This is the weekend to buy. No, seriously, let me explain.
Memorial Weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer in the midwest. ‘Tis the season to be outdoors as much as possible, on either your deck or patio. I’m sure you’ve already determined if your deck needs refinishing. This is the weekend to buy your deck care products during the Hirshfield’s Memorial Day Sale:
Cabot Stain – Save $10/gallon with Mail-in Rebate thru June 4
Sikkens SRD Transparent -Save $10/gallon with Mail-in Rebate thru July 8
Storm – Save $5/gallon with Mail-in Rebate thru June 4
Ready Seal – Save $11/gallon thru May 31
Hirshfield’s is making your job easier with sales associates who are experts in deck care. At Hirshfield’s, our experts are always willing to share their product knowledge and help guide you through the important steps to success. You’ll also find a great online video library on decks at this link.
Get all the details for the Memorial Day Paint Sale right here. Have a safe and fun weekend.
Spring is here, which means it’s time to clean the decks in Minnesota – literally. “We have a lot of people wanting to freshen them up,” says Nate Sockness, manager of Hirshfield’s Woodbury location, “and also a lot of people wanting to get them done before high school graduation season.”
That deck work is happening right now. It’s prime time for deck cleaning and staining, he says, because you need two or three days of warm, dry weather to do it right. Keep your eye on the weather and use Nate’s tips for cleaning and staining your deck.
Hoping to get a couple more years out of an old deck?
This product is for you. Cabot® DeckCorrect™ brings new life to old wood and concrete. DeckCorrect™ is a thick paint great for rescuing decks, railings, patios, composite deck, pool decks and walkways. It conceals cracks as wide as 1/4″ while creating a smooth, slip-resistant finish that resists cracking and peeling.
Beth, Hirshfield’s Woodbury, used DeckCorrect™ on a couple of steps off her deck and loved the product. Listening to her rave about her steps got me thinking about the wooden steps out to our patio. They have never been treated and when they get wet are dangerously slippery to all who dare use them.
Sounds like a great product, right? It also sounds like a great facial product. Yes, my face is worn and tired and I do have some cracks that need filling! We can’t help you with your face, but our stores know everything about graying and splintering decks. Stop by one of our many locations. Additional product information can be found here.
Staining your deck is quite a process. However, it does not need to be an ordeal. In fact, it can be a simple process as long as you’re able and willing to do a little work. Trust me, I just went through the process. Perhaps you’ve heard the stories of power washing, sanding, staining, applications of lacquer followed by more sanding, staining, and more lacquer. While you can approach your project with this level of elbow grease, here are four simple steps for staining your deck.
Ready To Go
Evaluate the condition of your deck
What was previously on your deck? Had it been stained or was it painted? Typically, a deck that’s been painted will show signs of peeling, flaking and chipping. A deck that has been stained may need to be power washed or sanded. If there are loose boards, try to secure them or if necessary, replace them.
Tips for Power Washing Dirty Decks, Siding and More
We are at the end of a long dark winter, and it’s a relief to be walking through my neighborhood and seeing windows thrown wide open and flowers planted in pots by front doors up and down my street. But I also see lots of dirt and grime – remnants of salt, sand, wind and dirt – left behind by six months of old man winter (and a reminder that we survived yet another harsh one).
Give Your Dirty Deck a Nice Spring Cleaning
I remember using a scrub brush as my main tool for outside spring cleaning in the early years. That is, until we decided to rent a power washer to clean the siding. My husband, a guy’s guy, rented a high-power commercial cleaner, and when he was done, half the paint on my siding was stripped away. An unnecessary and expensive learning experience! Read the rest of this entry »
Designed to strip away confusion and replace it with simple language and visual cues we all understand, Storm System® makes choosing exactly the right finish for your job easier than ever. And with each Storm System® category composed of only best-in-class formulations, you can rest assured no matter what you choose, you will be getting one of the most beautiful, long-lasting finishes available.
Storm System® offers retailers, DIYers and Professional Wood Care Contractors more than products that deliver a fresh, like-new appearance to exterior surfaces. The brand brings a fresh, new approach to the whole category – a freshness that is reflected in a simpler, more intuitive system; a more progressive, innovative personality; and a true focus on Independent Retailers.
