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One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

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How to Look After and Maintain Wooden Fencing

September 22, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

How to Look After and Maintain Wooden Fencing

Your wooden fencing is a very important part of your garden, if not the most important part of it. A good and sturdy fence doesn’t only look good and add in some style, it can add value to your home and provide an extra layer of security. Tired, broken and dilapidated garden fence panels are the opposite of this, however, if you are not careful and don’t look after your fence properly, it is easy for what was once a good fence to become a broken and redundant mess.

Keeping up with the maintenance of wooden fencing is quite important. If you don’t look after it and allow it to become too damaged over time, you may find that you end up having to replace the entire thing which is an expensive endeavour indeed. Too many people get complacent and think that just because they’ve got a fence up, they don’t need to worry about anything else – this is wrong.

Also, it looks pretty bad if you ever come to selling your home and you’ve got a sagging and broken mess of a fence. It makes you look lazy and will remove some added value from your home. Although buying good quality fence panels from a well-renowned seller such as Buy Fencing Direct who have 10 and 15 year guarantees on their products will cut down on the maintenance required, you still have to do some from time-to-time. I am here to tell you exactly what to look out for and some of the tasks you will need to perform on occasion.

#1: Fixing Splits and Cracks

This is the keyword here – maintenance. Generally speaking, your fence will last longer if it is maintained. Not repaired, but maintained. A wooden fence panel will sometimes need to have any damaged looked at before it becomes a big problem and you can quite easily glue broken and split pieces of wood back together so long as it is completely dry. A purpose-made wood glue which is waterproof will do the trick. If it is a rather substantial split, then you may well need to clamp the broken piece together so that it holds in place whilst the glue dries.

You should keep any clamping or tape in place for at least 24 hours – longer if possible – to ensure that the glue completely dries out and solidifies. If the job is done properly, you won’t be able to tell that a crack ever existed. You should only apply glue to a fence which is 100% dry otherwise the glue won’t bind the two broken pieces together. It’s also a good idea to ensure that you repair your fence in good weather when there is a low chance of rain.

#2: Exposing New Wood Layers

Over time, the top layer of your wooden fencing will begin to look old and worn out, however, these older wood cells can easily be removed to expose a completely new and fresher looking layer of wood by using a power washer. A typical power washer will deliver enough pressure to get rid of a very thin top layer of wood and wooden cells which have dried out and started to show their age.

You shouldn’t worry about doing this, either – power washing your fence will not remove enough wood cells to make any difference to its size or shape. Just don’t go crazy with an industrial power washer and put it on the highest setting as this could damage and crack the wood. It’s always good to start on a lower setting and adjust upwards as needed rather than start too high, cause some damage, and then adjust down.

#3: Adding Paints, Oils and Preservatives

You should always treat your fencing panels with specialist wood paints, oils, and preservatives which will not only keep your fence looking in prime condition but protect it from the elements too. This is especially important if you live in an environment with rough and unpredictable weather. If you have torrential rain for a good portion of the year and don’t treat your fencing with a waterproof paint, for example, then your fence can become waterlogged and start to rot.

There are lots of different products which are available to help treat your fencing. For example, decking oil makes a fantastic treatment for your fencing as it helps keep fences made from timber free from water. Decking oil also contains UV filters which protects your fencing from the bleaching affect of the sun.

These paints, oils and preservatives typically come in a vast range of colours so getting the look you need to fit the overall theme of your garden shouldn’t be a problem. Many people wrongly think that because it’s a paint made for wood that it will only come in neutral and earthy colours, but that simply isn’t the case – you can find a whole range of vibrant fencing paints and treatments at any good hardware or DIY shop.

Staining your fence is also a great way to add a bit of colour whilst protecting it from the elements. If you live in a rainy area then regular staining of your fence, say two to four times per year, will provide even more protection from the rain. You will know when it’s time to re-seal your fence because you will be able to tell the difference between your fence when it has been freshly sealed and when the sealant and staining has worn off.

