Happy Independence Day

The Handyguys are taking this week off from our regular podcast to do some independence day celebrating. I hope our non-US fans will understand. So, instead of a podcast The Handyguys decided to play with some new video equipment.

The Handyguys try out a ZTR and a Lawn Tractor style mower to determine the pros and cons of each. This video will give you a preview of what we cover in our next podcast. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the show.

ZTR vs Tractor Mower from Handyguys Podcast on Vimeo.

The recorded podcast, episode 71, will be online at 5PM Eastern Time on July 9th. All comments on the video are encouraged.

First up the electrical tool kit we talk about some key tools for doing electrical work and comment on an article in Fine Homebuilding called An Electrical Tool Kit by Brian Walo.
Fine Homebuilding says (About Brian Walo’s article):

He recommends three electrical testers, a variety of drivers (Phillips head, flat head, nut driver, and Robertson drivers), pliers (side-cutting, crimpers, strippers, end cut, and needle nose), and materials (electrical tape, wire nuts, crimping sleeves, bonding screws, cable clamps, staples, and screws).

Well we discuss what a typical handyguy may want to have and share some of our own favorites in the podcast.
Below are some must haves.

Testers

Well, we think there should be several types of testers. Some simple, some fancier, depending on what you are testing. The three types each have different purposes.
First - A non-contact voltage Tester. This type of tester can tell you if you if a wire is “hot” without needing to remove a wire nut. Its a good first check but many recommend that you also use a true voltage meter to be positive the electric is off before you work on something.
Second - A tester that checks for correct wiring. These are simple devices that you plug into a receptacle and indicator lights tell you if its wired correctly. The one in our kit below also can test GFCIs.
Lastly - A voltage meter - A voltage meter is used to measure the voltage on a particular wire or for testing continuity. It can also test batteries and other low voltage circuits.
This kit from Greenlee includes all three at a good price.
http://astore.amazon.com/handyguys-20/detail/B000FCIMFS

Drivers

Screwdrivers are needed. For electrical work a number of different sizes and styles are needed. The Handyguys and the author of the Fine Homebuilding article all despise “standard” or slotted screwdrivers but they are a necessary part of the process. You couldn’t install a faceplate without one. Many of the older devices only have slotted screw heads. You will need two sizes of slotted, small and medium. Philips is pretty common these days and a decent #2 Philips is probably your most used size. Many of the newest devices use square drive or robertson tips. They give very good positive grip on the screw heads.
This set from Klein http://astore.amazon.com/handyguys-20/detail/B000MKMIH6 is top of the line and wont break the bank. It includes all the sizes you would need except the square drive

The square drive http://astore.amazon.com/handyguys-20/detail/B00093D6YU can be bought separately. This square drive screwdriver also has a little hook right below the handle for bending wire. It really speeds up the job of putting in outlets and switches because you do not need to reach for your pliers to put the bend on the end of a wire you are going to terminate.

Pliers

Get the best pair of “linemans pliers” http://astore.amazon.com/handyguys-20/detail/B0000302W6 you can buy. Cheap ones will dull, chip and generally frustrate you . They are used for many things from cutting, twisting, crimping and pulling.

Strippers - You can strip wire with a pocket knife or even your linemans pliers. A tool dedicated to the task will be easier and faster. http://astore.amazon.com/handyguys-20/detail/B00080DPNQ

Miscellaneous

In the podcast we also go into a lot of other items such as wire nuts, screws, crimps, clamps, staples and so forth. If you want links to any of that just use our contact form and we will get them for you.

Tips

• Have some extra screws handy. 8/32 and 6/32 will be the most common size.
• For fishing wire the author uses a 10′ piece of pex tubing. Read the article for how that works.

When the power goes out.

The music provided at the beginning of this segment is from Mevio’s Music Alley. Check it out at music.mevio.com

When would you use a portable generator and when would you want a standby generator? The Handyguys discuss the options and pros and cons of different types.

Bottom line - when using a portable generator make sure you follow all of the safety rules provided in the owners manual.

In this episode of The Handyguys Podcast we discuss air-conditioning.

Air-conditioning is not something the typical handyguy or girl is familiar with. We turn it on and expect it to work as designed. What can we do if it doesn’t cool? Are there specific things to look for before calling in a pro to troubleshoot?

With high humidity and soaring temperatures this summer, the last thing you want to deal with is a broken air conditioner. But when an old air conditioning system fails, you will be faced with the tough and often expensive decision of whether to repair the existing system or purchase a new one.

Repairs on an existing unit may be the least expensive immediate option, but could cost you more in the long run since older systems tend to break down over and over and consume more energy and drive up cooling bills more than newer systems. However, there are times when simple repairs can prolong the life of an air conditioner, making immediate replacement a less sensible option.

Since the Handyguys are not experts in this area and we want to help you make an educated decision, consider the following tips from Bill Cunningham, a home cooling and energy efficiency expert with Lennox. Bill shares a great deal of wisdom and experience with residential central air-conditioning systems, regardless of who manufactures your system. He suggests homeowners ask the following three questions before making the decision whether to repair or replace:

1. Is the air conditioner on its last leg? Excessive energy consumption and frequent repairs are the trademarks of a worn-out system. If the air conditioner is more than 10 years old, replacing the aging system with a new ENERGY STAR-qualified system can save time, money, and headaches - and keep you cooler and more comfortable in the long run. If the system is less than 10 years old, routine maintenance is almost always the way to go. In fact, an annual check-up can significantly increase the air conditioner’s performance and extend the life of the unit. Listen to the podcast for more information.
2. Are your energy bills going up, up and up? While the cost of electricity is on the rise, an older, less efficient air conditioner may also be the culprit when it comes to high energy bills. By replacing an 8 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) cooling system, which is much less efficient than the current SEER level allowed by law, with a 15 SEER system, homeowners can save approximately 47 percent on energy bills and up to $3,095 over a five-year period. Energy calculators, such as the one available on the Lennox site can help consumers compare the savings of different high-efficiency systems and determine whether to repair or replace an older unit. Listen to the podcast for more information.
3. Did your home feel like a steam room even before the air conditioner stopped working? A poorly operating air conditioner or one that is not properly sized for the home can contribute to excessive humidity. Leaky ductwork can also cause humidity problems. When making the decision to repair or replace, talk with a reputable home cooling contractor about the humidity problem to determine if you need to replace the existing system with one that is the right size for the home or if the issue can be resolved with repairs or duct sealing. Listen to the podcast for more information.

We also discuss with Bill a few things you can check yourself before calling a service tech.

1. Does your thermostat use batteries? Many of the fancier thermostats use batteries. If your batteries are dead your system will not work.
2. Did a breaker trip? Its an easy check and will save you the cost of a service call. Look for a tripped breaker if you have no fan or no cooling. You likely have separate breakers for each.
3. Did someone turn it off? Systems usually have switches for killing the power before service. There will be one near your outside unit as well as near your inside unit. There may also be a switch at the top of your basement stairs or somewhere nearby.

Listen to the podcast for more information.

