The Spooky Abandoned Railroad Tunnel

The Handyguys took a day off to discover a long lost Railroad tunnel. The big reason that few people have found the tunnel is due to the rough terrain. Brian and Paul fight through the thickets and make it to the tunnel. We had a lot of fun on our day off!

In this audio episode The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn as well as discuss those purple kite looking things that are showing up in trees around many states in the Midwest and Northeast.

Thatch

The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn and dispel many myths regarding thatch. What causes it and what doesn’t cause it. Listen to the podcast for the discussion.

Purple kites in trees? EAB Traps!

No, those aren’t kites. They are traps used to monitor the potential infection of the Emerald ash borer beetle. Those little suckers are killing ash trees around the country. The Handyguys discuss where they come from and what the effects of them are on our forests.

Purple, three-sided traps resembling a box kite can be seen in ash trees throughout the Midwest and Northeast as part of a surveillance program by federal and state agencies.

]]> http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/1973/episode-141-thatch-and-those-purple-triangle-thingys-in-trees/feed/ 0 bug traps,EAB,Emerald Ash Borer,handyguys,home improvement,Podcast,purple kites,purple traps,tree kites,tree purple In this audio episode The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn as well as discuss those purple kite looking things that are showing up in trees around many states in the Midwest and Northeast. Thatch The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn and dis... In this audio episode The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn as well as discuss those purple kite looking things that are showing up in trees around many states in the Midwest and Northeast. Thatch The Handyguys discuss thatch in your lawn and dispel many myths regarding thatch. What causes it and what doesn't cause it. Listen to the podcast for the discussion. Purple kites in trees? EAB Traps! No, those aren't kites. They are traps used to monitor the potential infection of the Emerald ash borer beetle. Those little suckers are killing ash trees around the country. The Handyguys discuss where they come from and what the effects of them are on our forests. The Handyguys clean 30:23 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/1380/episode-117-cutting-metal-cfls-in-a-kids-room-and-water-saving-flush-valves/ http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/1380/episode-117-cutting-metal-cfls-in-a-kids-room-and-water-saving-flush-valves/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:41:52 +0000 The Handyguys http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/?p=1380 The Handygys discuss three topics on this audio podcast – what tools are used to cut metal, are CFLs safe in kids rooms and are water saving flush valves a good investment. Cutting metal From time to time homeowners need to cut metal. What do you use to cut metal? Paul grills Brian on what [...]]]>

The Handygys discuss three topics on this audio podcast – what tools are used to cut metal, are CFLs safe in kids rooms and are water saving flush valves a good investment.

Cutting metal

From time to time homeowners need to cut metal. What do you use to cut metal? Paul grills Brian on what tools he would use.

It will depend on several factors such as:

• What the metal is
• Quality of the cut
• How quickly you need to cut
• How easily you need the cut

Some possible tools are:

• Hacksaws
• Angle grinder
• Cutting torch
• Cut-off saw
• Jigsaw
• Reciprocating saws
• Snips
• bolt cutters
• Rebar cutters
• pipe cutters

CFLs in a kids room

CFLs in a kids room? What is the issue? Handyguy Paul has several young kids and is concerned that if a lamp gets knoced over he will have to deal with mercury contained inside a typical CFL bulb is the bulb breaks. Is this a valid concern? What are people doing? Is LED a viable option? Are there mercury free CFL bulbs? Rugged CFL bulbs?

Water Saving flush valves

Handyguy Brian came across a discussion regarding “water saving fill valves” for your toilet. The principle is they do a half flush (.8 gallons of water) when you do not have solids and a normal 1.6 gallon flush when you need it. In areas where water is scarce this is important, if you have a well that runs dry its extremely important to conserve every drop. The question is – Do these devices make sense for people who are in areas of the country where there are not water restrictions, there are not scarcity issues, and water is plentiful? If you are on your own well then no. How about those that pay for “city water”?

Doing the math

A toilet like this one doesn't use ANY water!

If you pay for water and, like we said, you are in an area where water isn’t scarce, these devices do not make sense. Here is why:

These fill valves cost about $25

The average cost of city water in the US is $1.50 per 1000 gallons or $0.0015 per gallon

That equates to an average cost per flush in the US of $0.0024

If you round the numbers that is about four flushes for one penny or $0.0096

If half the flushes required a full flush and half could use a half flush and the toilet is used 10 times per day you would save half a penny a day!

The savings would be about $2.19 per year. You would need to use the product for 11 years before you can see a return on investment (ROI).

