In this week’s show, we’re talking about surfaces! When you need to make changes to any kind of surface, the most important step is prep work.
Painting Marble Countertops
The black gold-and-white swirled marble countertops in Robin’s Alabama kitchen give the room a dreary feel. She wants to lighten them up to pair better with her white cabinets.
An easy way to paint marble countertops is to use a SpreadStone Countertop Finishing Kit from Daich Coatings. With 11 different colors to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect match for your countertop.
The kit contains a base coat, stone coat, clear coat, roller handle, rollers, paintbrush and mini roller tray. This DIY project can be done in a weekend. Simply follow the instructions.
Be sure to work when you have plenty of light, and allow some drying time in between the coats.
Skip to [9:35] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.
Installing Peel-and-Stick Tiles on Painted Concrete
Christie from Missouri is wanting to install peel-and-stick tiles on her painted concrete basement floor. Her question: Should she remove the paint?
The answer is, no. You don’t have to remove the paint first before sticking the tiles, but you will need to prep the painted concrete.
Before you start to prep the concrete, purchase a lead test paint kit to make sure the paint does not contain lead.
Once you’re certain the paint is lead-free, you need to clean the concrete. Next, lightly sand and make sure there are no areas where the paint is peeling. After sanding, clear away all the dust, and then you’re ready to install your tiles.
Skip to [57:48] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.
Filling in a Hole From a Tree Stump
After tearing down a troublesome tree, you’re left with another problem: decomposed tree stumps.
This is the problem for Melissa from Texas. She has multiple old tree stumps on her property that have decomposed, creating deep holes.
The first step is to remove all the wood from the hole. If you don’t do this before adding materials to fill the hole, any leftover roots and stump will decompose, repeating the problem you had before.
Use larger rocks as a foundation, fill with gravel, then add four to six inches of soil. Slightly compact the soil as you fill the hole.
Once you fill it with topsoil, don’t plant anything in the area just yet. Live with an “open wound” of soil for a season so the soil will have a chance to settle. If you put in plants, grass seed, or sod on right away, the land will slump down and tear up the landscape.
Skip to [55:27] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.
Preventing Concrete Dust
Tyson from Ohio is tired of chalk and dust constantly being tracked into his basement from his garage. He’s considering putting down a floor over the concrete but is not sure of what type.
Before installing new flooring, try using a concrete dust proofer. It’s a clear sealer that’s specially formulated to put on old, dusty concrete surfaces.
If you still want to put down new flooring, we suggest resilient vinyl sheet flooring. If you don’t like the look of the sheet flooring, try vinyl planks. The dust shouldn’t be able to work itself up through the planks.
Skip to [1:02:58] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.
Also on this episode:
- Fixing Puckered Drywall Tape
- Troubleshooting Water Well Pressure Problems
- Replacing Toilet Tank Parts
- Remedying Rattling Water Pipes
Best New Product
 | Stop leaks in their tracks with this smart water monitor. Learn more>> |
In the Aisles of Home Depot
Available exclusively online and in-store at The Home Depot, the new EcoSmart light bulb product line features the latest in lighting innovation and technology.
Enhanced EcoSmart LED light bulbs use 85 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and have a 25,000-hour lifespan.
These customized bulbs are available in a diverse variety and have a 5 Correlated Color Temperature feature that allows you to pick from five different colors to see which one you like best with your paint color.
Skip to [59:15] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.
Other Products and Links Mentioned
- Fluidmaster Toilet Repair Kits
- Bruce Hardwood Flooring
- Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner
- Flood Floetrol Latex Paint Additive
- Daich Coatings
Radio Show & Podcast: Send us your question!
If you have a comment, general question about home improvement, or something we've featured on Today's Homeowner, please fill in this form: