Home automation allows you to control and monitor your home from your smartphone.
This is totally awesome.
Have you ever left home and forgot to turn off the lights or garage door? Well, now you can turn off lights, close doors, or open doors, monitor moisture and more with sensors that communicate with your phone.
SmartThings is one brand of home automation that I recently reviewed on Home Repair Tutor.
They were kind enough to send the SmartThings Smarter Home Starter Kit which comes with 6 different Things or devices
-Hub
-SmartPower Outlet
-SmartSense Motion Sensor
-SmartSense Open/Closed Sensors x 2
-SmartSense Presence Sensor
WIFI, internet, and a smartphone are all you need to use this system.
The Hub needs to be hooked up to the WIFI router and plugged into a wall outlet. It’s super easy to setup, seriously, I’m no tech nerd and did it in 5 minutes.
The outlet and motion sensor allow you to control lights, fans, and AC units with your phone. But what I like best is the ability to program actions or Uses. You can have these the lights turn on in the morning when you enter the room or the coffee start brewing when you open the door to the kitchen cabinet.
Yep, way cool.
Open/Closed sensors can serve as a home security system and the best part is there’s NO MONTHLY FEE.
Sweet.
You can check out the SmartThings home automation system on their website
It could be a great solution for you home needs.
Do you have a DIY question or suggested show topic? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Throwback Thursday where we feature a DIYer and their project.
Donna Williams is one of the most inspirational women you’ll ever meet. She has her own website at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/
She’s a mom, designer, and true blue junkaholic from British Columbia, Canada.
Donna has a passion for creating cool stuff for her home from salvaged items and reclaimed wood.
Her story will show you never to give up on yourself. It gives me chills just thinking about it.
Donna has so many great tutorials. I’m discuss two of them today.
The first shows you how to build a pallet wood patio chair.
She walks you through the entire process step-by-step. This is a fantastic piece for a patio, deck, or outdoor space. Super awesome style. Check it out here
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/05/pallet-wood-patio-chair-build-part-2.html
A second project I think you’d like is Donna’s painted wooden crate stairs. If you’re looking for a way to spice up your boring stairs this is it
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2010/04/paint-ed-wooden-crate-stairs-for-so-you.html
Donna has impeccable style and skills, you have to see what she creates to believe it.
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/
If you liked today’s show subscribe to it via iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/home-repair-tutor/id965752980
or Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/home-repair-tutor?refid=stpr
Our show is 5 days a week Monday thru Friday.
Each show is 8-10 minutes and will make you a better DIYer, or your money back (which is just my way of saying you’ll like the show since it’s FREE).
Does your bathroom make you feel embarrassed, disgusted, or frustrated?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
Today’s Quick Tip is about Moen’s new shower seat that’s made from teak wood. It’s pretty sweet and comes in two different finishes, oil rubbed bronze or stainless steel. This seat is great for older homeowners or anyone who wants more stability in the bathroom.
You can check it out over on Moen’s site
Visit the Bathroom section then look for Safety and that’s where you’ll find the teak seat.
Builder’s grade mirrors are plain and sometimes flat out ugly. My DIY friend Kim Six redesigned her mirror using standard lumber from Home Depot. The cool part is she didn’t have to make any miters and had all the pieces cut to size at the store.
She shows you exactly how to do this over on her website
http://www.thekimsixfix.com/2012/05/framing-mirror-without-miter-cuts.html
This is a project anyone can do and with Kim’s detailed instructions I know you could knock this out in a weekend.
Thanks Kim for sharing your talent.
If you liked today’s show subscribe to it via iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/home-repair-tutor/id965752980
or Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/home-repair-tutor?refid=stpr
Our show is 5 days a week Monday thru Friday.
Each show is 8-10 minutes and will make you a better DIYer, or your money back (which is just my way of saying you’ll like the show since it’s FREE).
Does your bathroom make you feel embarrassed, disgusted, or frustrated?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
Today’s Quick Tip is about how to find the right paint tool. Purdy is my favorite type of paint brush, they make quality supplies that can make your paint project look sharp. But figuring out what kind of brush to use is a problem. Well, they came up with the Purdy Tool Selector to help you with this issue.
I’m here to say that the brush you use makes all the difference, especially when cutting in with two different colors (e.g. purple walls and white ceilings..)
Purdy brushes aren’t cheap but they last forever. You’ll love using them, I do.
The Quick Tip is a great transition into today’s tutorial which is how to paint a door without removing it from the hinges.
