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Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea. While termites are commonly known, especially in Australia, as “white ants,” they are only distantly related to the ants. They will feed around and in moistened wood and lumber as well, gates – doors and windows – siding – eaves and fascia boards , that get wet during rain , plumbing leaks or everyday home watering. Building anything that rids of moisture will aid in your fight against the elements of nature.
There are products for protecting against termite infestation on the market including local sprays , orange oil. These can lower the termite control costs and help you DIY the termite treatment(s) around your home.
Like ants, some bees, and wasps—which are all placed in the separate order termites divide labour among castes, produce overlapping generations and take care of young collectively. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung, and about 10 percent of the estimated 4,000 species are economically significant as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance.
Action is needed to remedy anything. The everyday bath fan has many upsides, when the ductwork is done correctly all else will follow. Mold has proved to be unhealthful for a lot of us, but to avoid mold and mildew in our very frequently used bathrooms has never been easier. Any diy’er has the ability to execute change, and we here at My-DIY.net aim to give back a solution that is inexpensive and simple.
In the image here it shows the creative way to use ductwork in a bathroom shower exhaust fan. With the ceiling 2×4 framing disallowing a direct air flow, the 90 degree duct gets us up and out in the shortest distance without constricting or pinching the ducting. Home Depot stocks this exhaust fan elbow ducting in house and it is extremely easy to DIY or Do It Yourself, when we have all the right information to avoid mold and mildew in our families bathrooms for cleaner healthier living.
When searching through the exhaust fans available on line, it is noted here that the volume of air exchanged and the Ultra-quiet motors operate at sone level reading per noisiness factor. But most importantly, moving the wet air up and out as your hot and steamy shower continues. But, in order for a bath fan to be able to perform it’s duties it must draw air from someplace?? Be certain there is a significant gap underneath the bathroom door 3/4″ or so , and or crack open the bathroom window just enough to aide in the CFM also known as the cubic feet of air per minute. Good luck and DIY , Today!
How to waterproof a masonry blockwall , with a stucco finish painted, often the paint appears to create bubble pockets and destroy the visual surface. Retaining walls in yards have garden beds that require weekly watering and irrigation, but even when french drain systems are implemented, the concrete masonry block wall soak’s up and absorbs the moisture. As the moisture filters through the wall it is slowly breaking down causing water damage and destroying the integrity of the structural block wall. 
Xypex crystaline Concentrate is designed to work as long as the is intact, we have used this process on either the positive or the negative side of painted block wall surfaces. For repairs of existing finishes, all the painted finish coat must get removed. Small jack hammer or pneumatic chisel, the paint and the finish float coat, as well as the brown coat gets demoed off. Any cracks or deteriorated openings need to be treaty and filled prior to the Xypex application. Hairline cracks won’t be affected, but any 1/8″ or larger cannot allow the Xypex formula to perform it’s magic.
Once the demolition process is complete, a slurry mix of Xypex concentrate can be sprayed or brushed on, the thicker the better. After curing is complete a finish stucco can be reapplied to desired appearance. If being painted again, the paint has to be breathable and not an elastomeric sealer or the like. Be sure to consult your local codes and read all instructions pertaining to products used.
The best is here and now, we use Xypex to waterproof from the positive or negative sides of block walls that have been painted and their products work like nothing else on the market. Read further that even the President agrees with this newer waterproofing method, who knows how much he may know about building and construction methods? But we know here at My-diy that its works, over and over ……….
Remarks by President Obama concerning:
“NEW CONCRETE MATERIALS THAT LAST LONGER AND ARE WATERPROOFED FROM THE INSIDE OUT...”
At a press conference on July 2nd, 2009 in the Rose Garden of The White House, President Obama, after meeting with CEOs from a number of “innovative energy companies”, spoke about a new clean energy economy and the importance of encouraging these companies’ efforts.
Based on his discussions with these CEOs, President Obama cited energy saving examples such as LED lighting and solar energy innovation. Most importantly, from our point of view, he also included comments about new concrete materials:
“New concrete materials that last longer and are waterproofed from the inside out, and that can mean that bridges and roads and buildings can last 20 or 30 years longer than using conventional concrete.”
His comment indeed represents support for integral concrete waterproofing as an alternative to traditional membrane or barrier systems, a challenge and opportunity that has been the very basis of the concept, design and development of Xypex crystalline technology. Xypex has, without doubt, led the way with integral concrete waterproofing in North America and, although The President did not endorse any particular product, we are very pleased that he is so clearly drawing attention to our type of technology and innovation.
D’Arcy Mainwaring
President
Whatever may be in disrepair around your home will eventually need quite a bit more attention as time elapses. Does your rain gutter hold water from 2 weeks ago when it last rained? As much as we would love to ignore this fact, what you may not realize that the nearest seam is breaking down and starting to leak, could be a small drip straight to the front porch or it might just be working its way through the fascia board and rotting away at the roof’s eave or a few rafter tails. Hence causing more dry rot and or concrete water damage than the earlier quick minor repair, sealing the rain gutter.
