The Handyguys June 19th, 2008

 

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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.

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The Handyguys May 29th, 2008

 

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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

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The Handyguys May 22nd, 2008

 

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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

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The Handyguys April 24th, 2008

 

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The Handyguys discuss annual spring maintenance for your lawn mower

For many of us in the northern parts of the USA, it is that time of year when we get the lawn mower out for the first time. Most of us probably use tradition walk behind mowers with combustion engines. Like our cars, these tools require maintenance to keep them humming along from year to year. The Handyguys discuss how you can handle these basic maintenance items yourself:

We start off by talking about mower safety and some crazy mower stories before we get into the basics of spring mower tune-up.

Basic Spring mower tune up consists of checking and maybe replacing the spark plug, cleaning or replacing the air filter, sharpening your blade, cleaning the deck and changing the oil.

Changing the spark plug – The spark plug only needs to be changed if its black, burnt, or damaged. If it looks clean when you remove it only replace it if you are having trouble with the mower running smooth or not starting. This picture is an example of a badly fouled plug that needs replaced.

Replacing an air filter – make sure you get the correct air filter. There are many sizes and styles. The filter can be cleaned with compressed air or a brush. If its really bad just go ahead and replace it. Some filters are foam and can be washed in warm soapy water. Do not re-install a washed filter until its completely dry.

Sharpening a blade – You can use a file or a grinder to sharpen your blade. Make sure you use the same angle as the previous sharpening. Handyguy Brian got this heavy duty grinder for only $25, including the stand, at an auction. An inexpensive grinder will be fine for this task. A Dremel tool or even just a plain old file will do the trick as well. A sharp blade makes a better cut and helps keep your grass healthy.

Cleaning the mower deck – Sorry I don’t have an after picture. Use a scraper and a wire brush to clean up the mower deck. This is especially important for mulching mowers. If you have rust, sand that and hit it with some primer and paint.

Changing the oil – Do this every year. Make sure you use the proper oil and the correct amount. Most mowers will use SAE 30 oil. Do not use 10W-30, its different and will likely void any warranty you may have. Regardless – Check your owners manual first for the correct oil.

Learn more by listening to this installment of the Handyguys Podcast!

And remember – You can always ask The Handyguys a question about your DIY or home improvement project by calling us at (615) 676-0877 or using the contact form.

We respond to all questions and may use your question in a future episode.

Our podcasts are made possible through revenue at our store. Our store is a partnership with Amazon. Some of our favorite tools are listed here

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The Handyguys March 20th, 2008

The Handyguys are off this week but will be back next week with a show on Decks.  We will look at outdoor decking materials and deck maintenance.  Check us out next week.

Upcoming show schedule:

The Deck Show

The Ladder Show

Hurricane Katrina Update

Have a great Easter!

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The Handyguys February 7th, 2008

 

 Episode #4 - Get Organized [18:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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!

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The Handyguys January 24th, 2008

 

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The HandyGuys Episode #2: Wet Paint!

Show Summary

The Handyguys discuss HGTV’s 2008 home improvement guide by Brandie Malay. This article can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419289/. The handy guys like some of the suggestions in this article. A lot of improvements can be made to your house without spending a lot of money! Replacing old or outdated plumbing fixtures are a great way to spruce up the bathroom or kitchen. These refreshing updates are recommended whether you are planning to sell or live in your house for years to come!

The handyguys respond to their first question regarding paint. The following question is asked:

Hey Handy Guys,
In the past month, I’ve heard two different cases of a wife picking a color from a paint sample and after the husband got 2 gallons (in one case) or 3 gallons (in the other) of the custom paint, it was generally agreed that the color was not right (too bright in both cases). Of course the paint could not be returned.
How is a guy to pick the right custom paint color without having to chalk up the first 2 gallons under the category of “lessons learned?”
Your loyal listener,
Phil
[For the full answer to this question, check out the podcast]

This is an age-old problem that any D-I-Y house painter has faced. The fact is that you are never sure how a paint will look until you get some on your walls under the lighting and structural conditions of your home…not the paint store! Listen to this podcast for some suggestions on how to address this dilemma (hint: try the stores where you can purchase small quantity paint containers).

The handyguys also discuss why it is important to purchase good quality paint and paint brushes. They recommend checking out your local paint store for paint instead of the big box stores. Brian specifically recommends the Purdy angled brush for cutting in and for trim. Paint specialty stores typically have employees that know a lot about paint! They will give you the best advice about which paint to use for your project. Is the paint going to be more expensive than the big box store? Most likely… but it will also be better quality paint and the good advice will make your visit worthwhile. If you do not get good service, find another paint store.
My Odeo Channel (odeo/07a095de95cc6f8e)

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The Handyguys January 19th, 2008

 

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The Handyguys attend the Philadelphia Home Show

Today we attended the 2008 edition of the Philadelphia Home Show. The Home Show is probably coming to a city near you, so give it a Google search or look here. In this podcast, we review some of the products seen there, and we interview Tom Silva of This Old House! You may wonder what Tom Silva is doing talking to the Handyguys. Well Tom was very gracious to take a moment to talk to the Handyguys. You can check out the interview in this podcast.

The popular items at the Home Show are basement finishing, hardscaping, home organization (i.e. closets and garages), hardwood floors and home security. There were some fine vendors in these categories so check them out. We really like the following home solutions:

Hardwood Floors Direct

This company had amazing, high quality, solid wood flooring harvested from renewable forests around the world. They assured us that their samples are consistent with the actual product delivered to contractors or DIYers. In other words, some less than truthful flooring vendors will show you high quality showroom samples, but deliver low quality product. Hardwood Floors Direct gives you a product with long, high quality boards, not warped cut-offs. See www.hardwoodfloors-direct.com

EP Henry

Most of you know this as the company that makes concrete pavers for patios and walkways. But they also make fantastic stone veneer for siding or other applications. EP Henry had great display modeling their various hardscape products. See www.ephenry.com

Slide-Lok

If you want to organize your garage, then you may want to consider this product. Garage organization is a growing category of home improvement. The garage is no longer the junk room in your home. (Or at least it does not have to be.) Slide-lok can send you an innovative garage cabinet system that can be assembled by the DIYer. If you want to spruce up that garage, check out www.slide-lok.com

Ingrid

This company makes an easy to install security system for complete home security. The interesting aspect of this product is not only the ease of installation but that it is a no-gimmick system that really works. We will be keeping an eye on this company because it seems to make home-security so easy that you don’t need a handy-guy to install it. Check them out at www.ingridhome.com

Other than these fine companies, you will be sure to find the side-show vendors marketing their gee-wiz products for $9.99. But the Handyguys advise you to skip these vendors and go get yourself a great cheesesteak across the street at the Reading Market!

That’s it for now… check out the podcast!

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The Handyguys January 10th, 2008

Welcome to the Handyguys website. This site is the home of the Handyguys podcast. Our podcasts feature your questions, head-to-head tool tests and other DIY and home improvement topics. If you have a question regarding your home, let us know using the “contact” tab above. If possible, we will respond to your question via email and may use your question on-the-air in a future broadcast.

Our weekly podcasts will be posted every Thursday, beginning January 17th. If you would like to subscribe to our podcast, use the podcast links on the right or just play them in your browser. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you around the home!

Upcoming schedule:

January 17, 2008 “The Kickoff Show”

Special Edition: Philadelphia Home Show review!

January 24 , 2008 “Wet Paint!”

January 31 , 2008 “The cut-up show” (featuring head-to-head cordless vs corded reciprocating saw challenge)

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