Black Spots on Trex Decking

Posted on by Tim Carter
Trex Deck

This is part of my outdoor deck complex. It's covered with amazing Trex Transcend decking. The long narrow deck to the left was originally covered with generation one Trex. The lower deck to the right was new the summer of 2016. I know, from years of experience, I need to wash my deck periodically with Stain Solver oxygen bleach to keep it looking like new. CLICK THIS PHOTO to ORDER STAIN SOLVER NOW. - © 2017 Tim Carter

Black Spots on Trex Decking TIPS

DEAR TIM: I have 1500 sq. ft. of lakefront boardwalk consisting of TREX Accents decking. There are no trees nearby. It started developing black spots within two years after installation in 2014.

Coincidentally that is the same year that TREX settled a class action law suit regarding Accents and they then discontinued that line of decking. However that didn't stop the retailers (Lowe's) from continuing to sell this substandard product in order to clear out their inventory.

I am mad as hell at Lowe's and TREX, I called TREX and they will not stand behind their product even though they have known for many years that Accents has a huge problem.  It is going to cost me at least $20,000 to replace this deck. Jim C. Eaton, OH

DEAR JIM: Guess what? I had a generation-one Trex deck (manufactured in 2000) at the current house I live in here in central New Hampshire. It's also lakefront, but I've got lots of oak, birch and evergreen trees around me. My deck also suffered from the black spots.

Don't get out your checkbook for a new deck. You'll spend another $30,000, or more, and you'll end up with black spots again.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck cleaners who can help you.

No Maintenance is a Myth

Up until recently many home building and remodeling products were sold as maintenance-free. That's a myth. Everything, I don't care what it is, requires maintenance.

IMPORTANT: Maintenance includes periodic cleaning.

It's possible when you bought, or selected, the Trex Accents material you thought you were never going to have to do anything. I've received hundreds of emails from homeowners who told me this. They thought Mother Nature would take care of everything.

They were wrong.

Mold and Mildew Equals Black

Those black spots are mold and mildew. It's eating food that lands on your Trex Accents decking. The food could be dust, dirt, and airborne sugars from some other vegetation that's carried to your deck by the wind.

It can also be organic matter that's in the lake water and is splashed up onto the decking.

It can be food that comes down on the deck each time it rains. Mother Nature doesn't always have the best housekeeping habits.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck cleaners who can help you.

Food + Water + Mold Spores = Black

Mold growth is like fire. You need three things to have a fire:

  • fuel
  • oxygen
  • heat

You need three things to have mold growth. I already mentioned the two you have - food and water. 

Water can come from rain, dew or the lake.

The third part of the mold/mildew triangle is spores (seeds).

Mold spores are everywhere except in the Center for Disease Control labs and any other place that has incredible expensive air filtration that keeps mold spores out of the air.

Your deck is covered with mold and mildew spores. All the time everyday of the year. When the spores land on food and water is introduced, they start to grow.

Deep Clean First

Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

You can STOP the black spots by just doing a periodic cleaning. The first step is to get the decking clean. I had great success at my own home using Stain Solver.

Stain Solver is a certified organic oxygen bleach you mix with hot tap water. Stir it until it dissolves, add the solution to a garden hand-pump sprayer and saturate the deck on an overcast cooler day.

IMPORTANT TIP: Let the solution work for 15-30 minutes. The longer you let it work, the less you, or a worker, has to scrub.

Some people let the solution work for two or three hours. This requires that you keep the decking WET with the solution with periodic re-spraying. Never allow the solution to evaporate.

Periodic Cleaning HELPS

This is the part you're not going to like. It goes back to the first part of my answer.

You need to maintain the cleanliness of the deck. This means you need to take away one of the three parts of the mold triangle.

You can't take away the spores because they land there all day long. You can't take away water.

Take away the food. The moment you see one black spot reappear, you get out the Stain Solver and spray down the deck. This time you can add a little liquid Dawn dish soap and lightly scrub the decking a few minutes after spraying the solution.

You don't need to wait the 15 or 30 minutes. You'll not have to work hard scrubbing.

Black Spot Prevention

You can also stop the black spots by spraying the decking with a copper sulfate solution. Copper is a natural biocide.

Copper plating was used by the owners of the historic clipper ships like the Cutty Sark and Thermopylae to make them more money. It was attached to the hulls of the ships and it prevented the growth of barnacles and other organic animals from growing on the wood hulls.

This organic growth slowed the ships by creating more drag and reduced the profits of the owners. This same copper is also on the USS Constitution.

Copper Sulfate Solution

I'd purchase some copper sulfate crystals and dissolve it in hot water.

The strongest solution you can make is achieved by mixing about 1/2-pound of copper sulfate crystals in a quart of hot water.

Copper Sulfate

This is exactly what you need to keep algae, mildew and mold from decking and patios. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO BUY IT.

Put the solution in a hand-pump garden sprayer and apply it to clean decking.

Apply it as a fine mist on the decking on a hot deck so the solution evaporates as fast as possible. You don't want excess solution to get into the water.

The copper will soak into the wood fibers of the Trex and naturally create a barrier to the growth of the mildew and mold.

 I can't tell you how often you'll have to apply it, but it could be four or five times a season. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays will break down the copper and expose the wood again to the mildew and mold.

I know one thing, it will only take a few minutes to do this each time versus cleaning the decking!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck cleaners who can help you.

Column Black Spots on Trex Decking

Fresh-Air or Make Up Air Intake Vents

Posted on by Tim Carter
fresh air intake vent

This fresh-air intake vent will do a great job. You may need several to get enough air indoors to satisfy all fuel-burning appliances. Pipe them with solid 4-inch metal pipe. The tips below are SO GOOD I decided to share them with my 31,000 subscribers who read my November 29, 2020 newsletter. CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER THIS VENT NOW.

Fresh Air Vent TIPS

IMPORTANT TIP: Make-up air vent is the same thing as a fresh-air intake vent. 

DEAR TIM: I've got both a fireplace and a free-standing wood heater spaced 15 feet apart from one another in my open kitchen and living area. The fireplace has a fresh air vent in the hearth.

I've only used the fireplace twice in fifteen years because when I start a fire in the fireplace, it pulls a sooty smell from the wood heater. Surprisingly, I do not get the smell when I use the wood heater.

I'd like to install gas logs in the fireplace. Will gas logs pull air from the wood heater and cause the same sooty smell? Jamie L., Gulfport, MS

Fresh Air Vent Needed for Fireplaces

DEAR JAMIE: I would be willing to bet money on my answer: Yes. Based upon your description, you are experiencing back drafting.

A fireplace consumes vast amounts of air each minute as the fuel burns. It can easily be 250 to 350 cubic feet of air per minute. The fresh air vent in the hearth may be blocked or it may not be able to supply enough air to satisfy the appetite of the fire.

The additional air to feed the fire must come from somewhere. Simple physics will tell you that the air will enter the room through the path of least resistance. In your case, it appears the air has decided to enter the room through the flue of the wood heater.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that can install a fresh-air intake vent at your home.

Dangerous Backdrafting

Back drafting is an enormous problem. It is a by-product of the constant push to make homes more energy efficient and air tight.

The trouble is, homes are equipped with things that blast air, and lots of it, out of the living space. Carbon monoxide, CO, is a real danger if you don't prevent backdrafting in your home.

Fans, Water Heaters & Central Vacs Need Fresh Air!

Have you ever stopped to think about what happens when you activate the switch for your bath fans, kitchen cooking ventilation fans and central vacuum cleaner? What happens when you turn on your clothes dryer? These devices exhaust air outdoors and in doing so create a partial vacuum in your home.

You need to make sure you have as much air coming into your house where you WANT IT TO COME IN as you have air leaving your home via all those things above you turn on!

All you need is a simple fresh-air vent that is cut into the sidewall of your home. Here's a dandy one:

Fresh-air Vent VIDEO:

Controlled Entry

If you do not have an air inlet to re-supply the exhausted air, the replacement air will leak in through windows, doors, chimneys, water heater and furnace exhaust piping, cracks in the house exterior, etc.

If several appliances are operating and the demand for air is great enough, exhaust gases from fuel burning appliances can be sucked backwards into your home. This can cause dangerous carbon monoxide to be pulled back into your home.

Modern Furnaces Have Built-In Fresh Air

Many modern furnaces and water heaters have built-in pathways for the air needed to burn the fuel. In fact, virtually every residential building code mandates that combustion air for fuel burning appliances be supplied to fuel-burning appliances.

But more air than combustion air is needed in the average home. For years, commercial and institutional building codes have required this extra ventilation or make-up air.

This air creates a healthier interior environment, insures that plenty of fresh air is entering the building and that dangerous back drafts are avoided. It is in your best interest to provide this ventilation or make-up air.

This thinking is not new by any means. There are companies that actually sell sophisticated air exchange devices that provide some or all of this needed ventilation or make-up air.

But I am not so sure that you need to invest in this equipment. If you do decide to investigate these appliances, be absolutely certain that you see a clear rate of return on your investment. In my opinion, there may be some more practical and far less-expensive solutions.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that can install a fresh-air intake vent at your home.

Fresh-Air Vents Are Easy to Install

There are many types of fresh-air vents. If you want to provide fresh air into your heating and air-conditioning system as is done on commercial jobs, you'll need more than one.

You'll pipe one, or more, close to the appliances that are burning fuel. This will supply the needed combustion air.

You'll pipe one, a simple 4-inch pipe is all that's needed, directly to the return air plenum very near your air handler or furnace. Any decent HVAC technician can do this.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that can install a fresh-air intake vent at your home.

Higher Fuel Bills With Fresh Air?

You may wonder if the introduction of cold or hot air into your home will cause your energy bills to rise significantly. In actuality, they may stay the same or drop.

The air that is consumed by the fans, clothes dryers, vacuums, fireplaces, fuel burning appliances, etc. is coming in anyway to offset the vacuum produced when these things operate. By installing a simple device to cause this air to enter in just one place instead of many different places, the thermostat that controls your furnace and air conditioner may actually cycle on fewer times each day.

Read the email I received from the guy who purchased my house back in Cincinnati, OH. He was questioning an open air duct.

Column 446

How to Repair Stucco and Concrete Block

Posted on by Tim Carter
Crumbling Concrete Block

Repair Concrete Block | Here’s some older crumbling concrete block that resembles cut stone. The damage is superficial and can be repaired with ease. Great crumbling concrete foundation diy fix tips can be found on this page too. Photo Credit: Tim Carter (Bricks were white, but turned blue in the photo.)

Repair Concrete Block and Stucco Tips

DEAR TIM: I live in a house with a concrete block foundation. I think the outside of the block has a decorative stucco on it because the exterior of the block is not smooth. Some of the exterior is crumbling and I wonder if my foundation is going to fail. Can the damage be repaired? How do you get the stucco to stick onto the block and not fall off? Each time I’ve tried to do the job, the repair material falls to the ground. Help! Lynn L., Mt. Airy, MD

DEAR LYNN: If each of the concrete block looks similar with respect to the exterior pattern, I would say the block were made that way and it’s not a stucco coating. When concrete block were first brought to market, it didn’t take the block manufacturers long to realize they could make the outside of the block look fairly decent as if the block were fancy cut pieces of limestone or even granite.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local block contractors that can repair your block or stucco.

How Can I See Foundation Block?

You can look at the inside of your foundation and see what kind of condition the block are on the side that faces your basement or crawlspace. Look for similar crumbling or cracks. If the inside of the block looks good, then I feel confident your problem is just a cosmetic defect in the block. The good news is this is very easy to repair.

Why Did Your Repair Fail?

Let’s discuss why your previous repair attempts failed. There list of reasons could be long, but we’ll just concentrate on the ones that are at the top of the list. When you decide to repair the vertical face of stucco, concrete block or even concrete, the surface needs to be clean, dust-free, and structurally sound. This means you need to remove any loose crumbling material to a depth by scraping with a stick that to remove more material you need a chisel and hammer.

cracked concrete wall

Holes like this in a concrete, stucco or concrete block wall CAN BE PERMANENTLY repaired using the materials and tips I offer below. KEEP READING and WATCH the VIDEOS. © 2017 Tim Carter

Should the Repair Material Be Sticky?

The repair material you use must have enough cement and/or lime in it so that it’s sticky. Realize the Portland cement and lime you’ll sometimes find in mortar mixes or bagged concrete is the primary ingredient that makes the repair material bite or stick onto something else much like paint, glue or epoxy adheres to surfaces. If you don’t have enough cement or lime in your repair mix, it won’t stick well.

Is a Dry Mix an Issue?

Your mix may have been too dry and the concrete block sucked too much moisture from the mix too fast. This can also cause the repair material to not be as strong as it could be.

Will Repair Material Stick to Dirty Concrete?

Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

No, your new repair material will not stick to dirty concrete block or that covered with algae or mold.

I use Stain Solver, a certified organic oxygen bleach, to get mold, algae and other dirt from concrete block or stucco.

It's a powder you mix with hot tap water. Stir until dissolved and put into a hand-pump sprayer. Saturate the area to be cleaned working on an overcast day if possible. Keep the area very wet with the solution spraying more on every few minutes.

You'll see it foam and bubble if you look closely. Do not allow it to dry. Keep spraying.

Keep the masonry wet with the solution for at least 15 minutes. The longer you let it soak, the less you have to scrub. Scrub, rinse and make sure the old masonry is clean and free of dust and grit.