Procrastination isn’t the name of the game if we really ever want to get anywhere folks, a buck ahead for that proverbial rainy day and or as Napoleon Hill once wrote “money conscious or poverty conscious” which way is your mind taking you? Another marketing genius and extremely successful self made entrepreneur, is Jeffrey Combs and his whole mantra is about already being instead of waiting to be, it all begins at that perception of ” somethings else that needs to be done as a home improvement project” when it should be thought of as ” protecting the biggest investment in your portfolio”. See you at the new rich extravaganza !!
The incredible thing about water and the world is there can be nothing in existence without it. Perhaps all my readers certainly understand this concept, unlike when traping water and the damage it will surely cause over any amount of time. The average home annual upkeep is approximately $2,100 U.S. with weekly or monthly service accounts included. The longer that i have facilitated products and fabrication of home repairs / home maintenance / remodels / and additions etc., the further my conclusions have generated the simple fact that water needs an out. As this element evaporates and emits the gases needed while drying, my team and i have seen it move 1000′s of pounds of cement, hardwood flooring, and stucco IE., to completely disintegrate and destroy almost any type of building material[s].![retaining wall french drain [A WATER CAN GET OUT SYSTEM]](http://www.my-diy-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cimg0135-768x1024.jpg "retaining wall french drain [A WATER CAN GET OUT SYSTEM]")
The image here will allow the reader a little insight to this building to avoid water damage idea, this is a 4″ french drain designed to catch normal water runoff and push it to the downhill side of the 8″ block retaining wall, it is actually sitting atop the highest part of the lower footing [ not dirt ] and will filter through and out to the natural grade.
Can you believe my client actually paid for this for this fascia board/ termite repairs, removal and replacement, 2-1/2 years ago, in California during a drought period. We also will point out that 1×6 fascia board was not pre-primed before install and fastened by the drip edge metal roof flashing by the face nails through the bottom half of the drip edge flashing. Forcing it tight against and not letting it perform it’s designed task.
Extremely important is the fact that the moisture has to fall free from the roof and away from the face of the fascia board. This allows the costly repairs of real estate construction work, more time [6-10 years] between home improvement repairs.
Tools required: nail puller / small prybar / tin snips / electric reciprocating saw [sawzall] / straight claw hammer / primer / paint brush etc. DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME and REAP the REWARDS of HOME OWNERSHIP!
To fully understand how to protect the biggest investment in your portfolio’s, the curb appeal that will allow all viewers to smile upon approaching, is the front elevation of the house. Damage caused to the fascia board, often is coming from the top of the roof and not dripping free to the ground or into the rain gutter. 
The illustration here shows how moisture from the roof line is able to fall from above and drip clear and free from the roofs eave, this will absolutely give your home a much longer life span, lower maintenance up keep per a better built fascia board / roof edge metal assemblage.
When the water falls free and does not soak into your hard work on a daily basis, keeping termites farther away and giving you more time to spend doing the things you love.
When there is a will there is always a way for the DIY’er. Concrete mix [redi-mix] bags are sold in 90 lb bags, and there are like move your sleeping 13 year old, but with no handles. If you have a few bags to mix for that patio slab for instance, there is a great technique to facilitate this chore. Diy home improvements for your real estate portfolios. The object to save your back and ease the dumping process. All these types of jobs needs you to get the mix into your choice of mixing bin. IE, wheelbarrow/ electric mixer / bucket or whatever?
[A] 
The first step is to set and lay the bag of mix flat over a short piece of rebar, where the center of the bag will fold as you lift upwards on the rebar.[B] take a utility knife and cut the bag across the width [C] Now as you lift the rebar or halfing tool, the cement, ceramic tile grout or bag of mix, will split into half with the sides standing. The open tops set upright waiting for you to grab and dump into your mixing apparatus. The beauty lies in the fact that for an extra minute of work you’ll be able to continue this fun chore the whole entire day.
Chances are slim to none that you get into a situation that you cannot export concrete from a truck through a pump and into the area needing the cement. But in this case the job at hand proved to be just this challenge. Rental yards have mixers for lease, and the best price i found was $30 u.s. per day, generally the type to be towed to any location, but the wheel span was larger than the 2 side gates we had to pass. So where there’s a will there’s a way proved correct.
Along comes the Home Depot savior again, in that for $300 u.s. a quite electric tool [110v] 1/2 horse bulldog, this 5 cubic feet beauty paid for itself on the 3rd day of performing [no gas]. It’s capacity to keep up with 2 concrete finishers is uncanny, with a 1700 rpm 3 / 90-lb bag / combination of portable and powerful finesse it’s akin to having 2 more guys on the project. Patio work or a block retaining wall, we love this tool. Also this concrete DIY electric tool can break down and easily fit inside the trunk of your car. After watching this baby working, i would have never believed it. We give this tool a 8.5 out of 10, for sure.