Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast

By thumbandhammer.com

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What's Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast about?

The Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast is a completely independent production covering topics related to home improvements, renovations, DIY and real estate from the point of view of an average homeowner.

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Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast episodes:

02.22.2022
Ep. 66: Smrt guy
In this episode of the podcast: Correcting a mistake from the last episode (but it reinforces my original point). A Facebook ad brings out the self-appointed experts An update on our basement renovation Debating whether or not to run ethernet cable in...
01.16.2022
Ep. 65: Slow and steady wins the race
Home improvement television shows often distort your perception of how long a renovation should take. But you can't compare yourself to a slick television production. And there are advantages to a project taking longer than anticipated. You can read more about...
12.20.2021
Ep. 64: A look back at 2021
The somewhat annual "Year in Review" podcast episode ties things up for 2021 by looking back at our home improvement accomplishments in the last 12 months and the current progress with the basement renovation. I also render my final verdict...
12.11.2021
Ep. 63: Sparky’s Adventures Part 2- DIY Electrical
This episode is all about the process of doing your own electrical work in Ontario Canada, from filing a Notification of Electrical Work with the Electrical Safety Authority to the rough-in inspection. Be sure to follow the laws and regulations that...
11.24.2021
Ep. 62: Sparky’s Adventures – DIY Electrical – Part 1
Sparky is slang for an electrician, which I am not. However, I have done my own electrical work. And I have hired Licensed Electrical Contractors. Each approach has its pros and cons. This episode covers some of the reasons why...
11.06.2021
Ep. 61: The 5-word solution to my biggest problem
I had a few questions about new rules in the electrical code, so I asked a licensed electrical contractor. It did not go well. Find out how five Japanese words might have saved our relationship. Links and resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igPIk79wAPg Viva La...
10.23.2021
Ep. 60: Product placement, no compensation
This is not a paid endorsement... In this episode of the podcast, I share two products I found after hours of searching for solutions to specific problems I was facing with my home improvements. Xcel IGA I needed to attach the...
10.07.2021
Ep. 59: Basement renovation update
Renovation in the time of Covid.... I already work slow enough and that's without a 2 month-long lockdown during a pandemic. The basement is now ready for drywall and in this episode of the podcast, I review the steps that...
06.04.2021
Ep. 58: It’s a scam
There is no shortage of scam products on the internet. One prominent example is Ted's Woodworking which has been offering 16000 woodworking plans for a ridiculously low price for the last decade. Other ads feature inventors who strike out on...
05.13.2021
Ep. 57: The ONLY way to finish a basement
You want your basement to feel like the rest of your house. It should be dry, and comfortable. However, the basement is NOT like the rest of the house. The basement is in a hole in the ground. The simple fact...
04.22.2021
Ep. 56: Order of operations, energy audit, rethinking layout
Often, there are several moving parts in a renovation and figuring out which tasks need to be done before other tasks can get confusing. At least for me. I have gained a lot of respect for general contractors who choreograph...
04.08.2021
Ep. 55: House and garage HVAC
Stuff is happening. Big stuff. In this episode of the podcast, I talk about our choice of furnace and air conditioner for the house, why I decided on a split ductless system for the garage-workshop, and our reasoning for ditching...
03.25.2021
Ep. 54: Everyone’s a Critic
How do you react when someone tells you that something you did is "all wrong?" In early March 2021, I received a comment on "Installing a Suspended Ceiling," a page that has been on Thumbandhammer.com in one form or another...
03.04.2021
Ep. 53: The cost of procrastination
If getting stuck in the snow taught us anything, it's that we have to replace our furnace this year. Plus I do a little surgery in the basement.
02.18.2021
Ep. 52: That’s good pod!
Looking for a new home improvement or DIY podcast to listen to? Here are my personal favorites that you may enjoy, too. Links are to the podcast webpages. Or search for them in your favorite podcast app. Ask This Old House (Chris...
02.08.2021
Ep. 51: HOAs with John from AZDIYguy
The first time I came across John's blog, years ago, he had written about an encounter he had with his Homeowners Association which involved an order to remove a structure from his property “in a workmanlike manner.” I've come across news...
01.22.2021
Ep. 50: A weight has been lifted
Re-fi, baby! Paying down a mortgage isn't necessarily the end all be all. In fact, by increasing our mortgage, we could end up further ahead in the long run. And in the short term, well, we're finally getting relief from...
01.07.2021
Ep. 49: The cheap comes out expensive
We are always looking for ways to save a buck. But it's a fine line between cutting costs and cutting corners and often saving a buck now will cost you more in the long run. Topics discussed in this episode * A...
12.24.2020
Ep. 48: The Perfect Gift
So what do you get someone who already has everything? Links and Resources The clock build-off April Wilkerson's video: https://youtu.be/Qz4RuIt2pas Jay Bates' Video https://youtu.be/DiloZxJjmJI Nick Ferry's Video https://youtu.be/z928SObpTfk Episode Sponsor This episode is sponsored by LL Flooring. These are the floors homes are built on. Visit the experts at your local...
12.12.2020
Ep. 47: It angries up the blood
As homeowners, we have more information and resources available to us than ever before. In this episode I complain about mostly complain about contractors who refuse to acknowledge that we do know what we're doing and know what we're talking...
11.27.2020
Ep 46: Defining Someday
Someday, I am going to pay off my debts. I plan to eventually renovate (insert project here). At some point in the future, I am going to retire. It's all so abstract, isn't it? In this episode of the podcast, I...
11.12.2020
Ep 45: IKEA kitchen reno with John from AZDIYGuy
John from AZDIYGuy.com returns to talk about kitchens, kitchen design and IKEA. And why it's a bad idea to step on the back of a farmhouse sink. John shares his experience from planning to design to execution, why IKEA was...
10.29.2020
