Author Archives: Dan Hansen

Episode 218: Recycling the Right Way, Common Questions, and Beautiful Lawns All Summer Long

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SEGMENT 1: Recycling the Right Way

Are you a contaminator or are you shutting down recycling plants?? There are big stakes when it comes to what we put in our recycling bins. Learn how to avoid the most common recycling mistakes!

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Meeting the Man Behind the Chat

Peter Ogle from our online chat joins us in the studio! Peter has been manning our online chat from 8am – 9pm M-F to make sure your questions can always be answered. Today we go over some of the most common questions.

SEGMENT 4: Beautiful Lawns All Summer Long

Dan inherited a flawless lawn when he bought his house and it’s been stressful knowing how to keep it looking great. We have tips to take the guesswork out of having a healthy, beautiful lawn this summer.

Episode 217: A Father’s Day Story, Ladder History, The Best Tape, Saving Your Carpet

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SEGMENT 1: A Father’s Day Story

Dan recounts some of his favorite childhood memories of his Dad and the lessons that come along with them.

SEGMENT 2: The Unexpected History of Ladders

There are a lot of everyday tools and objects that we take for granted. We never stop to think where it all began…In the case of the Ladder its story begins in Spain, as cave paintings, that date back to 10,000 BC! We dig into the innovations as well as the 40 years of bad luck!

Some Fun Folkore Fixes

If you happen to wander beneath a ladder . . . there are some tried and true fixes from history:

WALK BACKWARDS THROUGH THE LADDER! Don’t turn around, but instead, freeze in your tracks and walk backwards out. According to some sources, this is a the prime time to make a wish as well.

MAKE THE I’VE GOT YOUR NOSE GESTURE! OK, if walking backwards isn’t your thing and you find yourself beneath a ladder, history tells us you can put your thumb between your index and middle finger (I’ve got your nose). If the ladder is REALLY big or if you’re REALLY nervous, you could do this with both hands. Unless you’re shopping and carrying many packages. Then just do the one hand and hope for the best.

CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND WAIT FOR A DOG! Another finger-crossing fix from history is to cross your index and middle finger and keep them crossed until you see a dog. Now, we were unable to determine what kind of dog you are looking for. Technically, any dog will work. But maybe hold out for a bigger one. Bigger is better after all.

SPIT THROUGH THE RUNGS! If you’re in an area with a sparse dog population, you can always spit three times through the rungs. This is also said to be very effective, but, of course, do not spit on the rungs. That would result in a slip-hazard for the poor person actually working on the ladder.

SPIT ON YOUR SHOE AND WAIT! The last method we uncovered was our favorite. If you happen to find yourself under a ladder all you need to do to ward off the bad mojo is to spit on your shoe. However, it’s absolutely critical that you do not look at the spittle on your shoe until it is dried. This is so important and so many people miss this step. We repeat: do not look at the spittle until it’s dry. So you may need to have a spittle-checker-helper. 

SEGMENT 3: Is Painter’s Tape Worth It?

Taping is our least favorite part of the paint job and most masking tapes will still allow paint to bleed through. Leaving you to wonder; is it really worth it? We put 7 painters tapes to the test to find out!

Below we have our test board pictured. To clarify:

  • For all tapes, the left side is the tape pressed down with finger pressure only.
  • For all tapes except the two Frog Tape samples, the right side had been applied and then pressed down with a putty knife.
  • For the Frog Tape, the right side edge has been applied and then “pre-activated” with a damp paper towel.

A few takeaways:

  1. The Frog Tape outperformed all of the other tapes when it came to sharp lines, even when it was only applied using finger pressure. 
  2. Most of the other tapes provided dramatically improved results when pressed tightly down with a putty knife.
  3. The cheapest tape definitely underperformed in every test. Even with a putty knife, paint bled under the tape. 

SEGMENT 4: Paint the Baseboards, Not the Carpet!

If the last segment didn’t get you hooked on tape this one is sure to. Painting baseboards can get really messy when you have carpet on the floor. Tools sold as carpet shields rarely live up to the name but we have found the magic trick that offers flawless results.

