DIY or Go Pro? If you want to tackle a project yourself, we’ll be the first ones to cheer you on. But how do you know when hiring a pro is the best way to go? We’ll tell you how to think it all through before you pick up a hammer. Plus… When it comes to home improvement, there are a lot of myths that cost DIYrs a lot of money. We’ll tackle 4 common MYTH-STAKES. Cold weather is not far off making now the perfect time to check out your insulation. We’ll tell you how much you really need. Butcher b...
Sep 10, 2020•40 min•Ep 2030•Transcript available on Metacast Adding flooring to your attic can make it a perfect place for storage. But doing so the wrong way means that you could weaken your structure, squash your insulation, or find yourself with one foot planted firmly through the ceiling below! Tom & Leslie share tips on attic flooring that works well. Wouldn’t it be nice to have home experts available by phone or chat whenever you need them to walk you through a project? We tell you about a new subscription service that puts knowledgeable, impartial ...
Sep 07, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kitchens renos can be costly but updating dated, drab and dull cabinets doesn’t have to be. Tom and Leslie walk you through options to replaced, refaced or just refinish kitchen cabinets and save a ton of money! Plus, concrete is a pretty permanent building material but if yours looks pitted or cracked, we’ve got a great solution for resurfacing concrete that you can do yourself with amazing results. Now that we have reached September, it’s a good time to make sure your gutters are ready for the...
Sep 03, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Having a hard time maintaining a lush green lawn in the heat of summer. Tom & Leslie share you need to know to make it past the brown and back to green. Are cooling costs driving up your electric bills? Get tips for low cost to no cost ways to keep you cool during these hottest days of the summer season. If you’d like your home to feel open and airy but don’t have the budget for a major remodel, we’ve got smart tips to help open up the space without emptying your bank account in the process. For...
Aug 31, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Now is a good time to plan end of season projects to set you up for the cooler months ahead. We’ve got 4 projects that will save you time, money and help avoid costly repairs when colder weather prevails. Plus, garages get a workout in the Fall and Winter, which is why now is a great time to fix up the garage floor. We’ll have tips on the best way to get this done using epoxy paint. Painting the exterior is a job that needs to get done every 5 to 10 years and if your house is ready for that proj...
Aug 27, 2020•38 min•Ep 2026•Transcript available on Metacast If you've been enjoying a garden harvest this summer and would like to extend the goodness of all year long, preserving your fresh veggies is the way to do it. We'll walk you through 3 options for preserving your harvest! Plus... It’s a great time of year for outdoor projects and if you want to step up your space, we’ve got tips on the easiest and most affordable way to create grill surrounds, fire pits, benches and more by simply stacking blocks. Sidewalks can get slippery, but not if you treat...
Aug 24, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you decide to bring home a family pet, there can be lots of changes. Your home decor, however, shouldn’t be one of them! If you’re pondering any decorating or improvement projects, we’ll have tips to help make them pet-friendly. Plus, Whether it's around your sink, between your tub, shower and tile walls – nasty, worn caulk has got to go. We’ve got DIY tips on how to get this job done the easy way. Changing up lighting can give a new look to any room! We’ve got tips on installing energy eff...
Aug 20, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you’re sitting on a stash of leftover latex paint, you have a gold mine when it comes to home decorating. With a little imagination and creative flair, you can use paint leftovers to give your home extra appeal and have lots of fun in the process. Get the tips. Would you believe that nearly a QUARTER of all residential break-ins happen through a first-floor window? Learn how to keep your home safe from burglaries. Stone countertops are both popular AND expensive. But we’ve got a trick of the ...
Aug 17, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Improving your bathroom is one of best ways to add value and appeal to your home. But if you think those improvements have to be costly, think again – there are plenty of ways to give your bathroom a lift without breaking the bank. We share bath updates you can get done for under $100 bucks. If you’re looking for more storage space, finishing an attic is a popular remodeling project that delivers a great ROI - IF it’s done right. We’ll walk you through the options. Entryways like mudrooms and fo...
Aug 13, 2020•39 min•Ep 2022•Transcript available on Metacast If you’re hoping to sell your home, one of the most nerve-racking parts of that process for sellers is the home inspection. Tom & Leslie share tips to set you up for success in that part of the transaction. Hardwood floors are one of the most desirable floors around for both durability and the value they add to a home. But the finishes do wear and hardwood floors then need to be sanded and refinished. We’ll have tips on how to get that project done. And we’re all about helping you find ways to s...
