Author Archives: Dan Hansen

EP41 – January 13, 2018: Painting Over Lead Paint, Whole House Audio, Intro to Roller Covers, Bidets for America!

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Some episode are a lot of fun. Others are packed with information. This one is both! On episode 41 of the RepcoLite Home Improvement Show, we cover everything from important lead safe paint information to the hilarious (and informative) discussion about the benefits of bidets. It’s definitely an episode with something for everyone!

Listen here:

Show notes for Episode 041:

We received a question from a customer who was concerned about the right way to paint over oil-based paint that's been on her for over 40 years. Sounds straightforward and easy, right? Well, except for the fact that anything painted before 1978 has the potential to contain lead!

Based on that, we walk through the proper steps to safely and effectively encapsulate that potential lead paint and update the trim!

In the course of the conversation, we also discussed a number of Lead Paint programs designed to monetarily aid you in the process of making your home lead-safe. Here are the links we spoke about on the show:

We interview John Higgs from Classic Stereo in Grand Rapids to discuss the benefits and accessibility of whole house audio! If you're interested, you can contact John here!

While clearly not the flashiest or most exciting of topics, roller covers are essential to getting great results on your next paint job. And choosing the right one is critical! But with so many options out there, how do you know which one's right? Today we keep it light and still break down the most common sizes and where and when you would use each one!

Well, this segment has been 41 weeks in the making! When we started this Home Improvement Show, we interviewed Mark DeVisser from the Plumber is Here about another topic. After that interview, and off the record, Mark, launched into one of the most hilariously frank discussions about bidets we've ever encountered. We knew we wanted to re-do that discussion on the radio . . . but we also knew we needed to establish ourselves a bit before we launched into a bidet talk!

Well, that moment has now arrived. And today we aired our favorite segment to date! It's funny AND informative. Check it out!

EP40 – January 6, 2018: 15-Minute Regimen, Gel Stain Cabinet Fix, Winter Pet Safety, and Dan’s Bathroom Re-do

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This week we cover a number of interesting topics. One of which is a concept that Dan thinks is brilliant: a 15-minute home improvement regimen! Yes, it sounds a little goofy, but you will be amazed at the amount of work you can accomplish by just spending 15 minutes a night working on it. It’s painless, quick, almost fun. And if you do it a few nights in a row, you’ll be blown away by how much work you crank out! On top of that, we spend some time talking about what we need to do as pet owners to keep our furry friends safe during these cold winter days!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 040:

Things pile up over time when we don't stay on top of them. Weight is a perfect example. Let it go for a little while and before you know it, some unwanted pounds have found a new home around our middle!

Well, the same thing happens in our home. Little projects add up and before you know it, we've got tons of jobs to do and no idea where to begin!

Rather than jump into a crash-course of home improvement projects, why not instead create a manageable schedule that will help you easily and relatively painlessly take off those "extra pounds"? That's what we talk about today!

Looking to refresh your kitchen cabinets without completely stripping them down and starting over? If you're dealing with a few scratches or some worn areas, we might have a fix for you that will save you tons of time!

Here are a few photos submitted by a customer who gave the project a try!

The weather has been frigidly cold and while we all bundle up with layers and layers, we don't always think about our pets! Sure, they're covered in fur, but they can still get hypothermia and they can still suffer in weather like this. But just moving them into the garage may not be the answer. In this segment we talk about a number of different precautions we should all be talking to keep our furry friends safe and warm!

In this segment, we break down a bathroom re-do Dan just recently undertook. We talk about the materials used and the lessons learned! And hopefully provide everyone listening with the information and encouragement to step outside of their comfort zone and jump into a project!

EP39 – December 30, 2017: Paint Dilemmas, Kitchen Appliance Trends, Advancements in Paint

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Paint dilemmas happen all the time! To pros and to DIYers. No matter how much experience we may have, we all make a mistake from time to time. Well, today we go over a number of those common mishaps and give you everything you need to know to avoid them!