Okay – we rounded the numbers and made some assumptions but the point is the same. If you don’t live in an area where you don’t have water restrictions or shortages you do not need a product like this.

Make sure you listen to the podcast for all the riveting discussion!

The Handyguys look at some subtle differences between two models of Sawzalls and discuss when you would want each.

Milwaukee Tools sent The Handyguys a press release describing two new Sawzalls. At first glance the specifications seemed the same.

The only difference is the “Stroke Length”. What is the benefit of a longer stroke? When would you prefer a shorter stroke? In this video The Handyguys actually do a test to see the differences in making a cut with each version. We were surprised at how noticeable the differences are!

The shorter 3/4” stroke length is ideal for better control in tight areas, while the longer 1-1/8”stroke length delivers more aggressive cuts for heavy demolition. Both saws do an awesome job cutting through wood embedded with nails (a common thing in demolition). See them in action, along with a much older Sawzall for comparison.

Our longtime fans may recall we did a similar “test” a while back where we compared a corded Milwaukee Sawzall to Makita Cordless reciprocating saw. We used an almost identical methodology in this video.

We hope you find this information useful when shopping for a reciprocation saw. Thanks for checking it out.

If you like the video go ahead and subscribe. If you have iTunes you can get our videos right on your computer the moment they are live. The RSS subscriptions are for a variety of readers and video players. And, of course, feel free to subscribe to our audio shows while you are at it.

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation has provided The Handyguys the products used in this evaluation. However, the opinions of The Handyguys are entirely our own and we have not been paid to make positive comments.

In this video The Handyguys discuss installing a wall sconce to add ambiance lighting, that wont glare on the screen, to a basement home theater.

Glare is the issue, planning is the answer

When you are considering lighting for your home, whether it be for a home theater, television viewing area, home office, kitchen or other places, it is important to consider placement of lighting so it will not cause glare. When Brian finished his basement he included a home theater. (It’s really not that grand, more a movie watching area) The lighting Brian originally installed were some recessed can lights. Once the wide-screen TV was acquired, the surround sound set-up and the furniture placement finalized, it became apparent that light from the recessed cans would cause glare on the TV screen.

The solution became to install some wall sconces. Brian was lucky to find Rejuvenation Lighting out of Portland, OR. Rejuvenation has a large selection of wall sconces. Even better, they had lights that had an old-time movie theater look.

Installation

We wont cover fishing wire in this video, that will be sometime later this year maybe.

1. Locate box location, trace fixture box, cut hole for box
2. Shut off power
3. Test that the power is off
4. Pull wires into hole and then into box – half inch of the Romex sheath should be inside the box
5. Install box in cutout
6. Connect fixture wires to house wiring – white to white, black to black, ground to ground. If your fixture doesn’t have a ground wire, the Romex ground should be connected to the fixture bar ground screw.
7. Mount the fixture according to the directions that came with it

That’s it, in a nutshell, if you have any questions about installing a light or any other questions for The Handyguys feel free to contact us.

We address a question about shed materials and foundations as well as briefly discuss LED light bulbs.

Sheds

The Handyguys received a call from Rick from Sawdust Chronicles and The Splintered Board podcasts.  He asked

What materials are good for shed siding? Do I need a concrete slab for my shed?

Great questions Rick.

Materials

Sheds can be built with many different choices in materials. Some people will build them with the same types of finishes of their house (siding choice, colors, etc) sometimes people would do something different. A quick google search will turn up thousands of different looks.

If you don’t want to try and go to the trouble of matching siding and roofing from your house, and want to keep things simple, there is a commonly used siding called t1-11. Its exterior rated plywood that looks like board and batten siding. You can also get a version made from OSB that comes pre-primed. I think that’s called “smart panels”. I really like fiber cement siding, i haven’t used it on a shed but its on the top of my list for my next shed. Some brands come pre-primed or pre-painted.

Foundations/slabs

You will want to check with your municipality to determine if you need a permit. In most places you do not need a permit if the shed is build directly on the ground, usually with 4×4 PT runners sitting on some patio bricks. When build this way its not considered a permanent structure. When you build on a slab it is usually considered permanent and will require a permit. Again, check with your code people as this varies. Some areas will also require anchors in the ground, or slab, to prevent it from blowing away in high winds.

Also consider having someone build one for you or deliver one pre-made. My last shed I was going to build it myself but a local company was having a sale. They were able to build me a shed for less money than I could have bought the materials. One man came with the shed pre-build in sections (walls, roof, floor) and pout it together in just a couple hours. I painted it and built a ramp. I saved a few hundred bucks.

Listen to this podcast for The Handyguys discussing all these points.

LED Light bulbs

Handyguy Paul came across a new LED Light bulb from GE. Some of the claims from GE’s press release are:

• Expected to consume just 9 watts—compared with 40-watt incandescent/halogen or 10-watt CFL, while delivering nearly the same light output;
• Expected 25,000-hour rated life—will last 17 years (4 hours per day), which is 25 times longer than a general service 40-watt incandescent or halogen bulb and more than 3 times longer than a standard 8,000-hour rated life CFL;
• LED technology delivers the instant full brightness of an incandescent or halogen bulb;
• Durable solid-state design with no filament to break;
• Contains no mercury and will be RoHS compliant; and
• Feels cooler to the touch than CFLs and far cooler than incandescent bulbs.

Discussing bulbs leads Handyguy Brian to make a clam that short life bulbs have planned obsolescence and that some of Edison’s original bulbs are still burning today. Maybe Brian was imagining things but there are definitely some very old light bulbs still in use today. The discussion further digressed into who preferred DC versus AV electrical, Tesla, Edison or Westinghouse. Seems Paul was correct. Edison was a proponent of DC electrical for the grid and Westinghouse was a proponent of AC.

From wikipedia:

In the “War of Currents” era (sometimes, “War of the Currents” or “Battle of Currents”) in the late 1880s, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison became adversaries due to Edison’s promotion of direct current (DC) for electric power distribution over alternating current (AC) advocated by Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla.

Thanks Paul for setting Brian straight. Listen to the podcast to hear the discussion.

Exploding water heaters and home networking are discussed on this episode of The Handyguys Podcast.

Can a hot water heater really explode? The Handyguys address a comment on their website regarding a hot water heater that has expanded and caused the pipes above to leak. Fortunately, there were no explosions. The Handyguys also tackle the family handyperson and home networking. That’s right, if you are the handyperson in your house, you should have some understanding of basic networking.

Water Heaters

The Handyguys received this comment from Sandra:

My hot water heater bowed at the bottom of the tank and forced the tank upward which caused the pipes to leak. Could you tell me what would cause this?

Brian and Paul address potential causes of this hot water heater failure. Fortunately, disaster was avoided but the tank should not expand like that. It seems that there is an important safety element missing from that heater. You can also get more information on water heaters from Episode 13. Sandra, replace the water heater immediately.

You can see what The MythBusters were able to achieve with water heaters with disabled safety devices in this video.

Home Networking

In part 2 of the episode, Paul explains how the family handyman can improve the home networking configuration. In Paul’s opinion, wireless networking technology is just not reliable enough for many of today’s home electronics and entertainment devices. The Handyguys are big fans of running Ethernet cabling throughout the house and specifically to home offices and entertainment centers. More and more television and movies are being delivered via the internet so it is good to have reliable connectivity. Listen to the podcast for more information, especially listen as to The Handyguys are interested in high quality video delivery via the Internet.

The Handyguys take two fan questions on very different topics. Destructive squirrels and carpeting options for a basement.

Squirrels

The Handyguys received the following question from Larry, a listener of the show:

Hi, I have squirrels eating away at the lead pipe flashing (roof jack). that surround the PVC vent pipes that extend out of the roof and along some fascia boards. In searching for a solution, one person said they may be missing a mineral in their diet. Another said they chew to keep their teeth from growing to long.

1. Any truth to these?
2. Any idea why they eat lead pipe flashing (roof jack)?
3. How can I stop them permanently from eating the lead pipe flashing (roof jack) and fascia boards?
4. How can I repair the lead pipe flashing (roof jack) with buying entirely new pipe flashing and lifting shingles?

Larry – We aren’t completely sure why the squirrels are trying to get into your house. Brian’s guess is they want to come in out of the cold.  Regardless you don’t want the squirrels destroying your house. We suggest you begin an agressive relocation program. You can get a trap and easily relocate the squirrels. Check out this one from Havahart.

As for repair – You should just replace the boot on the pipe vent through your roof. You can use Bondo for the Fascia. We discuss some other options in the podcast. Make sure you give it a listen.

Carpet for your basement

The Handyguys then take a question from Eric about carpet for his basement:

First, off just wanted to say great site and great information.

Here is my situation. Carpet and the basement. My wife and I are nearly done with our basement and ready to pick out and put in some nice carpet. But we have no idea how to buy carpet or what sort of padding is best to put under the carpet. Our basement is a solid poured concrete floor and walls. We have no water or any moisture to really mention a small dehumidifier runs occasionally and the basement seems dry.

