Home Repair Tutor

Dan has a shed that is starting to rot at the bottom and he’d like to know what to do. His shed has a foundation, a concrete pad, and this is causing the wood to get mushy and crack. He like to know what he can do to strengthen the wood and paint it   Dan has several options including replacing pieces of rotted wood with Azek, which is PVC trim. It will never rot and can be painted.   Here’s Azek’s site    http://www.azek.com/   Dan could also try to repair the rotted would with Elmer’s Structural Wood Repair and Elmer’s Rotted Wood Repair.   Both of these products helped me repair rotted columns. You can check that out here   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/rotten-wood-repair-with-the-help-of-elmer/     Today’s Quick Tip is about cement step repair. This is something you likely have to do after a long winter. I’ve got a pretty awesome video tutorial that could save you hundreds of dollars   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/cement-step-repair/   The Home Repair Tutor Podcast comes out on Monday, Wednesday, and F

Today’s show discusses the best way to clean grout and tackles Judy’s cleaning question.   How can she neutralize vinegar so she can use OxiClean?   I answer Judy’s question and also mention a second way to clean tile and grout using 1/4 cup OxiClean with 2 Cups of warm water. This combined with a drill cleaning brush is an amazing way to clean floor tile.   My tutorial on how to use OxiClean and the cleaning brush is my most popular video tutorial.   Over 500,000 have watched the video over on YouTube   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/the-best-way-to-clean-grout/   Today’s Quick Tip is about Wet & Forget Shower. You can use this once a week to prevent soap scum and mildew. I did an 11 week experiment to see if it would work. Check that out by visiting    http://www.homerepairtutor.com/wet-and-forget-shower-experiment/   The Home Repair Tutor Podcast comes out on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.    You can submit your question 3 ways:   Call me at 412-347-8711    Visit http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Mike is frustrated with cracks in his drywall.   His house is about 13 years old and there are several cracks that have formed. So we talk about how he can approach this problem.   Today's Quick Tip deals with painting over stained drywall. Kill oil based primer is, in my humble opinion, the best for covering stains.    You can check it out by simply Googling Kilz primer    Do you have a question? Has it been bothering the heck out of you?   Ask away over at Home Repair Tutor   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Mark want's to know how to remove or replace a popcorn ceiling.   We discuss his options and refer him to a great tutorial from Brittany Bailey over at Pretty Handy Girl   Check out Brittany's tutorial on how to remove a popcorn ceiling    http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/scraping-your-own-popcorn-ceilings-its-a-messy-job-but-someones-gotta-do-it/   Today's Quick Tip is all about keeping your drywall tools clean.    Got a question?   Ask away over at Home Repair Tutor   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Clair wrote in to ask about how she should approach remodeling her kitchen and dining room while living in her house.   So I gave her some advice that will hopefully be helpful   Today's Quick Tip discusses using Ditra for flooring projects.   Ditra is cool because it prevents tiles from cracking and can waterproof the floor.. Plus, it's not heavy (unlike cement board!)   You can check it out at  http://www.schluter.com/   Do you have a DIY question?   Head over to Home Repair Tutor and ask it   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Installing kitchen cabinet hardware can be tricky.   Albert wants to know the easiest way to add knobs and pulls. We talk about using templates and some other nifty tips that can make this a lot easier   You can make your own template or buy one. Check out these resources for wonderful suggestions   http://youtu.be/vd8kM0ebvGo   Liberty Template AN0191C-G-Q (check it out on Amazon.com)   http://www.familyhandyman.com/kitchen/diy-kitchen-cabinets/how-to-install-cabinet-hardware   http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/32719/build-a-simple-jig-to-drill-cabinet-handle-holes-perfectly   Today's Quick Tip explores removing caulk or sealant.    You might like this tutorial because it explores how to remove caulk without chemicals   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/easily-remove-silicone-caulk/   But if that doesn't work, Lift Off could be an option for you   http://liftoffinc.com/   Got a question?   Ask away over at Home Repair Tutor   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Learning how to wire a light switch is a good thing.    Cindy had a question about a recent tutorial over on Home Repair Tutor. We give her an answer and several tips everyone should know when wiring a new light switch.    Check out this tutorial to see a step-by-step video on how to wire a light switch in no time   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-wire-a-light-switch/   If you're interested in the Adorne switch in the video here's a link to their site   http://www.legrand.us/   Today's Quick Tip discusses one of my favorite tools when wiring new receptacles. It's a receptacle analyzer and costs about $10 but is totally worth it.   Here's an analyzer you might want to check out   http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/electrical-testers/gfci-receptacle-tester   And if you'd like to see a video tutorial on how to wire an electrical outlet here you go   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-wire-an-electrical-outlet/   Got a question?   Ask it over on Home Repair Tutor   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Cigarette burns are disgusting. And a pain to repair.    Danny has a bathroom countertop that was burned by a tenant's cigarette. We explore his options but also imagine who would be smoking in the bathroom!!!   Here's a link to the Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating we discuss   http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/specialty/countertop-paint   Today's Quick Tip shares how to remove hard water deposits from faucets. It's pretty darn simple.   Check out this video tutorial for more details   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-remove-hard-water-deposits/   Do you have a question like Danny?   Ask it over on Home Repair Tutor and get an answer    http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Ceiling fan fixes can be pretty simple or a pain in the butt.   Today's question is from Paul and he's running into a wiring issue.   The Quick Tip discusses how to swap out a bad ceiling fan pull chain. The part costs about $4 and takes all of 15 minutes to replace.   Check out this video tutorial on ceiling fan pull chain fixes   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/ceiling-fan-light-repair/   This video is for Paul, who might need extra help with his ceiling fan light switch wiring   http://youtu.be/GxFabU-PVWQ   Do you have a question like Paul?   Visit me over on Home Repair Tutor and ask away   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Unclogging a bathtub involves a few different tasks.   Kathy's tub is draining slowly and she wants to know how to fix it.    We dive into 3 different scenarios that might be causing her problem.   Today's Quick Tip discusses a great way to fix chipped bathtubs or sinks.    It involves a product called Porc-a-Fix   Visit this site for more info   http://www.fixture-fix.com/   I have a tutorial on a simple way to unclog a bathtub, although Kathy already tried this method I figured it might help you   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/unclog-bathtub-drain/   Do you have a question like Kathy?   Visit me over on Home Repair Tutor and ask away   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/  

