Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Exterior Remodeling’ Category

Q—I’ve heard that EIFS, synthetic stucco can cause mold problems. How can I tell if my house has EIFS, and should I be concerned?

Thursday, March 15th, 2012 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Materials- Construction, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—Real and synthetic stucco look a lot alike, which isn’t surprising since they are both stucco. One way to tell is by pushing on it. Real stucco has no give and should be very rigid. Synthetic stucco on the other ...

Real Versus Synthetic Stucco

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 Posted in Energy-Saving Tips, Exterior Remodeling, Walls, Waterproofing | No Comments »

Real stucco has been around for ages. But in the 1950s synthetic stucco was developed and slowly started replacing a lot of real stucco. So which is best, real stucco or synthetic stucco? Real stucco is made from cement, sand, lime ...

Q—The brick planter box on our house has a white, chalky stain on it. We have tried scrubbing it off, but it keeps coming back. What causes it, and what can be done about it?

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Freezing Temp. Problems, Historic Homes, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Spring, Waterproofing, Winter | 1 Comment »

A—The white stain is called efflorescence, and is caused by salts that have been transported from within the brick and mortar by moisture in the brick, and deposited on the surface by evaporation. The stains are cosmetic, and not harmful. ...

Q—What is the liquid that I’ve seen concrete contractors spray on the surface of concrete sidewalks and driveways?

Monday, June 20th, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Structural Issues | No Comments »

A—The product you refer to is probably a curing agent. Its purpose is to retard the rapid evaporation of the water in the concrete through the surface. Curing is the process of setting or hardening during which the water in ...

Q—Our redwood decks that were beautiful when new have become stained, almost black. Is there any way to restore the original color? Should we use a sealer or finish to protect the redwood?

Sunday, June 19th, 2011 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Landscaping, Materials- Construction, Summer, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The stains on your redwood are most likely caused by a combination of dirt, mildew, iron stains, and the reddish-brown tannins that occur naturally in redwood. There are several options for cleaning that can result in dramatic improvement. Many old-timers swear ...

Q—We’re building a new fence and will be digging post holes soon. How can we find out if there are any buried utilities in the way?

Saturday, June 18th, 2011 Posted in Building Permits, Disaster-Fire, DIY Home Improvements, Electrical, Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flooding, Insurance- Home, Landscaping, Plumbing, Safety Hazards, Summer | No Comments »

A—Anyone who damages an underground utility such as electric lines, cable television, telephone, sewer, gas, or water lines is liable for damages. Fortunately, you can protect yourself by making a single telephone call to an organization which will notify all ...

Benefits & Features of Outdoor Summer Kitchens

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, Home Luxury, Kitchens, Landscaping, Seasonal Considerations, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Original summer kitchens were cooking areas outside the home to double cooking space during harvest and to limit heat gain in the non-air conditioned house.  The modern “summer kitchen” addresses these concerns as well as some more noble and pleasant ...

Q—Our concrete driveway has sunken near house, and water now ponds there. Is there any way to fix the problem without removing and replacing the driveway?

Thursday, April 7th, 2011 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Flood, Landscaping, Spring, Structural Issues, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—The dirt backfill near your house has settled, causing the concrete slab to settle with it. Your driveway is a prime candidate for “mud jacking”. The process involves drilling a few small holes in the slab and injecting slurry (mud) ...

Q—We installed a new front door last summer, and it has warped so much it won’t close properly—more than an inch. What went wrong?

Sunday, February 7th, 2010 Posted in Exterior Remodeling, FAQ, Money-Saving Tips, Paint, Spring, Timely Home Upgrades, Waterproofing, Windows & Doors | No Comments »

A—Wood will warp when one side dries out more than the other, or if the finish on one side shrinks more than the other side. As wood dries, it shrinks, and expands again as it absorbs moisture. Door manufacturers recommend ...