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Installing a hardwood floor can take longer than a weekend, so choose a material that’s less time-consuming. Start with anything that comes in a roll, such as sheet vinyl, which looks better and lasts longer than it used to.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman Installing a hardwood floor can take longer than a weekend, so choose a material that’s less time-consuming. Start with anything that comes in a roll, such as sheet vinyl, which looks better and lasts longer than it used to.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman

Add drama to a staircase with distinctive railings or embellishments. Architectural-salvage and reuse centers are hot spots for ideas and materials.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #stairway #drama Add drama to a staircase with distinctive railings or embellishments. Architectural-salvage and reuse centers are hot spots for ideas and materials.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #stairway #drama

Most homeowners choose to build their decks with wood for a variety of reasons, including the large selection of wood available and the strength and durability of wood over other materials. Though it’s true wood may be stronger and longer-lasting than other materials, it won’t last forever and it’s certainly not indestructible. Over time, you may begin to discover that your wood deck has begun to rot. When this happens, it’s important to address the issue before it turns into something much more difficult to deal with. A rotted deck can be hazardous for you and your family and a huge risk during severe weather, and it ultimately can look unappealing to say the least.

Why Do Wood Decks Rot?

You can do everything possible to keep your wood deck clean, such as making sure to clean between the boards, but sometimes deterioration and rot can still occur. Pressure-treated wood decks usually prevent rot for longer, and certain types of wood are less prone to rot and have a longer lifespan, but wood rot can be a slow process and you may not notice until it’s too late. There are a number of factors that can contribute to the rot of your wood deck, but these are the most common:

• Termites – These tiny creatures can have a big impact on wood. There isn’t a 100% proven method for making wood termite-proof yet, so it can be difficult to prevent an infestation of these insects from devouring your deck.
• Weather – Northern Virginia isn’t exactly the Arctic, but the temperature can often dip below freezing during the winter. During these low temperatures, what is known as the freeze-thaw cycle can occur. The wood in the deck expands in the cold and returns to its original size when it gets warm again. This vicious cycle can eventually cause cracks in the wood coating and weaken its basic structure over time. Melted snow and ice can enter these cracks and begin to cause rot.
• Standing water – Having a slightly uneven deck surface can cause water to pool in one spot. If this water stays in that location too long, there is a chance rot can occur. This can also happen in any areas where the wood may dip down, creating a small valley for the water to collect.
• Untreated wood – If your deck’s wood is untreated, this leaves it much more vulnerable to the effects of weather. Precipitation like rain and snow will leave your deck wet for longer, and the melting snow creates excessive moisture. This extended wetness combined with the sun’s radiation will slowly cause damage and rot to your deck.
• Debris between boards – When you don’t clean between your deck’s boards as often as you should, leaves and other debris can become trapped. This debris begins to rot over time and organisms like fungi and bacteria begin to grow, eventually eating away the wood.

How to Repair a Rotting Wood Deck

Once your deck has begun rotting, it can be very difficult to repair the damage it has already caused. It is much easier to address any wood rot damage if you can catch it early, but your best bet is to prevent the rot from occurring in the first place. That being said, it can be possible to repair your deck from rot without replacing the whole thing if you discover the issue early on. Here’s what you can do:

Contact Stoneridge Outdoor Living for Wood Deck Rot Repair

Catching rot early and addressing the issue before it spreads is the best way to successfully treat rot damage. But it’s not always easy to spot the signs of rot before it becomes a problem. Our trained deck specialists at Stoneridge Outdoor Living have the knowledge and experience to diagnose the symptoms of invisible rot. They also know what solution works best for different types of wood in order to effectively create a stronger deck that is more resistant to rot. The team at Stoneridge Outdoor Living has years of experience dealing with rotting decks, and are standing by to help solve your rot problem. Our professionals will come out to perform an inspection of your home’s wood deck, and if they find an issue, we can get to work to prevent any further damage. If there isn’t any rot, we can put preventative measures in place to help make sure you won’t need to call for rot repair in the future. Contact us online or give our team a call at 877-309-8445 to learn more about our deck services, or to schedule wood deck rot repair today!

