Concrete driveways and garage floors are constantly used with vehicles and it often shows. Oil spills leave unattractive black splotches on concrete flooring that can also track into your home from the soles of your shoes. While these areas often end up stained by oil, you can usually remove these stains to restore your concrete’s clean look with a little effort and the right items. The key is to attack oil stains quickly by soaking up as much oil as possible before it seeps in.

1. Pour clay or cat litter over the entire stain and rub it into the oil with a broom.
2. Leave it on the oil for at least an hour, or longer if the stain is older, then sweep up the mess.

Most oil stains can be completely removed with this simple solution. If the stain has stubbornly remained, then a more serious chemical solution will be required, along with the required protective safety equipment.

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Raw sewage is not just disgusting, it is also very harmful to your health, so there is a device that is made specifically to prevent the situation just described called an atmospheric vacuum breaker. You might be able to find one of these near your home, and you will recognize them from an oddly shaped pipe that comes up over the surface of the ground.

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It is important to remember just how much much you are spending on your home and what the cost could be of items that an inexperienced home inspector misses.

There have been some cases where thousands of dollars worth of repairs have been found during the inspection. When you hire us to inspect your future home, we will give you a high-quality, thorough inspection. We have the training and experience to make a difference, and you will benefit from it. Don’t settle for anything less!

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A stain or mark on the wall can have a big effect on whether a room looks clean or not, but some stains can be difficult to remove. The first solution to try is a mixture of vinegar and water. Dip a sponge in the mixture, wring it dry, and then gently rub the stained spot. If a stain or mark on the wall doesn’t come off with that solution, a cleaning eraser may be the answer. These sponges are designed for spot cleaning and can have amazing results. But be gentle, and always test the eraser on a small spot before you begin.

However, some specific stains are more challenging to deal with, requiring specific techniques to remove. One example is oil pr grease. It sounds simple, but when dealing with these stains, the best solution is dish soap. Dish soap is designed to cut through grease but is still gentle enough not to damage most wall paint. Another example is coffee. The trick with coffee stains is to apply your cleaning solution with a soft-bristle brush. And finally, when it comes to pencil marks, simply try erasing them with a pencil eraser or art gum eraser. If this doesn’t work, rub the spot gently with a dry eraser sponge.

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The most common spot for leaks to develop is close to the unit itself. This is because the pressure will be higher there than anywhere else. It might develop in a joint between two sections, or it could be that the ducts got damaged somehow. Finding and repairing these leaks can save you a lot of money, and it will make your home much more comfortable.

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Ever wanted to change the shade of a wooden item, perhaps so that it matches other items you have? A simple wood staining recipe can be made using items you’ll probably already have in your home, such as steel wool and white vinegar. Creating a wood stain with these items creates a beautiful, rustic finish. And it’s very affordable!

There are no exact measurements to this recipe, part of the natural beauty is the variations you can create by adjusting how much of each ingredient you use. Begin by soaking the steel wool in vinegar for a few days. The longer you leave it in, the darker the grey effect will become. If you want to not only darken the wood, but also add more depth, leave it until the steel begins to rust, and it will even begin to develop an orange-brown color. Once you are happy with the color, you can remove the steel wool. Now you can brush the mixture onto the bare wood surface until you are happy with the effect.

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If you are looking to make sure that your home is efficient, what can you do? One option is to install a cool roof.

Cool roofing can be installed either as a brand new roof or it can be attached to your existing roof. It is a coating that reflects the sun’s heat away from your home, causing a lot less heat buildup in your attic. This doesn’t just help with the heat, it also leads to a longer life-span for your roof since the sun’s beams can deteriorate a roof over time.

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When it comes to kitchen counters, the options are seemingly endless. But each different material needs to be used and cared for in a different way. So how do you know what to do?

First, you need to determine what material your counters are made of. Perhaps you already know, or if you are leasing, the homeowner does. If not, you could do some research on the internet and compare images of different countertops until you find an exact match. Or your could ask your local home inspector to take a look and identify it for you.

Next, you need to research the specific properties of your countertop. Do you leave your pots on the counter after cooking? Some materials are heat resistant, and others are not. Perhaps you have started noticing scratches on the surface? Some materials are durable enough to be used as cutting surfaces, but some could quickly be seriously damaged by a knife blade.

Consider the following list of common surface materials and their properties:

• Marble – Heat and waterproof, also very beautiful. But expensive and can scratch and be stained.
• Granite – Can handle heat, very durable and barely requires maintenance. But very expensive and must be professionally installed and sealed.
• Stainless Steel – Very durable and easy to clean, but can be costly to have fabricated cannot be used as a cutting surface.
• Soap Stone – Durable and resistant to heat and stains. Reasonably priced, but requires professional installation and mineral sealant.
• Wood – Easy to clean and long lasting if maintained. But can be scratched easily, and can be expensive.
• Laminates – Easy to maintain, very affordable and easy to install yourself. But has visible seams that can lift, and is easily scratched and dented.

If your material was listed, you now know better what you can, and cannot use it for, and what maintenance it requires. But countertops are an integral part of the home, so why not do further research, so that you can take the best care of the counters in your home.

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These issues can be due to natural causes, such as tree-roots, freezing temperatures, and other things. It could also be that they are caused by something you or a contractor did around the home, such as cutting into a pipe. Knowing where the main water shutoff valve is located is good since it can minimize the amount of water that would leak out of a busted pipe, so getting familiar with where it is can really pay off.

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Fortunately, most of us will only deal with what you could call “standard” fires, and you should find a combination of letters listed on the fire extinguisher that lets you know that it is safe to use for those. The letters A, B, and C on your fire extinguisher mean that it is manufactured to be used on fires in wood products, gasoline-based products, and electrical fires.

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