Tag Archives: windows

EP60 – June 2, 2018: Popcorn Ceilings No More, Must-Have Drywall Tools, Paint Behind the Toilet, Egress Windows

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Popcorn ceilings hit the scene in the 1950’s and took off in popularity. However, just like other fads and fashions (bellbottoms, we’re looking at you), the beauty and appeal wore thin before too long! But, many of our homes have that cottage cheese stuff on the ceilings and we don’t know what to do to get it off! Well, we’ve got some ideas on that….

Show notes for episode 060:

Popcorn ceilings were popular in the past. But that was a LONG time ago! Yet, they're everywhere. What can we do to cover them up and make our homes look better? We have some suggestions in this segment!

Also, in the course of the segment, Dan references a picture of himself. Here it is, in all it's 1970's glitz and glamour:

Drywalling isn't a terribly fun job. In fact, it's kind of a pain. BUT, if you've got the right tools, it can go much more smoothly than you may expect!

Painting behind the toilet is one of the biggest questions we receive in our inbox. People just don't know what to do to cover that small area behind the tank with paint. Well, wonder no longer. We have the answer: make your own Toilet Tank Behinder Painter!

George Clark from WMGB Home Improvement is one of our favorite interviews! He's always funny, energized, and ready to dish out as much information as the segment can hold. Today, we talk about everything you need to know about egress windows!

EP53 – April 7, 2018: Cleaning Garbage Bins, Painting Over Bright Colors, Must-Have Paint Tools, Vinyl Replacement Windows 101

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Today’s show starts with an introduction to a remarkably unique service! ECO-190 Degrees will clean out your garbage bins on a regular basis! It’s quick, simple, inexpensive, and will have your garage smelling rosy year-round! We’ll also be discussion how you can easily paint over those bright colors your kids wanted on their bedroom walls when they were 9; some of the must-have painting tools you . . . well, need to have; and finally, we’ll be cutting through the chaos of choosing vinyl replacement windows!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 053:

Today we're in the studio with Tim Folkerts from ECO-190 Degrees. Tim's company offers a unique service built around the concept that nobody likes stinky garbage cans. We think Tim's right in that thinking and we absolutely love the service!

Check out the video below demonstrating how it works:

In this segment we answer a question from a customer who's trying to quickly and effectively paint over some bright colors in her daughter's bedroom.

Turns out, when her daughter's tastes changed dramatically as she grew up! And this is no surprise. However, what can be surprising is that with the RIGHT paint product, painting over those colors can be easier than you think!

It's another "Betsy's Toolbox" segment and Betsy dishes out her most recommended paint tools!

The world of vinyl replacement windows can be confusing. Which ones are right for you? Which features matter the most? Is it really worth the extra money?

We sit down with George Clark from WMGB Home Improvement to get the lowdown and what windows are right for you!

EP49 – March 10, 2018: Bidets, the Order of Painting, Cleaning Windows, & the Walls of Death!

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Some weeks are busier than others! This week we just had too much going and were unable to get to the studio to crank out a new episode. So, instead, we’ve put together Volume 1 of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show Greatest Hits! On this episode, we revisit some of our favorite segments from the past 48 weeks!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 049:

Well, this segment has been 41 weeks in the making! When we started this Home Improvement Show, we interviewed Mark DeVisser from the Plumber is Here about another topic. After that interview, and off the record, Mark, launched into one of the most hilariously frank discussions about bidets we've ever encountered. We knew we wanted to re-do that discussion on the radio . . . but we also knew we needed to establish ourselves a bit before we launched into a bidet talk!

Well, that moment has now arrived. And today we aired our favorite segment to date! It's funny AND informative. Check it out!

When it comes to starting a paint project, a lot of people find themselves wondering: where do I start? What should I paint first? Walls? Ceiling? What next?

If you've ever wondered that, we've got the system the pro's use to get beautiful results everytime!

We also deal with another common question we hear all the time at RepcoLite: "Do I really need to prime EVERYTIME I paint?"

