Author Archives: Dan Hansen

EP43 – January 27, 2018: Selling Your Home In Winter, Extension Cords, Marine Varnish Question, The Perfect Light!

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Selling your home in the winter seems counter intuitive. Everyone waits until Spring, right? That’s the perfect time to list, right? Well, if you want to sell the house quickly and for the highest dollar possible, Winter might actually be your best bet! Roger Allan from Keller Williams Lakeshore Realty is with us and he makes a compelling case for listing now!

We’re also joined by Renee Huff from The Lighting Corner and she’s going to talk about the pivotal role lighting plays in our homes and in our decorating!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 043:

The weather is cold and the ground is white...at least in some areas. Now is the perfect time to sell your house, right? We sat down with realtor Roger Allan from Keller Williams Lakeshore Realty in Holland to discuss this. Most people think winter is the worst time to sell a home. But Roger says now is the best time!
Do you have a new power tool? Do you want to ruin it very quickly? Use the wrong extension cord and you are on your way to success! Most people aren't aware that they need different extension cords for different tools. The more power the tool needs and the further from the outlet it is, the bigger your extension cord should be. We walk you through the basics of choosing the best extension cord for every job.  
Need to reach 25' or less14 Gauge Extension CordWill deliver up to 15 amps
Need to reach up to 50'12 Gauge Extension CordWill deliver up to 15 amps
Need to reach up to 100'10 Gauge Extension CordWill deliver up to 15 amps
Because we got such good questions at the Remodeling and New Homes Show a couple weeks ago, we decided to answer a few more. The first question has to do with choosing color. Many people struggle with this because there are so many options and they don't know where to start. We'll give you some tips to put you on the right path to color bliss. The other questions is about using a marine varnish on window sills. We'll tell you if it's a good or bad idea and why.
In the paint industry, we know how important light is to the final color outcome. A light bulb can actually make OR break a color scheme. Renee Huff from The Lighting Corner in Grandville stopped by to talk all things light bulbs. She discussed the differences in bulbs (CFL, LED, etc.), how to choose a bulb according to where it falls on the Kelvin heat scale, and so much more! This is a segment that is absolutely worth the time!

EP42 – January 20, 2018: Get the Lead Out, Ask RepcoLite, Tools You Can’t Cheap Out On, Painting Cabinets

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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 042:

Statistics show that Grand Rapids is seeing an alarming jump in children with elevated lead levels and lead poisoning. This is a concern because lead poisoning can cause brain, liver, and heart damage. Some people assume the lead must be coming from water but, in actuality, it's coming from paint. Any home built before 1978  (the year lead paint was banned) is likely to have lead-based paint. Because this problem seems to be on the rise, we sat down with Paul Hann, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition to discuss some of the local lead concerns and what parents can do. We also discuss programs like the Michigan Lead Safe Home Program and Get the Lead Out! Grand Rapids that offer financial assistance for lead problems in homes. If you have lead concerns, you can call the Healthy Homes Coalition at (616) 241-3300 or contact them through their website.
We recently had a couple listeners ask questions that we are guessing other people may have as well. One listener has 40+ year old oil paint she wants to paint over. Another listener just bought a cottage and discovered the previous owner put wallpaper in the stall above the shower. Both listeners are looking for advice on the best way to deal with their situation. And, of course, we are happy to oblige!
We recently read an article in Popular Mechanics about tools you should never skimp on. And that got us thinking...we've done a lot of projects lately and having GOOD tools has made all the difference. Dan and Betsy both have the tendency to save a bit of money when it comes to buying tools. But, lesson learned! The screwdriver set you buy for $1 barely lasts through the first screw...and it was a set of 12!!
Dan and Betsy spent last weekend at the Remodeling and New Homes Show, talking to customers and listeners. What was amazing was almost EVERYONE had the same question: how do I paint my cabinets? For those who didn't hear the answer or didn't get a chance to ask the question, we'll tell you how to do it.

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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