As we speak’s Home-owner Radio Podcast | January 21, 2023

Hour 1

Be taught what traits are sizzling in kitchen reworking, stop inside frost on home windows, the distinction between refacing and refinishing cupboards and extra.

Massive-Image Kitchen Reworking Tendencies for 2023

As a house enchancment skilled, I’m all the time trying to study concerning the newest design traits. I lately got here throughout the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, and I’ve to say, the findings are fairly fascinating. 

The research surveyed greater than 2,000 U.S. owners who’re within the midst of, are planning, or lately accomplished a kitchen renovation mission, and the outcomes present a beneficial glimpse into what’s trending in kitchen design. Right here’s what stood out probably the most to me:

Renovation Spending Rises: The median spend on a minor transform elevated $4,000 yr over yr to $14,000 by mid-2022. Householders spent $15,000 on a minor transform of a bigger kitchen and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen.

Sustainability Influences Selections: 92 % of house owners incorporate sustainable options throughout a kitchen transform. These embody LED lightbulbs, energy-efficient home equipment and water-efficient fixtures.

Open Layouts are Right here to Keep: Following a dip within the development of open kitchens final yr, this yr renovators are as soon as once more extra more likely to open their kitchens to different inside areas and out of doors areas. The most well-liked alternative for kitchens newly open to inside areas nonetheless is to don’t have any wall separation. For the transition between the kitchen and out of doors areas, the commonest alternative is double doorways or a row of doorways.

Wooden Cupboards Achieve Recognition: White cupboards aren’t going out of favor anytime quickly. The colour stays the preferred alternative, however wooden tones are a robust contender. Practically 1 / 4 of house owners select wood-tone cupboards.

Colourful Islands: 46 % of house owners chosen an island cupboard shade that contrasts the colour of the primary cupboards. The recognition of blue and grey declined barely, whereas black, medium-tone wooden and darkish wooden noticed will increase.

Learn the complete report: 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study

Why is Frost Forming on the Within My Home windows? 

A house owner in Wyoming says over the last chilly snap, temperatures dropped to round 36 levels beneath zero! She seen frost build up on the within of all of her home windows and doorways. 

“Is there something we will do to stop this from taking place?” she asks. 

Frost build up on the within of home windows and doorways throughout extraordinarily chilly temperatures could be attributable to a lot of elements.

Our first thought is that the doorways and home windows are older and faulty. Nevertheless, the house owner says the home is new, so the doorways and home windows are very vitality environment friendly. Due to this, much less humidity is escaping from the house by way of the home windows and doorways. So, as soon as the moisture within the air makes contact with these chilly surfaces, it freezes.  

So what’s inflicting this excessive humidity? Some doable explanations embody:

• Lack of air flow: Inadequate air flow may cause humidity to construct up in a house, particularly in loos and kitchens the place moisture is generated from cooking, bathing and showering. 
• Houseplants: Giant numbers of houseplants can launch moisture into the air, contributing to excessive humidity.
• Excessive occupancy: Excessive occupancy in a home can improve humidity ranges due to the many individuals residing and inhaling the identical area.

The options to excessive humidity are including air flow and insulation, and in excessive instances putting in a whole-house dehumidifier. Ensure you’re venting any moisture out of the home, like utilizing a variety hood and loo vent fan. 

To control humidity ranges in your house, and deal with the underlying causes, get a hygrometer to measure the quantity of humidity in your house. It shouldn’t exceed 50 %. 

Refacing vs. Refinishing Cupboards

We’re renovating our kitchen, however the funds doesn’t permit for all new cupboards. So, we had been planning on refinishing them by sanding after which repainting. However then I learn an article about refacing the cupboards. What’s the distinction between refinishing and refacing, and which might you advocate?

Refinishing and refacing are two totally different strategies used to replace the look of kitchen cupboards.

Refinishing entails sanding down the prevailing end on the cupboards and making use of a brand new end, resembling paint or stain. This technique is often inexpensive than refacing and is an efficient possibility for these trying to change the colour of their cupboards. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the general design of the cupboards and could be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Refacing, alternatively, entails masking the prevailing cupboard doorways and drawer fronts with new supplies, resembling veneer, laminate or strong wooden. This will change the general design of the cupboards and can be utilized to replace the look of your kitchen. It’s additionally a costlier possibility than refinishing, however it’s a fast method to change the looks of your cupboards, and it’s much less disruptive to your kitchen.

