Barb Oliver is the director of Sound Foundations NW, an organization that builds tiny homes for the unhoused using volunteer labor and donated materials. Sound Foundations NW began at Camp Second Chance in West Seattle, building directly on-site, but last year they were able to move into a large warehouse space in SoDo, which they call "The Hope Factory". They've built well over 100 homes, refining the process along the way to an amazing degree of thrift and efficiency, all while maintaining a h...
May 26, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 59
What kitchen renovations are not going to give you a return on your investment when selling your home? But first…. Amy troubleshoots a listener question about a waterfall faucet that comes out of a mirror. Plus, it’s time for a Tool Crate update! The subscription this time included a mechanical contractor pencil and a 24 volt brushless circular saw by Flex. Tips for what to avoid in kitchen renovations when considering your return on investment (ROI): · Kitchen renovations should never exceed 25...
May 19, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Amy gives us the exciting update that the DADU has been completed. Hear how it wrapped up and what’s coming next. Amy also gives us a definition about what it means to be a certified builder. This week our listener question is: Why do popcorn ceilings exist and what do we do with them? Popcorn ceilings came into popularity in the 1950’s when there was a construction boom. They were quick and inexpensive. Get your popcorn ceiling tested for asbestos! Amy defines the different drywall styles besid...
May 12, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Alicia and Amy are joined by Lacey Soslow and Gabriella Ansley, co-creators of Matriarchy Build. Matriarchy Build is an online platform created to promote and support women and queer folks looking for help in the home DIY arena and to give exposure to the many bad-ass women out there working the trades and getting the job done. The Matriarchy Build website allows people to connect with professionals in the trades to ask questions and get one on one consultations for anything home or trades relat...
May 05, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, Amy and Alicia talk about home improvements that can be done for under $100! They answer a listener question about hard-wired smoke detectors. Amy lets us know that smoke detectors only have a life span of about 10 years. Remember to use canned smoke to test your smoke detectors. Eleven ideas for home improvements for under $100: 1. Embrace the power of decluttering! 2. Take a whole house inventory and write it down. What furniture or items are needed so you aren’t tempted to ma...
Apr 28, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Mandy Rennehan is the founder and CEO of Fresh Co. (not the grocery store!), a commercial remodeling company on the east coast and Canada. She is the author of Blue Collar CEO and host of the upcoming HGTV Canadian show, Trading Up. Mandy talks about how she went from being a rookie contractor to a multi-millionaire contractor. She discusses the challenges of entering the trades as a woman in a predominately male dominated industry. Mandy, Amy and Alicia discuss the classist attitudes and stigma...
Apr 21, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode... Listeners email - “Hi, Angie from Springfield again. Getting caught up on the podcast. Just want you to know I appreciate you both SO much! All the stuff I need to know but was afraid to ask is here. I really loved your episode on to replace or repair. Oh, and the saws… I have to go back and listen to that one and take notes because it is chock full of helpful info.” Anyway, re: workplace development. Maybe you could hang around hospitals and clinics. I know a lot of nurses wh...
Apr 14, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Jack Hanks from Velocity Public Adjusting joins Alicia and Amy and talks about public adjusting associated with insurance claims after a disaster to one’s home or commercial property. As a public adjuster, Jack and his company represent the consumer/insured, striving to collect a higher claim than what the insurance company initially gave often under-compensating for the actual damages. Through thorough review of the insurance policy and the damaged property public adjusters are often able to fi...
Apr 07, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Morgan Mentzer is the co-founder and executive director of Reckoning Trade Project. Morgan started with an undergrad in human rights then wanted to be an auto mechanic and turn wrenches. But then determined that she also wanted to be lawyer. Her dream was to have a auto repair shop where she could fix your car and file any legal papers you need as well. She started as an apprentice mechanic, went to tech school then decided to go to law school. After completing law school Morgan worked part time...
Mar 31, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 51
The Seattle Home Show – Alicia and Amy recount their time at the home show and their attempt to record an episode of the podcast. Due to technical difficulties the recording didn’t happen, but they had a blast nonetheless. They are throwing the idea around of taking the show in the road. Listener email – Joe from Ontario gave Alicia some advice on how to deal with her ice issue in her freezer. DADU update – Looking like a house! Cabinets are going in, doors, flooring, counters, and plumbing trim...