Don’t forget - If you like this content you can subscribe and get it on your MP3 player or notifications in your email of new shows. You can also follow us on twitter.

The newest generation of synthetc decking looks much more like real wood and has a much longer warranty.

Synthetic Decking Material and a Fiberon Warranty

The Handyguys begin the show by talking about whats new in Synthetic decking. Composites versus PVC. While composite decking appear to be maintenance free, some manufactured decks become marred with mold, staining and deterioration. There are many newer synthetic decking materials that now have long warranties. One such synthetic decking material, with a 10 year warranty, is Fiberon.

Making the decision to choose a synthetic deck versus a real wood deck can be daunting. What is your budget? What look do you want? Can you be careful about not staining the deck with a dropped hamburger or plate of buttered corn?

Listener Question On New Electrical Outlets

We answered a question from  James  regarding adding outlets to front and back porch and attic.

James wrote us Hi guys, love the podcast. I’ve listened to every one so far.

Quick question for you: We got our house last august, a 3 story, brick Victorian that will be 100 years old next year. It’s in surprisingly good shape, the home inspector thought so, and we agreed with him. Our only problem was the electrical system. They still had some active knob and tube wiring in the home and the insurance company refused to insure it until it was updated. The owners agreed to update it to a 100 amp service, we asked about upgrading it to 200 and we would split the difference, but the electrician wanted $2000 extra so we went with the 100 amp.

Anyway to make a long story short (I know, TOO LATE!) There are 3 places where there’s little or no electricity. 2 of the places are on the front and back porches. There are outlets inside the house where I’d want to place outlets on the outside, and from what I understand from reading online, you just (after turning off the electricity) take the outlet out on the inside, drill a hole to the outside, run the wiring, splice it in, mount the box? Sound about right? What size hole would you recommend? Any other thoughts would be welcome.

Third location is in the attic, there’s a light fixture, basically a bulb hanging from a wire, but no outlets. I wouldn’t be running anything heavy duty up there, beside the light, maybe a fan, radio, and/or my son’s slot car track. I was thinking of mounting a junction box onto the wires to the light fixture and then running some surface mount boxes, one on each end of the attic. Any thoughts on this?

I don’t want to end up on one of your “DIY costly mistakes” episodes, so any help and advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Keep up the great work guys!

We discuss Jame’s issue during the show. The one issue James didn’t mention is how much load is on the circuits he wants to extend. If there are not too many outlets on the circuits in question, he can extend the outlets inside the house to he porch as he suggests. A GFCI will be required outside. James could use a surface mount box or a recessed box.

James - Determine if a licensed electrician is required to do the work in your and follow all local codes and permit processes.

For the attic, same issue of not overloading the circuit applies. If you have enough juice, you can certainly add some outlets. However, without more detail about the space (finished or not finished?), it would be difficult for me to provide more explanation. You may need to run wires in conduit if it is exposed to contact/abuse. You may run it by a local electrician to make sure everything is up to snuff.

If James can get a new circuit, wire, back to his new panel then it would be ideal. Same for the porch outlets. Adding a new circuit will ensure you are not overloading anything.

Speaking of GFCIs.

What do you do when retrofitting an older house and the boxes too shallow to fit a GFCI? Well, you could change the box to a bigger one. This can be a challenge when you are trying to avoid damage to plaster, tile or wallpaper. They sell box extenders at the home center. Those box extenders are designed for when you add tile. They are not meant to be seen.

Handyguy Paul found an interesting solution. Extended wall plates. These plates gove you the extra room you need and have a finished look. You can get the in our Amazon Affiliate store.

The Handyguys addressed some methods for adding a GFCI outlet where there is only a shallow electrical box.

The Handyguys start out discussing some tools for Fathers Day. Instead of doing a gift guide we decided to ask our twitter followers ( follow @handyguys ) what they would like us to discuss as a great fathers day gift for a handyguy. One follower said that her husband was eying up the Fein Multimaster 250Q in our store so we decided to devote a segment to this handy tool.

The Multimaster is one of those multipurpose tools that can make you ponder how useful it will be for regular handyguy tasks. Unlike other “space-aged tools” advertised on late night infomercials, this tool is actually a quality product. The multimaster, made in Germany, is extremely well built and solid.  Handyguy Brian used it for his kitchen project to undercut door jambs, plunge cut drywall for electrical boxes, detail sand trim, remove thinset, scrape paint and cut nails.  Believe us, it is a useful tool!

The Fein Multimaster may not be for everyone, its a little expensive at first glance (thankfully Brian’s Dad purchased one for the kitchen work!). Once you find the many uses for it you wont know how you ever did projects without one.

The Handyguys recommend that you get the “Top” kit. The Top kit comes with a nice case to hold all the accessories and a bunch of blades to keep you in business for lots of projects. If you bought all those blades and case separately you would ultimately spend more money them getting them all up front. The case alone makes this kit worth it. My only gripe is that Fein used to provide a steel case and current case is plastic. It appears sturdy and I am sure it will withstand most abuse, still, I would have preferred the steel case. Below is a chart that compares what is in each set.

Purchases made through our Amazon Affiliate store will help keep The Handyguys Podcast on the air. The links in the table below go to the details in our store. Take the plunge, get one for someone special for Fathers Day.

Compare Fein MultiMaster Sets
	FMM 250 Start	FMM 250Q Select	FMM 250Q Top
MULTIMASTER UNIT
MultiMaster FMM250
MultiMaster FMM250Q (w/ QuickIN system)
ACCESSORIES	Accessories with checks are included in respective sets; most accessories can be purchased separately (click on accessory)
Universal 29mm E-CUT saw blade
5 each: sanding sheets (60, 80, 120, 180)
5 each: perforated sanding sheets (60, 80, 120, 180)
Rigid scraper blade
Key and mounting bolts
Sanding pad
Perforated sanding pad
Carbide-tip segment saw blade
HSS segment saw blade
sanding set
Dust extraction device
Carbide rasp (triangular)
Carrying case

The Smart Power Grid

Once the Handyguys got over discussing the Multimaster, we discussed an article in Computerworld magazine about Smart Grid technology. What is a smart grid? The general idea is that your electric meter can act as a gateway for bi-directional data transfer to and from the power company.  What advantages does this have? How about variable electric rates depending on the efficency of a device? How about if the power company sent you details on how much your AC cost to run that hot August day? How about real-time monitoring of usage? The smart grid will be years away if it ever happens. For now, consider the Power Cost Monitor from Blue Line. We discuses the Power Cost Monitor in Episode 42 of The Handyguys Podcast.

The Handyguys begin their show discussing some new green lawn tools. Their conversation was prompted by an article in the Wall Street Journal regarding some new “green” lawn tools written by Gwendolyn (Wendy) Bounds. She even tested out a new battery operated riding mower. Her video is a must view if you are considering one of these.

Certificate of Use Requirements

The Handyguys then discuss the topic of “Certificate of Use”. What’s that? In many townships across the country they are requiring certain safety items to be present in a home before a sale can proceed. Sometimes the upgrades can be difficult, expensive or just a pain.

