And, while I do love solid wood cabinets, don’t think you’re giving up quality by choosing a manufactured cabinet. A lot of people confuse the material on some manufactured cabinets with particle board, so take a moment to find out exactly what you’re buying.

Pull a pre-fab cabinet off the shelf at any discount warehouse and chances are good it’s nothing but glorified particle board. The description may say something like “Wood Grain Simulation” or something similar. If you look closely, it’s usually just contact paper plastered over particle board. They’re okay for the workshop or maybe the garage, but not your kitchen.

When I think about a manufactured cabinet, I don’t ever recommend the “Off-the-Shelf” special. Quality manufacturers like Merillat, KraftMaid and American Woodmark are worth looking into. When you order manufactured cabinets from the home center or kitchen showroom that are built specifically for your home’s design, you’ll typically have three construction options for the cabinet boxes:

• The basic line uses furniture board or engineered wood. This is the stuff that looks like particle board, but it uses a polyurethane resin to adhere the wood particles making it a very sturdy waterproof board. To be honest, in some ways it’s superior to plywood, but I personally don’t like seeing it on a visible end panel. If you need to trim your budget some, look into getting the basic line for everywhere except end panels.
• The mid-grade boxes are furniture board with a wood veneer on the exterior side. Still excellent quality and a true wood look and feel.
• Top of the line would be solid ply boxes.

The boxes of the basic line, in my opinion, are fine for most kitchen applications. Beyond that, I like to step-up the quality of the drawer boxes. Make sure you get dovetail joints and, if possible, full-extension drawer guides.

The important thing to remember with manufactured cabinets is to make sure you’re using a company with a good reputation and don’t be afraid to ask about the grade of furniture board they use in their manufacturing process.

There’s so much more to talk about to make a basic line look amazing, like door end panels, rope molding and furniture legs . . . but I’ll save that for another post!

Related posts:

• Adding a Built-in Ironing Board
• Why Prefabricated Cabinets Are Expensive
• How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Mark was always very talented. He had such an amazing voice and still does to this day. When he sang a song, it would make the angels swoon. He makes me sick. If I had a dozen 5-gallon buckets strapped to me, I still couldn’t carry a tune.

But could he successfully approach a major home remodeling project? I just never saw Mark as a let’s-grab-some-tools-and-tear-out-this-wall kind of guy. Here’s the difference between Mark and a lot of people. Instead of saying, “I can’t do something like that,” Mark’s approach is, “I bet I could do something like that…and if I can’t on the first try, at least I’ll learn something along the way to try it again.”

When Mark and his wife Tammy purchased their home, this is what the kitchen looked like:

Now, even though there’s nothing really wrong with that picture, it is a very dated look. You’ve got sheet vinyl flooring, stained cabinets that match the wall paneling, square edge laminate countertops, a nine-light exterior door, white appliances and it looks like a 36” four-blade ceiling fan.

Now let’s take a look at the “AFTER” picture:

Can you spot all the differences?

1. Replace Flooring

Sheet vinyl has been replaced with ceramic tile.

Mark found these beautiful pieces for less than $1 a square foot….MUCH less.

2. Paint Cabinets

The cabinets have been re-painted. The two-tone look is perfect for this kitchen. They could have easily been all painted white to brighten up the room, but I don’t think it would have had the same distinct character as it does now. New hardware has also been installed to bring the kitchen into the 21st century. Nicely done.

3. Paint Paneling

The dark paneling has also been painted over in the same bright color. It’s amazing how those brighter colors can make a room look larger. Painting over paneling is a chore, too. You need to sand it lightly to remove the gloss, or even use a liquid deglosser. The primer you use is key. I personally would recommend an oil-based, stain-blocking primer. Once the paneling is primed, you can even use drywall joint compound to fill in the grooves.

4. Concrete Countertops

The countertops Mark installed are amazing. With no previous experience, he created molds and made these countertops from concrete! And, yes, it took a couple of tries, but what a difference!

If you look closely, the base cabinets on the left have an overhang to create a bar for eating. While I probably would have looked at creating the bar at the pass-through, Mark says the drawers in the cabinet are still accessible. This eating area allowed Mark and Tammy to do away with the dinette, freeing up more room.

Yep, that’s exactly what Mark did. Smart move. The backsplash is also new. Look closely and you’ll see tile. In case you’re not too keen on putting mastic on the walls, you should look for a new product coming to The Home Depot this fall called Simple Mat. It’s basically a two-sided adhesive mat that you place on the wall, then stick your tiles to it. You can put up your tiles and grout it all in the same day, eliminating the need for wall mastic.

