Tag Archives: prep work

EP161: Job Openings, Gods in Color, Roof Maintenance, Patching Holes

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LISTEN NOW:

Segment 1: Job Openings

We're looking to fill some positions! If you enjoy working with people, learning new skills, and are looking for a challenge, send your resumes to jobs@repcolite.com!

Segment2: Gods in Color

If we were to call to mind an image of Ancient Rome or Greece, there's a good chance that, regardless of what scenes we imagine, they'd probably be dotted with white, marble statues. Unless you've studied the topic, there's very little likelihood that you would imagine those statues as brightly (even garishly) painted. And yet, that's exactly how they looked in ancient times!

Sometimes we find new information that completely turns our old understandings on their heads. Here's one such topic, perhaps!And in the course of the segment, we reference a great website. You can check it out here:

Segment 3: Roof Maintenance

Matt Williams and Jake Harmon from Sherriff-Goslin Roofing join  us to talk about how  we can determine the condition of our roof as well as a number of things we can do to increase its lifespan!

Segment 4: Patching Holes!

Nothing screams "exciting" quite like  a topic called "Patching Holes." But, regardless of its "fun-factor", patching holes is a common project around the home. Today we go over the different products you'll want as well as some methods to get the best results!

We've got some of the products we talked about below if you're interested! And also, further below we have a video that represents the process we spoke about regarding fixing larger holes. Check it out!

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LITE WALL LIGHTWEIGHT SPACKLE
$4.75-$8.60
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DRY DEX SPACKLE
$5.55-$12.25
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CRAWFORD’S VINYL SPACKLING
$11.25-$25.75
ADD

EP155: Quarantine Prep for Projects, Deck Questions, & Renovation Loans

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LISTEN NOW:

Segment 1: Quarantine Prep for Projects

We've been getting a lot of questions about prep work people can do now, with the supplies they have on hand, for a project they'll do when they can go out again. We got the most common project questions.

Segment 2: Deck Questions

We also know that a lot of people have been thinking about doing their deck, now that the weather has shown us some warmer, sunny days. But there are a few things to consider before you just jump right in.

Segments 3 & 4: Renovation Loans

There's a special loan out there for people looking to buy a house that may need a bit of fixing up. We have never heard of it before and we're guessing a lot of other people haven't either! Jen Aalderink and Amanda Lehman from Stockton Mortgage fill us in on the details of this special loan and exactly how it works.

EP11 – June 17, 2017: Paint That’s Almost Magic!

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Looking at a scuffed wall, just days after it has been painted, is frustrating! Benjamin Moore is changing all that with a brand new paint that’s almost magical in resisting what life throws at it. We put it through it’s paces and were amazed!  We’ll tell you what the product is, why it’s unique, and how we tested it.

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 011:

Painting a pool can be very intimidating. People think that there is a lot of work involved and that it takes a professional to do it. Ken Kleinke from Insl-X joins us in the studio to assure every pool owner (or future pool owner) that painting a pool is almost like painting the interior of your house. It really comes down to prep, and even that isn't too bad! And even better, your local RepcoLite or Port City Paints carries Insl-X Pool Paint at a very competitive price!

About Ken

Ken Kleinke has been in the coatings business for over 40 years! He has been with Insl-X for almost 20 which is why we contacted him to talk about pool paint. He takes the fear out of painting a pool!

Do you know what dad REALLY wants for Father's Day? More time and less work! We teamed up with Bergman Power Equipment to give one lucky winner a lawn equipment package worth over $600!

Larry Bergman  joins us in the studio to announce the contest and talk a little bit about the tools we are giving away. With a new string trimmer, blower and mower, dad will be relaxing in no time!

Almost every dad would love to get a new grill for Father's Day. At least they wouldn't argue if they got one! We asked Rob Cackowski from Heritage Fireplace and Design Center to stop by and help us sort out grill buying. How do we know what to look for? Gas or charcoal? Rob also has some ideas for small, last minute grill gifts from the kids. And if you want to take dad to pick out his own grill, stop in to see Rob. He'll help dad pick the perfect grill!

Are you tired of having scuffed walls from your kids kicking off their shoes as they enter the house? Do you work someplace where the walls look like they haven't been painted in 5 years, even though they were painted the previous week?

We are in the studio with RepcoLite's very own Dave Helmholdt who just finished training all of the store employees on an amazing new product from Benjamin Moore. Ultra Spec Scuff-X is an amazing scuff-resistant, waterborne paint that is leaving even the harshest critics speechless!

 

EP10 – June 10, 2017: Find that Perfect Color and More!

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Finding the perfect color for your next project doesn’t have to be complicated! You don’t have to stand in front of the color display for hours looking at 1000’s of colors. There’s a simple process we’re going to tell you about that will help you cut the time you spend looking in half!

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:


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EP09 – June 3, 2017: Year of the Tick and More!