Ep 44: Home improvements that can hurt your property value
Thanks to the pandemic, people have been spending more time at home. More time spent at home means more time looking around and seeing what home improvements are needed. And more time spent at home means more time to DIY. Not...
10.15.2020
Ep 43: What’s new with Vickiann and her crappy house
She's back! I am happy to welcome Vickiann, from MyCrappyHouse.com back to the podcast. We talk about how she has been making her crappy house less crappy and answer some very important questions. What has she been up to?...
10.01.2020
Ep 42: As Seen on TV- Stuff infomercials sold me
There was a time, before Netflix and other streaming services, that some of the only entertainment available in the wee hours of the morning was the infomercial. These half hour programs designed to sell you something that you didn't know...
09.17.2020
Ep. 41: Don’t feed the animals
In this episode of the podcast, I share a handful of tales of nature and the nature-adjacent, along with a bit of advice if you happen to live adjacent to nature (hopefully the title doesn't give too much away).
09.03.2020
Ep. 40: Catching up with Thumb and Hammer
This first episode back after a long hiatus does not have a central theme. It is more of a mish-mash of assorted ideas that you may find interesting including a bit of plumbing, a new (to me) table saw and...
08.03.2020
Ep 39.7: Announcement: Return of the podcast
The Thumb and Hammer Podcast will return in September. I had actually contemplated sun-downing the podcast and the website but after a lot of thought, and some encouragement from unexpected sources, I am pleased to announce that the podcast is...
07.16.2019
Ep. 39.5: Special Announcement
A brief explanation about the podcast schedule and a request for your help to make the Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast the best it can be.
04.28.2019
Ep 39: Good enough is good enough for now
When it comes to home improvements, there is the ideal: the dream kitchen , the luxury bathroom or the stunning addition. But you may spend years saving and planning for the ideal. So what do you do until then? Can...
04.03.2019
Ep. 38: The Tale of the Door
Isn't it weird when you come across a rating or review that does not agree with the majority opinion? Or find that your own experience is not the same as everyone else's? That was the situation we found ourselves in...
03.17.2019
Ep 37: The meaning of making
A response to an article on Mashable "11 DIY videos absolutely no one asked for." So, why do makers make what they make the way they make anyway?
02.24.2019
Ep 36: Over and Under Improving
The Biggest Mistakes Homeowners Make (part 4) Over improving: Spending too much money on home improvements that you price yourself out of the market. Under improving: not spending enough money that you hurt your property value. And why any of...
02.02.2019
Ep 35: H2Woes- Fixing Wet Basements
It's one of the most common problems with houses: the wet basement. In this episode of the podcast, we look at two popular waterproofing methods plus the steps you can take to avoid taking such drastic measures.
01.15.2019
Ep 34: The wild and wacky world of drywall
Making sense of the different types of drywall, drywall compound, mesh vs paper tape and drywall tools.
12.30.2018
Ep 33: Year in Review 2018
An election, a TV show and a board game. Looking back at news topics that as a homeowner, I found to be significant or interesting.
12.23.2018
Ep 32: Money woes and DIY dilemmas
Our financial situation is, shall we say, challenged but I am not going to DIY a project even though that would save us considerable money. In this episode of the podcast, I look at how we so quickly maxed out...
10.28.2018
Ep 31: Tales from the Open House
The open house connects sellers and buyers and connects real estate agents with clients. I take a look back at some of the more memorable open houses that I have attended over the last quarter century and talk about some...
10.07.2018
Ep 30: It’s only temporary
How we freed up some money each month and put some extra cash in our pockets. In order to do that, we had to accept that "short-term" setbacks stopped being short-term long ago. Adjustments had to be made.
04.02.2018
Ep 29: Love thy neighbor
From nosy neighbors to noisy neighbors, we all have them. How well we get along with our neighbors is fundamental to the enjoyment of our property. At what point does our right to use and enjoy our property infringe on...
03.06.2018
Ep 28: Mortality Sucks: Death, estates and letting go of stuff
The death of a loved one is something we all face sooner or later. There are memories and emotions involved, and there is also the more business side of things, from handling the funeral to figuring out what happens to...
02.19.2018
Ep 27: Lies, deception and home ownership
The dream is to own your own home. But who is selling that dream? And why? Should you listen to them? Is your house really an investment, or is it a liability?
02.05.2018
Ep 26: It ain’t easy being green
As homeowners, we make decisions that impact the environment. We look for ways to be more energy efficient in hope of saving some money or even saving the planet. But are we as "green" as we think we are?
01.19.2018
Ep 25: Information Overload
Whether looking for tool recommendations or seeking home improvement advice, there is an overabundance of information that complicates rather than helps. Ask three experts the same question and you'll probably get three different answers.
12.28.2017
Ep 24: Year in Review 2017
A look back at some of the more interesting news topics of 2017 related to home improvements, construction, real estate, etc.
12.21.2017
Ep 23: Trendy is so last year
It's that time of year. As 2017 winds down and we look forward to 2018, we are seeing a lot of articles and blog posts about what is going to be trendy in the coming year and what trends are...
12.01.2017
Ep 22: Measure Twice, Cut Thrice
We've all heard the expression, "Measure twice, cut once." We all know what that means: double check your measurements before you make the cut. Mistakes can cost you time and material. In this episode of the podcast I share some...
11.17.2017
Ep 21: Permits, legal stuff and DIY
Just because you can "Do It-Yourself" doesn't necessarily mean you can do it yourself.. Before you start that home improvement project, do you know what permits are required? Are you even qualified legally to do it yourself? I share some...
11.02.2017
Ep 20: What I did during my summer vacation
Why is it that weekend projects rarely take one weekend? Where does one project end and another one begin? I explore these questions by sharing what I did (and didn't do) on my summer vacation.
06.19.2017
Ep 19: Mistakes Homeowners Make: Not doing the math
The perils of not doing the math when it comes to home improvement costs