Looking after your garden’s fencing isn’t a huge job, yet many people fail to do it. If you have a good quality fence bought from a reputable provider rather than a cheap one which was thrown up in one afternoon, you will likely need to perform much less maintenance than you think. Spending a bit of time every now and then to survey your fence and fix any problems is well worth it, because a fence which is left too long can become so damaged that repair is not possible, meaning the only alternative is to fork out for an entirely new one.

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: DIY, do it yourself, father, fatherhood, fencing, home, house, wooden fence, wooden fencing

Creating Space To Allow For More #DadTime This Fathers Day

June 7, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Lowes Logo

 

Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Lowe’s for this promotion.

As my kids have gotten older we have accumulated more stuff and this stuff distracts from the #DadTime that we have together. It seems the older they get the more things that we have and that means the more things that we have to store. The challenge that I have found in the home that we live in is that the garage that was put on to our home, while large enough for our vehicles, is not large enough for all of the stuff that we have accumulated.

I have for years wanted to find a way to get some of the stuff out of our garage as I am always spending my dad time putting things away (or so it seems). The problem, is that the neighborhood that we live in has specific rules for what we can or can not have on the outside of our home. Luckily, I am the President of our neighborhood association and have for the last few years been working to change our bylaws so that sheds could be allowed. Just this year I was able to get enough votes to add in a provision that would allow ships to be built on a property. Now, the shed has to be a certain size and has to look a certain way butt the best piece of this is that I can now have a shed.

 

Lowes Shed that I will be building!

Can I just take this with me now?

Lowes Shed that I will be building!

So for an early fathers day I bequeathed upon myself the ability to purchase something that would allow me to gain space and #DadTime too, a shed! Recently I took a trip to my local Lowe’s store to check out the sheds that I have seen on their lot for many years. I had been impressed with the look of many of these sheds and now with the change in the bylaws I have the opportunity to actually build one. Almost immediately I found the shed that I wanted, the Heartland Straford Saltbox. It was the right size and the right dimensions for the space that we wanted to place a shed Within. What are the nice thing is is that Lowe’s offers everything that you need to be able to build the shed yourself or you can even pay them to put it up for you if you don’t have the skills or the time to put it up yourself. We ended up ordering everything that we needed for me to be able to start the project and they would deliver everything for a minimal fee and then I was ready to go. Lowes was definitely the right place to go to be able to make this fathers day an amazing one in my perspective!

Lowes Lowes

Well, maybe not completely ready. You see, when I got home I had to actually prepped the area to begin the project because the area that the shed is going in has been an area that has been overgrown for many years. Thus, I had to spend quite a bit of time first Mowing and cutting all of the grassy areas down. Then, I had to take the time to be able to try and flatten out some of the areas as well. We also had to make the decision to get rid of our playset as this would be in the way of where the shed would go and the kids really we’re not using it any further. So we were able to sell the playset and prep the area. I also had to take some time to spray all of the area to try and kill off any grass that was there. Luckily all of the supplies that I needed for that I picked up at Lowe’s as well and I also picked up some weed mat that I can put down under the shed to hopefully keep the weeds to a minimum for the years to come.

Lowes DadTime Shed Project Lowes DadTime Shed Project Lowes DadTime Shed Project Lowes DadTime Shed Project

So I am prepped, ready and waiting for the delivery of the shed so that we can start this project and over the next few weeks I’m going to be working on the project with a few friends. Luckily I have some good people to help me and because I work full time I have to do this kind of slow but as the old adage goes slow and steady wins the race. I have my Kobalt tools at the ready and I am willing and waiting for the fun to begin.

I love that I’m finally able to get the shed that I always wanted and I can do it by building it myself and I am so looking forward to seeing all the extra space that this is going to offer my family once everything is completed as well as all of the extra #DadTime that it is going to give me too now that things can be out of site whenever I need them to be, thus freeing me up for basketball, soccer, baseball or whatever else the girls want to do with this old guy!!

What would a #DadTime project be for you that would draw you closer to your kids? Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

Learn more about Lowe’s and the amazing fathers day gifts that are available!