EP216: Color App Fun, EGO Power Tools Review, Repelling Mosquitoes Naturally, Fixing Those Fences

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SEGMENT 1: Color Capture

Last week we talked about finding color inspiration in unexpected places. Now we highlight a tool that can turn your inspirational photos into a color palette of Benjamin Moore colors. You won’t believe how fun and easy it is to match the colors you are inspired by. What is this magic tool? Tune to find out! 

SEGMENT 2: EGO Battery Powered Yard Equipment

Dan recently purchased new lawn equipment when he saw a deal for EGO battery powered, string trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer. In the past he preferred gas or electric so he was interested in putting these battery powered tools to the test! The reviews are in…

SEGMENT 3: Mosquito Wars

We see a lot of articles claiming that planting things such as lavender, citronela, lemongrass and Rosemary will keep mosquitos at bay…However, there is more to the story. We have put together a system that combines natural ways of taking your yard back from Mosquitos. 

SEGMENT 4: The Ugly Side of Fences

Our show experienced technical difficulties last week when the radio station that airs each of these episodes failed to start our show on time! So this segment (which included a giveaway) never aired for all of those listeners. So, this week we included it again so the on-air audience could be a part of the contest. We apologize to all the podcast subscribers who caught this one twice!

In this segment we address old, grayed, and weathered fences. They can detract from the look of your property and there really are some great stain and sealer options out there that will help you improve their appearance. Also, even if the wood is cedar or pressure treated pine, a sealer or stain will protect it and help it last much longer!

EP215: Finding Color Inspiration, Egress Windows, Fixing Those Fences

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SEGMENT 1: Welsummer

Hailey launches the new Instagram Color Palette for June and discusses the inspiration behind it: a previous customer who chose her entire color scheme for her home based on the varied colors of eggs in her chicken coop! In the segment, we discuss the importance of looking everywhere for inspiration when it comes to paint colors.

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Egress Windows

We are joined by Zach Kreiger from Ayers Basement Systems to discuss the value of Egress Windows. Zach runs through everything we should be considering if we are debating installing an egress window.

SEGMENT 4: The Ugly Side of Fences

In this segment we address old, grayed, and weathered fences. They can detract from the look of your property and there really are some great stain and sealer options out there that will help you improve their appearance. Also, even if the wood is cedar or pressure treated pine, a sealer or stain will protect it and help it last much longer!

EP214: In a Neighborhood Near You…

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SEGMENT 1: Memorial Day

Dan flies solo and shares stories of families with fallen heroes. As we enjoy the festivities this weekend, let’s take pause to remember what Memorial Day represents.

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Maintenance Free?

The maintenance-free promises of vinyl siding often come up short. Even vinyl needs regular maintenance such as cleaning and inspection. We talk about how to catch the problems your siding might be hiding and answer the age old question…can you paint it?

SEGMENT 4: Here Comes the Judge…


Tick magnet, Dan, is ditching the trails for neighborhood sidewalks… and what kind of Home Improvement Show would this be if he didn’t spend those walks noticing…and perhaps, judging the homes he passes? Luckily we have the solution to a common problem he is seeing.  

EP213: To Paint or Not to Paint

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SEGMENT 1: Tick Explosion

Tick populations are exploding in Michigan! Warmer winters and bird migration have contributed to a rise in the tick population in west Michigan. We talk about a few simple ways to help protect your whole family this summer. 

SEGMENTS 2 & 3: Where Do You Stop?

 

Is painted trim right for you? We weigh the pros and cons of painting your trim and explain how to tackle this project yourself. We also discuss the growing trend of painting the trim colors other than white! The sky’s the limit for color but if you aren’t painting all the trim where do you start and stop? Tune in for an easy rule of thumb. 

SEGMENT 4: Junk Royalty


Dan is clearing out the barn! We know he’s not the only one with junk to get rid of so we thought we’d discuss all the options. Whether you need to hire a service to haul it away for you or just need to know where to take it, we’ve got you covered!