Author Archives: Dan Hansen

EP13 – July 1, 2017: Picture Perfect Front Doors!

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Painting your front door is easily one of the best “bang for your buck” projects you can tackle around the home. It adds huge curb appeal to your home and, best of all, it’s quick and inexpensive! And yet, we’re often intimidated by the project! We can’t find the right color and we’re nervous about making it look good. Well, don’t worry! It’s easy. And we’ll tell you everything you need to know!

Listen here:

Show notes for Episode 013:

In this opening segment we sit down in the studio with Nick Sargent from Johnson Carpet One in Grandville and he discusses the ins and outs, pros and cons of all types of wood and wood-look flooring.

If you're thinking about a floor project in your home, this is a "must-listen!"

In today's Ask RepcoLite segment, we talk about paint that just won't cover and hide. You know what we're talking about: that bright red paint that takes coat after coat after coat and still look transparent. What's wrong with the paint? Why is this happening?

We'll tell you why it's happening and better yet, how to avoid this common problem in the first place!

It's all about fun in this segment. And delicious food. Rob Cackowski from Heritage Fireplace and Design Center is in the studio and he's dishing out some expert advice that will make sure you're the talk of your next backyard grill out!

Painting your front door is one of the best "bang for your buck" paint projects you can tackle! You'll dramatically improve the curb appeal of your home and, best of all, you'll do it in just a few hours and often for no more than a quart of paint!

 

EP12 – June 24, 2017: Stay Safe!

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Yes, this is a Home Improvement Show, but really, how important is a well-decorated and maintained home if every member of our family isn’t there to enjoy it with us? At RepcoLite, we love painting projects. We love decorating. We love a good, “from the ground-up” remodeling project. But none of those things matter when compared to the safety and well-being of the people in our lives.

On today’s show we sit down with Joe Kuhns from Cover Down Consulting and he basically commandeers the show for a half an hour. Joe is a 26-year Navy Seal Veteran and he’s got solid, practical, and potentially life-saving advice for everyone in your home. You do not want to miss this!

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 012:

Home improvement is more than just changing or improving the physical aspects of your home. It's also about changing and improving the lives of the people who live there. And part of improving the lives of yourself and members of your family is safety.

We are excited to be joined in the studio by Joe Kuhns of Cover Down Consulting. Joe is a 26 year Navy SEAL veteran who applies the skills he learned as a SEAL to his everyday life. He has been kind enough to help arm us with the knowledge we need to keep ourselves and our families safe. He has great information on personal (ourselves) and physical (the spaces we have control in) protection that is worth listening to time and time again.

Besides consulting on personal protection, Joe teaches team building and does performance or life training for young men seeking to join the military. For more information on any of the services Cover Down Consulting offers, you can email Joe at jkuhnscoverdown@gmail.com.

Joe Kuhns of Cover Down Consulting mesmerized us in Segment 1, so we asked him to stay for another segment. Luckily he obliged, so we finished our interview with a discussion on keeping our homes and property safe. This is information every family should have!

The internet is full of all kinds of recommendations when it comes to paint storage. And what's really interesting is that these recommendations show up on reputable DIY and Home Repair websites and blogs. And yet, at RepcoLite, we've noticed time and time again that these methods, though wildly popular, often don't work out as well as you'd think.

So in this segment, we tackle the myths and give you some honest-to-goodness paint storage advice. No, it's not gimmicky. Yes, they're a little bland. But on the flipside: they work! Every time.

We took some time recently to get out to the Parade of Homes. And we saw a number of great things that really inspired us. However, we also discovered a couple things that made us rethink a common idea about "color flow" in a home. In this segment, we talk about some things not to do when you're decorating, but also we pile on a number of practical recommendations to help you with your next decorating project!

 

EP11 – June 17, 2017: Paint That’s Almost Magic!

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Looking at a scuffed wall, just days after it has been painted, is frustrating! Benjamin Moore is changing all that with a brand new paint that’s almost magical in resisting what life throws at it. We put it through it’s paces and were amazed!  We’ll tell you what the product is, why it’s unique, and how we tested it.

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 011:

Painting a pool can be very intimidating. People think that there is a lot of work involved and that it takes a professional to do it. Ken Kleinke from Insl-X joins us in the studio to assure every pool owner (or future pool owner) that painting a pool is almost like painting the interior of your house. It really comes down to prep, and even that isn't too bad! And even better, your local RepcoLite or Port City Paints carries Insl-X Pool Paint at a very competitive price!

About Ken

Ken Kleinke has been in the coatings business for over 40 years! He has been with Insl-X for almost 20 which is why we contacted him to talk about pool paint. He takes the fear out of painting a pool!

Do you know what dad REALLY wants for Father's Day? More time and less work! We teamed up with Bergman Power Equipment to give one lucky winner a lawn equipment package worth over $600!

Larry Bergman  joins us in the studio to announce the contest and talk a little bit about the tools we are giving away. With a new string trimmer, blower and mower, dad will be relaxing in no time!

Almost every dad would love to get a new grill for Father's Day. At least they wouldn't argue if they got one! We asked Rob Cackowski from Heritage Fireplace and Design Center to stop by and help us sort out grill buying. How do we know what to look for? Gas or charcoal? Rob also has some ideas for small, last minute grill gifts from the kids. And if you want to take dad to pick out his own grill, stop in to see Rob. He'll help dad pick the perfect grill!

Are you tired of having scuffed walls from your kids kicking off their shoes as they enter the house? Do you work someplace where the walls look like they haven't been painted in 5 years, even though they were painted the previous week?