Should I Remove Loose Material?

Here’s how I’d repair your damaged stucco or the face of the concrete block. I prefer to make my own repair mix using just medium clean sand and pure Portland cement. Use hydrated lime in the mix because it really makes the repair mix sticky.

hydrated lime

This is excellent hydrated lime. It's a fine white powder and it's going to look great on your home. CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER SOME RIGHT NOW.

What is the Primary Adhesive in the Repair Material?

Portland cement on it’s own, when mixed with sand, will create a repair material that can last hundreds of years. But adding hydrated mason's lime will make it even better. Click the above image to order the hydrated lime.

I prepare the concrete block by removing all loose material. Brush the block with a stiff brush. Washing the concrete block is also a good idea flooding it with water and scrubbing the area at the same time. You’ll want the block to be slightly damp when you start the repair, so washing it will not hurt the repair process.

Should I Install Pins In Deep Holes?

If there are deep holes to repair, the repair material will hold decades if you install downward angled long galvanized bolts into the hole. These are anchors, or posts, that the repair material will surround.

Have at least 2 inches of bolt showing so the repair material can really get a good grip. You can't have too many anchors.

Drive them in with a hammer or drill into the hole with a rotary hammer drill and drive the anchors, bolts or even short pieces of rebar into the holes. Get creative!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local block contractors that can repair your block or stucco.

What is the Best Cement Sand Ratio?

The repair material should be mixed no less than two parts sand to one part Portland cement. For extreme strength and stickiness, you can mix one part sand to one part Portland cement.

If you're going to use hydrated lime as well, and I suggest you do, here's the mix I'd go with:

  • 4 parts / measures medium washed sand
  • 1.5 parts / measures of Portland cement
  • 0.5 parts / measures of hydrated lime

You add enough water to make the repair mixture resemble whipped mashed potatoes or warm cake icing. This means the material is wet, has body and will easily hold onto the side of a trowel that’s held in a vertical position.

If the material droops, falls off the trowel or resembles a thick gravy that sloshes around in the bucket, you added too much water. Add more sand and cement in the proper amounts, stir and make the material thicker.

What is the Cement Paint Secret?

The magic trick most don’t know about is a bonding layer of cement paint. Cement paint was used by masons of old to help new stucco material bond to old stucco, concrete or concrete block. You make cement paint by just mixing Portland cement powder with clean cold water. Mix it to the consistency of regular paint.

With the cement block clean and slightly damp, take an old paint brush and paint the area to be repaired with this cement paint. Brush it on as you would paint, but not too thick.

IMPORTANT STEP: Only brush on as much cement paint as you can cover with the stucco repair mix in five or ten minutes. You NEVER want the cement paint to dry on the concrete block so avoid working with this in the direct sun, on windy days or whenever conditions are such it would dry rapidly.

What are the Best Application Tips?

Apply the stucco repair mix over the cement paint. Make sure it’s no thicker than one-half inch. If the area to be repaired is deeper or thicker than that, you may have to apply two, maybe three, coats of stucco. If you need to do this, be sure the first coat is left rough and resembles a tiny mountainous area so the final or next coat has plenty of surface area to bite into. Wait at least 24 hours to add a second coat.

For deep holes, refer to the tips above about the anchors, posts, or bolts you need to drive into the deep hole.

To create a smooth texture on the repair, use putty knives, or other small metal hand tools that will allow you to recreate the look of surrounding concrete block. Don’t try to texture the repair material immediately, as it may take ten or fifteen minutes for the stucco material to stiffen up allowing you to sculpt it with tools.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local block contractors that can repair your block or stucco.

Stucco Repair Videos - WATCH ALL THREE


This column was referenced in the May 21, 2014 AsktheBuilder Newsletter, along with a quote from the Lord Of The Rings.

Column 1040

January 17, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I've got lots of revised columns for you below.

I'm having a good time doing this project. Why, you might ask?

For years, I've known that lots of the information I've discovered the hard way working on countless jobs is still trapped up in my gray matter.

This project is giving me a chance to transfer it to you so you can use it. You can't believe the amount of NEW CONTENT I'm adding to some of these past columns.

Not to mention sharing with you the amazing products I love and use to complete the projects.

For example, yesterday I spent an hour updating a column I wrote probably eighteen years ago about whitewash.

Yes, whitewashing is a viable alternative to painting!!!

You're looking at a whitewashed project of mine.

This particular job, overall, was the most challenging one of my entire building career. There were two room additions here, one you can't see on the back of the house. Both had a 17/12 pitch roof and part of the roof on the back addition was curved.

There were many difficult things about this project, including the homeowner. But that's a story for another day over a plate of BBQ.

A major part of the job required me to match PERFECTLY the 70-year-old whitewash on the original house. My painter and I nailed it.

CLICK HERE now to discover all sorts of cool things about whitewash, how to make it and how easy it is to use.

Troubling Phone Call

Late yesterday afternoon, I had a troubling phone call with a grade school classmate of mine. We were very, very good friends through grade and high school.

It turns out he is helping his son remodel a 70-year-old house in the St. Bernard suburb of Cincinnati, OH.

He proceeded to tell me that a severe storm back about four months ago flooded his son's basement requiring them to rip up a thin vinyl-tile floor.

He was faced with the task of removing a black troweled-on mastic. My friend didn't go to my website to look for information. He didn't bother to call me.

He went and rented a grinder. Not only did he remove the mastic, but he also ground into the concrete.

Here's part of the conversation:

"(name withheld), you should have called me before you rented that grinder."

"Why??

"Did you realize the mastic, because it's so old, very likely had asbestos in it as a fortifier? Also, grinding into the concrete creates clouds of silica dust. You can contract serious silicosis by breathing silica dust."

"I had on a mask."

"Was it one approved to stop asbestos fibers and silica dust?"

He didn't know......

I have a column at my website about how to remove tile mastic.

Just a day before my son and I were talking about how I'm in the life preserver business.

Ninety-eight percent of the email I get are from people who are in DEEP TROUBLE AFTER they started a job or hired a contractor.

If they would have just spent 30 minutes using my Search Engine at AsktheBuilder.com, they'd probably not be drowning.

Don't drown - Use my Search Engine.

CLICK HERE now to use it and watch a SPOOF video I made about three years ago. Trust me, I'll never be an actor.

Consider doing your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. a HUGE FAVOR. If you ever hear them say they're about to start ANY home improvement or they're about to HIRE a contractor, BEG THEM to go use my search engine.

They'll most likely discover tips on exactly how the job should be done and WHAT are the BEST materials to use.

I don't like to give people bad news that will cost them thousands of dollars as I'm throwing them a life preserver, but I do it each day to many who email me crying for help.

Latest Revised Columns

Just a few days ago, after sending out a batch of the revised columns, you may have been the one who sent me an email that read something like this:

"Tim, I'm really enjoying reading your past columns. I had NO IDEA all these topics were at your website."

