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Posts Tagged ‘How to’

How to Rid Yourself of Pavement Ants in Your Driveway

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Pavement ants, also known as house ants or sugar ants, can be quite a nuisance. They set up camp in your yard or inside the cracks in your pavement and eventually work their way into your home. The best thing to do when you find pavement ants is to rid yourself of the infestation as soon as possible.

But how can you do that? You are no exterminator and you don’t want to have to run to the hardware store to buy ant spray, right? Well, you can use one household item to help assist you in your quest for an ant free existence – salt.

That’s right, all you need is everyday salt. This article from eHow.com explains several solutions to rid yourself of those pesky pavement ants using nothing but common table salt.

1.   Sprinkle ordinary table salt on cracks in the driveway, along the sides and where the ants are present. Make sure the driveway and surrounding areas are dry before applying salt for the best effectiveness.

2.   Repeat weekly until the ants are gone. After consuming the salt, the ants will drink water or other moisture until they essentially explode. Be aware that the salt will also kill any weeds or plants present, so use caution.

3.   Draw a line with salt at the end of the driveway on the pavement to prevent the ants from crossing over into the lawn or home.

4.   If table salt is not effective, purchase a sweet ant bait trap that contains boric acid salt. (Boric acid is a hydroponic salt.) The ants are attracted to the sugar in the bait, consume the boric acid salt with the sugar, and then take the poison back to their home, where it spreads to the other ants.

5.   Place the ant baits along the sides and ends of the driveway. Use caution when using ant baits because boric acid can be toxic to pets and humans as well as insects.

If you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises by calling410-636-8777 or click here today!

How to Remove an Oil Stain on Your Asphalt

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

If you have ever had an oil stain on your asphalt driveway or parking lot, you know just how much these eyesores can detract from the beauty of your home or office. You do not want to send the wrong first impression to your guests/clients, so it is very important to address these issues when they first arise.

This article from eHow.com provides a step-by-step breakdown of the stain removal process. With just a little know-how and some elbow grease, you can be stain free in no time.

How to remove that unsightly stain:

1.   Cover the entire oil stain with a large amount of kitty litter.

2.   Allow the kitty litter to remain on the oil stain overnight.

3.   Sweep the kitty litter with a broom. Use a dustpan to collect the used kitty litter and place it into a trash bag.

4.   Pour 4 cups of baking soda onto the oil-stained concrete.

5.   Add a small amount of water from a garden hose. Use just enough water to form a thick paste.

6.   Use a stiff-bristle scrub brush to scrub the paste into the stained concrete.

7.   Allow the paste to remain on the stained concrete overnight.

8.   Add a small amount of water to the paste from a garden hose. Use just enough water to moisten the dried baking soda paste.

9.   Use the stiff-bristle scrub brush to scrub the paste into the stained area.

10. Rinse away the remains of the paste with water from the garden hose.

11. Repeat the process if needed if the oil stain remains after the concrete has dried.

If this does not help, it may be time to consult a professional. If you have any questions, contact PTG Enterprises by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

Installing You Very Own Asphalt Basketball Court

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Do you have some unused space in your yard? Do you enjoy playing the game of basketball, but do not have a court near your house? Well, have you ever considered having your very own asphalt basketball court installed? It is actually not as hard or expensive as you may think.

This article from eHow.com explains how you can have your own private basketball court in your backyard.

1.   Rope off your desired area: The dimensions are up to you, but a standard high school half-court is 30 by 30 foot area. So that should be about as small as you want to go.

2.   Dig up the area you laid off: Excavate 7 to 9 inches deep to allow room for the crushed rock and asphalt that you will need to lay. Remove large rocks, as these will create an uneven surface if left alone. Then, once the area is excavated and cleared of all debris, level out the area.

3.   Cover your area with 4-6 inches of gravel: This will act as the base for your asphalt. Compact the gravel by rolling a weighted compaction tool over the entire area. If a weighted tool is not readily available, you can simply walk over the area yourself until it is properly compacted. Make sure there are no uneven spots – high or low – that will create an un-level playing surface.

4.   Spread 2-3 inches of asphalt over the gravel: At this stage, it may be best to hire a professional to actually lay the asphalt. But if you do choose to do the work yourself, level out the asphalt so that it is even throughout the entire court. Compact the asphalt cover in the same manner as you compacted the gravel. Make sure the asphalt is level after it is compacted and allow it to dry fully.

5.   Paint Your Court: You can purchase a stencil to make this part of the job easier.

6.   Add the hoop: You can either use a simple portable basketball hoop or you can install am in-ground hoop that will remain in place.

7.   Enjoy

If you have any questions, or if you would just like to leave the entire process up to the professionals, contact PTG Enterprises by calling 410-636-8777or click here today!