This week, we’re featuring some of the best segments that have aired over the past year on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show. Listen to hear some of our favorite segments, as well as these Simple Solutions.
Simple Solutions
How to Condition Leather: Leather shoes, boots and furniture take a beating from moisture so it’s important to treat them with mink oil or leather conditioning cream.
The problem is that these substances are very thick and difficult to absorb into the leather.
The solution is to heat the leather with a blow dryer before rubbing in the conditioner.
The oil/cream liquefies as soon it hits the heated surface, which helps drive it deep into the leather grain.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Nail Apron: Here are three ways to improve the simple cloth nail apron.
When using a hammer holster, thread the apron string through the holster slot twice; that way, it won’t slide off the string every time you take off the apron.
Before tying off the apron strings, thread them through the belt loop on the back of your pants. That will keep the apron from slipping down.
Attach a key fob onto your utility knife so it’ll be easier to grasp and pull from the apron.
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Further Reading
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Corey and Grace really like a dark green color for the guest bedroom, so to keep the room from feeling dark and uninviting, they’re only going to use that color for an accent wall.
And to add some visual interest to the accent wall, we’re going to add some board and batten.
We space each batten about 16 inches apart — about the standard width each stud is spaced. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
For the battens, we space out ½-inch by 2¾-inch boards about 16 inches apart on the wall, then attach them with finishing nails and construction adhesive.
Once all the battens are in place, we caulk the edges and apply two coats of paint to the whole wall.
To save space, we install floating shelves next to the bed instead of placing bulky nightstands. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Build/Install Floating Shelves
Bulky nightstands can make this guest room feel cluttered, so instead, we’re attaching floating shelves to the sides of the bed.
The floating shelves are essentially a box made from To make the floating shelves, we build a box with a 1-by-6 board on top, a half-inch-by-6-inch board on the bottom, and 1-by-2 pieces wrapping the edges.
We mixed two stain shades to create a color that matches the headboard. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Once assembled, we sand the shelves and stain them to match the headboard.
To keep the floating shelves secure, we add wood glue to the cleat before we slip them on. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
To hang the shelves, we first screw cleats into the wall, then slip the shelves on and secure them with finishing nails and wood glue.
For additional lighting, we’re adding some wall-mounted sconces on either side of the bed.
Rerouting the wiring was simple because the wall had two outlets where we needed to place our wall sconces. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
To do this, we first have to reroute the wiring from the electrical outlet to where the sconces will be hung on the wall. We cut a hole in the drywall where the sconces will be mounted, then fish the electrical wires up to the hole.
Once the wires are set, we follow the instructions to install them.
Corey’s extra bedroom was just that — it lacked any real identity. The hardware and paint color lifted by the previous homeowners didn’t make the welcoming statement they wanted for their guests.
But now, the room has a clear purpose and that’s to make guests feel right at home. The board and batten accent wall draws you into the space and the custom trim around the windows tells you they were intentional about making this room nice for you.
The floating shelves and nightstand are functional for short-term guests without taking up as much space as larger pieces of furniture. And the warm wood tones complement the cool green accent wall, just as the gold wall sconces do.
Today’s Homeowner TV host Danny Lipford and Creative Director Scott Gardner sit down in the audio booth to look back on 25 years of Today’s Homeowner TV. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
In this special “Ask Danny,” Scott Gardner, creative director for Today’s Homeowner TV, joins me to look back on 25 years of producing the show.
Scott Gardner and Danny Lipford in the early days of Today’s Homeowner TV. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
I met Scott about 26 years ago when Today’s Homeowner TV was still Remodeling Today, and he was working for a local production company.
Just as our hair and styles have changed over the years, so has the format of the show. In the early days, there were a lot of two-part episodes. The show featured large-scale, lengthy projects from my construction company, so breaking each one up into two episodes made sense.
Nowadays, we focus on smaller projects so we can complete them in a few days. That way, our viewers can see the project from start to finish in each 30-minute episode.
Scott Gardner checks the TV monitor on the set of a Today’s Homeowner TV project in 2020. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Another thing that’s changed over the years is the focus on the homeowner. Years ago, you would never see the homeowner. We focused on the contractors working on the projects, and I would intermittently pop in to give some explanation on the work being done.