The Handyguys discuss many of the common elements in a Certificate of Use inspection. This inspection is not to be confused with a code inspection that may be required during a major remodel. Below is some language from a typical requirements document from a local township.

Minimum Life Safety Requirements

1. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (G.F.C.I’s) receptacles are required for receptacles located in bathrooms, powder rooms, garages, outside receptacles, vicinity of pools, saunas etc. and in kitchens where the receptacles are within six (6) feet of the waters edge of the sink. A receptacle with a single yolk that is dedicated for an appliance need not have a GFCI installed.
2. Smoke detectors are to be installed, in working order, in each bedroom, in the vicinity of the bedrooms and each floor of the dwelling including basements. In a split-level dwelling without an intervening door between adjacent levels, smoke detectors are required in the vicinity of the bedrooms and the lower level that is one story below the upper level. If an intervening door exists between adjacent levels, a smoke detector shall be installed on each level.
3. At least one operable carbon monoxide detector shall be installed in the hallway in the vicinity of the bedroom area of the dwelling.
4. For dwellings equipped with a fire suppression or sprinkler system, the applicant shall provide documentation that the system has been inspected and certified within the past 12 months by a certified inspection agency.
5. Sidewalks, driveway aprons and curbs must be in good condition. Out of level, fragmented or otherwise deteriorated sidewalks, driveway aprons and curbs must be removed and replaced. Patching shall not be permitted.
6. House numbers must be affixed on the outside of the dwelling so that they are visible from the street. The house numbers must be three and one half (3 ½) inches in height.

Sanitary Sewer Infiltration Prevention

1. Sump pumps and floor drains are to be discharged to the exterior of the dwelling. Sump pumps and floor drains connected to the sanitary sewer are illegal and must be corrected.
2. Roof drains and yard drains shall not be connected to the sanitary sewer.
3. The sewer lateral curb trap vent pipe must be six (6) inches above grade and have a secure vent cap or box. If the curb trap vent pipe is not exposed, the vent pipe must be located, raised and installed with a Philadelphia Regulation vent box. In the event that t curb trap vent cannot be located, the applicant shall obtain a registered plumber to provide documentation that the curb trap vent could not be located.

A finished kitchen remodel done by Brian.

The Handyguys Brian & Paul discuss a DIY kitchen remodel.

Some of the topics discussed in this podcast:

• Planning
• Skills
• Tools
• Timeline
• Budget
• When to bring in a professional

Listen to the podcast for details and enjoy the before and after pictures. The first three are before pictures. The rest are after. Click on any image for a full size view.

Do you need to bend sheet metal? A "Brake" is the right tool foor the job. Click image to see full size.

In this show we address a couple of listener questions about mower blades and metal brakes and then talk about another expensive DIY mistake.

First up is a question from David:

Do you guys have or know of any plans for a DIY metal brake? I need to cover the sills of my home windows, and would like to have a brake to bend the aluminum nicely myself.

Thanks, David

David, we are not familiar with any decent DIY brake plans. A brake is a specialized tool for bending metal. There is certainly no better tool for covering your sills with metal flashing. We recommend that you try and borrow one or rent this tool. A brake requires some practice but once you get the hang of it you can make some nice capping for your window sills and trim.

We also got this question from Vishal:

What tools do you need to loosen/tighten a lawn mower’s blade?

Short answer - a wrench. Is that really the question though? The Handyguys discuss how to keep the blade from spinning when you remove the bolt and how to apply a little more leverage if the bolt is stuck. Also why do we remove a mower blade anyway? Blades require sharpening, balancing and outright replacement from time to time.

We covered sharpening blades and other basic tuneup tips in Episode 14, give it a listen.

Expensive DIY Mistakes

The Handyguys discuss another expensive DIY mistake

Whats the mistake? Paying twice. Why would you pay twice? If you underestimate your abilities, do a job poorly, and need to pay a pro to come in and do it correctly. Perhaps the mistake is really not knowing your abilities. The handyguys discuss how to avoid this costly mistake.

For this and more, give a listen to the podcast.

This unique, high quality, floor was installed by Handyguy Brian. Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys tackle hard wood flooring.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. They specialize in procuring the worlds most beautiful woods. With a virtually unlimited palette of colors and figures in native American as well as imported species, they can use the warmth and radiance of real woods to customize your interior projects

Steve asked:

Hey Handyguys… awesome shows.  I am planning to replace my carpets on the first floor of my house with hard wood flooring.  However, when I began to research hard wood flooring I learned that there are many kinds of “hard wood” flooring.  There are laminate floors, pre-finished floors, pre-engineered hardwoods and traditional solid hardwood planks.  And then there are laminate floors that use “fake” wood.  Please let me know what kind of wood flooring I should use on the first floor of my house including the kitchen.

There are many choices in wood flooring especially since resellers are marketing wood from all over the world.

Your floors should be flat, clean and stable before installing hardwood. Listen to the podcast for an overview of the install process.

Let’s define your choices:

Laminate flooring.  Several companies make laminate flooring that is uses particle board (or similar) as a base and then a top layer that is not necessarily wood.  It is made to look like wood.  This flooring is generally put down in sections that are glued or snapped together.

Brian does not like this flooring for reasons that may surprise you. Listen to the podcast to find out why.

Engineered flooring.  This flooring typically uses a plywood base with a layer of real wood on the top.  This wood has some benefits for installation and stability and can have a tough finish.  It can be pricey though.

Traditional Hard wood flooring.  This is typically 3/4″ thick.  You have lots of choices from around the globe.  The installation will require a nailer and you have a choice between non-finished and pre-finished.

So what kind of floor should the handyguy purchase and install? And how do you install it?  Listen to the podcast for our recommendations.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. The images below are just a few of their customers floors. Click on the banner to visit their site and contact them if you want hardwood floors. Click each image to see a larger view.

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

Costly DIY Mistakes and Listener Questions

First off - The Handyguys welcome listeners from RFC Radio and give them a brief background on The Handyguys.

Costly DIY Mistakes

Having to pump water from a finished basement is a costly mistake

This week we talk about the most costly mistake a DIYer can make when finishing a basement—not taking care of potential water issues before finishing your basement. Water can damage your belongings and your newly finished wall and flooring and can cause mold, rot and decay. The Handyguys provide some tips to ensure your basement will stay dry. Even if you are not finishing your basement, check out the podcast tips and keep your basement dry!

Ideally, water penetration is prevented from the outside of your foundation wall. The most common contributor of a damp or wet basement is improper grading around your house. If the ground around your house slopes toward your house then water will likely find its way into your basement. Fix the grading and you can prevent most water problems. Another common contributor to water in the basement are short downspouts that empty water to close to the foundation. You should extend your downspouts at least four feet to six feet from your house.

Listener Questions

Broken Window

The Handyguys then address a question left as a comment on our show about window repair.

Bonnie Writes:

Randomly exploding windows? What could be going on? Listen to the podcast for some discussion about the problem.

