We went back to the basics in this first hour to talk about those projects that are great DIY projects to start out with for just about everyone. Even if you have done these projects before there will be some tricks and tips you might not have heard that could save you a bunch of time or money.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Monument Grills

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Upgrade your trailer game with Summit Trailer

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A new kind of decking and siding from Millboard

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[00:00:05] Intro: around the house.

[00:00:25] Eric Goranson: What do you do for flooring? Can you do it yourself? Do you have to hire it out? This is gonna be that DIY episode that's gonna get you going. For over the holidays and into the new year. Maybe you can't afford to have it done, but you still wanna stay in that house and do something. We're gonna help you walk through it every little step of the way to get you a beautiful looking home.

[00:00:54] Eric Goranson: is

[00:01:08] Eric Goranson: Done well, if you wanna find out more about the show, doesn't matter if you're listening on the podcast here or the radio. You can catch us over to around the House online.com, or you can message me with any questions, or you can find us on Facebook, which is around the House Show and our close group over there and around the House Nation.

[00:01:45] Eric Goranson: And if it's the first time for you, this could be really helpful to make sure that you get the right project started correctly. So in this segment here, I wanted to talk about faucets. Maybe it's a bathroom faucet, [00:02:00] maybe it's a kitchen faucet. What are you gonna do to change? You have to get a new one. You gotta repair it.

[00:02:30] Eric Goranson: So before you dive in, if you wanna save some money, you can look and see if you can get a new cartridge or, or seals for those things. And so always do your research if you're just trying to save a buck. Sometimes the faucet's great, you just need some parts for it. So always a good time to repair those if you can.

[00:03:05] Eric Goranson: I do not like online companies because I tell you. , As I've said before, it's like a coach purse. If you buy that thing online, who knows? They probably didn't even spell coach correctly on it, and you're gonna get something. That's not what it is. There has been for the last decade, a huge problem of online companies selling knockoff stuff and you think, Oh, who cares?

[00:03:47] Eric Goranson: And then if it is, maybe you get a good one. The other problem you could have is getting replacement parts down the road. Can't tell you how many people I know in the plumbing retail industry out there, people bring in a moan or a [00:04:00] delta or whatever part in, and it was never something they made. It's a similarity.

[00:04:29] Eric Goranson: Even if you're paying retail, you're probably gonna get a higher quality piece there than you do your local home. That's something to consider. You'll probably see more metal, more brass, higher quality parts within that. I've also seen it where they ship out to the home centers, like a B grade thing, where maybe a little finish flaw or something like that, knowing that the people in there aren't gonna matter, but that plumber might have a problem with it.

[00:05:19] Eric Goranson: Stuff, but I'm talking about the, the cpvc stuff, the yellow PVC pipe. That stuff can be brittle. I have changed out faucets before. Turn the water off, go get another tool, come back, and that whole thing is blown out of the wall. So that stuff can be very brittle. I am not a fan of c cpvc pipe cuz it can fail prematurely in crack and just shatter light glass.

[00:05:59] Eric Goranson: So if they're [00:06:00] leaking and you want to swap 'em out, that's a good way to do it. So that's, that's the time you wanna do that. So take a look at it. If they're old, it might just be smart to, to go ahead and do it if you have a hard time turning them. Turn the house water off, take the extra 15 minutes and swap those things out, and that can be a smart way to go.

[00:06:38] Eric Goranson: And if you're not spry enough to get underneath there and to be able to do stuff, that's where maybe you wanna bring that plumber in to get up in there, cuz it can be tough. My kitchen sink, not so easy. 10 inch apron front sink. Pretty tough to get up in there, especially when they have a false bottom in there in the cabinet.

[00:07:10] Eric Goranson: And then of course, I always wanna replace those supply lines that are going up to there because those do have a lifespan. And after time, the rubber plastic starts to fail. And you wanna make sure you've got that look and good. So you're good to go on that faucet and then just make sure you follow the directions on the install.

[00:07:49] Eric Goranson: Make sure you got it. Put it. Put it in your folder. So if you do have an issue down the road, it's something to consider. Now, if you've got a lot of hard water buildup, [00:08:00] that is going to be something that's gonna destroy that faucet down the road. So it will reduce the lifespan on it. And many times those warranties, they'll take care of you, but they're not gonna take care of you forever because you've got bad water quality.