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It’s that time of year again! The time when we want to spend all available time outdoors, enjoying everything Michigan has to offer. There are water adventures, camping, sunsets, hiking, and ticks. Yes, ticks! It is going to be another prevalent year for natures little vampires! But don’t think your best conceived summer plan is in peril just yet. David Popp from Rose Pest Solutions is going to help all of us deal with these creepy pests.

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:


Show notes for episode 009:

Nothing is worse than spending a beautiful summer day exploring nature, only to get home and find that one of nature's hitchhikers has attached itself to your skin. Then comes the battle to decide which method is best for removing a tick. There are many wives tales o tick removal, but there is only one good way.

David Popp from Rose Pest Solutions joins us in the studio to discuss how ticks attach, how to avoid getting them and what to do if you happen to be the unfortunate person one latches onto.

We hear it time and time again at all of our RepcoLite locations: "I have paneling from the 60s and I'm sick of it. Can I paint that?"

The answer is, YES! It's actually quite simple to do. You just have to be aware of some important ideas that will make your project go a whole lot more smoothly. And we'll also tell you the best way to apply the paint to avoid funny lines.

When people think of preparing a garage floor for a coating, they think chemicals are the answer. When people think of refinishing wood floors, they think of runaway sanders or back creaking labor. When they think of decks that have too many layers of stain, they think it's time to build new. But wait! There's an easier solution!

The OnFloor machine will take care of all those surfaces without the hassle. It will grind concrete in garages, basements and shops. It will take paint, polyurethane and mastic off wood floors and then sand them. It will send old stain off a deck and have it looking like new in now time. And the best part is, it can be controlled with just two fingers! We'll give you all the details and where to rent one in this segment!

Dan has had the argument with his dad over lawn sprinkling for years! How often should you sprinkle your lawn? What time of day is best? How long should you do it for?

The great debate will finally be settled with the help of Aaron Katerberg from Grapids Irrigation. He will answer those questions as well as questions about drainage, for those of us who have the opposite problem - too much water!

EP08 – May 27, 2017: An Epic Historic Restoration

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Sometimes we look at our homes and don’t know where to begin. The kitchen is a little outdated. Maybe the bathroom needs work. Sometimes we see all that and we find ourselves not sure how to get started. The project just seems too big. Well, if that sounds familiar, Patty Meyer, Director of the Felt Estate near Saugatuck has some inspiring advice for you!

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 008:

In 1925, Dorr Felt began construction of what the Felt Mansion for his wife, Agnes. The summer home would be large enough to accommodate his married daughters and their families. Completed in 1928, the 12,000+ square foot mansion consists of 25 rooms, including a third-floor ballroom. Unfortunately, Agnes died in August of 1928, six weeks after the family moved in, and Dorr died a year and a half later in 1930.

From there, the home has changed owners multiple times throughout the years. It's been a seminary, a home for cloistered nuns, and even a prison.

After years of neglect, volunteers from Laketown Township and surrounding communities are restoring the mansion and grounds. It's an incredible community project and a remarkable story!

Today, Patty Meyer, Director of the Felt Estate, sits down with us for two segments to talk about the project, what she's learned, and to give all of us the inspiration to dream and to dare to accomplish what seems almost impossible!

Patricia Hoezee Meyer – Director of the Felt Estate

Pat is a former educator who graduated from GVSU and the School of Education in 1990 with a major in English & History, and a minor in Political Science. Her interest in art, history and architecture led to her passion for the restoration of the Felt Estate.

For the last 13 years, Pat has restored the Felt Estate, and as director of the Estate, planned and implemented hundreds of events. Pat and the restoration project she oversees have won numerous awards at the local, state, and national level. Pat speaks around the State at Historic Preservation Seminars, emphasizing the importance of place in our lives, in our communities, in our history, and in our learning. Pat is continuing her education at GVSU, through the Johnson Center, working toward a Master’s Degree in Non-profit Administration.

 

There are tons of common paint mistakes we all make in an effort to save time. Today we talk about four that we see all the time!

  • Making My Paint Cover In One Coat Whether It Wants to Or Not!
  • Not Washing the Surfaces I'm Going to Paint Adequately!
  • Not Priming After I Strip Wallpaper
  • Painting Out of My Full Gallon Container
Check out or blog post for more info!

How to Properly Load a Paint Brush!

Our dryer and washer can potentially be very destructive if regular maintenance is not performed. Dryer lint is extremely flammable and washer hoses need to be replaced every five years. Fortunately, with just a little maintenance, you can keep your home safe and protected!

Flammable Vent Hoses

We mentioned in the segment that commonly used plastic or vinyl vent tubing is extremely flammable (as is the lint trapped inside!) Here's a video that demonstrates why you want to remove these cheap hoses from your home and replace them with flexible metal tubing.

FloodStop

This item is very interesting to me. It's designed to be installed very simply, taking only 10 minutes. But when it's installed, it will detect leaks, sound an alarm, and best of all, automatically turn off your water supply valves to prevent flooding! I haven't tried it, but I'm certainly going to dig into it! You can get more info right here!