Yep, and we're just scratching the surface. For the rest of this year I think you'll be amazed at some of the content you'll be seeing, including older, but still relevant, videos.

The following columns have quite a few of my videos in them.

Enjoy filling your brains with knowledge!

Laminate Floor Over Concrete Mortar Bed - 3 DIY Install Videos! ​​​​​​​

Fence Post Tips and Secrets

Clean Algae and Moss From Roofs

Gutter Guard Test Results - THREE Great Videos

Andersen, Pella and Marvin Window Comparison - Window Install VIDEO

Replace Cast Iron with PVC? Maybe Not!

Change Tile Grout Color

That's enough for you for today. Are you having fun doing the translations?

あなたの心は今日のように決して柔らかくはありません。

Anata no kokoro wa kyō no yō
ni kesshite
yawarakaku wa arimasen.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Whitewash Recipe

Posted on by Tim Carter
whitewash recipe

Whitewash Recipe | I took this photo over twenty years AFTER I put on the whitewash. It looks identical to when I applied it. You'd NEVER get paint to last that long. © 2017 Tim Carter

Whitewash Recipe TIPS

More Than One Whitewash Recipe

I scoured the Internet and some historic building handbooks I own to get as many whitewash recipes as I could find.

It didn't take long to realize most of them are very similar. My secret recipe that I used on a very successful project where I had to match 70-year-old weathered whitewash is just below.

Here's just one part of the project I did. I wish I had taken a wider-angled shot so you could see the original house. Trust me, the whitewash on it looks identical to this addition I built - or vice versa!

The reason some bricks are exposed is that's the look on the existing home. The house resembles a weathered English country home.

Whitewash Podcast Call

CLICK this image and listen to the third call on the podcast. I talk to Sandy about how she can use whitewash on her painted brick home. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can apply whitewash for you.

Links to purchase all of the ingredients you need are below the recipes. I've selected only the top-quality products, so you don't have a failure.

All can be shipped to your doorstep.

Historic Whitewash Recipe

  • Alum - Common Potash Aluminum
  • Table Salt
  • Molasses - Un-sulfured, light brown/clear
  • Water
  • Hydrated Lime
  • Optional: Portland Cement Type I or Type II -preferably white cement

Mixing Instructions:

Part A: Mix 12 pounds salt, 6 ounces of alum and 1 quart molasses dissolved in 1.5 gallons of water.

Part B: Mix 50 pounds of the hydrated lime with 5 gallons of hot water. Let this stand for 12 hours. After 12 hours mix Parts A and B together to a brushable consistency.

Optional Step: You can add white Portland cement for more durability. But substitute only up to 10 percent of the lime you use. In this recipe you would use 5 pounds of white cement and 45 pounds of lime.

Tim Carter's Secret Whitewash Recipe

  • 50 pounds of hydrated mason's lime
  • 10 pounds of table salt
  • Water
  • Optional: Dried color pigments used in brick mortar and white Portland cement for extra durability.
  • Mixing Instructions:

Blend lime and salt together dry. If using pigment and cement, blend them at this time until the entire mixture is homogeneous.

Add water slowly until mixture resembles pancake batter or a creamy latex paint. Do NOT STOP stirring until all of the lime is dissolved into the water!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can apply whitewash for you.

Mixing Whitewash Video

Watch this pretty good video about how to mix whitewash. This is how I did it. He talks about using silica sand, but that just adds grit to the finish.

IMPORTANT TIP: Do not add the quartz sand if you want a smooth finish!

Gil Gandenberger's The Ohio Valley Farmer Recipe

Gil, who lived in Cincinnati, OH, emailed me an ancient recipe he discovered in an old copy of The Ohio Valley Farmer dated June, 1860!

WHITEWASH, as used on the President's house, in Washington DC, is made as follows:

  • Slake half a bushel of unslaked lime with boiling water; cover it during the process
  • Strain it, and add a peck of salt dissolved in warm water
  • Add three pounds ground rice, boiled to a thin paste, put in boiling hot to other ingredients
  • Add half a pound Spanish white, and one pound clear glue, dissolved in warm water

Mix and let the whole stand a few days. Keep in a kettle, and put on hot with a brush.

What is Slaking?

Slaking is the process of adding water to hydrated lime. The lime is chemically unstable in the bag and when mixed with water it begins an exothermic chemical reaction giving off heat.

It's possible for steam to rise from the mix. It's VERY IMPORTANT to stir the mix constantly so all the lime gets mixed with water.

If unslaked lime ends up in the final work, it can pop, pit or disintegrate at a later date. This is more likely to happen when lime is used as the bonding agent in brick mortar rather than whitewash.

The bottom line is STIR WELL.

High-Quality Whitewash Materials

hydrated lime

This is excellent hydrated lime. It's a fine white powder and it's going to look great on your home. CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER SOME RIGHT NOW.

Here's a giant bag of salt. You may need two or three depending on how much whitewash you mix up. CLICK ON THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER IT.

 

whitewashing pigments

Here are just a few of the many many pigments available. You can blend different pigments to get different shades that you don't see here! CLICK THE IMAGE TO BUY ANY WHITEWASH PIGMENT YOU WANT.

 

To purchase white Portland cement, just do a search on any search engine. You'll find it. At the time I revised this column, it was not for sale on Amazon.com.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can apply whitewash for you.

Column B366

Whitewash Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter
Whitewash Recipe

Whitewash Recipe | I took this photo over twenty years AFTER I put on the whitewash. It looks identical to when I applied it. You'd NEVER get paint to last that long. © 2017 Tim Carter

Whitewash Application Checklist

Whitewash Application - It's Not Hard to Do

When I looked at the specifications for the room addition job years ago, I thought I was seeing things. The architect had actually specified a whitewash finish!

It made sense after you went to the job site to look at the original home. The house was built in the 1920's and looked like an English cottage.

It looked to me as if it was painted white and was simply in need of a new paint job but what I was looking at was a magnificent whitewash finish that was about 35 years old.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can apply whitewash for you.

Whitewash Doesn't Peel

One of the things that amazed me was the fact that the finish on the house was not peeling. There were bare brick in places and some places where you could barely see through to the brick below but that was intentional.

The original painters had varied the thickness of the whitewash and actually left it off in places to simulate a faded or worn look. How clever of them!

My challenge was to duplicate this old look on a new room addition. I'll cut to the chase. I did it and if you were to drive up to the job site today you could not tell the difference between old and new. It took a few experimental attempts, but my painters and I got the job done.

This SoundCloud player as of January 23, 2022 is NOT ADA compliant. It has color contrast issues. I reached out to SoundCloud to have them repair it. It's their source code that creates the image below.

whitewash

CLICK this image and listen to the third call on the podcast. I talk to Sandy about how she can use whitewash on her painted brick home. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

What's in Whitewash?

