I got real excited a couple of years ago when we started carrying the Super Deck Stains.  I always want people to stain their wood decks as oppose to painting a wood deck because it holds up so much better.   So when Super Deck told me about the stains for concrete called Mason’s Select- I was sold.  Staining a concrete patio or garage floor is not hard, but preparing the concrete for stain was well, kinda of a pain.  Etching the concrete has to be done on old concrete because the pores in the concrete need to be opened to accept the stain.  Etching has always been done with acid.  That’s the part that I didn’t like.  I get nervous telling people to put down acid.  But now Super Deck has a way to etch your concrete with something safer, in fact that is what it is called “Safe Solutions”.  It has no smell, you can put your fingers in it- and it is not harmful.  Guess what it is made from?  Salt.  No, you read that right, it is made from salt.  So now you can stain the garage floor, you can stain the patio deck, you could even pull up the carpet in the house and stain the floors- hey restarants do it.  I will never forget the beautiful floor at this tiny restaurant in New Braunfels, and I would tell people about it.  Then everyone else starting staining the concrete- and it looks beautiful.  And yours can too.  Call 800- 825-5382 and ask for the dealer closest to you, or go to their website www.superdeck.com .  They have got some wonderful ideas.  

Don’t forget we just got a bunch of Happy Handy Man books and they are great for stocking stuffers and neighbors- go online to www.acmelumber.com

Question:  I have a concrete patio that I can’t enjoy.  A green slimy slippery substance has began appearing on it this past year.  I poured 2 bottles of bleach on it which didn’t phase it.  And I’ve had it  steamed cleaned which made it clear up for a couple of weeks, but then it came back and now it has grown in size since I steam cleaned it.  It covers probable 1/3 of my patio.  I thought maybe the rain caused it- but it hasn’t rained.  I thought maybe it was because water from the hose overflowed but even when the water hasn’t been used it appears.  I’ve  asked at Lowes and HD and no one seems to know of anything I can use.  My friend thinks that you have the solution- do you?

Answer:  You question prompted the beginning of this article.  Clean off the slime and then seal it – and then when it appears again- just rinse it off.

Question:  I want to remove the carpet in my townhouse, but I want the floor to be smooth and it has swirl marks in it – so do I rent a sander?  And then how do I stain it?

Answer:  When you remove the carpet- clean the concrete first with Safe Solutions.  Then if the floor is not smooth enough then you can put a floor leveler on it called Web Patch.  It’s a latex, and it will smooth out any imperfections.  When dry then you can stain the concrete- don’t paint- paint will look good at first, but after walking on it, you will walk it off in no time.  If you want a shiny finish- they make clear finishes for that.

Question:  I recently had laminated wood floor installed and the installer got glue on some of the wood.  How do I get it off without compromising the wood.  I’ve tried fume free paint thinner and it didn’t budge.  Do you have an answer?

Answer:  The product I would use is a soy bean remover called Bean E Doo.  Put a small amount on a rag and leave it on a moment or two- if it doesn’t budge right away leave it on longer.  It’s safe so don’t worry.  Then after you remove the glue, then rinse the area with water.  

Question:  I have a built-in gas grill on my back patio.  Over the years smoke from the grill has resulted in a black greasy buildup on the brick wall.  Do you know how to clean that off?

Answer:  Use a product called TSP.  It is a very strong cleaner- so use gloves, but it will remove smoke stains on the brick and up on the ceiling.  You can also use it on a fireplace on the inside of the house to remove smoke.     

Got a question for Johnnie? Tune in to Johnnie's radio show Saturday mornings on KTSA (5500 AM) from 9-11 or call 828-8907. Reach him on the web at www.AcmeLumber.com.