My DIY friend Sarah from The Ugly Duckling House has a great tutorial on how to this. You can check it out here
http://www.uglyducklinghouse.com/hinge-help/
Taking doors off the hinges can create a snowball effect of problems. Plus, often the door is very heavy. It’s much easier to leave it and paint the darn thing where it’s hanging. Sarah shows you exactly how to do this. So check out her tips.
If you liked today’s show subscribe to it via iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/home-repair-tutor/id965752980
or Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/home-repair-tutor?refid=stpr
Our show is 5 days a week Monday thru Friday.
Each show is 8-10 minutes and will make you a better DIYer, or your money back (which is just my way of saying you’ll like the show since it’s FREE).
Does your bathroom make you feel embarrassed, disgusted, or frustrated?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
Today’s Quick Tip is about Rockwell’s Jawhorse. It’s one of those tools you probably don’t know you need. If you don’t have much space to DIY yet you need a workstation theJawhorse is totally for you.
It can eliminate your workbench and vice. Yet you can hold up to 600lbs of material in it. Yah, you need to check it out. Especially if you don’t always have an extra set of hands when doing DIY projects. It can hold a cabinet, door, or bicycle no problem.
https://www.rockwelltools.com/en-US/
Does your door rub the floor when you open and close it? If so, I’ve got some tips. Always try to adjust hinges first. Sometimes a hinge is loose either on the jamb or door. And all you need to do is tighten it down. Or if the screw is loose you can replace it with a longer or wider version. You can also remove the loose screw, tap a golf tee into the hole, break it off flush with the door/jamb, and install a new screw.
The last resort for a sticking door is to trim the bottom, top, or side. What’s the best tool? In my opinion it’s a hand planer. I like the Ryobi Hand Planer because it’s affordable, I mean really, how often is a DIYer gonna be doing this?
You can pickup a Ryobi Hand Planer for $45-$69 online. Amazon even sells reconditioned ones.
Listen to the show for some hot tips on how to trim a sticking door using a hand planer. And you can also watch my video to SEE how to do it
If you liked today’s show subscribe to it via iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/home-repair-tutor/id965752980
or Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/home-repair-tutor?refid=stpr
Our show is 5 days a week Monday thru Friday.
Each show is 8-10 minutes and will make you a better DIYer, or your money back (which is just my way of saying you’ll like the show since it’s FREE).
Does your bathroom make you feel embarrassed, disgusted, or frustrated?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
Learning how to fix copper pinhole leaks can save you thousands of dollars.
Yep, I’m talking from experience. I’ve experienced 4 different copper pinhole leaks in our home and have learned that it’s good to know about soldering and one little product called Fix-It Stick by Oatey.
The Fix-It Stick is an epoxy putty that you can use to temporarily seal copper pinhole leaks. It creates a watertight seal. All you have to do is mix it then shape it around the copper pipe leak. This in turn allows you to permanently fix the pipe by soldering in a new piece or call a plumber.
You can learn how to solder copper pipes by checking out this tutorial
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-solder-copper-pipe/
Definitely have a Fix-It Stick in your tool box!!! You never know when you copper pipes will leak or spring a pinhole. It costs $5-$10 and can be found at home stores or bought on Amazon.
Check out my tutorial on how to use it over on Home Repair Tutor
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/
Today’s Quick Tip is about baseboard molding. If you want a professional looking DIY job you need to learn how to cope out corners. Typically corners meet at 45 degree angles. Instead of making both corners 45 degrees you should cope one corner and make the other 90 degrees. Yes, this is hard to explain verbally or in written form and that’s why I recommend you watch these videos
https://youtu.be/PQsPwY-eoFI by See Jane Drill
https://youtu.be/yK1BwyfFIGc by Shane Conlan
Both Jane and Shane are great DIY teachers. You’ll love their tutorials.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Throwback Thursday where we feature a DIYer and their project.
Nick SyWassink is a friend of mine who has his own website at http://thesawdustmaker.com/
He’s a dad, husband, and guy who enjoys sharing his passion for woodworking.
Nick and I have a lot in common, I need to buy him a beer or coffee some time soon.
He recently put together a great tutorial on how to buy lumber.
Did you know that you could save over 50% by purchasing your wood from the local lumber distributor?
I didn’t until I watched Nicholas’s video
http://thesawdustmaker.com/2015/04/buying-lumber-a-few-things-to-consider/
He also discusses a few other tips that will come in handy.
Thanks Nick for your awesome knowledge on woodworking, this is something we can all do more of with the right tutor.
