Tip of the Day: Grilling advice for Memorial Day

General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed May 30, 1868, Decoration Day, a time to recognize the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War. The day was later renamed Memorial Day, and in 1971 the federal holiday was moved to the last Monday in May.

We hope that you'll remember the origins of the holiday and take a break from what you're doing at 3 p.m. next Monday (May 25) to acknowledge the National Moment of Remembrance and commemorate the countless men and women who have given their lives for this country.

General Logan couldn't have foreseen that Memorial Day would morph into the unofficial kickoff of both summer and the outdoor-cooking season. If you haven't tuned up your grill for summer, follow these safety tips from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association and the Consumer Reports Safety blog. And remember, taking care of your grill will help it cook better, longer.

And if you're in the market for a new grill, check out our free buyer's guide and read our June 2009 report on gas grills (report and ratings of more than three dozen models available to subscribers), which includes a review of the Traeger Lil' Tex smoker.

When you're ready to cook, try these easy, delicious recipes—including Bobby Flay's advice for the best burgers—and avoid common grilling mistakes. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Home centers nationwide are offering deals on grills and other outdoor-living essentials, including outdoor furniture. Below you'll find links to retailers and their grills and outdoor-products pages.

Ace Hardware: Grills, Outdoors
Home Depot: Grills, Outdoors
Kmart: Grills, Outdoors
Lowe's: Grills, Outdoors
Sears: Grills, Outdoors
Target: Grills, Outdoors
Walmart: Grills, Outdoors

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Remodeling a room in your home or simply replacing appliances or buying new gear for your yard and garden?

The Consumer Reports Home Improvement Guide interactive (picture shown) on ConsumerReports.org lets you click on any room in your house and choose the top appliances, paints, flooring, and other remodeling products for your home's interior and exterior, from the kitchen and bathroom to roofing, siding, mowers, and tools.

The Home Improvement Guide includes expert remodeling tips as well links to Ratings of top ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, decking, mowers and tractors, room air conditioners, windows, washing machines, vacuums, and many more appliances, tools, and remodeling materials you need to upgrade your home.

Take a room-by-room tour of our interactive home today!

Protect Your Investment: Decks

If you own a deck, the arrival of summer means your deck will start seeing a lot more traffic and activity, especially since 2008 appears to be the year of the staycation. A few simple moves will protect your deck from the crush of footfalls and prevent any deck-related accidents from dampening the festivities. (The North American Deck and Railing Association has designated May as Deck Safety Month.)

Check the Structure
Look for water stains inside your home where the deck ties to the house. Ongoing water leakage can lead to wood decay, weakening the deck structure and the house. For decks that are supported by the home’s structure on one side, be sure that the ledger board is properly attached with bolts (not nails) sufficient to support the load.

If you have any doubt about the structural integrity of the deck, especially if it’s a second-story or higher structure, call in a pro to investigate. The NADRA Web site includes a national directory of certified deck builders. Better yet, most municipalities have stepped up their enforcement of proper deck-construction techniques, so check with your local building department. As my colleague, Ed Perratore, reminds in this recent post, it’s important to clean debris from under the deck as well.

Clean the Surface
Rid your deck of moss and mold. If it’s a light build-up, a hose, a stiff-bristled brush, and a household cleaner and/or mild bleach solution may do the trick. But pressure washers are more effective against heavy gunk, provided you use them safely. If you see wood damage, like raised fibers, increase the distance between the spray nozzle and the decking.

If you’re in the market for a new pressure washer and have easy access to electricity near your intended uses, get an electric model instead of a gas-fueled one. Electric models are quieter and easier to transport and store than a gas-powered model (Ratings of pressure washers are available to subscribers.)

Treat the Decking
Check the decking for popped nails and cracked or checked wood. You can bang nails back in but you’ll need to replace boards that are badly splintered or severely rotted. If the finish is worn away or peeling, these are two good signs that the surface is ready for a new protective topcoat. We test opaque, semitransparent, and clear deck treatments. Opaque treatments hold up the longest but the paintlike film of this finish can crack and peel making refinishing more of a chore. This film also hides the natural wood grain. Clear treatments reveal the grain but typically need to be reapplied annually. Semitransparent treatments are a middle-of-the-road solution. For more information on deck treatments, visit our Decks & Deck Stains page.

Secure the Railings
Start by giving banisters a good strong bump to make sure they’re securely fastened to the structure. Then check that all the dimensions are up to code. Railings must be 36 inches high and rails must be no more than 4 inches apart to keep small children and pets from slipping through.

Photo courtesy of the North American Deck and Railing Association

Buzzword: Staycation

What it means. Staycation is a portmanteau that combines “stay” and “vacation” and refers to a holiday that takes place either at or near home. It joins a list of other Buzzwords that are formed by melding two words into one: greenwashing, prosumer, ruralpolitan, and techorate.

Why the buzz? With the U.S. economy sagging and the nationwide average price for unleaded regular gas surging toward $4 per gallon, a pricey destination holiday is beyond the reach of many Americans. Not wanting to experience a summer devoid of well-deserved R&R, many families are trading in their travel plans for a stay-at-home vacation. These staycations take many forms, including backyard camping “expeditions” and romantic “escapes” to a local hotel.

Just like many vacations, staycations require gear, and at-home holidays call for some special accoutrements. Top of the must-have list is a dependable grill. The affordable Brinkmann 810-8410S, $200 (sold at Home Depot), and Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008, $300 (Lowe’s), are Quick Picks. Read our latest report on gas grills for the full details and try out our easy, delicious grilling recipes.

Beyond a good grill, your outdoor-living area/kitchen needs a few other products to help make your staycation a success. For crushing ice and mixing fruit smoothies, keep a quality blender handy. Turn your patio or deck into an open-air entertaining room with outdoor furniture. To keep the bugs at bay, review our Ratings of insect repellents (available to subscribers), and find the best sunscreen. Finally, make sure your air conditioners are up to snuff—when you’re watching a movie at home on a scorcher of a summer evening, you’ll definitely want to keep cool.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: To prevent accidents from happening during your staycation, be sure to review our Summer Safety Guide, and see our Outdoor Living Guide for more information on outdoor fun.