Show Notes: August’s Appealing Curbs – On the House
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Show Notes: August’s Appealing Curbs

By on August 4, 2018
curb appeal

Show Notes for On The House with the Carey Brothers recorded August 4, 2018.

 As we enter into the National Curb Appeal Month, we have solutions to problems you didn’t even know you had! From how you can update your concrete and enchant your mailman with your restored and beautified mailbox to how to properly care for your septic and make your wires rodent-proof. We’ve got the plant you should use to replace your grass, how to keep up your backyard through the mid-season, and of course, we have another great episode of Your Dream Bathroom!

 Did you miss the live episode? Don’t worry, you can still check it out here!

Emerging Trends and Innovations in Concrete

 concrete

New advancements in concrete and cement-based products are completely changing the design and construction worlds.

 

New Technologies

Many new technologies are changing the way we build and what we build with concrete.

 

Light-Transmitting Concrete
Adding optical fibers to a concrete mix generates translucent concrete. This “see-through” development is changing the perception of concrete’s opaque mass.

Strands of optical fibers are cast by the thousands into concrete to transmit light, either natural or artificial, into all spaces surrounding the resulting translucent panels.

Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) eliminates the need for mechanical consolidation and yields a smooth surface finish without mix segregation.

 

Source: http://www.cement.org/for-concrete-books-learning/materials-applications/architectural-and-decorative-concrete

 

 

Top 5 Ways to Make Your Mailbox Beautiful 

August is National Curb Appeal Month – so beautify your mailbox

         mailbox

  1. Think Four Seasons.  Your mailbox holds a very prominent place in your yard! So when you are picking plants for around your mailbox, choose a couple different varieties that bloom at different times of the year, plus evergreen–so the area always looks groomed and attractive.
  2. The buzz. If you choose to plant flowers around your mailbox, especially ones that climb the box itself, avoid those that attract bees.
  3. Grass and Succulents. Ornamental grasses and succulents are a great, low maintenance alternative to traditional flowering plants for around your mailbox. They don’t require much watering so I just let the rain take care of that and call it a day.
  4. Make the Area a Focal Point. Instead of just a post in the ground, now your mailbox is becoming a focal point! Finish that thought by adding a mulch circle and edging the area with stones or decorative trim. Voila!
  5. Give your mailbox a new coat of paint. Freshen up an old metal mailbox with a metallic coat of paint. Copper or bronze, make it look old or new with a bright pop of color and add some new numbers to the mailbox post.

Source: https://activerain.com/blogsview/1722166/top-5-ways-to-make-your-mailbox-beautiful

 

 

How To Care For Your Septic System

 

Following a few simple rules — like not using too much water and not depositing materials in the septic tank that bacteria can’t decompose — should help to make a septic system trouble-free for many years. According to proper septic tank maintenance, the tank does need to be cleaned out when too many solids build up.

 

When thinking about septic tank maintenance, be mindful about what you and your family put into your septic system. It doesn’t take much to upset the delicate biological balance within the tank. You can extend the life of a septic system by watching everything that’s introduced to the system and by following these maintenance recommendations:

  • Inspect your system and keep accurate records. Regularly inspect your system for proper upkeep and organize your system’s records (diagram, system maintenance, etc.).

Pump out your septic tank regularly. The standard rule is to pump your septic tank every one to three years to ensure that solids are properly broken down and will not clog the drain field. Routine pumping can help prevent system failure and increase the longevity of your system.

Conserve water and monitor usage. Moreover, discharging more water into the system than it can handle can cause it to back up — not a desirable occurrence.

 

Don’t use excessive amounts of any household chemicals. You can use normal amounts of household detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners, and other household chemicals without stopping the bacterial action in the septic tank. But, for example, don’t dump cleaning water for latex paintbrushes and cans into the house sewer.

