An Easy Way to Clean Patio Furniture

It’s Just That Easy All Purpose Cleaner comes in an easy to use trigger bottle that you can spray directly onto just about any surface. Distributed by Twin Maple Marketing, the all purpose cleaner is environmentally friendly and works well to get rid of algae. On tough soils allow to penetrate for a few minutes before wiping. Do not clean in direct sunlight. Call 1-800-663-8898 for a retail outlet in your area.

Do you have a Musty Odor in your crawl space?

Have you recently been in the crawl space to bring out the summer furniture and garden equipment only to find everything damp, covered with mildew and exhibiting a strong musty odour?

Crawl spaces were never designed to be a storage or living space, but rather a service area for electrical, plumbing and heating. I don’t want to leave the impression that you shouldn’t store goods in the crawl space but there are some features you should build in before you do so.

First, if you have a home with a dirt floor in the crawl space, cover the floor area with 6 mil polyethylene and seal around the footings and pier pads with acoustical adhesive. Newer homes may have a rough troweled concrete skin coat over the polyethylene giving a firm hard surface to crawl around on. In either case, before any storage is put in place, you need to lay strips of lumber down on the surface.

Pile your items on top of the lumber allowing air to move around the stored items eliminating any direct contact with the floor surface. Musty odours and white powder substance showing up on the concrete surface indicates high levels of moisture. Crawl space vents should be open in summer and closed in winter.

Moisture can be vented out and control the humidity level in your crawl space by installing a Humidex System. Call 1-800-416-9111 for more information.

Can we put ceramic tile directly over the linoleum ?

1. Before applying anything over top of the linoleum, it must be stripped of wax by using a strong solution of TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) or liquid wax stripper.

2. To apply adhesive of any kind over vinyl flooring, after de-waxing etch the surface of the linoleum with 60 grit garnet sand paper. This is just to etch the shiny surface then vacuum well after sanding.

Yes you can apply ceramic tile over linoleum. First, you apply prepainted or galvanized diamond wire lathe (2 x 8 sheets) over the existing linoleum by using a power nailer (ie;ram set) with metal washers. Short nails are all that is required here. Use the same process over 5/8″ t&G plywood subfloor and staple wire lath to plywood subfloor. This forms a locking surface for the thin mortar levelling coat before the tile application.

Apply the thin mortar levelling base coat directly over the wire. Allow to cure overnight before laying the ceramic tile.

Always seal your grout after recommended curing time.

Other option would be to prepare vinyl by sanding the surface and vacuuming, now apply a thin coat of leveling compound and use a Schluter Ditra plastic membrane, which is ideal for high traffic areas under ceramic tiles, it is highly recommended for under tiles.
Grout & again allow grout adequate time to dry.

Project of the Week

Cleaning Exterior Siding and Decks:

Although spring cleanup may seem like a major chore, cleaning your decks, driveways and siding are great projects to complete early in the season. All you need to get started is a garden hose, a low pressure sprayer, a long handled brush and a quality exterior cleaning product. Shell Busey’s Home Cleaning Formula, available in powder form can be used for all outside cleaning projects such as; concrete, decks, siding, fencing, asphalt, vinyl decking, stucco and eaves troughs etc. For removing green algae and black stains, follow the instructions on the container. (Just add required amount of water and use)

WEAR RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together as stated on the bottle.

2. Wet surface with hose.

3. Wet down all plant life.

4. Never wash any exterior surface in full sunlight.

5. Flood over surface or spray on with low pressure sprayer (garden sprayer).

6. Let sit approximately 3-5 minutes.

7. Scrub with stiff broom or brush.

8. RINSE WELL WITH CLEAR WATER TO LANDSCAPE AREAS

NOTE:

When cleaning siding, start at the bottom and work up to the top, using a round type brush on a long pole, rinsing as you move upward. If vinyl or wood horizontal siding do 2 – 3 rows at one time.

DO NOT use on windows or any type of glass. Clean windows using CV9 Window Cleaner available at most Windsor Plywood and Home Hardware Building Stores.

Other uses for Shell Busey’s Home Cleaning Formula:

Bathroom – Ceramic Tile walls, Floors and Showers
Mix 1 leveled lid full into 2 litres of warm water
Apply with spray bottle Scrub with sponge and rinse well

Preparing surfaces for painting use Medium duty mix (as stated on bottle)

Preparing deck surfaces for stain use Heavy duty mix (as stated on bottle)

Washing oil soaked cloths or work overalls use 2 lids of formula per wash load.

For information on where to locate Shell Busey’s Home Cleaning Formula or CV9 Window Cleaner, call your local Windsor Plywood Or Home Hardware Building Supply Store or the distributor, Twin Maple Marketing 1-800-663-8898.