What to do with this step transition and edge?
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cleaning the carpet on the edge of steps
Comments (1)I've used this product quite successfully for the same problem. Woolite makes another one that doesn't have the word pet in it, but I think the pet product smells better. Here is a link that might be useful: Woolite Pet Oxy...See MoreBad fall down finished wood stairs: step edges down to bare wood
Comments (7)Finish: Pacific Strong, a discontinued Bona waterbased urethane finish in two coats was applied over Duracraft stain. Chipping: small 1/8th" or bigger pieces of wood individually chip out from the wood floor upon light contact by shoes, full plastic laundry basics, kitchen garbage cans.An opening is left in the floor which is blond, like bare oak. It's not flaking off as I've seen can happen with drums during refinishing, nor are their wavy lines periodically. Rather it's chipping off with contact, as when a tree limb is placed in a chipper/shredder machine outdoors. As to the stairs, well both the stain and the finish are gone on the edges of the steps (the rounded part at the stair end). Bare wood remains and is very slippery compared to the rest of the step, where stain and finish give it a rougher surface texture. You can see the difference on the step and you can feel the lack of any finish on the edges, precisely where it is needed most. We keep the house humidified and run house temp at 64 in the winter. We don't abuse our floors. Thanks for your response. In all my many years owning several homes, I have never encountered anything like this....See MoreWishing to transition to organic lawn care: first steps
Comments (12)...but I also want to be conscious of the bugs I do not wish to kill. Soil health depends on the health of the insect population. The biology in the soil includes bacteria, fungi, microscopic insects (microarthropods), as well as other microbes. When you use insecticide on a monthly basis it will kill all the microarthropods and keep them killed. This is not a perfect analogy but consider killing all the birds and reptiles in the world. Your garden needs insects to do what Mother Nature put them there to do. Once you stop using insecticides and start using only organic fertilizer, you will see a return of insects to the yard. You will also see the return of toads, lizards, and birds which will keep the population of insects under control without your help. You might even add some features to ensure you have plenty of predators. A bird feeder and a bird bath will get you started. But they will not come to eat poisoned insects. The switch to organics changes everything, especially if you can minimize the use of fungicide, insecticide, and herbicide. Go ahead and keep spraying your perimeter of the house if you like. That will have minimal impact on the rest of the garden. As for watering, I used to live on an acre with 14,500 square feet of lawn area. I had 4 oscillator sprinklers I could use. I used them 2 at a time or else the water pressure would fall too much to water anything. I like the modern, turbo-type oscillators because they don't break right away and they water extremely evenly. Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, oscillator sprinkler (full sweep) and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and for the most part, in Vermont, so it should work for you. Make adjustments depending on your humidity and shade. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall. Mowing: Always mow St Augustine at the mower's highest setting. There is never a good reason to lower the deck for St Augustine. It does not need a scalp in the spring or fall. Organic Fertilizer: You can use organics any day, or every day, of the year. MorpheusPA experimented with overdosing organic fertilizer a few years ago and found he could not do it. He fertilized heavily every week with multiple products. I followed up on his experience with a monthly dose of corn gluten meal, which is far more than anyone needs. My lawn was incredible that year. So that's pretty good news. You can fertilize up to your budget and not worry about killing anything. The suggestion to apply at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet, 3x per year (May, Sept, Thanksgiving), should get you through. If you wanted to fertilize additionally on Washington's Birthday and 4th of July, that would not hurt anything....See MoreWhat order do I do steps of renovation?
Comments (8)How long are you estimating this will take? I ask because we are undertaking something similar but even more extensive since we are also doing bathrooms and floors. This project could take quite a bit of time. Are you sure that you are not going to tun into any mechanical/plumbing issues that need to be addressed? I'd think you'd find out about those once a tear out is done. Those things are messy, so I'd make sure that you don't have any issues there before you tackle everything else. Are you also painting the second floor? If so, you will want to wait until the last step of the process to replace that carpeting on the stairs. It's much easier to do a quick paint touch up than to try to fix new carpet that is ruined by spilled paint. Plus, I am assuming that you have baseboards of some sort on the stairs. How do you think that you will get your baseboards painted if the carpet is already laid? Or, is your trim in good enough shape that it doesn't need to be re-painted?...See MoreRelated Professionals
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