Want an easy way to clean a greasy kitchen hood?    So does Gohar, our questioner for today.   This episode discusses a great product I've used to clean our hood and amazing results.   My Quick Tip shares a technique that could help you remove grease from the glass in your oven door.    For detailed tutorials on both these topics you can visit    http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-an-oven/   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-greasy-kitchen-hood/   If you want to check out Super Clean here's the link to their site   http://www.supercleanbrands.com/   Do you have a question?   Visit me over on Home Repair Tutor and ask away   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Kitchen cabinets can be painted, but there are some tips you won't want to miss.   This episode discusses several things you should consider when prepping and then painting older kitchen cabinets.    The prep will take longer than the painting, that's just how it goes.   Check out this great article by This Old House for more ideas   http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/overview/0,,20209705,00.html   My Quick Tip shares how to stop wiggling outlets or light switches. It's so simple you won't believe it. If you need tutorials on how to install a light switch or outlet I've got you covered    http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-wire-a-light-switch/   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-wire-an-electrical-outlet/   Do you have a question?   Call me at 412-347-9711, I'll try my best to help. I'm not a guru but love sharing what I know.   You can also visit Home Repair Tutor and ask your question    http://www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast/

Leaky kitchen faucets can drive anyone nuts.   This episode tackles a question from Terry who wants to learn how to fix his leaky kitchen faucet pronto.    My biggest tip is to see if you can get replacement parts for free from the maker of the faucet.    If your faucet is from on these brands you might want to call and ask if the parts are under warranty.   http://www.americanstandard-us.com/   http://www.deltafaucet.com/index.html   http://www.moen.com/   http://www.kohler.com/   The Quick Tip discusses how to prevent frozen pipes. Yah, this might come in handy.   Check out Frost King's heat cable if your pipes have frozen in the past.   http://www.frostking.com/automatic-electric-heat-cable-kits/   If you need a tutorial on how to install heat cable or want more tips on preventing frozen pipes this might help   http://www.homerepairtutor.com/thawing-and-preventing-frozen-pipes/   Do you have a question like Terry.   Ask me by calling 412-347-8711, I'll try my best to help you.   You can also submit a quest

Garage door maintenance, yep it's something you should do.  This episode addresses a question from Toby and one from Bruce. Both of them want details on how to keep their garage doors working correctly. The Quick Tip is from Chad Walker who shares how to remove caulk. Here are links to sites referenced in this episode https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/417 http://www.homerepairtutor.com/easily-remove-silicone-caulk/ http://www.chamberlain.com/ http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-replace-a-garage-door-extension-spring/ http://www.homerepairtutor.com/garage-door-opener-installation/

Shower tile makes your bathroom awesome. Do you know what's more important than the tile?  The waterproofing behind it.  Deborah's question about shower tile leads to a great conversation about how to get a shower that lasts decades. Today's Quick Tip is talks about my favorite tool for removing and installing sink faucets. Submit your question like Deborah did by visiting www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast

Thin set can be really tough to remove or grind down. This episode tackles Marilyn's question that deals with removing excess thin set. She's currently doing a shower tiling project and needs some advice. Today's Quick Tip discusses the #1 tool you need for any electrical project.  Submit your question like Marilyn did by visiting www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast

Welcome! This is the first Home Repair Tutor podcast. You'll learn a bit about me and why I created this short podcast to help do-it-yourself homeowners. Rich's question is about his leaking hot water tank. He'd like to know if he can fix it or if he has to replace the entire tank! Today's Quick Tip shares a great product you need if you're going to remove a toilet.  Submit your own question like Rich did by visiting www.homerepairtutor.com/podcast