We have 3 young kids and one big dog and would like a carpet and padding that would be able to hold up.

Thanks

Eric

The Handyguys discuss some different carpet options. Both Brian & Paul are in agreement that a decent pad that is not absorbent is a must. Also, you may want to consider commercial carpet as well.

Loop Berber	Commercial
Twist pile Mohawk SmartStrand	Padding

What are you doing lately?

We wrap up the show with a discussion about some cabinets that are pulling off the wall because they are overloaded. These are a decent brand of cabinets. Brian was able to add some screws into the soffit to hold them until the cabinets are repaired.

The Handyguys received a distraught email from one of our listeners regarding a DIY disaster. It seems that Leroy has the challenge of fixing a hack job from the previous homeowner.

Hi guys, I recently purchased a house. The home was built in 1990. In the master bedroom there is an 8 inch paper boarder up high on the walls. Instead of taking the boarder off, the person who lived here prior apparently used some sort of mud to (poorly) blend the lower portion of the boarder to the rest of the sheet rock then used what looks like spray texture to try and match the knockdown texture currently on the wall and then painted the entire room. At a distance you can kinda see the patchwork but up close it is very unattractive. My question is how would you go about removing the boarder and making the wall look uniform being that there is knockdown texture on the wall. Thank you so much. Love the podcast and fyi I wrote a review on Itunes.

The Handyguys make an effort to rescue Leroy from this potential mess. In summary, there are three choices that the handyguy can make to fix the funny looking walls:

1. Just tear down that drywall and install new! Obviously this is a drastic solution but it would work.
2. Try to create a texture over the wallpaper boarder that matches the rest of the wall. The Handyguys discuss the texture options.
3. Camouflage the problem. Either use another wallpaper border that is thicker then the one used previously or repaint the room with a faux paint process that hides the problem.

Water Pressure in the Home

Is your home water pressure to high? Many newer homes have pressure regulators which reduce the water pressure coming into the home. However, if these regulators are not set correctly or are faulty, you could have high water pressure which may cause a plumbing disaster. A typical home water pressure is measured at 70psi or below.

You can use this affordable pressure gauge available in our store. The Handyguys discuss how to use it in the podcast.

However, Handyguy Paul has heard from Neighbors with readings above 100psi. This high pressure can raise the chance of having a plumbing failure, particularly with one of the many fittings to toilets and sinks. If you think you may have high water pressure, get it checked.

If you want to check your water pressure yourself you may want to consider picking up a water pressure gauge. They are not too expensive and could save you some trouble by identifying if your pressure is too high before it causes a problem.

Channel Lock

Channellock sent us their newly released tool: the 6.5″ V-Jaw tongue and groove pliers to check out. They look useful and more versatile than regular pliers. The Handyguys discuss some possible uses, keep them handy and report back when we use them on a future project. We love that they are made in the USA! Thanks Channellock. You can get Channellock Products at Amazon by clicking this link

In this episode of The Handyguys Podcast we take a question on garage heaters and have some follow-up thoughts on the CarMD product we discussed in episode 91.

Garage Heaters

We received a great question from Captain Kent about heating his garage so he can work on his honey do list. Its excerpted here:

Hi guys! I have a question for you. Last year I purchased a home built in the 80′s and I’m slowly morphing into this Handy-Guy-Do-It-Yourselfer-Inspector-Gadget kind of guy.

I figure my garage being 800 square feet that I can utilize this space in the cold months to do projects out there. In any case, I ripped all the sheet rock off the walls and am about 60% deep in the project of fully insulating the garage. I’m installing Champion windows, a new back door from Lowes, and even insulating the inside of the 20 foot main garage door with a neat Owens Corning garage door insulation kit. I’m doing everything myself accept the walk out door and windows…so far anyway.

I’m a pilot by day and a Handy Guy Podcast Warrior by night. We battle our garages on our days off and then compare notes at 41,000 feet. We decided we are probably both going to go with a hanging natural gas type heater but here comes our question. We thought about just breaking through the wall and piping one of our main house heater ducts into the garage for heat. When the garages are all insulated and sealed up it shouldn’t take a lot of heat to keep them warm, or warm enough to work out there. We were not familiar with any homes that have done this before and figured there must be a good reason for us NOT to do this. We decided to ask you guys if you know of any reason why we would NOT want to simply tap off and route one of our main house ducts into our garages for heat?

Thanks Brian and Paul, keep the podcast coming! I’d be in the poor house if I had to hire somebody to do all the jobs this house needs!

