Keeping out the Drafts
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
I had a customer come in the other day who was concerned about the light she could see at the bottom of her door that opened into the garage. She said she had never noticed it until one night, when she turned off all the lights to watch a program on her TV and noticed a light coming from under the kitchen door. And she put her hand down by the floor and could feel cold air coming in from the garage. I told her there is a simple way to handle that draft, and if that is a problem for you, let me share the solution.
It seems so insignificant that a small sliver of a gap could make a difference in your energy consumption. But up to 30 % can be lost if the doors in your home do not make a seal. That’s why I really like the MD Building Materials Door Sweep, which is very reasonably priced. Installation is easy. Close the door. Clean the bottom of the door and dry the surface. Lay the sweep against the door so it just touches the floor. This is the time cut off any excess of the sweep with a pair of scissors. Then, remove the adhesive strip from the back of the sweep and attach it to the door. It will adhere immediately. It comes in two colors: brown and white. I have had my MD Sweep attached to my door for almost 10 years, and it still does a great job.
If you see gaps on the sides and top of the door, MD makes the V-Flex Window Seal, which works wonderfully for the door. Just like the sweep, it is designed to protect against drafts, dust, and pests. V-Flex is a flexible plastic that you pinch in half. The adhesive side faces the frame, and when the door is shut, it will close a gap up to ½ inch. It comes in a 17ft length, which is great for doors, but as the name says, it is made for windows. You can trim with scissors. You need no tools, and that’s why I really like this weatherstrip. It also comes in brown and white.
Before this cold weather sets in, weather-strip your doors with these two easy answers and save some energy and money. Find MD products at your local hardware stores.
Now to the email….
Question: I have some outdoor furniture that has developed rust spots. This furniture has curved metal parts, and it seems hard to treat with using a brush. After I get through treating it for rust, I want to paint it black. Do you have any suggestions on treatment?
Answer: There is an excellent product in an aerosol spray can that makes this job easy. It’s called Revive. This product converts rust into an inert, black, polymer-based coating that dries quickly and prevents further rust from forming. Revive takes all the hard work out of treating rust. No need to sand or scrape. Once treated with Revive, you can paint the surface for a better look and protection or leave it unpainted. Rustoleum makes a great line of spray paint and their hammered look gives a professional look to the metal. Revive works on metal furniture, fencing, tanks, metal sheds, tools, and farm machinery.
Question: Before we start using the pool for spring and summer, I want to treat my concrete deck and patio steps. When they are wet, they can get very slippery, and I am always worried about my grands falling and hurting themselves. Telling them to slow down has never worked. What do you recommend?
Answer: Drylok makes a great, clear coating called Natural Look Sealer. It’s especially made for concrete. It has a natural matte finish that is not slippery. Drylok also makes a Non-Skid Texture Additive. Incorporating this product into a gallon of Natural Look Sealer will improve traction and help prevent slipping. It’s made of a fine pumice product that will not change the look or dry time of the sealer. It’s great for around the pool and wet areas, garage floors, steps, porches, and walkways. And it’s not...so aggressive that it's harsh to walk on. Drylok Natural Look Sealer also provides protection against deterioration from outdoor elements. If you have a fireplace that is caulking and flaking, paint on the Drylok, and it will seal the fireplace from crumbling.