Benefits of Using Plastic and Canvas Drop Cloths
Drop cloths are a must-have to save both your carpet or furniture from splatters and spills when you are painting your walls or ceiling. The easiest kind of drop cloths to find and the cheapest, are plastic drop cloths. These may be very similar to tarps that you already use out in your yard or basement. They also may have a thickness and durability just a little greater than a plastic grocery store bag. These drop cloths are fine if you are doing a one-time project and expect to throw your drop cloth away when it is done but for bigger projects or if you paint often you will want to invest in one of the heavier duty ones.
Drop cloths are not just a must-have for painting jobs. They come in handy during any big construction or yard project as a great way to keep clean up to a minimum. They can be hung up over doorways or to section off a room to keep drywall and other construction dust from traveling throughout the house.
The one down side to plastic drop cloths is that they are sometimes too slippery especially against carpet. Not only can workers slide and fall on the drop cloth, but so can ladders. That is why many people prefer to use canvas drop cloths. Ultimately, there is a greater initial investment to purchase a canvas drop cloth, but they last much longer and stop slips and spills.
The Many Uses of Magnetic Paint
Magnetic paint is a popular addition to any children's room, but it has plenty of grownup uses as well. Painting one wall or a section of wall with magnetic paint creates an instant and easy-to-use memo board. These boards are handy in many home offices, workshops for the at-home do-it-yourselfer, to simply create a message board by the back door, or even in the kitchen.
Magnetic paint is also a great tool in craft projects. You can create an easy to update photo frame by painting its edges with magnetic paint. Adding and subtracting magnets to the frame instantly updates the look for the holidays without costing you extra when buying new frames each season.
The name magnetic paint is a little misleading, it is actually a paint primer. This comes in handy as the color of magnetic paint is usually an unpleasant gray. Luckily, because it is a primer once you place a few coats of it on a wall or craft project, you can then paint over it with the color of your choice so it matches any decor. Darker colors, of course, will cover the magnetic paint better. Since you will not have to use so many coats to cover the primer, your magnets will stick better then if you use a lighter color that needs several coats to cover the magnetic paint.
Use a Pressure Washer to Refinish a Deck or Fence
Decks and fences are constantly exposed to the effects of nature. Rain and sun take their toll on outdoor structures such as these, and decks also put up with traffic from people and pets. In a very short amount of time decks and fences, usually focal points of your home's exterior, look dingy and old.
However, a pressure washer can go a long ways towards remedying that. Pressure washers can be purchased ranging from as low as a hundred dollars up to several thousand. Luckily, pressure washers can also be rented by the hour, day or weekend at many of these same stores. Most people make pressure washing their deck, fence, and other outside structures a yearly project. Pressure washing in the spring removes any salt buildup from the winter and allows you to enjoy a clean deck and fence all summer long when you are probably spending the most time outdoors and entertaining more often.
Pressure washers also come in handy if you are sealing, painting or staining a deck or fence. Pressure washers not only clean surfaces, they can also remove peeling paint from these structures in a short amount of time.
Step Ladder Safety
Step ladders are handy to have around the house. Unfortunately, every year thousands of people become injured while using them. There are several things you can do to make sure that you are safe while using your step ladder. To avoid injury, make sure you have the right step ladder for the job. Step ladders come in a variety of heights. Using one that is too short for your job could result in you trying to reach too far to reach your project and losing your balance. You may think that because step ladders are shorter than a regular ladder falling from one is not a big deal. However, even small falls can result in serious injury.
The material your step ladder is made from also can contribute to avoidable injuries. If you are going to be working near electrical equipment, you may want to use a wooden or fiberglass step ladder instead of a metal one. If you need to move your ladder to reach something, make sure that you climb down and move the step ladder from the ground. 'Jumping' a ladder while you are standing on it, or trying to wiggle it over to the right position, result in several injuries each year.
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