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Archive for July, 2009
Cleaning Oil Stains from Concrete Flooring
Removing Oil stains from your concrete flooring can be easy. You can use commercial cleaners, a strong detergent, or dry Portland cement to remove them. Some products you may already have in your own home, other products may need to be purchased from your local Rochester or Southeastern MN hardware or automotive store.
Commercial cleaners that are labeled for use as driveway or cement cleaners are available at most hardware or automotive stores. These are usually solvent-based and require you to scrub the solvent into the oil stain. . Follow all directions on the product.
You may wish to use a product that can be washed off with water. Most strong detergents will remove oil stains. Trying a slightly diluted liquid detergent is recommended. Other detergent cleaners that work well include Spic and Span, Soilax, and Mex. A strong detergent such as TSP can also remove most oil stains if applied with a stiff scrub brush. After applying the detergent, scrub the spot several times and rinse with water. For tough stains we recommend letting the detergent solution soak into the stain for several hours, scrubbing every so often, and then rinsing. Let the cleaner do the work. You may need to try several applications if the stain remains.
You can also pour dry Portland cement or hydraulic cement on the oil stain. Rub the cement in with a broom, brush, or even your shoe and let it stand overnight. The cement will draw the oil out of the concrete. Simply sweep up the residue and repeat as necessary until the stain is no longer visible. If the stain remains, you can dampen the powder after sweeping. The cement will bond with the surface to freshen the appearance. Use Eyewear protection and cover your skin when working with cement. The fine powder can cause damage.
Take all safety precautions when using any of the cleaners described above as they can contain strong chemicals.
Rick Erickson, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Foundation Shift
This video shows the impact of hydraulic forces on a basement wall. What are hydraulic forces…Water and frost pressures.
During this home inspection, after noting the excessive cracking in the bathroom, I found that the wall had shifted in ¾- 1 inch below the top course of block. Over time, water pressure, frost, and potentially expansive soils lead to this wall moving inward.
The good thing is, there are companies in the Rochester and Southeastern MN area that can install an anchor system that will pull the wall back into the correct position, and stabilize it from future movement.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Cleaning Dirt and Stains from a Concrete Driveway
There are several recommendations to cleaning your concrete driveway. One of the quickest and easiest ways to clean it is using a high pressure water washer. You can rent a heavy duty model with a wide sweeping tip and get the job done quickly and efficiently. Dirt and grime are removed amazingly quick. You can also use the washer on your patio furniture, fence, car, even your house! Use caution when cleaning wood or aluminum siding with a pressure washer as damage can occur to the siding and caulk from the high pressure spray causing water to seep in behind the siding. The high pressure washer will not remove all mildew, rust, oil, or paint stains on the driveway, however. You must treat these stains before or after the big wash.
Removing Mildew
If dark stains remain on your concrete after washing, test a small area by dampening the stain with fresh laundry bleach. If the bleach lightens the stain within a few minutes, the stains are mildew and can be removed with bleach.
Bleaching the mildewed surface is recommended. You can use a product called “Jomax” with a laundry bleach and water solution. “Jomax” is a mildewcide and this along with the detergent will activate the bleach, creating a much more effective cleaning tool. Use eye and skin protectors and cover all plants in the area with a plastic. Spraying water on the plants in the area before and after the application can avoid damage to them. Follow label instructions, and use the cleaning solution within 2 hours after you prepare it.
Rick Erickson, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Happy 4th Of July!
It’s the 4th Of July weekend, and that means grilling out. There’s a hot fire in the grill, the brats, hotdogs and burgers are sizzling. It’s a welcome sight and smell at any family cookout. Don’t let that fire make your family cookout memorable for the wrong reasons.
Safety Tips.
- Position your grill away from deck railings, siding, under eves and tree branches, and away from shrubberies.
- Place the grill safely away from foot traffic and play areas.
- Make sure pets and children are kept at a safe distance from the grill. Declare a 3′ “safe zone” around the grill.
- Long handled tools help to keep the chef safely away from the flames and heat when flipping burgers.
- Any grease or fat build up in the catch receptacles should be removed frequently to prevent ignition
- Purchase the proper starter fluid for use with charcoal grills. Keep the fluid stored safely and out of reach of children.
- Check propane gas grills regularly for leaks at the connections or hoses. Use a light soap and water solution. Leaks will result in bubbles when the solution is applied to hoses and connections.
- All propane cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overflow protection devices, (OPD) The OPD is identifiable by it’s triangle shaped handle.
- Always store propane tanks outdoors, never in sheds or garages
- Never add charcoal starter fluid to coals that are already ignited
- Never use charcoal or propane grills indoors or enclosed spaces. Not only do they pose a fire threat, you also risk potential poisonous gasses and asphyxiation.
Enjoy the Holiday!
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Tighten Up Those Loose Rain Gutters
Most gutter manufacturers provide several methods to hang gutters. During home construction, the quick and cheap method of hanging rain gutters involves nailing them to the fascia board with large spikes. Over time these large spikes often loosen. Plastic type hangers can deteriorate or distort due to elements. Climate changes in Southeast MN can cause gutters to pull away and leave gaps between the fascia board and gutter which will result in leakage and potential water damage. Leaking will allow roof water to accumulate near the foundation, and/or cause erosion issues. This is important because many times, wet or damp basement issues can be traced back to gutters, downspouts and grading next to the structure.
There are answers for you. Your HomePro Home Inspector can offer these tips to tighten those loose gutters:
- Replace original large spikes with large screw/nails called Gutter Screws from Fasten Master
- Another option is to replace the nails with a metal bar or strap hanger suited to a remodeling application. The hanger still fastens to the fascia, but several smaller nails are used. The strap stretches over the gutter, securing the outer edge.
- One option available during new construction or when replacing the roof is to fasten a strap hanger to the roof sheathing under the shingles.