 

Don’t deposit coffee grounds, cooking fats, wet-strength towels (paper towels that don’t dissolve easily, like the heavy-duty kind), disposable diapers, facial tissues, cigarette butts, and other non-decomposable materials into the house sewer. These materials won’t decompose, will fill the septic tank and will plug the system.
Use a high-quality toilet tissue that breaks up easily when wet. One way to find out if your toilet paper fits this description is to put a handful of toilet tissue in a fruit jar half-full of water. Shake the jar, and if the tissue breaks up easily, the product is suitable for the septic tank.

 

Avoid dumping grease down the drain. It may plug sewer pipes or build up in the septic tank and plug the inlet. Keep a separate container for waste grease and throw it out with the garbage.

 

Again,it’s important that you have your septic tank pumped and cleaned by a professional every one to three years. A septic tank in a northern climate will need to have the solids removed more often than a tank farther south. (This geographic variance is primarily because cooler temperatures inhibit bacterial action and provide less decomposition of the sewage solids.) How often you need to have your septic tank pumped also depends on the size of the tank, the volume of wastewater, and how many solids go into it. Constant foul odor, slow drains, and drains that back up are all telltale signs that your septic tank needs pumping. When in doubt, call in a septic pro.

 

Source: https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/plumbing/toilets/how-to-care-for-your-septic-system/

 

 

Use This Instead of Grass For Your Lawn?

Clovers make great lawns. They grow easily, and they don’t need as much water as grass. They also don’t need fertilizer or herbicide. They reach a certain height and stop growing, so you don’t have to cut them.

clovers

Clovers also make soil healthier. They grab nitrogen out of the air and put it in the soil, providing nutrition for more plants.

 Oh, and you don’t have to worry about clumpy clovers sprouting pesky flowers. Nowadays, you can buy microclovers. They’re smaller than white clovers, and they don’t grow so many flowers. They also have soft stems, so you can walk on them comfortably. They even resist drought.

People actually used to use clovers in their lawns all the time in the 40s. Then people started using herbicides to kill off dandelions and other weeds. The herbicides killed off clovers too. Over time, people started thinking of clovers themselves as weeds. Maybe it’s time to rethink.

Source: https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/use-instead-grass-your-lawn.html

 

 Protect Your Electrical Wiring From Rodents

 rodents

The teeth of rats, mice and other types of problem rodents never stop growing. Thus, continuous chewing comes naturally to these critters. This can be dangerous because without protective insulation, electric wiring can easily spark a home electrical fire. According to reports from the National Fire Protection Association, fires caused by home electrical failure or malfunction kill more than 420 people per year. Injuries associated with such fires average 1,370 per year. The yearly cost for dealing with electric-induced home fires tops $1.4 billion in property damage.

 

In simple terms, faulty electrical wiring and faulty electrical connections present serious risks to the structure, the personal possessions within the structure, and the family that dwells there. Any home rodent infestation risks these rodents coming into contact with:

  • Electrical panels
  • Loose wiring in the attic, crawlspace or walls
  • Junction boxes
  • AND more.

 

Protect Home Electrical Wiring from Rodent Damage

Electrical damage caused by chewing rodents must be identified and corrected safely and quickly. However, damaged wiring is noticed far too often only after an accident has happened. Rodent chewing typically takes place in the hidden spots of your home. Sometimes the damage is less immediate than the danger of a bare wire, so it may go unnoticed for awhile. Such a dangerous situation can be when rats, mice and squirrels nest around wiring and junction boxes, leading to excessive overheating. Consequences can include:

  • Shorted circuits
  • Tripped breakers
  • Whole-home electrical outages
  • AND fire.

 

Unfortunately, there is not a quick and simple way to know if your home’s  wiring has been slightly damaged and might create future issues; we usually notice the damage only when a malfunction or fire is caused. For this reason a thorough safety check by an electrician can lend peace of mind.

 

As is often the case, though, prevention is the best defense. This means the quick elimination of any and all rodent problems BEFORE they damage your electrical system.

