The Handyguys Discuss the “Leatherman” for your yard.

Handyguy Paul wonders if there is an all-in-one tool that can edge, trim, prune, blow leaves and shovel your snow.  Well, with the exception of the snow, there is such a tool.  In fact several manufacturers make such a tool.  Stihl calls theirs the “Kombi” because it is truly a master combination tool for  your yard.

But first, the Handyguys answer a listener question about cedar siding:

I just bought a house with Cedar siding.  I live in Northern IL.  According to the pre-purchase inspector the siding is in fair condition.  It needs some sealant and to be retreated or painted.  What kind of sealant and paint or treatment would you recommend? I want to keep the current color of the wood as best as possible.
Thanks
Jas

Thanks for the question Jas.  Brian used to have Cedar siding on his old house so he has a definite opinion on the matter.  Listen to the podcast for his response.

Combination yard tools

Now on to the combination yard tools.  Brian owns and operates one of the Stihl Kombi tools and has found it very useful.  The main benefit is that you only have to maintain one engine for several different yard tools

But Paul is not convinced.  Can this single tool really do a good job with each task or does it have to make compromises?  And are there other manufacturers of these tools?

Brian explains why he likes his Stihl KombiSystem, but there are certainly other comparable tools: Ryobi, Echo, Husqvarna, Troybilt, John Deere.

Listen to the full podcast for Brian’s opinion on the tool and for the Handyguy’s overall opinions on this tool category.

The Handyguys Discuss Deck and Tub finishes in One Podcast.

That’s right, tub finishes.

Deck Stains

First up is a question from Joan that came in through our new call-in service (see the large “Call-me” link on our web page).  Joan asks about the best finish for wood decking with undesirable variations in color.  She mentions natural Cabbots Australian Timber Oil finish which will not impart much color nor hide the variations in the deck. A better choice is something with some color to allow the beauty of the wood show through.  Look for a tinted version of the timber oil finish or use a semi-transparent stain.

You can get all of Brian and Paul’s commentary in the podcast.  Thanks for the question Joan.

Tub Finishes

We then address an issues sent to us by Jeff, he writes:

I have a home built in 1947 that my wife and I bought about a year and a half ago, and have spent a lot of time updating little things here and there. My biggest issue that scares me to death is the old tile and the bathtub in the bathroom. The floor tile is really old and dull and totally lost all of it’s glaze, the grout is also pretty much black and stained. The bathtub is the same situation and has no glaze to it. I’ve tried to use the super powerful cleaners you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s, and it hardly worked at all.

After talking with a friend we have thought about getting our bathtub re-glazed, and we are curious if it is possible to get the tile re-glazed as well? If it is possible, would it even be worth it from a financial standpoint, or would it be less expensive to just replace the tile (which I know is a lot of work)? Thanks guys, I love your show.

Been there, done that Jeff. Handyguy Brian went the route of a complete bathroom gut and remodel but you asked about re-glazing. There are many companies that can do this for you. Its not a DIY process. There are also companies that can re-do your tub with an acrylic insert. It is sort of a tub within a tub with an acrylic tub surround over the tile.

In the Podcast we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of re-glazing, tub liners and complete bathroom remodels. Bottom line Jeff, if its your only bathroom, re-glazing will be a much faster option and cheaper than a full remodel.