In the present day’s Home-owner Radio Present Podcast | January 14, 2023

Hour 1

Hear how a lot cash it can save you by putting in luxurious vinyl tile your self, what to do about thermal growth gaps in crown molding and extra.

Save Huge by Putting in LVT Your self

Luxurious vinyl tile is a good possibility for owners searching for a sturdy, waterproof, and easy-to-clean flooring possibility.

Additionally, it’s probably the most reasonably priced flooring choices, making it a fantastic alternative for budget-conscious owners. Joe researched the prices and right here’s what he discovered: 

Most individuals pay on common $1,400 to have 200 sq. toes of vinyl plank flooring put in. Nonetheless, you should buy luxurious vinyl for $2.50-$4 per sq. foot at The Residence Depot.

So, in the event you set up it your self, it might solely value you between $500-800. That’s a saving, on common, of $600-900 over a professionally put in job!

You don’t want any particular instruments to put in luxurious vinyl tile. A field cutter is all it takes to chop the tiles.

The primary mistake folks make when putting in is reducing it tight in opposition to a wall. All floating flooring require an growth house — you’ll want anyplace from 1 / 4 inch to half an inch. 

Run the posh vinyl tile as much as the baseboard and canopy the hole with shoe molding. Simply make sure you safe the shoe molding to the baseboard. 

Comply with the instructions precisely concerning any underlayment. Relying on the kind you purchase, the underlayment might already be connected. 

Watch: The way to Simply Set up Luxurious Vinyl Tile

What to Do About Gaps in Crown Molding

That is the primary winter that Chris has spent in his new Alabama residence, and he’s seeing the consequences of thermal growth.

Over the previous months, he says important gaps have proven up within the crown molding all through the home.

“Ought to I ask my builder to appropriate the problem? If the gaps are crammed, will it trigger the molding to buckle when it will get hotter?” he asks.

It’s wonderful how a lot supplies in a house develop and contract, and possibly nowhere is it extra evident than while you’re crown molding.

The excellent news is these gaps will often shut on their very own as soon as hotter climate comes again round.

Nonetheless, when you’ve got some gaps which are very pronounced, right here’s what you are able to do:

• Nail it in place: Use a nail gun to safe the crown molding to the wall.
• Fill it with caulk: As an alternative of utilizing conventional caulk, rigorously apply an acrylic latex caulk. The trick is to barely feed it into the cracked space, in order that when it does shut again, it stays versatile. The hole will nonetheless seem however it gained’t be as deep or as noticeable. 

Hour 2

Hearken to study the simple technique to take away acorns out of your yard, why a glass cooktop can shatter, what it’s essential do to cowl terracotta tile and extra.

Eliminating an Acorn Overload

That is nuts! A home-owner says he has greater than 250,000 acorns in his entrance yard.

“In addition to raking, which I hate, how can I choose up the acorns? My self-propelled lawnmower doesn’t have the facility to select them up. Is there a chunk of apparatus appropriate for the job?” he asks.

Right here’s what you need to use to take away acorns from a yard:

1. Leaf blower: A leaf blower can blow the acorns right into a pile, making them simpler to gather. Bonus tip: Use a tarp to comprise the acorns whereas blowing them, making cleanup even simpler!

2. Garden vacuum: A garden vacuum can suck up acorns and take away them from the yard. These may be dear, so see in the event you can lease one, or rent a landscaper who owns one to make use of in your yard. 

To get rid of this drawback sooner or later, stop the acorns from falling within the first place. If potential, take away the tree or prune it in order that it doesn’t produce as many acorns.

Some chemical therapies can stop acorn manufacturing, however solely knowledgeable arborist ought to apply them.

Remember — eradicating acorns may be time-consuming and also you would possibly have to repeat it as new acorns fall.

All the time put on security gear to guard your self from falling acorns and pay attention to bugs or critters within the acorns or hiding within the tree.

‘Why Did My Glass Cooktop Shatter?’

A home-owner says the tempered glass on his fuel cooktop instantly shattered the opposite day, despite the fact that the equipment wasn’t on and he didn’t drop something onto it. 

“What would trigger that to occur?” he asks.

Tempered glass is designed to be sturdy and sturdy, however it could shatter unexpectedly for a number of causes.

