Southern Minnesota Ace Hardware Stores: May 2015

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Paint Colors to Match Nail Colors Southern Minnesota Ace Stores

Ladies, we know you go to great lengths to pick the right nail color, right? Well, now you can bring your nail colors to your room. With names like August Sun, Marry Me and Cashmere Scarf, you are sure to find that perfect paint color to match nail colors right at your Southern Minnesota Ace stores.

Learn more and be inspired online.

Then, simply visit a Southern Minnesota Ace store to pick out the perfect color. Our paint experts are ready to help you. We'll help pick out your wall color with the same care you do your nail color.

Shop at:

Raleigh's Ace - 2525 Bridge Ave, Albert Lea, MN
D&G Ace - 1417 1st Ave. SW, Austin, MN
Cannon Falls Ace - 21265 County 24 Blvd, Cannon Falls, MN
Dodge Center Ace - 20 Airport Road N, Dodge Center
Faribault Ace Hardware - 421 2nd Ave. NW, Faribault, MN
Jackson Ace Hardware - 916 Highway 71 N, Jackson, MN
Luverne Ace Hardware - 210 E. Lincoln St., Luverne, MN
McCabes Ace Hardware - 1200 Main Street E., Sleepy Eye, MN
Retzlaff's Ace Hardware - 21 N. Minnestoa Ave, New Ulm, MN
Rushford MN Ace Hardware Store - 402 S. Mill St, Rushford, MN
St. Charles Ace Hardware - 1313 Whitewater Ave., St. Charles, MN
Schwalbach Hardware - 193 9th St., Windom, MN
Schwalbach Hardware - 1131 Oxford St., Worthington, MN

Monday, May 18, 2015

Southern Minnesota Ace DIY Paint Projects

As your Southern Minnesota Ace stores, we are always looking for great DIY paint projects to share. Thanks to the creative folks out there, here are a few that may make your "to do" list. Remember, by shopping at your local Southern Minnesota Ace stores, you can get in, get expert advice and get out so you can get those projects rockin'.

Read below how Yellow Brick Home used Ace Clark + Kensington paint to create colors on pots and have accent pieces that look great!

They used Clark+Kensington paint to create stripes on the bottom of clay pots. After applying three thin layers of paint to each, they finished them off with some succulent plants. The great thing about this project is that you could use colors that tie-in to your home.

DIY Painted Drop Cloth Rug | TheTurquoiseHome.com

And, have you ever thought of painting a drop cloth and using it for a eye-catching rug? Well, that is just what the turquoisehome.com did with some Valspar paint. With some tape and some creativity, think of the patterns you could make. And, with the Valspar color options, you can get as colorful as you want.

Pick up your paint at:

Saturday, May 16, 2015

When to Water Outdoor Plants in Southern Minnesota

You get the flowers and plants every year to make your outdoor space beautiful. However, in Minnesota, it can go from rain to drought in a heartbeat. So, how do you know when to water?

Most plants want moist (but not soggy) soil around their roots all the time. In the spring, too frequent and too shallow watering makes roots rise to the top of the soil for moisture; this discourages deep root growth and leads to survival problems during hot summer months.

Deep-watered plants will have long, deep-seated roots that will find moisture beneath the surface when the sun has baked the ground.

In summer, apply water when the temperature is moderate and when the wind is calm - not in hot sunshine or strong wind that will immediately evaporate the water and leave the soil harder than if it had never been watered.

The rate of penetration into the soil is very important. Water should be applied no faster than the soil surface is able to absorb it. This is determined by the rate of application, hose size, length of hose, water pressure, the water head and the type of soil. Sand has coarse particles and will absorb water faster. Clay particles are much finer and absorb water at a slower rate. As a general rule, the faster the soil absorbs water, the more frequently it needs to be watered.

If you live in a region that has fairly strong, constant wind, recommend a sprinkler with a low, moderate to heavy spray; otherwise the homeowner can lose up to 40 percent of the water.

Night watering can be recommended because water pressures are higher, winds calmer and temperatures lower to reduce evaporation if the sprinkler has a timer or meter or the homeowner is willing to watch the watering so that the soil isn't overwatered.

Southern Minnesota Ace stores can help with fertilizer and "food" for your plants that they will love. Weeds getting in the way? We have items for that too. Come into one of our Southern Minnesota Ace locations and we'll help you find what you need for outdoor planting and gardening.

Plus, we have solar lights and other outdoor décor to make the most of your space.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Southern Minneosta Ace Stores - Mother's Day Specials

You will LOVE these Mother's Day specials that are available thru Sunday, May 10.