Now, the homeowners work on every project, and oftentimes they’re what makes the show so entertaining. Seeing them successfully complete their projects inspires our audience and gives anyone who’s watching the show a sense of “I can do this too!”
Listen to the full podcast for more behind-the-scenes details and funny stories!
This week’s “Ask Danny” guest is lawn expert Sid Sexton.
Welcome to the first episode of Today’s Homeowner’s new podcast, “Ask Danny.”
Each week, I chat with an industry friend to tackle your home improvement questions. We’ll share pro tips and practical advice to help you succeed! Plus, there’s always a unique or funny story along the way.
Today we are talking about lawn care and sodding, with Sid Sexton. Sid is the founder of Sexton Lawn & Landscape in Daphne, Ala., and is licensed in turf and ornament spraying, landscape design, and setting of landscape plants.
As the founder of Sexton Lawn & Landscape, Sid is a down-to-earth, honest businessman with a love for lawn care, landscape design, and delivering the best products to his clients.
Starting at age 16, Sid spent his summers working for a local landscape company and the local country club and golf course in his hometown of Muskogee, Okla.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in horticulture, Sid joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Hawaii, where he met his future wife, Jourdan.
He was honorably discharged after two years and began working as an account manager for a landscape company. In January 2004, he founded Sexton Lawn & Landscape.
Sid is licensed in turf and ornament spraying, landscape design, and setting of landscape plants. He is also a Certified Landscape Professional and continues his education through workshops, online courses and other events several times throughout the year.
Keep reading for his advice on common lawn problems.
Out-of-control clover weeds are a sign that your lawn isn’t healthy. (LeslieLauren, Getty Images Signature)
Controlling Weeds
“We laid sod in our yard a few years ago and it’s held up well until recently. We’re starting to notice a lot more weeds than normal. What should we do?”
Sid: The best weed control is a healthy lawn. Grass needs three major things to thrive — sunlight, water and nutrients, and in that order.
See if the sod is getting enough sunlight. Trim any branches that could be casting too much shadow onto the grass.
Also, think about the type of grass. Some types of grass thrive in one location and fail in another. The type of sod could not be shade-tolerant. There’s no real shade-loving turf, but there are some that tolerate a certain amount of shade.
Next, consider irrigation. Are you watering too much or too little? The right balance depends on the type of turf you have.
The last step should be fertilization and weed control. If weeds are the issue and you feel like you have enough sun, water and nutrients, contact a professional for a weed control program.
A core aerator only needs to be used on highly-compacted lawns. (stock.adobe.com)
Lawn Aeration
“Should everybody aerate a lawn, or is that in a situation when you suspect the ground has gotten more compacted?”
Sid: The answer depends on how much traffic you have on your lawn.
Do you have some mature trees and are those roots are getting larger and larger and taking up more space below the grass. Do you have dogs or kids? Is there a soccer match in the backyard every weekend? This will cause compaction.
If this is the case, you should core aerate. If it’s a sports turf, you should core aerate twice a year.
For typical homeowners, once a year, if that, is sufficient.
And before you aerate, mark the locations of your sprinkler heads.
To lay the best groundwork for sod, till up the soil and vegetation. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Prepping for Sod
“What should you do before sodding your lawn?”
Sid: Before laying sod, take five or six soil samples from the front and backyard.
Label them so you’ll know what area of your yard needs soil amendment. Consult with your local extension office to see what remedies you should do.
After your soil is amended and you’re ready to lay the sod, start prepping. There’s no need to eliminate all vegetation, but you do need to get rid of the weeds.
Before laying the sod, break up the soil with a till. This will create a soft transition layer of soil that will make it easier for the grass roots to take hold.
Then, add some organic matter to create a living soil for your sod to thrive, like Black Cow. (This is an affiliate link. If you purchase this product, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
Change up your mowing pattern every so often. (MariusBlach/Getty Images)
Sid Sexton’s Mowing Tips
Sharpen your lawn mower blade at least once per season. A sharp blade will make a nice clean cut and won’t tear the grass blades.
Change up mowing patterns. Don’t mow in the same direction every time every year. It helps the grass to grow a different way and lessens the likelihood of ruts in your yard.