Captain Kent

Utilizing house heat

You need to maintain separation between the house and the garage to prevent easy penetration of flames and fumes. The building codes in your area likely prohibit any garage connection to a forced air central system. Of course, the story would be different if the garage were converted into living space.  In this case, a critical factor is the size of the current hvac system. If your house heat is hot water it might be possible to add a zone from your boiler for in-floor radiant heat.

Permanent installed heat

If you want a permanently installed heat source the best method is using a ceiling mounted heater. These beasts provide the most heat without interfering with handyguy duties or parking a car. The ceiling mounts provide a choice of  gas or electric. Lennox has one that looks nice.

Portable temporary heat

Portable heat will be much less expensive to purchase. You have several options such as portable electric, kerosene or propane. Paul has a portable propane and Brian has a kerosene heater. In Brian’s uninsulated garage the kerosene heater barely does the trick when its cold out and is useless when its fridged out.  Each kind of heater has its pros and cons.  We discuss these in the podcast.

CarMD Revisit

We talked about the CarMD scanner for your car back in Episode 91. The scanner is used to read errors in your vehicles computer to help you diagnose problems. When The Handygusy checked out the units they were impressed but they didn’t have any error codes on their vehicles at the time.  Things of changed and now both Brian and Paul both coincidently have their dreaded “check engine” brightly lit. The CarMD scanner read the error code *and* provided likely solutions with cost estimates for repairs! Well done CarMD, very cool.

The Handyguys discuss doing a tile back-splash.

Preparations

You need to make sure your wall is smooth and clean. Measure and decide what areas of your back-splash you want to cover. When buying tile make sure you account for waste and bad cuts.

Layout

Decide on your layout. If you go horizontal you will have significantly fewer cuts. If you have a complicated pattern you should lay out each piece of tile on the floor so you can see how it will go on the wall.

Tile options

Decorative tiles can add a nice look to your project but can really add to the cost. When selecting a tile ensure that any bull-nose, inside corners, outside corners, etc are available. Some patterns and layouts wont need the pieces. They can add significantly to your budget depending on your tile choices.

Tools and Materials

Handyguy Paul set up an area in his garage to cut the tiles. He borrowed the saw. The plastic curtain kepts the mess contained.

Handyguy Paul found all the tools he needed at the local True Value. First decide on mastic or thinset. The Handyguys discuss the pros and cons of each choice and what applications are best for each.  You will need a trowel, a grout float, a tile saw (rent, borrow or buy one), spacers, grout, caulk, a bucket and a large sponge.

Application Techniques

Paul wraps up the show with some tips and encouragement for anyone considering doing a tile back-splash.

Looks great! Still needs grouting in this picture but the whole project turned out nicely. The design committee aproved.

Thanks

The Handyguys would like to Thank True Value for sponsoring several segments of The Handyguys Podcast over the past few months. Its supporters like True Value that make it possible for us to stay on the air.

Disclosure

How do you get your house ready for the Winter Season?

Win this toolkit. Click on the picture to learn how! Hint: valid use of duct tape wins!

Join the Handyguys in a not-so-methodical checklist for the winter season.  This is not your every day handyman (or not so handyperson) checklist.  We have some extras you may not see on other lists. Listen to the podcast as we discuss these items. True Value had all the supplies we needed to get our houses in order.

• As the days get shorter and darker, it is a good time to check all of your outdoor lights.  Make sure they work.
  

  Paul was able to discover these fancy CFLs at our local True Value. They look great don’t you think?

  Perhaps it is time to install a light with a motion detector to secure your outdoor entrances and windows.

• Also, you can now get some wife pleasing outdoor CFL lights.  You don’t have to settle on the curly cue CFL bulbs

• Watch out for leaks and/or water penetration.
  • gutters/downspouts
  • grade flowing toward house
  • clear insulation around soffit vents to avoid ice dams
• Bring in your outdoor furniture
• Replace the grates and flavor bars on your Grill.  True Value has the parts you need for this.
  

  Why not refresh your busted down grill and enjoy a few more cookouts this season. Paul picked up the new flavor bars and grate at True Value. The steaks came from the cow he bought.

• Winterize your yard tools
• Seal/weatherstrip and caulk around window and doors and latch those windows for the winter
• Insulate your unfinished basement.. especially around the rim joist
• Clean your Dryer Vent before it is too cold to work outside
• Install some heavy drapes on your windows to stop drafts.  That’ s what they did in the old days.
• Last chance for pre-winter fertilizer.
• Final chance for exterior touch up paint
• Is it time to stain the Deck in the fall?  Isn’t the sun closer to earth in the Winter?  Brian says no.  Paul says yes. Which is it?

