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Earrings Have Endured Through Centuries
One of the oldest forms of body modification, the piercing of the ears has been a custom observed by nearly every culture around the world. For centuries, earrings have served to indicate a variety of things, including status within society, a particular vocation, or just simply an adornment.
Some of the oldest evidences of the practice of wearing earrings were discovered by archaeologists who uncovered royal graves in Iraq which date to around 2,500 B.C. On the surviving palace walls of Persopolis in ancient Persia, carved images have also been found showing soldiers from various parts of the Persian Empire wearing an earring. King Tut also wore hoop earrings and earplugs, which were highly popular in ancient Egypt.
For sailors, a pieced earlobe signified the wearer had sailed around the world or crossed the equator. Sailors who had survived a sinking ship could be seen wearing an earring in their left ear. Commonly held among sailors was the belief that in the event of a shipwreck, if their body washed up on shore the person who found them would take the earring as payment for a Christian burial. As a result, many sailors invested in expensive gold earrings.
Women of means living during the Roman Empire wore earrings to indicate their wealth status. Over time, gems, such as sapphires, emeralds and aquamarines were used in earring ornamentation. As poverty prevailed during the Dark Ages, the use of metal jewelry was in sharp decline, and during the Byzantine period earrings were replaced with other forms of ornamentation. Elaborate hairstyles and headdresses during the Middle Ages made the use of earrings nearly non-existent.
In the 16th century Italy, high collars began disappearing and hair was worn up and away from the face, giving room for the resurgence of earrings. It took another 100 years for the high-collar fad in England and France to pass before earrings were in fashion again. In the mid-1600s, the girandole earring design made its first appearance along the Mediterranean. Laden with precious and semi-precious gems, this lavish earring style remained popular for a couple centuries. Because the earrings could be so heavy, pieces of the earring could be removed depending upon the preference of the wearer. The sheer weight of the earrings was known to cause elongated ear lobes.
Later, the girandole earring design was replaced by the pendeloque design, which was longer and lighter than their predecessor. These earrings served as a perfect balance for the high hairdos being worn at the time.
While jewelry designers began adding gems to earrings in the 1800s, changes in hairstyles made wearing earrings difficult. The new styles involved wearing the hair gathered in a knot at the nape of the neck, hiding earrings from sight. The wearing of bonnets made the wearing of earrings difficult as well.
The creation of screw-back earrings in the early 20th century, made ear piercing seem barbaric to some circles of women. Free of piercing, women wore screw-back earrings with relish, especially as they began wearing their hair in short bobs during the 1920s. Once again, hairstyle dictated the importance of earrings. Earrings were once again revolutionized with the creation of the clip-on. Once again, earrings were an accessory option for women who eschewed ear piercing.
Passing the more conservative period of the 1950s where earring designs became lighter and uncomplicated, the 1960s and 1970s produced flamboyant, textured and colorful earring designs. With the "everything goes" style of the day, women began piercing again, as well as buying earrings for any occasion.
Today's earrings include an endless array of styles. Piercings can include singular holes in each ear, or multiple. The ethnic practice of plugs and other ethnic jewelry are making their mark in Western style and trends. Today, all manner of materials and designs are used in the creation of earrings. Hoops, dangling and pendant styles are especially popular. It's hard to imagine earrings ever falling out of style again. But even if they do, it's good to know that as with everything, the trend will never be gone forever.
About the Author
Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry
. Pandora charms
, Pandora bracelets and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.
A wood stove is a device that is commonly used in kitchens for heating food, keep hot and what is pleasing to the palate. Some antique wooden stoves can be used for heating and cooking today. Wood stoves used for cooking household needs as well as for heating.
One of the purposes of a wood stove was to enclose the fire to generate more heat and more efficient heating. A wood stove is often used for heating rooms or cooking food.
They are made of Cast Iron and other metals are strong enough to withstand the amount of heat generated. A stove uses other sources of fuel to burn and make heat, many use wood or pellets. Wood stoves also are used to heat homes in addition to its role in cooking. Some come with glass panels that can withstand the heat, but adds a nice touch when you see the flame.
It is important to know what type of fuel your type of stove can use and what can not be used safely. When buying a wood pellet stove or stove, there are many factors to consider before making the purchase. There are some things to think about before purchasing and installing a wood stove at home. After calculating the space the facility to learn how to keep all the security features needed to connect fuels the fire for the smoke is directed outwards.
Want something different to bring in the wood, cutting wood and storage, then test the new pellet stoves, pellet can be stored easily, no cutting, no mess, but it gives you the feel of a wood stove. When looking at wood stoves and pellet stoves, pellet stoves are the slightly more expensive, but the side positive is that they come ready to use, that are cleaner and easier to use. This is 20% less efficient than wood pellet stoves or corn. Pellet stoves are easy to use, it is not necessary to cut wood all you need do is open the bag of pellets and poor in them, the auger will move the tablets, as needed to be burned. Pellet stoves have a mechanical hand that feeds the fire when necessary, you do not have to approach the hot flame. You can get the pills anywhere today, most major hardware stores carry the facility to carry bags. Stove are cheaper and can be used with a fuel source cheaper, such as pellets, wood or other materials.
antique wood stoves are collector's items are very valuable for some people. There many different types of antique wood stoves available. Today you can find stoves in local home stores, furniture stores and many shops selling antiques.
Some wood stoves are considered the most antiques, and many people use these pieces as decoration only. Many antique pieces of the past are available today in different antique shops and online.
About the Author
David Marc Fishman sells merchandise inexpensively using auction. Price drop as people shop when buying jewelry at the low bidding site at Priceriot.
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Newest FOODIE Paradise in Cebu
Imagine the beauty in Cebu……
White-sand beaches and dive sites. World-class resorts. Magellan’s Cross. The Santo Niño. Tops. Guitars. Dried mangoes. Lechon Cebu. Rosquillos. Otap. Chicharong Carcar. Danggit. And some of the prettiest chanteuses in the world.
Add one more to this growing list of Cebuano wonders: Gourmet Walk.
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino has designed a unique dining experience for foodies looking for the next best thing. Can’t make up your mind what you want for dinner in the Queen City of the South? The barkada wants to hop from one restaurant to another in a convenient venue? Then Gourmet Walk is definitely for you.
Waterfront Cebu’s Gourmet Walk is exactly that: an alley with a selection of restaurants that offers foodies all their hearts’ — and tummies’ — desire. If you have a hankering for freshly-cooked dim sum, roast duck, and yummy tofu, then enter Tin Gow, already a Cebuano institution when it comes to fine Chinese cooking. For something fresh-tasting and blissfully pleasant to the eye, then it’s Japanese at Mizu. For a feel of the Parisian sidewalk café life and mouthwatering cakes and its exclusive flavored brazo de Mercedes, Madeleine is it. If you want something Italian and hearty, or perhaps just a crusty pizza and wine or grappa, then head off to La Gondola. For after-hours cocktails and a selection of innovative pica-pica, then click your heels and look for Treff, which has an al fresco smoking lounge. For a taste of Pinoy favorites — including Cebuano specialties — and a sampling of everything the other restaurants have to offer, then make Uno your first stop at Gourmet Walk.
Designed as a one-stop gourmet destination, this unique collection of restaurants takes the guesswork out of dining. With dining a year-round celebration in Cebu, Waterfront Cebu’s innovative lineup of restaurants ensures guests get the best of all worlds.
At Gourmet Walk, diners literally take a walk through an alley of restaurants. The hotel’s west wing has been transformed into a European walkway: cobblestoned flooring, a painted ceiling of fluffy white clouds on an azure sky, and walls painted with a trompe l’oeil of fountains, trees and other architectural detail. There are even quaint wooden park benches and lampposts to add to the mood. The light even changes as the day progresses. In the morning, it’s a soft white light to bring into Gourmet Walk some of Cebu’s natural sunshine; in the afternoon, the lights turn a mellow yellow to evoke the setting sun. And at night, the lights dim down and the lampposts burn even more brightly to suggest an evening walk in the park.
All the restaurants at Gourmet Walk are under the seasoned management of Waterfront Cebu executive chef Anders Hallden. Working with him are the hotel’s different chefs who provide the authentic flavors the different restaurants offer: sous chef Linda Hou for the dim sum treats and canapés at Uno; Chinese chef Low Yuen Kong for the sumptuous Chinese feasts at Tin Gow; Japanese chef Ken Imamura for the delicate yet delicious entrees at Mizu; Italian chef Vito Froio for the authentic Italian meals at La Gondola; and pastry chef Gabriel Garcia for the wonderful cakes and pastries at the hotel’s different outlets.
It was a maddening weekend at Waterfront Cebu when we visited to explore Gourmet Walk. There was no need to leave the hotel for breakfast, lunch, merienda or dinner – not unless you have a craving for the local sutokil. Otherwise, we were just in foodie heaven.
Even before we had seen our room – and what delightful rooms Waterfront Cebu has – we were already having lunch at Uno with Waterfront F&B marketing communications manager Kaye Luym. There we met the Waterfront culinary team: Waterfront group executive chef Nick Anderson, Waterfront Cebu executive chef Anders Hallden, F&B director Janine T. De Padua, and Rooms marketing communications manager Renee Villasin. During the course of our stay, we would be acquainted of all the hotel’s different culinary minds.
Uno is a modern interactive lifestyle concept restaurant with four active cooking stations, including a noodle chef who pulls noodles the whole day. And yes, they do serve local delicacies here, including the famous lechon Cebu and a selection of meat and seafood for grilling sugba-style.
Tin Gow is the oldest restaurant on the walk, pre-dating Waterfront’s purchase and management of the property. It is reputed to be the premier Chinese restaurant in the city, serving popular Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine. The restaurant is up for renovation any time now, and when it reopens, it will surely be another feather in Waterfront Cebu’s cap of culinary wonders.
Mizu offers Japanese dining in a luxe Zen-like setting. With four private rooms that are designed like gift boxes set separately from the main dining area and a teppanyaki room, it is a popular venue for business lunch and dinner meetings. Apart from its menu of Japanese favorites, it has a selection of picture-pretty desserts as well as a collection of premium wines and spirits, including sake and shoju. It also serves UCC Coffee from Japan.