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Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: #Ad, #DadTime, DIY, do it yourself, fatherhood, lowes

Last Minute Halloween Ideas – Costumes, Games & More #dadchat

October 10, 2014 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Halloween-crafts

Tired of the same ghost and fairy costumes every year on Halloween?  Need some ideas for kid’s parties? Here is a list from Alex Brand of fun costumes, DIY activities and party favors.

  • For those wanting a spooky monster costume; finish it off Face Painting Sticks, Monster Mitts and Monster Clompers.
  • Great for the DIY mom looking to not break the bank for her Princess. Add Hair Chalk Pens and Make Your Own TuTu.
  • Throwing a monster-themed party? Make a competition to see who can throw farther with Monster Toss or blow the biggest bubble usingMonster Bubbles. Finish it off with the winner getting a Bouncy Glow Monsters.
  • No tricks here when you give out party favors like Slinky Jr., Color a Canvas, Chalk Pastels and Sparkle Tattoo Pens to kids without leaving them in a sugar coma.
  • Create a Sherlock Holmes Adventure or Murder Mystery-themed night with these must haves:  My Secret Marker Kit Mini Metal SensorUndercover Spy Kit Spy Scope Fingerprint Kit Rearview Spy Kit or get it all together with Super Sleuth Kit.
  • Satisfy your Halloween sweet tooth with a candy themed party. Kids will forget about eating candy when they can dress up in candy with Arm Candy, DIY Sweet Headbands, Sweet Sparkle Tattoos, Sweet Glitter Nails.
  • Free Halloween-themed Printables at http://www.alextoys.com/blog/printables/halloween-printables/

 

Halloween Sale thru 10/12 at http://www.alextoys.com/product-category/halloween-2/

 

These are just a few ideas, please visit Alex Brands for more and let us know if you want additional information.

Related articles
  • Halloween Candy Alternatives for Trick-or-Treaters ~ It’s Not All About the Candy!
  • Don’t be Frightened – It’s Just Halloween!
  • 15 Fun and Unique DIY Halloween Couples Costumes No One Else Will Think Of
  • Gruesome Twosomes – 10 couples costumes for devilish duos

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: costume, do it yourself, Halloween, Halloween Party Games, Trick-or-treating

Ideas for Making #Summer 2014 the Best One Yet

January 29, 2014 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Summer toes

Summer is the best time of the year (IMHO). It’s the time when you and your kids can get outside, enjoy the weather, and do some fun activities (unlike during the winter when you’re pretty much snowed in). It’s also a time when you can start in on new home and yard projects to make some improvements and have some good family fun.

Not sure where to start? Well, here are some ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

18th Engineers Build Deck

Illuminated & Comfortable

The back yard deck will probably become the focal point for your summer nights. It gives you the ideal location to lounge and spend time with family and friends.

There are many guides to building a deck that are easy to follow and won’t cost an arm and a leg. They are well worth their investment since it’ll increase your property value and give you this focal point of activity as mentioned.

But let’s jump forward and list some ways to add some special touches to this area:

  • Consider going out of the ordinary and painting the deck with colors. There are many brands of paint that can handle the weather conditions. This splash of color (even if it’s just the railing) can be a nice addition and even more so if you use glow in the dark paint to give it a neat illuminated look after a bright, sunny day.
  • Consider the lighting and ambiance of your deck and try adding a little flair to it by picking out patio lights online with your family. Have a vote on which ones would go perfectly with the deck. There is a lot to choose from. You could even theme the deck to have a Tiki feel or give it a bit of a mystical look with flameless candles and such.
  • Consider doing a few DIY projects for the deck to add to its fun. You could install small compartments on the side to house yard games. Add a dart board on one end. Build a picnic table for a corner. Make your own hammock. All these projects would be great for spending time with your kids, teaching them a few skills, and having something neat to show at the end of the day.

These little additions can make for a truly enjoyable night. You all had fun setting things up during the day and can now relax. Not a bad idea for the summer (and spending time with the kids), eh?

