Staining mortar joints is simple and long lasting when you use any oil based paint, gloss, matte, whatever and mix Owatrol Oil into the paint until you achieve a runny consistency. This will soak inito the mortar and will not peel off. Will last for years.

Our tip is to prepare a mix of bleach and water, apply to grout and leave for about fifteen minutes or so. Rinse off with clean warm water. When dry again I suggest you use a grout pen or much better still pick up a bottle of Grout Coating, a white penetrating special grout paint that soaks into the grout and stays there. It is easy to apply. The bottle has a small sponge applicator pad (like shoe polish bottle) so all you do is slide the sponge (while squeezing lightly) along the grout line.

The most common reason why decking oil peels off is because the decking oil did not penetrate into the wood in the first place, due either to the presence of a previous coating or contamination in the wood itself or the decking oil was of poor quality and had poor penetrating properties or a combination of both. When deck oil or deck stain is unable to penetrate the wood surface properly, it ‘hangs around’ the wood surface, where that peeling deck look is inevitable. A much less likely reason for peel off would be where the decking was laid too close to the ground and moisture

Traditionally, most people head for the back shed and grab the wire brush and scraper & maybe a hammer for the more stubborn lumps. These implements are usually accompanied by a big dose of sweat and blisters and maybe the odd bit in your eye for good measure! Other options commonly chosen are a metal primer, and usually a coat or two of gloss to finish. I smile to myself when I see ads on TV or elsewhere for miracle products that encapsulate the rust and it’s gone – all by magic! Check out a useful How To restoration of very rusty railings in link at bottom of this post.

Insulating paint, sometimes referred to as Insulation paint is a new form of home insulation that has surged forward in popularity in recent times spurred on by the increased awareness in energy waste, spiraling heating bills & of course global warming. Pioneered & launched in Ireland since July 2009, Warmcoat Advanced Insulating Paint,

Gone are the days of the 4 x 2 or an even bigger wooden plank for levelling concrete, a slow, tedious back breaking job for anybody… at least for most people. A faster and easier method for this job comes in the shape of a new lightweight petrol engine driven concrete leveler...

Before you attempt to clean your deck, you need to establish some important facts (A) Was the wood oiled before or just left there to the mercy of the wind, sun, rain etc? (B) Has the wood been treated with an oil that has burned off and is now faded & dirty? (C) Previously ‘oiled’ wood now partially peeled off the ‘high spots’ & clogs the grooves?

Mould, Mold, Black mould or Mildew, those ugly spots that appear on your walls, ceilings etc are bad for your health. We discuss some new and interesting solutions to this common household problem

Roller Marks, Brush Marks, Lap Marks, streaks etc all unsightly describe that unfinished look on a paint job. There is a way to avoid them completely...