Is your house ready for summer? Here's a first aid kit for outdoor fixes
(ARA) - Are you ready to host all of those summer barbecues and impromptu get-togethers that summer brings? And the bigger question - is your house ready? The season's beautiful weather ushers in a slew of home repairs that are needed to get ready for hosting guests. Whether it's a broken bird bath, a loose stone on a walkway, or a broken patio chair, there are some things you need to take care of before you welcome your friends and family.
The best way to prepare for these upcoming household fixes is to assemble a first-aid kit for your house. Keeping some quick repair tools together makes you that much more efficient. Below is a list of items that are invaluable for household repairs:
1. Gorilla Glue - This product is 100 percent waterproof and perfect for fixing anything from a broken chair leg to a broken flower pot. You could even use a strong glue like this to fix a loose stone on a walkway. If you've never used a polyurethane glue before, be careful, because they expand as they cure - you will only need a very small amount for an indestructible bond. Visit www.gorillatough.com for more information.
2. Gorilla Tape - Made by the same company that makes Gorilla Glue, Gorilla Tape is the toughest duct tape that you will ever meet. It has a strong fabric backing and three times the adhesive of other duct tapes and will even stick to impossible surfaces like brick and stucco. Visit www.gorillatough.com for more information.
3. Simple tools - Why is it that you can never find a hammer, screwdriver, utility knife, tape measure and pencil when you need one? Keep duplicates of these tools in your first-aid kit, and you won't have to run around your house or shop looking for them.
4. Sandpaper and a two-part, epoxy-based wood filler - For outdoor wood repair needs, this is really the way to go. All exterior door and window trim work should be checked every spring because gaps and cracks not only reduce your home's efficiency, but can also provide an entry location for unwanted insects and rodents. Most of these repairs can easily be taken care of this time of year before the summer rains damage the integrity of the wood.
5. Cordless drill and variety of high quality screws - With the diverse weather changes in the winter, screws will loosen over the winter. Tighten up exposed screws on things like your deck, wood railings, etc. before they become a safety hazard.
6. Touch-up paint and foam applicators - Avoid having to search the garage for a can of paint by putting a small amount of paint in a disposable airtight container and add it to your kit. As you make your outdoor repairs, you will have the paint on hand for a quick fix. Foam applicators, which you can get very inexpensively from any craft and hobby store, are great for quick touch-ups, and are easy and disposable.
With your first-aid kit assembled, you are ready to tackle all of your outdoor fixes.
Courtesy of ARAcontent