The newest kid on the block is La Gondola. After two months of extensive renovation early this year, it reopened with much acclaim last July. This early, it is one of the jewels at Waterfront Cebu’s Gourmet Walk, attracting discerning diners looking for more than the usual pizza and pasta. Madeleine serves French-inspired bread and pastries, as well as chef Gab’s famous confections of chocolate, cakes, quiches and freshly-baked breads. Don’t miss the flavored brazo de Mercedes, especially the ube and Oreo variants, which are perfect with coffee while lazing away an empty afternoon.
When the day is over and a nightcap is in order, then Treff will delight you. It is an all-white and glass-encased bar that opens at happy hour and closes after midnight. Aside from its selection of beer, wine and spirits, it also serves ingenious pica-pica that will surely add spice to your evening. What I find appealing about Waterfront’s Gourmet Walk is that the property’s chefs are always on hand to assist diners. Chef Anders says they can always meet the needs of diners – be it in adjusting dishes to suit personal preferences, or just to have something different from the usual – so long as the ingredients are available in the kitchen.
If all that talk of food got you hungry, then take note of some culinary favorites we enjoyed during our weekend at Waterfront Cebu: the make-your-own sandwich counter at Uno, the miso-marinated gindara teriyaki at Mizu, the Waterfront chocolate delice and brazo de ube at Madeleine, the homemade tortellini with chicken and Parma ham filling at La Gondola, and the vegetarian cake at the Lobby Lounge. For all these, our stay at Waterfront Cebu was a complete joy.
Diabetes Natural Cures: Exercise, Good Eating Habits, And Raw Foods
When your mom or your dad has diabetes, usually people will ask you if you are also diabetic. Sad to say, but it's true that diabetes runs in the family. There are even cases in which from the grandfather up to the grand children, everyone in the family has diabetes. Sometimes, it could be devastating to be a part of such medical history, but never lose hope. Diabetes can be easily managed only if you try to learn more about it and explore the many forms of treatment like natural cures. Treating it the natural way could range from exercise and good eating habits up to raw and health foods. But first, you have to know exactly what diabetes is and what are its types.
Essential info about diabetes
Diabetes is a disorder that affects the body's way of using food for energy. Normally, your sugar intake is digested and is converted into a simple sugar called glucose. The glucose, then, circulates in the blood where it waits to enter your body's cells to be used as fuel. However, glucose circulation is dependent on insulin, a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Now, if the body does not produce insulin or produce too little, the balance between glucose and insulin is greatly affected; thus, that's when the disorder comes in.
There are two main types of diabetes: the type 1 diabetes and the type 2 diabetes. In the former, the body is not able to produce insulin, while in the latter, it can produce insulin but the cells don't respond to it. Nowadays, more and more people are suffering from type 2 diabetes, and so more tests are conducted to find more remedies.
Exercise, good eating habits, and raw foods
But to take control of diabetes, you don't have to be fully dependent on medications prescribed by your doctor. There are actually three effective ways to manage diabetes the natural way. One is by doing regular exercise. You should know that people who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes than those with normal weight. And those who are already suffering from such disorder, they should be more conscious about their weight because obesity can result to more complications. So to avoid gaining excessive weight, your body should perform daily activities to burn off fat and energy. It can range from doing simple household chores, walking, jogging, swimming, and many more.
Aside from exercise, having good eating habits and eating raw foods can also help you a lot in managing diabetes. If you are fond of eating take-out foods and processed foods, it's high time you change your eating habit. Instead of being dependent on fast foods, better cook your own meals at home. But to really ensure good health, you can always choose eating raw foods like fruits, vegetables, cashews, cacao, and others. All these are rich in nutrients, but low in fats and cholesterol.
Being a part of a family with diabetes history does not mean that it's the end of a fun life for you. You always have the option whether you'll allow it to control or you will be the one to control it. Now, why don't you try the natural cures for diabetes? If you're still not convinced about their effectiveness, better read on David Wolfe's Sunfood Nutrition to know more.
About the Author
Marilyn has been fascinated with the work of the Healthy Lifestyle Nutritionist and Guru, David Wolfe and has a blog which keeps up with the latest in the world of Healthy Lifestyles at http://HealthyFoodRawDiet.com/. See more about Natural Cures.
Ovo Lacto Vegetarian Cooking - The Healthy New Substitute On Your Menu
Dropping meat in your menu ingredients often times alter the taste even as what would normally a mouth-watering recipe turns out to be “just another dish on your buffet table”.
Amid an age when people tent to be health conscious, the idea of replacing meat as an ingredient in a recipe has been a growing practice among people who may want to adopt into what is popularly known as healthy living --- less alcohol, drop smoking, regular exercise, dropping high-cholesterol foods and more vegetable on the menu.
But what would be a wise alternative to meat? Plant meat, veggie burgers, tofu, Tempeh, Seitan (wheat gluten) and beans make up the list of suggestions that may fit as substitute to the high-cholesterol meat products.
Plant meat, which is usually made to form what could be bought from the supermarket as veggie burgers is a good alternative to meat for ovo lacto vegetaqrian cooking.
Another is Tofu, which makes a great meal if accompanied by sauces because of its porous texture and nature. There is another type of such meat replacement, the wet Tofu which is recommended for baking, grilling, sautéing, and frying. Another type of this form is the Silken Tofu which could be as sumptuous as it could be when mixed with creamy sauces, desserts, marinades, and dressings. It is however a must that water is drained by way of putting pressure on it for about 15-20 minutes.