Many of us dread washing windows because it takes so long and it's so hard to get them streak and spot free. As soon as the sun is at just the right angle, we can see (very clearly!) every swipe of the rag we made.

  We tried the top three window cleaning solutions we found on the internet, and this is the one we thought worked the best.

Magic Cleaner #1

1/2 gal. warm water

1 Tbsp. Jet Dry

2-3 Tbsp. Dawn

  The other solutions we tried were:

Magic Cleaner #2

1/2 bottle Jet Dry

4 Tbsp. Alcohol

1/4 c. ammonia

1 handful powdered dishwasher soap

2 gal. hot water

Magic Cleaner #3

2 c. water

1/4 c. vinegar

1/2 tsp Dawn

This is easily one of our favorite segments of all time! It's a historical look at a crazy chapter in the world of decorating...

To summarize (without giving the whole fun story away), in the 19th Century arsenic was used to create vivid pigments that were then used in dyes and inks, on clothing, in paint, on food, and on wallpaper! Turns out, installing arsenic-laced wallpaper was actually a poor decision when it came to the health of you and your family! (Who would have thought!)

It's an interesting segment and is definitely worth a listen!

Shadows from the Walls of Death!

On the show, we talked about a rare book that you can view in the rare book collection at MSU. There were 100 copies produced in 1874 and now, only a handful remain. One of them is at MSU. Another is at the U of M. At any rate, the book actually contains actual arsenic-laced samples of the wallpapers that were common in the early to late 19th Century. It is a piece of bizarre decorating history you can hold in your hands! (And the pages are now encapsulated in plastic, so you're safe!) However, if you're not up for a road trip, here's a link to a beautiful full-color scan of the book! Check it out!
 

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EP19 – August 12, 2017: Adventures in Furniture Refinishing, Masking Tape Woes, Streak-Free Window Cleaning Miracle, and Carpet Care 101

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Paint projects shouldn’t be daunting. Or complicated. Most of the time, any struggles we’ve ever had come from not knowing a few tricks that the professionals know. Today we talk about a number of ways to get beautiful results whenever you use masking tape!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 019:

Some people may have heard this segment before, but Kim DeBoer had such good information. She told us where to find furniture to refinish and how to tell if it's worth buying. It's a project that is well worth the time and effort. You end up with a truly unique, one of a kind piece of furniture you can be proud of.

Kim DeBoer is a professional painting contractor who does a lot of furniture refinishing on the side. She's been doing this for herself and her customers for years!

We took Kim's advice and went hunting for the perfect piece. We picked up this very sad looking desk for about $50, but thought it might have potential. We were pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful wood top under many layers of paint. We now have a one-of-a-kind desk that we can be proud of!

Have you ever finished a painting project, all excited to pull the tape off and see the fruits of your labor, only to find that paint has bled under the tape and you now have all kinds of touch up to do?

We've all been there. Our paint project goes so well until the tape comes off. Maybe paint has bled under the tape. Maybe the tape pulled paint off the wall. We've got some of the most common tape complaints, when it comes to painting, and the solutions for them.

Many of us dread washing windows because it takes so long and it's so hard to get them streak and spot free. As soon as the sun is at just the right angle, we can see (very clearly!) every swipe of the rag we made.

  We tried the top three window cleaning solutions we found on the internet, and this is the one we thought worked the best.

Magic Cleaner #1

1/2 gal. warm water

1 Tbsp. Jet Dry

2-3 Tbsp. Dawn

  The other solutions we tried were:

Magic Cleaner #2

1/2 bottle Jet Dry

4 Tbsp. Alcohol

1/4 c. ammonia

1 handful powdered dishwasher soap

2 gal. hot water

Magic Cleaner #3

2 c. water

1/4 c. vinegar

1/2 tsp Dawn

New carpet is a huge investment and no one wants to do it often. But most people are unaware that the way they clean their carpet and what they clean it with, can actually void their warranty or even wear it out faster.

Nick Sargent from Johnson Carpet One joins us in the studio to discuss the finer points of carpet care.

And in the segment, Nick talks about Capture Carpet Cleaner. We said we'd include a link. And here it is!