Whitewash formulas and recipes can be somewhat different. CLICK HERE to see the secret whitewash recipe I used.

Some reference all sorts of different ingredients, but the most important two are hydrated lime and table salt.

Hydrated lime is a magic powder that does something special once mixed with water. When you add water to lime a chemical reaction begins. Millions of tiny crystals start to grow.

These crystals allow the lime or whitewash to tenaciously grab onto whatever it is applied to. It is not unlike the small briars that stick to your socks and pants when you walk through the woods. I've gone to all this trouble to write all about whitewash because I don't want this knowledge to transition from history to legend to myth.

There are other strange ingredients in different whitewash recipes. I can't tell you what they do or how they affect the final product since the whitewash I used only contained hydrated lime and salt.

hydrated lime

This is excellent hydrated lime. It's a fine white powder and it's going to look great on your home. CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER SOME RIGHT NOW.

bag of salt

Here's a giant bag of salt. You may need two or three depending on how much whitewash you mix up. CLICK THE SALT BAG NOW TO ORDER IT.

Whitewash Installation Tips

Once you mix up whitewash you usually don't have to use it right away. In fact some of the recipes want you to let it sit overnight or for a day before you apply it.

It is also a great idea to make sure the surface you are applying it to is clean and damp. The lime crystals will penetrate deeper into the wood or the masonry if it's slightly wet.

The whitewash usually goes on blotchy. It looks like it is not covering well. But wait till the next day! If you put on a normal coat as you would paint, it dries a brilliant white.

The best thing to do is to experiment on small areas. See what you think about how white it turns out.

Add Color To Whitewash

Whitewash doesn't have to be white. You can make it look dirty by adding charcoal dust. You can make it look yellow by adding dry shake pigments.

There are all sorts of ways to color it. The key is to experiment!

When you work with dry pigments like you see in the photo below, it's mission critical to keep precise records of how you're mixing the batches.

Mix small batches and carefully note the concentrations. Always let it dry for several days to see the final color.

whitewash pigments

Here are just a few of the many many pigments available. You can blend different pigments to get different shades that you don't see here! CLICK THE IMAGE TO BUY ANY WHITEWASH PIGMENT YOU WANT.

Working with Colored Whitewash

Even if you go to great lengths to make sure you measure the lime, salt, pigments and anything else exactly, there's a chance you can get the shade off just a little bit. To minimize the chances of seeing this issue, always have enough of one mixed batch that will allow you to get to an outside or inside corner of where you're working.

A color issue halfway down or across a wall will be noticeable. But shadows at corners hide these imperfections.

Remember, the key to success with whitewash is experimentation. You want to try it on a test wall or some spot to get the feel and look of it. Wait till you see it!

Column B366

Change Tile Grout Color

Posted on by Tim Carter
Changing Grout Color

Change tile grout color using a great brush with the right stain. A high-quality artists brush allows you to make grout lines look fantastic. © 2018 Tim Carter

"Once my grout was dry and cured, I used a special oil-based grout stain I purchased from the tile company. Not all grout manufacturers offer this stain."

Change Tile Grout Color Checklist

DEAR TIM: The grout on the wall and floor ceramic tile in the master bathroom of our new home was supposed to be the same color. The floor grout is much lighter than the walls.

The builder and tile company agree it is a manufacturing defect as the batch of dry grout was mixed wrong at the factory. The tile company wants to stain the floor grout to match.

What is the best way to stain tile grout? What could have been done to prevent this problem? Jennifer H., Virginia Beach, VA

DEAR JENNIFER: Years ago, I had the same thing happen to me. When I left the tile store I made sure the batch numbers on the grout bags were identical and even from the same pallet. I assumed that since the bags were next to one another on the pallet the contents had to be from the same giant mixing hopper at the factory.

Can Colored Grout Not Match One Another?

Yes, you can have colored grout batches that don't match.

Well, don't ask me what went wrong, but I ended up with two totally different colors once the grout dried. It was a huge problem.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters that can stain your tile grout.

Can Tile Grout Color Be Changed?

Grout colors can be changed successfully and permanently. I had to do it in my own home on my Entrance Hall slate floor.

When I built my home, the salesperson at the tile store sold me a super-duper grout additive that was supposed to make the grout stronger and more stain resistant.

Can Grout Additives Alter Grout Color?

Yes, grout additives can change and ruin colored grout. I suggest you don't use them.

The additive was a milky latex product that was mixed with the dry grout. I added it exactly as was told by the additive and grout manufacturers and the end result was a splotchy mottled deep gray grout instead of the jet black color I was supposed to get. It was a DISASTER!

I decided after this #Failure that I'd never again use a grout additive.

What Is the First Step of Changing Grout Color?

The first step is deep cleaning the tile and grout. There are two reasons:

  1. The dirt, oil, and grease need to be out of the way so the new stain penetrates into the grout.
  2. Clean and dry grout ensure you get an even finished color. If the grout is dirty in places, your finished stained grout WILL BE different shades!

What is the Best Tile Grout Cleaner?

change tile grout color

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

I've used Stain Solver oxygen bleach for decades to deep clean floor and wall grout. It's a pure white powder you mix with hot tap water.

After you stir it for a couple of minutes, you just pour it on floor grout. It starts to bubble and fizz as the trillions of oxygen ions start to clean the grout.

I usually wait about fifteen minutes, then I use a stiff scrub brush to ensure all the dirt, oil, grease, etc. are taken off the grout.

To clean wall tile, I just put the Stain Solver solution in a simple spray bottle and spritz the grout. CLICK HERE to order Stain Solver now.

What is the Best Tile Grout Stain?

I feel the best tile grout stain is one that's oil-based. These tend to soak in deeper to the grout so the color is deeper and long-lasting.

black grout stain

This is the PERFECT oil-based stain to color grout. This one is black. CLICK THE IMAGE to have it delivered to your home in days.

You can use any oil-based stain to change the color of your grout. CLICK HERE to see common ones.

Once my grout was dry and cured, I used a special oil-based grout stain I purchased from the tile company. Not all grout manufacturers offer this stain. I wish they would.

Does Tile Grout Stain Look Like Wood Stain?

The stain looked just like a can of stain you might use on woodwork. It worked perfectly and the color of the grout is the jet black I wanted in the first place. Even after repeated floor cleanings, the color is as rich and deep as the day I put it down.

Why is Oil Stain Better?

Oil stains, in my opinion, work better than water-based ones because the oil solvents allow the pigments to penetrate deeper into the hard cement-based grout. Be sure your contractor gets an oil based grout if at all possible.

The neat thing about oil-based grout stains is they can be applied to grout of any age. You can stain grout thirty days or thirty years old with the same fantastic results. Remember, you get the BEST RESULTS when the grout is perfectly clean. Don't skip this step.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters that can stain your tile grout.