If you bought your refrigerator before 1993 or your dishwasher before 1994, when the federal energy-efficiency guidelines for each went into effect, consider replacing them with more efficient models. Some newer models use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #energy #efficiency If you bought your refrigerator before 1993 or your dishwasher before 1994, when the federal energy-efficiency guidelines for each went into effect, consider replacing them with more efficient models. Some newer models use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #energy #efficiency

Tired of a dull kitchen? Transform the mood of the kitchen with a bold new backsplash in ceramic or glass tile. Just make sure the wall is sound before you start the installation.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #kitchen #backsplash Tired of a dull kitchen? Transform the mood of the kitchen with a bold new backsplash in ceramic or glass tile. Just make sure the wall is sound before you start the installation.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #kitchen #backsplash

Dimmer switches quickly give your dining room the atmosphere of a swank restaurant. You can use standard incandescent bulbs, but if you prefer fluorescent light, look for special dimmable bulbs.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #dimmer #lighting Dimmer switches quickly give your dining room the atmosphere of a swank restaurant. You can use standard incandescent bulbs, but if you prefer fluorescent light, look for special dimmable bulbs.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #dimmer #lighting

Whether an art-arranging project went awry or you’re tired of looking at dings around the house, concealing wall blemishes is a weekend-worthy project. With a putty knife and surfacing compound, you can easily repair nail holes and other minor wall imperfections. For larger holes, place an adhesive patch over the area and spread an all-purpose drywall compound over it with a trowel. Depending on the size of the wall hole, the compound may need to dry overnight. Paint over the patch when it is dry.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #patch #holes Whether an art-arranging project went awry or you’re tired of looking at dings around the house, concealing wall blemishes is a weekend-worthy project. With a putty knife and surfacing compound, you can easily repair nail holes and other minor wall imperfections. For larger holes, place an adhesive patch over the area and spread an all-purpose drywall compound over it with a trowel. Depending on the size of the wall hole, the compound may need to dry overnight. Paint over the patch when it is dry.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #patch #holes

To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home without tearing apart your hearth and mantel.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #fireplace #efficient #rehab
To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home without tearing apart your hearth and mantel.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #fireplace #efficient #rehab

When you’re looking for additional square footage for indoor/outdoor living, a sunroom can’t be beat. One of the greatest features that DC, MD, and VA homeowners most love about their sunrooms is the stunning beauty they can add to your home–no matter it’s architectural style. As experts in sunroom design and construction, we can offer you a multitude of configuration and appearance options that expand on the following concepts.

Stunning Beauty, Versatility & Uniqueness for Your Home

Sunroom Location & Function

When your sunroom is at the front of your home, enclosing your porch or front-facing upstairs deck, the additional curb appeal can be breathtaking. You’ll enjoy driving up your driveway each day or welcoming guests with a pleasant surprise. A second-story sunroom or enclosed porch provides a majestic vista that you can enjoy more than ever, because you’re immersed in the view outdoors, yet remain cozy, warm, and dry (or cool and comfortable) in most any weather condition. If your sunroom wraps around the side of your home, it can add an architectural dimension that you never dreamed of, with graceful curves or a modern, angled appearance, depending upon your wishes and home style. When your screened porch or sunroom is in the back of your home, it provides a peaceful oasis in nature that you might use as a quiet breakfast room, reading room, or home office. When built onto the back of your home, your sunroom will often become the spot for celebrations with family and friends. It can make board games with the family take on a new dimension. It could be a bar area or a kid’s playroom. Plus, your sunroom is the best place to watch the sunset with your sweetheart.

Sunroom Configuration

An experienced sunroom builder can offer you a multitude of size and shape options for your enclosed sunroom. You might prefer a flat, slanted, glass-roofed sunroom with modern, straight edges to extend your mid-century modern home. You could choose tall, soaring curved eaves that blend gracefully with an ornate home’s style or enhance charming vintage cottage features with antebellum grace.

Sunroom Architectural Style

Whether you’re interested in creating a conservatory, greenhouse, pool enclosure, or solarium, quality sunroom builders create a room that suits the style of your house and the uses you intend. We can match trim colors and compliment your home’s color scheme for an ideal blend with your house’s era. Alternatively, we can use shape, style and colors to make your sunroom or enclosed porch visually “pop,” adding new energy to the home’s formerly “ho-hum” appearance.

Why Choose Stoneridge Outdoor Living for Your MD, DC, or VA Sunroom?

At Stoneridge Outdoor Living, we’ve been designing and building sunrooms for over a decade. You can view many examples of our work in the local areas near Winchester and Ashland, VA, throughout DC/Northern VA and Richmond. Our sunrooms are designed to blend with your home’s style and enhance it at the same time. Contact Stoneridge Outdoor Living or call 877-309-8445 to learn about more exciting sunroom options today!

Create extra storage in a snap with kits for bookcases or shelving that you assemble yourself. Try a cabinet/open shelving combination for display spaces.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #storage #extra #kits Create extra storage in a snap with kits for bookcases or shelving that you assemble yourself. Try a cabinet/open shelving combination for display spaces.
#weekend #DIY #homeimprovement #upgrade #budget #summer #handyman #storage #extra #kits