Mar 24, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In celebration of Women in History month Alicia and Amy are joined by three great women from the Seattle area that have forged great careers and businesses in the male-dominated trades industry. Louise Hansen – owner of Weezee’s Plumbing ( www.weezeesplumbing.com ) Catie Chaplin – Residential Carpentry program instructor with Wood Technology Center in Seattle Alice Lockridge – Exercise Physiologist and advocate of women in physically demanding careers. The discussion ranges from women being supp...
Mar 17, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 49
A listener from Madison, WI gave us a great follow-up to the table saw that stops instantly when it senses flesh. Scott sent us pictures too: “Hi Amy, Alicia, and Kayla, I just wanted to follow up on some of the gray areas around the flesh-sensing saw technology. I have owned one for a few years. The saws actually sense an electrical current that flows through the blade, a current which changes if it contacts your body. The blade stops and is retracted below the saw table in about 5/1000 of a se...
Mar 10, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Overview of the IBS (International Builders Show) 2022. Amy attended the show in Orlando and shares about the huge event and what they experienced. · Workforce Development – always looking for ways to fill the void in the trades. · Land development, affordable housing and what is “the missing middle”. · Modular housing products i.e. SIPs panels (structural insulated panels). · Virtual reality for new house plan review · Wall panels that replace tile · Site scape- this is a design app that you ca...
Mar 03, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Alicia and Amy welcome guest Dennis Stinson of Fujitsu General America. Dennis talks about high efficiency heating, heat pumps, and what hybrid homes means. www.fujitsugeneral.com If you have questions or want to share your story please email us at askamy@amyworks.com. This podcast is recorded at The Winterblue Room in Seattle.
Feb 24, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 46
This week Alicia, Amy and Kayla talk about repairing, replacing, or reusing things around the home. They start with kitchen counter cutting boards. Kayla recommends taking measurements or pictures of the original piece to make sure that the new one is a good fit. This also helps when reassembling an appliance to make sure it all goes back together the same and the screws are in the right place. Repair or replace the faucet when it starts to drip? And what about cleaning it before replacing any o...
Feb 17, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 45
We are joined by Kayla, AmyWorks’ project manager. Project update on the DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit). The plumbing rough-in and electrical rough-in are done along with the HVAC including inspections for all. Mini split unit with no ducting (Alicia’s favorite) was also done and then followed by insulation. According to Kayla it looks “hairy” but coming together. Framing inspection and HVAC to be done and getting ready for drywall. Supply chain issues have hit the project and flooring ...
Feb 10, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Alicia and Amy welcome April Rauch, a real estate agent with Windemere in Seattle with 26 years of experience helping her clients buy and sell their homes. April lends some great advice on such as knowing when to do a total renovation and when to just freshen up. They also talk about having a full bath with a tub and is it necessary for the home sale. The question of staging is brought up and whether it really helps in the sale. April shares some insider info on client behavior with staged homes...
Feb 03, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Things that will shorten the life of your rechargeable tool batteries. Keeping them on the charger - this can cause overcharging which results in a shortened lifespan Storing dead batteries for long periods of time . Swap to a new one before it dies and charge dead ones for 20 minutes before storing. Completely draining a battery . With older Ni-Cd it was recommended to drain them completely before storage. keep an eye on the battery’s power indicator. Storing batteries that are fully charged . ...
Jan 27, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Q&A- Listener from Springfield, MO sent in a question about a three-way level. They want to build a fence and the instructions called for a three-way level and they sent a note asking to explain this a little bit. Hope this helps. Thanks Angela. Tools/tricks/tips- types of levels Levels consist if tubes that have water, alcohol, or some other liquid-filled tube with a bubble. There are two (sometimes four lines) on the tubes that when level the bubble rests exactly between the two lines. The...
Jan 20, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 41
On this episode Alicia tells of her woes during the freeze we experienced in Seattle over the holidays. Not only were there frozen pipes to contend with there was also a mystery of where was the water actually frozen. She found shut off valves that were useless and realized she didn’t really know her home. Pipe heaters plugged into several extension cords were discovered but Alicia was left wondering if the heaters really worked. Then came the furry visitors that found comfort in the warmth of A...