[00:08:29] Eric Goranson: Dishwashers, washing machines, hot water heaters. Those are all things that can be very trouble. When you're working with hard water, but just take the time, make sure you use silicone or use whatever gasket they have to seal off to the sink. And, uh, make sure you get that all dialed in there. Make sure I always change out that, uh, popup as well when you're doing a bathroom sink.

[00:09:14] Eric Goranson: Get nailed by the final inspection by having the wrong faucet in there, in the gallons per hour of, or gallons per minute of that faucet. So another thing to take care of. And then just be careful. Don't wanna bust that sink up, especially if it's made out of. Ceramic China. Those can break really easy. So don't but tighten it.

[00:09:38] Intro: returns. Why in a

[00:10:07] Eric Goranson: Welcome back to the Around The House Show. This is your stop for home improvement every single week. Thanks for joining us. If you're hearing us on the radio for the first time, you can always find us over and around the house online.com. And of course we do have the podcast. If you're listening to there, of course you know cuz you're listening to it.

[00:10:42] Eric Goranson: So, last segment. We talked about faucets. Now I wanted to talk about toilets because this is something, I tell you what, that keeps plumbers really busy. And it's something that many times you can do yourself. Now, there's some rules with toilets that I want you to think about though, and [00:11:00] that way you get the right one and you decide whether you're going to remove it, replace it, or repair it.

[00:11:35] Eric Goranson: Totally. But really long term wise, if you wanna save some money, what I would do is if I've got that older toilet, it's time to put a new one in. Because here's why the new ones, if you go get something decent, and I'm not saying go spend that 120 or $150. Off brand one at the home center. I will try to talk you outta that every single time cuz you do get what you pay for.

[00:12:21] Eric Goranson: There was a black market. For used toilets out there when somebody needed one that they wanted it to flush, right? So it took a number of years, over a decade, to be honest, before we started to see ones that did really well in flushing. And as time goes on, over the last five to 10 years, they've gotten so much better.

[00:13:00] Eric Goranson: Doesn't clear the bowl, and you have to flush it again, so that's why it can save you money. Getting a new toilet now. A new toilet. I want you to go out and get something good. Be honest. I would like you to go in. If you're gonna go to the home center, fine, It might be the only place you have, but if you do, I want you to spend two or 300 bucks and get a good name.

[00:13:41] Eric Goranson: They have done so much over the last number of years to catch up, so you can do that. Now, the reason why I don't like a lot of the home center models that are the, the ones that are the off brand or their house brand is that they usually use kind of goofy parts. Many times they're not standard. So by the time, [00:14:00] five or six years down the road, it could be hard to get those replacement parts.

[00:14:32] Eric Goranson: That's typically a flapper problem. So what it is is that that toilet flapper that's at the bottom there, that lets the water down into the bowl, cuz this is all gravity fed. So when you hit the handle, it lifts up the flapper. The flapper floats for a minute for that to go out. And then when it shuts, when the water's low and then the fill valve lets you fill it back up again.

[00:15:17] Eric Goranson: If those brass bolts are corroded, that can be a battle. So at that point, you're buying new bolts, new washers, new fill valve, new whole valve assembly for the flush valve, and you're good to. But at that point I'm starting to think about putting a new toilet in. So something to think about in saving money and uh, with way water is out there, make sure that you're doing it correctly cuz water can cost you a bunch of money right now.

[00:16:09] Eric Goranson: Cuz you could break something. If something breaks, you refund it too much and that valve breaks or it fails. You need to be able to repair that. So it's good to have that water off or at least know where it's gonna be to turn it off. So at the same point, if you're putting a new fill valve or toilet in, make sure you're putting a new hose on there too.

[00:16:48] Eric Goranson: And then the other thing is you have that wax ring down below that seals the bottom of the toilet to the, um, basically to your plumbing system there. So that. Wax ring gets [00:17:00] replaced when you put a new toilet or take it off and put it back on. Now if you take that toilet off and you go, Oh my gosh, that toilet flinn is all busted up, it's rotten.

[00:17:28] Eric Goranson: But that is something to think about. If you can't get that in there, get the right wax ring, you might need an extension depending on how it's located in there. And of course, every time put new bolts on that way you've got that good. So really it's pretty easy to go through and do this stuff. It's just, you know, it's a.

[00:18:09] Eric Goranson: And again, just like anything else, you get what you pay. There are great Bday toilet seats out there, and there are ones that are a hundred dollars or $200 that are not so good and nobody wants cold water in the wintertime when you just want to be comfortable. All right, we come back. We got so much more.

