Show Notes for October 10, 2009

What the Carey Bros. & Rebecca Cole are Talking About:
On The House was live this week with another exciting new episode. The home improvement trio with the know-how on how-to took calls throughout the entire program. They talked about preparing your home and garden for the winter months ahead, including HVAC maintenance, cleaning your driveway, and pruning in your yard. Chef Jamie Gwen also made an appearance to talk bacon!

Also:
SEALING & PATCHING ASPHALT DRIVEWAY
Maintaining asphalt can be done professionally, but it really is easy to do and makes a great do-it-yourself project for a weekend. There are four areas of maintenance: small crack repairs, large crack repairs, pothole repairs and sealing.

Although sealing doesn't have to be done each time a crack or pothole is repaired, it is a good idea to combine all of the tasks into a single project.

Before beginning the process, you must completely clean the entire area to be sealed. A garden hose, a bristle brush and a bucket of soapy water will be needed. Mix a cup of powdered laundry detergent in a gallon of hot water and spread it over the area to be cleaned. Make sure the surface has been wet down with the hose first. Use the bristle broom to scrub the surface clean. Use a pressure washer instead of a broom for less work. Our formula works really well on preparing grease stains too.

Small cracks (up to about a half-inch wide) can be filled with asphalt sealer. If the crack is deeper than a quarter inch it should be filled with sand first. For cracks over a half inch, mix fine sand with the sealer. Be prepared to go back, in both instances, to apply a second coat where the crack patch settled.
The most enjoyable repair is fixing a pothole. This is something that can be done quickly and will really change the overall appearance of the surface. For the longest-lasting repair you should call a professional who will make a "hot patch." This is where the asphalt is superheated. When applied it "melt-bonds" with the existing asphalt. Hot asphalt also dries harder and is therefore a more durable repair. However, if the cost of a hot patch isn't in your budget, you can follow these easy steps:

-Dig the area of the pothole to a depth of approximately six inches.

-Clean all loose material out of the hole.

-Use a tamping tool to compact the subsurface.

-Add crushed rock to the hole and tamp it, leaving at least four inches from the top.

-Use cold asphalt in a bag to make the rest of the repair, tamping in one-inch-thick layers.

-A final layer (about a half-inch thick) should be applied to the patch and covered with a layer of sand. Use the wheel of a car driven back and forth over the area until the repair is smooth.

-Brush away excess.

-With cracks and potholes repaired, the final step is to seal the asphalt. This should be done every 3 to 4 years. Use emulsified asphalt or coal-tar sealer. Pour it onto the surface and spread it out to an even finish using a rubber squeegee. Some manufacturers recommend a second coat, but you want to be careful here. Applying too much sealer can result in a slick, slippery surface.

-Asphalt maintenance and repairs should be done when the temperature is above 60ºF. Repairs made in warm weather render materials that are more pliable and that set more rapidly, ensuring a better bond.


HEATING SYSTEM TUNE-UP
Start by changing any dirty air filters. They make a furnace work harder and can be a fire hazard. Next, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust and debris from the fan area and burner chamber. With forced-air systems, check fan belt tension. It should give only about half an inch. Also check the burners to see if they work all right. Any black smudges around the access door are a telltale sign that an adjustment is needed. If you need help or have questions, call your local utility company or your neighborhood heating contractor.

More Information:
• PexSupply.com Energy Efficiency Upgrade Giveaway - One winner will receive energy saving products for the whole house – all to save you money.

• Premier Care in Bathing Bathtub/Shower Makeover - Enter to win a bathtub/shower makeover worth over $25,000. There will be two winners so hurry.

• DowFrost RVR Antifreeze - protects water systems in recreational vehicles, boats, swimming pools, vacation homes and other potable water systems in climates where freezing temperatures can cause pipe damage.

• Grip Tite Super Socket Sets - the sockets with bite, available at SEARS.

• Stainhandler - clean your roof & deck easily with the environmentally friendly cleaner.

• Premier Care in Bathing - Find out more bout the best walk-in bathtub/showers available.

• One2flush - The leader in Water-saving dual flush conversion with flush valves to fit every toilet - standard 2 piece toilets with tank and bowl, the giant 3" flush versions and the newer 1 piece, low profile toilets..

• PexSupply.com - Online source for all your plumbing and heating needs.

• Lam-Hammer - a new tool that’s been developed for installing interlocking laminate flooring.

• Serious Windows - The most energy-saving windows on the market.

If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us or post on our new Home Improvement Forum and we'll try to help you find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!