Easy Do-It-Yourself Project Takes Care of Concrete Cracks and Joints

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Over time, winter weather can take a toll on your driveway.  Spring is a great time to tackle any damage and prevent problems in the future.  All you need is a hose, caulk, caulk gun, spray bottle, soap and water, and a rag.  Here’s a quick look at what causes the cracks, why you should caulk the joints, and the steps you can take.

To get started, wash out your garage and your driveway when the nice weather arrives.  You can use a power washer or a garden hose with a sprayer attached.  Start at the back of the garage and work forward.  Do the same with the driveway by starting at the top of the driveway.  Be sure to remove any debris and dirt, paying extra attention to the joints.  Wait a day or two for the concrete to thoroughly dry before applying any caulking, to ensure proper adhesion.

Beyond cracks, your driveway may have also experienced heaving where the concrete at the joints gets pushed up.  The entire driveway is sectioned off into joints that need to be caulked.  Last year, Omaha experienced a heavy frost in mid-December.  At that point there was a lot of moisture, rain and snow.  What happened was the ground got saturated and then froze, which then could have caused heaving.  So by caulking joints you’ll prevent extra moisture, whether it’s rain or snow melt, from getting under the concrete, freezing and pushing it up.

Keep in mind that if you’re not handy or too busy there are companies that can do this for you.  Otherwise, it’s a do-it-yourself project.  Here’s how.  To fill the cracks, cut the caulk tip about 1/8 to /14” in width and place it in the caulk gun.  The brand Vulkem works well.  To seal the cracks, apply the caulking based on how wide the crack is.  To fill the joints, apply a bead the width of the joint and about two feet in length.  Use a spray bottle with a soap and water mixture to spray on the caulk and your finger.  Spray the applied caulk and then smooth it out with your finger.  If there is excessive caulk, wipe it down with a rag. Continue in two feet areas until all the driveway control joints have been filled.  Remember to go slow and apply evenly. If you need to stop and take a break, do so.  The important part is to give the joints uniform coverage.

We hope you find these tips helpful.  Don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything and please come out to see our new models in Pebblebrooke at 174th and Highway 370 and our models in Saddlebrook at 150th and Fort.  You can reach us at Pebblebrooke at (402) 502-5600 and at Saddlebrook at (402) 934-2212.  We look forward to seeing you!

Getting a Lawn that’s a Cut Above

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You know a well-cared for lawn when you see it. Perfect for playing catch and soccer, summersaults and barbecuing. So how do you get the lawn you want? Give it the basics:  fertilizer, water and proper mowing.  
 
If your lawn is a couple of years old or was just recently put in, it will look brown during the winter because the grass is dormant. If the lawn was put in last year, it will still be benefiting from the nutrients in the sod and will green up more quickly than your neighbors.  To continue to feed your lawn, fertilize in the spring, summer and fall. Then top it off with a winterizer in late fall. If you’re consistently fertilizing your yard, it will stay green.
 
Going into the spring months, water the sod when it’s 60 degrees or warmer during the day. If you have a sprinkler system, wait until the days and nights stay above 60 degrees because the potential low temperatures could cause the system to freeze up.  Instead, water with a hose or stand-alone sprinkler.

Once it’s time to mow the lush green grass you’ve been fertilizing, keep in mind that there’s a right and wrong way to mow. By always mowing in the same direction, you will create ruts in your lawn because the wheels will pass over the same grass every time. You don’t want your lawn to gut in a rut! By alternating the direction you mow, such as mowing in a diagonal one week then horizontal another keeps your grass from becoming beat down in ruts.  

Another tip is to mow the top 1/3 of the grass. There are a few good reasons for this approach.  Taller grass keeps the sun from getting to seeds of weeds so they can’t germinate. It also helps with root development because the taller blades keeps the soil from drying out. Don’t worry!  You won’t be mowing more often.  

If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us. We’d also like to invite you to come out to see our new models in Pebblebrooke at 174th and Highway 370 and our models at Saddlebrook at 150th and Fort. You can reach us at Pebblebrooke at (402) 502-5600 and at Saddlebrook at (402) 934-2212. We hope to see you soon!

Tips for Keeping Your Home’s Exterior Functioning Smoothly

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We spend so much time thinking about what we should do to improve the look of the inside of our house—paint, window treatments, placement of furniture—that we often neglect the outside of the home.  Taking a few minutes to walk around your house will make a big difference in keeping your home running smoothly.

Start with the hose bibs.  Don’t leave the hoses connected to them unless the temperature is staying 60 degrees or above during the day and night.  You should also turn them on to make sure they’re still working.

Check the exhaust vent and fresh air intakes for debris and make sure they are open.  They need to be free of any obstructions so that they function properly and so that they can help to facilitate proper airflow into and out of the home.

There’s not much to do for the air conditioner because you should have cleaned it last summer. Just take a look at it to make sure the brackets are still attached.

Check the siding to make sure the panels are connected and that there are no loose pieces or boards that need to be touched up.  Now look down to check for settling.  If there is a low spot, take the sod, peel it back and fill it up to get the dirt level back up to natural grade.  Do this if there is less than three inches of settling, otherwise let us know.

Now onto a favorite spot—the deck.  To prolong the life of the deck, make sure you use sealer and stain on it.

We hope you found these tips helpful.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.  We’d also like to invite you to come out to see our new models in Pebblebrooke at 174th and Highway 370 and our models at Saddlebrook at 150th and Fort.  You can reach us at Pebblebrooke at (402) 502-5600 and at Saddlebrook at (402) 934-2212.