Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast: Recent Episodes
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The Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast is a completely independent production covering topics related to home improvements, renovations, DIY and real estate from the point of view of an average homeowner.
All good things must come to an end. And, so to, must mediocre things, like this podcast and the thumbandhammer.com website.
Facebook experts, ethernet cable in a wireless world, tracking down a water problem, and an update on the basement renovation.
Home improvement television shows often distort your perception of how long a renovation should take. But you can't compare yourself to a slick television production. And there are advantages to a project taking longer than anticipated.
A look back at our home improvement accomplishments in 2021, update on the current progress with the basement renovation and my final verdict on whether or not the tankless water heater delivers on its promise of energy savings. Plus one drawback of the tankless water heater that caught us a bit by surprise.
This episode is all about the process of doing your own electrical work in Ontario Canada, from filing a Notification of Electrical Work with the Electrical Safety Authority to the rough-in inspection.
Sparky is slang for an electrician, which I am not. However, I have done my own electrical work. This episode covers some of the reasons why you may or may not want to (or, should or should not) do your own electrical work.
I had a few questions about new rules in the electrical code, so I asked a licensed electrical contractor. It did not go well. Find out how five Japanese words might have saved our relationship.
Links and resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igPIk79wAPg Viva La Dirt League: "The problem with workplace jargon: acronyms" (and be sure to check out the rest of their videos).
The Simpsons clip is from "To Surveil with Love" S21E20 (audio recorded from YouTube).
Electrical Code Simplified- House Wiring Guide by PS Knight is an indispensable guide for homeowners doing their own electrical work in Canada. It may be purchased directly at the following link: https://psknight.com/residential. (not an affiliate link).
This is not a paid endorsement... In this episode of the podcast, I share two products I found after hours of searching for solutions to specific problems I was facing with my home improvements.
Xcel IGA
I needed to attach the bottom plate of a stud wall to a concrete slab without using mechanical fasteners and construction adhesive was the obvious solution. Xcel makes a variety of adhesives and their IGA product is the best construction adhesive that I have ever used. You can find more information on their websites:
Canada: https://XcelProducts.ca
Europe: https://excelproducts.co.uk
United States: https://xcelprousa.com
Zinsser Bin
I needed vapor barrier for the garage ceiling. The easiest solution was to use a vapor barrier primer. After many hours of trying to track down a product I had used previously (Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec Vapor Barrier Primer) without success, I found exactly what I needed, readily available locally. This was clearly a case where I was searching for a specific product and not seeing other solutions that were right in front of me. You can read more about vapor barrier paints at the following link:
https://joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/1614-Vapour-barrier-paint-it-does-exist-it-does-work
Also, searching Google for "zinsser bin perm rating" will provide lots of useful links.
Other Links
For a deep dive on BluWood, what it was, where it went, and why I ripped out a wall that I had framed with it, you can read my blog post here:
https://www.thumbandhammer.com/what-happened-to-bluwood/
I also talk about it in episode 57 of this podcast:
https://www.thumbandhammer.com/ep-57-the-only-way-to-finish-a-basement/
Renovation in the time of Covid.... I already work slow enough and that's without a 2 month-long lockdown during a pandemic. The basement is now ready for drywall and in this episode of the podcast, I review the steps that got me to this point.
Framing: The joy of relying on someone else to pick lumber when curb-side pickup was the only option.Electrical: Not much to say in this episode, but I did it myself and it has passed the rough-in inspection.Plumbing: Why I chose to hire a plumber and how failure to take my own advice led to a bit of tension.
I also share my opinion of our new HVAC equipment after it has been in use for 6 months and explain why a tankless water heater may not be the green environmentally friendly solution that it has been hyped up to be.
There is no shortage of scam products on the internet. Ted's Woodworking has been offering 16000 woodworking plans for a ridiculously low price for the last decade. Inventors strike out on their own after creating innovative air conditioners, drones, vacuum attachments and their stories are all oddly similar. Plus the one sure way you can get an impressive endorsement for your own product.