Do You Have a Contractor Checklist?

For the staining job to be a stunning success, you or your contractor need to follow a few simple steps:

  • The grout must be completely clean and dry
  • New grout should cure at least 30 days before staining
  • Deep clean dirty grout using Stain Solver - it will not remove any of the grout's existing color

What is the Hardest Part of the Job?

The hardest part of the job is applying the stain. You must do it carefully with certain flooring materials. Tiles that have a high-gloss glaze are the easiest to stain.

If a little stain gets on the tile, it can usually be wiped off the tile with little effort. But tiles with little or no glaze and slate can be a nightmare to stain. You must slowly and carefully apply the stain to just the grout.

What are the Best Brushes to Apply the Stain?

I find that a stiff artist's brush with a square tip and 1/4-inch-wide bristles works best. You do not want a brush that has limp bristles. You need a stiff bristle brush that will give you excellent control.

Paint Brush Kit

The brush second from the left in this kit is what I'm talking about. You may find you like a chiseled - or angled brush better. CLICK THE IMAGE TO ORDER THESE BRUSHES NOW.

Once the grout is dry, you may choose to seal it. It is not necessary, but it does help keep the grout clean. The sealers minimize the amount of liquid that can penetrate the grout.

How Can You Avoid Mismatched Grout Color?

You can avoid mismatched grout colors by blending all of the bags of grout together before you add any water to a small batch of the powder.

After my nightmare years ago, I always bought one extra bag of colored grout. Before I started grouting, I took all of the bags and emptied them into a clean wheelbarrow.

I blended the dry powdered grouts together until they were well mixed. The grout was then transferred to clean dry plastic buckets with tight-fitting lids. This method produces grout that is absolutely uniform in color when it dries.

Does the Grout Stain Fade?

Grout stains really work and work well. A high-quality stain will not fade.

For some reason, they are not talked about very much. All too often people re-grout to get rid of ugly grout when many times a simple stain will rejuvenate a ceramic tile job.

The best part is that colored grouts can enhance colored ceramic tile. Frequently tile setters or architects specify white grout when a colored grout actually makes the colored tile look better.

Can Dark Grout Be Stained a Lighter Color?

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to make a dark grout appear lighter. Keep in mind that grout stains are not paints.

In fact, you would never want to apply a paint to grout as they are films and will peel over time. Grout stains penetrate into the grout and carry the color pigments with them. Some stay at the surface so you can see the new color. But never will enough light pigments stay at the surface to mask a dark colored grout.

Are Some Grout Stains Just Paint?

There are grout stain products out that are just paint.

A stain is a thin liquid much like water that soaks into the grout. Paint is thicker like gravy and forms a film on top of the grout.

These messy paints will look horrible. What's more, if it is a paint, it will peel.

Always do a TEST to see if it's a penetrating stain or a paint-like film that sits on the surface of the grout.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters that can stain your tile grout.

Column 507

2×4 vs. 2×6 Exterior Walls

Posted on by Tim Carter
2×4 vs. 2×6 Exterior Walls

Here's a typical 2x6 exterior wall before anything is put in the cavity. A 16-foot-long by 9-foot-tall wall with sheathing on it can easily weigh 200 pounds. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

2x4 and 2x6 framing looks the same but there are significant extra costs to build with 2x6s. How long before you get a payback is a great question.

Revised February 2018

2x4 vs 2x6 Framing TIPS

DEAR TIM: My husband and I are getting ready to build a new home. We want to spend as little as possible on heating and cooling fuel costs. 2x6 wall studs are two inches deeper than standard wall studs allowing you to add more insulation.

How much does it really cost to increase the exterior wall thickness of a house? Is it worth the extra money? What else can we do to lower fuel costs? Karen V., Springfield, IL

Related Links

High-Quality 2x4 Wall Construction Tips

Lumber Shrinkage & New Construction Walls

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from rough carpenters that can build 2x6 walls.

DEAR KAREN: There are several things you need to consider when calculating the cost of increasing the exterior wall thickness of a house. The wall studs, top and bottom wall plates, insulation, and window and door extension jambs will all cost more money.

Once you have calculated the total added cost, you need to calculate how soon you might receive a payback. The soundness of the investment depends upon where you live and how close you are to sea level.

wall cavity

You don't have to have a PhD in math to realize a 2x6 wall cavity has lots more insulation space than that of a 2x4 wall cavity.

Many Things Add to 2x6 Framing Cost

Depending upon the size of your home, the cost to upgrade from 2x4 to 2x6 exterior walls can be significant. I decided to make a list of all the things you need to take into account when you upgrade from 2x4 to 2x6 exterior walls. You have to do your own material takeoff from your own plans to see what it will cost you:

  • Bottom wall plates - in Northeast carpenters double them - one treated one regular
  • Top wall plates - there are always two
  • Window extension jambs
  • Door extension jambs
  • Extra insulation

Big Walls

2x6 walls are bigger than 2x4 walls. They're harder to lift and the headers on exterior walls require more work.

Great builders add 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam to the headers over windows and doors to help cut down on energy bills.

2x4 vs 2x6 Framing Video

This is the best video I could find when editing this column. I'm going to make my own one in the spring because this one is just not that great. However, it's still worth watching.

Calculating the Payback of 2x4 vs 2x6

To calculate the possible payback, you need to determine how much fuel you will save by increasing the wall thickness. This is a very time consuming and complicated process. Thankfully some scientists at the Building Research Council at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have done this. The results of their research are fascinating.

The scientists discovered that two very important things impact the payback period on wall insulation thickness upgrades. The most important item is simple: How cold does it get where you live and how long does it stay cold? There's an accepted method for measuring this from one city to the next

It is called the degree-day method. The meteorologists who work for the National Weather Service calculate this for each day of the heating season in your city.

piecemeal air barrier

This house has a piecemeal air barrier over the OSB sheathing. It might have been better to install plastic-coated OSB and then tape all the butt seams. © 2017 Tim Carter

Degree Days Are The Secret Code

Degree days are easy to calculate. You must determine the average temperature in degrees Fahrenheit for each day of the heating season. Add together the recorded high and low temperature for each day, and divide this sum by 2. Take this average daily temperature and subtract it from 65 degrees.

The result is the total degree days for that date. As the weather gets warmer, you obviously have fewer degree days per day. When the average daily temperature is 65 degrees or more, you have 0 degree days for that date.

The scientists at the University of Illinois determined that if you live in an area that experiences 5,750 or more degree days per year, then it begins to make economic sense to switch to 2x6 exterior walls.

CLICK HERE to see how many degree days you have where you live.

The more heating degree days you have above 5,750 the faster your payback will occur.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from rough carpenters that can build 2x6 walls.