Listen here:

Show notes for Episode 039:

When we tackle a paint project there are often little mistakes we all make from time to time. Whether we're pros or whether we're new DIYers, these mistakes are easy to make! Today, we go through a list of some of the most common ones and talk about how to avoid them!

Today we're joined in the studio by Steve Rozema from Northgate Appliance. And our goal is to talk about some of the current trends in kitchen appliances. We'll cover everything from the most popular colors to the trendiest styles!

For our last segment today, we sit down with Jeff Mott the manager of our Lakewood Blvd. location. Jeff has been in the paint industry since childhood! His parents owned the Color House in Holland and, eventually, so did Jeff. Now he works for RepcoLite and we thought we'd tap his vast knowledge and years of experience to see what he thinks are some of the greatest advancements in the industry!

EP38 – December 23, 2017: Prevent Freezing Pipes, Home Theater Equipment, and Creating the Right Atmosphere

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Home theaters are becoming popular areas in homes. And while not everyone can have a designated theater room, it’s possible to have the same experience in your family room. It just takes the right equipment and the right paint to create the perfect atmosphere.

And if you aren’t quite ready to jump on the home theater bandwagon, don’t worry! We’ll give you things to think about to create the perfect atmosphere in every room, every time.

Listen here:


Show notes for episode 038:

We recently saw a Facebook post from Great Lakes Plumbing Services (aka The Plumber is Here!) talking about freezing pipes. We've had a lot of cold weather recently and freezing pipes are certainly possible; especially with the holidays and people being out of town for extended periods of time. To help you avoid a potential disaster, we asked Mark DeVisser from Great Lakes Plumbing Services to stop by and give us the rundown on preventing your pipes from springing a leak.
You sit down with the family to watch a movie. You pop in the disc, retreat to the couch and wait for the sound to blast from your tv. Don't you wish you had surround sound? Or better yet, an all immersive sound experience where it really sounds like the helicopters are just above you?! John Higgs from Classic Stereo drops in to talk all things home theater. There's a lot of new technology that can be used with the technology you already have. This will save money but give you a whole new experience!
This segment is actually two parts. In the first part, we briefly discuss a very cool RepcoLite Product: Movie Night Paint. Movie Night is an amazing projection screen paint that is (gasp!) affordable. RepcoLite's Dave Helmholdt helped develop the product so we asked him to come add his thoughts. We then shift gears just a bit (because there are some people who are sick of talking about home theaters), and talk about creating the right atmosphere. Now this does pertain to home theaters, but it also pertains to home decorating in general. So often, the atmosphere of a home is dictated by the color and paint choice. Why not change it up and choose the atmosphere you want and then get the color and products to help you achieve it?

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EP37 – December 16, 2017: Common Painting Mistakes, Holiday Fire Prevention, and Creative Wallpaper Ideas

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It’s time for a reality check–Christmas is just over a week away. That means even more chaos and stress than usual. Are you thinking about ways to prevent a fire in your home and what to do if there IS one? Probably not. But you should be.

Many people think that Christmas trees start most house fires around the holidays. Surprisingly, that is not the case. The most common cause of house fires is something we do every day. But the good news is that it can be prevented if we just slow down and pay attention. We want to help keep your holidays merry by helping you stay safe.

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 037:

Have you ever left of the lid off a paint can...then stepped on the lid? Have you ever chosen a color, only to paint the whole room and decide you can't stand the color? There are lots of very common painting mistakes that almost EVERYONE makes.

The good news is that they are all avoidable. We've got the mistakes AND the way to avoid them. You won't be spending extra time fixing mistakes or cleaning up messes. You can get straight to enjoying your work!

If you are like Betsy and have a real Christmas tree in your house, you may have some nagging concern that it will catch your house on fire. Most of us have seen the videos of this happening and in under a minute the entire room is engulfed in flames. But did you know that Christmas trees are not the most common source of fires? In fact, the thing that starts the most fires is something we ALL do. We were surprised at the most common cause.

