At the moment’s House owner Radio Present Podcast | January 14, 2023

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Hour 1

Hear how a lot cash it can save you by putting in luxurious vinyl tile your self, what to do about thermal growth gaps in crown molding and extra.

Save Huge by Putting in LVT Your self

Luxurious vinyl tile is a superb possibility for owners in search of a sturdy, waterproof, and easy-to-clean flooring possibility.

Additionally, it’s one of the vital inexpensive flooring choices, making it an incredible selection for budget-conscious owners. Joe researched the prices and right here’s what he discovered: 

Most individuals pay on common $1,400 to have 200 sq. ft of vinyl plank flooring put in. Nonetheless, you should purchase luxurious vinyl for $2.50-$4 per sq. foot at The Dwelling Depot.

So, in the event you set up it your self, it may solely value you between $500-800. That’s a saving, on common, of $600-900 over a professionally put in job!

You don’t want any particular instruments to put in luxurious vinyl tile. A field cutter is all it takes to chop the tiles.

The primary mistake individuals make when putting in is chopping it tight towards a wall. All floating flooring require an growth house — you’ll want anyplace from 1 / 4 inch to half an inch. 

Run the posh vinyl tile as much as the baseboard and canopy the hole with shoe molding. Simply remember to safe the shoe molding to the baseboard. 

Comply with the instructions precisely relating to any underlayment. Relying on the kind you purchase, the underlayment may already be connected. 

Watch: Easy methods to Simply Set up Luxurious Vinyl Tile

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What to Do About Gaps in Crown Molding

That is the primary winter that Chris has spent in his new Alabama residence, and he’s seeing the results of thermal growth.

Over the previous months, he says vital gaps have proven up within the crown molding all through the home.

“Ought to I ask my builder to appropriate the problem? If the gaps are stuffed, will it trigger the molding to buckle when it will get hotter?” he asks.

It’s superb how a lot supplies in a house increase and contract, and possibly nowhere is it extra evident than whenever you’re crown molding.

The excellent news is these gaps will often shut on their very own as soon as hotter climate comes again round.

Nonetheless, if in case you have some gaps which can be very pronounced, right here’s what you are able to do:

• Nail it in place: Use a nail gun to safe the crown molding to the wall.
• Fill it with caulk: As an alternative of utilizing conventional caulk, rigorously apply an acrylic latex caulk. The trick is to barely feed it into the cracked space, in order that when it does shut again, it stays versatile. The hole will nonetheless seem but it surely received’t be as deep or as noticeable. 

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Hour 2

Hearken to be taught the straightforward method to take away acorns out of your yard, why a glass cooktop can shatter, what it is advisable do to cowl terracotta tile and extra.

Eliminating an Acorn Overload

That is nuts! A home-owner says he has greater than 250,000 acorns in his entrance yard.

“Apart from raking, which I hate, how can I decide up the acorns? My self-propelled lawnmower doesn’t have the ability to choose them up. Is there a chunk of apparatus appropriate for the job?” he asks.

Right here’s what you should use to take away acorns from a yard:

1. Leaf blower: A leaf blower can blow the acorns right into a pile, making them simpler to gather. Bonus tip: Use a tarp to comprise the acorns whereas blowing them, making cleanup even simpler!

2. Garden vacuum: A garden vacuum can suck up acorns and take away them from the yard. These could be dear, so see in the event you can hire one, or rent a landscaper who owns one to make use of in your yard. 

To remove this downside sooner or later, forestall the acorns from falling within the first place. If attainable, take away the tree or prune it in order that it doesn’t produce as many acorns.

Some chemical remedies can forestall acorn manufacturing, however solely knowledgeable arborist ought to apply them.

Consider — eradicating acorns could be time-consuming and also you may have to repeat it as new acorns fall.

All the time put on security gear to guard your self from falling acorns and concentrate on bugs or critters within the acorns or hiding within the tree.

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‘Why Did My Glass Cooktop Shatter?’

A home-owner says the tempered glass on his fuel cooktop all of the sudden shattered the opposite day, although the equipment wasn’t on and he didn’t drop something onto it. 

“What would trigger that to occur?” he asks.

Tempered glass is designed to be sturdy and sturdy, however it will probably shatter unexpectedly for a number of causes.