Tempeh, which comes from whole fermented soybeans, is another ideal meat substitute. Simply braise it in a flavored liquid before cooking it. Cooking of Tempeh usually takes an hour.
Seitan or wheat gluten for its part would best replace chicken meat products, while beans are at good alternatives for protein-conscious people who may want their ovo lacto vegetarian recipes in the preparation of soups, salads, stews and rice dishes.
But how does an individual create an ovo lacto vegetarian cooking pantry? Here are some tips and suggestions.
Abhishek is really passionate about Cooking and he has got some great Cooking Secrets . up his sleeves! Download his FREE 88 Pages Ebook, "Cooking Mastery!" from his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com/770/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
With the holidays on their way soon, many people will be beefing up kitchens to handle the increased demand for ‘fit for a king’ meals. Not being a Professional Chef should not stop you from being able to cook like one. But, you’ll need the right tools to create those tantalizing dishes. Read on and find out the five tools that no kitchen cook should be without.
Mixing Bowls
Make sure that you have a good, quality set of mixing bowls on hand – the bigger the better! Many dishes need to be beaten, blended or mixed. You will be glad you did not skimp on the mixing bowls when you need to perform any of those tasks. Most professional chefs prefer to use stainless Steel Mixing bowls. However, there are many quality plastic sets available, like the ones made by OXO. For more results visit us at www.july4-recipes.com. But be aware that plastic bowls can become hard to clean over time, especially if used for heavy duty sauces, and may need to be replaced.
Pre-Seasoned Cookware
Cast Iron skillets, pots and pans have long been a choice of the pros. Nevertheless, cast iron cookware can be a little daunting. Seasoning, pre-seasoning, re-seasoning, cooking the seasonings in, oils to use, etc. to ensure your skillet is ready, is a hassle many cooks would rather not deal with. Now you do not have to. You can buy cast iron cookware galore – already seasoned – so that you have no fuss and still get the same great benefits of those using simple cast iron. Lodge is a well-known maker of pre-seasoned cookware and offers many different types of cast iron cookware. Be aware –neither soap nor dishwashers should be used for your prized possessions.
If you have ever seen one of grandma’s old recipes refer to a pinch, smidgen or dash and have had to take a guess at the meaning (and hope you are right) then you absolutely must grab a set of pinch, smidgen or dash measuring spoons. No more guessing or testing your interpretations on your guests (as fun as that may be). This set also makes a great conversation starter – especially at family gatherings where elder members may take you on a trip down memory lane.
First out Pie Spatula
What could possibly ruin the perfect homemade Dutch crumb apple pie? Having it fall apart while you try to get that first piece out of the pie dish. Well, here is a secret of the pros – use a first out pie spatula. You bake the spatula in with the pie. When the pie comes out of the oven and cools, you make the cuts and lift that first piece out in perfect appetizing condition!
Kitchen Companion Guide
Ever wonders how long you need to steam asparagus. Not sure how to stick a thermometer in a turkey? Never butterflies a pork chop before? You can also login on to www.apples-recipes.com. For all the weird, rarely used information you may need, while preparing a feast; you can turn to a kitchen guide. Look for a kitchen guide, which specializes in everything and anything you may need to know while cooking any meal in any kitchen. Many of the above items may not be featured at your local retail store, so you might want to find a local kitchen specialty store near you or do your shopping online. Nevertheless, if you enjoy the art of cooking and want to be armed with the best tools possible, you now have a few more to add to your arsenal, which will help you cook like.
While it is relatively common for baby back ribs to be grilled or braised for a relatively brief period, the best results come from a low-and-slow smoking process using the right combination of wood chunks to give it a truly distinctive aroma and flavor.This smoked rib recipe is tried and tested, and makes succulent tasting ribs that are a joy to eat.
Ingredients
1 Cup Sugar 1 Cup Non-Iodized Table Salt 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar (dried out by exposing on grease-proof paper at room temperature for several hours) 5 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoons Chili Powder 2 Tablespoons + 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin 4 Teaspoons Cayenne Pepper 4 Teaspoons Black Pepper freshly ground (important) 4 Teaspoons Garlic Powder 4 Teaspoons Onion Powder
To make great baby back ribs, you need to pick the best quality loin baby back ribs you can find, around 2lbs in size, trimming off the inner stomach-side membrane. Any remaining excess fat should again, be trimmed off and discarded.
For the dry rub, combine all of the ingredients together in bowl, and then transfer and store in an air-tight container.
Preparing the baby back ribs
Sprinkle the ribs with the dry rub a few hours before cooking and allow them to come to room temperature.
Avoid over-seasinging, a light and consistent coating is all that is required. You will see that the spices will form a pleasing red coating after sitting for about an hour or so. This is what you are looking for.
Cooking the baby back ribs
For the best results, smoke the baby-back ribs in a Weber Smokey Mountain, Big Green Egg, or a Kamado.
First of all fire up the smoker by using 12lbs or so of charcoal and 3 chunks of White oak and 2 chunks of Cherry wood. The wood chunks should be approximately 3" in diameter.