My First Tree Fort

Forts, Fires, and Smores

I think it’s safe to assume that each one of us wanted a tree fort when we were younger. Building a tree fort isn’t all too difficult actually, as long as you can follow some plans, stay patient during the process, and remember to measure twice, cut once.

This also makes for a great activity to work on a big project with your children. You can do the heavy lifting and the dangerous stuff but then hand it over to them when it comes to decorating the fort, painting, and adding onto the fun.

Once that’s been built you can have nights where you’re all up there telling ghost stories or down in the yard cooking smores over a small fire. It’s really fun!

Fish Fries & BBQ’s

Some chicken, pork and corn in the barbeque

Food brings the family and friends together but it can also be a great opportunity to spend time with your children. Make a day out of gathering up the supplies for the fish fry or BBQ.

You could:

  • Go to the beach or lake and spend the day fishing, then bring it back to cook
  • Go to ethnic or farmer’s markets to find new ingredients and take a vote
  • Go as far as raising your own animals (if you have the property) for food
  • Invest in a nice grill or deep fryer and your next food party will create quite a buzz.
Related articles
  • Tips for a Summer Get-Together to Remember
  • 25 Summer Get-Together Food and Drink Ideas
  • Patio Ideas on a Budget
  • Grill up some brats for a super Super Bowl 2014 party
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Filed Under: parenting Tagged With: activities, Barbecue, decks, do it yourself, family time, grilling, summer

Tips to Prepare You and Your Family For a Safe Summer & Giveaway

July 1, 2011 by dadofdivas

State Farm Insurance, Dad of Divas, Home Depot GiveawaySummertime is here, bringing lots of fun, laughs and great memories. Below are some quick and easy resources and tips from State Farm Insurance to make sure everyone stays safe, whether it’s playing in the backyard or piling into the car for a road trip.

 

Home Safety

  • Check your wood deck or concrete patio for possible deterioration
  • Be sure to follow and enforce proper rules and safety measures around your pool
  • Click Here For More Home Tips

Auto Safety

  • Get your car serviced before you travel including a check of the engine and other systems such as the air conditioning and cooling, the tires, brakes, lights and windshield wipers.
  • Keep an emergency kit in your trunk – jumper cables, tools, water, emergency flares, and a flashlight and gloves – just in case.
  • More Summer Auto Tips Here

 

More info about safety tips for your summer can also be found at www.StateFarm.com.

Giveaway

How would you like to win a $100 Giftcard to Home Depot? All you need to do is  subscribe to this blog and then come back here and share your best summer safety tip. The contest will run for one week and will end on July 8, 2011.

 

Bonus Entries
  • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)

 

  • Grab my badge to your sidebar

<a href=”http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/”><img src=”http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk235/lewisca3/DadofDivasButton1.jpg” /></a>

  • Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site
  • Follow me on Twitter (@dadofdivas) (leave username in comment)
  • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away a $100 Giftcard to @homedepot thanks to @statefarm #win  – http://dadofdivas.com/giveaway ” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
  • Like Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until July 8, 2011 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: do it yourself, giveaway, safety

WD-40 Greasing the Wheel to an Easier Life – Giveaway!

September 16, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Wd40logofinal3

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of WD-40. All opinions are 100% mine.

About WD-40
Known as “the can with thousands of uses,” WD-40® is truly one of the most versatile, multi-purpose problem solvers on the market! It protects metal from rust and corrosion, penetrates stuck parts, provides a great moisture barrier, lubricates just about anything And gets rid of all kinds of stuck on “stuff.” WD-40 —there’s always another use.

My Take on WD-40
There have been so many times when WD-40 has saved my backside. Where it has been locks that have stuck or hinges that have frozen, I have some to find WD-40 as something that I can turn to when things get a bit dicey. I can remember for me, there was one time that one of the doors in the house that I was living in during college that would never close (keep in mind that my house was not the most stellar), but WD-40 was able to lossen up the hinges enough to let me sleep in my room in peace and quiet.

I just found out that WD-40 has started a brand new fan club for guys like me who always have a can (or 2) on hand. By signing up you have the opportunity to be in the know and hear first when they are running cool promotions as well as new products that will be hitting the stores. I know that I for one will definitely sign up and look forward to finding out more! Will you be signing up as well?