Make sure you know the mowing height for your turf type. Different grasses grow best when at certain heights. For example, the recommended height for St. Augustine grass is 3-4 inches, whereas Bermuda grass needs to be cut at an inch and a half.
A bad lawn might not be caused by the soil itself, but by what critters are inside of it. (Smaglov, Getty Images)
Sid’s Encounter with the Elusive Ground Pearl
During the course of his horticulture studies in college, Sid learned about an insect called a ground pearl. Ground pearls live in the soil, feed on turf roots and look like a pearl, as their name suggests.
Over the years, he’s heard about ground pearls in seminars and read about them in textbooks, but he had never seen one in real life.
“I thought it was the Loch Ness monster — something you said when you couldn’t figure out what was wrong with a lawn,” Sid says.
This changed, though, when he bought a house in 2012. For nine months, he struggled to find the cause of why the grass’ health was declining. The answer became clear when he was digging to plant a tree and pulled out a big wad of soil.
There were white and pink dots everywhere! Lo and behold, it was the elusive ground pearl.
Now, he sees them everywhere!
New episodes of “Ask Danny” drop Fridays — subscribe here.
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No matter what mood Mother Nature is in, metal roofing offers your home protection.
Crazy snow and ice storms, monster hurricanes, golf ball-sized hail, extreme heat and torrential downpours. Homeowners everywhere face unique climate challenges.
In this special Today’s Homeowner podcast, I’m talking with Renee Ramey, Executive Director of the Metal Roofing Alliance. We’re setting the record straight on how metal roofs hold up in extreme weather.
Metal roofing can withstand winds up to 140 mph — that’s the windspeed of a low category 4 hurricane! (Pgiam/Getty Images Signature)
‘Will a Metal Roof Easily Blow Away in High Winds?’
Extreme winds during hurricanes and tornados can literally tear off weaker, sub-quality roofs. Choosing stronger materials like metal roofs can improve the chances of riding out storms unscathed.
Metal roofing can better withstand driving rain and extreme winds including F-2 tornado force winds of up to 140 mph. Since roofs take the brunt of monster storms, an investment in a higher quality roof can help save homes from sustaining major damage and will hold up better over time.
Some metal roofing manufacturers and installers place foam under each shingle, which can help further guard against water seepage.
Metal roofs often earn a Class 4 impact-resistance rating, which is the highest possible level of protection against hail damage. (soupstock)
‘Won’t Hail Damage Metal Roofs More Easily Than Shingle Roofs?’
Quality metal roofs often earn a Class 4 impact-resistance rating — the highest level of protection against hail damage available. That means, installing a metal roof can help reduce hailstorm damage, thus preventing costly repairs and replacement.
All roof types can sustain some cosmetic damage during a hailstorm, but studies show metal roofing performs best and is much less likely to puncture as compared to asphalt.
Some finishes of metal roofing offer a rougher texture to keep snow from sliding off. (Garrett Aitken/Getty Images)
‘Does Snow Easily Slide Off a Metal Roof?’
Finishes such as stone-coated metal roofs have a rougher surface texture. This works to reduce the danger of rooftop “avalanching” by preventing snow from releasing in large, heavy and damaging sheets.
Smooth metal roofing panels, whether painted or left unfinished, have much slicker surfaces and may require quality snow guards. Snow guards are designed to hold back rooftop snow and allow it to melt more gradually.
Some metal roofs have a cool coating that actually helps emit heat gain. (sarajlic/Getty Images)
Basic, unpainted metal roofs will reflect more solar radiation than asphalt roofs. By choosing the proper colors and coatings, low-glare metal roofs reflect mostly non-visible, infrared and UV rays.
Modern high-performance metal roofing paints and stone-coated materials increase energy efficiency. Plus, darker colors reduce heat gain.
Cool metal roofs offer high solar reflectance and help emit heat gain. This reduces the amount of air conditioning needed by as much as 10-15 percent.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that an ENERGY STAR-qualified roof can lower roof temperatures by as much as 50 degrees.
The Metal Roofing Alliance is a nonprofit trade association that helps homeowners make educated roofing decisions and connects them with expert metal roofing professionals.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a metal roof, or just want more questions answered when it comes to a metal roof, check out metalroofing.com.