Plan now on picking up gardening items, solar lights and unique things that mom will love. Plus, we have grills on sale, BBQ accessories and more. Heck yeah, a woman can grill. :)

What are you getting your mom this year? Get her something she will love.

Shop at:

Raleigh's Ace - 2525 Bridge Ave, Albert Lea, MN
D&G Ace - 1417 1st Ave. SW, Austin, MN
Cannon Falls Ace - 21265 County 24 Blvd, Cannon Falls, MN
Dodge Center Ace - 20 Airport Road N, Dodge Center
Faribault Ace Hardware - 421 2nd Ave. NW, Faribault, MN
Jackson Ace Hardware - 916 Highway 71 N, Jackson, MN
Luverne Ace Hardware - 210 E. Lincoln St., Luverne, MN
McCabes Ace Hardware - 1200 Main Street E., Sleepy Eye, MN
Retzlaff's Ace Hardware - 21 N. Minnestoa Ave, New Ulm, MN
Rushford MN Ace Hardware Store - 402 S. Mill St, Rushford, MN
St. Charles Ace Hardware - 1313 Whitewater Ave., St. Charles, MN
Schwalbach Hardware - 193 9th St., Windom, MN
Schwalbach Hardware - 1131 Oxford St., Worthington, MN

Monday, May 4, 2015

Southern Minnesota Ace Store - Repairing Concrete How To

In Southern Minnesota, we know that once the snow melts and it is warm enough to get outside, you may see your concrete areas took a beating. Your Southern Minnesota Ace Stores are here to help you with repairing concrete How To steps.

Repairing and Patching Concrete

Here are tips and suggestions on how to patch and repair concrete. Take the time to read these directions thoroughly to save time, money and effort. This will also help you end up with a neater, more satisfactory job-with far less waste. In this document you will find information about:

Repairing Hairline Cracks
Repairing Cracks in Sidewalks
Repairing Concrete Driveways
Repairing Cracks and Holes in Concrete Walls
Patching Holes in Walks or Driveways
Repairing Broken Corners on Concrete

REPAIRING HAIRLINE CRACKS

You can repair hairline cracks in concrete with a grout made of Portland cement and water. Add just enough water to the cement to form a thick paste.
Moisten the old concrete along the hairline crack with water for several hours before adding the grout. Moistening the concrete prevents it from drawing the water from the grout, which will dry out the mixture. Although the old concrete should be moist, no water should be standing on the surface when the grout is applied.
After the hairline crack has been moistened and thoroughly cleaned, apply the grout with a putty knife or pointing trowel. Force the grout into the crack as much as possible. Then smooth it off so it is level with the original concrete.
Allow the patched area to dry about two hours. Then, cover the area with a piece of plastic sheeting or a board.
Keep the area covered for about five days. Lift the covering once each day and sprinkle the area with water.

REPAIRING CRACKS IN SIDEWALKS

Cracks in sidewalks that are larger than hairline cracks must be enlarged before they can be satisfactorily repaired. Enlarge the crack along its entire length with a cold chisel and hammer (see image).
Make the crack wider at the bottom than at the top (see image below). This is known as undercutting. It helps to bond the new concrete with the older concrete.

Undercut the crack to a minimum depth of 1". The depth of the undercutting depends on the size and depth of the crack to be repaired.
After the crack has been thoroughly undercut, remove all loose material and brush the area with a wire brush.

Use a garden hose or a tire pump to blow or wash away the dust in the crack.
The new concrete patch will hold better if a concrete adhesive is used first. There are many types of concrete adhesives. Acrylic resin-a milky fluid-is one common type. Brush the adhesive into the undercut area and allow it to dry until it becomes tacky (see image below).
If you do not use a cement adhesive, thoroughly brush and soak the area to be patched. Moistening the area prevents the old concrete from absorbing all the moisture in the concrete patch. Although it should be moist, no water should be standing on the area where the patch is to be applied.

Tamp the concrete patch mix tightly into the undercut area. Be sure to fill all areas completely.
When the mixture begins to set, smooth it down with either a metal trowel or a wooden float. Use a metal trowel for a smooth finish. For a rough surface, use a wood float for the finishing job.
After the patch is completed, allow it to dry for about two hours. Then cover the patched area completely with plastic sheeting or boards.
Keep the area covered for about five days. Lift the cover once each day to wet down the repaired area, permitting the new concrete to cure correctly.

