Home In Progress

On Today's EpisodeWelcome Back, Hailey [00:00 - 11:30]

Hailey's back from maternity leave! We check in and see how life is with a new baby in the house...

When Everything Goes Wrong [11:30 - 19:00]

In the last 3 months, Hailey's home has struggled! We've all been there (or if you haven't, it's coming!), but it's still tough when it hits.

Steps to Getting the Best Roof Estimate Possible [19:00 - 32:08]

RESEARCH THE PROCESS

This will help you understand terms of the trade and give you some background knowledge. When they start talking about decking, underlayment, flashing and  types of nails you can be more engaged and won't just be smiling and nodding! Having background knowledge also helps you formulate questions! 

GET MULTIPLE QUOTES

It's tempting to go with the first quote you get and call it good. But don't do that! Get multiple quotes to make sure the price is right but also to make sure you're getting the best company. The quotes take time (sometimes as long as 2 hours) and it's tempting to want to wrap the process up. But you're better served to work through it and talk to multiple companies before making your final decision!

SLEEP ON IT

The roofers want to get you to close the deal on the day of the estimate. It's a better plan to sleep on it. Take some extra time and don't let yourself get rushed into a decision.

TAKE TIME PICKING A COLOR

The roof makes up a huge part of the exterior of your home! Take time to make sure the color you're choosing is the right one! Ask for samples--as large as possible--and take your time....

Key Questions to Ask During the Roof Estimate [32:08 - 39:03]

• Are you bonded and insured?
• Are you a roofer? Not every estimator has been a roofer--find out if your's has!
• What materials do you use and why?
• Can you provide proof that your installation meets manufacturer specs?
• What will the process look like?
• How long does it take?
• What does clean up look like?
• How do you protect my home and yard?
• How many people will be onsite?
• Will you be onsite?
• Who can I contact throughout my experience?
• What is your warranty?
• Will you provide me with all the warranty documentation?
• What things might cause deviation from the contracted price?
• Understand what they charge for flashing and plywood
• How do they check to make sure decking is still good?
• Look at the reviews!
• Ask for a home they recently done
• Finally . . . ask yourself: who do you communicate best with?

On Today's Episode

Interior Designer Andy Yates joins us for the full episode to talk about how to economically update a kitchen.

On Today's EpisodeMustard Seed Inspirations [00:00 - 18:58]

Ali Bryde from Mustard Seed Beginning visits with us to talk about how she finds inspiration for all the projects she tackles.

Interior Design 101 with Andy Yates [18:58 - 39:07]

Interior Designer Andy Yates gives us a quick Interior Design 101 class.

On Today's EpisodeThe Woodward Dream Cruise [00:00 - 19:09]

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the worlds BIGGEST single day automotive event. Learn more here!

Home Solution for Killing Driveway Weeds [19:10 - 26:20]

The formula:

• 1 Gallon Vinegar (horticultural vinegar works even better)
• 1 cup of salt (regular table salt)
• 1 Tablespoon of dish detergent

Command from Corotech [26:20 - 39:37]

On Today's EpisodeThe Do's and Don'ts of Drone Flying [00:00 - 18:57]

Adults Live Here, Too! [18:58 - 39:24]

Interior Designer Lauren Figueroa talks about designing spaces that feel like adults live here, too!

On Today's EpisodeThe Front Door Color That Can Earn You $6500![00:00 - 05:23]

Believe it or not, data shows that there's a particular front door color that will help you make a LOT more money when you sell your home.

Painting an Imaginary Room . . . for Cheap! [05:23 - 39:13]

Paint projects are not expensive (in the grand scheme of things). We take a few segments to walk you through an imaginary bedroom repaint. We start with the assumption that you have ZERO tools and we show you what you need and what you can skimp on to save money while still getting great results!

On Today's Episode1. Repairing/Replacing Interior Doors [00:00 - 13:54]2. Getting Over Color Fear, Part 1 [13:54 - 19:00]REPCOLITE REWIND: The Invention of the Roller Cover [19:00 - 28:38]3. Getting Over Color Fear, Part 2 [28:38 - 51:31]4. The History of the Electric Drill [51:31 - 105:29]

On Today's EpisodeA Little Recanting About Hoses [00:00 - 06:24]

A few weeks ago, Dan A. gave a pretty glowing review for a garden hose that he had TRIED but had not yet purchased. We promised that when he owned one of these Flexilla Hybrid Polymer hoses, we'd report back and let you know if it was as good as he expected it to be.

Turns out, it's not! It's a good hose, but not for the purposes Dan needed it for. Now, he's spent the last few weeks purchasing and testing out all kinds of different hoses and he's got some recommendations.

Kids' Rooms Matter [06:24 - 18:59]

What was your room like when you were growing up? Do you remember it? Did it have a positive impact on you? A negative impact? Or no impact at all?

In this segment, Hailey and Dan have a conversation about the importance of letting kids create their own spaces. As well as a conversation about how important it is to temper what the kids want to create so that it's not literally insane.

Do I Have Hardwood Floors? [18:59 - 30:00]

Before we get to the project of refinishing hardwood floors . . . we need to cover some preliminaries and help you determine if you've got hardwood floors to begin with.

