Reviving decks, concrete
Rust-Oleum has a new resurfacing product designed to revive aging decks and concrete surfaces.
The product, Deck and Concrete Restore, is 10 times as thick as regular paint or stain. It's meant for surfaces that are structurally sound but unattractive.
The water-based coating locks down splinters, fills cracks and hides other imperfections to create a more attractive, slip-resistant surface. It also protects against moisture and sun damage.
The product is available at Lowe's and Home Depot. Suggested retail price is $49.97 per gallon.
Are curtains blocking heat?
Q: I have a heating register in front of a window in my front room, directly beneath the curtains. The register directs heat ahead, up and sideways, so when the heat comes on, the curtains move a bit. I guess it's shooting heated air between the window and the curtains. Is this causing the rest of the room to lose heat?
A: Possibly. If the curtains are closed, they can act like a blanket, keeping some of the warmed air from the register from reaching the room, said Harvey Sachs, a buildings specialist and senior fellow at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. He recommended keeping the curtains open during the day when the furnace is running and also buying a floor register air deflector, which lets you direct the air out into the room but not up into the curtains.
If you turn the thermostat back at night, however, Sachs suggests closing the curtains at night. The furnace will be coming on less often, and the curtains will help keep the warmth from the room from escaping through the window.
