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.

Related shows:

1. Episode #99 – Water Heaters and Home Networking
2. Episode #91 – Winner, Magnogrip, CarMD and PermaFLOW
3. Episode #75 – Basement Systems Continued and Paint Removal

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

Related shows:

1. Episode #57 – Springtime House Inspection
2. Episode #93 – Tile Backsplash for your kitchen
3. Episode #90 – Leaf blowers, rakes and a question about leaky showers

Getting the Noise Out!

The Handyguys analyze the noisy question that is a major issue in modern homes.  How do you isolate yourself from disruptive sounds originating in another part of the house?  Whether the problem is noisy children or televisions; sometimes we just need to get away from it all.  The Handyguys are no exception… they need to record a podcast each week in a quiet room!

One of our listeners asks the Handyguys about the noisy problem:

I work from my home office and my children can often be heard while in the office or on the phone. The room is about 12 x 14 (12 foot ceiling) and on the main floor. Two walls are exterior and two interior. Aprox 3 feet of the walls have oak wood paneling on top of the drywall. The other 11 feet have drywall and a thick cloth-like wallpaper. It looks like the studs are 2×6 and the doors are paneled glass french doors (solid wood). There are no rooms above the office and the basement below is unfinished so all the sound is coming through the two interior walls.

We are ready to take down the wall paper and paint but want to do anything we can to make the office as sound proof as we can – preferably DIY. I’ve heard some people recommend cutting holes in the drywall and blowing in insulation and others say insulation won’t help. Some recommend double drywall but I think that would make the two door frames and window not look “right”. I’ve heard there are sound absorbing paints and sound absorbing drywall and on and on. I’ve heard that single pane glass and the gaps under the door could be the biggest culprit.

What is the first most effective thing I could do followed by the second and third and so on. I’d like to get to the point where the kids could be playing or even yelling and not be heard inside.

Thanks,

Greg

A Summary of Brian’s Response

Click on this thumbnail for a full sized version. This image illustrates various techniques and their efficacy (do handyguys use words such as efficacy?) for controlling sound passage between adjacent spaces. The passage of sound is measured by the scientific geeks using a number called the STC. STC stands for Sound Transmission Class. It refers to sound waves moving through air and objects. The higher the number the less sound can pass. The techniques shown use a combination of mass (sound doesn't travel as well through objects as it does air) and decoupling. Objects, such as studs with drywall, can pass sounds to adjacent spaces (even though they have mass) by decoupling spaces the sound passed through the mass of an object can't effectively continue. The best techniques use mass, a decoupled air space, and more mass. Insulation plays the role of mass but has a limited impact when used alone.

Brian provides three levels of mitigation against the noise that can invade your room.  In general, sound isolation requires you to:

• block Conduits of Sound

• add Mass to Walls

• decouple walls

Brian’s first suggestion is not practical for most handyguys as it includes some serious construction.  Greg could add another wall in order to decouple the interior wall, which connects Greg’s office to the rest of the house, with the inside office space.  Another wall would help a lot, especially one which is insulated and uses 5/8″ drywall. If this is not realistic, you could just rebuild the interior wall using 2×6 top and bottom plates with alternating 2×4 studs so that no stud is connected to both sides of the wall.  This decoupling method is used for the Handyguys home studio (see image to the right for more details on this method).

Brian’s less expensive and less invasive option is to beef up the interior wall with an additional layer of drywall.  In addition, Greg could replace the french doors with some solid core wood doors to add mass and decrease the sound transmission.  Furthermore, these doors can be whether stripped like exterior doors.  This middle level option is still intrusive as it will entail trim work with jamb extensions for the doors and/or windows.

The most realistic and cheapest option is to provide some weather stripping around the interior doors and to close off any HVAC duct work that could be transmitting the sound from the rest of the house (something you would want to do with any option described above).

For more details on Brian’s response, please listen to the podcast.

Applying the Principals of Sound Insulation to finishing your basement

Click on this image for a full sized view. This image illustrates some possible techniques for controlling sound between floors. The sci-guys have another measurement for this, its called the IIC, or Impact Isolation Class. It deals with the sound heard from impacts to the floor as head from below. Imagine, sitting in your home theater and hearing people walking around upstairs. Again, isolation and mass play a part. Also, carpet and padding above are critical for helping with IIC. There is even a technique that involves pouring concrete but we didn't draw that, ask us if you want to know about it.

How do the principals of sound insulation apply to the basement?  Many handyguys are concerned about sound transfer when turning the basement into a cool entertainment space or a kids playroom.  For the basement, the sound typically transfers through the ceiling, up through the stairwell or via your HVAC duct work.  Are there methods for isolating the sound when renovating your basement?

Listen to the podcast for more suggestions.

This show is part of our Basement Finishing Series. If you are considering finishing your basement you should ckeck out our other shows.

Related shows:

1. Episode #49 – Basement Mistakes
2. Episode #105 – Picking Paint Colors
3. Episode #22 – Part 2: An interview with Roger German (the Basement Guy!)

The Handyguys answer a basement remodeling question and then list some basement mistakes.

Don't finish this basement! Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodnight_photography/

The basement finishing topic is popular among handy folks around the home. Many handyguys across America and the world have basements that they want to remodel to create new livable space. Basements are no longer scary, dungy places but can become vital living spaces to your home. But before you you begin finishing your basement, listen to our basement series and then listen to this episode about mistakes that “some” handyguys make when working on their basement.

But before we get to Brian and Paul’s list of basement mistakes, the Handyguys address a question from Mike regarding his basement:

Hey guys,

I have recently found your show and appreciate your knowledge and help. I figured as a new homeowner who likes to constantly improve his house, I would try to get you opinion on a project I am thinking of taking on during the cold season here in New England.