Remember, if you have a DIY question you can always ask me by
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Having a beautiful lawn starts with knowing how to cut it. Today’s show discusses
-how high to cut your grass
-sharpening mower blades
-the best time of day to cut your grass
-and the ever controversial world of grass clippings…should you remove them or leave em?
Cutting your grass too low will weaken it and make it susceptible to burning out, disease, and foot traffic. Mow frequently so that no more than 1/3 of the grass blade is removed when it’s mowed.
Put your blades on a sharpening schedule. Sharpening it on a holiday schedule makes it easy to remember to do.
Avoid mowing your grass during the hottest portion of the day, e.g. 1-3 pm. Mow it closer to to the evening.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn because they act as a natural fertilizer. The only time to remove clippings is when there are clumps.
Hopefully these tips help you get your lawn back into shape and avoid those nasty looks from neighbors!!
Forget the neighbors, do this for yourself, haha.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Tool Tip Tuesday.
Kreg makes great woodworking tools and supplies that anyone can use.
Some of my DIY friends over on Facebook introduced me to Kreg’s Rip Cut tool.
Do you need to rip down sheet goods, e.g. 4 foot by 8 foot pieces of plywood, yet don’t own a table saw?
Table saws can be very expensive and you need a place to store them.
The Rip Cut solves this issue.
It attaches to your circular saw and acts as a guide to rip down the sheet good in a matter of seconds.
Amazon is pricing this jigsaw at $29 and it gets on average 4 out of 5 stars.
Check it out on Amazon or Kreg’s website
You can check out the tool deals I mention by visiting Home Repair Tutor and clicking on the Amazon link in the right side bar
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/
Do you have a tool tip?
Let me know.
Leave a voicemail by calling 800-965-0023 or
visit http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder or
Signup to my email newsletter and respond back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Dale want’s to know how to demo his fiberglass shower surround and install new a new tiled shower instead. Today’s show explains how to do that and gives you some great tips on how to get started with the tiling process.
Most shower or bathtub fiberglass surrounds are attached to studs with roofing nails. You’ll have to remove some drywall or plaster to reveal these nails, remove them and then pull the surround from the wall.
It’s a good idea to shut the water off to the shower or tub before demoing. Do this at the water main in your home.
If your plastic tub or shower surround is a one piece you can use a reciprocating saw to cut it into 1/3s. I recommend starting in a corner because most likely pipes or wires are not there. It’s a good idea to know where electrical wires are located and pipes so that you don’t cut through them.
You an use a SharkBite push on fitting to cap any copper or plastic pipes if you have to cut them to remove the old shower valve. They can be pushed onto the pipes. No soldering is required. Pretty sweet.
Cement board is the cheapest surround option. Attach it to the studs using alkali resistant screws. Waterproof the cement board with RedGard or Hydro Ban or Schluter Kerdi. RedGard and Hydro Ban are very DIY friendly and can be applied using a roller or paint brush. Once the waterproofing is dry you can apply tiles to the cement board. I like large format tiles (12 x 24 inches or bigger) because less grout is involved. These are some great tips for getting started with a shower or bathtub remodel.
Today’s Quick Tip is about placing electrical boxes in bathrooms and kitchens. My buddy Bill, who’s a licensed electrician, explained that it’s a good idea to leave extra wire leading to electrical boxes. This way, if the box needs to be adjusted up, because of tall cabinets, you don’t need to tear out the drywall to reset the electrical wiring.
Do you have a DIY question or suggested show topic? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Greasy kitchen cabinets are disgusting and hard to clean.
What is a good solution for this problem, besides water and vinegar.
Sometimes I get my best ideas walking through the automotive department in stores.
This is where I found Super Clean. It’s remarkable at removing grease.
Check out my tutorial http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-greasy-kitchen-hood/
It’s easy to use but I do recommend testing it on a small area before using it on the entire surface.
Denise also had a question about cleaning her wood floors. Recently I’ve had good luck with Bona products https://www.bona.com/en-US/
But again, I recommend testing any cleaning product.
Today’s Quick Tip is about SPAX screws.
I’m constructing a bathroom mockup in my garage and had to build out stud walls.
Since I wanted a modular design I decided to use SPAX screws instead of nails.
They don’t require pre-drilling, are easy to drive into wood, and countersink perfectly.
Check them out here http://www.spax.us/
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Throwback Thursday where we feature a DIYer and their project.
Katie Cleveland is a friend of mine who has her own website at http://addicted2diy.com/
She’s an avid DIYer, mother of two boys, wife, paramedic, bull rider, and dirt track stock cars.
