D-I-Y Weekend Project - Stripping and Painting Furniture

Do you have a piece of furniture that's been languishing in the garage or basement because you just can't bear to look at five layers of peeling paint that date back to who knows when? Well, now is the perfect time to turn that eyesore into a work of art. Even if you don't know a hacksaw from a jigsaw, you can still become a weekend do-it-yourself warrior and enjoy the results of your labor. Not everything around the house has to turn into an episode of Home Improvement, complete with demolition crews! Here's a look at a D-I-Y task that requires a weekend (or less) to finish.

Here's what you'll need to refinish painted furniture:

* Chemical stripper

* Mineral spirits

* Natural-bristle paint brushes

* Scraping and scrubbing tools

* Sandpaper or circular sander

* Protective gloves, apron and maskMost home improvement stores stock several different kinds of stripper.

The fastest-acting ones are also the most dangerous. They contain methylene chloride, which is great for eating through layers of paint, but can be hazardous to your health. Make sure you read the labels carefully. The safest stripper is also the slowest (may take up to 24 hours to work) but it can be used without gloves or special ventilation and doesn't have the harmful side effects associated with fast strippers.Once you've assembled your tools, it's time to prep the furniture. Make sure it doesn't need repairs and remove any hardware. If desired, you can replace the hardware to give the piece a fresh look.Now it's time to apply the stripping agent. It usually comes in a paste or liquid, depending on type and brand. Even if you're using a slow-acting stripper that doesn't require special ventilation, make sure you're working in an area with adequate ventilation, such as the garage. Line the floor with newspaper or something similar for protection. Apply the stripper using a cut-down paint brush, following the instructions on the label.If you're using a methylene chloride-based stripper, the paint should begin to bubble and blister. The slower-acting stripper may have to work overnight. If the paint is extremely stubborn, you can carefully scratch the surface to help the stripper reach the wood. Make sure you keep applying stripper though, or you'll damage the wood underneath.Once the stripper does its job, you can use a putty knife to scrape the paint off as well as coarse steel wool. You may have to apply a second coating of stripper. For wood pieces with carvings, a scrub brush works well to get paint out of crevices.After all traces of paint have been removed, use mineral spirits to rinse off the remaining stripper. If this isn't done, the chemicals in the stripper can react with the new paint finish. Once you're finished rinsing, properly dispose of any remaining stripper or sludge. Follow the manufacturer's recommend instructions - do not pour down a drain or dump outside.Then it's time to sand. Depending on the piece, 100-grit sandpaper may be all you need. Otherwise, an orbital sander will do the job. Make sure you wipe the piece down to remove all particles before you paint.Now comes the fun part - painting. Paint from the top down, starting with primer first, and then paint. A satin or semi-gloss in either an oil or latex-based paint works best (use oil-based primer with oil-based paint). Let it dry, then apply another coat if needed. Once you've finished painting, brush on a polyurethane coating to seal and protect the piece, and voila! You have a brand-new piece of furniture thanks to a little bit of work and time.

Keep Your Green Thumb Going Despite the Drought

Are you itching to start gardening but worried about drought restrictions? Well, don't let it stop you from putting your green thumb to use. Despite the continuing drought, with a little creativity you can still enjoy beautiful flowers and plants. There are many plants that thrive with little watering and various ways to maximize your gardening space while minimizing water usage. Before you buy out the nearest landscaping center's inventory though, find out what your local watering restrictions are. According to Conserve Water Georgia, newly installed landscaping (planted less than 30 days) may be watered by any homeowner or landscaper who has registered with the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council. Watering can only be done between midnight and 10 a.m., and odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while even-numbered addresses may water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Otherwise, you may use one garden hose (with a nozzle) for 25 minutes, during those designated hours and days.Now comes the fun part, planning your garden. Most people turn to common perennials and annuals, but during a drought, what's common may not be ideal. Stay away from standard petunias, impatiens, marigolds, begonias, non-native asters and other flowers that are more delicate and require extra water. But before you think your dreams of a flower-filled garden will evaporate with the sun, think again. There are many blooming plants that tolerate heat and less water and still provide beauty. Here are just a few, courtesy of Paul Thomas, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences:* Perennials for Sun: Lantana 'Miss Huff' (Miss Huff Lantana), Helianthus angustifolia (Swamp Sunflower), Salvia guaranitica (Hummingbird Sage), Salvia leucantha (Mexican Sage), Ruellia brittoniana (Mexican Sunflower), Rudbeckia triloba (Black Eyed Susan), Stachys byzantina (Lambs ears), Artemesia 'Silver King' (Silver King) and Kniphofia uvaria (Red Hot Poker).* Perennials for Shade: Helebor hybrids (Lenten Rose), Japanese autumn ferns, Aspidistra eliator (Parlor Plant), Monarda didyma (Bee Balm: wilts but comes back), Iris tectorum (Roof Iris), Iris barbata (Bearded Iris), Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Autumn Joy), Iris siberica (Siberia Iris) and Hosta hybrids.* Annuals: Lantana camara hybrids (Lantana), Catharanthus roseus (Vinca), Amaranthus caudatus (Amaranths), Celosia cristata (Cocks Comb), Portulaca hybrids (Moss Rose), Melampodium paludosum (Golg Button Plant), Petunias (especially old-timey and "Wave" petunias), Passiflora 'Byron's Beauty' (Passiflora), Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos), Cosmos sulfureus (Cosmos), Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower), Verbena tenuisecta (Moss Verbena), Salvia farinaceae hybrids (Blue Salvia) and Zinnia elegans (Zinnias).* Perennial Natives: Lilium hybrids (Lilies), Amsonia tabernaemontana (Blue Stars), Daucus carota (Queen Ann's Lace), Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant), Lonicera sempervirens (Red Honeysuckle), Achillea millifolium (Yellow Yarrow), Clematis paniculata (Clematis), Oenothera speciosa (Pink Sundrops), Bellamcanda chinensis (Blackberry Lily), Boltonia asteroides (White Boltonia), asters (native species), Echinaceae purpurea (Purple Cone Flower), Tradescantia virginiana (Spiderwort), Eupatorium coelestinum (Woodland Ageratum), Eupatorium fistulosum (Joe Pye Weed), Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed) and Bignonia capreolata (Cross Vine).Once you've made your selections and planted them, apply mulch, which will help retain water in the surrounding soil. You can even layer newspapers underneath the mulch for better water retention. Then, during dry spells, cut back annuals and perennials. The next time it rains, they'll perk up. If water is extremely scarce, only water valuable or irreplaceable plants - you can always buy more annuals. For even more ways to save water, visit www.conservewatergeorgia.net With some planning and water conservation, you can have a beautiful garden all summer long!