5. Remove Wall

Since I just mentioned it, there’s also a pass-through where there once was a solid wall. Are you kidding me?!?! Tear out a wall?!?! Yes…a do-it-yourselfer really can do something like that. Once again, you’ve opened up the space, brought in more light and have now made this portion of the home more “people and gathering” friendly.

6. New Appliances

The white appliances have been upgraded to stainless steel.

This is a major purchase, but even if it’s not in your budget, you can turn your existing appliances into stainless by painting them with a very special product called Liquid Stainless Steel. Check out their website for a couple of really cool ideas.

7. Replace Door

The exterior door was replaced with a nice full-view door, which allowed Mark to get rid of the ugly storm door. Again, this is a great way to add some natural light and brighten the room.

8. Paddle Fan

The final touch was to get rid of the dinky, old ceiling fan and put up a nice 52” five-blade model.

So let’s answer the question now. Is do-it-yourself really worthwhile? I took these pictures to our construction estimator. For a professional to come in and do all this, including the purchase of the new appliances, you’re looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000. Of course, it all depends on your area of the country, but that’s pretty conservative.

Mark provided all his own labor and paid about 1/3 of that amount. Personally, my answer to the question is a resounding, “YES!”

Before you sell yourself short on your abilities, just try it. And don’t forget to look for those special deals and the “scratch and dent” specials out there. Above all, have fun and make it a family event.

Believe me, the satisfaction of a job you do yourself is so much better than shelling out your hard-earned dough. At least, it is for me and my wallet. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a singing lesson.

Related posts:

• (700) Kitchen Expansion: Removing Wall Opens Up Space

One of the perks of being on television is the many invitations you get to do all kinds of crazy and fun things. Several years ago when I was anchoring the morning news program on our local NBC affiliate, I was invited to this out-of-the-way zoo in the sleepy little town of Wilmer, Alabama. I’ve always been a nature lover, but apparently it wasn’t my day to be a friend of the animal kingdom. I should have known better when the director of the zoo said, “Oh, you can go in there with the lion. He won’t do anything.”

Did the red flags start waving wildly in my brain? Of course not. My right calf wound up locked in the lion’s mouth, and I had to use my camera tripod to knock him off. Being the consummate actor–the show must go on and all that jazz–I limped out of the cage with a few holes in my pants and a leg that would turn the most interesting shade of blue then yellow, and was led to the reptile barn.

Again, where are the red flags? A couple of rather large snakes were draped over my shoulder. This isn’t a big deal, because snakes don’t really bother me. However, the two snakes they chose turned out to be members of opposing gangs, because the minute they locked eyes on each other, they started hissing, spitting and striking at each other . . . with my head in the middle of the action.

Eventually I made it out of the zoo with most of my appendages and clothing intact. Did I learn a lesson? Well, snakes still don’t really bother me, but I steer clear of lions these days.

All that was just a cool true-life story to lead into a question Danny and I were asked this past week on the radio show. “How do I keep snakes out of my yard?” The question came up as to whether or not sulfur is an effective snake repellent. This is one of those way-back-before-there-was-television remedies that your great grandfather told you about. But the truth is, sulfur won’t do a thing to repel snakes. In fact, they’ll slither right through it and get the powder all under their scales, which does nothing more than really irritate them.

Now be honest . . . if you don’t like snakes in your normal everyday world, how do you think you’d like a snake that’s really ticked off?

If you want to treat the perimeter of your house, look for liquid called naphthalene. This is the stuff you find in mothballs, but you can purchase it in liquid form. Finding a supplier may be a challenge, but it’s possible. If you have a crawlspace, scatter a few mothballs underneath. Just make certain you don’t put the mothballs out in the yard where a child can find it and mistake it for candy.

Another common question we get deals with other unwanted pests like spiders and roaches. As far as spiders go, again, they don’t bother me. I catch them and put them outside. But roaches are another story. I’ll run screaming like a little girl. I hate those things.

Here in Mobile, the roaches are so big you have to look twice to make sure it’s not a Chihuahua walking across the floor. I have one of those ultrasonic plug-in repellents and, while nothing I know of works 100%, I’m pretty happy with it. I may see a roach two or three times a year. Same with spiders.