Aug 10, 2020•38 min•Ep 2021•Transcript available on Metacast If you'd love to have a backyard pool but can't afford it, don't have the time to care for it or you’re just short of backyard space, we have two words for you: Spool Pool! Tom & Leslie share tips on how you can combine the benefits of a pool and spa in one very refreshing backyard feature. Plus… Decorative window shutters are an attractive addition to your home’s exterior, but they won’t do a thing to actually protect your windows. For that job, you’ll need STORM shutters. We’ll share the optio...
Aug 06, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you have kids that are old enough to stay home alone? Just because kids may be at an age to stay home alone, that might not prepare them to handle a home-related emergency. We’ll have a checklist on what they need to know to do, just ahead. Plus In the OLDEN DAYS when you needed to hire a contractor, you use to ask friends or flip through though the phone book. Today it’s a lot easier to find home service pros. We’ll pry open the digital toolbox and share some tips and tricks. Summer is a sea...
Aug 03, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast This time of year, limits on outdoor water use and lead to lawns that look like a dry wasteland! Tom & Leslie tell you what you need to know to conserve water and still have a beautiful lawn during a drought, including the one thing to never do if you want That lawn to come back quickly. Plus… If you are lucky enough to have a built-in pool, you may not feel quite as lucky when you have the pay to pay the bills to heat that pool. We’ll tell you how you can use a FREE energy source to heat your p...
Jul 30, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you overflowing with yard tools, pool toys, lawn chairs or kid bikes? Then you might ready to build a Shed! Whether you want to store the overflow or create the perfect man cave or a she shed -- Shed projects are more popular than EVER! We’ll have pro tips to help you do it right. Have you ever noticed that summer rainstorms can be really stir up some damage? Between the blackouts and the lightning, electrical damage, leaks and flood are not all that uncommon. We’ll have tips on what you sho...
Jul 27, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to home renos, are you a DIY or Go Pro kind of home improver? A new survey reveals how many DIYrs are actually doing home projects vs hiring prosand an interesting trend among the youngest home improvers. Plus… Does your yard double as an all-you-can-eat buffet for deer and wildlife?We’ve got some humane ideas for stopping all the chomping. Motion detector spotlights are a great addition to your home for both convenience and security. Thanks to LED technology, they are easy to inst...
Jul 23, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you’re feeling like your home could use a boost in its cooling power, adding awindow air conditioner unit may be the solution. We’ve got tips on how to find the right size unit for your house and how to avoid a key installation mistake that can drive up cooling costs. There’s an old saying that good fences make great neighbors – that is if you can get the fence built! We’ll have some fence building tips to make that project a lot easier. Going green can help you save energy, but a new survey ...
Jul 20, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Creating a beautiful living space outdoors doesn’t require walls or a ceiling, just a beautiful floor. We’ve got tips on how to create the perfect patio. Plus… Now that we’re knee deep in the AC season, we’re also knee-deep in high electric bills! We’ve got 5 low-cost and no-cost improvements you can make to lower cooling costs with giving up comfort. Plus, do you know the easiest door to break into for any house? It’s usually the garage door! We’ll tell you why and share the surprisingly simple...
Jul 16, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Remodeling your kitchen is a project that adds value to your home, but it can also get pretty expensive. We’ve got 3 kitchen renos you can get done for under a thousand bucks to add style and convenience without draining your bank account! Plus… Moving into an apartment doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your décor desires. We’ll have simple apartment decorating ideas that will make your apartment feel like home AND still make sure you get that security deposit back at the end of your lease. Sav...
Jul 13, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Porches are the perfect space to enjoy the outdoors, relax and even visit with neighbors from a socially acceptable distance! This may be why front porches are making a big comeback and we’ve got tips on how you can make the most of yours! Plus… With generally blistering heat across the nation, are you wondering how to avoid having your yard turn into a dead, dry wasteland? We’ll have the tips on how you can conserve water, restore dead patches and still have a beautiful lawn in summer including...
Jul 09, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is your to-do list getting longer every day? Get tips for tackling several projects at once and save money at the same time! Plus If you’ve ever installed ceramic tile, you know that one of the hassles is dealing with the adhesive. Now there’s a much simpler way to install tile – and it can be done without glue, and lets you grout immediately. Is this the year you’re ready to replace leaky or drafty windows? With so many competing claims of efficiency, it can be difficult to select windows that ...
