the flooring and reinstalling the old floor registers.

You may be surprised to know that 75 percent of the floors that are replaced each year get accessorized with degrading old floor registers, instead of new decorative floor registers to match the scheme of the rooms.

Before I get into the selection process, I want to point out how and why this happens.

When most of us need work done to our homes, the first thing we do is pickup the yellow pages or go to some sort of online phone book and look for someone we think can do what we need, schedule an appointment and wait for them to show up.

Even though this works for some people, this is not the best way to get a professional job done and done with all the right products. Simply because most of the businesses listed in the phone books are contractors, not decorators or designers and only care about giving you what you want not what you need.

The best choice is to visit a local flooring center so you can view a larger selection of products and get ideas from their decorators on how to match accessories, like flooring registers, to the actual flooring you are going to have installed.

Even if you decide not to purchase from that store, at least you will have a better understanding of what you need so you can make sure to mention to the contractor that you want to have decorative floor registers installed to match your flooring.

Thankfully, this most commonly overlooked issue of installing new floor registers to complement your new flooring, is something anyone can do themselves. So if hindsight is 20/20, do not worry, you are not stuck with what you got.

This brings us to the issues of how to install choose floor registers, heating registers, grates, grilles or what ever term you like to use.

Let us begin with the installation so you know how to choose the right sizes. All you have to do is remove the existing registers, usually done with a screwdriver, measure the length and width of the opening in the floor, and reinstall until you get the new ones.

Subtract 1/8″ to 1/4″(depending on how square the opening is) and this is the inside dimensions for the new floor registers.

You can now use these dimensions to choose and order your new floor grates.

As far as choices, there are literally hundreds of different styles and finishes to choose from. Pick colors or finishes matching each room, but try to stay with the same style throughout the house. This will keep each room coordinated together.

If you have some rooms of your home that you change the colors or decorations in often, it is best to select neutral colors to these room. Also make sure to take cabinets wallpaper and other decor in the rooms into consideration.

You may also want to look at replacing the air return grilles to match the look of your new floor registers.

By following these guidelines, you can have a wonderful looking home interior that stands out in the crowd, and usually for less than $250 bucks.

Having your deck properly cleaned and sealed is essential to its longevity. Cleaning and sealing a deck should not be a one time thing; it needs to be done every couple of years. Most professional deck cleaning companies will offer a deck maintenance program so that your wood deck looks good all the time and lasts for years to come. In this article we will answer some common questions home owners have pertaining to deck maintenance.

How soon can I have my new deck cleaned and sealed? Many people have heard that you should let your deck “dry out” for a year prior to cleaning and sealing decks. This is a myth and the truth be told, most of the damage is done to your deck in the first 6 months or so.

After 12 months the wood can be split and cracked from water damage and will have turned gray from the suns damaging UV rays. At this point it isn’t too late to have it cleaned and protected but the sooner the better.

A professional deck maintenance company can take moisture readings in the wood and let you know for sure when your deck is ready to be sealed. Usually within 1-3 months, depending on the climate and location of the deck, it will be ready for a proper cleaning and some deck sealer.

Is it possible to restore a deck that has aged? Depending on the situation older decks can be brought back to life. As long as the boards aren’t too warped or rotted, getting rid of all the gray dead wood fibers is not a problem. Some sanding may be necessary before it is sealed and your deck contractor may offer those services also.

Even if there is some structural damage a deck contractor could probably do some repairs for you before having it cleaned and sealed. A quality deck cleaning contractor should be able to make an assessment of your deck before attempting to restore it, that way you know what to expect.

Can I clean and seal my own deck? It is possible for a do-it-yourselfer to restore their own deck but I recommend they have some knowledge of the chemicals used and experience in using a pressure washing unit. Wood is actually very soft and when hit with too much water pressure it can easily be marked and scarred. Some people don’t realize all the skill and know how that is essential in restoring a deck properly and will sometimes get a friend are family member to do it for them.

Again I don’t recommend letting anyone lacking the experience to touch your deck. When a wooden deck is cleaned and sealed improperly it will only cost you more money to have it fixed and done right the next time.

Can I just seal my deck without washing it? The answer to this question is NO, not if you want the sealer to penetrate properly and last. The number one reason a sealer fails is because the wood was not prepared properly. Even a very expensive sealer is not going to do its job unless the wood has been prepped correctly.

Special chemicals need to be used to remove dead fibers, dirt, mildew and other pollutants and it all has to be cleaned using low water pressure so the wood isn’t damaged. In some cases a deck sealer stripper is used to remove an old failing sealer, it is important to remove all traces of old sealers so the new sealer can adhere to the wood.

More times than not, most sealers will not adhere to each other and some sealers won’t even adhere to itself after a certain amount of time. Contractors using the proper stripping technique will depend heavily on their chemicals to do the work so the right amount of low pressure can be used.

After the cleaning or stripping process a neutralizing step is then needed. The reason for this is because the cleaner or stripper used is considered a caustic and will leave the wood with a high PH level. Deck sealer does not adhere well or properly in this situation. A neutralizer is sprayed on the wood to lower the PH and leave the wood more acidic so the sealer will protect and last a couple years like expected.

Deck restoration and maintenance is a wonderful service when done right, it saves you money by protecting your added living space. Please understand that not all deck cleaning companies have the proper knowledge, just like any industry there are the unethical companies out there just trying to make a buck, so be sure to ask the contractor what his methods and techniques are so you can get the service you expect.