Yah, she’s awesome.
Katie has a phenomenal wine storage cabinet tutorial
http://addicted2diy.com/2015/04/28/diy-wine-storage-cabinet/
This piece of furniture would sell easily for $400 at Pottery Barn.
You can see how Katie build it step-by-step.
I’d love to make this and do a video tutorial.
Remember, if you have a DIY question you can always ask me by
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Do you know how elongate the life span of a hot water tank?
Check on the anode rod.
What the heck is an anode rod?
It’s inside your hot water tank and is sacrificed instead of the tank itself.
Once the anode is shot that’s when the water starts to eat the tank.
Rheem recommends inspecting the anode once a year and has specific instructions on how to know when it needs to be replaced.
Here are the resources I mention
http://www.wh2only.com/assets/pdf/Rheem_Training_Manual.pdf
http://www.rheem.com/docs/FetchDocument.aspx?ID=aedbbc95-9a6b-4780-aa23-b0ed9abe41cd
Many thanks to Steve who forwarded these links.
Today’s Quick Tip is about saving money on Amazon when buying power tools.
Stuart over on Toolguyd.com shared the latest tool savings deal that’s available
http://toolguyd.com/bosch-cordless-amazon-discount-052015/
Any day you can save money on power tools is a good day.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Tool Tip Tuesday.
Black and Decker came out with a new jigsaw with Curve Control.
They sent me a saw to check out and I did a review back on Home Repair Tutor
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/black-and-decker-jigsaw-review/
Here’s what I like about the jigsaw,
-it has heft yet isn’t too heavy (only 4.7lbs)
-the shoe is adjustable so you can make bevel cuts
-wood dust can be removed via an exhaust port
-there’s Curve Control which means the jigsaw has 4 different settings for different kinds of cuts
-it comes with a 2 year warranty and 30 day money-back guarantee.
Amazon is pricing this jigsaw at $43, which I think is a steal.
Do you have a tool tip?
Let me know.
Leave a voicemail by calling 800-965-0023 or
visit http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder or
Signup to my email newsletter and respond back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Replacing pedestal sink faucets can be tricky.
What tool should you use? How do you get started?
The tool I recommend for any sink or faucet installation is the Ridgid Faucet and Sink Installer. I have a great tutorial on this tool back on Home Repair Tutor
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/the-ridgid-faucet-and-sink-installer-tool/
It allows you to remove faucets, supply lines, and more.
For $21 you can expedite faucet or sink installations. It’s so worth the money!!!
Today’s Quick Tip is about how to properly build a stud wall.
If you’re framing stud walls find the crown of the wood stud and have the crowns face the same direction. Having all the crowns facing upward will make the stud wall nice and flat and help with the drywall installation.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Don’t get me wrong, I love DIYing but I also like staying alive.
Bradley left a message asking if he should hire an electrician or try doing the electrical work himself.
He’s remodeling a kitchen, knocking down some walls, and some other stuff.
One of the issues is the electrical will have to run underground in conduit.
Listen to the show to see what I recommend for Bradley.
Today’s Quick Tip is about what to do with cement board and bathtub lips.
If you’re wanting to install tile in a tub surround you’ll likely be using cement board.
Should the boards rest on top of the tub lip or go down over the lip and rest 1/4” above the tub deck?
Here’s my opinion: rest the cement boards on top of the tub lip, fill in the gap between the cement board and the tub deck with thin-set mortar, and then add Schluter’s Kerdi Band over the gap to waterproof it.
The reason is simple, if the cement board is shimmed out so that it can rest just off the tub deck you’ll be left with an awkward transition between the cement board and neighboring drywall.
Again, this is just my opinion based on conversations that Steve and I have had about this particular part of bathroom remodeling. Steven is my buddy who remodels custom bathrooms.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Throwback Thursday where we feature a DIY project someone else has done.
My buddy Jamison over on Rogue Engineer has tons of great DIY furniture ideas you can build yourself.
He’s an aerospace engineer by day and on his weekends does cool projects, between being a dad and husband.
Whew, he’s one busy guy.
Jamison’s X brace side table with concrete top is way cool
http://rogueengineer.com/diy-x-brace-side-table-concrete-top-plans/
If you have some basic tools and don’t mind buying the materials you can build this bad boy for about $30.
It’s worth checking out if you want to spruce up your patio or deck.
Remember, if you have a DIY question you can always ask me by
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Learning how to fix a textured ceiling is key if you, well, have textured ceilings!!
Dave sent me an email asking how to do this project.