[00:19:07] Eric Goranson: Welcome back to the Around The House Show. This is our home improvement source for you. Thanks for joining us. Well, I've been talking about DIY tips for you guys today, and I wanted to kind of just dive into the basics into more of a basic 1 0 1, taken on projects kind of thing. So first off here we were talking about faucets and then toilets, and then this segment we're gonna talk about some interior painting.

[00:19:53] Eric Goranson: So let's talk about this a little bit now with paint, which is where everybody seems to start, right? You're like, [00:20:00] Okay, I picked out my color, I bow my paint. Let's get after it. Let's talk about that paint. Since it's the, the first thing that gets, it's the pretty part. The people get all hung. Now paint.

[00:20:38] Eric Goranson: For quality paint makes it last so much better. I just painted a wall in my, uh, living room right behind my wet bar there, and I wanted it to go dark and I had fairly white walls, a little bit of cream to it, but pretty white with a egg shell texture on that wall. Uh, just kind of a spray [00:21:00] text that's on there that came from the, you know, it's been seventies when the house was built so you can get an idea.

[00:21:29] Eric Goranson: So it was almost a one coat paint, and if I'd have really taken the time and really focused on it, I could have made that a one coat paint project. Well, I always like to do two coats anyway, but that is something that really makes a difference. Now if you're in an older house. You know, prior to 1990, you need to be careful with what you have on that wall and what you're working with.

[00:22:16] Eric Goranson: And you could buy those 3M test kits right at the store, your paint store. Almost everyone has it. You could wipe it on there and uh, see if it turns red, you go, Uh oh, I got lead paint and I want you to follow the directions on dealing with lead paint. That way nobody's getting sick. It's pretty simple to.

[00:23:00] Eric Goranson: Now, if you're doing something dark, you can go through and tint the primer. A lot of the, you know, primers can be tinted, so you can go on there and get that on there. That is gonna make such a big difference, especially if you had, you know, something that was maybe glossy or a, or even just something that was an eggshell.

[00:23:40] Eric Goranson: Sometimes if it's just to, you know, latex paint and there you can just take a, a sanding pad and just go over it and scuff the top finish. If you've got some little bumps and, and dirt and junk from other previous coats of paint, you know, that's the time that you can go through. I go through and look if I've got any runs or anything like that, or a piece of.

[00:24:21] Eric Goranson: Makes a big differe. All these painting tools will change how you end up doing that job and makes it so much better. I would much rather you go out and buy a brush that will last you a decade than something you're just gonna keep throwing away. Now the rollers, you can buy good rollers and I do buy good rollers, but there is a time where those get worn out and they're good to go as well.

[00:25:07] Eric Goranson: Kitchens are bad for this as well. Because these water based paints, you don't want anything that's gonna repel that water. And the tars and the oils are never good for painting. And so you have adhesion problems. So I recommend going through before you paint, especially if it was a smoker, go through and get that cleaned up, and then a good coat of primer or two, and then hit with the paint.

[00:26:04] Eric Goranson: Now, I've been told by the experts out there that if you want to paint over mold, you want to use this product called Kalel, C A L I W E L. It's an industrial remedi. Coating basically. So what it is, it is kind of like a lime wash in a way that it goes on there and it really is what kills the mold, but it's an anti antimicrobial, anti mold protection, and so it really is good.

[00:26:56] Eric Goranson: That's my secret. Using the kol, it works really [00:27:00] well cuz it uses that calcium hydroxide, which is naturally occurring. So it works really good and, uh, NOx that stuff really well. Do not ever go and use bleach. It's not a great product to use. It's not healthy for you. But really with any painting job that prep.

[00:27:43] Eric Goranson: And, uh, take a look at bathroom paints. There are paints now that you can use in the bathrooms that have, uh, mold blocking properties to them, so things won't grow on it. But if you've got mold someplace back of a closet, you know, any place like that, you have an issue that you need to deal with. So it is [00:28:00] telling you a warning sign in your home that you've got humidity.

[00:28:20] Eric Goranson: That way you've got a healthier home. And who doesn't want to breathe healthy in their own place? All right. We come back so much more around the house just as soon as we

[00:28:47] Intro: You threw my clothes out.[00:29:00]

[00:29:21] Eric Goranson: Some people are just like every one of us that started out, you gotta learn from someplace. So these are some tips here to get you going on projects that maybe you just can't afford to hire out and have somebody do that. You're more than capable of. This segment here, I wanted to talk about flooring because this is one of those things that can be done, but you just have to remember on what you're doing.

