At this time’s House 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 householders searching for a sturdy, waterproof, and easy-to-clean flooring possibility.

Additionally, it’s one of the inexpensive flooring choices, making it an incredible alternative for budget-conscious householders. Joe researched the prices and right here’s what he discovered: 

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

So, if you happen to set up it your self, it might solely price 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 individuals make when putting in is slicing it tight in opposition to a wall. All floating flooring require an growth area — you’ll want wherever from 1 / 4 inch to half an inch. 

Run the luxurious 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. 

Observe the instructions precisely relating to any underlayment. Relying on the sort you purchase, the underlayment might already be connected. 

Watch: Find out how to Simply Set up Luxurious Vinyl Tile

What to Do About Gaps in Crown Molding

That is the primary winter that Chris in Alabama has spent in his new dwelling, and he’s seeing the results 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 difficulty? If the gaps are crammed will it trigger the molding to buckle when it will get hotter?” he asks.

It’s superb how a lot supplies in a house broaden and contract, and doubtless nowhere is it extra evident than while you’re taking a look at crown molding.

These gaps will normally shut on their very own as soon as hotter climate comes again round. 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 but it surely gained’t be as deep or as noticeable. 

Hour 2

Hearken to be taught the simple solution to take away acorns out of your yard, why a glass cooktop can shatter, what that you must 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.

“Apart from 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 kit appropriate for the job?” he asks.

Right here’s what you need to use to take away 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 if you happen to can hire one, or rent a landscaper who owns one to make use of in your yard. 

To remove this drawback sooner or later, forestall the acorns from falling within the first place. If attainable, take away the tree or prune it in order that it doesn’t produce as many acorns.

Some chemical remedies can forestall acorn manufacturing, however solely knowledgeable arborist ought to apply them.

Bear in mind — 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, regardless that it 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 might shatter unexpectedly for a number of causes. A few of the most typical causes of tempered glass shattering embrace:

• Improper set up: If the cooktop isn’t put in accurately, it might put stress on the glass and trigger it to shatter. As an example, 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, reminiscent of from a sizzling pot being positioned on a chilly cooktop or vice versa, it might trigger thermal stress and trigger the glass to shatter.
• Manufacturing defects: Typically, tempered glass can have manufacturing defects that make it extra vulnerable to shattering. If that is so, report it to the producer.

You’ll be able to name knowledgeable to switch the glass cooktop, but it surely is perhaps costly. Take into account changing it with a range that doesn’t have a glass cooktop. 

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

• Don’t place a sizzling pot on a chilly cooktop or flip the cooktop on excessive and instantly place a chilly pot on it. This could 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 might scratch or chip the glass.
• Do =n’t place heavy objects, reminiscent of forged iron pans or strain cookers, on the cooktop as they will trigger influence harm.
• Clear the cooktop often with a gentle detergent and a non-abrasive sponge or fabric to take away any dust, 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 might 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 rental.

“The floor is simply too laborious, very uncomfortable!” she says. “Can we’ve got extra snug flooring put in on high? It looks like removing can be very costly, disruptive and noisy.”

As a result of conventional terracotta flooring has such an irregular floor, you’ll need to apply a self-leveling underlayment to create a easy, 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 might block home equipment from opening or make them not degree along with your cupboards and counters. Test the peak of the brand new flooring to verify 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 straightforward to wash.
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 may also be put in over the present tiles and is obtainable in lots of kinds and colours.
4. Floating ground: A floating ground is a sort of flooring that isn’t 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 in your particular scenario.

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 Software — Earlier than repairing most plumbing clogs, you have to first take away any standing water. Now, you possibly can use a sponge or moist/dry vac, however right here’s an alternative choice: take a child’s water-squirting toy, generally referred to 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 may squirt it right into a bucket, bathroom or tub. That is nice for sink clogs, bathroom clogs, or if in case you have a malfunctioning washer that has water standing within the tub. 

Watch: Find out how to Take away Standing Water From a Clogged Sink

Paint Display screen Saver — When utilizing paint from a beforehand opened can, it’s finest to go the paint by a filter to display screen out dried paint chips and different small bits of particles. You should buy disposable paint filters, however they’re flimsy, not reusable and the paint flows by a lot too slowly. As an alternative, use a chunk of vinyl insect screening. Reduce the display screen 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 the display screen. When performed, rinse out the display screen with a backyard hose and reserve it for the following paint job.

Watch: Find out how to Filter Paint Utilizing a Window Display screen

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