Hi, My husband and I have been searching the net looking for an answer. Our home has vinyl windows they are probably at least 15 yrs. old. So this year in the last 4 months they have started to literally explode. So far 4 of them. We were actually home when one went tonight, it sounded like an explosion, we thought someone threw a brick at our house. After looking around sure enough it had happened again. We can’t figure this out. They are double pane, argon gas filled. No real pattern, sometimes its the inside pane (1) and sometimes the outside pane (3). Can you by any chance tell us whats going on? I am going to call the insurance agent tomorrow but I don’t know if they will cover something like this. any ideas would be most appreciated.

Thank you Bonnie

The Handyguys address this very odd issue and give some suggestions for Bonnie. Listen to the podcast for details.

HE Furnace Vent

Another fan write us ad asked about critters getting into the vents for their new High Efficiency furnace.

Diane Wrote:

Just had a 95% high efficient furnace installed with the vent going out the side of my home (PVC pipe).

My concern is that a small animal could crawl into it?

Should it have some sort on grate on it? It is only @ 2 feet from the ground.

Thanks!

Diane - The way your vents are installed is normal. We do have some suggestions if critters become an issue or you are concerned. Listen to the podcast for details and discussion.

Dryer vent Discussions

The Handyguys wrap up the show with a brief discussion of dryer vent cleaning. This should be an additional item for our Spring Home Inspection Checklist that was discussed during show 57. Do you clean your dryer vents? Any tips you would like to share with other listeners? Leave a comment.

The Handyguys are interviewed by a local Ohio Newspaper.

The Handyguys were interviewed by Joy Brown from the The Courier in Findlay Ohio. We recorded the interview and turned it into a podcast.

Some of the topics covered in the interview:

• Spring repairs
  • Gutters, repair or replacement
  • Shingles
• Spring Time Home Inspection
  • Check out the home inspection checklist as part of Episode 57
• Are you ready for a DIY project?
  • Do you have the right skills?
  • Have you helped someone else with your particular project?
  • What resources do you have? Tools? Money? Time?
  • Are you ready to DIY was also discussed in regards to basements in Episode 16
• Background on Handyguys Podcast
  • How we got started
  • Where we learned what we learned
  • Some of our most successful projects
  • Some of our project failures
• Some other online resources
  • Tile - John Bridge
  • Plumbing - Terry Love
  • Electrical - EZ DIY Electricity
  • Woodworking - The Wood Whisperer

You can check out the article written By Joy Brown after the interview here http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2009/Apr/19/ar_news_041909_story3.asp

Thanks for listening. We will be back next week with more home improvement advice. As always, if you have any questions about you home just let us know.

We are spending time with family and friends and enjoying our week off.

We would like to take time to thank our listeners and subscribers, those that have patronized our store, and those companies that have sponsored various episodes and parts of the site. Without all of us working together this site would not be possible. Thanks!

We will take this opportunity to provide a few tips for getting the most out of our site.

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Search - You can use the search box in the upper right part of the page to search for a show that may be of interest.

Sponsorships - If you have a company or product you would like featured at The Handyguys Podcast please let us know. We can be reached via email or with our contact form. For the benefit of our subscribers, we are selective about what sponsorships we will accept.

Twitter - Something new for us is twitter. If you are a twitter user you can follow us, ask us a question, or just chat using twitter. We will notify you of new episodes and you will be part of any conversations going on with The Handyguys at twitter. Follow @handyguys or go here http://twitter.com/Handyguys to follow us.

OK - That’s it. We will have more great shows after Easter.

The Handyguys discuss how to prepare your home when it is not in use!

Brian and Paul first answer a question they received from Greg:

Our home is about a year and a half old, and we have a problem with a smoke detector.  This particular detector is in the center of the downstairs area of the house, and directly above it is a carpeted hallway. All of the detectors in the house are fed by 120vAC with 9V battery backup.  They are also networked, for lack of a better term - when one alarms, they all alarm.
The problem detector seems to have a false alarm whenever someone vacuums the carpet directly above it, when one of the cats is rolling around on the carpet above it, or when someone is dragging their feet on the carpet above. I’ve never heard of anything like this before with a smoke detector, but it seems to me that static electricity is causing some kind of interference.  Is there any way I can insulate or shield the detector without ripping apart a ceiling or floor? I’ve performed tests on the detector every 4-6 months, and it always functions properly then.

This is a very interesting question.  Could the problem be caused by static electricity?  If so, how is that occurring?  The Handyguys discuss this and offer some troubleshooting techniques. Also, if you need a new Smoke Detector there are some great deals in our Amazon store.

Have a worry free vacation by making sure you home will be as you left it.

What to do when you leave your house for Vacation?

Many of us enjoy a good vacation away from home at least once each year.  If we are fortunate, we have a trusted friend keep an eye on our property.  Even better, we have a house sitter live in the home to keep it operational.  But for the rest of us, we have to leave the house vacant and hope that the pipes do not burst.  And while we are gone, we don’t want to have to pay to heat or cool the place… or do we?

The Handyguys discuss important matters to consider when you leave for vacation. The season and climate of your home effects how your prepare your house when you leave. In addition, different types of HVAC systems have different requirements when left untended.

What if you are taking an extended vacation or leaving for a month or more? Listen to The Handyguys, follow their advice and have a happy, worry free less worry, vacation.

Feel free to send us a postcard or tell us where you are going on vacation this year in the comments.

Knobs, switches and valves

The Handyguys provide an operations manual for your home.

When you buy a new piece of cool electronic gear, you get an owners manual that you can refer to when you need help.  Unfortunately, your house—the biggest purchase you may ever make—doesn’t come with a manual. The Handyguys discuss all the typical switches, valves, knobs and buttons you may find in your home.  Disaster can be averted by reviewing the location and operation of all of these devices.  An ounce of prevention will prevent a 8000 pounds of water leaking out of your toilet!

Since you don’t have a home owners manual, you can listen to our mini audio manual.

Some of the items discussed in this podcast:

• Shutoff valves (know where they are and make sure you can turn them!)
• Washer valves
• GFCI outlets
• Furnace on/off switch
• Main water shut-off
• Electrical
  • Breakers
  • Fuses
• Radon mitigation status indicator
• Gas valves
• Other items

If you have any questions about any mysterious switches, valves, buttons please let us know.

The Handyguys provide a Springtime house inspection checklist  which you can download free of charge!

Follow this Bungalow's restoration at http://stuccohouse.blogspot.com/

Winter can be tough on houses so the beginning of the spring season is a perfect occasion to give your house an annual inspection. Check your house top to bottom, outside to inside, and look for things to add to your Honey Do List. Preventative maintenance will save money on costly repairs down the road.

The Handyguys start their inspection outside. First the roof, then grading, windows, doors, and painted surfaces. Look for anything out of place. Then move inside - start upstairs and move through to the basement. Along the way you will check out bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen and then the basement.

Click on this image to download the checklist!

The attached document can be printed out and used as a checklist when doing your home inspection. This document is geared for a springtime inspection, but it can be used any time you want to give your house a quick once over.

Listen to the podcast before you conduct your inspection as the Handyguys Brian & Paul discuss each item on the checklist and add their commentary.

