DIY to the Rescue

Hi Amy and Carl,
I was just wondering where you get all those great products for your show. They all seem to be so new and innovative.and must take hours of research to find. Do you do that every week?

Steven

Hi Steven,
We get a lot of our products from many great suppliers.
It takes many hours and nights to do this. "NOT" that’s your job!
Ladies and gentleman, this is Steve giving me a hard time. Our number one guy who stays up late at night (doubt that) organizing all of our materials and products for our show.

Good one mate

Karl, I have a question. My husband and I decided to remove a wall and two closets on our upper level to make the two bedrooms into one big one since we are the only ones living here and I have always wanted a big bedroom. My question is with the cold air return on the walls can they be put in the floor and just put a fancy grate to cover them up and not worry about moving them. We then can make our very small bathroom into a much roomyer one with some up grades. My husband and former Son in Law built the house so we know where most all fictures are located. We also want to put in French doors into the bedroom and add another window facing the back yard. We are also trying to get a yard done but that is now at a standstill. So back to the cold air returns, we plan on leaving them where they are and just want to know if they can just be put in the floor? Sorry I just have so many things I want to change and just don't remember you ever mentioning the air ducts on any of your shows I have seen. Thank you for your time.
Margaret Schippert

We are getting ready to renovate our kitchen but have run into a big problem. We have old plastic tiles that have been glued to drywall and can't figure out how to remove them without damaging the wall. Do you have any great ideas?

Hi Heather,

Be careful here because depending on the age of these tiles some contain asbestos! Breaking them up will release fibers into te air.

Your best bet here is to cut, remove and replace this drywall. Install a new piece, set and sand. This will save you time and you will be left with a perfect new finish to do what you need to do. It is not worth the time or hassle to try to utilize the existing.
Another solution is to cover the wall with a new sheet of drywall. This is easy to do. Just make sure you locate the studs and all existing services in the wall before you screw the sheet to the wall!!
Drywall comes in 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 5/8" (fire code)

Hi Karl and Amy! I saw a painting technique that was done on another show and thought I'd ask the true experts about this technique! The gentleman textured a fireplace enclosure with the same texturing that I have on the walls of my home. He then used a dark coloring medium, wiped over the darker color leaving it in the lower areas of the texturing, then "whitewashed" over the entire area. The resulting look was a faux stone finish. My first problem is that I don't know what the darker coloring medium was (paint, stain or glaze) and although I've heard the term "whitewashing" before, I definitely don't know what it is or how it is done. Is this the technique now called "Colorwashing"? I'm from the south and we paint, we don't whitewash! Can you guys give me any help on a painting technique that can be done on textured walls? I don't want a sharp, definitive line between colors. I'd much prefer a softer, more blurred, blended look. The problem is getting the softer look with the uneven texture of the walls. Any help and instructions you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

You guys are the best and my husband and I seldom miss a show. Because of y'all, we are a pair of fearless DIYers that will attempt just about anything! We've done the metal roofing on our home (twice! - the first was taken off in Hurricane Rita), a metal awning, replaced insulation under our home, installed a laminate ceiling, ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout the inside, demolished a wall in the bathroom, replaced fascia and installed vinyl soffets outside, remodelled our utility room including replacing the shorter mobile home door with a standard door and have numerous future plans for remodelling the kitchen and both baths! Without DIY, we'd never have attempted any of this! Thanks!!!

Hi Karl I am hoping you can help.
I have a steam room in my home that i would like to convert into a sauna. The walls and the ceiling of the steam room are all tiled.I would like to keep the tile up, as it would act as a great Insulator,but I can not figure out how to apply the fern strips to the tile to hold the cedar planks.
Any Suggestions Please help
Bob Atch

Dear Karl,
In my previous question I guess I got off the
subject. I need to know if you can just drop
the cold air intake vents from the wall into
the floor. Do they have to be in the wall for
a reason.
Thank you.

I have just bought a old sandstone church that is in the middle of nowhere and I want to pull it down and move it to a more scenic location that is closer to the "big smoke" are there any special methods of pulling stone walls apart?
I have limited finances so I have to do it myself. I have given myself 5 years to do it.
thanks damian

Hi mate,

This is great!
I have done this myself exept it was in the middle of Sydney. I am hoping they did not use to much cement when they built it. If not, simply start at the top, take out each block at a time, number it in order (especially the corners), clean the block and stack it straight onto a trailer so you don't double handle the blocks.
As you probably already know that by taking note of how it was built will make it easier when rebuilding it.
Good luck and handle the leadlight windows with care.
Also take many digital photos and take many measurements then draw up a plan. The more time you spend doing this will make the process go along to plan.
Amen

G'day Karl~
Great to see your show is doing so well.
My deepest condolences for your mate Steve Irwin. What a terrible loss for the world. That was Shane's idol.
Stay healthy.
Best Wishes
Joyce

Great to hear from you!
Thanks! Currently shooting two shows back to back and just finished shooting a special for Dr Phil. This involved rebuilding a house for a Katrina victim in New Orleans.
I am still devastated about Steve Irwin! A huge blow to the animal kingdom and conservation!
Give my love to your family and especially Shane and Petie. I often think of those little guys.
Best wishes to you!
Reese

I NEED HELP I DEMOED MY KITCHEN AND NOW MY HUSBAND HAS DECIDED THAT THE PLUMBING THAT NEEDS TO DONE IS TOOMUCH FOR HIM TO HANDLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE A PLUMBER TO DO THE JOB. ALL I NEED DONE IS TO REPLACE THE FAUCETS IN THE KITCHEN SINK AND PUT IN SHIT OFF VALES, HOW HARD CAN THAT BE?

Hi ya Judy.
It's not hard at all.
Pick yourself up a small mannual or reseach the web for a step by step process. Print it out. Purchase what you need. Get ready to do some plumbing yoga. Shut the water off, take your time and go for it. Turn the water on slowly to check for any leaks.
Your only hard part is trying to buy shit off valves.

Salute

i have heard of staining conrete, instead of installing floor. i can't find any how tos for this. i have a screened in porch with concrete floor and staining would look very rustic i think. thanks for your time and talent. you shows have given me guts and ideas!!!
susan

daer steve family i so sorry what happend ,steve was a wonderful man ,and it is so sad to hear our hero past but be straigth and have faih in god he will bells you and keep you safe.

Thanks !