Captain Chris Tinney of the Holland Fire Department stopped by to talk about fire hazards during the holidays. Some of the information really surprised us and caused us to take just a few extra minutes to pay attention to what we are doing. He also had some good advice about using a fire extinguisher.

Captain Tinney took just a few minutes to discuss the Kidde Fire Extinguisher recall. Most of the problems come from the nozzle clogging, detaching, or the unit not discharging at all. The recall involves almost 38 million units. It doesn't hurt to check your unit here to see if it has been recalled.

Ok, this is not your grandma's wallpaper! Gone are the days of totally country or tiny floral prints. Now we have beautiful colors, amazing geometrics, and fantastic metallics. Put those to use in some unusual ways. Get inspired. Get creative. Wallpaper can add personality to any project.

For more inspiration, check out our Pinterest board! And feel free to share photos of your wallpaper creations with us at radio@repcolite.com or on our Facebook page.  

You Wallpapered What?!

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EP36 – December 9, 2017: Wood Staining Basics, Snowblower Buying, DIY Gifts, and Wallpaper Stripping

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Christmas time can be very stressful! Not only does life seem to be more chaotic this time of year, but there are gifts to be bought and that alone causes panic. What do you get for someone who has everything? What if they don’t like what you give them? Are you just wasting your money?

In the spirit of giving, we thought we would help make everyone’s shopping a little easier by giving you our lists of great gift ideas (suited for every budget!) for that DIYer in your life. Most are practical, some are a must, and others may be as much a gift to the giver as to the receiver.

Listen here:

Show notes for Episode 036:

It's not uncommon for people to start a wood staining project only to discover--very quickly--that the wood they're staining doesn't seem to take the stain the way they had expected. And when that happens, things get frustrating quickly!

On this segment, we talk about some common woods and their limitations when it comes to accepting stain. We also dig into some of the concessions we as homeowners have to make when tackling a staining project. After all, wood is a natural substrate and as such, it's full of "character"! And that means the pieces aren't going to be exact duplicates. There will be variations. Accepting it right at the beginning will help.

And here's a bonus point that didn't make it into the broadcast:

On top of EVERYTHING we said in the segment, if you have the opportunity, before you have custom cabinets, built-ins or even trim installed, talk to the finisher. The builder you hire can direct you to the finisher he or she uses. And once you can actually sit down with that person, take time to discuss the color you want to achieve with your stain and listen to the recommendations regarding wood choices!

Finishers are always in the position on a job to take whatever wood was used and make it beautiful. And sometimes, this is a monumental task. They definitely know what woods are going to produce the best results and can make some solid recommendations for you based on the color you want to achieve. Take that info to your builder and see if you can have the items built in that wood so you end up with the color results you want.

If you don't have a finisher or are doing the work yourself, make sure you stop at any RepcoLite or Port City Paints Store, and bring your target color and we will gladly make a wood recommendation!

Some of us procrastinate when it comes to buying a snowblower. We really just want to see snow on the ground and KNOW it's going to stay before we shell out the cash.

Or, sometimes we find ourselves in the market because after the first real snowfall happens, we start our old one up only to realize that last year was it's last year!

Whatever your situation, if you're in the market for a snowblower, we've got answers! We're on the phone with Larry Bergman from Bergman Power Equipment and he's got some solid recommendations to help you make sure you pick up the right machine for your situation!

Looking for a great list of home improvement tools for that DIYer on your Christmas list? We've got the best recommendations out there.

Around $10

Dan's Choice

My first choice is a good tape measure. Yes, it's boring. No, it's not flashy. But it is practical.

The tape measure I like is called the TRUST 72-7525 Tape Measure. You can pick it up for around $12 (so I'm stretching the price limits a little), but it's worth it!

Betsy's Choice

My first choice is cooler than Dan's: it's a bucket organizer. Simply put it in a 5-gallon bucket and you've instantly got a very portable tool box!