Category 1 finishes are the most transparent. They allow the most natural look of the wood to show through. Even with their transparency, they still provide a base level of CLEAR UV protection.
Category 2 features toners and semi-transparent finishes . They provide a hint of color while still permitting the texture and wood grain to show through. With more pigment comes LIGHT UV protection.
Category 3 is the semi-solid finish category. These finishes provide color that is a bit more opaque, yet still allows the natural character of the wood to show through. A MODERATE level of UV protection comes from additional pigmentation.
Solid color finishes make up Category 4. They provide a completely opaque, paint-like appearance. With their complete opacity comes the maximum level of HEAVY UV protection. For best results, start with one of our best-in-class primers in Category 5.
Category 5 features the primers of the Storm System. These amazing products are invaluable when either the surface that is to be refinished is in extremely weathered, distressed condition, or if the surface is going to be exposed to extreme weather or high traffic and wear. Using one of these unsurpassed, best-in-class primers will make the long-lasting finishes of the Storm System last even longer. After applying a Category 5 primer, choose a finish from Category 3 or Category 4 for a look and longevity that is second to none.
Prep and Maintenance – Versatile & powerful products to prepare and maintain exterior surfaces. Highest quality formulations. Exceptional performance.
This is the second year Hirshfield’s has carried the Storm System products and H’s sales staff tell me, “the customers seem to like it.” Coming from a Minnesotan is there any higher praise?
In addition to Storm System® our stores carry a number of deck care products: ABR X-100, Arborcoat, Cabot, Sikkens, Superdeck, and TWP. Click on this link for great savings and mail-in rebates.
Memorial Day marks beginning of summer, a long weekend, no worries about snow, and lots of great sales. But we can’t forget all the men and women who died while serving our country. We salut you.
Home improvement projects extend to the outdoors now that sunshine and warm weather have become regular occurrences again. Take advantage of the great outdoors by investing in a new deck, but also invest the time and resources to keep your deck looking great for summers to come. Here are Hirshfield’s expert tips and tricks to keep your deck looking great. Read the rest of this entry »
Longing to add more usable living space to your current home? Wishing you had more room to entertain? Dreaming of an excuse to spend more time outside, enjoying the summertime weather? You don’t need to move to a new home or invest tons of money into your current home to make all of these things possible. Just take a look out your window and start seeing your backyard as an extension of your home…
DIYLife.com has 5 tips for transforming your backyard from a blank canvas into a beautiful outdoor living space.
1) Plan the space near your back door. You will be more likely to use it if you don’t have to traipse through the yard to get to it. It will also make it easier to carry food and drink outside to your guests.
Summertime means spending time outdoors, enjoying the great weather on your patio or deck. If your deck needs some work, it’s not too late to get it looking great.
Working with stains doesn’t have to be a messy, complicated process anymore. Hirshfield’s offers several products to make your project a success. Sikkens Cetol Waterborne for Siding, Rails and Decks is a great translucent finish and is available in 8 colors. This product is easy to use and easy to clean up with just soap and water. It also dries to the touch in 2-4 hours (you can walk on it in 24 hours) so you don’t have to worry too much about the forecast.
Benjamin Moore ARBORCOAT is also a great option for your deck. It’s low maintenance and will keep your deck looking new for years – it even provides a mildew-resistant coating to your deck. This product also uses waterborne technology so it’s easy to apply and clean up. And, it’s better for the planet.
This previous post features great advice on getting your deck in top shape. We always recommend using a semi-transparent stain or clear finish with UV protectors so the grain shows. When it’s time to get to work, make sure your deck is dry. Sprinkle some drops of water on the wood — if it is absorbed into the wood it’s ready to accept a penetrating stain or deck finish. If the water beads up, you’ll need to sand it, power wash it or use a deck cleaning product to get it ready. Let the deck dry for 2-3 days and then apply your finish.
Deck coatings in Minnesota do not last forever. A semi-transparent stain will most likely need to be redone every 2-3 years. A good cleaning is always recommended and if there is mildew present it will need to be killed with a mixture of bleach and water. Again, let the deck dry for 2-3 days and then apply your stain.
Visit the deck page on our website for more tips to keep your deck looking brand new!
Hirshfield's Color Club 