Author Archives: Dan Hansen

Episode 259: Eight Steps to Staying on Budget for Your Next Project

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SEGMENT 1: Stain or Paint?

We received a great question from a listener regarding some cedar columns outside his home. They’re bare wood and he wants them white . . . what’s the process, and what products should he be using: Solid Color Stain or Paint?

SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Eight Steps to Staying on Budget for Your Next Project

Andy Yates from Andy Yates Design joins us to discuss 8 ways to stay on budget. With supply shortages and rising prices, this is critical info if you’re starting, or thinking about starting, a home renovation or a new build!

SEGMENT 4: Hailey’s New Best Friend, Lomi

Hailey has replaced her inner circle of friends with a new favorite: an appliance named Lomi. Lomi is a countertop composter . . . and Hailey adores it.

Episode 258: Peeling Paint and Buzzing Bees

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SEGMENT 1: Lead Paint Dilemma

Hailey’s older home has some peeling paint and is in need of some work. However . . . the whole project took a turn when she discovered that the existing paint is lead based. We discuss what the project looks like now and all the things you need to know if you’re in the same situation.

SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Beekeeping 101

Recently Hailey started considering a new hobby: beekeeping! To get her feet underneath her she attended a meeting hosted by the Grand Rapids Bee Club and was blown away by all the info presented.

SEGMENT 4: Front Door Facelift

A listener posted a question regarding her front door–a steel door with badly peeling paint. She wanted to know what she needs to do to get it looking great again! It’s a terrific project with a big payoff and we cover all the bases….

Episode 257: The Glass-Cleaning Miracle, Bookshop Magic, and The Mural Cover-up

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SEGMENT 1: The Glass-Cleaning Miracle

Last weekend, Dan stumbled into a streak-free solution to cleaning windows. It’s ridiculously simple and chemical free. Basically, you just need water and these special, microfiber rags (link below). The best news? The system really works!

SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Bookshop Magic

Segments 2 and 3: Bookshop Magic

From time to time, we highlight what we call “Gems of West Michigan”–businesses we want more and more people to know about because we think they’re amazing. Well, this week, we interview Aimee Chipman, owner of the Bluestocking Bookshop in Holland to talk about the Bookshop Magic that keeps her customers coming back again and again!

Check their website for renovation updates, shopping links, and more!

SEGMENT 4: Mural Cover-up

We’ve talked about painting murals onto your walls, but we’ve never really talked about painting OVER them! If you’re ready to cover over a mural and get back to a single color on your wall, there are a few things you’ll want to know to make sure you get great results….

Episode 256: Reviving Your Hardwood Floors and More!

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SEGMENT 1: Chicken Trouble

The chickens across the street from Hailey got out the other day. At first, it was cute. But then, she found that they had The Hunger. Before she really knew what was happening, they were running around, eating road kill, and . . . Well, she’ll tell the story. We also highlight the Wooster Sherlock 9″ Roller Frame which is on sale through April.

SEGMENT 2: Good Earth Tree Care

Brett Nelson from Good Earth Tree Care joins us to talk about rock climbing, pruning, tree removal, and a wide variety of ways to tell if a tree or branch is unhealthy.

SEGMENT 3: Luxury Vinyl Plank

Nick Sargent from Johnson Carpet One in Grandville joins us to talk about one of the most popular and versatile flooring products out there.

SEGMENT 4: Reviving Hardwood Floors

Luxury Vinyl Plank is a beautiful option for many of us, but there’s still nothing like hardwood. If you’ve got old floors and you’re interested in bringing out their natural beauty, we can help!

Episode 254: The State of the Real Estate Market, and More

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SEGMENT 1: Paint Cleanup

Spring’s here and, for many of us that means Spring Cleaning . . . . So, with that in mind, we talk about some proper ways to dispose of paint tools and also answer one of the the most common questions we receive: “Do you dispose of unwanted latex paint?” The answer is “Yes!” and we’ve got all the details on this segment.

SEGMENTS 2 and 3: The State of Real Estate

The Real Estate market is still crazy! Maybe even crazier than it was a year ago. To get the scoop on what it looks like out there, we sit down with Sue Prins and Ginger Herman from Sue Prins Group Five Star Real Estate.

SEGMENT 4: Paint Superheroes

The supply chain is causing all kinds of shortages world wide. And, of course, this even trickles down to paint. For years now, we’ve spent many segments lauding all the positives of Paint Superheroes like Scuff-X and Advance from Benjamin Moore. BUT, as the ability to get those products becomes tougher, it’s important to point out that there are TONS of great products out there with their own super powers. If you need an alternative to a paint product, we’ve got answers!

Episode 253: Where’s the Paint?, Carpet Trends 2022, Picture Rails, and Avoiding Finish Regret

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SEGMENT 1: Where’s the Paint?

We sit down with Kevin Hermann from Benjamin Moore to talk about the state of the paint industry. Paint companies world-wide are struggling to some extent, to get the raw ingredients necessary to make paint. What’s going on? How are things looking? And when’s it going to get better?

SEGMENT 2: Carpet Trends 2022

In this segment, Nick Sargent from Johnson Carpet One in Grandville joins us to talk about what 2022 will bring in terms of carpet styles.

SEGMENT 3: Picture Rails

Dan hung some art in his living room and couldn’t, for the life of him, get the pieces in the right spot. So he kept adjusting and moving them and pounding new holes in the wall. In the end, his plaster walls looked like they were they scene for a mob hit. That led him into a long internet search and he ran into an old design concept that might be worth a new look: Picture Rails.

SEGMENT 4: Avoiding Finish Regret

There are a LOT of paint finishes out there. And finding the right one for your project isn’t always easy. We walk through the basics AND give away a Bluetooth Speaker to a lucky listener along the way. (And yes, for some reason, we end up referring to it all segment long as a radio. We don’t know why….)