Sunday, September 21, 2003
Aqua Hands gloveshave gardeners covered
Water: It's great in the garden, but not always on the gardener. So if you want to make the right kind of splash tending your plants, try slipping on a pair of Aqua Hands.
Although the cotton-lined vinyl gloves were designed primarily for use with water gardens, they adapt well for anyone who wants the extra protection of a clear plastic sleeve that reaches 27 inches up the arm, holding tight with elastic edging.
They're $22 in unisex small, medium, large and extra-large sizes from New York Botanical Garden at www.nybgshopinthe garden.org or by calling (718) 817-8073.
RootVue Farm kit getskids' interest growing
Say, what about those fast-growing little sprouts you're cultivating outside your garden? Namely, your kids. If you want to make sure their interest in plants gets firmly rooted at a young age, consider the RootVue Farm kit, suitable for kids 4 and older.
Available for $27.95 in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden gift shop or for $25.95 online, the mini-laboratory comes with seeds, growing mix and even a special window that helps keep interest up as the plants' roots grow down.
Available online at www.bbg.org.
Battery-operated kitis 3 pruning tools in 1
One problem with tree and shrub maintenance is having the right type of power equipment -- pruners, trimmers and saws. In most cases, these items are sold separately and are often gas-powered.
On small properties, who needs a loud, heavy, gas-powered trimmer?
Homelite Consumer Products offers a solution with a three-in-one pruning kit that operates on rechargeable 18-volt NiCad batteries.
The kit includes a pole pruner for brush and small branches, a hedge trimmer for shrubs and bushes, and a 10-inch chain saw for larger tree branches.
The kit, which includes a one-hour charger and two 18-volt rechargeable batteries, is available at The Home Depot for $179.
National Geographicsells birding products
Now this is for the birds. Literally.
National Geographic recently launched a line of birding products.
Backyard birders can choose from an array of birdhouses and bird feeders, such as the Napa Wild Bird Feeder, which is solid steel, rust-resistant, holds up to 21/2 pounds of seed, and is perfect for attracting jays, finches, cardinals and grosbeaks.
Also, birders can find several varieties of birdseed, including safflower seed, which deters squirrels; finch blend; or cardinal and songbird blend. Each bag of birdseed describes the birds it attracts and has instructions on storage. All bird feeders and houses include educational information on how to attract birds and how to care for the items.
National Geographic's birding products are available exclusively at Lowe's stores. Call (800) 44-LOWES or visit www.lowes.com for more information.
Free book offers ideasfor bath and kitchen
Thinking of remodeling the kitchen or bathroom?
If you'd like some tips, suggestions or a bit of inspiration, call for your free copy of "Ideas: Kitchens & amp; Baths Made Easy from American Standard."
The 63-page book offers expert advice and innovative solutions for your remodeling projects. Articles include the transformation of "America's Ugliest Bathroom" into an elegant one, how to customize your kitchen sink to suit your needs and how to create a period-style bathroom.
The "Ideas" book is available free by calling (800) 899-2614.
Different methodsof installing hardwood
Hardwood flooring can be glued, nailed or left floating.
However, in some instances the method of adhesion is determined by the type of floor being covered.
For example, plank flooring should not be glued to concrete. This is because there can be enough moisture in concrete to cause such flooring to twist and buckle. On the other hand, the small pieces of material that are used to make parquet flooring are not readily affected by moisture, and that is why parquet is recommended for use over concrete.
In kitchens, regardless of the type of floor that exists, finished-in-place, square-edge material should be used. The square edges eliminate grooves that become food traps, and when a hardwood floor is finished, seams and joints are protected from water spills.
Laminated flooring isgood choice over concrete
Homes built on a concrete slab often have cold floors.
Hardwood is a way to warm both the appearance and what's underfoot.
Can wood flooring be installed over concrete? Yes and no.
Water vapor travels through a concrete slab making it impossible to install solid flooring without having it end up twisted, cupped or cracked.
Such isn't the case with parquet or laminated hardwood flooring, which can be installed directly over concrete with proper preparation.
Some laminated flooring products called "floating floors" are installed over a layer of foam. The individual planks are glued to each other, but are not anchored to the floor.
If solid, finished-in-place flooring is a must, a vapor barrier, a layer of three-quarter-inch plywood underlayment, and plenty of nails will do the trick.
Preparation is keyto painting concrete
Paint is an affordable and useful means of improving the appearance of a concrete floor. A path, porch, patio, garage floor, driveway, carport or basement floor are primary candidates for such a finish.
As with any painting project, the key to a successful job has much to do with preparation. In order for the paint to properly adhere, the surface should be thoroughly washed with a solution consisting of 1 cup of powdered laundry detergent and 1 cup of liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of hot water. For maximum results, exterior areas such as patios, carports and driveways should be power-washed or steam-cleaned.
To further improve adhesion, the concrete should be lightly etched with a 10-percent solution of muriatic acid. Be sure to use caution when working with acid by carefully following the manufacturer's directions. Although latex floor paints are the most widely used finish, oil-base and epoxy paints are more abrasion-resistant and tend to last longer.
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