For most of us our home is our single biggest investment, and taking care of that home just makes good sense. Taking care of your outdoor wood fence will add years to its life as well as keeping it looking great.

The first step in any fence-staining project is the surface preparation. Using a wood cleaner is a great way to clean the wood as well as bring the material back to life. Many of these products are concentrates, which means all you do is add water to make the mix. The best way to apply the cleaners is with a garden-type pump sprayer.

Apply the cleaner liberally on the fence with the sprayer; be sure to wet down any foliage or structures under or around the fence so you limit any damage to plants. Most of these cleaners are bleach-based, so keeping surrounding items wet or covered is a good idea. Let the cleaner sit for 10 to 15 minutes and then pressure wash the wood with a gas powered pressure-washer with a PSI rating of at least 2000.

After the cleaning, let the fence dry for at least 3 to 5 days. Be sure that it truly is dry, meaning no rain during those days. The moisture content of the wood needs to be no more than 15 percent at the time of the stain application. You can either buy or borrow a moisture meter from your paint store. Then you’re set to apply your stain.

I like oil-based products for outdoor staining. The oil absorbs deeply into the wood giving you even coverage and a long lasting finish. The best way to apply the stain is with a natural-bristled brush and good ol’ fashioned elbow grease. The key is to frequently stir the can during the finish application to ensure that all the colorant is consistent. Use the brush to work the stain into the wood brushing with the grain of the wood. Remember to never stain when rain is a possibility, in direct sunlight, or if the outside temperature is over 80 degrees.

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Style and comfort are two things pretty much any homeowner would like more of. Even the nicest, coziest home has a room or an area the homeowner isn’t terribly fond of or would like to improve.

In that spirit, we’ve found these two flooring products might help put more of that sought-after style and comfort under foot.

The Luxury Housing Trends blog uncovered these incredible interlocking puzzle-piece wood flooring tiles from Beckwith Interiors. The unique design is sure to stand out and start a conversation. They’re available in several designs and woods.

If you’re looking for something a little less out-there, try adding some comfort to your winter wonderland with heated rugs. You’ve heard of radiant-heat flooring, but Curbly.com’s DIY Maven points out a new product from Warmly Yours that works much like a traditional rug pad — with one big difference: “But these pads you plug in, giving you a pleasant case of toasty toes,” the maven writes.

What cool new products have you discovered recently?

If you are remodeling or building a new home, chances are you’re considering some type of green element or option. Some facts about what is green: First, all that lumber used to build your home is a renewable resource. In fact, there is the same amount of forestland in North America now as there was 100 years ago. Most of the wood used in construction is grown in managed forests; it’s a crop that gets harvested about every 30 years. So you can rest assured that you are not harming Mother Nature at all.

There is a lot of interest in bamboo products, and while bamboo does grow quickly, it is not all the same. If you are considering flooring, cabinets or trim made from bamboo you need to make sure it was allowed to grow for at least five years. While you hear a lot about bamboo being cut at 30 days, the density and strength of that material is, in my opinion, not worth the investment. There are several makers of bamboo products that allow it to age and cultivate from managed bamboo farms.

Technology is also changing what’s available for our homes. A few years ago, Marvin put together some demonstration wood windows at the International Builder’s Show in Orlando with a product called Sage glass. This glass is basically a polarized pane that will darken as the sun hits it to cut down dramatically on the heat gain in your home. It is a terrific choice for southern exposures or your entire home.

Keeping on the topic of the sun, you can now install solar roofing tiles that can generate a good portion of the electricity your home needs. These tiles are also the actual roofing material so you do not have to see the large panels that are typically associated with solar technology. An average installation of this type of roofing tile will generate enough power for a 2,000-square-foot home. The cost is about $30,000, but in many states you can receive up to a 50 percent tax credit.

And then there is the wind. Introduced just 6 months ago, there is now a 6-foot diameter wind turbine that can be placed inconspicuously on or near your home that can generate power in less than a 2-mile-an-hour wind. A turbine installed is about $5,000 and the same 50 percent tax credit may apply. Do some research; speak with your architect and builder about their suggestions to green up your home. Each little step will help us all.

Photo courtesy of Vaxomatic on Flickr

Today’s link love post shows you how to take apart an iPod and make it a little more natural, how to grow great tomatoes, how to wash clothes with just one cup of water, and how to justify your paper-towel habit at home. Good stuff, so let’s get to it!

Wooden iPod
Design Boom
Have an old iPod and some scraps of nice wood laying around? Sounds like a project! I say “old iPod” not because it makes the project easier but because I’m pretty sure this voids the warranty, but it looks gorgeous. Key point: The wood that’s laid over the click-wheel is shaved so thin that the click wheel still works new! More photos on the builder’s Flickr page.

Tomato-Growing Tips from the Pros
Home Know-It-All
Just a few days ago, we wrote about growing tomatoes upside-down. We have some more great tomato-growing tips, thanks to the folks at the Home Know-It-All. Among them: “Fight blight with mulch.”

Spin dry: The washing machine that needs just one cup of water
Daily Mail Online
Researchers at Leeds University in Britain have developed a washing machine that uses only one cup of water to wash a load of laundry. One cup. During the washing cycle, the water is heated to help dissolve the dirt, and thousands of tiny plastic chips to absorb the dirt. And eventually, we might be able to afford them!

Why Being “Paper Towel Free” Is Overrated
Re-Nest
The folks at Re-Nest shared a lengthy, photo-filled write-up in defense of paper towels, a topic that’s much more interesting than it sounds. “So why is there SO MUCH FUSS about paper towel use in the kitchen? It’s all the rage to say, ‘I’m paper towel-less!’ like there’s a medal to be won or a badge of honor to wear because of it. On the opposite side, maybe you’re feeling the reverse effects of green goers around you. There can be a tinge of shame when you sheepishly raise your hand to admit you still use them in your home. Being green enough is a whole new way to keep up with the Joneses.”

Photo courtesy of jozaeh on Flickr