The charcoal should be started in a chimney-style starter avoiding the use of starter fluids as this can (and usually does), impair the flavor. Wait until the charcoal has turned grey/white.
At this stage, remove the bark from the White Oak and Cherry wood, and do not soak them.
During cooking you will notice that there is far less smoke being produced as you would normally see when using moistened wood chunks, this is perfectly O.K., and the flavors will permeate the ribs just the same.
Keep the smoker's water-pan topped up with tap water, using boiled water that has been allowed to cool slightly if you prefer, and regulate the temperature by utilizing the lower vents on the smoker only.
Avoid closing the top vent at all costs as this will produce less desirable results, and if your smoker doesn't happen to have one, use a Bbq Thermometer probe so that you can keep an eye on the smokers internal temperature.
The ribs should be placed on rib racks and cooked at around 225 degrees for 3 hours at which points the lid should be opened for the first time, and then turning the rib slabs over. At this point all vents on the smoker should be opened fully.
With the smokers vents opened, the internal temperature of the smoker should hit the 240 to 270 degree range.
Monitor the ribs progress every 30 minutes until done. You will know when they are ready as the baby back ribs will turn brown in color and the meat will have pulled down over half an inch on the longer bones, usually after 1-2 hours more smoking.
Remove the baby back ribs from the smoker and generously sauce both sides before cutting into individual ribs.
Tip: Allow the ribs to rest for at least 10 minutes prior to serving, wrapped in tin foil to preserve the moisture and delicious juices.
About the Author
You may like to read about Big Bob Gibsons BBQ Book at Barbecue Party, a leading BBQ resource that includes daily news updates, competition schedules, smoker recipes, product and restaurant reviews and much more.
How many times do you look over and see a child involved in pretend play? Children from a very young age engage in spirited and fun pretend play. This can be anything from using a pencil as a magic wand to whipping up something in their toy kitchen. Pretend play is instrumental in developing many key skills in young children.
When a child is engaging in pretend play, some of the skills being developed are social and emotional skills. Getting the opportunity to act like someone else teaches him/her to walk in someone else’s shoes. Letting them experience how others are possibly feeling. Also there is a give in take when switching up roles that is great for the child to learn about taking turns.
One of the most important things a child learns is cognitive thinking skills. This is a skill that will benefit them not only now but for a lifetime. It’s what allows them to find creative solutions to problems. The skill of processing the information that attain. And as an adult good problem solving skills are a bonus in both work and interpersonal relationships.
Pretend play brings the imagination out in all of us. Studies have shown that kids that regularly are engaged in pretend play later on in life have much higher levels of narrative expression, allowing them to really be able to communicate on a higher level.
So many times it’s fun to listen in as your child engages in pretend play. Some of the vocabulary will amaze you. You will often find yourself and words and phrases you often say coming out of their mouths. Using this pretend play he is learning to use his vocabulary to tell a story. In life this will help his go from spoken word to written word easier.
Pretend play also teaches kids to adapt and use what they have at hand. Watching a kid pick up a block to use as a phone or putting blocks on plates as food in their toy kitchen are all ways kids learn abstract thinking. The ability to use random objects to get them what they need is priceless as a lifetime skill.
Pretend play is so important that in virtually all young learning centers you will see a corner devoted to it. There you will often find many education toys that with imagination can be anything. Often you will also see toy kitchens which are one of the most popular ways to spark that pretend play. Wooden toys also serve as great props. Anything that inspires pretend play is a great addition to a young child or even older ones toy collections.
With the invention of video games, and all sorts of high tech toys pretend play has taken a back burner; and it is really sad. Pretend play brings inspires to kids to dream to be anything they wish. It allows them to pick up wooden toys and become a princess or a knight. Pretend play allows them to spend an afternoon cooking up your favorite dish on their toy kitchen. Pretend play is what all little kids need to learn all of life’s important lessons.
How to take care of timber decks, cladding, garden sheds, furniture stores etc coffee tables, tv stands – the proper way. Where do I turn for proper advice? There are scores of products on the market for protecting and beautifying timber etc, some good and some not so good. There are equally as many variations in advice offered, some good and unfortunately lots not so good.
Every day I come across the after-effects of all such products and bad advice out there in the course of my work as a wood care specialist / troubleshooter. It is remarkable how often I come across people who have been mislead, badly advised, or simply picked up the first tin of something they might have seen on the T V, even if it was totally inappropriate for their particular needs. It is very hard to find dedicated store staff who make an effort to acquire a proper data bank of knowledge in whatever field they are involved in no matter what that is! From curtains, to electronic gadgets, to woodcare protection etc. When you do come across one of those ‘walking treasures’ don’t you just feel so glad you did? Yes, they are out there but we could do with seeing more of them. Anyway, back to timber, taking care of it and keeping it looking at it’s very best for many years. Before one can advise he / she must learn first, both the theory and the practical real-life stuff. During the last ten years or so with IGOE INTERNATIONAL LTD, I’ve invested most of my working time learning from several of the leading wood care experts from Scandinavia, U.S.A, and elsewhere, while dealing hands-on with numerous on-site cock-ups, on all kinds of wooden structures from decks, marinas, yachts, sailing ships, cladding, hardwood garden furniture, fencing, log cabins etc, the results of poor advice and so on and so on. Here are my findings and some practical, sound advice which, hopefully will save you and or, your friends or relatives from one of the aforementioned cock-ups and their associated cost in money terms as well as all the added frustration and stress. My top of the pile of ‘what’s out there’ in woodcare would have to be a bunch of wood care products from the Owatrol stable. Underdogs to some big brand names they may be, but in my opinion, they do the business second to none. A division of The Flood Company, Ohio, U.S.A., one of America’s leading deck / timber-care product manufacturers, Owatrol International covers a complete line of highest quality timber care products. They are not the cheapest mind you, but to my mind they would safely qualify as the best, hard earned money can buy, and given the fact that your beautiful timber doesn’t come cheap, why skimp on a few coppers for the sake of getting that job done right first time? From my travels, I do know, that more and more quality deck installers, both in the U K & Ireland are recommending this same system I am about to tell you about here today. There is a complete family of products to suit the different situations, needs and tastes.