Alternatively, you can always hire a home inspector if you have concerns about the condition of your house.  Check out our show about professional home inspectors

If you have any additions for the checklist please comment. We will update the checklist periodically. If you find this useful, please consider sharing it with others. You can also click here http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/downloads/SpringInspection.pdf to download the checklist

Lastly, you can follow us on Twitter if that’s your thing. We are @handyguys and we will tweet when we are about to record our show.  We are using twitter to answer questions, solicit show ideas, notify listeners of new shows and possibly other things once we figure out how to best utilize twitter for our fans.

Thanks for you support.

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

Paul Mackie from the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association is our guest on this episode

The Handyguys discuss deck materials with Paul Mackie who represents the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.  Whether you are interested in Cedar or not, the Handyguys have a great discussion with Mr. Cedar about lumber selection for your new deck.

www.wrcla.org

It is a great time of year to start planning the new deck you hope to build.  There are some great deck planning sites to help you estimate costs and material  such as the design tool at www.wrcla.org.

If you are planning a new deck, you want to check out this podcast.  Mr. Cedar and the Handyguys discuss the basics of Deck materials with a focus on framing materials, ledger boards and various wood decking products.

Mr. Cedar runs down some of your general options for wood decking in order of cost:

• Treated Lumber
• Knotty western red cedar
• Exotic Hardwoods (such as Ipe)

The Handyguys put the second half of the interview on hold for next week. We wrap up by talking about different deck finishes ans stains.

Stains

Deck stains & sealers come in three varieties: transparent sealer, semi-transparent and solid color. The more color (pigment) the stain has the more UV protection it will provide. The less pigment the less UV protection but more of the natural wood will show. Some transparent products have UV inhibitors in the mix. They should provide longer protection.

Do not hesitate to mix things up. How about a deck with a transparent stain on the surface and a solid color railing? That could be an interesting look.

This is part 1 of our interview with Mr. Cedar. Part 2 is next week. You may also want to check out our show from last Spring on Deck care. We may continue to do more posts on decks as our own deck projects progress. Don’t forget to subscribe so you do not miss a show.

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.

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 upgrade their faucet hardware and provide videos to prove it!

Paul installed the Grohe Arden

Many weeks ago we promised to talk about faucet installation. Brian recently installed a great Price Pfister Ashfield for his powder room.  Paul installed a Grohe Arden mini set in his master bathroom.

But  before we can talk about basic plumbing and installing fixtures, we have some other matters to address.

Handyguys Video?

Both Brian and Paul filmed their installation to provide an overview of a faucet upgrade.  If you have not installed a faucet before, we hope these videos will be helpful.  We are going to include links to both videos.  While the videos are similar, we produced them in slightly different ways.  The intent of both videos is to quickly show each step of the process.  In Handyguy Brian’s video, he narrates each step,  but in Paul’s video we just use text to explain the steps.

These are really just sample videos.  Neither sound or video quality is very good. We are looking for your feedback. We would like to know if you value videos like this and how you might view and utilize such media.  Remember, these videos are just prototypes.  If we decide to continue with regular video, we will probably upgrade the quality.  So please let us know what you think, after watching both videos, by answering the questions in our short survey. Thanks.

Grohe Faucet Installation from Handyguys Podcast on Vimeo

Price Pfister Faucet Installation from Handyguys Podcast on Vimeo.

After watching the two videos, please take our survey.

Grohe and Price Pfister Installation

Brian installed the Price Pfister Ashfield in his powder room.

In this week’s podcast, The Handyguys discuss the process of upgrading faucet hardware. Brian talks about his beautiful and stylish Price Pfister Ashfield faucet in rustic bronze. It is a faucet that looks like an old well pump.  Not only is it stylish, but it is solid and works great with just one hand! In addition, this is a a “watersense” faucet which means that it saves 30% water which protects the environment and saves you money!

The Handyguys talk about the water sense program.  You can find more info here:   http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ The bottom line is that a home with watersense faucets can save a significant amount of water. The Handyguys hope to analyze this water savings in a future show to find out exactly how much is actually saved in their homes with watersense faucets.

Paul also installed a water sense faucet, but his faucet comes from Grohe.  His Grohe Arden faucet is a solid and sleek addition to his master bathroom.  You can learn about Grohe’s amazing line of products at http://www.groheamerica.com/.  Don’t expect to see their products at the big box store though as they are only sold at local plumbing distributors or through special order. Fortunately, it seems that many plumbing suppliers carry Grohe and you can also find their parts on the Internet. Check out Grohe’s site for local distributors.

Brian and Paul determine that most handyguys can handle this project with only a few tools and a few supplies. You will need an adjustable wrench, channel lock pliers and possibly a basin wrench.  You will also need some supplies such as plumbers putty or pipe dope and some braided hose. Listen to the podcast for more details.

The faucet upgrade is not a difficult job but it does require some patience and some agility to work with all the connections on the drain, stopper and supply lines.  Hopefully the Handyguys’ discussion of their installs will give you the confidence to upgrade your sinks as well!

Survey

Click HERE to take the survey or alternatively, copy and paste the following URL into any web browser:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jtaPUTKWr2N_2fg0wGqcMEUQ_3d_3d

For other shows on saving energy click here

Can Brian succinctly answer 10 unrelated questions in a single episode?

Did you know you can click on any of our pictures for a full size view?

Listen to the podcast to find out!

In this episode, Paul pulls 10 questions from our listeners and forums around the Internet.   It is Brian’s job to provide brilliant answers in the space of one episode.  Some of these questions are from the Yahoo Answers site which features lots of Q&A forums.  These are questions that Brian has answered previously, but now Brian must regurgitate these answers again “live” on the podcast.  Paul will not allow any stalling.

Perhaps some of these questions pertain to issues you have around the house.

Here our the 10 Questions for Handyguy Brian.  Listen to the Podcast for the answers.

Q1  Steve has a problem with a corner kitchen cabinet where the supply water lines leaked.  It ruined the bottom/floor of the cabinet and caused the particle board to swell up making an uneven surface.  The bottles of dishwasher soap keep falling over.  What is the solution?

Listen to the podcast for some solutions!

Q2  What to do about household smells?  Matt asks the Handyguys about a strange smell that awakes him 2-3 times per year at around 2AM.  It smells like burning rubber.  Matt checked all the appliances and can’t figure out where the smell is coming from.  The smell eventually dissipates on its own.  How can Matt determine the cause of this smell?

Any suggestions from our listeners? Listen to the show for some ideas.

Q3  Upon flushing the toilet, the commode shoots water up on the seat!  The toilet is 10-15 years old.  What is causing this?

Yikes - Paul chimes in on this one.

Q4  How do I get red clay stains off of a concrete bench?

You can click the play button for an answer. Better yet, subscribe to the show so you don’t mis an episode.

The Handyguys will take your questions via the phone at (615) 676-0877. Leave an email address if you want an immediate and direct response.

Q5  How many rolls of wallpaper would it take to cover one wall that is 20 feet long and of average height?

Math questions - we hate math questions but do have an answer..