Disclosure

Primer, PEX and CFLs

Costly Handyguy Mistakes: Primer. Use it or lose it.

Skipping primer or improperly prepping a surface for paint cant be a Costly DIY Mistake

The Handyguys continue their new segment this week called Costly DIY Mistakes. These are mistakes are ones we have personally seen or have been asked about by our listeners. This weeks mistake is not using primer when painting. The Handyguys discuss when you need to prime and when you don’t. Also discussed are stain blocking primers. A primer will help your finish paint job last longer.

The Handyguys then address a question about PEX piping

Our listener, Brian M., asks:

Thanks for recommending your podcasts to me on Twitter. I’m just beginning a new basement finishing project and I’ve been enjoying your basement finishing podcast series. Great stuff!

My question is about PEX tubing systems. I have to do some minor plumbing work as part of my project, including the relocation of one or two existing water supply lines that are currently in the way. I’ve been considering PEX systems as a replacement for some existing PVC supply lines because of its supposed flexibility and ease of installation. Are there any pitfalls or difficulties to watch out for when using PEX? To save on headroom, would it be acceptable to run the PEX tubing across joists in the ceiling utilizing knock-out holes in the joists? I only have to relocate one or two existing supply lines and build a handfull of new supply lines. Do you think my project is too small to invest in the specialized tools needed to install PEX?

Click on the image for a full size rendition of Sharkbite fittings

The Handyguys discuss the question.

What is the solution to costly PEX tools? Use SharkBite.  SharkBite® push-fit fittings are designed to simplify pipe installation. The fittings allow the user to connect pipe in seconds with relative ease.

In Handyguy Brian’s recent project he was able to use Sharkbite fittings to simplify the installation, eliminate the need for a torch install without a completely dry joint. Check out the Sharkbite Selection at The Handyguys Amazon Store and listen to the podcast for the details.

What are ya doing lately? Recent Handyguy Adventures

Click the image to see it full size and so you can see the base

Paul installed a new light fixture that included a CFL light bulb with a new kind of base. I guess the “Edison Base” isn’t good enough for those in the government. These new bulb bases will become more common. The base is called a GU24 base. It is a standard on new Energy Star rated light fixtures. The purpose is to prevent you from using a standard incandescent bulb in a new fixture. Oh, and the home centers and hardware stores are not always stocking these bulbs. As Paul found out, they sell the fixture and not the bulb. Argh.

The Handyguys have a solution. Get your GU24 base bulbs from The Handyguys store.
GU24 Bulb Selection at The Handyguys Amazon Store

Lastly – our listener made reference to us being on twitter. You can follow us by following @handyguys or clicking here

In this episode of The Handyguys Podcast the Handyguys Brian & Paul continue their interview with Paul Mackie from The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.

This part of the interview contains discussion of:

• Can a handyguy build his own deck.
• Exotics versus cedar versus synthetics
• Quality of cedar in various markets

Tips and considerations for a DIYer when building a deck

• board spacing
• corrosion resistant fasteners
• hidden fasteners

Thanks to Western Red Cedar Lumber Association for this picture of a great looking deck. Click for full size.

What are some of the skills needed to build a deck? The Handyguys, Brian & Paul, discuss what it takes. The conclusion – if you are handy you could build a deck and save some money in the process. If you are building a second floor deck or if you deck is high you may want to consider having someone do the framing. Height ads complexity plus safety may be a concern. Listen to the Podcast for the full discussion.

The Handyguys wrap up the discussion talking about comprehensive landscape design. You may want to consider hiring a landscape designer to help you come up with a complete plan including hardscape, plants, shrubs and lighting.

Thanks to Mr. Cedar, Paul Mackie, of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association for a great interview.

Brian & Paul continue to discuss the tools after Mr. Cedar signs off. There is a minimum compliment of tools you will need. The Handyguys like their tools and discuss some upgrades that would make building a deck easier. The table below shows the minimum tool and a possible upgrade. You can click each picture for a full description and purchase option for each tool.

Deck Building Tools

	Possible Required Tool	An upgrade to the required tool
Post Hole Digger
Plumb & Level
Saw
Hammer
Driver

Thanks to Timbertech for the image Click for full size

The Handyguys answers some questions and then discuss Garbage Disposals

First of all, please watch our videos from Episode #52 and  take our survey.  We would love some  more feedback!