The first step, at least for Dave, is to fix any hole that’s in the ceiling.
Measure the hole and cut a scrap piece of drywall that covers it. For example, if you’re hole is 5x5 then cut a piece of drywall that’s 7x7.
And make sure you’re using the same depth of drywall, ceilings are typically 5/8 inch thick while walls are normally 1/2 inch thick.
Add wood blocking to all 4 sides of the ceiling then mount the new piece of drywall on the blocking using 1 5/8 inch course threaded drywall screws.
Apply a thin layer of joint compound then embed paper tape on all 4 sides of the patch. Add 2-3 more coats of joint compound and feather the edges each time using a 6 inch joint compound knife then 10 inch knife.
You shouldn’t have to sand all that much between joint compound coats. Use setting type joint compound to mix up a thin mixture of texture. Apply this to the patch using a brush.
Wall Board company makes great tools for this.
I have a tutorial over on Home Repair Tutor that can help you if you have to do this kind of project.
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-patch-drywall/
Today’s Quick Tip is about choosing a vanity cabinet.
Did you know that particle board sucks?
It sucks in two different ways: 1) particle board is inferior to plywood and 2) particle sucks up water.
Vanity cabinets are made either of particle board or plywood.
Get one made from plywood because cabinets made from particle board will breakdown over time.
Do you have a DIY question? Submit it by…
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Today is Tool Tip Tuesday.
DeWalt is coming out with a cordless, yes cordless, miter saw.
This will come in handy if you have to shut the power off for a project or simply don’t have a plug nearby.
Stuart over at Tool Guyd reviewed this saw and the comments are full of good ideas
http://toolguyd.com/dewalt-cordless-miter-saw/
For those of us shopping for a new miter saw this is a great option
It’s $319 to $399.
The $399 price is for a kit that comes with 3.0Ah Li-ion batter, charger, blade wrench, hold-down clamp, user guide, carbide blade, and dust collection bag.
It’s a sweet setup you should check out.
Do you have a tool tip?
Let me know.
Leave a voicemail by calling 800-965-0023 or
visit http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder or
Signup to my email newsletter and respond back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Removing stripped screws can be a headache.
In today’s show we help Mark figure out how to overcome this problem with one simple tool, a screw extractor kit.
The Alden 8440P Pro Grabit Screw Extractor kit gets 4 out of 5 starts on Amazon (412 reviews) and I have one myself.
How do you use this tool?
insert drill bit end of the extractor to burnish or smooth out the stripped screw.
Remove the extractor from your drill and flip it around to use the tap.
Again, insert the tap into the screw and slowly turn it counterclockwise. The tap will catch the inside of the screw and remove it from your material.
Pretty awesome solution.
Today’s Quick Tip is about staying safe when cutting wood.
Always wear a respirator when you’re working on a large project and exposing yourself to copious amounts of wood dust.
If you read the label on anything with wood a lot of times it says to wear a respirator because the wood dust has been known to cause cancers. NOT GOOD.
Wear a respirator.
Submit your DIY question or Quick Tip by
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it
Has your sewer line ever broken?
Lin’s question for me today is about utility line insurance.
Maybe you’ve got an older home and are worried about old gas lines or water lines.
It costs about $1500-$3000 to replace an old gas line.
I’ve had to do it several times but haven’t paid for the repairs in some instances.
How is this possible?
About 8 years ago I opened my monthly gas bill and noticed they sold insurance for utility lines.
So I bought it and have saved over $10,000 in the process.
The company I use is called Columbia Service Partners.
You can call them to see if they cover homes in your area
888-442-7349
This isn’t a scam and I don’t make any money from it. I’ve just learned my lesson as a homeowner that having a backup for disasters is smart.
Today’s Quick Tip is about digging in your yard.
Before you pickup a shovel call all the utility companies and have them mark their lines on your yard.
Call the water, gas, sewer, electric, cable, and phone companies.
Save yourself some grief and possible injury by doing this.
Gas lines, at least in our area, are only 18-20 inches deep. Which means a homeowner could totally dig into one without knowing.
Submit your DIY question or Quick Tip by
Calling me at 800-965-0023
Visiting http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/ and use the SpeakPipe recorder
Or signing up to my email newsletter and responding back to me
Does your bathroom need help?
Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor
http://bathroomrepairtutor.com/
Our memberships are limited to 100 people on a monthly basis. You get access to the video tutorial library and our great private Facebook group where you can post questions and get answers.
This is a passion project meant to help people with their bathroom problems, hope you like it