Free plans for a Drain Box

Here are some details for a 4×4 drain box used to disburse roof drain water. Click on the image for a better view.

Is there mold in your home?

…Tips & Products that can help.

Along with pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds, molds are a leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In warm regions, molds may be present year round. In colder areas, the mold season generally runs from early spring well into the fall, typically peaking during July and August. While most molds, like pollens, are killed by the first major frost, others may persist during the winter months even in cold regions.

There are literally thousands of types of mold. The seeds of reproductive particles of fungi are known as spores. It is usually these spores that actually cause mold allergies. A single mold growth can spawn literally millions of spores.

Molds can be found wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Rotting logs and vegetation are prime habitat for molds, as are damp walls and carpet. Some molds attach to certain grasses, weeds, and grains such as wheat, oats, barley, and corn. Molds thrive at room temperature.

Inside your home, molds can often be found in damp basements and closets (in sheetrock, wallboard, and insulation), bathrooms, refrigerator, house plants, air conditioning system, humidifiers, foam pillows, washing machines, dryer vents, and furniture. Certain workplace environments are also very prone to mold infestation or problems.

You can do the following to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful molds in your home:

-install a quality air cleaner/purifier in your home

-remove carpet in bathrooms and replace with tile or linoleum

-clean bathrooms and shower stalls frequently with mold-killing cleaning solutions

-turn your exhaust fan on in the bathroom when showering, and in the kitchen when cooking

-vent your clothes dryer outside of the home

-use a dehumidifier in the summer if the humidity in your home exceeds 50%

-make sure clothes are well dried before they are put away in closets or dressers

-use paints with mold inhibitors

-repair any water leaks in basements quickly

More recently, some companies have begun to address the mold issue by manufacturing mold resistant products. One such product is Georgia-Pacific’s DensArmor and DensArmor Plus wallboards. DensArmor Plus is a unique paperless wallboard consisting of a moisture-resistant noncombustible gypsum core and coated glass mat facings on both the face and back of the board. The inorganic glass mats provide superior protection from moisture and are highly resistant to the growth of mold. DensArmor Plus is ideal for all of the home’s interior walls and ceilings.

As a matter of fact, Georgia-Pacific has received the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute for two of G-P Gypsum’s revolutionary DensGuard™ interior gypsum panel products, DensArmor™ Plus Interior Guard and DensShield™ Tile Guard. They are the first gypsum building products in the industry to obtain this important consumer recognition.

For more information, you can call the G-P Gypsum Technical Hotline at (800)225-6119 which serves customers from 8a.m. to 6p.m. EST. or visit Georgia Pacific.

Why Composite Lumber may be a good fit for you

…And it’s low on maintenance.

While regular decks made of cedar for example are beautiful to look at, they have a bad reputation for being high maintenance. It seems every year or two we are out there on our knees, sanding and re-staining. It is to say the least a hassle. If only there was an alternative.

Good news, there is an alternative. It’s called “composite lumber”, and is slowly taking over as the future of decking, fencing, and railings. Composite lumber is a wood like material that is made from recycled sawdust and plastic. Because of this unique make up, it is impervious to conditions that cause rot, splintering, and cracking. And as if that wasn’t enough, it has turned all that hard maintenance into the simple task of spraying it with a hose.

With factories running 24/7 to keep up with demands, composite lumber is definitely picking up momentum. Infact, the demand for composite and plastic lumber in the North American residential construction market will expand by 15% every year through 2008.

Leading the way with more than 50% of the market share is the Trex brand. Trex decking and railing products are made from a unique combination of reclaimed wood and plastic, giving you the best qualities of both materials. The plastic shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, so there’s no rotting or splintering. The wood protects the plastic from UV damage. And because there is no need to spend hours staining or repairing, the enjoyment of the deck is truly timeless.

Alternative decking such as Trex,currently has an 8-10% market share in the entire industry, and due to restrictions it may push that number due to a growing concern for the hazards posed by some chemically treated lumber.

In all, the past 15 years have proved that composite lumber has become more accepted as a legitimate replacement for cedar, and other premium deckings. And if trends continue, we may see the “alternative” become the standard.

For more info on Composite Lumber, visit trex

See Shell with Fanny Kiefer

On Tuesday, February 15th, Shell will be a guest on Studio 4, with Fanny Kiefer.

In the Lower Mainland (excluding Delta), Studio 4 airs live on Shaw Cable 4 Monday through Friday at 9:00 am, repeating at 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 9:00 pm and 3:00 am, and on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:00 am, 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm. On Vancouver Island, the show airs with a one-day delay at 4:00 pm on Shaw Cable 11 in Victoria, and at 4:00 pm on Shaw Cable 4 in the Cowichan Valley.