You want your basement to feel like the rest of your house. It should be dry, and comfortable. However, the basement is NOT like the rest of the house. The basement is in a hole in the ground. The ideal solution for a warm dry basement is a subject of much debate. I talk about a few of the popular options and the one that was recommended by the insulation company we are hiring.
Figuring out which tasks need to be done first in our basement renovation. Energy audit to qualify for home efficiency rebates. And I completely rethink the layout of the basement at the suggestion of the HVAC installer.
Stuff is happening. Big stuff. In this episode of the podcast, I talk about our choice of furnace and air conditioner for the house, why I decided on a split ductless system for the garage-workshop, and our reasoning for ditching our hot water tank and going with a tankless water heater.
How do you react when someone tells you that something you did is "all wrong?" In this episode of the podcast, I respond to just such a criticism.
If getting stuck in the snow taught us anything, it's that we have to replace our furnace this year. Plus I do a little surgery in the basement.
Looking for a new home improvement or DIY podcast to listen to? Here are my personal favorites that you may enjoy, too.
I've come across news stories about people running afoul of their HOAs by painting their house the wrong color, or putting up Christmas decorations that were deemed too tacky. But I've never experienced what it's like living in an HOA community or talked to anyone who has. Until now. John from AZDIYguy joins me to talk about life in an HOA.
Paying down a mortgage isn't necessarily the end all be all. In fact, by increasing our mortgage, we could end up further ahead in the long run. And in the short term, well, we're finally getting relief from the financial pressure we've been feeling for the past few years.
We are always looking for ways to save a buck. But it's a fine line between cutting costs and cutting corners and often saving a buck now will cost you more in the long run.
As homeowners, we have more information and resources available to us than ever before. In this episode I complain about mostly complain about contractors who refuse to acknowledge that we do know what we're doing and know what we're talking about.
Someday. Eventually. In the future. Whether talking about debt repayment, retirement, or home renovations, it's all so abstract. In this episode, I talk about figuring out how realistic a goal is and creating the road map to achieve it.
John from AZDIYGuy.com returns to talk about kitchens, kitchen design and IKEA. And why it's a bad idea to step on the back of a farmhouse sink. John shares his experience from planning to design to execution, why IKEA was the right choice for him and why it pays to hire a designer.
We have all seen those articles about the home improvements that give you the biggest return on your investment. But what about the ones that can actually decrease the value of your home?
She's back! I am happy to welcome Vickiann, from MyCrappyHouse.com back to the podcast. We talk about how she has been making her crappy house less crappy and answer some very important questions. What has she been up to? What's the deal with Schmoopy? What's changed thanks to the pandemic? There are knots and bows to be tied and maybe, someday, a tome about her home to be written(?) and she talks about all of it on this episode.
Before Netflix and other streaming services, some of the only entertainment available in the wee hours of the morning was the infomercial. In this episode of the podcast, I share with you some of the purchases I made over the years either directly from, or inspired by these advertisements.
In this episode of the podcast, I share a handful of tales of nature and the nature-adjacent, along with a bit of advice if you happen to live adjacent to nature (hopefully the title doesn't give too much away).
This first episode back after a long hiatus does not have a central theme. It is more of a mish-mash of assorted ideas that you may find interesting including a bit of plumbing, a new (to me) table saw and some real estate news.
The Thumb and Hammer Podcast will return in September. I had actually contemplated sun-downing the podcast and the website but after a lot of thought, and some encouragement from unexpected sources, I am pleased to announce that the podcast is coming back.
Expect the first new episode Thursday September 3, 2020. New episodes will be released every other Thursday.
A brief explanation about the podcast schedule and a request for your help to make the Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast the best it can be.
Until you can afford a major renovation, do you live with what you have or can you justify spending money on something destined for the landfill?
This is the tale of our new front door, from the sale to installation to service and the mistakes that were made along the way by the parties
A response to an article on Mashable "11 DIY videos absolutely no one asked for." So, why do makers make what they make the way they make anyway?