There’s also the plug-in type that claims to use your home’s electrical wiring to repel roaches. It somehow creates a pulsing effect that works like the ultrasonic units. Admittedly, I’ve never used them but it’s something we’re going to test very soon and share the results with you in one of our upcoming episodes in the 12th season of Today’s Homeowner.

In the meantime, I’ve been invited to experience the thrill of swimming with a great white shark. Sounds pretty safe. After all, I don’t see any red flags . . . .

The month of May has been one of the craziest, busiest, most tiring months I’ve had in a long time, and it’s not even halfway through yet! Danny & I had back-to-back trade shows in week #1 of May. The first was the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Atlanta followed by the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, with working on both the television show AND radio show, I didn’t get to spend as much time as I would have liked looking over all the new stuff at K/BIS.

I did, however, get to spend more time exploring the Hardware Show and have my Top 10 Picks Plus One Bonus. Let me emphasize, though, that these are not listed in any preferred order. In fact, I’m going to list them alphabetically by company simply because they all deserve the #1 spot! And, even though I got to see a lot, I only scratched the surface. I’m sure there were many more amazing products that I’ve overlooked.

EarthTronics Honeywell Wind Turbine

The Honeywell Wind Turbine from EarthTronics is an energy generator for both homes and businesses that was a definite eye-catcher. I know that there’s nothing new about wind turbines, but what really set this one apart was the fact that it can generate energy in winds as little as 2 mph. It won’t be on the market until December 2009, and when it hits the shelves, it will run you around $4500, but it will start saving you money immediately on your monthly electric bill.

Fiskars Rainwater Harvesting Systems

The Smart Rain Barrels from the folks at Fiskars blew me away. Yeah, I know…a rain barrel is a rain barrel. It’s just a big tub that catches water. What makes this system unique is Fiskars’ downspout water diverter which automatically channels water from your downspout to the barrel. When the barrel gets full, instead of an overflow that just dumps the excess water right on the ground next to your home’s foundation (which you don’t want), it allows the water to continue down the downspout and drain away from your house. It’s really quite innovative.

General Tools Dovetail Jig

I’ve been a General Tools fan for a couple of decades now. It all started with a doweling jig I purchased back in 1989. I still have it, use it, love it. This year, they introduced their new EZ Pro Dovetailer Jig, and it is one of the most unbelievably cool tools I’ve seen in a long time. Any woodworker will tell you that a dovetail is one of the best joints you can have, and for less than $60, you can make a PERFECT dovetail joint right out of the box. My birthday is in September…..anyone?

Giani Granite Countertop Paint

If you ever wanted to start a heated debate/argument with me, tell me how smart it is to paint your countertops. I have NEVER recommended that. The paints I’ve seen have never been able to withstand the abuse and, frankly, they look ugly. Last year, Floyd Thomas impressed me with his stainless steel paint. Well, he did it again this year with their new Giani granite paint. It’s a mineral infused, water-based resin that you paint over your old laminate tops and, I have to admit, it looked unbelievably good! In fact, I found it hard to believe the tops were actually painted laminate. To address the durability issue, the topcoat is the same type of polymer you would find on car bumpers. I’ve switched sides. I love this paint, and I think I’m going to give it a shot in my own home. The best part is that for the price of a single square foot of granite, you can transform your average size kitchen countertops into a granite lookalike.

Green Toad Pivoting Paint Brush

The Pivoting Paint Brush by Green Toad is just one of those “gee-that-makes-sense” products. With its ergonomically-designed handle and a 360° rotating attachment, it makes any painting job a breeze. What’s really cool is that this product was actually designed using the recommendations of physical therapists! The whole system comes with five different brush sizes and styles, two rollers and two size handles. But wait, there’s more! Get this…the whole thing is biodegradable, compostable and recyclable! These folks were really thinking.

Lehr Propane Powered Lawn Equipment

Lehr Incorporated out of Los Angeles has “environmentally friendly technology” as their byline. They’ve proved it with the new Eco Trimmer, which is a string line trimmer powered by propane. You’re talking about no gasoline and oil to purchase, mix and store…no spilled gasoline…no evaporative emissions…no hydro-carbons killing the ozone…and only Lehr has it, because it’s a patented product. The propane canisters are available all over the place and you’ll get a full two hours of run time on a single canister. They also have a propane-powered blower and later this year, they’re coming out with a lawn mower version! I would definitely look into replacing your gas-powered tools with these.