Among the commonest causes of tempered glass shattering embrace:

• Improper set up: If the cooktop shouldn’t be put in appropriately, it will probably put stress on the glass and trigger it to shatter. As an example, if the countertop is overlapping the cooktop, it may put some stress on the highest, ultimately inflicting it to shatter. 
• Thermal stress: If the cooktop or the glass is uncovered to speedy adjustments in temperature, reminiscent of from a scorching pot being positioned on a chilly cooktop or vice versa, it will probably trigger thermal stress and trigger the glass to shatter.
• Manufacturing defects: Generally, tempered glass can have manufacturing defects that make it extra vulnerable to shattering. If that is so, report it to the producer.

You may name knowledgeable to switch the glass cooktop, but it surely is likely to be costly. Contemplate changing the equipment with a range that doesn’t have a glass cooktop. 

To stop a glass cooktop from shattering, comply with the following pointers:

• Don’t place a scorching pot on a chilly cooktop or flip the cooktop on excessive and instantly place a chilly pot on it. This will trigger thermal stress and may trigger the glass to shatter.
• Use cookware with flat bottoms to distribute warmth evenly and forestall warping or bending.
• Don’t slide cookware throughout the cooktop, as it will probably scratch or chip the glass.
• Don’t place heavy objects, reminiscent of forged iron pans or strain cookers, on the cooktop as they will trigger influence injury.
• Clear the cooktop often with a light detergent and a non-abrasive sponge or fabric to take away any filth, grime or stains.
• Use a stovetop cowl to guard the cooktop from scratches or stains when not in use.
• Don’t overheat the cooktop, as it will probably trigger the glass to overheat and shatter.
• All the time comply with the producer’s directions for the care and use of your cooktop.

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Masking Terracotta Tile

A home-owner has terracotta tiles all through her second-floor California apartment.

“The floor is simply too exhausting, very uncomfortable!” she says. “Can now we have extra snug flooring put in on high? It looks like removing might be very costly, disruptive and noisy.”

As a result of conventional terracotta flooring has such an irregular floor, you’ll wish to apply a self-leveling underlayment to create a easy, even floor for putting in one other kind of flooring over it.

You may run into the issue of elevating the ground top an excessive amount of to the place it will probably block home equipment from opening or make them not stage together with your cupboards and counters. Verify the peak of the brand new flooring to ensure this received’t occur after you’ve put in it.

There are a number of choices for overlaying terracotta tiles, together with:

1. Vinyl flooring: Vinyl flooring could be put in over the prevailing tiles and is sturdy and straightforward to scrub.
2. Engineered hardwood flooring: Engineered hardwood flooring could be put in over the prevailing tiles and supply a heat and pure look.
3. Laminate flooring: Laminate flooring may also be put in over the prevailing tiles and is offered in lots of types and colours.
4. Floating ground: A floating ground is a kind of flooring that’s not connected to the subfloor, this sort of flooring could be put in over the terracotta tiles and could be made of various supplies like laminate, engineered hardwood, or cork.

Seek the advice of with knowledgeable flooring specialist to find out the most suitable choice to your particular state of affairs.

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Finest New Merchandise

Milwaukee’s new battery pack retains instruments powered for longer, so there’s much less downtime throughout your initiatives. Be taught extra >>

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Easy Options

Pool-Toy Plumbing Instrument — Earlier than repairing most plumbing clogs, you need to first take away any standing water. Now, you may use a sponge or moist/dry vac, however right here’s another choice: take a child’s water-squirting toy, generally known as a water blaster, and use it like a siphon pump. Merely place the nozzle of the toy into the water and draw again on the deal with to suck up the water. Then you possibly can squirt it right into a bucket, bathroom or tub. That is nice for sink clogs, bathroom clogs, or if in case you have a malfunctioning washer that has water standing within the tub. 

Watch: Easy methods to Take away Standing Water From a Clogged Sink

Paint Display screen Saver — When utilizing paint from a beforehand opened can, it’s greatest to move the paint by means of a filter to display out dried paint chips and different small bits of particles. You should buy disposable paint filters, however they’re flimsy, not reusable and the paint flows by means of a lot too slowly. As an alternative, use a chunk of vinyl insect screening. Lower the display about 12 or 14in. sq., safe it to a brand new, clear paint can with three small spring clamps, after which pour the outdated paint by means of the display. When accomplished, rinse out the display with a backyard hose and reserve it for the following paint job.

Watch: Easy methods to Filter Paint Utilizing a Window Display screen

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Additional Studying

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