We are thinking of finishing a portion of our basement for a rec/bar room. After doing some research about how to refinish I have read about the traditional way of framing walls, using rolled insulation and drywall. There is another method of using furring strips attached directly to the foundation and foam board for insulation. I was wondering if you had comments on either method or why I would want to stay away from either method.

Between the two I had been planning on framing everything out, however the simplicity and lower costs of furring strips is attractive. This does come with some disadvantages (attaching directly to the foundation).

With building frames I would have to rerun the forced water baseboards, which is a little more complicated.

Overall my basement is very dry, there is one crack, and it is sealed with epoxy injection. The house is almost eight years old and already has cables and outlets run.Thanks for the help if you get to me!

The Handyguys are not thrilled about the furring strip technique. Sure you might save some time and money with this technique, but there are many drawbacks. We emailed Mike some suggestions.  Listen to the podcast for details.

12 Common Basement Design Mistakes

The Handyguys spend some time listing out key basement design mistakes. In this segment, Paul and Brian each prepare their own list independently without telling one another and then reveal their items live on the show. Here is a summary of the Handyguys basement finishing/remodeling mistakes. Please listen to the podcast for more details (and to see who comes up with more mistakes!).

1. You begin finishing a basement that is not a good candidate for finishing…. C heck out our episode #17 – “Is Your Basement Ready?” to help you determine whether your basement is ready.
2. Poor Capacity sizing and planning for utilities (HVAC and electric).
3. Assuming that drop or suspension ceilings are cheaper then a finished drywall ceiling.
4. Overestimating your skill limit.
5. Underestimating Costs.
6. Bad lighting switch locations.
7. Poor insulation and/or insulation techniques
8. Poor planning of low voltage wiring locations.
9. Trying to do it all yourself (i.e. not subbing out some aspects of the job as necessary).
10. Improper planning of combustion air availability for utilities.
11. Not using pressure treated wood for bottom plates and anywhere wood is in contact with concrete.
12. Chopping up basement space into many small rooms which can create an awkward flow and unused space.

Do you have some better ideas of basement mistakes in basement design? Let us know if you do.

This post is a new addition to our basement finishing series.

Related shows:

1. Episode #19 – Your Basement Material Guys
2. Episode #21 – Part 1: An interview with Roger German (the Basement Guy!)
3. Episode #17 – Is Your Basement Ready?

The Handyguys discuss ways to save money during this upcoming winter season.

Part 2 of 2 on energy saving tips. Our first order of business is to respond to Phil’s followup question about replacing his rotted out garage doors.  Phil wanted to know if it is really worth buying insulated doors when the rest of his garage is not insule Handyguys Brian & Paul discuss theated. Th pros and cons in the podcast.

Then the Handyguys talk about how to dispose of a broken CFL (compact fluorescent light).  We discussed this last week but a listener sent us a great link to an EPA site that summarizes how you should clean up after one of these mercury containing bulbs break.  Your first response is to remove kids and pets from the area and open the windows.  Thankfully, no hazmat team is required!  For details on cleaning up, check outhttp://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm.  

Now on to energy saving tips..

In part 1 of our program, we focused on saving electricity.  But half of the typical homeowners energy consumption is taken up by heating and cooling costs.

With the winter arriving soon, these costs could rise to $3300 for the average oil heating home owner and $1600 for natural gas customers.  What can be done to save some money on heating your home?  Don’t despair… prepare!

Insulation

Consider adding insulation to critical areas such as your attic and elsewhere. Listen to the podcast for more details.

Thermostat

Set Back thermostats can save you significant energy. Setback thermostats automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day. The more you can turn back the heat the more money you can save. How much will you save? Listen to this podcast for the answer!

Alternative methods of heat

Wood heat can save you a lot of money but most of us do not have efficient fireplaces or wood stoves to heat our houses.  In fact, many older fireplaces could be dangerous and might need to be sealed off or repaired. Consult a chimney inspector if you are unsure. So, what can you do if you have an old, inefficient, fireplace? Consider a sealed insert. The Handyguys discuss.

Lastly – The Handyguys will be recording from the floor of The Philadelphia Fall Home Show On September 26th. Come find our table at 7:30PM on Friday and say hi!

Related shows:

1. Episode #35 – Energy Saving Ideas
2. Episode #38 – Energy Audit
3. Episode #34 – Preparing Your Home For Winter

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.

Related shows:

1. Episode #21 – Part 1: An interview with Roger German (the Basement Guy!)
2. Episode #18 – Finished Basement Planning and Dealing with Building Codes
3. Episode #49 – Basement Mistakes

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

Part 1 of 2 of Roger German’s interview, Part 5 of the basement finishing series.

Brian and Paul are fortunate for the opportunity to interview an author and basement finishing expert. Roger German is the author of Remodeling a Basement from the Taunton Press “Build Like a Pro” series of books. Due to the length of this interview, it will be split up into two parts.

In part 1 of the interview, Roger discusses the following:

• How Roger got started with his book
• To DIY or not to DIY
• Mistakes seen
• You can do it cheap, do it fast, do it high quality – Pick two
• Some code issues
• HVAC, heating, venting, cooling options
• Steel vs wood studs
• Water mitigation

We wrap up the show talking about insulation, R values, vapor barriers, and mold prevention, etc. Thanks for listening. Buy the book or shop in our store to support the Handyguys Podcast. Next week will be part two of the interview.

Related shows:

1. Episode #22 – Part 2: An interview with Roger German (the Basement Guy!)
2. Episode #17 – Is Your Basement Ready?
3. Episode #19 – Your Basement Material Guys