How To
Prepping & Coating Decks
What we need to know before beginning:
What type of wood? Cedar, Redwood, Pressure Treated, Other
When was the last time anything was applied to the surface? Last Week, Last Year, Never
What was this coating? Thompson, Flood, etc.
How old is the surface? 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years
What does it currently look like? Natural, Gray, Cracked, and Falling apart
IF the deck is CEDAR and REDWOOD, look below**
NEW DECKS
Sprinkle Test – Apply water to the deck surface with a garden hose of watering can, to see if the water “beads” up on the surface, longer than 10-15 minutes
If Yes – the wood may be too wet to apply stain to, wait 30 days and retest
If No – Clean with Cabot Wood Cleaner #8002 (following the label instruction)
Day after cleaning – redo the “ Sprinkle Test”
EXISTING DECKS
Sprinkle Test – Apply water to the deck surface with a garden hose of watering can, to see if the water “beads” up on the surface, longer than 10-15 minutes
If Yes – Was Thompson Water Sealer or a waxed based product used, this will need to be removed.
If No – Clean with Cabot Wood Cleaner #8002 (following the label instruction)
Day after cleaning – redo the “ Sprinkle Test”
**If the deck is either Cedar or Redwood here is what to look for:
After sprinkle test, and after cleaning with Cabot Wood Cleaner #8002, wait 2-3 days, Check to see if the deck develops “Tannic Acid Stains”, these look like someone spilled coffee on the deck. These stains need to be removed, if not they WILL bleed through the stain.
Remove these stains with Cabot’s Problem Solver – Wood Brightener #8003, this is a concentrate (dilute 4:1 with water)
If the wood “FUZZES” up
If the wood grain raises, after expose to moisture, LIGHTLY sand with a pole sander and sandpaper (180-220 grit).
DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL – the steel wool fibers that break off and get left in the wood, when exposed to water or rain will begin to RUST, leaving the rust stain to bleed through the stain finish.
When to stain the deck
Once the deck has been cleaned, as per above, the deck needs to dry at least 2-3 days (maybe longer, depending on humidity).
Follow label instruction
Using Solid Color Stains
You must use the correct primer for the project, the primers penetrates the wood surface, bonding to the wood fiber, and giving the topcoat (Solid Color Stain), and anchor to stick to the wood.
If a primer is not use it may cause the deck to fail !!!
Keys to any project
CLEAN - no dirt, mildew, messes from the grill, etc.
DRY – need to wait after cleaning the deck for 2-3 days
DULL – there is no other coating on the deck, no varnish, etc.
SOUND – is the wood in good shape, replace rotten boards, etc.
Preparing your Power Equipment for Storage
Most of the repair requests we see in our small engine service department are due to fuel related problems which are not covered under engine warranty. Most of today's fuels have a short shelf life which cause carburetors issues, ethanol blended fuels seem to cause carburetor issues even faster. That is why we recommend using 100% gasoline in all small engines we sell to avoid frequent service center visits. More and more stations have pumps containing 100% gasoline, most have higher octane, but you really only need regular octane 100% gasoline. If you do not use a lot of fuel, then use of a fuel additive is strongly encouraged.
When storing power equipment for an extended period of time we recommend the following.
There are many additives out there that stabilize fuels for a longer shelf life such as Stabil and Seafoam to name a few. This helps prevent fuel related issues and is especially important if you plan on storing your power equipment over an extended period with fuel in the tank. However when storing equipment for an extended period of time we recommend the use of a fuel stabilizer in your last tank and running the engine until it runs out of fuel. With 2 cycle engines the fuel stabilizer is mixed into the 2 cycle oil mix so there is no need for additional stabilizer.
With lawn mowers cleaning grass build up under the deck extends the life of your deck.
If you don't clean the underside of the mower deck regularly, (which gives you a nicer cut during the mowing season) it is especially important to do it at the end of the year. This helps prevent mower decks from rusting out and extends the life of your mower.
If your equipment has a battery it is best to remove the battery and place it on a shelf in a warm area and not on a cement floor. This will add to the life of the battery and the cement floor can actually take the charge out of the battery.
You could change your engine oil, sharpen blades, change air filter and spark plug at the end of the season, but it's usually done before the start of the next season.
These simple steps will help provide trouble operation of your outdoor power equipment.
Prepare your Lawn for Winter
With winter approaching there are a few steps you can take to make sure you will have a lush green lawn to start next spring
1) Weed Killer
Most people apply weed killer in the spring when they see the first dandelions in their yard. One of the best times to kill weeds is early fall, the days are cooler and the weeds are actively growing. Usually its best if the grass hasn't been mowed of a couple of days and if possible you should wait to mow several days after application to allow the weed killer to penetrate down to the roots. If its a granular weed killer, apply when grass is damp so the particle will stick to the leaf of the weed and pass the weed killer to the root system. It's also best if no rain is expected for 24 hrs. If it is a spray, apply on a calm day when the grass is dry and when no rain is expected for 24 hrs.
2) Lime and Fertilizer
Applying lime helps to release nutrients in the soil so they can be absorbed by the root system. It's best to have a soil test to see exactly how much lime is needed. Fall/Winter Fertilizer sends the needed nutrients to the root system helping the grass survive the winter and gives it a boost in the spring for faster green up.
3) Finally, avoid the urge to mow your lawn short! Keeping the grass at the standard cutting height of 3 to 3.5 inches helps the grass collect and send nutrients to the root system. Also helps grasses thrive and fill in thin areas where weeds take root, thus decreasing the need for more weed killers and fertilizers.