Today’s Homeowner Radio
Mother, mentor, and teacher.
A Michigan woman is honoring her mother with a custom tabletop designed for sewing projects. Her mother taught her how to sew, and you can imagine how upset she was when the table began showing signs of discoloring. Danny and Joe talk about what may be causing the problem and what she can do to fix the problem.
A homeowner wants to spruce up her kitchen island with a board and batten look. What she can do to get this project started.
Also, Joe has a simple solution that will make spot carpet cleaning a cinch.
Listener Questions
Repairing a Discolored Wood Table
Aisha in Michigan says, “I constructed and custom table tops for the sewing and project tables in my sewing room. Each tabletop was painted a soft white, decoupaged and then sealed with several (about 4-5) layers of polyurethane.
About 2 months later, I noticed significant yellowing in different areas of my tabletops.
I want to refinish and protect both with a sealant, but would love to know what you recommend as the best for white painted surfaces which will not yellow, or amber, over time.”
Two Options for Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring
Phyllis in North Carolina says, “Can we install vinyl plank flooring from Home Depot directly over an existing floating laminate floor?”
Board & Batten Siding on a Kitchen Island
Cristi in Georgia says, “I am looking at installing board and batten on my island/bar area in my kitchen. What is the standard spacing between boards? The shape is not a straight “L” but an obtuse angle. On part is 5-feet and the other angle portion is about 3-feet. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.”
Creating Steps in a Sloped Backyard
Ashley in Tennessee says, “I would like to redo my side yard and work my way down, but I live on a slope. I want to add steps down in backyard and gravel under the deck but I’m not sure the weight of the gravel will affect the deck. Would a retaining wall in front of deck help support the weight of the gravel? What tools should I rent to help with creating the steps down in yard?”
Repairing Cracks in a Driveway using Quikrete
Leslie in Washington says, “I have an asphalt driveway that has several cracks. Small rocks are starting to come loose in the cracks. What is the easiest, and less expensive way to repair it? “
Simple Solutions
If your home has wall-to-wall carpeting, it’s necessary to bring in a carpet-cleaning machine from time to time to shampoo the entire floor. But for small spot cleaning and to remove odors, all you need is some baking soda, a stiff-bristle scrub brush and a spray bottle filled with hot tap water.
How to Spray Paint Screws and Small Hardware Items>
Spray paint is popular because it’s quick and easy to apply, and it dries really fast. You can paint almost anything with spray paint, but it’s particularly useful for painting small fasteners, screws, hooks, and pieces of hardware that would be difficult to paint any other way.
Best New Products
String trimmer, edger, pole saw, hedge trimmer…. It sounds like I’m describing the back of a landscaping pro’s truck.
Actually, these are all the attachments that go along with Milwaukee’s Quick-lok system. Handle the big jobs on your own with this arsenal of 18-volt lithium-ion-powered lawn care tool
s. The power-head string trimmer attachment can easily be swapped out with another tool and the motor is positioned in the back to provide the best combination of power, balance, and maneuverability. For more information on Milwaukee’s Quik-Lok lawn care tools log on to Homedepot.com.