In some instances, you may have laminate floors or luxury vinyl plank floors. And while they look great, they're not real wood and cannot be refinished.

In other instances, you may have engineered wood floors instead of solid wood planks. Those CAN be refinished, but only a couple of times.

Or maybe you've got wall to wall carpet and are trying to figure out if you have wood floors.

Whatever your situation, in this segment, we'll help you figure out what you've got to work with and if it's a floor that can be refinished! And here are some extra resources if you're interested:

• How To Identify Wood Flooring -- 5 Different Types
• Are There Wood Floors In Your Home?
• Engineered Wood Floors Vs. Solid Wood Floors
• How to Tell if Your Floor is Laminate or Wood

Refinishing Hardwood Floors [30:00 - 39:00]

If you've got hardwood floors lurking under your carpet, you're just a week's worth of work from having some amazing, one-of-a-kind floors in your home!

On Today's Episode

It's the Fourth of July weekend and we're excited to delve into our crates of radio goodness and bring to light some 4th of July gems from the past!

The Story of Old Glory [00:00 - 09:25]

What better way to start the 4th of July Extravaganza than a look at the history behind Old Glory?

Flag Etiquette 101 [09:25 - 18:56]

Many of us are flying the Stars and Stripes today . . . let's make sure we're doing it in a respectful manner! (I'm looking at you . . . flag-draped trucks).

RepcoLite Rewind: Where's Your Phone? [18:56 - 29:18]

Scott Hudgens, Manager of the RepcoLite store in Birmingham joins us to talk about easy-to-build yard games guaranteed to get your family off their phones!

SCOTT'S INSTRUCTIONS for CORNHOLE BOARDS

When learning how to make cornhole boards, you'll find that the platform is actually one of the easier parts to build. Start with building the frame, then add the top of the board.

STEP ONE: THE FRAME

The proper dimensions for a cornhole board are 4' x 2'. The frame of your cornhole board should reflect these dimensions, because the top will need support from edge to edge. Cut and join 2x4s, PVC pipe, or whatever other material you choose to meet these dimensions. Make sure all your corners are perfectly square. This is harder than you think if you don't have the right tools. Join them with screws or bolts that will hold them firmly in place.

STEP TWO: THE TOP

The top of a wooden cornhole board is often made out of a sheet of plywood that is cut to 2' x 4' dimensions. You can also use a sheet of thick plastic. It doesn't matter what material you're using, just make sure the top is cut to the right size.

Attach the top of your platform to the frame you built in step one. Again, use a sufficient amount of screws or bolts (or really strong adhesive) to firmly attach the top. I like to do this before I cut the hole, but do whatever you find easiest.

To cut the hole, use either a jif saw or, for a cleaner cut, a 6-inch hole saw. When you cut, you want the center of the hold to be nine inches from the top edge of the board and centered between the side edges (12 inches from each).

STEP THREE: THE LEGS

The platform of a cornhole board is straightforward as the dimensions are always the same. The legs, however, change depending on the design you followed to build the platforms and what material you are using for the legs. The top of a cornhole board platform should be raised 3 inches off the ground in the front and 12 inches off the ground in the back. Most designs don't require any legs in the front of the board, but the back legs will need to be custom-built to get the back of the board the desired 12 inches. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

CORNHOLE BOARD DESIGNS

Once your board is built, feel free to paint, stain, or otherwise decorate it in anyway you see fit! Unpainted wooden boards should be sanded, stained, and coated in polyurethane for a sleek surface. Make sure there isn't anything sticking out that will snag bags or negatively affect gameplay!

DETROIT TEAMS PAINT COLORS

TIGERS: 2014-10 Festive Orange | 2064-10 Bold Blue | OC-118 Snowfall White

RED WINGS: 2000-10 Red | OC-118 Snowfall White

LIONS: 1622 Mineral Alloy | 798 Blue Suede Shoes

PISTONS: 2086-10 Exotic Red | 2066-20 Evening Blue

Ben Franklin: The Man, the Myth, The Swimming Legend [29:18 - 45:44]

One of my favorite segments of all time! Ben Franklin was a renaissance man. He was a remarkable personality and there's a lot we can learn from his amazing life.

Thomas Jefferson, Interior Designer [45:44 - 56:19]

Thomas Jefferson is famous for a lot of good reasons . . . but you may not realize that he was also an interior designer....

On Today's EpisodeThe Right Tools [00:00 - 04:45]

Projects naturally go better when you use the right tools.

What Do I Need for a Garage Floor Makeover? [04:45 - 32:29]

Painting garage floors is popular for a couple reasons: First, it can turn a garage from an ugly storage area to a more finished space. And, secondly, a sealed surface is much easier to keep clean.

However, it is one of the most difficult and demanding surfaces to paint and has to hold up to vehicle traffic, water and chemical attack, surface contamination from oil and other vehicle fluids, and the variable nature of concrete.

PREPARATION

MOISTURE TEST

Newer homes will have a vapor barrier installed beneath the concrete floor, older homes probably don't. If you're in an older home, the amount of water vapor that passes through concrete would probably surprise you. This moisture creates a challenge for adhesion of paint.