What's Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast episodes:

Ep. 66: Smrt guy

Ep. 65: Slow and steady wins the race

Ep. 64: A look back at 2021

Ep. 63: Sparky’s Adventures Part 2- DIY Electrical

Ep. 62: Sparky’s Adventures – DIY Electrical – Part 1

Ep. 61: The 5-word solution to my biggest problem

Ep. 60: Product placement, no compensation

Ep. 59: Basement renovation update

Ep. 58: It’s a scam

Ep. 57: The ONLY way to finish a basement

Ep. 56: Order of operations, energy audit, rethinking layout

Ep. 55: House and garage HVAC

Ep. 54: Everyone’s a Critic

Ep. 53: The cost of procrastination

Ep. 52: That’s good pod!

Ep. 51: HOAs with John from AZDIYguy

Ep. 50: A weight has been lifted

Ep. 49: The cheap comes out expensive

Ep. 48: The Perfect Gift

Ep. 47: It angries up the blood

Ep 46: Defining Someday

Ep 45: IKEA kitchen reno with John from AZDIYGuy

Ep 44: Home improvements that can hurt your property value

Ep 43: What’s new with Vickiann and her crappy house

Ep 42: As Seen on TV- Stuff infomercials sold me

Ep. 41: Don’t feed the animals

Ep. 40: Catching up with Thumb and Hammer

Ep 39.7: Announcement: Return of the podcast

Ep. 39.5: Special Announcement

Ep 39: Good enough is good enough for now

Ep. 38: The Tale of the Door

Ep 37: The meaning of making

Ep 36: Over and Under Improving

Ep 35: H2Woes- Fixing Wet Basements

Ep 34: The wild and wacky world of drywall

Ep 33: Year in Review 2018

Ep 32: Money woes and DIY dilemmas

Ep 31: Tales from the Open House

Ep 30: It’s only temporary

Ep 29: Love thy neighbor

Ep 28: Mortality Sucks: Death, estates and letting go of stuff

Ep 27: Lies, deception and home ownership

Ep 26: It ain’t easy being green

Ep 25: Information Overload

Ep 24: Year in Review 2017

Ep 23: Trendy is so last year

Ep 22: Measure Twice, Cut Thrice

Ep 21: Permits, legal stuff and DIY

Ep 20: What I did during my summer vacation

Ep 19: Mistakes Homeowners Make: Not doing the math