Q6  Is there a big window sticker that I can stick on a clear window to make it blur?

Hint:  Check out our episode #7.

Q7  We laid Pergo laminate flooring a couple years ago but now it is buckling in a few places because we did not leave enough space around the outside to allow for expansion.  How can we cut around the edge of the floor that is already laid?

Tools - you need the right tool for the job. Listen to find out why a Fien Multimaster may be your best bet.

Q8  What should I do about condensation on the inside of the refrigerator?  It is not very old.  What could be causing this?

Answer to the question in the podcast.

Q9  How do I get started in wood working?

Hint:  Check out the Wood Whisperer at www.thewoodwhisperer.com

Q10  Could someone help me choose a good power screwdriver?  It will be used mainly for drywall and some light wood use.  Cost should be between $40-$80.

Lots of good choices. Maybe the Bosch mentioned on our drill comparison show.

Paul then asks a bonus question at the end of the show.  Check out the podcast for details.

On next week’s show, the Handyguys finally get around to installing their new faucets!  Brian and Paul video their respective installations. Brian installed a Price Pfister faucet on his powder room sink.  Paul plans to install his new Grohe faucet on his master bathroom sink.  Every step of this process will be detailed in next week’s episode.

The Handyguys are sick of snow.  Is it time to purchase a new power tool?

If you live anywhere north of the Mason Dixon Line, you are probably fed up with the snow and ice that covers our sidewalks and driveways.  For the handyguy budgeting for his or her next power tool, a snow blower may be on your mind.  But is a snow blower really the next power tool you want to add to your tool arsenal?  Evidently many folks around the country think so as the sales of snow blowers are on the rise according to Wendy Bounds of the Wall Street Journal.  Paul enjoyed reading a pair of articles she wrote recently in his favorite newspaper.  Wendy provides a review of several models and outlines the basic varieties of blowers.

Neither Brian nor Paul own a snow blower, and they are as overwhelmed as anyone by all the choices.  Should a handyguy purchase a smaller electric shovel which may remove a few inches of snow, or would a two stage godzilla model be the head turner that is desired?  In order to sort this out, the Handyguys interview Wendy Bounds who has tested a small fleet of snow blowers for her WSJ review.  As you will find out in this podcast, Bounds has plenty of driveway to give these machines a workout.

The Handyguys and Wendy discuss how the snow blower in every garage effects the very social fabric of our society.  Do these machines put the squeeze on local neighborhood youth with an entrepreneurial spirit?

For more information listen to the podcast!

To check out Wendy’s articles in the Wall Street Journal, please visit her blog.

Wendy also did a great video showing her testing the snowblowers.

Thanks Wendy for the interview!

The Handyguys suspect that a lot of handguys would love to own a table saw.  But, is this a tool that the average handyguy should own?  Brian and Paul discuss whether this tool should be included in your toolkit workshop.

The issue of table saws was brought up by Bill, a regular listener

I am just getting into woodworking and am looking to build a T.V. Cabinet and a wall sized bookcase.  I know, when I do something, I go all out.  I have all of the other tools that I need except a table saw.  So, I am looking for a good Table Saw recommendation at around the $400 price range.
Thanks and keep up the great show!

Bosch Portable Table Saw

Before we answer Bill’s question, the Handyguys would like to take this time to address the whole issue of table saws and the handyguy.  Is this a tool that the average handyguy needs?  Sure… we would all love to have one, but is it a necessary expense?  The truth is that many handyguys do not have room for a table saw and many fix-it jobs around the house do not require a table saw.  Furthermore, if you need to rip a board (cut it lengthwise), you can make a guide or jig for your circular saws to make a safe rip.

So, unless you are going to be doing some serious woodworking and/or cabinetmaking, you may not require the functionality of a table saw.  Try using a friend’s saw in the few circumstances that require this beast of a tool.

Is renting an option when you need a table saw?  The Handyguys address this issue during their “Buy, Borrow or Steal” segment.  The problem with renting is that you are normally limited to table top, portable or light weight contractor saws.  You will not be able to rent a heavier cabinet saw.  In addition, the handyguy may only require making a few quick cuts with a table saw which makes renting an expensive option.  As always, listen to the show for more details.

If you require your own table saw, you should understand the basic types of saws and determine how are you going to use the saw.  Is portability important or is precision the highest priority.  The portable table top saws can be had for less then $500 and for as low as $100.  Beware of the cheaper saws because they often have fences that do not work well (to say the least).  The Handyguys discuss this in more detail on the show.

Jet contractor saw

A step up to the portable table top or lightweight saw is the contractor saw.  This saw has a more solid fixed base and a heavier aluminum or cast iron top.  It is heavier and more powerful.  You can move it but it may require the strength of two handyguys.  This saw is intended for the pro contractor and makes a handy addition to the job site.  Many handyguys will use this variety of table saw for their stationary workshop.  The contractor saw has some downsides because it lacks the power and dust collection ability of a higher end cabinet saw.

Grizzly cabinet saw

The next level of saw used to be a cabinet saw, but now there is a class of saw called a “hybrid.”  This saw has an enclosed base like a cabinet saw but uses the motor and mechanisms of a contractor saw to keep the price down. The cabinet provides some of the weight and stability of a cabinet saw but the hybrid does not have the power and features of a full cabinet saw.

The cabinet saw is the king of the table saws.  It starts at about $1000 and can scale up to several thousands of your hard earned cash.  Typically the cabinet saws have 3HP and above motors and require 220 voltage.

Once you get a table saw, you must learn how to tune the saw and use it safely.  You can get some great tips on table saw usage at www.thewoodwhisperer.com.  Check out all of his videos, including this one on table saw safety:  http://thewoodwhisperer.com/episode-51-tablesaw-experience/

The Wood Whisperer is a great site to learn about woodworking

Oh, getting back to Bill’s question.  The Handyguys don’t forget to answer it.  They also discuss looking for a used table saws and the new Sawstop technology.

Please listen to the podcast for all the details on Table Saws.

The Handyguys love their tools. Check out our other shows where we talk about tools!

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.

The Handyguys address carpet padding removal and  dangerous household Tools

Happy 2009!  The Handyguys are back from hiatus and ready to address another year of handyman Handyguy topics.  We have new voice-over talent, new music and a new look to the website.  We also have a clean studio (thanks Brian!) and we are ready to go.  So pour another single malt and let’s get started.

Listener Questions

A  question came from David:

I was wondering if you had any advice for removing carpet padding from Hardwood floors.  I recently bought a home with carpet over nice oak floors.  Pulled up carpet to find green carpet pad had solidified into a rock hard plastic and was fused to the hardwood floor.  In some areas where it was more of a dry Styrofoam consistency and was easily scraped up. However, the majority is rock hard, and scraping is not an easy task. Any advice would be helpful. I have scoured the Internet, and most advice I have found has not worked.  I think that most advice has been geared toward people who have carpet padding that has turned into a gooey mess.  Mine is rock hard. I tried a power sander with 80 grit, and that worked, but at such slow pace that it would take weeks to remove it all.

