Home In Progress – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show, sponsored by Benjamin Moore, Dan shares a blend of practical tips and a pinch of well-meaning guilt to prepare for winter. The show covers a range of topics from winterizing lawn equipment and managing tight painting spaces, to the usefulness of different types of glues. Learn about common glues, their appropriate applications, and essential painting tools for cramped quarters. The episode also provides a guide on selecting the right paint for your projects, ensuring better coverage and long-term durability.

RESOURCES

• Adam Savage's Book

00:00 Introduction and Weekend Greetings

01:03 Dreams and Guilt: A Home Improvement Lesson

02:55 Winter Preparation Checklist

05:47 Painting in Tight Spaces: Tools and Tips

08:08 Essential Painting Tools for Small Spaces

12:40 More Tools and Techniques for Tight Spaces

17:14 Final Tips and Recommendations

23:30 Premium Bathroom Paint: Benjamin Moore's Aura Bath and Spa

23:52 Other Great Paint Options for Different Rooms

24:15 Weird Tool Tips for Painting

24:37 DIY Hack: Behind the Toilet Brush

26:37 Glue School: Choosing the Right Adhesive

29:12 Understanding PVA Glues: Wood Glue, Elmer's Glue, and Mod Podge

33:09 Hot Glue: Quick Fixes and Temporary Bonds

34:23 Epoxy: Strong and Versatile Adhesive

36:37 Super Glue: Small Repairs and Precautions

38:24 Contact Cement: Instant Bonds for Time-Sensitive Projects

39:54 Final Tips and Conclusion

In this after-Thanksgiving special of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show, Dan Hansen dives into two key topics: decorating kids' rooms and unique Christmas gift ideas. He offers practical advice on choosing paint colors that both parents and children will love, discusses the importance of involving children in home projects to build their skills and confidence, and shares personal anecdotes.

Towards the end, Dan introduces his annual Christmas Gift Guide with unconventional but profoundly meaningful ideas, encouraging listeners to give experiences and capture family memories through video interviews.

00:00 Welcome and Thanksgiving Greetings

00:33 Introduction to the Show and Topics

03:14 Christmas Tree Decorating Confessions

05:29 Involving Kids in Home Projects

13:47 Choosing Colors for Kids' Rooms

16:39 Navigating Bold Color Choices

21:26 Monochromatic Color Schemes

23:00 Tweaking Colors for Compromise

24:01 Accent and Two-Tone Walls

25:46 Using Wallpaper for Bold Colors

28:30 DIY Murals and Research

31:18 Helping Kids Create a Vision

33:39 Annual Christmas Gift Guide

The Repcolite Home Improvement Show, sponsored by Benjamin Moore, begins with host Dan Hansen discussing the week's tragic global events, including hurricanes, flooding, and unrest.

From there, , the episode takes a look at a few brush hacks from the internet that are just dumb! Don't do these things. They won't save you time and they won't make your work easier.

Additionally, plumbing expert Mark DeVisser discusses the use of PEX pipes versus copper for plumbing in homes, expressing a preference for PEX for indoor use due to efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The episode also tackles the potential dangers of chemical drain cleaners.

Finally, Dan boldly predicts Benjamin Moore's color of the year 2025 focusing on calming and nature-inspired hues, concluding with a reminder about an upcoming Festool equipment demo day.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Update

00:24 Upcoming Topics and Segments

01:19 Reflecting on Recent Events

05:49 Encouragement and Practical Advice

09:45 Transition to Regular Programming

12:07 Paintbrush Myths and Hacks

18:51 Introduction to the Studio Session

19:26 Discussing PEX Pipes: Pros and Cons

25:17 Addressing Slow Drains and Chemical Cleaners

29:09 The Importance of Proper Drain Maintenance

32:05 Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year Prediction

38:47 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

The right dishwasher detergent matters--not just for sparkly results, but also in the protection of your dishwasher and even the prevention of food poisoning!