Jul 06, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast With all the humidity, it’s that time of year when doors swell and get stuck in their openings. We’ve got the easy fix for sticking doors. Plus. Before you can add the new you have to get rid of the old – and that can often be a costly part of any home renovation. We’ll share tips to help lighten the load and cut demolition costs And we’ll have the how to on a fun garden project – building a raised landscaping wall that useful for creating a ring around a tree or raised garden wall to dress up t...
Jul 02, 2020•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast This can be a challenging time for many things and that includes selling your house! If you are planning to do that this summer, Tom and Leslie share the key improvements that need to get done first to nail a quick sale at the highest possible price. Plus… This summer, most of us will be spending more time at home and enjoying our outdoor spaces. And for DIY’rs, there’s more interest than ever in updating and maintaining lawns. We get expert tips to help from the team at Troy-Built, a company th...
Jun 29, 2020•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Renting your first apartment is a big step that’s both exciting and terrifying all at the same time! Tom & Leslie share expert tips on what to look for before signing a lease to make sure you get all your security deposits back. Plus.. If you love gardening and landscaping, you might not think there’s much new to know about one of the most common landscaping tools – the shovel. Well, all shovels are not created equal, we’ll explain how they’re made and how to spot a good shovel from a piece of j...
Jun 24, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast With summer thunderstorms, blackouts are becoming more common – which is why now is a good time to think about adding a whole house generator. The costs have come down and the convenience can’t be beat. We’ll share the options and how to find the right size unit for your home just ahead If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to transform the look of your kitchen, applying a decorative stone surface to your countertop can do just that. We talk with an expert that’s spent decades develo...
Jun 23, 2020•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summer marks the riskiest time of year for pool drownings, which is actually the leading cause of death to young children! In this episode, expert hosts Tom & Leslie explain the best way to backup parental supervision and keep kids safe. It’s a pool safety approach called layers of protection. Plus… Replacing your front door is a project that can increase your home’s value and increase its curb appeal. We’ll share tips on how to get that project done. If you’re ready for an easy indoor décor pro...
Jun 18, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Building codes exist to keep your family safe, but only if you or your contractor follow them! Tom & Leslie have tips on how to avoid the THREE most commonly violated codes. Plus, if you’ve noticed that your walks, porches or patios look a bit worn – we’ll tell you how to resurface those at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Do you have a small backyard and looking to make the most of your minimal outdoor living space? One trendy addition can make a huge difference. Plus, answers to your hom...
Jun 15, 2020•40 min•Ep 2005•Transcript available on Metacast Are you ready to buy a bigger and better air conditioner to keep cool this summer? Well, you may be surprised to learn that bigger is not always better for your comfort. We’ll have tips on how to pick the best one for your home. Plus… Smelly water is a common complaint among homeowners, for good reason: No one wants to drink, cook or clean with water that smells like rotten eggs. We highlight the causes and cure. Summer gives us lots of opportunities to display the red, white and blue. Memorial ...
Jun 11, 2020•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast The right deck design can make your home appear larger than it is – which is why adding a backyard deck can actually increase your home’s value. Tom & Leslie have tips on how to choose a deck design that works for you. Plus… Squeaks, creaks, drips, bangs and hisses – are all noises your house makes, but have you ever wondered what’s behind them? We’ll tell you how to sniff out and silence the most common house noises and whether those noises might signal a bigger problem needing a fix. Do you wa...
Jun 08, 2020•39 min•Ep 2003•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a great time of year for outdoor living and if you want to step up your space, we’ve got tips on how you can build your very own fire pit! Want a garden that not only looks good, but also serves an important purpose? Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies are all pollinators and play a big role in plant reproduction. Tom & Leslie have tips on how you can create a pollinator garden to give these creatures a place to carry out their good work! Are you ready to fire up your AC to keep cool and com...
Jun 04, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are you ready to do one final cleanup of your garage before the summer kicks into full swing? Tom & Leslie share simple garage organization tips, plus: Have you needed to crank your AC yet? If not - great because there are 3 things you should do first - to make sure it’s set to keep you cool and comfortable all Summer long. The pandemic has changed the way we do many things, and that is certainly true when it comes to how we find and choose contractors to take on the projects we don’t want to do...
Jun 01, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