Handyguys Answer

Why did our parents cover up those beautiful Oak floors anyway?  I guess there are benefits to carpet but it sure is nice to see some wood.

Handyguy Brian suggests that David try some power sanders  meant for refinishing floors with various levels of grit.  Perhaps a heavy orbital edging sander or a larger drum sander could remove the padding which became attached to the wood flooring.  Listen to the Podcast for more details.

Most people have different sorts problems when removing carpet padding.  Typically, the the most difficult problems are removing the tack strips and all the staples used to attach the pad to the floor.  If you have harder floors such as oak, you can typically remove the protruding staples with pliers or vice grips.  If your flooring is pine or some other softer variety, the staples often penetrate the flooring leaving nothing to grab with the pliers.  People often try to dig out each staple with a screw driver, but this can take all day, especially if you have hundreds of staples to remove.  Listen to the Podcast for a better suggestion by Handyguy Paul.

A Discussion of the Dangers of Everyday Handyguy Tools

Brian and Paul have spilled some blood when working around the house.  You might think that they were injured on large and powerful tools like a chainsaw or tablesaw.  While these tools are very dangerous, it is sometimes the more common tools around the house that will draw the most blood.  Check out this discussion in the podcast and stay safe in your home!

If you have any suggestions of dangerous tools around the house not mentioned in the podcast, please leave a comment.

We will be back next week with another a follow-up to our basement finishing series.

The Handyguys Review “Home Movies”

Home movies? Yes, movies about your home. As we wind down what has been a great first year for The Handyguys Podcast we decided we would take a break from working on our Honey Do List and watch a couple of movies. Listen to the podcast for our complete review and comments.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

First up is Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House. This is an older movie. One of Handyguy Brian’s favorites. It follows Cary Grant, as Mr. Blandings, in his quest to get out of his small Manhattan apartment and into his dream house. Some of the funny aspects are because of what things cost in the 40s versus today, it adds a dimension to the film that didn’t exist when it was first released.

 Brian’s Favorite Scene from Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House

Money Pit

The second movie we discuss is Money Pit with Tom Hanks and Shelly Long. This movie contains a similar plot to Mr. Blandings. A Young couple moves to the country and buy a house without careful evaluation and inspection. If its too good to be true then it probably is… This movie follows the young couple in their quest to fix up the old house, and their relationship. The crazy antics of Hanks and the contractors make this a pretty funny movie.

Paul’s Favorite Scene from Money Pit

You should be able to get these movies before Christmas if you order soon. You can buy them in our Amazon Affiliate Store and help support The Handyguys Podcast. Buy Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House by clicking here and buy Money Pit by clicking here.Additionally - Don’t forget to check out our Stocking Stuffer episode for some unusual ideas for the handyperson in your life.The Handyguys will be taking a break for Christmas and the new year. We will return in January with a batch of new shows, some improvements to the site and maybe a few surprises. Stay tuned, subscribe and share The Handyguys Podcast with your friends. Our next show will be online on January 8th. Until then have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The Handyguys take a listener question about attic venting then talk about air compressors and air tools

First up - A question from Natalie

I live in an 1957 government built home that has a lot of open areas at the bottom of the roof, but none on the top. There is an open space at the bottom of each board that forms the roofline, but no openings anywhere else. I would like to know if I shoudl add two vent openings at the top of the peak, one at each end of the roof? And do you have any recommendations as to what kind?

Thanks, and love your show!
Natalie

Natalie - This is a very timely question. For the benefit of our subscribers our response went as follows:

Natalie - Thanks for contacting The Handyguys! Attic venting is a key factor in extending the lifespan of your roof, keeping summer cooling bills lower and preventing ice dams in winter. The best time to address venting is when you install a new roof. From your description it sounds like you have only soffit vents. Ideally you should have soffit vents in conjunction with a ridge vent or gable vents. First off, make sure you do not have insulation blocking the soffit vents.

Where you go next will depend on the age of the roof. If you will need a roof in the next couple of years I would wait and install a ridge vent at the same time you install a new roof. If the roof is in good shape and you want to upgrade your venting then you have two options.

Option 1 - Install

a ridge vent. This will involve cutting a slot in the peak (ridge) of your roof. A special vent is then installed over the slot to keep out water and allow rising air to escape. Some types of ridge vents are shingled over, some are purely aluminum. I like the looks of the ones that you shingle over. The aluminum only ones are easier to install. One type that you shingle over is a thick mesh that just rolls out over the cut opening in the ridge and then cap shingles are installed over that.

Here is the rolled option that you shingle over. You would need that, in a sufficient length, plus new cap shingles. If you want details on installing that please let us know.

Here is the type you just nail on

Option 2 - Install gable vents. These go in each gable end wall. They install much like a window. You would need to cut a hole for the size of vent you choose. These vents come in aluminum, vinyl, wood and composites. Many sizes, shapes, styles and colors are available.

Here is one example of a gable vent. With this we would need to know the type of siding you have before we could know what else you may need to install it.

Lastly - Please keep in mind. If you have a low slope, not steep, roof you cannot safely install a ridge vent and not expect leaks. Your only choice for a low slope roof is a gable vent.

Feel free to let us know if you have additional questions and feel free to send along some pictures.

And Natalie’s follow-up:

You guys are awesome!

I will take some pics and send. I need to repair the roof now, and am looking at putting on metal roof maybe next year, at which time I will put in ridge vent, but for now gable vents are what I need I think for the winter. The attic gets HOT even in the winter and I have a bad problem with icicles.. until I get the new roof, at which point I will get the ridge vent.. would I then have TOO much venting with the ridge and the gable vents?

I live in Los Alamos New Mexico at 7400′ elevation, in a house built by the government for the folks at Los Alamos National Lab in 1957. Last year we put in 20 additional rolls of unfaced insulation in the attic, and we made sure not to block the openings at the end of the roof - the soffit vents. There sure are a lot of them.

I believe the house is not really sided, per se… more like what is covering up the studs is wood panels with decorative boards, I am not sure of what it is called. I will make sure to get it in the pics.

I have a pretty good pitch for the roof, but be sure not to laugh at my solar panels - from the 70’s, which only blow hot air and still work to heat the house when it is sunny!

Thanks again,

Natalie

You can hear The Handyguys discussing attic venting in the podcast.

Next up - The Handyguys Discuss compressors and air tools

There are many choices of compressors as well as air tools. A key consideration in choosing a compressor is will it have enough air to handle the particular tool. The new Campbell Hausfeld Impact Wrench and Air Ratchet have made determining if you have enough air power easy. They have an easy to read guide right on the package. If the size of your compressor is in the red zone you cannot use the tool, if its in the yellow zone you can use it intermittently, if its in the green zone you are good to go.

Speaking of Campbell Hausfeld Impact Wrench and Air Ratchets - Campbell Hausfeld has come up with some unique packaging. Their new package will not only hold the tool but will hold some accessories as well. If you are looking for an impact wrench or ratchet make sure you check out Campbell Hausfeld.