Hailey's done the research and here are her recommendations:

1. Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods
2. Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Tablets Zero
3. Finish Hard Water Detergent

Kevin Hermann from Benjamin Moore joins us to chat about ceiling paint, primers, paint and primer all-in-ones and more.

Are you ready for winter?? In West Michigan, we had an early snowfall that may have thrown you off your schedule. Here's our checklist to make sure you're prepared for another Michigan Winter:

• Add fuel stabilizer to your lawnmowers
• Remove the mower batteries or put on a trickle charger
• Put battery-powered lawn equipment batteries inside but NOT on charger!
• Is your snowblower ready?
• Are your gutters cleaned out?
• and more....

Whenever we do a repaint of a room, it's good practice to throw a coat of paint on the ceilings first, to freshen them up! But many of us (Dan and Hailey included) don't do that! Here's why it's a good idea....

Christmas is rapidly approaching! And while that fills many of us with excitement and anticipation, there are many families in our community who will struggle! Angel Tree is a ministry run by the Salvation Army that allows us to help make Christmas just a bit brighter for kids in our area.

It's a great opportunity for us to get involved and help someone in a very tangible way. Find an Angel Tree donation site, grab a tag from the tree, buy an appropriate gift and return it unwrapped! The Salvation Army will make sure it gets delivered to a child or teen in need before Christmas!

We've got Angel Trees at 4 different RepcoLite locations:

• 473 W. 17th Street in Holland
• 860 84th Street SW, Suite 2 in Byron Center
• 2840 Broadmoor Ave SE in Grand Rapids
• 912 Fulton St SE in Grand Rapids

You can find other locations as well as gift ideas here!

When an appliance quits working, it's frustrating. It's concerning. It's inconvenient. And it's usually expensive. Happily as DIYers, there are a number of appliance fixes we can implement on our own--for very little money. Today we talk about dryers and 5 of the main reasons yours may not be working right now.

Start Troubleshooting with the Simple Stuff

• Is it plugged in?
• Did the breaker trip?
• Is it just overloaded with clothes?
• Is an obstruction preventing the drum from spinning?
• Is the door closed firmly?

Common Problem 1: Is the Door Switch Working?

Once you know the simple stuff isn't the problem, you need to dig deeper. One place to look that could be a cause of the problem is the door switch. Every dryer has one--it's a little lever or button that's visible when you open the door.

• Is it physically broken? Sometimes the tab/lever breaks off and will no longer catch when the door closes. Replacing it is easy!
• If it's not physically broken, it still could be faulty or defective. Look online and determine how to access your door switch and test with a multi-meter.
• **IMPORTANT: If the door switch isn't physically broken, before I took the dryer apart to test the switch, I'd instead pop the bottom access panel off and check for a broken belt (Common Problem 2 below).

Common Problem 2: Is the Drive Belt Broken?

Another common problem is the drive belt. You access this by removing the lower access panel on the dryer and finding the belt that loops over the drum, around an idler pulley and then to the motor.

• In many dryers, the idler pulley is on a lever switch.
• When the belt is in place and taut, the switch is engaged and the machine works.
• When the belt is broken, the switch is disengaged and nothing happens.

Common Problem 3: Is the Thermal Fuse Tripped?

Another common problem is the thermal fuse. Since the 80's, these are installed on dryers as a safety mechanisms to prevent fires. If the dryer is overheating, the thermal fuse trips and shuts off power. It's not a device that can be reset--it needs to be replaced. Happily, it's inexpensive.

• Consult your owner's manual or search for your model online to find the location of the thermal fuse.
• With the machine unplugged, remove the two wire leads and test the fuse with a multi-meter.
• If it's not working, it has to be replaced.

Common Problem 4: Is the On/Off Button Defective?

A last common (and simple) reason your dryer could quit working is a faulty or defective switch....

Today's a HUGE day! We cover a cool project, talk about some great board games, and finally (and more importantly) launch our big Christmas Scavenger Hunt for 2022!