We are in the studio with RepcoLite's very own Dave Helmholdt who just finished training all of the store employees on an amazing new product from Benjamin Moore. Ultra Spec Scuff-X is an amazing scuff-resistant, waterborne paint that is leaving even the harshest critics speechless!

 

EP10 – June 10, 2017: Find that Perfect Color and More!

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Finding the perfect color for your next project doesn’t have to be complicated! You don’t have to stand in front of the color display for hours looking at 1000’s of colors. There’s a simple process we’re going to tell you about that will help you cut the time you spend looking in half!

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:


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EP09 – June 3, 2017: Year of the Tick and More!

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It’s that time of year again! The time when we want to spend all available time outdoors, enjoying everything Michigan has to offer. There are water adventures, camping, sunsets, hiking, and ticks. Yes, ticks! It is going to be another prevalent year for natures little vampires! But don’t think your best conceived summer plan is in peril just yet. David Popp from Rose Pest Solutions is going to help all of us deal with these creepy pests.

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:


Show notes for episode 009:

Nothing is worse than spending a beautiful summer day exploring nature, only to get home and find that one of nature's hitchhikers has attached itself to your skin. Then comes the battle to decide which method is best for removing a tick. There are many wives tales o tick removal, but there is only one good way.

David Popp from Rose Pest Solutions joins us in the studio to discuss how ticks attach, how to avoid getting them and what to do if you happen to be the unfortunate person one latches onto.

We hear it time and time again at all of our RepcoLite locations: "I have paneling from the 60s and I'm sick of it. Can I paint that?"

The answer is, YES! It's actually quite simple to do. You just have to be aware of some important ideas that will make your project go a whole lot more smoothly. And we'll also tell you the best way to apply the paint to avoid funny lines.

When people think of preparing a garage floor for a coating, they think chemicals are the answer. When people think of refinishing wood floors, they think of runaway sanders or back creaking labor. When they think of decks that have too many layers of stain, they think it's time to build new. But wait! There's an easier solution!

The OnFloor machine will take care of all those surfaces without the hassle. It will grind concrete in garages, basements and shops. It will take paint, polyurethane and mastic off wood floors and then sand them. It will send old stain off a deck and have it looking like new in now time. And the best part is, it can be controlled with just two fingers! We'll give you all the details and where to rent one in this segment!

Dan has had the argument with his dad over lawn sprinkling for years! How often should you sprinkle your lawn? What time of day is best? How long should you do it for?

The great debate will finally be settled with the help of Aaron Katerberg from Grapids Irrigation. He will answer those questions as well as questions about drainage, for those of us who have the opposite problem - too much water!

EP08 – May 27, 2017: An Epic Historic Restoration

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Sometimes we look at our homes and don’t know where to begin. The kitchen is a little outdated. Maybe the bathroom needs work. Sometimes we see all that and we find ourselves not sure how to get started. The project just seems too big. Well, if that sounds familiar, Patty Meyer, Director of the Felt Estate near Saugatuck has some inspiring advice for you!

That and much more on today’s episode:

Listen here:

Show notes for episode 008:

In 1925, Dorr Felt began construction of what the Felt Mansion for his wife, Agnes. The summer home would be large enough to accommodate his married daughters and their families. Completed in 1928, the 12,000+ square foot mansion consists of 25 rooms, including a third-floor ballroom. Unfortunately, Agnes died in August of 1928, six weeks after the family moved in, and Dorr died a year and a half later in 1930.

From there, the home has changed owners multiple times throughout the years. It's been a seminary, a home for cloistered nuns, and even a prison.

After years of neglect, volunteers from Laketown Township and surrounding communities are restoring the mansion and grounds. It's an incredible community project and a remarkable story!

Today, Patty Meyer, Director of the Felt Estate, sits down with us for two segments to talk about the project, what she's learned, and to give all of us the inspiration to dream and to dare to accomplish what seems almost impossible!

Patricia Hoezee Meyer – Director of the Felt Estate

Pat is a former educator who graduated from GVSU and the School of Education in 1990 with a major in English & History, and a minor in Political Science. Her interest in art, history and architecture led to her passion for the restoration of the Felt Estate.

For the last 13 years, Pat has restored the Felt Estate, and as director of the Estate, planned and implemented hundreds of events. Pat and the restoration project she oversees have won numerous awards at the local, state, and national level. Pat speaks around the State at Historic Preservation Seminars, emphasizing the importance of place in our lives, in our communities, in our history, and in our learning. Pat is continuing her education at GVSU, through the Johnson Center, working toward a Master’s Degree in Non-profit Administration.

 

There are tons of common paint mistakes we all make in an effort to save time. Today we talk about four that we see all the time!

  • Making My Paint Cover In One Coat Whether It Wants to Or Not!
  • Not Washing the Surfaces I'm Going to Paint Adequately!
  • Not Priming After I Strip Wallpaper
  • Painting Out of My Full Gallon Container
Check out or blog post for more info!

How to Properly Load a Paint Brush!

Our dryer and washer can potentially be very destructive if regular maintenance is not performed. Dryer lint is extremely flammable and washer hoses need to be replaced every five years. Fortunately, with just a little maintenance, you can keep your home safe and protected!

Flammable Vent Hoses

We mentioned in the segment that commonly used plastic or vinyl vent tubing is extremely flammable (as is the lint trapped inside!) Here's a video that demonstrates why you want to remove these cheap hoses from your home and replace them with flexible metal tubing.

FloodStop

This item is very interesting to me. It's designed to be installed very simply, taking only 10 minutes. But when it's installed, it will detect leaks, sound an alarm, and best of all, automatically turn off your water supply valves to prevent flooding! I haven't tried it, but I'm certainly going to dig into it! You can get more info right here!