Spending too much money, pricing yourself out of the market, or not spending enough money, hurting your property value. And whether it really matters.
In this episode of the podcast, we look at two popular waterproofing methods plus the steps you can take to avoid such drastic measures to solve your wet basment problems.
Making sense of the different types of drywall, drywall compound, mesh vs paper tape and drywall tools.
An election, a TV show and a board game. Looking back at news topics that as a homeowner, I found to be significant or interesting.
In this podcast episode, I look at how we so quickly maxed out our credit cards and how saving $600 by DIYing a project could potentially cost much more.
Looking back at some of the more memorable open houses I attended and some of the mistakes that were made.
How we freed up some money each month and put extra cash in our pockets after accepting that short-term setbacks stopped being short-term long ago. .
From nosy neighbors to noisy neighbors, we all have them. How well we get along with our neighbors is fundamental to the enjoyment of our property.
The business side of the death of a loved one and figuring out what happens to all the stuff that is left behind.
The dream is to own your own home. But who is selling that dream? And why? Is your house really an investment, or is it a liability?
As homeowners, we make decisions that impact the environment. We want to be more energy efficient to save money or even the planet. But are we as "green" as we think we are?
Ask three experts the same question and you'll probably get three different answers. So many competing voices only add to the confusion.
A look back at some of the more interesting news topics of 2017 related to home improvements, construction, real estate, etc.
We've all heard the expression, "Measure twice, cut once." And we all know what that means. I share some my measuring mistakes and the reasons for them to help you avoid making the same mistakes.
Just because you can "Do It-Yourself" doesn't necessarily mean you can do it yourself. Do you know what permits and qualifications you need? I share some of my experiences, some legal, others not so much.
Why is it that weekend projects rarely take one weekend? Where does one project end and another one begin? I explore these questions by sharing what I did (and didn't do) on my summer vacation.
Three options for heating a garage / workshop. Insulation and ventilation options for a 1-1/2 story Cape Cod. Solution for venting if no soffits are present. Construction jobs, the trades shortage and Millennials.
The pros and cons of to-do lists, a solution for a laundry closet, and garage workshop climate control.
Thoughts regarding the previous owner of our house. Answering a question from another podcast: is it okay to convert a bathroom to a laundry room?
Selling our house was like ending bad relationship. A series of events leading up to moving day have us wondering if our house somehow become the psycho ex.
Back after a year's hiatus. How I managed to turn "just move in" into a construction zone and what we could have done differently to avoid this mess.
Acting on a life-changing decision we made back in the fall and how everything came together with hours to spare when it all could have just easily fallen apart.
John from AZDIYGuy.com talks about hiring a contractor to repair his pool and how he renegotiated a couple "standard" clauses in the contract.
I share examples of when I had work done without a written contract and the consequences. I also explain what should be included in a good contract.
Thoughts on my conversation with Angela Allen (ep 9) about living small and how that led my family and I to make our own life-changing decision.
Angela Allen talks about her small cabin in the woods, plus the virtues of tiny houses, simple living and deciding what is truly important in life.
Sarah Fogle is part story teller and part DIY tutor who shares her experience and knowledge on her website (uglyducklinghouse.com)
Vicki, who blogs at MyCrappyHouse.com is not afraid to take on home improvement projects and her confidence and fearlessness are contagious.
John joins me to talk about his home improvement experiences, his website and his eBook and the tools and resources used in his kitchen renovation.
John shares his DIY adventures on his blog while injecting his "dorky" sense of humor. He joins me to talk about blogging and home improvements.
We skipped the home inspection. We bought a money pit. Coincidence? What were we thinking? Plus what is and isn't included in a home inspection.
When you become a homeowner, you become, at least to some extent, a do-it-yourselfer. But should you DIY or hire out? Does DIY really save money?
You know that one house that brings down the property values around it? We live in that house. And these are the reasons why our house is that house.
In this, the first episode of the Thumb and Hammer Podcast, I introduce myself, and explain how I became a very unlikely do-it-yourselfer.