The Handyguys also talk about what is new in compressors. The Handyguys really like their portable compressors. Paul uses a Makita MAC700. We talked about that compressor in Episode 5. The nice thing about the MAC700 is its light weight and very quiet. The downside is it will not be capable of driving the ratchet or impact wrench.

If you want additional air capacity yet not sacrifice the weight you may want to consider the new aluminum tank compressors from Maxus. Additionally, aluminum tanks do not rust. When air is compressed any moisture in the air will accumulate in the air tank. If you do not drain your tank it will eventually rust. Aluminum tanks do not have this downside. You still want to drain your tank to keep excess moisture out of your tools though. But again, make sure your compressor has enough capacity for the tool at hand. Many small portable contractor compressors will not have enough volume to support an impact wrench or ratchet. Campbell Hausfeld has a buyers guide for compressors. Check it out here and listen to the podcast for additional details.

Lastly - Please do not forget to check out our stocking stuffer guide for that DIYer on your shopping list.

The Handyguys discuss some innovative tools and interview a tool inventor.

This show features some innovative tools. You may want to consider them for Christmas gifts for the handy person on your gift giving list.

First off, check out our Handyguys Stocking Stuffer List

Then we interview the “Handsome Handyman”

Jake Tyson, he goes by “The Handsome Handyman”. Jake tells us how he invented a new hammer and started a tool company, Redback Tools. Jake started with the Hammer which has a unique curved shaft and a nice grip. The curved shaft doesn’t effect the balance yet allows for hammering in odd spots. The grip, in conjunction with he unique shaft, makes for a very comfortable hammer to use. The Hammer comes in three sizes, 24oz, 20oz and 16oz. Jake also has a few other unique variations of some common tools. The Sketch Tape - This is a tape measure with a writable and erasable surface. No more writing measurements on scrap pieces of lumber. The Maxi S5 screwdriver - This screwdriver is able to handle multiple size Phillips screws with one screwdriver. No need to have three screwdrivers in your toolkit or a screwdriver with detachable bits that can get lost. Jake has a few other tools on his site. Check them out. You can order online or pick them up at your local Lowes.

The Handyguys are taking a break from their regular podcast this week to give thanks.

We are spending time with family and friends, eating plenty of turkey and generally enjoying ourselves.

We would like to take time to thank our listeners and subscribers, those that have patronized our store, and those companies that have sponsored various episodes and parts of the site. Without all of us working together his site would not be possible. Thanks!

We will take this opportunity to provide a few tips for getting the most out of our site.

Listener questions - The Handyguys Paul and Brian always respond as quickly as possible to listener questions. We may not use your question in an upcoming show but we will help you out regardless.

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Sponsorships - If you have a company or product you would like featured at The Handyguys Podcast please let us know. We can be reached via email or with our contact form. For the benefit of our subscribers we are selective about what sponsorships we will accept where.

OK - That’s it. Next week we will be doing an interview with a tool inventor and discussing one of our stocking stuffer ideas in a little more detail.

The Handyguys Podcast discuss some unique stocking stuffer gift ideas for this Christmas season.

So you want to purchase some nice gifts for the handyguy in your life but you don’t want to break the bank.  You could go to your local big box store and pick up some screw drivers or duct tape, but that’s kind of boring and what kind of message are you sending?   This sort of handyguy gift giving is inefficient and thoughtless.  You need to be more intentional about your gift giving while concentrating on the neglected items on the honey-do-list.

For instance,  your kitchen counter back splash has some cracked caulk… why not stick a tube of caulk in the stocking?  It’s not an exciting gift, but it will surely send your handyguy a hint!

If your handyguy is often working without proper safety glasses, put some Eye Armor safety glasses in the stocking.  They are comfortable, fit over prescription glasses, and will preserve his eyes for all the other honey-do list items!

How about that unfinished basement that you would love to have finished.  Stick a copy of Roger German’s Remodeling a Basement (Build Like A Pro) book in the stocking.

If you’re hoping to finally have a green lawn, you will need a soil test kit.

You want some shelves hung, how about a stud finder.

You get the idea.

10 Handyguys stocking stuffer ideas!

These 10 items are discussed in detail during the podcast. This list is not complete, there are many interesting and unique items in our store. Feel free to browse. Purchases through our store help keep The Handyguys Podcast on the air. If you need any specific recommendations for a particular handyguy in your life feel free to contact us and we will help you out. Thank you for your support.

The Handyguys Discuss DIY Home Safety Tips

Much of the safety information discussed here is courtesy of www.homesafetycouncil.org. The Handyguys use this as the basis for discussion. Listen to the podcast for our thoughts on these safety items.

This show was made possible by the support of Handi-Ramp, manufacturers of the unique, dimpled aluminum Non-Skid Treads. Don’t let slippery steps get you down. Do something before winter sets in. Check out the Non-Skid Treads at http://www.handiramp.com/.

Taking on home improvement projects can be fun and appealing. However, being handy around the home could lead to serious injury if you don’t take appropriate safety precautions. The State of Home Safety in America^TM report (2002) found that emergency departments reported more than 330,000 visits due to injuries with home workshop equipment in a single year.

Safety practices will shield you and your loved ones from injuries related to home improvement projects:

	Keep a stocked First Aid Kit in every location that an injury may occur. First aid may make the difference between a quick recovery and permanent injury.
	Post emergency numbers, including the national Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) by each phone.
	If you decide to install a fire extinguisher in your workshop, contact your fire department to learn how to select the proper type of extinguisher and when to use it.
	Keep hazardous materials out of children’s reach.
	When working with any product, check warnings and content labels to identify hazards.
	Follow manufacturer’s instructions and heed warning labels.
	Use gasoline as a motor fuel only. Gasoline must never be used indoors, because its flammable vapors can be ignited by even a tiny spark. Store gasoline in an outdoor shed or garage, out of children’s reach, in a vented container approved for gasoline storage.
	Use caution with other flammable and combustible products. Properly dispose of oily rags after use and hang them outside to dry.
	Falling and flying objects, especially when working in tight spaces, can pose a hazard to your head, face and eyes. Consider wearing hard hats, safety vests, protective eye wear and ear plugs while working. If you allow someone to watch you work, make sure they wear protective gear too.
	Wear chemical safety glasses when using hazardous solvents and cleaning products.
	Wear safety glasses with side shields when using power tools.
	Designate your work area as a “kid free zone” to keep young children out of harm’s way and out of the reach of tools and equipment.
	Do not wear any loose or dangling clothing or jewelry that could become caught in moving parts. Check out our sharp dressed Handyguy episode.
	Keep your work area clean and free from clutter.
	Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions and warnings on tools, power equipment and building materials.
	Use heavy duty extension cords for tools such as trimmers and edgers listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for outdoor use.
	Keep power equipment in good condition. Repair or replace damaged tools. Unplug the power cord before you do any trouble-shooting on a tool that is jammed or won’t start, and never walk away from a plugged-in-power tool — even for a few minutes.
	Follow basic ladder safety rules whenever climbing.

Stay tuned - Next week we will have our Stocking Stuffer episode. We will discuss a unique collection of inexpensive gift ideas for DIYers.