[00:30:11] Eric Goranson: It's been super durable, so I can't complain about it. But here are things that I want you to look for. One, I'll be honest, I have not seen great buys at the home centers or some of these big warehouse stores. They're out there, but I don't like the stuff in there because a lot of the things that you see in those aren't that great of a.

[00:30:57] Eric Goranson: Something that glues together or snaps together. [00:31:00] The one material I don't like out there is bamboo. I am not a bamboo flooring fan, and when it first came out in the early two thousands, I did a test on it in my house. It just didn't hold up. After a year, I tore it out and put in something different cuz it just wasn't durable enough.

[00:31:42] Eric Goranson: It's not presswood, but it's something that's really durable with moisture. So those can be very important. Now, here are some things that I want you to think. When you're taking on these projects, a course get a lot more than what you need. Those pieces, the way you use 'em, you have to have a, the ends have to click [00:32:00] together, so you're gonna need more material than you thought.

[00:32:20] Eric Goranson: Now, if it's carpet, you gotta tear it up with the pad, get all the staples outta there, get all the tax strips, and then you have to think about your transitions. I don't like a transition going from room to room more than a half an inch. It's, there's just no excuse for it. If it's anything over a half inch, you need to build something up to get.

[00:33:08] Eric Goranson: Cuz many times, if you've gotta. Flooring in one room and it's transitioning. You need to have a transition strip there. If you're going up against staircase or a step, you need to have a bull nose there. And many times you need to have some other scribe moldings and things like that. So think about those things and how you're gonna do it, cuz that's another key to it.

[00:33:48] Eric Goranson: So if it was carpet, get all the glue and the pad staples, all that stuff up. Get it super clean. Now just take your time and stay your joints. This is where you wanna follow the directions of [00:34:00] the. That way you're good to go. And then plan in where those transition strips are and where those stair bull noses are.

[00:34:28] Eric Goranson: This is where sometimes those transition strips can be good. Now, I don't like doing a lot of transition strips, but sometimes it makes sense because this floor still does move. So read the instructions. Sometimes it'll say it needs quarter three eighths of an inch gap all around the room. And when you come up to doorways, make sure that that goes under that because you're gonna have a really hard time cutting that around the, uh, jam of the door.

[00:35:20] Eric Goranson: You now have to figure out, okay, I need to go into this room and work backwards. And make sure that that matches up with the hallway piece that's going in there, or vice versa. Many times it's just easier and that's what the pros will do. They'll go in there and put a transition strip in those doorways.

[00:35:59] Eric Goranson: [00:36:00] So make sure you have those proper gaps. That is a solid one. Now in basements, I get a little more worried about this stuff because you can have serious problems on a concrete floor and you will get some moisture up through. But what I don't want to happen is to get moisture trapped between that floor and the concrete.

[00:36:46] Eric Goranson: So there's multiple things that might need to happen down there. You might need to put down a, a vapor barrier. You might need to put down some subfloor material that that breathes. There might be some things that you need to do to make sure, because if you're putting down. [00:37:00] This click together flooring and it's got this, you know, vinyl or rubber based pad beneath it.

[00:37:25] Eric Goranson: You can have floor drains that are an issue. So all of these things you need to be careful with. And then when you're getting into bathrooms, it can be interesting as well, cuz you need to get up against the bathtub, for instance. But you're cutting it and so many times you have to leave a gap there and you have to caulk it.

[00:38:00] Eric Goranson: Make sure you get that right and. Make sure you've got the right spaces underneath those door gaps. Sometimes you have to cut doors down if you're doing stuff, if you're going over tile, I have put these over tile before I have installed this stuff over tile, but there comes a point where it's gonna be better to tear it all out and put the new stuff in.

[00:38:45] Eric Goranson: So just be very careful and then take your time, snap this stuff together, make sure every piece is a hundred percent clicked. Because if you let some areas come apart, you're now gonna be tearing it back and re clicking it back in. And that's one of the hardest [00:39:00] things to do is if you get three quarters of the way through it and you go, Oh man, I got a piece over there that started to come apart.

[00:39:21] Eric Goranson: I went quick tune in for the next episode, and thanks again for listening