In abstract, refinishing is the method of making use of a brand new end on the prevailing cupboards, whereas refacing is the method of masking the prevailing cupboards with new supplies to alter the general design.

Hour 2

Hear the key to eradicating vinyl wallpaper, ideas for staining a pressure-treated wooden fence, and extra. 

The Secret to Eradicating Vinyl Wallpaper

A house owner desires to know — what’s the trick to eradicating vinyl wallpaper?

“I sprayed it down with DIF wallpaper remover, lined the wall with skinny plastic, after which waited an hour or so, however the wallpaper was nonetheless caught in place. I don’t need to harm the drywall by attempting to scrape it off. What do you recommend?” he asks. 

When eradicating vinyl wallpaper, it is advisable rating the vinyl coating to ensure that the DIF wallpaper remover to work. To do that, use a device referred to as a paper tiger. Merely rub it over the face of vinyl to poke hundreds of holes in it. It will permit the remover to penetrate to the wallpaper and deactivate it, so you’ll be able to simply take away it. 

To take away the wallpaper, combine in a 5-gallon bucket:

Stir the combination, then apply it to the wall utilizing a pump-up backyard sprayer. After totally soaking the wallpaper, cowl the wall with a layer of skinny (0.7 mil) plastic, utilizing a wallpaper brush to press the plastic onto the wall.

Let the wallpaper remover soak on the wall for no less than three hours, in a single day could be even higher. The combination will dissolve virtually all of the adhesive, permitting you to peel away the wallpaper with just about no effort!

Watch: The Simple Recipe to Take away Wallpaper

Ideas for Staining a Fence

A house owner desires to stain her newly put in pressure-treated wooden fence. She asks, “Are you able to give me some ideas or recommendation?”

Staining a pressure-treated wooden fence could be a good way to guard the wooden and improve its pure magnificence. Nevertheless, there are some things to bear in mind to make sure that the stain is utilized correctly and adheres effectively to the wooden:

Anticipate the wooden to dry: Stress-treated wooden is often moist when it’s first put in, so anticipate it to dry fully earlier than staining. This will take a number of weeks and even months, relying on the climate and the wooden’s publicity to the weather. You too can do that take a look at.

Clear the wooden: Earlier than staining, clear the wooden to take away any filth, grime, or different contaminants that could be on the floor. An answer of water and a gentle detergent is normally adequate, however it’s also possible to use a wooden cleaner particularly designed for pressure-treated wooden.

Select the appropriate stain: Not all stains are appropriate for pressure-treated wooden, so select a stain that’s particularly formulated to be used on pressure-treated wooden. Oil-based stains are the most suitable choice as a result of they’re more practical at penetrating the wooden.

Apply the stain evenly: Apply the stain evenly and within the route of the wooden grain. Work the stain into the wooden utilizing a brush, curler or pump-up, then back-brush it into the wooden to make sure it’s totally lined. 

Enable the stain to dry: After staining, permit the wooden to dry fully earlier than making use of a second coat or utilizing the fence. This will take a number of hours and even days, relying on the climate and what stain was used.

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Easy Options

Situation New Paint Curler — Earlier than utilizing a brand-new paint-roller sleeve, it’s necessary to “situation” it, in order that it spreads paint evenly and easily. 

Place the brand new sleeve on the paint curler, fill a plant mister with water, then spin the sleeve as you spray it liberally with water. 

Dry-spin the sleeve to take away any extra water, then roll the sleeve onto a bit of cardboard or different naked, clear floor. That may assist take away any loosened fibers from the curler sleeve — and stop them from entering into the paint or onto the newly painted floor. 

Now use the dampened, conditioned sleeve to right away apply paint.

Watch: The best way to Situation A New Paint Curler Cowl 

Further Storage for Ventilated Shelving — When you’ve got ventilated metal-wire shelving in your closet or pantry, right here’s a fast, easy method to acquire somewhat additional storage. 

Purchase a number of steel S-hooks and slip them onto the wire shelving. Use pliers to pinch closed the hooks to allow them to’t pop off. 

The hooks are nice for hanging all types of things that might ordinarily be taking on beneficial shelf area, together with mud brooms, hand towels, flashlights, belts, scarves, and many others.

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