Think of it as improving the gene pool! :-o Seriously, you do have to wonder about the survival instinct of a creature that will not get away from a power mower. Frankly, as much as I am a fan of reel mowers in the right circumstances, it apparently won't make much of a difference here. You won't mow any slower with a reel mower, so if the critters are not getting an early-warning signal from a noisy power mower, they aren't going to fare much better with an almost-silent reel mower. Maybe the one benefit I can think of is that the reel mower will stop as soon as I do, so you buy yourself maybe a foot or foot-and-a-half (in distance, not on the critter :-o ) of stopping space. Would that would be enough? As for impact on allergies and asthma, I don't know as a reel mower would be significantly better than a power mower with a bag -- except that you won't have to deal with gasoline odors (if you're sensitive to those). In fact, since reel mowers usually cut a narrower path than power mowers, you might find you're outside longer than you used to be. If grasses and the like are your allergic trigger, that may not be a good thing. But at least you won't be swirling around a small cloud of grass/weeds/dust out the open chute of a power mower.

I just purchased a new home (3yrs old). High quality construction all around but I am baffled at what is happening with the Mahogany front porch (covered). Deck appears to have been stained and finished but finish and stain have worn off at the edges (turning gray) and the finish (can't tell what it is) seems cloudy and a little streaky... almost like the decking is covered in pollen or something (but it doesn't wash off). Not sure what is happening but pretty sure I need to refinish it (if nothing else, for appearances). But I don't know what to do? Sand it down? Restain? Put on another kind of finish over the stain? Help... have never had Mahogany deck so don't know how to care for it.

You've answered your own question....saltillo tile is *very* slippery when wet and retains heat more than anything i've seen. For that reason alone, i wouldn't try to dissuade you. That said, I ended up tying together new decking (concrete pavers) with a small patch of existing stamped concrete patio, as I didn't want the additional expense. I have no regrets as they tied in well together (pavers are charcoal-brown-buff and stamped concrete is gray). Glad I saved the additional $$ and hassle factor, but if it were mexican tile that was here instead of stamped concrete, i would have felt quite differently, (I had that stuff in my last home and it was a nightmare).

Rather then place joists next to each other,(which can trap moisture), just center the joists, in each existing bay. This will make the decking span even shorter, for a more solid feeling deck. Mark