Jan 13, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Alicia and Amy are joined by Kayla, AmyWorks’ project manager, to discuss Alicia’s basement remodel. The Winter Blue Room recording studio was a house that was converted to commercial space. Alicia talks about her dream to convert the basement into possibly a small living space and all that goes into planning a brand new space. She talks about her new perimeter drain and then adding a kitchen, bathroom, new concrete floor and how it all goes together. Alicia is working as her own general contrac...
Jan 06, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Deep dive: In Episode 17 we touched on leak detection from the water meter. Let's get a little deeper on how to determine where the leak may be. Amy shares that there was an electronic alert from the water meter sent to the water company due to usage detected every hour for a seven day period. Usage was up as well. How to determine if there is a leak - find the water meter. Clean off the glass. Typically two indicators and numbers. Low flow indicator will spin quickly when water is flowing. Turn...
Dec 30, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Update on DADU – Amy gives the latest on the Seattle DADU build. Coming right along. Alicia’s Favorite – Terms relating to anything about the home. 1. Plumber’s putty 2. Pipe dope 3. Adjustable slip nut wrench or spud closet wrench 4. Wainscoting 5. Niche 6. Kelvin unit of measure that relates to the color of a light source - the higher the number the closer it is to replicating bright sunlight 7. J-box 8. Etagere - freestanding or hanging set of open shelves, designed to display trinkets or oth...
Dec 23, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Winter home maintenance tasks · Check washing machine hoses and replace rubber hoses if older than 2 years · Check vent fans in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. · Clean dryer vent inside and out. Color of the year for 2022 · Benjamin Moore - October Mist 1495, “silver-green stem of a flower” · Sherwin Williams – Evergreen Fog, a strikingly soft and soothing green · Lucky Colors of 2022 – Year of the Tiger – red, green, yellow and blue. More specifically water mint green and cerulean blue. Ques...
Dec 16, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 36
On this episode Amy and Alicia have as guests Kayla D’Aprile (of Kayla’s corner) and four of her students (Kennedy, Zoe, Anna and ???) that are taking her Woodworking for Women class at the local Seattle Central College. We talk about tool fears and intimidation and the challenges they’ve faced in the class. We also asked where they find their information when faced with questions about tools-related subjects and home repair. YouTube was the main go-to source. Finally, the question was asked if ...
Dec 09, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Client Story: Amy shares a story about a recently purchased home by a client that has an undisclosed/hidden leak that comes to light on their very first day in the new-to-them home. Home warranty – coverage for appliances and systems in your home. Can be on new or older homes. Home inspection – a home inspection is typically done pre-purchase but can also be done at any time during homeownership. This is a good way to know how things are aging in your home and what things should be taken care of...
Dec 02, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Project update: There’s significant progress in the DADU that the AmyWorks Inc. team is working on. Foundation is done. The framing is complete along with the trusses in place. Up next is the roof and windows. Stay tuned! Deep Dive: Alicia and Amy talk about the steps to getting a top quality paint job. The vast majority of the work is in the prep i.e. cleaning, masking, patching, caulking and cutting-in. Take the time to do the prep and you will have a beautiful paint job that will keep you hap...
Nov 25, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Where’s the Water Coming From (part 1) From the field: Amy shares the woos of homeownership as they talk about the issues and repairs they are discovering in AmyWorks’ new office which was built in 1910. There’s mystery water in the basement, a leaky roof and more! Oh, and there’s the story of the stolen tools and guitar. Tools/Tips/Tricks: Big tip if you have a stinky bathroom sink and cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, or Drano doesn’t help. Maybe the culprit is the overflow. Tools – fun acce...
Nov 18, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 32
From the Field: Kayla and Amy give a review of an app supported stud finder, Walabot. There are mixed reviews and preferences for the tried and true stud finder. Magnetic style with no bells, density style or the app supported style…what’s your favorite for a stud finder? Special guest: Katie McCamant, from Cohousing Solutions joins Alicia and Amy on a Zoom call to talk about the beginnings of cohousing, what does cohousing mean, how does it work and where can you find more information. Katie’s ...
Nov 11, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Construction terms: Alicia’s favorite – can you explain what these terms mean? What do stringer, riser and tread have in common? Is there a difference between drywall, Sheetrock and green board? Maintenance: Give your refrigerator some love. Along with cleaning the coils (check out this video) there are a few other things to check to keep it running efficiently. Door seal, temperature check for the fridge and freezer and keep it full all help for your unit to be more energy efficient. A fridge o...
Nov 04, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 30
