Author Archives: Dan Hansen

EP79: Paint that Paneling, Fire History with the Fire Marshal, Lead Poisoning Awareness and Prevention

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A lot of us have basements clad in 1970’s paneling. The rooms are dark and dated and many of us would like a change! Fortunately, making that change is easier than you might think. Today we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started!

We also interview Holland’s Fire Marshal, Bret Groendyke about the Great Fires of 1871. Chicago burned, but did you know that Holland did as well?

Finally, Grand Rapids has alarmingly high numbers when it comes to kids testing positive for lead poisoning. We’ve got information and some measures you can take to make sure your kids are safe!

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EP78: Cold Weather Painting, Allergens in the Home, Keep Mice Out!

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It’s getting colder and we still may have exterior projects to try to wrap up. When is too late to paint outside? What are the concerns? We cover all of that and more in today’s episode. We also discuss allergies with Dr. Vince Dubravec of Allergy/Asthma Specialists West Michigan and get the scoop on how to keep mice out of our homes from David Popp of Rose Pest Solutions!

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EP76: Caulk 101, Fire Safety with the Fire Marshal, Job Site Lessons

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Today’s show is all about safety! Well, except the parts that are about caulk and spalling brick.  Technically, those parts are not about safety. But that doesn’t make them any less interesting or valuable!

For example, if you’ve ever wondered why we use caulk on a paint project, or what the 30-year, 40-year, and 50-year references on each tube mean, then this segment is for you!

And if you’ve got a brick chimney or any brick on your house at all, you do not want to miss the segment about spalling brick. The info here could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

And then . . . there’s the actual safety segment I referred to in the beginning! Holland’s Fire Marshal, Bret Groendyke sits down with us to talk about some great tips to help us stay safe should we ever experience a fire in our homes. It’s great info and perfect for everyone in the family!

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EP75: Furnace Filters, Store Paint Dilemmas, and Damp Basement Fixes

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Last week we talked about the Home Repair Services Home Maintenance class. We actually attended the class and learned a TON of things. They talked briefly about furnace filters and changing them…and that got us thinking. What happens if we DON’T change the filter? Is it like not taking the lint from the lint trap in our dryer and it could start a fire?

In the first segment, Brad Krause, President of Service Professor, stops by to answer all of our burning questions when it comes to our furnace.

We are excited for segments 2 and 3 because our very own Plainfield Bob drops in for a chat. Bob is the manager at our Plainfield store. He is very funny and has lots of knowledge when it comes to paint. And he’s going to help us give you all kinds of things to think about when you head to the paint store. After listening to this, all of your paint dilemmas will be solved!

And last, but not least, we are talking about damp basements. It’s fall and rain will come. And we know that many of us struggle with water seeping in. We’re here to help you get started in making your basement a dry, usable space. And it all starts outside.

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EP74: Van Raalte Farm, Hammers, and Fall Home Maintenance

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A while back, Betsy got involved with the restoration of the Van Raalte Farm in Holland. She worked with Carolina Marquis to choose wallpaper and paint for the main level, as well as paint colors for the exterior. It is an ongoing project and a true labor of love for everyone involved.

In the first two segments we talk to Steve Zwiep, the City of Holland Parks Supervisor. He has overseen the ongoing restoration of the Van Raalte Farm. He gives us a brief history and walks us through the many projects a historic restoration takes.

In segment 3 we talk about hammers. Now, this may seem boring, but there is so much more to consider when buying a hammer than we ever knew! It’s time to find the one that’s PERFECT for you!

And finally, Home Repair Services in Grand Rapids has a great Fall Home Maintenance class. And we are getting a sneak peek!

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SHOW NOTES

SEGMENTS 1 & 2: VAN RAALTE FARM RESTORATION

This has been an amazing restoration project. Reproductions of historic wallpapers and historic paint colors now adorn the walls. The exterior has a fresh coat of paint and a new porch. It is a truly beautiful farm that is something you should really check out! CLICK HERE to see everything the farm has to offer!

SEGMENT 4: FALL HOME MAINTENANCE 

Now we’ve talked about this non-profit a lot, but for good reason. They have so much to offer homeowners. Mike Zamarron from Home Repair Services in Grand Rapids stops by to give us a sneak peek of the FREE Fall Home Maintenance class they’re holding today. And if you can’t make it to this class, check out some of the other free “Fix-It School” classes they offer that are open to anyone; even if you live in the U.P. or out of state and are willing to make the drive!

EP73: Gilda’s Club, Building Your Inspiration, Finding Your Vision

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Today’s a little different. We sit down with Jeff Larabel to talk about an event he’s organizing: The Second Annual Ruth Larabel Yahtzee Tournament! It takes place on September 8 and all the proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Grief Counseling Program at Gilda’s Club, a Grand Rapids organization that provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families, and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause. RepcoLite is happy to provide one of the prizes for the auction. More details about the event are below!

We also interview Faye Fredericks, a listener who wrote to us after a segment several weeks ago about Frank Lloyd Wright. Faye has a story about what it takes to get what you want when you tackle a building project, a remodel, or even a repaint! It is a great interview and Faye is a ton of fun! We’ve also got a little bonus story from Faye that didn’t fit into the show. Don’t miss out on that! It’s below in the notes for segments 2 and 3.

Finally, we end the show where we figured we should: giving you some ideas as to how you can create or discover your own vision. Faye makes a point that lots of us don’t know what we really want. How do we find out? We’ve got some tips. And we’ve got a “first-of-its-kind” event coming up this fall that will help you! More info in the notes for segment 4.

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SHOW NOTES

SEGMENT 1: GILDA’S CLUB

  • The Yahtzee tournament will be held at GILDA’S Clubhouse 1806 Bridge St. Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
  • It is open to the public there is seating for 120 participants. Raffle tickets will be sold and there will be a raffle after every other game, we will play six games.
  • Top four high scores will win prizes for their placement. Afterwards there will be a drawing for the auction prizes.
  • Snacks and refreshments will be provided for a goodwill offering.

SEGMENT 2 and 3: BUILDING YOUR INSPIRATION

We are so happy Faye and Jim Fredericks took time to share their story with us. Unfortunately, they shared a number of other stories that couldn’t make it into the show. Here are a couple of our favorites!
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SEGMENT 4: FINDING YOUR VISION

Finding your vision can sometimes be easier said that done. But we want to help! Coming up on September 7, at the Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville, we are hosting an amazing color and design event! Benjamin Moore will unveil the new color of the year, we’ll talk about what it takes to create your vision, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk with experts in the flooring, furniture, design, and paint industry. On top of that, we’ll have some pretty amazing food and wine! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!