Today’s Homeowner Radio Show | June 18, 2022

This week, we’re giving tips on how to refresh an old brick patio, repair chipped painted cabinets and remove shelf liner adhesive.

New Life for an Old Patio

Nancy Kelly installed a brick paver patio outside her Pennsylvania home over 20 years ago. She loved the look back then, but these days, weeds constantly break through the bricks, and it’s become a glorified walkway.

Now, she wonders how to bring this patio back to its glory days.

First, kill the weeds in between the pavers. There are many ways to get rid of them. Here are some options:

• Chemical weed control: Herbicides kill weeds fast, but they’re potent and can be hazardous to your health if you’re not careful. When applying herbicide, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, boots, rubber gloves and protective eyewear to prevent any contact with your skin or eyes. 
• Boiling water: Pour boiling water directly on the weeds to kill them immediately.
• Iodized salt: Spreading iodized salt on the gravel will kill weeds, but it will sterilize the ground for years to come, so use it sparingly.
• Gardening vinegar: Spray weeds with gardening vinegar. Because it’s 30 percent more concentrated than regular household and cooking vinegar, it will wilt the weeds. 

Once the weeds are dead, clear them out from between the bricks and pack in some polymeric sand. Much like putting mulch in a flowerbed, the polymeric sand will block the weeds from sprouting up between the bricks. 

Sweep the sand into the cracks and mist it. Once you mist it, the polymeric sand will bind together to form a weed-protective barrier. 

After the polymeric sand has set, apply a sealer over the whole patio. This will bring out the color and character of the bricks. Put at least two coats on and let it dry for 24 hours.

Skip to [skipto time=11:08][11:08][/skipto] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Correcting Chipped Paint on Kitchen Cabinets

Chris Hartsfield in Texas refaced and spray-painted his kitchen cabinets a few years ago, but now, some of the paint has chipped off.

He’s wondering: What’s the best way to fix this?

With frequent and repetitive use, a fingernail or ring brushing against the cabinet door can easily chip the paint. 

It’s difficult to match a sprayed finish using a paintbrush, but you can try sanding the chipped area with a fine 220-grit sandpaper, then paint it. 

The chip won’t be blended completely into the rest of the cabinet, but it won’t be as noticeable.

For a seamless repair, you’ll need to contact the professional who refaced the cabinets.

Skip to [skipto time=59:15][59:15][/skipto] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Solving a Sticky Problem

Heidi in Georgia moved into a house less than a year ago, and every kitchen and bathroom cabinet had white spongy shelf liners.

She’s removed the old liners from the painted shelves, but the surfaces are still sticky. Now, she’s wondering if she should just repaint the shelves.

But to repaint the shelves, you must remove the old adhesive or the paint won’t stick. Instead, just remove the adhesive!

These products will get rid of the stick:

• Goof Off Pro Strength Remover
• Goo Gone Pro Power Spray Gel
• Acetone: This has a strong odor, so you should do this outside if you can remove the shelves. If you can’t, make sure the area is well-ventilated. 

After you’ve removed the old adhesive, consider laying down washable shelf liners. 

Skip to [skipto time=1:10:25][1:10:25][/skipto] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

In the Aisles of The Home Depot

Father’s Day is just around the corner, so now’s the time to start thinking about the perfect gift. From smart home to tools to grilling, The Home Depot has a wide variety of products you need to make this Father’s Day the best one yet. 

• Tools: Gear up dad for his next home project by gifting him the tools he needs to get the job done. Help Dad update his power tool game or start from scratch with something simple.   
• Smart Home: Whether dad is dabbling in some new tech tools to upgrade his home or is a smart home pro, The Home Depot has products to meet his needs.
• Grilling: Whether your dad is a grilling apprentice or an absolute pro, The Home Depot offers the latest in all-things-grilling — from the grill itself to essential accessories.
• DIY Projects: For the more hands-on dad, The Home Depot has a wide variety of projects that are perfect to complete together this Father’s Day.

Skip to [skipto time=1:06:51][1:06:51][/skipto] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Also on this episode:

• Protecting a Pressure-Treated Wood Deck
• How to Keep Concrete from Sweating
• Screening in a Single Patio Door 
• Getting Rid of Mold on Decks
• Dealing with Mold Around Caulking
• Waterproofing a Shed

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Other Products and Links Mentioned

• Daich Coatings TracSafe Anti-Slip Sealer
• DRYLOK Natural Look Clear Concrete Sealer
• BEHR PREMIUM Gray Granite Grip Concrete Floor Coating
• Goof Off Pro Strength Remover
• Goo Gone Pro Power Spray Gel
• Klean-Strip Acetone

Further Reading

• Create a Comfortable, Luxurious Patio with Linear Pavers
• Homemade Nontoxic Furniture Cleaners
• 3 Main Paint Ingredients You Should Know About