To determine if your floor is an ideal candidate for a garage floor makeover, perform this simple moisture test: Use duct tape to adhere a 3’ square piece of plastic film to the floor. After about 24 hours, look and see if there is any condensation on the back of the plastic. If so this indicates a significant amount of water is passing through the concrete, and failure of a coating is likely.

PREP NEXT STEPS

If you don't see evidence of water under that plastic, then the next steps in preparation are:

1. Make sure the surface is clean and dry (If the floor is new, wait at least 30 days for concrete to cure before prep/painting)
2. If the concrete is new or especially smooth, you should etch it to remove impurities (laitance) found in new concrete and to create a surface profile that helps paint adhere.

When it comes to etching, do NOT use muriatic acid (AKA Hydrochloric acid) because it is very difficult to rinse thoroughly and a small amount of residual acid on the concrete will inhibit proper adhesion and peeling paint could result. Acid can also migrate into the concrete, further corroding it and even the steel reinforcement which can lead to concrete failing - breaking apart.

Instead use a concrete etching solution that is phosphoric acid based, which is less aggressive and easier to rinse, and also less irritating to skin, eyes, lungs. Be aware that etching is not the same as cleaning. Etching solutions won't remove dirt, oil or other contaminants that could affect the adhesion or durability of the coating. Use a detergent degreaser product on those areas before etching.

Etching solutions will not work if the concrete is treated with a sealer. The only way to know if your floor has a sealer is: if the etching solution doesn’t “fizz” when applied to the surface, there is probably a sealer present.

There are drawbacks to etching that might make another surface preparation method such as grinding or shot blasting preferable. beside the need to thoroughly rinse, acids present health (chemical burns on skin, lung irritation) and environmental concerns. Also, results from etching can often vary depending on the density and porosity of the concrete. After etching and rinsing, the concrete will need to dry out for a few days before a coating can be applied.

FINISHING

Now you're ready to paint. What products should you use?

Single component paints lack the chemical, water and abrasion resistance required for a durable job. Even two-component water based epoxy paints don't offer the resistance properties of a similar solvent based product.

So, with that said, we recommend a two-component coating, and there are a few different types:

• Solvent-thinned polyamide epoxy
• 100% solids epoxy
• Polyaspartic

Solvent thinned epoxy: RepcoLite Poly-Glaze Epoxy, BM Corotech CV400

Positives: easy to use, very durable, forgiving, plenty of working time, available in unlimited colors, economical

Negatives: smelly

100% solids epoxy: RepcoLite MiraPoxy SL, Benjamin Moore Corotech V430

Positives: creates a beautiful, smooth glossy finish. very durable, virtually zero odor

Negatives: costly due to the amount of product that needs to be applied, limited color selection (usually clear). slow dry time and hardness development which means you may need to wait for a few days before using the floor. Acid etching will not create enough surface profile for this type of coating, so grinding is the preferred method of prep. This type of coating is usually applied with a squeegee rather than a conventional roller/brush.

A sealer should be used before applying 100% solids epoxy, or bubbles could appear in the finish caused by air escaping the pores of the concrete as the epoxy is curing:

• Corotech V155 100% solids epoxy pre-primer or
• Corotech V156 Moisture Tolerant Quick Set Epoxy Sealer (water based)

Polyaspartic

Positives: unmatched durability, chemical and water resistance. rapid return to service (a few hours)

Negatives: very limited pot life - must work quickly with multiple people to keep the job going. smelly, limited color selection

Other things to consider:

• Be aware that dirt and spills will be more visible on the uniformly colored surface than they are on natural concrete.
• painted floors tend to be slippery when wet. A non-skid additive can be mixed with the paint to reduce the slipperyness, but the surface roughness that these products create also makes the surface harder to clean. A practical solution to this problem is to only treat walking areas with a non-skid additive, leaving the rest of the floor smooth for easier cleaning.
• marketing materials for many garage floor coatings use language that states something like "hot tire pickup resistant". That phrase is misleading. The heat of the tires is not what can cause a coating to peel, rather it is the plasticizer chemicals that are present in tires that can migrate into the coating, softening it and causing adhesion problems. the guaranteed solution regardless of coating type used is to use a carpet mat or something similar under the tires when the car is parked.

What if your floor already has a coating on it and you don’t know what it is? Then a waterborne 2 part epoxy is our recommendation. Benjamin Moore Insl-X Garageguard can be applied over other coatings without worry about lifting the old finish, and also features low odor.

Often the challenges with preparation and application of garage floor coatings can be daunting. This is one of those projects that might be best to hire a professional rather than do-it-yourself. If step one of preparation (the moisture test) indicates that you do not have excessive moisture in your concrete, then you can be fairly well assured that the project will go well and the result will be a long-lasting and durable floor.

An alternative to painting your floor is interlocking tiles. There are several manufacturers of these tiles, and using them obviously eliminates the time and effort needed to prep and paint a garage floor.

You Can't Do That [32:29 - 39:24]

Michigan's new hands-free distracted driving law goes into effect on June 30. Here are some key things to know....