Here are some of the main issues to look at before deciding what to do with your exterior wood whether it’s new, old, treated or untreated etc:
1. New wood – What should be done with it? 2. What do you want your wood to look like when you’re done? 3. Has it been treated by you or by a previous owner before? 4. Was that wood ever treated? 1. New Wood – what should be done with it?
Lets take it step by step and start at the beginning with new wood. FACT: The first year is the worst year for all new exposed timber! Irrespective of whether your new deck is pressure treated or not, it is still possible that the new wood will crack, split, warp or cup. Pressure treating is basically designed to prevent ROT and DECAY, not splitting etc. New deck timber frequently has mill glaze (a shiny finish caused by a combination of timber planing, wood oils, resins etc during manufacture) which prevents the proper penetration of practically any finish whatsoever. The net effect of this mill glaze etc is that the wood’s pores have been slammed shut by the planer blades and may take several months before they become open again properly, or open enough to allow the wood be treated properly. The one thing that has a very high success rate of getting into this very same wood is good old rainwater! After lying for some time on the wood it will get in to the timber. In other words, you are wasting your money applying any regular off-the-shelf finish like stains, cheap deck oils etc, because they probably will not penetrate properly and will peel off or wear off in no time. Some mis-informed people advise that you should leave your wood to weather with nothing on it for several months and not to apply anything. That advice is both right and wrong. It is right to some extent because virtually no treatment gets into new wood’s pores – hence the thinking is, wait until the pores open fully.
That advice is wrong because, meanwhile water WILL get into the wood and will do damage such as splitting, cupping, warping etc. The Western Red Cedar Association in North America says new cedar etc should not be left unprotected for this very reason. New Wood “The Myth”:
“This wood is pressure treated and does not need to be looked after” This kind of comment had been bandied about by some well meaning, but seriously mis-informed timber sellers or deck installers. The fact is, pressure treatment basically takes care of wood rot related issues and does not deal with water and sun related problems which are the biggest ‘visible’ problems you will probably ever come across.
A good analogy would be the expensive paint job on a brand new car, doesn’t it look great? Doesn’t it need to be looked after, washed and polished from time to time to maintain it and keep it looking great? Leave it to the mercy of our weather, dirt etc and it won’t stay looking good for long! The same applies to your new timber or wood (whichever you prefer to call it)… left to its own devices it will soon look like a pile of old pallets not to mention the damage done to its fibre structure! Back to the new wood, and what to do with it. Irrespective of whether it is pressure treated or not (pressure treated wood usually can be identified by a greenish tint) the new wood should be protected against damage and algae etc if you want it to last, look well, be most importantly -safe in the case of decking. Owatrol do a product specifically designed to treat new wood, called SEASONITE.
SEASONITE, a deep penetrating treatment, is applied as soon as possible after installing your deck, cladding, wooden garden furniture, shed or any other new outdoor timber structure. It is wetter than water, and gets into those tightly closed pores where very little else bar water will get in. Seasonite’s job is to allow the new wood ‘weather’ in a controlled fashion, i.e. it allows excess moisture escape GRADUALLY from the new wood over the course of six months or more, while at the same time preventing NEW moisture or water from getting into the wood. Splitting and cracking etc, generally takes place during changes in weather conditions, from sun to rain to sun etc, which causes the damp wood to suddenly expand and then crack and so on.
Did you ever ‘hear your deck creak’ after a shower of rain followed by a bit of sun? Why does it do that? The wood absorbed the water and as soon as the rain stopped and the sun comes out, the sudden, dare I say it – heat, causes the wood to swell or expand, and that’s when the damage is done, cracking, warping etc. Plain common sense. It’s a real shame to see lovely planks of expensive wood with ugly big splits and cracks all over it.
SEASONITE is not a product designed to make a big impression on your visual senses, it’s main job is just to protect your wood in it’s first, and most vulnerable year, leaving it properly prepared for the next phase of protection where shade, colour etc comes in. Another huge benefit of Seasonite is that it contains a fungicide which helps prevent the growth of algae etc. (That’s what causes decks to become slippery & possibly dangerous when wet). 2. What do you want your wood to look like when you’re done? (2a) That Silvery Greyed Look?