LiquiLock Toilet Gel

I love this stuff and hate myself for not thinking of it! Any time you have to pull a toilet, whether it’s for repairs or new flooring or what-have-you, there’s always some water left in the bowl. If you’re not careful, it’ll spill all over the place and you’ve got this gross, unsanitary mess to mop up. Or, you can sponge it out, which is equally disgusting. Enter LiquiLock. This is a little 0.4 oz packet of granules that, in essence, turns the remaining water into a gelatin. You can remove the toilet with zero water spilling anywhere, and when it’s time to replace the toilet…get ready for this…you hook it back up, turn on the water and the gelatin starts breaking up. All you have to do is flush it down and you’re done. My hat’s off to the guy behind this one, Adam. I’m definitely adding some of these packets to my toolbox.

Orcon Natural Pest Control

Admittedly, I first visited this booth just to see how they were keeping 15,000 ladybugs in check. I kid you not, they had 15,000 live ladybugs. Orcon Organic Control was there promoting 100% pure, safe & natural pest control. In addition to ladybugs, they had worms, beneficial nematodes, mason bees, and organic repellants for gophers, moles, deer, rabbit, dogs and cats. What was truly refreshing was how passionate these folks are about their products. We’ve all become too accustomed to pouring chemicals all over our yards when Mother Nature has some pretty awesome pest control devices.

Rapid Warrior Utility Knife

The Rapid Warrior from Rapid Tools definitely gets the Transformer Award. This is, at first glance, a simple utility knife, but it has the capability of switching to become a mini-saw. I’m not sure how they came up with the design, but it’s really impressive. With just the flick of an interior toggle, you can switch from a utility blade to a reciprocating saw blade. The whole transformation takes mere seconds, and the really cool part is that you aren’t tied to using only their blades. Any utility knife blade or reciprocating saw blade can be used.

Red Toolbox Tools for Kids

I think these tools are the absolute bomb. Red Toolbox has designed REAL tools to fit in a child’s hand. Along with the tools, they have projects the child can do with their parent. I’m talking about birdhouses, toolboxes, treasure chests and games galore. To quote from their press kit, “Red toolbox is about you and your kids working, creating and learning together. It’s a chance to have loads of fun and spend quality team-time” together.

My bonus pick is every bit as deserving as the previous 10

Slice Ceramic Safety Cutter

This company debuted a ceramic cutter that was simply amazing. The Slice Safety Cutter is a little green machine with a recessed ceramic blade that will slice through paper and plastic like nobody’s business, but you can’t cut yourself. You know those hard plastic blister packs that so many things come in today that you have to resort to nuclear weapons to get them open? Yeah, it cuts through those, too. The blade stays sharp, never rusts and the design is very finger-friendly. Plus, it has a magnet imbedded, so you can slap it on the fridge and it’s always handy. Since it only costs about six bucks, you can get a couple so you have one in the house and one in your toolbox.

Related posts:

• Top Picks from the 2009 International Builders’ Show
• Visiting the Kitchen and Bath Show 2009
• Homefront Radio Show for October 17, 2009

It’s no secret that my daughter, Savannah, is the love of my life. But there are days… Last weekend I was in the middle of those pesky Saturday morning chores and wasn’t paying attention to what was going on in the other room. As the morning wore on, Savannah wound up on the computer playing a Barbie game.

As I walked into the family room, I noticed the old Civil War sword that I own was sitting on the floor. Immediately the red flags started waving and I searched for the cat to make sure it was still in possession of all nine lives. When the feline was found in fair health, I started inspecting the couch. Apparently, I jumped to conclusions, because nothing was out of place or prepared for the skewer.

It happened to be a very nice day with a warm spring-like breeze in the air. The back slider, the front and back doors were all open to enjoy the fresh air. Just as I reached to pick up the sword and put it away, I noticed the screen door of the slider. Sure enough, not once, but twice it received mortal battle wounds.

Of course, the interesting part is discovering exactly what 10-year-olds consider to be bad. I think Savannah concluded that if the cat wasn’t shish kabob and the furniture wasn’t hemorrhaging, then all was right with the world. And, to be frank, it’s hard to get too upset when your child is stretching her imagination. It seems she was playing Peter Pan. Who knew my screen door could make such a formidable Captain Hook?

So, to answer the question…home improvement guys have kids so they never run out of projects. Maybe I should have become an accountant. Needless to say, Barbie is on a two-week vacation from the Lyle household.

