Author Archives: Dan Hansen

EP94: Tool Belt History, Hiring a Contractor, and Baking Soda Super Hero!

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For some reason, most of us associate tool belts with guys. And more specifically, construction workers. But did you know its origin is actually as a piece of female jewelry? Even back in the times of Ancient Rome, it was a piece of jewelry that served a purpose. And ladies, you can take a cue from Fendi and make it a fashion statement!

And we’re lucky enough to have Jon DeGraaf, Owner and President of Jon DeGraaf Painting, sit down and discuss steps we should take when hiring a contractor. Now, we talk about a painting contractor, but this information is good for ANY type of contractor you hire!

And, if you happen to be looking for a painting contractor, we can help! Call any RepcoLite or Port City Paints or stop in. You can also fill out the form on our webpage and we’ll email the names and contact information of painters in your area who would be PERFECT for your project!

And last, but certainly not least, is a segment dedicated to the super hero in your kitchen cabinet: baking soda! It has tons of cleaning and deodorizing uses, but it will also go a long ways to keeping your stomach in check with certain foods and drinks. It really should be wearing a cape!

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EP93: Which Screw to Choose, History and True Stories of Port City Paints, and Duct Tape in Space!

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We’ve been building a lot of things for home shows recently. And it seems as though we are constantly running out to get new screws. Either we don’t have the right size, or they aren’t working the way we need them too, or we just plain don’t have enough of what we need. It’s a bit maddening!

In our first segment, we’ll dig in to what we’ve recently learned about screws. We’ll talk about the different types, how they came to be, what we found works best, and why it’s so important to have an organized stock pile.

Our second segment is ushered in with our very own Abe Pastoor from port City in Muskegon. Port City is part of the RepcoLite family and Abe shares its long history. He also tells us some crazy stories about the building that are actually true. Creep factor anyone?!

And finally, the pièce de résistance, a segment all about duct tape. And not just any segment about duct tape. It’s about duct tape in space and why it’s a critical part of the gear astronauts ALWAYS have.

If you are interested in reading some of the amazing stories of duct tape in space, check out the NASA website. Or read the most recent story of duct tape on the ISS. And if you just want a guaranteed smile, check out this short clip of  Astronaut Gene Cernan skipping and singing on the moon.

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EP92 – January 12, 2019: Hot Tubs, Finding the Right Brush, and the Beauty of Older Homes

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Old homes can surprise us. Sure, buying one can sometimes involves some work to get it to the condition we prefer, but the benefits to doing so can be huge! They’re full of character, timeless beauty, and they’re often constructed of superior building materials! On this episode of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show, we’re in the studio with Sharon Ferraro, the Historic Preservation Coordinator of Kalamazoo. She’s a wealth of information and will talk about everything you need to know when looking at an old home!

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Show notes for episode 046:

Hot tubs look relaxing, fun, exciting, cool, and honestly, just plain awesome. But, how much do they run? How expensive are they to maintain? Can you install one on a raised deck? There are a LOT of questions!

Today, we're in the studio with Zagers Pool and Spa and we're going to get the answer to all of this and more!

OK. The fact of the matter is that the Brush Aisle in any paint store is a confusing place. A lot of headscratching occurs there! However, it's not as random or haphazard as it may look. There's a method to the madness. And once you understand a few brush basics, you'll be choosing the right brush for your next project with no concerns!

There is a timeless beauty to old houses. The old wood floors, the beautiful woodwork, the character and history draw many of us in.

Today we are in the studio with Sharon Ferraro, the Historic Preservation Coordinator for Kalamazoo and we talk about everything from the difference between an old house and a historic house to the reasons why an old house might be the perfect "new" house for you!

EP91: Pantry Organization, Decorating With Leftovers (NOT food!), Washer & Dryer Problems, and Best Home Improvement Projects

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With the new year generally comes New Year’s Resolutions. These resolutions come in all different forms. Some people resolve to lose weight. Or to eat more healthy. Or to go to the gym more. Or to be more organized. And while we may not be able to help you with the first three, we can certainly help you with the last one. Especially if you are talking about the dreaded pantry. It’s kind of like the closets, except without the dirty socks….hopefully. We’ve got some ideas to help keep you from losing food in the back depths of your pantry.

And after we’ve helped you get organized, we’re going to help you decorate with the items you already have. So often we think that the things we own (such as a table or couch) limits what we can do in a space. But it certainly doesn’t have to! Step out of the box and try something new!

In our third segment, we’re chatting with Joe Rogers and Scott Hosteter from West End Appliance about common problems with washers and dryers. Some things we might be able to fix. Some things we might have to call them for. And some things can be avoided all together if we just take the right steps.

And to close the show, we’re going to discuss some of what we feel are the best home improvement projects. They’re all quite simple and will make you feel better about your home.

 

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EP90: Movie Tool Misses, Projects for Selling Your Home, and Painting Paneling Question

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During the holidays a lot of people go to the movies. We get sucked in by the action and suspense. But watch closely. If you do, you may notice that some integral parts of tools are missing. What good is an air nailer without a hose and air source? We’ve watched the movies and now we’re going to pick them apart.

And, with the new year approaching, you might be thinking it’s the year to sell your home. That’s why we’ve invited Karla Huitsing, owner of Keller Williams Rivertown, to share with us some of the best projects that will pay you back in the end.

And finally, we took a questions from a listener (and a guest on our show) about painting paneling. The catch is, it’s not just any paneling. It’s paneling in a cottage up north that is only occupied on weekends. Is it ok to do different painting steps weeks apart when the temperature can get so cold inside? We’ll give you the answer in our last segment!

 

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EP89: Death of the Aluminum Christmas Tree, Painted Tin Ceiling, and Escape Room Debriefing!

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So, if you are a child of the late 50’s or early 60’s, it’s likely you’ll remember the aluminum Christmas tree. But, if you were born after 1965, it’s entirely likely you’ve only seen pictures of them (or maybe in an antique store, if you’re lucky). The reason for this is the 1965 debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Yes, that’s right, Charlie Brown single-handedly brought down the aluminum Christmas tree industry. We’ve got the story of that and the reason for their comeback in the first segment.

We’re also taking a call from a listener, Ruth, who has an old farmhouse tin ceiling. The ceiling was painted quite a while ago and the paint is starting to peel in some areas. We’ll tell her why that is and what she needs to do next.

And finally, Jeff Rietveld from Out of the Box Games is dropping by to give us the results of our recent Escape Room challenge. He’s also going to do a short debriefing to tell us what we did well and what we need to work on for next time. And no matter how we did, these Escape Rooms are something we can’t recommend enough!

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