Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Thompson’s Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner with oxy-foaming action is formulated to remove dirt, mildew, and other stains from a variety of outside surfaces including wood and composite decks, concrete, masonry, and even some fabrics. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

This house on the Alabama Gulf Coast has a beautiful view of Mobile Bay, but the homeowners’ haven’t been able to enjoy it since Hurricane Katrina destroyed their deck in 2005. To remedy the problem, we’re adding a 500-square-foot addition—along with two porches, a deck, and a swimming pool. Read more to see how it was done. Read in full.

Steve asks, “I built a retaining wall out of stackable blocks last year, and they are turning white and chalky-looking. Can you help?”

Those powdery white stains on your blocks are likely caused by efflorescence. As concrete cures, the moisture slowly migrates to the surface of the block bringing dissolved salts and minerals with it. Read in full.

Before the stucco can be applied to the exterior of a house, cement board is cut to fit and attached to the walls with screws. Trim pieces around doors and windows are cut from foam blocks with fiberglass mesh embedded in the stucco to give added strength. Watch this video.

Retaining walls can be a great way to help with erosion and create a beautiful, usable garden space. Thanks to interlocking, stackable blocks, the project can be completed in a weekend. Building a retaining wall is a lot of work, but it’s something most homeowners can handle, as long as you’re able to do some heavy lifting and are willing to get dirty. Here’s what you need to know to build your own stackable block retaining wall. Read in full.

Gloria asks, “I have a tree root that is growing under my concrete sidewalk and raising it up. What can I do?”

You could work around it by replacing your sidewalk with adjustable or movable pavers that can accommodate the growing roots. However, to solve the problem and keep your concrete sidewalk, you’ll need to cut the tree roots and then repair the sidewalk. Read in full.

While expensive, concrete drives are durable and can be given a number of surface textures. To prevent cracking, reinforcement wire is embedded in the concrete, and expansion joints placed at regular intervals. Watch this video.

The key to a gravel drive is to make sure you have a good base of well compacted material before applying 4”- 5” of rock or limestone. Edging the drive with plastic, wood, or brick will keep grass from encroaching on the drive and prevent the gravel from spilling over into the lawn. Watch this video.

Though labor intensive, an asphalt drive goes down much faster than concrete, making it much less expensive to install than concrete. Before installing a new asphalt drive, be sure it has a good clay base and is properly graded and compacted so it will drain well. Watch this video.

Asphalt driveways can develop cracks and deteriorate over time. To keep your driveway in good shape, it’s important to clean, repair, and seal it every few years. Here’s how to do it. Watch this video.