Let's Talk... HOME repair!

Alicia and Amy are joined by Kayla, AmyWorks’ project manager, to discuss Alicia’s basement remodel.  The Winter Blue Room recording studio was a house that was converted to commercial space.  Alicia talks about her dream to convert the basement into possibly a small living space and all that goes into planning a brand new space.  She talks about her new perimeter dra...

Deep dive: In Episode 17 we touched on leak detection from the water meter. Let's get a little deeper on how to determine where the leak may be. Amy shares that there was an electronic alert from the water meter sent to the water company due to usage detected every hour for a seven day period. Usage was up as well.  How to determine if there is a leak - find the water meter. Clean off th...

Update on DADU – Amy gives the latest on the Seattle DADU build. Coming right along. Alicia’s Favorite – Terms relating to anything about the home. 1.   Plumber’s putty 2.   Pipe dope 3.   Adjustable slip nut wrench or spud closet wrench 4.   Wainscoting 5.   Niche 6.   Kelvin unit of measure that relate...

Winter home maintenance tasks ·       Check washing machine hoses and replace rubber hoses if older than 2 years ·       Check vent fans in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. ·       Clean dryer vent inside and out.  Color of the year for 2022 ·       Ben...

On this episode Amy and Alicia have as guests Kayla D’Aprile (of Kayla’s corner) and four of her students (Kennedy, Zoe, Anna and ???) that are taking her Woodworking for Women class at the local Seattle Central College. We talk about tool fears and intimidation and the challenges they’ve faced in the class. We also asked where they find their information when faced with questions about...

Client Story: Amy shares a story about a recently purchased home by a client that has an undisclosed/hidden leak that comes to light on their very first day in the new-to-them home. Home warranty – coverage for appliances and systems in your home. Can be on new or older homes. Home inspection – a home inspection is typically done pre-purchase but can also be done at any time during homeowners...

Project update: There’s significant progress in the DADU that the AmyWorks Inc. team is working on. Foundation is done. The framing is complete along with the trusses in place. Up next is the roof and windows. Stay tuned! Deep Dive: Alicia and Amy talk about the steps to getting a top quality paint job. The vast majority of the work is in the prep i.e. cleaning, masking, patching, caulki...

Where’s the Water Coming From (part 1) From the field:  Amy shares the woos of homeownership as they talk about the issues and repairs they are discovering in AmyWorks’ new office which was built in 1910. There’s mystery water in the basement, a leaky roof and more! Oh, and there’s the story of the stolen tools and guitar. Tools/Tips/Tricks:  Big tip if you have a stinky bathro...

From the Field:  Kayla and Amy give a review of an app supported stud finder, Walabot. There are mixed reviews and preferences for the tried and true stud finder. Magnetic style with no bells, density style or the app supported style…what’s your favorite for a stud finder? Special guest: Katie McCamant, from Cohousing Solutions joins Alicia and Amy on a Zoom call to talk about the b...

Construction terms:  Alicia’s favorite – can you explain what these terms mean? What do stringer, riser and tread have in common? Is there a difference between drywall, Sheetrock and green board? Maintenance:  Give your refrigerator some love. Along with cleaning the coils (check out this video) there are a few other things to check to keep it running efficiently. Doo...

Project update  Amy gives an update of the DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) project that AmyWorks is undertaking in North Seattle. Hung up on concrete pour and the Seattle weather. Forecast for rain. Deep Dive Inexpensive bathroom upgrades. Can’t afford a full bathroom remodel? Check out these tips to give your bathroom a facelift. Re-grouting can make a huge d...

Deep Dive:  Hanging blinds and curtains – Remember talking about king stud, jack stud and header from our previous episode? Now’s the time to visualize that as you hang your new blinds or curtain rod. Amy and Alicia talk about stud finders and wall anchors in order to be successful with the project. What about pilot holes? Questions:  When dealing with painted walls that have had a...

From the Field:  Kayla (of Kayla’s Corner) joins us from the field to talk about some interesting remodeling projects and the some of the ups and downs facing the construction industry at this time. Does your project include windows? Get them ordered sooner rather than later. Also Kayla shares about the Woodworking for Women class now going on at Seattle Central College that sh...

