Do-It-Yourself Video - Handy Kitchen Fix-It Tips

Irwin Weiner ASID - When I saw this reader-submitted video of a woman who takes charge of the power tools in her home and goes to work building and remodeling her kitchen, I had to lie down. Way too much energy! But watch today's featured video from The Family Handyman, and you definitely will get some great DIY or professional remodeling ideas for how to turn your kitchen into a more usable, handy, functional space.

Click on these links for 10 Tips for a Happy Kitchen Remodel and 4 Weekend Kitchen Upgrades - and for our Design2Share readers, I know it's been awhile since the last installment of my own kitchen remodeling videos - but I promise to put them up soon. (And the good news is that the remodeling and settling in is almost complete.)

 
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Do-It-Yourself Video - Bathtub Caulking Tips

Irwin Weiner ASID - The old caulk between my NYC apartment bathtub and the tile wall is gross. It's starting to mildew and it refuses to look clean, even after a solid scrubbing. And I don't think the seal is very secure, so it's time to remove the old caulk and start again. The following featured video is from The Family Handyman and shows you the best ways to remove old caulk and how to lay a nice, smooth caulk bead without sloppiness.

Click on the photo above to learn a clever trick for smoothing a caulk bead with your fingertip, without the sticky mess. And click this link for more Bathtub Caulking Tips from The Family Handyman. With all these tips, I guess there's no excuse not to remedy the caulk problem in my bathroom. (Now if there were only a video with tips on how to avoid DIY procrastination!)

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DIY Alert - 3 Products to Help Repair Cracked Walls

Irwin Weiner ASID - I confess to the guilty pleasure of enjoying a do-it-yourself read now and then, and one of my DIY go-to guides is The Family Handyman. FH is loaded with great projects and what-works-for-me tips from their readers. I was recently impressed with their article on simplifying wall repair. Here are a few of their products and tips.

Good-Bye Cracks - imagine a spray can that works miracles on cracked walls, particularly those walls that keep getting hairline cracks! Try spraying it on both wide and hairline cracks, although it's primarily recommended for the little guys. Clean the loose material out of all cracks, filling them with joint compound. Then spray on two or three coats of G-BC (make sure you're spraying on a nice, even coat as this isn't a surface you can sand). When completely dry, prime and paint it.

Step Saver Stress Crack Tape - the directions say that you just stick this tape over the crack and you can paint over it, but experts advise that you skim over it with some joint compound so that you don't see the edges of the tape repair area.

Wall Liner - when your walls are so badly cracked that you don't know where to start and how to finish ... and you don't want to install new drywall ... many homeowners use heavy-duty wall liner; this extra-thick paintable wallpaper functions like a huge patch over the cracks. Look for the best solution for your wall texture as you can find rolls at home supply centers that are textured, patterned, and smooth. (You can also use wall liner to cover cinderblock and other wall surfaces so you have a completely different look when you're done.)

Now back to The Family Handyman; you might want to follow their advice on How to Repair a Drywall Crack - click on the link for an easy step-by-step guide.

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Our Top Tips: Play It Smart When You Renovate Your Home

Irwin Weiner ASID - Our regular readers know that Jay and I are renovating our country home's kitchen and the back-entry laundry, powder room, and mudroom areas. We've been thinking a lot about how homeowners need to have their eyes wide open to the realities of renovating, as it's oftentimes an unnatural act and an extreme intrusion upon your family's home life. Here are Design2Share's top tips for renovating your home, should you want to tackle something fresh and updated during the new year.

• Protect yourself by hiring experienced, reliable, and highly-skilled professionals for any home renovation project. Personal recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors are best (“They did great work on my addition!”). There are many experienced and reliable contractors working in your community—highly skilled professionals who do business the right way.

• If you're hiring a contractor to do construction, renovation, or repair work on your home, avoid paying cash "under the table" for your job. You’ll likely not get a better deal.

• You need a warranty from the professionals you hire, meaning some kind of recourse for poor workmanship.

• You have the added risk of liability if an injury takes place on your property when you hire non-insured workers for your home projects. You’re better off hiring fully insured and bonded individuals and firms.

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