You can repair a crack in a concrete driveway in basically the same way as a crack in a concrete sidewalk. However, since the driveway must carry heavier weight loads, the repaired area must withstand much greater pressure.
Use a gravel mix, rather than a sand mix, for repairing concrete driveways. This mix is one part Portland cement, two parts sand and three parts gravel.
Thoroughly clean and then undercut the crack. Brush cement adhesive into the undercut area.
Undercut the cracked area to a greater depth and make the cracks considerably wider than when repairing a sidewalk. This extra depth and width increases the strength of the repair job.
Follow all of the steps outlined previously in repairing a crack in a sidewalk to repair a crack in a concrete driveway.
After the gravel mix has been applied, level the new patch mix off with a trowel or float, as you would do when repairing a sidewalk (see image).
Cover the patched area for five days, wetting it down once each day.
Do not drive an automobile over the patched area for at least five days. This gives the newly patched section time to dry thoroughly before it must carry the heavy load of an automobile or truck.

Repairing a crack in a concrete wall requires basically the same steps as repairing a crack in a sidewalk or driveway.
The cracked area must first be undercut and widened in basically the same way as previously described for a sidewalk.
The widening and undercutting can be done with a cold chisel and hammer (see image). The width and depth of the undercutting depends on the size and length of the crack.

After all loose material has been chipped away, thoroughly clean the undercut area around the crack with a stiff wire brush (see image). Do not brush the area enough to smooth off the edges. The rough surface created by the chiseling provides a good bond for the new concrete you'll apply.
When the enlarged area has been thoroughly cleaned, apply cement adhesive with a brush. This is the same cement adhesive used when repairing sidewalks. If you do not have a cement adhesive, prime the area with a thin, creamy mixture of Portland cement and water.
In some cases, you can make the patch by simply moistening the area thoroughly before filling the crack with concrete (see first image below). Although the moistening is important, a concrete adhesive or the mixture of Portland cement and water is much more desirable than moistening with water only.

You can use a ready-mix concrete patch for small cracks in cement walls. Force the mixture into the cutaway area with a pointing trowel (see first image below). Be sure to use enough pressure to force the patch mix into all the cutaway areas in the crack.
It may be difficult to conceal the patch, since the finish on the old concrete is difficult to duplicate. To conceal the patch, simply experiment with matching the original finish by roughing up the patched area while it is still workable. Try using an old broom, a float, or any other tool to create the desired rough finish.
You can patch holes and broken areas in concrete walls by simply clearing out the hole in the same basic way you would undercut a crack.
After the hole has been thoroughly cleaned and cut away, apply the cement adhesive and insert the patch mix into the hole with a pointing trowel (see second image below).
Moisten the area and cure it after the patch is applied in the same way cracks in cement driveways or sidewalks are moistened and cured.

PATCHING HOLES IN WALKS OR DRIVEWAYS

How you patch holes in sidewalks and driveways depends on the depth and the size of the hole. If the hole is extremely deep and large, you must undercut it as previously described and fill the area with a gravel mix.
Small, shallow holes in flat-surfaced concrete-such as driveways, patios or sidewalks-can easily be repaired with latex cement (see image). If the hole is small and shallow, no chipping away is required.
Small, shallow holes need only to be cleaned thoroughly before adding the latex cement.

This cleaning can usually be done with a wire brush, which removes all the small pieces of loose concrete when you rub the area thoroughly (see image).
After using the wire brush on the damaged area, use a lighter brush to remove the loose particles that were dislodged by the wire brush. Then, wash the area to be repaired with a garden hose (see first image below).
After the cleaning is done, you are ready to apply the latex cement. This usually comes in 5-lb. cans, with the liquid latex in a smaller can inside a larger can.
Pour the liquid latex into the larger can and thoroughly mix it with the latex cement to form a heavy paste. Apply this paste to the area to be patched in approximately 1/4" layers. Smooth each layer with a trowel and allow to partially dry before applying the next layer.
Build up the latex cement 1/4" at a time until it reaches the same level as the original concrete. Then, smooth out the area with a trowel or float as you would finish regular concrete (see second image below).

REPAIRING BROKEN CORNERS ON CONCRETE

You can repair broken corners on concrete with latex or epoxy cement (see image). A broken corner should be thoroughly cleaned and moistened before the mixture is applied.
After the corner has been thoroughly brushed and washed, build up the latex or epoxy cement mix 1/4" at a time, as previously described. If the area to be repaired is quite large, you may need to build a small form to hold the mix while it is drying.

TOOL AND MATERIAL CHECKLIST
Concrete and Aggregate	Garden Hose
Concrete Float	Work Gloves
Cold Chisel	Fiber Brush
Concrete Patch Mix	Latex or Epoxy
Cement	Pointing Trowel
Hammer	Wire Brush
Finishing Trowel

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

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