Around the House with Eric G®: Upgrade Your Home Like a Pro

The housing market is weird right now — interest rates are way up (we’re talking about 7¼%), but prices are coming down, so if you can stomach the payments it might actually be a smart time to buy. I’m talking to you from a hotel room in Rochester, MN (near the Mayo Clinic), my voice a little shot and the décor clearly missing a renovation cycle or two — sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and...

We jump right into the big idea: Walk Your Plans projects blueprints to exact scale so you can literally walk a house or remodel before a single brick is laid — Joe Matejka tells us builders and designers catch over 90% of pre-construction mistakes this way, which translates into huge savings, less rework, and way fewer “oh no” moments when concrete is already cured. I confess I used to tape out k...

Fire Prevention Week had us nerding out on the tiny stuff that can save big lives — I sat down with Stephanie and Jason from Kidda and we chased down the recent UL upgrades, low-level CO alerts and why smart alarms actually deserve a coat of respect. We talked about how CO detection used to be a blunt instrument (boom – 70 ppm and you’re toast), and how the new low-level devices now flag you at ab...

We sat down—me, Stephanie, and Jason—and basically geeked out about making our homes less likely to become headline material. I walked through why smoke and CO detectors are not the same dinosaurs my parents put up: UL rewrites have turned them into sophisticated little wall‑computers that can tell real danger from burnt toast, and Kidde’s newer devices will even nag you mercilessly at the 10‑year...

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are happening right now — I’m talking hot steals like Roborock robot vacuums, Lutron Caséta dimmers, a bargain Rove dash cam and even Chamberlain MyQ garage video keypads, but heads up: these Prime-only prices end Wednesday at midnight PT, so move fast if you want the good stuff. We walk through the best picks I’m eyeballing (yes, I own a Roborock and yes, it’s glorious)...

We walk you through a no-nonsense, fall-before-winter home audit that I’ve been doing on the show for over two decades—no fluff, just the stuff that keeps your house from turning into a soggy money pit. I kick things off with water management because water is the enemy (dramatic, but true). Clean gutters, unclog downspouts, and make sure water gets at least 10 feet away from the foundation; if you...

I'll show you my tricks on how not to get ripped off by a bad foundation contractor—seriously, learn the moves so you don't end up paying for drama and a leaky floor. We dig into crawlspace realities too (that gross air with spiders and rodents absolutely can creep into your home), plus why radon testing and encapsulation might be the smart play in some markets. Hour two is our Around the House An...

Alright, let me give it to you straight — I want you calm, curious, and not handing over a giant check because some flashlight-wielding salesperson played the fear card. We walk through how concrete behaves (it cracks — that’s normal), how to read those cracks (hairline vertical = cosmetic; horizontal, stair-step, or anything wider than about a quarter-inch or that accepts a business card = time t...

I just got back from emceeing Rock the Locks over the weekend — honestly a total rocket ship (and yes, I proposed to Alisa backstage and she said yes) — and we kick this midweek Punch List off with that high-energy recap before diving into the real stuff. We dig into fresh housing data: mortgage rates have crept back above 7% (Freddie Mac ~7.03%, Bankrate ~7.33%), existing-home sales hit a 2026 lo...

Fall Home Trends & Cozy Upgrades with Wendy Glaister | Lighting, Color, Smart Home & Holiday Prep Host Eric G welcomes interior designer Wendy Glaister (Wendy Glaister Interiors) to discuss fall home trends and practical ways to make spaces feel warmer and more uplifting as daylight fades. They talk about the shift away from years of “greige” toward richer colors, plaids, florals, and Ralp...

Empty Nesters Are Upsizing: Designing Forever Homes with Style and Aging-in-Place Features On the Around the House Show, host Eric G talks with interior designer Wendy Glaister about shifting empty-nester trends, with more clients rejecting traditional downsizing and instead upsizing or redesigning homes to support an active “next chapter.” They discuss how pandemic-era priorities, agency, and qua...

Mold is quietly turning into the new lead paint/asbestos scandal and I’m here waving a giant, slightly gross flag about it. I walk through why big volume builders like D.R. Horton and Lennar are getting slammed with lawsuits — bad HVAC sizing, poor framing, and homes built so tight they sweat themselves into unlivable molds. I riff on the Dixon case in Louisiana (buyers from 2014 pushing back, sta...