Watch on YouTube

An interesting project that's making the rounds on the internet is turning your subfloor into a finished floor by painting it. Is it a good idea? Or is it one of those really ridiculous internet projects? We talk pros and cons--you decide!

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We're joined in the studio by Bob Troszok, Manager of RepcoLite's Plainfield Avenue location and host of The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast. In this segment we talk about Bob's favorite paint project of all time and how much he's grown and learned as a painter. The bottom line is simple: nobody starts as an expert. But you're never going to get good at anything unless you jump in!

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Bob Troszok, host of The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast joins us to talk about his top recommendations. Whether you're looking for a party game, or a great gift, Bob's got you covered!

• Learn more about The Board Game Shenanigans Podcast

Watch on YouTube

It's time to launch our big Christmas contest for 2022! We've got all the info and a HINT that can help you get your first entry!

• Learn more about the contest here!

It's time for our annual gift guide: a time-honored classic! In this episode, we discuss Dan-and-Hailey-approved Christmas gifts. If you're looking for something that's a step above the usual, check out our guide!

We'll also dig into the 5 D's of Home Staging with home staging expert, Natalie Kaman from At Home Design and Staging!

Watch on YouTube

Buying gifts can be tough! It's difficult to find something unique, intriguing, or interesting. We've got a few recommendations that are definitely "off the beaten path!"

THE LITTLE BOOK OF HYGGE

Hygge has been described as everything from "the art of creating intimacy", "cosines of the soul", "the absence of annoyance" to "taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things", "cozy togetherness" and "the pursuit of everyday pleasures".

This book is for anyone wanting to slow down a bit and find more joy in the simple things!

STAR WARS -- SHAKESPEAREAN EDITIONS

Dan stumbled into these books by accident. They are renditions of Star Wars movies we all know and love, but done with a Shakespearean twist! Each book is written as a play in Shakespearean meter and language. His entire family has had tons of fun sitting around the kitchen table, taking roles, and play-acting some of their favorite movies. It's a great introduction to Shakespeare (even though it's NOT Shakespeare), and it's a great opportunity to break out the voice-actor inside each of us! Check them out! You'll thank us later.

FAMILY PASSES to the BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER

There's so much going on at the Blandford Nature Center, it's tough to say it in just a few sentences. They've got trails to walk, but so much more! With everything from various classes and workshops to a community-supported farm, they're definitely worth checking out! A family membership may be the perfect gift for someone looking to spend a little more time away from a screen....

DAN'S TOP GUN CHRISTMAS

OK. Dan finally saw Top Gun: Maverick and he was over-the-moon excited. Having just received his motorcycle endorsement, all he needs to fully embrace the supreme coolness of the movie, is to get a pilot's license. That's surely no small feat. And so he wrote it off as something that just isn't to be.

And then he discovered the concept of Discovery Flights! A number of piloting schools in our area (Lavion Aero in Zeeland and West Michigan Flight Academy in Sparta, for example) offer an opportunity to fly a plane!

Ranging from $99 to $170 (and up), you can purchase a gift certificate for one of these flights. The lucky person who gets it will do everything from taking part in a pre-flight check, to taxiing down the runway, to actually flying the plane, and bringing it in for a landing. All with close supervision, of course! But it's still a great way to see if piloting is for you. AND, it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas gift!

It's been a monumental week. And it all started with a very lucrative offer from Keanu Reeves....

The Holidays are rapidly approaching. And with them . . . come the scammers! Every year, these people crawl out of the woodwork with schemes and tricks, hoping to harvest information from the unsuspecting. Don't fall for it! We'll talk about a few common scams and what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe!

The housing market has been all over the place throughout the year. We started with a crazy seller's market and now, the year is ending with the advantage swinging toward the buyers! We sit down with Ginger Herman from Sue Prins Group Five-Star Real Estate Leaders to get the scoop. Whether you're a buyer or a seller (or both), this segment is crammed with great info!

Dan and Hailey have tackled a LOT of home projects. But in all of that work over all of those years, which project stands out for each of them as their favorite? And why?

