Home In Progress

On Today's Episode Fall is settling in and that means a couple things for sure: the end of Daylight Saving Time for the year and a potential invasion of mice into our homes as they look for warmer digs. Who Can We Blame for DST? [00:00 - 12:17] We take a rambling and energetic look at select moments from the history of Daylight Saving Time. Our focus is to figure out who we can blame for it. We tu...

On Today's Episode We cover everything from tips for the workshop to laundry room mistakes that we all should correct! Using an Orbital Sander the RIGHT Way [00:00 - 07:48] We’ve all seen the little swirls left behind from an orbital sander. Seeing those is a huge bummer because they show through the finish, whether that’s polyurethane, stain or paint. The good news, It’s not Sanders' fault! Swirl...

On Today's Episode We start in the workshop, head to the bathroom, and then wrap things up talking about how you could win a $1000 Home Improvement Prize Package! It's a full day! Tape Measure Maintenance [00:00 - 07:43] Dan and Hailey discuss all the ways to keep your tape measure accurate. Have you calibrated your tape measure recently? Find out how! Listen to Episode 047: Tape Measure Tricks! B...

On Today's Episode Benjamin Moore just released their Color of the Year for 2023 and it's a doozy! We cover that topic in detail and we also highlight some ridiculously cheap paint tools that work remarkably well. In non-paint-related news, we sit down with Nick Sargent from Johnson Carpet One in Grandville to talk about all sorts of flooring and countertop materials and trends. It's definitely a...

On Today's Episode We cover a wide range of topics! We all know technology has rapidly advanced over the last 10 years . . . but is every advancement REALLY an advancement? Also, if you are getting ready to snag some pumpkins for carving or for your outdoor fall decorating, we've got some tips to keep them looking great longer. Another question that comes up this time of year involves our decks: i...

On Today's Episode Today is all about fixing problems and dealing with (and avoiding) mistakes! 6 Ways to Avoid Color Mistakes [00:00 - 18:58] Unfortunately, we have all made mistakes when choosing paint colors, the good news is there are simple ways to avoid that! We have 6 lessons that everyone can benefit from.  Standby Generators: Whole Home Power [18:58 - 28:37] Dan and Hailey are joined...

On Today's Episode With Father's Day only a day away, it's crunch time if you're looking for gifts. And so we decided to pool our knowledge and resources and provide you with a list of never-fail Father's Day gifts you'll be able to pick up today! We'll also be talking about... Last Minute Father's Day Gifts [00:00 - 18:58] With only 1 shopping day left until Father's Day 2022... How to Become Han...

On Today's Episode Who would have thought painting your floor could leave you without hot water! We'll explain how that could happen. We'll also be talking with Lauren Figueroa about decorating with vintage finds (and how to find them). And of course, we'll be listing off the 10 winners of our paint contest and launching Phase 2! FV Sensors [00:00 - 8:45] Don't just listen! Watch the segment on Yo...

On Today's Episode We'll be talking about (incredibly brilliant) DIY lessons that Dan learned from his recent vacation. They apply to ALL people EVERYWHERE. They are THAT good. kind of. We'll also be talking about one of the most exciting art projects we've ever covered on the show: Cyanotype Printing. It's easy, inexpensive, and the results are incredible. Finally . . . we unleash our biggest pai...

On Today's Episode Summer's winding down and as we look back to our big DIY hopes and dreams in the Spring, we're feeling a little bummed about how little we actually accomplished. We'll talk about what went wrong, how to correct it, and why it's not so bad. We'll also talk about cleaning and avoiding paint spills. And finally, after a year of waiting, Hailey can finally do her toilet paper topic!...

On Today's Episode Choosing the wrong dining room table for your space can be a frustrating and expensive mistake! Fortunately, we've got some tips to help you make sure you get it right! We'll also be talking with Interior Designer Lauren Figueroa about a very unique Design-in-a-Day service she offers. Finally, we'll close the show out talking about paint sheens. It's not exciting stuff, but thin...

On Today's Episode With Father's Day only a day away, it's crunch time if you're looking for gifts. And so we decided to pool our knowledge and resources and provide you with a list of never-fail Father's Day gifts you'll be able to pick up today! We'll also be talking about... DIY PAINTING 101: How Much Paint Do I Need? [00:00 - 9:20] DIY Painting 101: Start by estimating how much paint you are g...