A garbage disposal is something most of us have but the troubleshooting  instructions are probably missing..  The Handyguys discuss ways to fix these little beasts when they are no cooperating.  But first… the Handyguys answer some listener questions.

Hammer Drill Chuck Problems

Nathan writes to Handyguy Paul:

Paul, I had a question about the Makita HP1621FK that you bought for finishing your basement.  Did you ever have problems with drill bits spinning inside the chuck?  It seems with these keyless chuck drills I can never get the chuck tight enough to stop bits from spinning when drilling into hard objects such as concrete.  Do you guys have any tips for possibly reducing this problem in these keyless chuck drills? – Nathan

Thanks for he question Nathan.  Indeed Paul did experience this problem with this particular drill.  His solution was to hold the chuck tight while he ran the drill slowly to get the chuck good and tight.  He also pushed in the bit as far as he could — in some cases all the way to the base of the chuck — so that the bit would not slip.

Paul typically had a different problem with this drill, namely, removing the bit after using it to drill into concrete.  Listen to the podcast for more details and solutions.  This is a great drill for the price so hopefully we can get this issue resolved.

This isn't Larry. We're not sure this guy is going to get his mower started like this!

Reviving an Unused Lawnmower

The Handyguys also received a call-in question from Larry who is trying to save money in this down economy and wants to begin mowing his lawn himself.  Unfortunately, his lawnmower has been sitting unused for a few years and he wants to get it working again.  The Handyguys provide some tips in the podcast and also refer Larry to our show from last spring on prepping your mower for the mowing season.

That brings us to the big issue at hand…

Garbage Disposal Problems

Picture thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike-burns/8907417/

A garbage disposal is an appliance that most of us have and yet it is still a mystery to most.  The garbage disposal is a great tool and when it works you don’t give it a second thought.  However, if you experience problems with clogs or poor performance, there is no set of troubleshooting tips printed under your sink.  The Handyguys discuss some methods for treating the typical problems you can experience with a disposal. Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys then have a discussion about the best way to clean our disposal.

Check out the podcast for details and get your disposal unclogged!

The Handyguys answer a question about chainsaws and toilets!

Brian and Paul receive lots of good questions.   When we received a question from Suzanne about her toilet not flushing properly, we thought it would be an easy solution. However, upon studying the issue more closely, we realized that she had a non-standard toilet.

Here is what she asked:

 We are having a problem with our toilet not flushing properly.  The handle became hard to push down to flush, and eventually broke. We replaced the handle 3 times now but all have broken within a few uses.  It seems the handles aren’t strong enough to lift the flush valve.  It’s like it has a strong suction keeping it closed. Any suggestions as to what the problem is and how to fix it?

Our first thought was that the flapper valve was sticking and making it difficult to release with the handle.  We also suggested that Suzanne look at the handle mechanism itself to make sure it was moving freely.  But soon we found out that this toilet does not have a standard flapper valve.  Check out the picture:

This is not a common setup. The flush mechanism is made by Mansfield and uses non-standard parts.  If the entire flush mechanism is at fault, you have to remove the entire tank to remove the parts.  However, if just the flush seal is at fault, it can be replaced for about $2.00.

What was the solution?  Check out the podcast. The Handyguys also produced a show earlier in the year on general toilet troubleshooting,check it out here http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/58/episode-8-in-the-toilet

Another listener emailed about whether a particular chainsaw was a good buy.  Before we answer the question (I am not sure we ever answered the question?), we discussed two basic issues related to chainsaws:

1)  Should you buy, borrow, rent or steal a chainsaw?

 2) If buying, how do you proceed to identify the chainsaw that is right for you?

 There are two main types of chainsaws, electric and gas powered.  The electric are cheaper and less powerful but handy if you have a small lawn and only need to occasionally cut branches and such.  But be careful!  Brian recounts a dangerous episode with an electric chainsaw.

Gas powered chainsaws can do much bigger jobs and are not limited by the length of your extension cord.  If you are going to buy a gas powered chainsaw, it is not worth skimping with a cheap brand.  Look for a Husqvarna or Stihl so that you don’t spend all day trying to get the saw started.

Check out he full podcast for more recommendations and safety precautions when dealing with chainsaws.

In next week’s show we will take a closer look at Mighty Putty!  If you have any suggestions on how mighty putty can be used, please let us know.

The Handyguys complete their basement finishing series with an interview of a basement refinishing expert Roger German.

Part 2 of 2 of Roger German’s interview, Part 6 of the basement finishing series.