Fall is settling in and that means a couple things for sure: the end of Daylight Saving Time for the year and a potential invasion of mice into our homes as they look for warmer digs.

We take a rambling and energetic look at select moments from the history of Daylight Saving Time. Our focus is to figure out who we can blame for it. We turn up a couple likely culprits, but find that the evidence doesn't point their direction. Fortunately, we're able to uncover the main guilty party for DST in the U.S.

The mice are coming! Fall is digging in and that means mice and other pests will be looking for warm places to spend the winter. Is your home going to be a mouse resort? Hopefully not! But, if you do happen to find mice in your walls and running around the edges of your rooms, you need to know how to get rid of them quickly. We go through 8 tips (and a bonus tip that starts the next segment as well) that will help you deal with them if they invade your space!

We start this segment with a bonus mouse-trapping tip and then give away the prizes for our big contest that has been running since the middle of October!

We cover everything from tips for the workshop to laundry room mistakes that we all should correct!

We’ve all seen the little swirls left behind from an orbital sander. Seeing those is a huge bummer because they show through the finish, whether that’s polyurethane, stain or paint. The good news, It’s not Sanders' fault! Swirling scratches happen because we are using the sander incorrectly. Learn all about common mistakes and how to avoid them in this segment.

TOP TIPS For Eliminating Swirls (Pig Tails) When Using Orbital Sander

Start Right

• Hold the sander
• Place it flatly on the surface to be sanded and then power it on
• When it is on the surface, with slight hand pressure, the disc spins at a much more controlled rates
• When it is in the air, it spins very quickly
• Setting it down while it’s moving at that speed can cause skips, gouges, etc. when it contacts your wood
• Also, you may not set it down evenly

Correct Speed, Keep it Flat, and Use the Right Pressure

• CORRECT SPEED IS IMPORTANT!
• Often swirls happen because we move too fast
• We go back and forth quickly
• Instead, sand with the grain at a SLOW and STEADY PACE!
• Especially as you near the final sand
• Rule of thumb: 1” per second
• KEEP IT FLAT
• Sometimes we tilt the sander
• Try to angle it in to put more pressure on certain areas
• Very likely to gouge the piece or create swirls (or both)
• Instead . . . keep it even! Nice and flat on the surface
• USE THE RIGHT PRESSURE
• Let the sander do the work!
• Don’t get overly aggressive!
• Light pressure–just enough for guidance and control
• Don’t bog down the motor!
• If you hear the motor slow
• Too much pressure!
• Will result in swirls
• Instead, let it work itself over the surface

Work Through Your Grits

• Common Mistake
• There isn’t a one-size-fits-all grit usually!
• Instead, start low–with a coarser grit
• And move your way through the different grits until you finish
• Let the various grits each do their job and then move to the next one!
• Don’t skip grits trying to save time – or, if you do, don’t skip more than one
• SO, to make it clear:
• Start with an 80 or 100 grit to remove the finish on a piece
• Then, move to 120 grit, then 150 grit, then 180, and finally 220 or higher if necessary
• Yes, that means you’ll have to amass extra sanding discs
• But, it will produce beautiful flawless results!

Dust Extraction and Dust Removal

• Dust from your sanding can get trapped beneath the discs, creating swirls
• Remove it!
• Attach a shop-vac attachment to your sander
• To remove dust as you go
• Also! Be sure to remove dust in between grits
• When you change sandpapers
• Take time to remove the dust from the surface
• Wipe with a soft bristled brush
• Blow off with an air hose
• Vacuum off

Stop Right

• It’s important to start right
• With the sander evenly on the surface
• With light handpressure
• Before turning on . . . .
• Also important to stop right!
• Stopping while the sander is spinning on your surface is like slamming the brakes on your car
• The tire marks in this instance are the swirls you leave behind
• So lift the sander off the surface before hitting the power button!
• Think of it this way:
• Start ON, Stop OFF

Double Check

• Old maxim–measure twice, cut once
• Same idea applies here!
• Nothing more frustrating than applying your stain
• Only to...