A few of the commonest causes of tempered glass shattering embrace:

• Improper set up: If the cooktop isn’t put in accurately, it could put stress on the glass and trigger it to shatter. As an illustration, if the countertop is overlapping the cooktop, it might put some stress on the highest, finally inflicting it to shatter. 
• Thermal stress: If the cooktop or the glass is uncovered to fast adjustments in temperature, resembling from a scorching pot being positioned on a chilly cooktop or vice versa, it could trigger thermal stress and trigger the glass to shatter.
• Manufacturing defects: Typically, tempered glass can have manufacturing defects that make it extra susceptible to shattering. If so, report it to the producer.

You possibly can name knowledgeable to interchange the glass cooktop, however it is likely to be costly. Contemplate changing the equipment with a range that doesn’t have a glass cooktop. 

To forestall a glass cooktop from shattering, comply with the following pointers:

• Don’t place a scorching pot on a chilly cooktop or flip the cooktop on excessive and instantly place a chilly pot on it. This may trigger thermal stress and may trigger the glass to shatter.
• Use cookware with flat bottoms to distribute warmth evenly and stop warping or bending.
• Don’t slide cookware throughout the cooktop, as it could scratch or chip the glass.
• Don’t place heavy objects, resembling forged iron pans or stress cookers, on the cooktop as they’ll trigger affect injury.
• Clear the cooktop often with a gentle detergent and a non-abrasive sponge or material to take away any filth, grime or stains.
• Use a stovetop cowl to guard the cooktop from scratches or stains when not in use.
• Don’t overheat the cooktop, as it could trigger the glass to overheat and shatter.
• All the time comply with the producer’s directions for the care and use of your cooktop.

Masking Terracotta Tile

A home-owner has terracotta tiles all through her second-floor California apartment.

“The floor is simply too exhausting, very uncomfortable!” she says. “Can we have now extra comfy flooring put in on high? It looks like removing might be very costly, disruptive and noisy.”

As a result of conventional terracotta flooring has such an irregular floor, you’ll wish to apply a self-leveling underlayment to create a clean, even floor for putting in one other sort of flooring over it.

You would possibly run into the issue of elevating the ground top an excessive amount of to the place it could block home equipment from opening or make them not stage along with your cupboards and counters. Verify the peak of the brand new flooring to ensure this gained’t occur after you’ve put in it.

There are a number of choices for masking terracotta tiles, together with:

1. Vinyl flooring: Vinyl flooring may be put in over the present tiles and is sturdy and simple to scrub.
2. Engineered hardwood flooring: Engineered hardwood flooring may be put in over the present tiles and supply a heat and pure look.
3. Laminate flooring: Laminate flooring will also be put in over the present tiles and is obtainable in lots of types and colours.
4. Floating flooring: A floating flooring is a kind of flooring that’s not connected to the subfloor, such a flooring may be put in over the terracotta tiles and may be made of various supplies like laminate, engineered hardwood, or cork.

Seek the advice of with knowledgeable flooring specialist to find out the best choice on your particular state of affairs.

Finest New Merchandise

Milwaukee’s new battery pack retains instruments powered for longer, so there’s much less downtime throughout your initiatives. Study extra >>

Easy Options

Pool-Toy Plumbing Device — Earlier than repairing most plumbing clogs, it’s essential to first take away any standing water. Now, you could possibly use a sponge or moist/dry vac, however right here’s another choice: take a child’s water-squirting toy, generally known as a water blaster, and use it like a siphon pump. Merely place the nozzle of the toy into the water and draw again on the deal with to suck up the water. Then you possibly can squirt it right into a bucket, rest room or tub. That is nice for sink clogs, rest room clogs, or when you’ve got a malfunctioning washer that has water standing within the tub. 

Watch: The way to Take away Standing Water From a Clogged Sink

Paint Display screen Saver — When utilizing paint from a beforehand opened can, it’s greatest to move the paint by means of a filter to display out dried paint chips and different small bits of particles. You should purchase disposable paint filters, however they’re flimsy, not reusable and the paint flows by means of a lot too slowly. As an alternative, use a chunk of vinyl insect screening. Reduce the display about 12 or 14in. sq., safe it to a brand new, clear paint can with three small spring clamps, after which pour the outdated paint by means of the display. When accomplished, rinse out the display with a backyard hose and put it aside for the following paint job.

Watch: The way to Filter Paint Utilizing a Window Display screen

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