Depending on how you want your timber to look eventually, i.e. a continuation of that lovely just installed look, or what some people like, that silvery greyed look which is the way Cedar decking, cladding etc ends up if left untreated. If you want a silvery, weathered look, all you need to do is apply one coat of Seasonite every year or two. This is a very simple job and can be done in no time at all with a simple, pump type garden sprayer or even a roller or sweeping brush etc.
It is not a dirty job and anybody with the slightest DIY ability can do it easily. The Seasonite will prevent ‘new’ water / moisture from getting in, and keeps the wood inside in good condition while at the same time the outside weathers and takes on that weathered silvery look. So you get the look you want but without letting your timber go to rack and ruin.
(2 b) The Natural New Wood Look or different shades? (Most popular) If your preference is for that beautiful, natural, recently sawn-wood look I would suggest the following course of action. After seasoning has taken place, ideally having been treated with Seasonite when installed, & several months (6+) of controlled weathering has taken place, your deck is now ready for the next phase of treatment. Clean & restore the original colour Clean it.
Even if you used Seasonite as mentioned above, when the wood was new, it will fade and turn grey as well as catch some dirt, bird droppings, water stains etc. So before you do anything, the deck, or whatever it is, must be cleaned, and the original natural colour of the wood completely restored with Net-Trol, a revolutionary and environmentally safe product. It will also remove any remaining Seasonite from the wood, necessary before the next phase of the job. Here’s how.
All you’ve got to do is wet the wood thoroughly, apply a mixture of one part Net-Trol to about three parts water (the less water the stronger the mix) and apply with anything like a clean sweeping brush, or whatever is handy. After about 10 minutes, it is a good idea to slightly agitate the applied cleaner with something like a stiff bristled nylon brush just to help ‘work it in’ to the pores etc. After about 30 minutes rinse off thoroughly with clean water. If you’re doing this job on a dry sunny day and the Net-Trol cleaning treatment is drying out prematurely, just moisten the area with a fine mist from a garden hose to keep it wet, because the cleaning action stops working if it dries out. If the wood has been really dirty or very badly faded, you may need to repeat the above exercise. (Alternatively, see info on the very powerful PrepDeck below) You will also see a vast difference in the look of the wood and the original colour will come right back. When the cleaned wood dries out it will brighten to some degree but it will look very much like it did when new. Now, to beautify and protect your wood…Oil it. I recommend that you wait for at least three days with good drying conditions after the above cleaning has been done before attempting to apply any protective coat. Ideally, 3 to 4 good drying days should allow your wood to be fully dried out again making it receptive for further treatment. This easy job is done using a very easy to use product called TEXTROL and anybody reasonably competent with his or her hands can do it. (Take all the usual precautions like wearing rubber gloves etc)
Textrol is an anti-UV, deep-penetrating clear oil, which goes into the wood rather than on it, leaving a nice matte finish. There are two ready-tinted versions of Textrol called Golden Oak and Rustic Oak. For the more adventurous, the Textrol clear can be tinted (by the paint store) in a nice selection of semi-transparent colours from cool blues to warm browns using the Textrol as either a yellow or clear base.
How to apply: The very first application (only) should be two coats, one soon after the other. Do your project in manageable sections, i.e. you must go back and apply your second coat before the first coat ‘sets up’ Depending on the porosity of the wood, your first coat should be absorbed in about half an hour or less. If you wait too long and the first coat sets up, your second coat will have difficulty getting in, which in turn means that the wood will not have had enough to ‘drink’. The knock-on effect of this is that the protection will only last half as long as it should. If you are working on a deck and some ‘ponding’ occurs from excess Textrol, just wipe it off with a clean cloth to prevent ‘skinning’. (See TIP re doing Decks) Textrol also contains a fungicide which keeps algae etc at bay, and most importantly, in the case of a deck, helps keep it from becoming slippery when wet. Textrol will not peel or lift and can be recoated without sanding which is a great advantage. If you have a deck that is made of the less expensive pressure treated pine or spruce etc (often grooved), the Textrol Rustic Oak will make the deck look more like a teak hardwood. It all depends on which wood you have and what your preference is.
Cedar looks beautiful with the Textrol clear, it enhances the grain and has a lovely natural look. It would be best described as looking like clean, new, wet cedar. The Golden Oak would darken it a little and you may like that look also. Another point to consider is that the two tinted versions will last longer than the clear because they Have More pigment in them and they resist the UV rays better.
Textrol (clear) by the way, can last, when properly applied, from1.5 to 3 years depending on its position relative to the sun. The less exposed to direct sunlight the longer it lasts and visa versa.