Pest Problems? Blame it on the Drought or the Rain.

Have you ever noticed that when it's dry outside, there seems to be more insects inside? Or that rainy conditions automatically make you bring out the bug spray? Before you start thinking it's just a figment of your imagination, there really is a correlation between climate changes and the resident insect population."Insects respond to various [weather-related] situations in a largely automatic manner," said Chuck Tindol, co-owner of Allgood Pest Solutions. "There's no particular thinking or intelligence involved in their reactions. Whether it's rainy or it's dry, any conditions that are not the norm will drive insects to move into a more favorable environment."A drought will reduce outside insect populations but increase the likelihood that they venture inside a house for food, water and harborage. Heavy rain forces those same insects to seek higher ground - your home."Basic logic is that extreme climatic conditions for humans also create stress on native insect populations. Just like we do, they look for ways to adapt to these extreme conditions, which could mean they move into your house," Tindol said.Just how do they get in so quickly though? Through cracks and crevices in your home that you may not have even realized were there. Windows that have gaps, doors without adequate weather stripping, large openings around outside pipes, exterior water faucets - these are all prime entry points for insects. Trees and shrubs that grow against the house and up into the eaves and soffits also make it easy for insects and rodents to get in.Trimming back trees and shrubs and making sure all doors and windows are tightly sealed will help keep the insects out. Putting foam around pipe entrances into walls is also highly recommended.Pay attention to flower and garden beds as well. Insects love moist mulch, but when a lack of rain dries the mulch out, they will swarm inside the nearest structure - your house - to find water. Minimize moisture and hiding places, especially near a home's foundation."A lot of people have a sprinkler system around their house and, when they can water, it's going off every morning or three days a week so that pine straw and mulch stays wet," Tindol said. "Millipedes especially will just go crazy in that kind of environment. When it dries out, they make a mass exodus into the house."Regular pest control applications every three months will greatly help control insects, even during extreme weather conditions. Some "over-the-counter" pesticides may help as well but it's important to properly apply them. For example, fire ant bait is useless at certain times of the day."The problem is if you put [a product like] Amdro out in the morning when there's dew on the ground, or if it rains within an hour of when you put it out, it won't work," Tindol said. "Fire ants are most active from about 3:30 to 4 p.m. to just before dark so the best thing to do is put Amdro out around 2 to 3 p.m."The main thing to remember, whether Georgia remains in a drought or not, is that any kind of extreme weather will force insects to move somewhere they can find food, water and shelter. So if you're not fond of uninvited house guests, be sure to seal up your house and schedule pest control services on a regular basis!Here's a list of insects to watch for, depending on the weather:Rainy weather home invaders: Ants, outdoor Cockroaches, Spiders, Crickets, ladybugs, Bees, Hornets, Wasps, Rodents - Rats and Mice.Dry weather home invaders: Ants, earwigs, Millipedes, Sowbugs and Pillbugs, Crickets, Spiders and scorpions.

Light The Night

Making a difference in the fight against Leukemia and Lymphoma.
For the past five years, Allgood employees, family and friends have joined in the fight against blood cancer as part of our "Light the Night" program. As you've probably noticed, in the summer and fall of each year a flyer is attached to our service ticket that lets you know about the program. Since starting the program five years ago, we have raised more than $325,000 for the Georgia Pest Control Association's "Partnership for a Cure" program and continue to bring in more donations each year.In 2007, through the generosity of all involved, Allgood raised $41,000 for the leukemia and lymphoma society. More than 100 employees raised money individually, and 1,000 customers donated as well. For the fourth year in a row the top collector for all GPCA companies was an Allgood employee, Doug Schuck. When all was said and done, Allgood had raised 32 percent of the total donations for the entire GPCA! This past year's program was the biggest and best so far, thanks to our employees and customers. We take great pride in supporting this program and are thankful for the relationships we share with our customers that once again made this program a big success. The 2008 campaign will be starting soon so be on the lookout!