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A picket fence creates a traditional look. When you build a picket fence, your obstacles will be zoning laws and specialized saws. Zoning laws tell you where and how you can build. You also need band, radial arm and miter box saws for decorative cuts. Install posts and horizontal beams before placing the 3/4-inch-thick pickets. The design is up to you! Discover some design ideas for picket fences.

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Concrete stains solve the problem of painting concrete to get a great color. Stained concrete can also be re-colored if it has started to fade from wear and tear. To keep the color even you must have a uniform colored concrete surface.

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Your wood deck can look like new. Oxygen bleach will safely clean your deck without harming surrounding plantings. Use a synthetic resin deck sealant to seal your deck. Put your feet up on a lounge chair and enjoy the next few years.

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While the cost of metal roofs is expensive, they make a great roof for a residential home. Metal roof material is fireproof, attractive and wind resistant. You can create a flat or shingled look. Make sure your roofer follows the metal roof installation instructions exactly.

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Decks don't have to be made of wood only. You can find many types of alternative decking material. Virgin vinyl, recycled plastic, plastic resin mixed with wood fibers and aluminum. Sealing many of these materials is not necessary. Read this column to see the pros and cons.

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There are four primary deicing salts for ice and snow removal. Sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. Each has certain temperatures that it can work with. Magnesium chloride is less damaging to concrete, plants and trees.

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Wood decks look great when coated with a film forming sealant ... for about a minute. They tend to peel from exposure to the elements. Strip these films off and clean your deck. Oxygen bleach will clean without causing all the damage that chlorine bleach will. Apply a synthetic water repellent. It will not feed the growth of mildew and algae and will look great ... for years.

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Building bridges to cross a stream, ditch, or ravine is a practical project. But building a bridge requires you know how high the water can get! Bridge construction is not as hard as you may think, and garden bridges in your backyard can be enchanting.

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