Textrol is water repellent (allows wood to breathe) and ideally should be recoated with just one coat without sanding every twelve to eighteen months, depending on sun exposure. As with Seasonite, Textrol is very easy to apply, if you have a pump sprayer, use that, or you could use a clean sweeping brush, paintbrush or roller. One point to remember is, as soon as your wood starts to get grey looking it’s telling you it needs some more oiling with Textrol. NOTE: We recently introduced Tropitech, a new, hard wearing, long lasting, acrylic wood finish also from the same suppliers Owatrol – also worth a look, check out the website page http://igoe.ie/products/needalonglasting.htm meanwhile for more information. I will be adding pictures and more on Tropitech soon. 3. Has it been treated by you or by a previous owner before? You need to find out what you are dealing with before you can effectively restore or treat it. Perhaps your deck or exterior wood has been treated before by you or a contractor and you cannot remember with what, perhaps the wood was messed up by the application of inappropriate coatings, or they were applied in the wrong way? Or maybe you’ve recently moved into this house and the exterior woodwork needs doing but you don’t have a clue what to do to restore it? Important that you deal with this. Start at the beginning and do a simple test on various parts of the wood. Wait until the wood is dry; apply a few drops of water here and there (gently). If the water droplet soaks into the wood after about 5 to 10 minutes, (might be a little longer in hardwoods) that tells you that your wood is porous and that it can be treated after a relatively easy cleaning with Net-Trol. (See Clean & Restore above) On the other hand if the water droplet stays there and does not soak in, but rather sits there on the wood, it tells you that there is something there like a previous coating (which may or may not be clearly visible) of some sort, and it must be removed properly before doing anything else. This can be achieved with a very powerful stripper cleaner like the PrepDeck. This product can be used diluted with water at a ratio of 1 part PrepDeck and 10 parts water for wood that is not excessively dirty looking, or you could go all the way up to neat Prepdeck for disaster situations, such as heavily coated with old stains, coatings etc. It may be useful to do a few tests using different mix ratios to get a feel for might work best for your situation. Work from weak towards strong. Apply PrepDeck on to dry wood. Next, a few words of caution re PrepDeck:
• Shake very well before use. • Wear protective gloves, eye protection etc and cover anything you don’t want splashed or interfered with including shrubs etc. • Decks can be very slippery while being treated with PrepDeck so take extreme care. • Do not let the PrepDeck dry out while it is working, keep moist. • On vertical surfaces, it is better to work from the bottom up to minimise streaking etc. • PrepDeck, because it is so powerful can, and will darken some woods during the course of the cleaning action. Don’t worry though, you can restore the natural colour of the darkened wood again by treating it with Net-Trol diluted about 4 parts water to 1 part Net-Trol. In any event, whether the wood darkens or not, the PrepDeck will remove the toughest of old stains, oils etc and bring the wood back to its original look. • All wood cleaned with PrepDeck must be neutralised immediately afterwards while still wet with Net-Trol, diluted about 3 or 4 to one before a final thorough rinsing off with clean water. You could use a garden hose or even a power washer at about 500psi (low pressure) and make sure, if you are using a power washer that you run with the wood grain, not against it which might raise the wood fibres and or even cause splintering. Working time for PrepDeck would be around 20 to 30 minutes for stubborn stains, oils etc, and for less challenging cleaning jobs it can be diluted by as much as 20 to 1 and take about 10 to 15 minutes to work. NOTE: In all cases, after you use PrepDeck, the wood must be neutralised with diluted Net-Trol immediately afterwards while the wood is still wet. Do not, under any circumstances, apply Textrol on to any wood that has been cleaned with PrepDeck unless the wood has been neutralised with diluted Net-Trol (see above) prior to drying off. Now, keep that newly cleaned and restored wood looking great! Wait for at least three or four good drying days or even a little longer, for your wood to dry out completely and then you can treat it with any of your TEXTROL options as mentioned in 2 b above. 5. Was the wood ever treated? If you know that your wood has never treated by you or anybody else, even if it was pressure treated, it can easily be brought back to life and look great again. If it is not too severely stained or dirty you will get a Very Good result using Net-Trol (See Clean & restore the original colour above). If the wood is heavily stained, has all sorts of grime and dirt on it; you may need the more powerful PrepDeck to get the stubborn stuff off. See 3 above (Followed by Net-Trol – see 3 above) My advice is try the Net-Trol first (as per above instructions) even if you have to use it almost neat. Do a few simple tests using different strengths of Net-Trol diluted with water. Obviously the less Net-Trol you get away with using, the better it is for you! You may need to do it twice, but that will be determined by your tests. NOTE: You will not see the real result of your test until the wood has dried out to a reasonable extent, so just go off and do something else meanwhile. When you are happy that you have got your wood as clean as possible, wait until it has fully dried out and then you can apply the two coats of TEXTROL as per 2 above.
DECK TIPS • On a new deck, it is advisable to put planter boxes, etc into waterproof trays and if possible, raised off the surface of the deck. Move them around from time to time. This will prevent “rings” from forming and allow the deck to breathe uniformly. • Deck furniture such as chairs, umbrella base etc should have rubber or plastic cups fitted where possible. • Bar B Que’s should have some form of protection on the deck floor to prevent serious burn marks or bad stains. Try a small sheet of aluminium or steel, about one meter square, (available from a good DIY store or Builders merchant) which can be removed after cooking. This can possibly be stored away underneath the deck. • If you have rusting nail heads, hanging flower brackets etc leaving rust stains on your wood, they can be cleaned off with the Net-Trol product mentioned above. When dried out, apply some Owatrol Oil directly to the rusted nail or screw heads etc to seal them up and prevent the rust reforming again for many years. • When oiling a deck with TEXTROL, work from the furthest point backwards to avoid having to walk over an area you’ve just done. Ideally, Textrol the wood by treating about 6 planks, or whatever you at a time from one end to the other.
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