Planning a master bathroom remodel in 2026? Eric G walks through his top 10 tips so you don’t blow the budget, hire the wrong crew, or build a shower that fails in five years. From checking neighborhood comps on Zillow before you design, to wiring for heated floors and a bidet seat you’ll want later, this episode is packed with hard-won advice from decades in the field. Eric covers why you hire a...

AI in construction and remodeling is moving fast — and a lot of the hype doesn’t hold up on a real jobsite. On this episode of Around the House, certified kitchen designer Eric G and co-host John Dudley cut through the noise on AI-powered design, estimating, and bidding, and what actually helps homeowners, contractors, and remodelers today. They dig into the buzz around 3D-printed concrete houses...

Alright, here's the midweek chaos I called the Punch List — I'm Eric G., your loudspeaker for home stuff and occasional festival hype. I kick things off by bragging about being the MC for Rock the Locks in Umatilla (Sept 25–27) — three days, 25 bands, camping, and a ridiculous amount of classic rock goodness. If you’re wondering why a home-improvement nerd is moonlighting as a concert MC, it’s bec...

I got real about security with Brandon Smith from Aura — no fluff, just the gap homeowners keep tripping over. I tell the story about pulling up to my driveway and finding my garage gutted (sunny weekday, tools gone), calling 911 and waiting...and waiting. Brandon and I dug into why cameras and recorded footage aren’t the finish line: in a lot of cities the police won’t prioritize property-only ca...

Eric here — I sat down with Emily Mottram and we basically went full nerd on how houses actually work (spoiler: physics wins). We nerded out on the four control layers — air, water, vapor and thermal — and why missing one of those is like forgetting the eggs in your cheesecake: the whole thing collapses. Emily walked us through real-life horror and hero stories (a gorgeous remodel that still fell...

Eric G just got back from a raucous little jaunt to northeast Oregon, and let me tell you, it's all about the vibes up there. Picture this: the stunning Wallowa Lake State Park, where the mountains give you serious postcard envy, and the fishing is... well, let's say it's more about the adventure than the catch. Eric reminisces about childhood trips where he fished with his dad, and despite the lo...

Labor Day is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with a deep dive into the heart and soul of American craftsmanship? We’re shining the spotlight on two remarkable companies that embody the spirit of our Made in America 250 celebrations: Ardex and Evolve Stone. This episode is packed with insightful conversations that unveil the intricacies behind American-made products, starting with Ar...

Labor Day Weekend is here, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into the world of hardwood flooring with the experts from Treadline Hardwood? In this lively episode, Eric G. invites Titus and Kelly, his neighbors from Portland, to chat about the ins and outs of hardwood flooring. It's a laid-back but informative discussion that tackles everything from the intimidation that homeowners of...

With the crisp autumn air beckoning and winter lurking around the corner, it's time to prepare our homes for the chilly months ahead! Eric G. is here to spill the beans on how we can save some serious cash and keep our homes cozy without breaking the bank. Forget about splurging on a brand-new furnace; all you need is a Saturday and a bit of elbow grease! We dive into the world of duct sealing—yes...

As the kids gear up for another exciting school year, it's the perfect time to hit reset on our home organization. This episode dives deep into the art of transforming our spaces into functional havens that can withstand the chaos of family life. We’re revisiting some stellar tips and tricks we picked up over the summer for decluttering and organizing, with insights from expert Shelby Cornette, th...

Eric G takes us on a wild ride through the kitchen and bath design world, leveraging his 35 years of experience to dish out the best (and worst) practices for renovations. Ever wondered why custom cabinetry can sometimes be a nightmare? Grab a seat as Eric breaks down the biggest kitchen remodeling mistakes that can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration. He reveals that most people...

The latest chat with Eric G is a rollercoaster ride through the wild world of vacation rentals. He spills the tea on why he kicked his vacation rental management company to the curb, and trust me, it's a saga filled with headaches, hilarity, and a touch of drama that could rival your favorite soap opera. Eric dives into the nitty-gritty of what went down at his beach house, where the dream of shor...

Owning a vacation home sounds like all s'mores and starry nights — until the maintenance bills and rental regulations show up. In this episode of Around the House , host Eric G sits down with designer Wendy Glaister to unpack what it really takes to design, furnish, and maintain a vacation home that works as both a family retreat and a smart investment. From turning a run-down cabin into a cozy ge...