 

Evidence of a Home Rodent Infestation

Like all creatures, rodents have habits that are easily detected by a trained technician. In short, they leave behind evidence of their invasion. As a routine practice, consider checking the attic, basement, crawlspace, and living quarters for the following signs of rodent invasion:

  • Displaced insulation
  • Droppings
  • Nests
  • Physical sightings
  • Skeletons
  • Sounds of chewing
  • AND visible structural or wiring damage.

Spotting damaged electrical wiring or components is not easy. However, when home electrical issues collide with evidence of rodents, there is strong possibility of a compromised home electrical system.

Source: https://www.carolinapest.com/protect-electrical-wiring-rodents-winter/

 

  American Standard Dream Bath

 your dream bath

Monica is a first time home-owner and needs to know how to best care for her bathroom. James and Morris have the best tips to keep her bathroom in tip-top shape. 

Check out this and our other Your Dream Bathroom segments over at the Dream Bathroom site!

 

Mid-Season Backyard Clean-Up

 backyard If you’re looking to spruce up your backyard before your next gathering, you’ll find tips inside for a mid-season clean up!

 

Cleaning the Grill

By now you’ve probably cooked more than a few meals on your grill. You may find stuck on food and drippings that will certainly affect the flavor of your food.

 

Charcoal Grill

After every use, you want to clean the grate while it is still warm. Scrub it with a metal grill brush. This gets rids of the nasty left-over food bits.

Once the grill is cool, take the grate off and scoop out the ash.

Wipe down your grill inside and out with a damp cloth, and then replace the grate.

If you’ve got a particularly dirty grate, you can put it in a tub of hot water and a few drops of dish soap. Let it soak for about 30 minutes and scrub again. Be sure to rinse completely and dry with a cloth.

Gas Grill

Like the charcoal grill, you want to clean a gas grill after every use and while it’s still warm. Scrub it in the manner mentioned above.

Once the grill is cool, wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.

You can also clean the grate in the same way you would a charcoal grill.

Pay special attention to any smoke and grease buildup on the hood, dials and other metal surfaces.

Big Green Egg

If you own a Big Green Egg, following these cleaning directions:

NEVER use water to clean the inside of your EGG. Your EGG is designed to be virtually self-cleaning. The ceramics are porous and will absorb the water.

Simply close the lid and both vents after a cook, and the remaining heat will allow food residue to burn off. At the beginning of your next cook, you can easily remove any remnants on the cooking grid with the Big Green Egg Grid Cleaner or the Stainless Steel Mesh Grill Scrubber.

Periodically INSPECT all fasteners for tightness. The metal bands on your EGG are designed to keep the dome of your EGG secure, as are the nuts and bolts on the EGG hardware, casters, Nest or Nest Handler, and EGG Mates. Checking the tightness of these fittings after the first few uses is highly recommended, along with a rechecking at least twice a year. In particular, the band and hinge hardware should be checked regularly for proper operation and tightness.

 

Cleaning Patio Furniture

Mid-season and before a party it’s a good idea to clean your patio furniture cushions.

Be sure and read manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before beginning.

Remove them and clean them with a solution of 1 quart warm water with a drop or two of dish soap. Scrub completely, rinse and let dry in the sun.

You can also clean your hard surfaces with an outdoor cleaner or a mild solution of water and dish soap and soft cloth.

If you have wood furniture, look into wood care products that clean, repel water and protect the finish.

 

Cleaning Pool Toys

If it’s about time for your next pool party, get out your toys and inflatables and look them over.

If any of them leak or have cracks, toss them. Once that’s done, it’s time to clean the remainder of your toys and get rid of any moldy smells.

Lay the toys and floats out on your patio. Spritz them with a cleaning solution made up of the following:

  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cut water
  • Use a 16 oz. spray bottle

Once you’ve sprayed them, you can scrub any areas you see that have mold on them. Then, rinse completely and let dry in the sun.

After every use, squeeze out all toys, and make sure the water is out of them.

Then, rinse them with your hose and let them dry in the sun.

 

Source: https://fiestapoolsandspas.com/mid-season-clean-up/

 

That’s it for this week’s show. Catch up with us next week, and thanks for listening!

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