Why Its Important To Wash Your House In A Coastal Location.

In New Zealand its part of our history and culture to own a batch on the beach, And there is no more popular place to own a batch than the Coromandel peninsular. One of the big issues house owners face living on the coast is salt spray and mould growing due to the temperate climate which is perfect for growing moss and mould.
As we all know salt spray can cause un-treated metal to rust and or corrode prematurely which can be expensive to fix and or replace. Some timbers mostly softwoods will rot and fail in this environment as well.
Jason Shaw from  Wash Rite based in Thames and covers the whole Coromandel region gets many many calls from home owners wanting to remove the salt and mold from here home to protect the house. A simple Low Pressure House Wash once a year will remove this contaminants and keep the house looking its best. Jason see's on a daily basis what can happen if you do not clean and wash your house which is in a coastal location on a regular basis, " It does not take long for the salt spray to rust everything and anything and the moss and mold causes rot of untreated timber within a few short years".

Below are a few quick things you can do to protect your coast property and stop harmful damage to set in.

• Wash your house every year or two.
• Hose down the side of the house that faces the water or prevailing winds monthly.
• Try and only used stainless steal or galvanized fitting in your house.
• Keep trees and bushes away from the house, let as much sunlight in as possible.
• Set up a regular maintenance schedule for your house.

3 Ways To Keep Spiders Away

It’s that time again! Spider season. Spring is the special time of year when a spider’s biological clock starts ticking harder than Octomom's. August is usually the prime time for male spiders to start seeking a mate. Spiders are usually solitary, but when it’s time to find a partner, they begin to emerge in droves. I know some are going to rail against the murdering of these eight-legged freaks, but for us arachnophobes, we see things differently. Here are some easy ways to keep Charlotte and her web from bothering you and your family.

1. Keep a Tidy Home

Everyone knows the phrase, “A clean home is a happy home”, but have you heard, “A clean home is free from spiders”? No? Well, it’s true. The cleaner your home is, the fewer places spiders will have to hide or play. Spiders love cold dark places, so your basement or cellar is a perfect hiding spot. Removing all cobwebs and regularly cleaning duct work can help prevent arachnids from setting up shop. Getting rid of clutter and moving storage bins will help because they won’t feel safe if they are constantly being disturbed.

2. Peppermint and Horse Chestnuts

If you are looking for a natural repellant, nothing will work better than peppermint oil. Mix a small amount of oil and dish liquid in a spray bottle with water. Spray window sills and around the base of your home inside and out. If you repeat this weekly, it will help keep spiders away. A not so proven method of repelling spiders is the use of horse chestnuts. Horse chestnuts look a little scary and are in fact very poisonous, but it seems like any evidence is anecdotal. There are a lot of people who swear by horse chestnuts, and houses surrounded by the plant seem to be spider free.

3. Clean Your Gutters

That statement is a little misleading. Cleaning your gutters won’t completely remove your spider problem. The theory behind cleaning your gutters, however, will absolutely help. Removing a spider’s food source will starve the spiders away. Cleaning up a cluttered yard or removing brush can go a long way to getting rid of spiders. Any place that gathers standing water will be a breeding ground for insects and a buffet for spiders. So make sure your gutters aren’t clogged. This will eliminate another area for creepy crawlies to breed and eat.

Ok, so spiders aren’t ALL bad (see image above). They can provide some benefits. They will help control mosquito, ant, and termite populations. But for some of us, the trade off isn’t enough. Following our hints will go a long way to getting rid of your spider problems, but an exterminator might be needed. It is also wise to be careful approaching or killing spiders you aren’t familiar with. Almost every state has at least one poisonous spider. While most aren’t life threatening, a bite might be extremely painful.