On Today's Episode It's a project-focused episode this week. Hailey is converting her 100 year-old garage into an art studio and needed to degrease the concrete. She'll talk about what she used and whether or not it's a product she'd recommend. Dan, on the other hand, took an old, rusty Bistro set that he bought over 20 years ago and restored it to "better-than-its-former-glory." He'll discuss the...

On Today's Episode Today's a bit wide-ranging when it comes to topics. The whole first half of the show is about "summer school"--about continued learning and making the most of the time we have! We start with a summer learning experience Hailey jumped into at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck. From there, Dan talks about turning 50 and some of the recent experiences he's jumped into. Then we shift gears into a...

On Today's Episode When gas is pushing $5 a gallon and groceries have become ridiculously expensive, the concept of saving money on home improvement projects is a big deal. On today's show, we talk about how you can cut corners (safely) and save money on your next paint or wallpaper project without compromising the final look! Budget-Friendly Paints [00:00 - 13:08] WATCH ON YOUTUBE (and don't forg...

On Today's Episode We cover a lot of ground today--or, at least, we cover some very diverse ground! It all starts with a quick look at a cool project: repairing an antique frame (or at least making it better!). From there, we take a deep dive into the Sous-Vide--a kitchen appliance that promises to save you time and help you produce the best meals you've ever made. Finally, with all that delicious...

On Today's Episode It's the Fourth of July Weekend and so we're looking at a couple things that are uniquely American! We'll be digging into some fun facts about the 4th as well as an architectural element of our homes that is distinctly American--the front porch. Do you have one? Do you use it? Whatever situation you're in, we've got some creative solutions so you can get out there and enjoy your...

On Today's Episode Groceries (and everything else) are getting extremely expensive. Today, we talk briefly about some of our tried-and-true money-saving tips when it comes to stocking the pantries. We'll also be taking a deep dive into some color theory and talk about how to choose exterior colors like a pro! Finally . . . we need to address an elephant in the room: Dan's a hypocrite. But chances...

On Today's Episode With Father's Day only a day away, it's crunch time if you're looking for gifts. And so we decided to pool our knowledge and resources and provide you with a list of never-fail Father's Day gifts you'll be able to pick up today! We'll also be talking about what it takes to be "handy". A lot of us tell ourselves (and others) that we're all thumbs. That we're not mechanical. All o...

SEGMENT 1: The Butter Zone Two things are accomplished--sort of--in this segment! First, if you had grubs on your yard last fall, NOW's the time to treat for them. Secondly . . . Dan has a new refrigerator and it doesn't seem to be functioning correctly. So . . . he's placed a thermometer inside. This is both a great idea and a terrible idea. We'll tell you why! SEGMENT 2: Peel-N-Stick Wallpaper R...

Today's show is basically the presentation we gave on June 1 and 2 at the Sunnybrook Country Club in Grandville. It's a yearly event that RepcoLite hosts and Hailey and I called this one: Down the Rabbit Hole SEGMENT 1: Meet Our Guides In this first segment, we introduce you to the topic and also to our guides: Elizabeth Gilbert Frank Gehry David Lynch SEGMENT 2: Recognizing Fear One of the key re...

SEGMENT 1: The Field Guide It's a simple thing . . . but it can bring about a lot of fun for the whole family. Pick up a field guide--for birds, wildflowers, trees, whatever--and turn your outdoor time into a great family scavenger hunt of sorts! SEGMENT 2: Aura Reformulated Benjamin Moore's Aura is the best paint they've ever made. AND, it just got better! We sit down with Benjamin Moore's Kevin...

SEGMENT 1: TICKS It's already tick season! They're gross and their annoying and dangerous . . . but you can avoid them. As long as you've got the right info! SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Common Paint Questions At RepcoLite.com we have a chat function--like most websites. However, ours is manned entirely by one guy who's always ready with an answer! Peter Ogle runs the chat from 8 AM to 9 PM every weekday and...

SEGMENT 1: Stain or Paint? We received a great question from a listener regarding some cedar columns outside his home. They're bare wood and he wants them white . . . what's the process, and what products should he be using: Solid Color Stain or Paint? SEGMENTS 2 & 3: 8 Steps to Staying on Budget for Your Next Project Andy Yates from Andy Yates Design joins us to discuss 8 ways to stay on budg...

SEGMENT 1: Lead Paint Dilemma Hailey's older home has some peeling paint and is in need of some work. However . . . the whole project took a turn when she discovered that the existing paint is lead based. We discuss what the project looks like now and all the things you need to know if you're in the same situation. SEGMENTS 2 and 3: Beekeeping 101 Recently Hailey started considering a new hobby: b...