Episode 26 – What’s the chute for? Client’s story: Amy describes a recent kitchen remodel where the homeowner took on some of the contractor’s role. What would they do differently in the future if they were undertaking another remodeling project? Maintenance for the upcoming Halloween holiday: What’s the chute for? Alicia finds out how to be socially distant when trick or treat...

We welcome back the Amyworks team for our Let's Talk Home Repair Happy Hour! Lightening round of questions - what will we ask our favorite renovators?? What's your favorite tool? What was your biggest mistake on the job? Just a couple of the intriguing questions asked!

Episode 24. What does that mean?? First up, Amy gives a quick update of the ongoing DADU project. CONSTRUCTION TERMS: Do you know all those terms that get thrown around to explain something home-related? Amy quizzes Alicia on terms like beam and girder. What’s a water hammer arrestor? What’s PVC and is it different than CPVC? Test your own knowledge. A new segment…"Kayla’s corn...

Episode 23 Fall maintenance part 2 and more. Yet another informative episode this week, and we're continuing with Fall home maintenance. Amy and Alicia discuss easy ways to check for drafts coming in from exterior doors. (The caulking episode referred to is Episode 3.) Next Amy explains why you need to drain your hot water heater more frequently than you'd think, and how it'll make your life easie...

Client story: A leaky, portable dishwasher and how it lives to clean another plate. Seasonal home maintenance: What should you be doing to keep your house well maintained? Amy and Alicia share several outside tasks to schedule and complete in the coming autumn months. Listener question: What does it mean to have a SMART HOME? Amy and Alicia are going to take this opportunity to...

Part 2 of our Deep Dive into Bathrooms is precisely that; the theoretical demo is complete and now it's time to start building your ideal bathroom. Amy gives us an introduction to the logistics of building a bathroom from the studs and just how many options are available to you for the roughly 130 decisions you'll need to make. What kind of shower or tub to install? What about the sink? Exhaust fa...

Episode 20: Deep Dive - Everything Bathrooms Part 1 Project update: Amy gives an update on the new DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit) that AmyWorks is starting in a north Seattle neighborhood. Deep Dive: Bathroom remodel – Amy and Alicia dig into all the pieces involved in undertaking a full bathroom renovation. Can your domestic relationship handle the stress? What’s involved in the demoliti...

Episode 19: Special Guest: Katie Kadwell from Weary Stone Farm Your edible urban oasis. All things raised-bed kitchen gardens! Master Gardener Katie Kadwell talks about her journey founding Weary Stone Farm and how she helps home gardeners design, build, grow and harvest their own backyard feast. Helpful gardening tips and further resources available through Weary Stone Farm. Get ready for your wi...

Episode 18: Why is Tom Brady in August’s AARP magazine? ·     From the field - Amy and Alicia talk to Shannon Hogan, carpenter for AmyWorks, while she’s working on a fancy, new bathroom with fun accoutrements. ·     Questions from our listeners - “Can I install my TV wall mount in drywall?” and “Can I replace a flush mount light with a veiling fan?...

This week Amy and Alicia talk about knowing where your mechanical systems are in your house; and maintenance and safety tips for each. ·     Do you know where your water shut off valve is and does it work? ·     How to troubleshoot a whole house water leak without waiting for a sky high water bill. ·     Where is your elect...

If "Let's Talk...Home Repair " had been created only to publish this episode, it would be a worthy endeavor.  This episode is a little different, but in the best way possible . Alicia and Amy welcome 3 special guests: Susan (Construction Estimator), Shannon (Carpenter) and Kayla (Project Manager) all members of the Amyworks team. Rather than listener questions, this week Alicia masterful...

Episode 15 – Deep dive into doors! Our latest episode explores the world of doors, DADUs and disposals. Amy kicks things off by sharing an exciting new project for AmyWorks, a DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit)! She clears up some misconceptions about the trending living space.  Alicia and Amy then take a deep dive into the surprisingly complex world of doors. Which material should your...