Altitude Factors In Too

Altitude above sea level also makes a difference. Those people who live closer to sea level experience a more rapid conductive heat loss through the air. Because the air is denser as you get closer to sea level, heat travels from air molecule to air molecule more quickly.

For every 1,000 foot gain in altitude, five percent less heat is lost through conduction. This is one reason why solar energy houses work great in mountain areas and perform poorly in seaside situations. Houses at or near sea level need to be well insulated and tightly sealed.

People who live in the Sun Belt of the United States who tend to use air conditioners much more than furnaces face the same tough choices as you do. The cooler a person wishes the inside of their house to be, the more sense it makes to upgrade to 2x6 walls.

A person who prefers an indoor temperature of 70 F during the summer months will use considerably more energy than a person who can survive an indoor temperature of 76 F. The added insulation that a 2x6 wall provides will allow the 70 F house to achieve a much more rapid payback.

Don't Forget Attic Insulation

Probably the best way to save energy is to increase the amount of attic insulation. Heat loss is significant through insulated ceiling areas because of the large footprint of the attic space as a percentage of the building envelope.

Consider upgrading your blown-in attic insulation to a R-value of 38 or higher. I put in enough fiberglass in a my home I built in Cincinnati, OH to achieve a R-58 attic insulation value.

AAMA-Approved Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are another significant source of heat loss and heat gain. Purchase the best windows and doors you can afford.

Windows and doors that have the AAMA Gold label are the best hands down.

Look for ones that have the lowest air-infiltration loss through the weatherstripping and the highest overall R-value.

You should also invest in air-infiltration barriers. These will block those toasty warm air molecules from escaping your magnificent new home during the winter months!

The latest trend in house sheathing makes it so you don't need an air barrier. The OSB has a plastic coating on it that passes water vapor but doesn't allow liquid water to enter you home.

The carpenters apply a sticky tape to the seams of the plastic-coated OSB creating a wind-proof barrier.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from rough carpenters that can build 2x6 walls.

Column 217

Andersen, Pella and Marvin Window Comparisons

Posted on by Tim Carter
marvin windows reviews

Marvin windows review: These are Marvin double hung windows in my own home. It's a Queen Anne Victorian I built for my family that looks like it was built in 1890. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

"If you want the best windows out there, then you want ones that carry the American Architectural Manufacturing Association's (AAMA) Gold Label."

Andersen, Pella and Marvin Window Reviews Checklist

  • Look for AAMA Gold Label
  • Higher prices usually equate to high quality
  • READ installation instructions yourself - don't HOPE they get installed right
  • Watch my Marvin Window Installation VIDEO Below!
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE& FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I was looking at your web page for some information on windows, specifically for Pella window reviews and Marvin window reviews.

I thought I had a handle on the basics of double pane, gas-sealed, low-e, high-efficiency thermo-pane windows, but from what I've seen of Pella windows, they're not sealed at all.

To me, this blows the whole "sealed = high efficiency" thing out of the water. How can Pella boast high/higher efficiency, when all they seem to do is provide two unsealed panes of glass? Am I missing something?

I know some folks swear by Pella, but to me, Andersen or Marvin seem to be a better product because their windows actually provide a sealed-space, which I thought insulated better.

I like Pella's casement product from a standpoint of no chance of seal failures and fogging, plus the in-between mini-blinds, but I'm not convinced that they actually deliver the same level of efficiency. Vic Johansen, Cincinnati, OH

Related Links

Wood Window Installation Secrets

Window Installation Nightmares - Avoid Them!

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local replacement window contractors in your city or town. Ask about AAMA Gold Label windows.

DEAR VIC: A good friend of mine who happens to be a CPA and a former mentor of mine taught me several years ago that numbers don't lie. When you couple this fact with independent certification numbers assigned by testing laboratories to the different windows, you have a clear-cut method of scientifically choosing top-quality windows.

What are the Best Windows?

The best windows are ones that have the gold AAMA label.

If you want the best windows out there, then you want ones that carry the American Architectural Manufacturing Association's (AAMA) Gold Label. CLICK HERE to discover all about this very important certification.

Windows that sport the gold AAMA label are simply the best ones made. Period.

What was Pella's Old Window Design?

Pella's window design for years has used a removable pane of glass that had a built-in gasket. This gasket, believe it or not, produced a seal that could rival those of the insulated glass you see in other windows.

Pella window reviews all show that Pella windows now have insulated glass. Years ago they offered a model that married the insulated glass with a third removable gasketed glazed panel.

What Windows Have you Installed, Tim?

I've installed all three windows, Andersen, Pella and Marvin in my jobs in the past. The last home I build for myself and my family had Marvin windows in it. They were gorgeous up-down sash windows with authentic divided lites that matched the Queen Anne architecture style of the home.

Marvin Windows Reviews - I Loved Mine

My wife and I loved our Marvin up-down sash windows. I installed them myself and the quality was superb. The fit and finish was exactly what you'd expect from a top manufacturer.

I currently live in New Hampshire. I didn't build the house I'm in, but it has Andersen windows and doors throughout it. They were installed around the year 2001 and at the time this column was revised in 2017, they all were doing well. I've not had one seal failure or any other type of problem.

The jobs where I installed Pella windows all went smoothly. Not one of my customers ever complained about their Pella windows.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window installers in your city or town.

Is Correct Installation Important?

Correct installation is very important. You can ruin a great window with a bad installation job.

You can't hope your expensive windows will be installed correctly. I beg you to take a little time, once you've made your decision, and read the simple installation instructions.

Be familiar with the steps the contractor must take so you don't have any water or air leaks.

Here's a video I taped years ago covering the most basic steps in the window installation process:

Should I Use Expandable Foam Insulation?

Yes, be sure to use expandable foam insulation around your windows. You want the brand that's made for windows and doors. Look at the image just below for a great one.

Read your installation instructions and see if you're allowed to use expandable foam. It provides the best seal.

But you can't use just any foam. Use the wrong one and it will expand too much causing the windows to not work, or seal, right.

You can buy a special foam that is meant to use for windows and doors. Here's one I've used with great success:

Touch-n-Foam

This is a brand-name foam that's meant to be sprayed around the frames of windows and doors. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO BUY IT.

Is Window Flashing Tape Necessary?

Window flashing tape is necessary to prevent leaks. There are many different tapes and some confusion about how they're to be installed.

Most new windows come with a nailing, or installation flange. This flange is integral in the frame and provides a waterproof seal.

It's imperative this flange be taped with a rubberized adhesive tape that is applied over the flange and to the sidewall of the house.

The tape needs to be installed so it sheds water that might get behind the exterior covering of the house. The window installation instructions cover how these tapes should be installed.

Here's a great flashing tape to consider:

pella windows review

You can see the flashing tape framing the window. The nailing flange is beneath the wide tape. CLICK THIS IMAGE NOW TO ORDER THIS GREAT TAPE.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window installers in your city or town.

