Right this moment’s House owner Radio Podcast | January 21, 2023

Hour 1

Study what tendencies are scorching in kitchen reworking, learn how to forestall inner frost on home windows, the distinction between refacing and refinishing cupboards and extra.

Large-Image Kitchen Reworking Traits for 2023

As a house enchancment skilled, I’m at all times seeking to be taught concerning the newest design tendencies. I not too long ago 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. householders who’re within the midst of, are planning, or not too long ago accomplished a kitchen renovation challenge, and the outcomes present a useful glimpse into what’s trending in kitchen design. Right here’s what stood out essentially 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. Owners spent $15,000 on a minor transform of a bigger kitchen and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen.

Sustainability Influences Decisions: 92 % of householders 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 pattern 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 haven’t 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 Reputation: White cupboards aren’t going out of fashion anytime quickly. The colour stays the preferred alternative, however wooden tones are a powerful contender. Almost 1 / 4 of householders select wood-tone cupboards.

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

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

Why is Frost Forming on the Inside My Home windows? 

A house owner in Wyoming says over the last chilly snap, temperatures dropped to round 36 levels under 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 occurring?” she asks. 

Frost build up on the within of home windows and doorways throughout extraordinarily chilly temperatures may be brought on by plenty of elements.

Our first thought is that the doorways and home windows are older and faulty. Nonetheless, the home-owner says the home is new, so the doorways and home windows are very power environment friendly. Due to this, much less humidity is escaping from the house by 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 attainable explanations embody:

• Lack of air flow: Inadequate air flow could cause humidity to construct up in a house, particularly in loos and kitchens the place moisture is generated from cooking, bathing and showering. 
• Houseplants: Massive numbers of houseplants can launch moisture into the air, contributing to excessive humidity.
• Excessive occupancy: Excessive occupancy in a home can enhance 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 circumstances putting in a whole-house dehumidifier. Be sure you’re venting any moisture out of the home, like utilizing a variety hood and loo vent fan. 

To keep watch over 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 finances 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, equivalent to paint or stain. This technique is usually inexpensive than refacing and is an efficient possibility for these seeking to change the colour of their cupboards. Nonetheless, it doesn’t change the general design of the cupboards and may be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Refacing, however, entails protecting the prevailing cupboard doorways and drawer fronts with new supplies, equivalent to veneer, laminate or stable wooden. This may change the general design of the cupboards and can be utilized to replace the look of your kitchen. It’s additionally a dearer possibility than refinishing, but it surely’s a fast approach 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 protecting the prevailing cupboards with new supplies to vary 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 needs to know — what’s the trick to eradicating vinyl wallpaper?

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

When eradicating vinyl wallpaper, you could rating the vinyl coating to ensure that the DIF wallpaper remover to work. To do that, use a device known as a paper tiger. Merely rub it over the face of vinyl to poke 1000’s of holes in it. This can permit the remover to penetrate to the wallpaper and deactivate it, so you may 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 at the least three hours, in a single day can 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

Suggestions for Staining a Fence

A house owner needs 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 may be a good way to guard the wooden and improve its pure magnificence. Nonetheless, there are some things to remember to make sure that the stain is utilized correctly and adheres nicely to the wooden:

Watch for the wooden to dry: Stress-treated wooden is usually moist when it’s first put in, so look forward to it to dry utterly earlier than staining. This may 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 grime, grime, or different contaminants that could be on the floor. An answer of water and a gentle detergent is normally ample, however you can even use a wooden cleaner particularly designed for pressure-treated wooden.

Select the best 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 best choice as a result of they’re simpler at penetrating the wooden.

Apply the stain evenly: Apply the stain evenly and within the path 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 coated. 

Permit the stain to dry: After staining, permit the wooden to dry utterly earlier than making use of a second coat or utilizing the fence. This may 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 essential 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 stepping into the paint or onto the newly painted floor. 

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

Watch: Find out how to Situation A New Paint Curler Cowl 

Additional Storage for Ventilated Shelving — You probably have ventilated metal-wire shelving in your closet or pantry, right here’s a fast, easy approach to achieve a bit of additional storage. 

Purchase a number of metallic 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 over useful shelf area, together with mud brooms, hand towels, flashlights, belts, scarves, and so forth.

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