Advice on waterproofing your deck

Even if you undertook the task of building your own deck, you understand the large investment (both monetary and in time) that went into the project. Decks add beauty and value to a home, and are often the family’s favorite place on lovely afternoons. In order to protect that investment, deck waterproofing is nearly as important as making sure your basement is dry and safe from water damage.

After the completion of your deck, either you or the contracted builder should seal the wood with a water-resistant coating. Water-resistant sealants are painted on the wood, covering the entire deck. This coating helps to protect the wood from absorbing excess water. Not only does this seal the deck but also provides wonderful preservation of the deck’s beauty.

If you choose to use redwood for your deck, waterproofing can extend the life of the wood’s color. It is strongly recommended that you seal this type of wood prior to construction. This ensures that the wood was properly and evening coated with the deck waterproofing sealant. When using redwood for construction, be sure re-apply the sealant coating once every 12 to 18 months in order to prevent the wood from darkening.

Untreated wood will eventually become damaged. Being submitted to harsh weather and direct sunlight is often a killer of untreated wood. Wood can begin to rot, crack, and in severe cases, provide an open invitation to termites. Redwood is not as prone to rot and other damage as softer, lighter woods. Despite its durability, you should seriously consider waterproofing for enhanced beauty. Deck waterproofing is the only way to prevent premature damage to your deck. Decks are often a substantial investment and deck waterproofing is insurance for your peace of mind.

Making the most of article marketing

If you’ve been in online business long at all, you have probably heard a great deal about article marketing and how much it can do to build your business. It may sound like hype, but there are definitely benefits to be had from writing articles to drive traffic to your website.

There are two basic things you can do with articles. The first is to post them on your website as a way to give the search engines more reason to refer people to your website. The second is to use them as a way to build backlinks to your site without having to reciprocate.

Posting articles on your site works quite well as a tactic. I recommend keeping things as unique as possible. There is a place for private label articles or articles from article directories, but you will do best with unique content. If you use private label articles, do at least a minor rewrite. If you use articles from article directories, comment on the article or create a summary of it, so that your page is not identical to every other one that has published that article.

However, without links to your site, it doesn’t matter how great your content is. The search engines need to be able to find your website in order to index the content. Backlinks are one of the great ways to do this.

Reciprocal links have been used for a long time, and they can be pretty effective. However, they are also quite tedious to get. A well-written article, submitted to the article directories, however, may be posted on many sites, all with the link of your choice in the resource box. Yet all it costs is the effort of getting the article written.

Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of having to write. Who said you had to be the one to do it? You can always hire someone to write for you. However, this requires that you be very careful to check over their work. This article is going to represent your business after all. Since not all of us can write well this is a great way to get quality articles created.

When it comes time to submit your articles, you will want to hire someone to do it, use a software that lets you select appropriate categories or use an article submission service. If you don’t use something to make your life easier, you can take hours to submit a single article.

Are your results immediate? You can see some results relatively quickly, but as with anything else online, it does take some time get the full benefit. You can be seen as a great resource or an expert on the topic of your choice. You might make more sales or have a busier website. But there are no promises. You have to do a good job with your articles to improve your chances.

Covered bridges - discovering a north american living history

Covered Bridges first appeared in the U. S. around 1805, but the history of these monuments to another age date back thousands of years to China. Covered bridges had also existed in Europe since medieval times and there were once hundreds of them in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

But it’s here in the Northeastern U. S., where wooden covered bridge design and construction reached its pinnacle in the nineteenth century. A combination of pressing need, plentiful old growth northern forests, and sheer Yankee ingenuity, advanced the development of wooden covered bridges to a rare combination of marvelous engineering feats that were also pleasing to the eye.

WHY SO MANY COVERED BRIDGES IN THE NORTHEAST?

The northeast is a region of rivers, streams and creeks. As the population surged out away from coastal areas into the forested interior, villages sprung up near water sources. The water source was used to power mills in these towns, and villages often developed on both banks of a stream or river. Bridges were the obvious answer to connect these divided communities, and provide access for townsfolk to things like school, worship, and supplies.

But why cover them?

While much speculation has been put forth on this topic; the simple answer is protection against the weather for the bridge. Here in New England, where I live, covered wooden bridges last about three times as long as those exposed to the elements, and reduce bridge maintenance as well. During the 19th and early 20th century very few bridges built were not covered.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT COVERED BRIDGES...

Most historians agree the first covered bridge in America was The Permanent Bridge completed in 1805 in Pennsylvania, originally designed by Timothy Palmer from New England. The longest known covered bridge is The Hartland in New Brunswick, Canada, which at 1,282 feet spans the Saint John River.

But perhaps the most famous covered bridges are in Madison County, Iowa. The Bridges of Madison County used to number 19, but today only six survive. Robert James Waller’s novel, and the movie of the same name, popularized these bridges to millions worldwide, and also provided evidence that covered bridges in North America are by no means limited to the Northeast region.

A question often asked is why so many of the bridges are painted red on the outside?

Historians believe the red coating makes the bridge seem more like a barn to a horse, and as horses tended to be skittish about crossing above flowing water, the illusion helped farmers and travelers navigate the obstacle with little incident from their four-legged friends.

THE CHANGING FACE OF THE COVERED BRIDGE IN NORTH AMERICA

As the twentieth century progressed bridge construction changed and metal manufactured truss bridges became first choice over wood. The ease of construction, increased strength, and low cost of these metal bridges became too overwhelming to ignore for budget conscious communities in the U. S.

The "work horse" bridges of the 19th century gave way to economics, and most wooden covered bridges in the U. S. quickly disappeared, except for the 800 left for admirers to view today. Though many of the remaining covered bridges still carry traffic - even cars - most are kept and maintained for tourism, and as a reminder of our heritage.

VIEWING OF COVERED BRIDGES...

For sheer volume Pennsylvania and Vermont take honors, accounting for well over a third of the remaining bridges.

Self-guided tours are also popular in New England for covered bridge vacations, particularly in Vermont and New Hampshire where many of the bridges are close to other destination and attraction spots.

As a covered bridge enthusiast I can tell you half the fun is finding the bridges. The major highways bypassed the roads where most bridges are located many years ago, making the remoteness of a covered bridge sometimes an adventure in locating. While covered bridges make ideal photo opportunities there’s much more to view than just a pretty picture.

Experts suggest appreciating the bridge by first taking in the design and massive timbers used in the framework. For authentic bridges these timbers came from virgin forests where 100 feet high trees were common.

As you view an authentic covered bridge remember it was built for a simple functional purpose - getting from one bank to other. But it was constructed with the skill and care of craftsmen, who’ve unwittingly left a rich heritage for future generations to enjoy. Treasure these woodworking masterpieces as you travel rural North America, and rediscover a symbol of the pioneering spirit that embraced both U. S. and Canada during the nineteenth century.