Column QA

Fence Posts

Posted on by Tim Carter
Fence Posts

This 4-foot-tall fence post is as straight as the day it was installed. It was not set in concrete. It required twenty cuts with a circular saw to create the angled grooves and the pointed post top. I made those cuts in just fifteen minutes. © 2018 Tim Carter

"If you're setting fence posts, you may want to consider using concrete at corner posts and on each side of a gate. Those are the only places I'd ever use it."

Fence Post Checklist

DEAR TIM: What's the preferred method to set fence posts? My 5-foot-tall solid-picket privacy fence has had some issues over the past ten years. The latest problem is posts set in concrete that have snapped.

I've installed some temporary steel fence posts to stabilize the fence as winter winds have caused it to lean. How would you install wood fence posts? Should I be using treated fence posts? Ron W., Maumee, OH

Related Links

What Size Fence Posts are Best? SECRET TIPS - DO NOT SHARE

Repair a Loose Fencing Post - ONLY SHARE WITH FRIENDS

DEAR RON: Fence posts can be a real hassle. I've fixed my fair share of them over the years. My guess is there are as many opinions as to the right way to set fence posts as there are posts encircling a one-acre field! But about fifteen years ago, I stumbled upon a method of setting wood fence posts that appears to be working really well.

Does Wind Cause Problems With Fences?

Your fence posts have a tremendous amount of force against them each time the wind blows. You may not think a 5-foot-tall fence is high, but in terms of wind load, it is substantial.

To get an idea of what I am talking about, lift a 4x8 sheet of plywood up and take it outdoors on a windy day. If you're not prepared, the wind may either knock you over or rip the plywood from your hands. Imagine the pressure on the entire fence being held back by a single fence post every 8 feet!

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fence contractors.

What is the Most Common Fence Post Size?

The average wood fence post seems to be a square timber that is a 4-inch by 4-inch post or possibly a 6-inch by 6-inch post. The surface area of the post in the soil is what determines how quickly a fence will tip in the wind. Smaller fence posts will yield much faster than larger posts assuming both are buried at the same depth.

These are 6x6 posts. The wind load on this fence will be significant because it's a solid wall. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

How Deep Should Fence Posts Be?

Your fence posts need to be deep in the ground to resist tipping forces, whatever they may be. To prevent your fence from tipping over from gravity or the wind, you need to think about leverage.

My first real fence I built was back in the 1980's. It was a gorgeous wood fence that's still in fantastic shape today. The tip of the posts was only 4 feet out of the ground, but they extended 2 feet into the soil.

When the fence was complete the posts were extremely solid. Had they only been in the ground about 1 foot, I know I could have tipped the fence with little effort.

Where Should Concrete Be Used?

If you're setting fence posts, you may want to consider using concrete at corner posts and on each side of a gate. Those are the only places I'd ever use it.

Why? Keep reading.

Is Crushed Gravel a Good Idea?

The trick I discovered is that you can use crushed, angular gravel to trick the wind into thinking a massive fence post is installed. The crushed gravel is affordable and it is easier to deal with than concrete that becomes as solid as a rock.

What is Crushed Gravel?

Crushed gravel consists of small pieces of angular stone that have irregular sharp edges. You want the pieces of gravel to range from the size of a large grape down to the size of coarse granular sugar.

crushed gravel

This is a good example of crushed gravel. It's wet and has an assortment of sizes of angular gravel ranging from large grapes down to sand-sized pieces like granular sugar. It interlocks together making a dense material. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

crushed gravel

This is an example of crushed washed gravel. When it's washed, the smaller pieces that range down to granular sugar are missing. You want to have small pieces for fence posts so the stone knits together much like concrete without the Portland cement. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

The angular nature of the rock and different random sizes interlock to create a very dense material that's quite like poured concrete.

You're about to discover how hard it is to deal with concrete that is deep in the ground around your fence posts. My guess is that you will be swearing like a sailor by the time you get to removing the concrete around your third fence post.

Is it Hard To Remove Concrete Around a Fence Post?

It is extremely hard to remove concrete that's poured around a fence post. Many people don't think about how hard it will be in the future to take out what they're putting in.

Breaking up a concrete sidewalk is not too bad. Wait until you try to break apart and lift out of a hole, the concrete you placed around a fence post 15 years earlier!

What is a Simple Way to Install a Fence Post?

My method of setting fence posts is quite simple. If I'm installing a 4x4 wood fence post, I dig a hole 10 inches in diameter. The depth of the hole is important.

My tests over the years have shown that the amount of buried post should be half the length that extends above the ground. In your case my guess is your fence posts were taller than the fence, so your wood fence posts should be in the ground at least 3 feet.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fence contractors.

Should Posts be Plumb and In Line?

When it is time to install the fence post, be sure it is in line with the other posts and it is plumb. It is also important that the fence post is centered in the hole.

How Do You Install Crushed Gravel Around the Posts?

Start to add the crushed gravel in 5-inch lifts. This means add 5 inches of gravel around the post and use a long heavy 2x4 to tamp and compact the gravel. Add a little bit of water to the gravel as you tamp it. The water helps compact the gravel.

Each time you are finished tamping the gravel, check to make sure the fence post is still in the correct position.

Continue to install the crushed gravel until it is just a few inches from the top of the hole. You can add topsoil to finish off filling the hole in case you want vegetation around the fence post. Some people like the look of gravel, so it can extend to the surface. You can even use decorative, colored gravel if you like to finish off the hole.

Does the Gravel Lock the Post in Place?

The mass of interlocking gravel acts like an anchor when the wind blows against the fence. It also can facilitate drainage of water away from the fence post as the soil moisture drops in late spring and all summer long.

Is Gravel Easier to Remove?

The gravel is also easier to remove than solid concrete in the event you need to work on the fence in the future. A metal spud bar will quickly loosen crushed gravel that has been in the ground for many years.

What Fences Have the Least Wind Load?

Fences that are not solid have less wind load against them. A split-rail fence or a regular picket fence that has spaces between the individual pickets allows much of the wind to pass through the fence thus lowering the tipping force. In these instances, the fence posts do not have to be buried as deeply.

What is the Best Treated Lumber For Fence Posts?

If you decide to use treated fence posts, be sure to use the proper timbers. Not all treated lumber is approved for burial in the ground. The treated fence posts should be labeled that they are approved for direct burial.

This is treated lumber that was not buried! It's been regularly sealed yet it still rotted out! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

When Should I Call 811?

Always be sure to call the national Call-Before-You-Dig Number a few days before you start your fence project. Simply dial 811 or go to their website www.call811.com. You may prevent death, serious injury or substantial expense by doing this. You would not be the first person to strike an electric line, phone line or even a buried natural gas line with a posthole digger!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fence contractors.

Column 713