Thumb and Hammer Home Improvement Podcast

All good things must come to an end. And, so to, must mediocre things, like this podcast and the thumbandhammer.com website.

Facebook experts, ethernet cable in a wireless world, tracking down a water problem, and an update on the basement renovation.

Home improvement television shows often distort your perception of how long a renovation should take. But you can't compare yourself to a slick television production. And there are advantages to a project taking longer than anticipated.

A look back at our home improvement accomplishments in 2021, update on the current progress with the basement renovation and my final verdict on whether or not the tankless water heater delivers on its promise of energy savings. Plus one drawback of the tankless water heater that caught us a bit by surprise.

This episode is all about the process of doing your own electrical work in Ontario Canada, from filing a Notification of Electrical Work with the Electrical Safety Authority to the rough-in inspection.

Sparky is slang for an electrician, which I am not. However, I have done my own electrical work. This episode covers some of the reasons why you may or may not want to (or, should or should not) do your own electrical work.

I had a few questions about new rules in the electrical code, so I asked a licensed electrical contractor. It did not go well. Find out how five Japanese words might have saved our relationship. Links and resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igPIk79wAPg Viva La Dirt League: "The problem with workplace jargon: acronyms" (and be sure to check out the rest of their videos). The Simpsons clip is...

This is not a paid endorsement... In this episode of the podcast, I share two products I found after hours of searching for solutions to specific problems I was facing with my home improvements. Xcel IGA I needed to attach the bottom plate of a stud wall to a concrete slab without using mechanical fasteners and construction adhesive was the obvious solution. Xcel makes a variety of adhesives and t...

Renovation in the time of Covid.... I already work slow enough and that's without a 2 month-long lockdown during a pandemic. The basement is now ready for drywall and in this episode of the podcast, I review the steps that got me to this point. * Framing: The joy of relying on someone else to pick lumber when curb-side pickup was the only option.* Electrical: Not much to say in this episode, but I...

There is no shortage of scam products on the internet. One prominent example is Ted's Woodworking which has been offering 16000 woodworking plans for a ridiculously low price for the last decade. Other ads feature inventors who strike out on their own after creating innovative air conditioners, drones or vacuum attachments and their stories are all oddly similar. Plus the one sure way you can get...

You want your basement to feel like the rest of your house. It should be dry, and comfortable. However, the basement is NOT like the rest of the house. The basement is in a hole in the ground. The simple fact is that there are many different ways to finish a basement-- and none are perfect. The ideal solution for a warm dry basement is a subject of much debate. I talk about a few of the popular op...

Often, there are several moving parts in a renovation and figuring out which tasks need to be done before other tasks can get confusing. At least for me. I have gained a lot of respect for general contractors who choreograph these things on a regular basis. Who doesn't like getting money back? We are going to qualify for some home efficiency rebates. The first step is a home energy audit, which ne...

Stuff is happening. Big stuff. In this episode of the podcast, I talk about our choice of furnace and air conditioner for the house, why I decided on a split ductless system for the garage-workshop, and our reasoning for ditching our hot water tank and going with a tankless water heater. Help support this podcast by clicking through our link when you shop at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dIV7ay

How do you react when someone tells you that something you did is "all wrong?" In early March 2021, I received a comment on "Installing a Suspended Ceiling," a page that has been on Thumbandhammer.com in one form or another since about 2002. In this episode of the podcast I discuss that comment and my reactions to it. You can read that now heavily revised post here: https://www.thumbandhammer.com/...

If getting stuck in the snow taught us anything, it's that we have to replace our furnace this year. Plus I do a little surgery in the basement.

Looking for a new home improvement or DIY podcast to listen to? Here are my personal favorites that you may enjoy, too. Links are to the podcast webpages. Or search for them in your favorite podcast app. Ask This Old House (Chris Ermides): https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/podcasts Ace on the House (Adam Carolla, Eric Stromer): https://aceontheroof.com/category/podcast/ Ask the Builder (Tim Carte...

The first time I came across John's blog, years ago, he had written about an encounter he had with his Homeowners Association which involved an order to remove a structure from his property “in a workmanlike manner.” I've come across news stories about people running afoul of their HOAs by painting their house the wrong color, or putting up Christmas decorations that were deemed too tacky. But I'v...

Re-fi, baby! Paying down a mortgage isn't necessarily the end all be all. In fact, by increasing our mortgage, we could end up further ahead in the long run. And in the short term, well, we're finally getting relief from the financial pressure we've been feeling for the past few years. Also in this episode: lessons learned from a road rage incident. To support this podcast, contributions may be ma...

We are always looking for ways to save a buck. But it's a fine line between cutting costs and cutting corners and often saving a buck now will cost you more in the long run. Topics discussed in this episode * A lesson learned from repairing our van's exhaust system.* How I saved money (or NOT) by DIYing some landscaping.* How much is YOUR time worth? * The perils of cheap materials or cheap labor....

Thanks to the pandemic, people have been spending more time at home. More time spent at home means more time looking around and seeing what home improvements are needed. And more time spent at home means more time to DIY. Not necessarily bad things, mind you. We have all seen those articles about the home improvements that give you the biggest return on your investment. But what about the ones tha...