Brian and Paul complete their interview with basement remodeling expert Roger German. Mr. German is the author of Remodeling a Basement from the Taunton Press’ “Build Like a Pro” series of books. This is the second half of our interview.
In part 2 of the interview, Roger discusses the following:

• Basement Extras
• Lighting
• Drop Ceiling vs. sheet rock
• More on water mitigation

Thanks to listening to this interview with Roger German.

This post will conclude our 6 part series on basements. As always if you have any questions about any DIY or home improvement topics feel free to contact us. You may also comment on these posts.

In next weeks episode we will address several listener/reader questions as well as provide plans and give guidance on building and arbor for your garden.

Part 4 in the Basement Finishing Series

The Handyguys are becoming the “Basementguys” in this new fourth installment of the basement series.  The Handyguys discuss basement materials and revisit some old advice they gave about mowing lawns.

First up… a discussion about some advice that Handyguys gave in Episode #15 on lawn care.  Is it true what one of the Handyguys said regarding your mower height?  Handyguy Paul said that if you mow the lawn lower, the grass will grow faster in order to get more sun and generate more food for the roots.  It sounded too good to be true so he sought out to prove his own advice.  Paul performed a little experiment on his backyard.  We could show you a picture here but Paul was a little embarrassed.  He cut a 30 foot swath down the middle of his back yard an inch shorter then the outside edges of his yard.  He wanted to see if it would grow any faster then the rest of the yard.  What was the result?  You will have to listen to the Podcast and see if the Handyguys offered good advice or bad advice.

The Handyguys then discuss the many choices that you have in regard to basement materials.  You want to finish your basement but what materials will you choose? Should you use steel studs or wood?  What about the pre-fabricated basement systems?  Drop ceilings or sheet rock?

The Handyguys also discuss sound blocking options.

Photo © 2008 Bungalow Chronicles

Good design will help your basement blend in with the rest of your house and not feel like a cheap addition. Planning and good material choices with a good decorating sense will go a long way.

Material talk and more discussions about your basement on episode #19 of the Handyguys Podcast.

Thanks for Listening

The Handyguys give an overview of how to plan for your finished basement.

Part 3 in the Basement Finishing Series

Now that your basement is ready to finish, you need to develop a plan to execute that construction job down under. The Handyguys know some creative visionaries can see the complete construction plan in their head and just start driving nails until they have a beautiful basement. However, for the rest of us, we need to write out some basic plans, study the building codes, and determine whether we have enough money to complete the work. That’s right, you are going to need a handful of hard earned cash to get your basement finished well.

But where do you start? First, you should determine if you can afford to finish your basement. The Handyguys tell you how much it will cost per square foot to get the job done. Make sure you can afford the job before you begin making your plans.

Once you have determined that your wallet is up to the task, get out the graph paper or install a design program such as Google Sketch Up to draw out your new basement. The Geeky side of the Handyguys suggests using the computer, but it certainly is not required. The building inspector just needs a drawing that shows your dimension, windows sizes, outlets and other items that the Handyguys discuss on this episode.

What about code issues? What do you need to consider to get those plans right? There is more to consider then just electrical loads, outlet placement, etc. You need to do load calculations on your HVAC system to make sure that it can handle the load of your additional living space. If your central heat cannot take the load, you will want to consider other sources of heat (generally you do not need to cool the basement space as the earth does a sufficient job).

The links below may be helpful for fulfilling your local codes. However, you must determine the codes that are established in your local jurisdiction! That is the only way to be compliant.

Check out the podcast for more information and view these helpful links:

General code checklist

Heat Loss and Gain Worksheet

The Handyguys talk about two big topics in home improvement today: a house that is “green” and a house that is organized. First is a discussion of a new product called the GreenSwitch. GreenSwitch is a wireless system that allows you to control several electrical switches and receptacles with a single switch. This switch provides an easy method to turn off all unnecessary lights and other electronics, thereby saving energy. You can even connect a thermostat to the switch to automatically set it to your away set-back mode to conserve power.

The Handyguys like GreenSwitch, but the price is steep. They would love to see technologies such as GreenSwitch and other wireless home automation and security products a little more integrated. You can find out more about what the guys think about this new technology on the podcast.

The other popular topic is home organization, which applies to garages, pantries and closets. Paul is getting ready to start a project on his master bedroom closet. It could use some attention, and his honey wants him to organize the space with some new shelving. Paul could probably build some shelving himself, but his honey-do list is long and he wants to get this job done sometime this year. At the same time, the budget is tight, so outsourcing this job to a custom closet company may be out of the question. What do you think he should do? Check out the show for details on how you can help!