Revive, Renew & Protect
By: Laura A. Farhy
Pine straw before & after StrawGuard application. Photo courtesy of StrawGuard.
Deck after DeckRevive application.
Worn wood sample showing before & after DeckRevive application. DeckRevive photos courtesy of Gulf Synthetics.
Spring is here and when our fickle weather isn't interfering, homeowners are anxious to soak in the sun and spend some quality time in their yards. When it's time to refresh that outdoor space for spring, determining where to start may be a little overwhelming. Here are a few innovative and budget friendly ways you can revitalize your outdoor landscape beds and surfaces, renewing and protecting them from the upcoming heat of summer.
Wood Revival:
As the weather warms and pollen fades, we head eagerly into our backyards and to entertain our friends, families and neighbors - and hope that our winter-worn decks aren't giving guests splinters! We've discovered a product that can renew your tired, worn deck and save you money and maintenance in the long run.
At Gulf Synthetics, they have created a magnificent product that easily smoothes out splintery, worn decks (and even one for those crack-riddled patios). "Homeowners can easily restore their concrete and decks with our DeckRevive and ConcreteRevive products. It's a homeowner friendly, weekend project," says Mitch Wood of Gulf Synthetics. Replacing deck boards or concrete can get expensive, but DeckRevive and ConcreteRevive are alternative solutions, offering renewed beauty and long-lasting protection, as long as you treat your surfaces before they are beyond repair.
The DeckRevive acrylic polymer coating can be combined with your choice of paint, effectively covering the nooks and crannies of your knotty deck or dock; smoothing unwanted splinters and toe-stubbing nail heads. The end result is a beautiful "fire and slip resistant textured surface that will provide years of maintenance-free enjoyment for the homeowner," states Mitch. Investing in a can of environmentally friendly DeckRevive will cost you around 50 dollars, and save you the aggravation of annually applying traditional deck stains and sealers.
Concrete Renewal:
The onslaught of bad weather, extreme temperature changes and repeated pressure washing can take their toll. If your concrete is still in good shape, but lacks the original beauty, consider Acid Stain and Concrete Etching to improve these outdoor surfaces.
Acid Stain is available in a variety of earth-tone colors to compliment any home or landscape design. In a few simple steps, your existing concrete is acid washed, stained and sealed for easy maintenance. Simply re-seal about every 3 years to maintain the original beauty. "You can even add a design for a fraction of the cost of new concrete stamping by having a pattern "etched" into your patio or driveway with a saw, prior to the staining step above," recommends Richard Untch of R&B Concrete Floors.
Richard warns that "if your concrete is in bad shape - deeply cracked, shifting or uneven - it is more cost effective to replace the existing slab, as opposed to resurfacing." If badly worn concrete is resurfaced, "it's like putting good money to waste. Your deep cracks and uneven areas will reappear, often within as little as a year."
Ground Cover Protection:
Buying pine straw or mulch for landscape beds is a regular yard maintenance expense for most, and is usually on the to-do list this time of year. Before you run to the local DIY store for supplies or schedule with your landscaper, check this out. StrawGuard offers a topically applied colorant for pine straw, woodchips and even grass - that renews and protects, if you have at least one inch of existing mulch or fresh pine straw.
Their innovative product is designed to permanently adhere to the surface of mulch, pine straw and grass; providing a barrier that slows material break-down and color that lasts much longer than untreated material. Because it's naturally extracted from the earth, StrawGuard colorants are environmentally friendly and safe to use around kids, animals and plants.
John Baugus of StrawGuard explains, "Our pine straw colorant allows property owners to enjoy vibrantly colored plant beds for 6-8 months, instead of 6 - 8 weeks - reducing the quantity of pine straw needed for touch up over the course of the year." So, not only do you reduce the amount of pine straw and mulch you are using, but you gain an extended color-life on what you do replace.
Resource Guide:
DeckRevive: www.GulfSynthetics.com. Available at Ace Hardware Windermere, 678-771-8075
R & B Concrete Floors, Inc.: runtch@aol.com; 770-374-1234
StrawGuard, Inc.: www.StrawGuard.net; 678-776-0353
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