It has pockets and looks for all your tools and you can put larger items in the bucket. It also works great for all your painting supplies.

Around $25

Dan's Choice

A stud finder. Stop pounding the walls and hoping to hear a different sound. And even more so, stop pounding nails in the walls in little trial and error sections! I've done both and definitely have enjoyed the ease of use and accuracy of a stud finder. No, they're not perfect. Yes, they can make mistakes from time to time. But overall, it's a time saver and a wall saver!

Betsy's Choice

A multi-tool. I love these things! And while you could go crazy and buy a very expensive one, even a $25 multi-tool will get you at least a knife, a pliers, a wire cutters, and flat head and Phillips head screwdrivers! Everything you need to use in a pinch!

Around $50

Dan's Choice

An orbital sander. You'll use it all the time and on all kinds of different projects. I've used it to sand everything from furniture, to boards, to the edges of a deck where a bigger floor unit wouldn't reach. It is remarkably handy. And best of all, you can get a good one for under $50.

Betsy's Choice

Vampliers Screw Extraction Pliers! These these are AWESOME! I did everything I could on-air to describe them, but a picture's worth 1000 words. The rows of teeth are designed to grab even the slipperiest screw and help you extract it with ease! Just read the reviews on this tool! It's definitely something for every toolbox. And, best of all, it prices out at about $40. So you've got $10 you can spend on that bucket organizer!

Around $100

Dan's Choice

A jigsaw. And a good one. Don't skimp! Get one that has variable speeds and an easy mechanism for changing blades. This is another of those tools that is a workhorse around the home. No, it's not as fancy as Betsy's Vampliers, but you're going to use it way more! (Unless you routinely strip screws!) The biggest point to stress here is to invest in a good saw. Read reviews, ask questions and find one that will do what you need.

Betsy's Choice

A laser measure. Specifically, I'm recommending the Bosch GLM 40 Laser Measure. It'll measure area, length, volume and will also do addition and subtraction! It's pocket sized and is perfect for anyone who has the need to measure larger areas, like rooms, on a regular basis.

However, as Dan pointed out, NEVER point the laser at a helicopter or an airplane or any other vehicle or person for that matter! Trouble will ensue. Don't believe us, look below (and consider this a bonus present for the holidays that will keep you out of court and prison!)

Over $100

Dan's Choice

If you can spend the money on someone you love dearly, you can't go wrong with this drill/driver and impact driver combo set! As we mentioned in the show, an impact driver is an amazing tool if you drive a lot of screws. It's better than any other tool at the job and makes easy work of drilling screws into even the thickest, most dense boards.

Betsy's Choice

Man Crates. Yes. You read that correctly. As Dan said, they're basically funny and cool crafty kits for guys. There are knife making kits, pipe carving kits, a chef kit (complete with band-aids). And best of all, many of them come in super cute (ahem, I mean ultra-manly) wooden crates. With a tiny pry bar. Which is actually half the fun! Give the gift and then laugh til you cry as your loved one tries to open it! It's awesome. Unique. And definitely makes me the winner of this contest! Check them out!

When you hear the words "wallpaper stripping," do you cringe? When you see dated wallpaper in a potential new home that will have to be stripped, do you make a beeline for the door and cross the house off your list? These seem to be common reactions when people even THINK of stripping wallpaper. And this can happen for a couple of different reasons.
  1. People have stripped wallpaper before and had a terrible experience.
  2. People have heard horror stories of stripping wallpaper and don't want any part of it.
Our goal with this segment is to give you all the information you need to make wallpaper stripping painless and to ensure success. Betsy is of the opinion that it can even be (gasp!) fun and oddly satisfying as the paper comes off in large sheets.  
And....spolier alert!
The secret to stripping wallpaper is PATIENCE and KEEPING THE PAPER WET! These two things will put you on the path to wallpaper stripping glory!  

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