Join the fun in the WD-40 Fan Club

Watch the latest WD-40 video release

Where to get more information:
  • Visit our website www.wd40.com
  • Or our FAQs http://www.wd40.com/faqs/
Giveaway

The great people over at WD-40 are providing me with an awesome prizepack for a lucky Dad of Divas reader. For those of you that enter, one person will win:
  • Now and Then WD-40 twin pack
  • Smart Straw can wall clock
  • Nostalgic can wall clock

To enter you must leave a comment here and answer the following question:

  • Tell me about your funniest DIY blooper moment.

    The contest will run until 11:59 PM on October 8, good luck!

    contest rules

Visit my sponsor: The WD-40 Fan Club
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
 
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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: DIY, do it yourself

A Father as a DIY Expert?

September 13, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Ok, for any of you that have followed me in the past you know that I am not the biggest handyman. Instead, just like my own father I tend to be a bit clueless in regards to doing things at home with my hands, and instead I have to bring in the experts form the outside and pay the bigger bucks. I have had some great opportunities to be connected to other guys and fathers who are much more DIY focused than I and they have always been very patient with me as I tried to learn and sometimes failed.

One of the dads that has taught me a lot was my father-in-law. He has always been patient with me and works with me as I have had to work on my own learning curve.

Just recently I had wanted to do some projects to spuce up our home. In specific, I wanted to switch out the faucets in our home so that we could get away form having gold-plated ones to having ones that match more with the colors and the style that J-Mom and I have within our home. In thinking about this, I started doing some research about faucets and was impressed with what I was seeing in regards to Delta Faucets that I saw both online and in Home Depot I went to visit recently. Because I was seeing this, I reached out to Delta Faucets and was surprised when they wanted to work with me, an amateur in trying my hands as a plumber.

J-Mom and I explored the Delta Faucet site and we chose the Leland as one that we liked and that we wanted to replace our four bathroom faucets.

When the faucets arrived the fun really began. Seeing that I had not done this in the past I asked my father-in-law whether he would be willing to give me a hand and I was lucky enough to have him say yes.

So when we started the project I had my tools, my father-in-law had his and we attacked. We had very high hopes that the project would not even take much effort. Yet, as all projects go, that was not what happened.

We decided to start with our half bath as we thought that this would be the easiest room seeing that it was only one faucet and it was a pedestal sink. This was definitely not the case. Instead this sink ended up taking us more time than any of our other ones. The problem with our first sink had nothing to do with the Delta faucet, instead it had more to do with the fact that the pedestal sink was screwed into the wall and sealed with caulk as well. Thus we had to work and work to not only get our tools into the tight space, but also it had a lot to do with the fact that the faucets that were on there were quite fused onto the sink. I will say that we did end up getting the first one installed though and we were quite happy with the results.

We moved to our Master Bath which was a side-by-side sink so luckily my father-in-law and I were able to get on our backs and get under the sinks to make the time that we had to spend get cut quite substantially I have to say that getting on my back under a sink gave me a much better appreciation for what a plumber has to go through.

Finishing the master bath the last bath to tackle was the one on our second floor. This was the sink that we were dreading a bit due to the tight quarters. If you look to the right you will see that there is a bar down the middle of the cabinet itself. I was the only person that was even able to fit into the cabinet and I came to find that it was much easier to simply stay under the cabinet for the entire time (as I couldn’t get in and out that easy).


This project truly opened my eyes to the DIY world and made me actually think that I might be able to tackle something more in the future. Not that I am ready to jump into finishing my basement (though I would like to), but I am much more willing to at least try as long as I have the right tools.

Though my home itself gave us the problems for the installation of the Delta Faucets. The Delta Faucet themselves were actually very easy to use and install once the old hardware was off the sinks. I have to say that I was very impressed with the faucets and continue to be now that we have used them for the last week. Even though I received the faucets that I installed myself for free, I now would say that I would definitely purchase delta faucet products again in the future!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: do it yourself, homes, projects

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