That’s a pretty dramatic sounding title, isn’t it? Danny and I had a blast this past weekend broadcasting our new radio show, Homefront with Danny Lipford. Neither of us are strangers to doing radio shows, but put both of us in a small room for a couple of hours and you can almost guarantee some major cutting up.

But all kidding aside, this is a great opportunity to get some of your home improvement questions answered in person via the radio. Between the two of us, we have a wealth of knowledge at your disposal.

If you’re too shy to pick up the phone, you can e-mail us your questions to ask@homefront.com. Check out our website at homefront.com to find out how to call in and listen to the show.

Related posts:

• Danny’s Home Advice Now Heard On the Radio
• Homefront Radio Show for October 24, 2009
• Homefront Radio Show for November 14, 2009

#7 – Tiger Claw Hidden Deck Fasteners

Admittedly, there’s nothing new about a hidden fastener for decks, but Tiger Claw has one-upped the competition with a fastener that can be put down with ballistic nail screws shot in place by an air gun! Now I ask you, how cool is that?! When you compare using the gun with manual installation, you’ll cut your work time by about 50%. And did I mention you get to use a nail gun?

#6 – Timberclad Poplar Bark Siding

This was one of the best visuals at the show. Bark from poplar trees is harvested, kiln-dried and made into siding shingles. The result is one of the most stunning, natural, rustic looks I’ve seen. They even have lichen still visible on the face. It’s extremely durable, low maintenance and just looks downright good! Of course, it’s not something you would typically see in a posh neighborhood, but I think you could start a new trend by doing that!

#5 – Hunter Concert Breeze Ceiling Fan

You have to wonder why someone hadn’t already thought of this. Put a high-quality wireless speaker in the ceiling fan! I mean, think about it. You’ve got a speaker right in the center of the room showering you with sound! This isn’t a cheap, tinny-sounding speaker either. The guys at the Hunter booth cranked up the volume and it was near concert-level perfect! Believe me, when this hits the shelves, I’m buying one.

#4 – Zip-Up Ceiling System

I’ve never been a fan of drop ceilings. They take up too much head space…the grids are too institutional-looking…and, frankly, they look ugly. These folks came up with a product that tackled all those problems and did it with class! The unique design drops the ceiling in only two inches, uses no grids, won’t mold or mildew and keeps water out, so it looks great under a deck. It’s also a good option for covering up the ceiling in a basement.

#3 – Spyder Scraper by Simple Man Products

I love this tool. Actually, it’s an attachment that you can use with any reciprocating saw to remove everything from paint to wallpaper to linoleum and more. I got to participate in a demonstration of the Spyder Scraper pitted against dried mastic on a sheet of plywood. I tried removing it with a 6” putty knife and couldn’t get it to budge while the saw equipped with the Spyder attachment knocked out a 4-inch wide row in less than two seconds! In addition, the blade didn’t scar or knick the plywood at all. This is a definite tool box favorite.

#2 – Metaltec Innovations 3-D Printing

This is one of those “ain’t no way” items. No kidding, Buck Rogers must have brought this one back from the 25th century. You supply Metaltec Innovations with plans for the design of an object – any object, and they will “print” out a three-dimensional metal prototype. Tiles, hardware, sculptures, artwork – if you can draw it, they can make it. I’ll stop and let you go back and read that again……yes….they’re PRINTED. Think about the layers of a CAD design being printed out, layer after layer, until you have a solid piece of art in patinas like gold, nickel, copper or chrome. It’s really hard to explain. You need to visit their site and look at all the amazing pieces and just remember that no liquid metal was poured into a mold. All those things were printed!!!!

#1 – Stiletto Titanium Tools TiBone Hammers

Never….let me emphasize this…NEVER have I used a hammer like this one before. Lightweight, 14 ounces of titanium steel that has the striking power of a 24 ounce hammer. It has a magnetic nail starter along with a replaceable face. On the side is a nail puller. Listen to this…I drove a 16-penny nail down into a piece of treated 6×6, leaving less than a ¼-inch of the nail protruding. In one single, smooth motion – using my left hand, by the way – the nail was pulled out. This is, no question about it, the best hammer I have ever had in my hands.

Since these are new products, some of them may not be available in stores yet, but keep your eyes open for them in the future! For more cool products from the International Builder’s Show, check out our episode (682) New Products for Your Home from the International Builders’ Show 2009.

Related posts:

• (682) New Products for Your Home from the International Builders’ Show 2009
• Top Picks from the 2009 National Hardware Show
• Kitchen/Bath Industry Show

I was remarking on my personal blog that I would likely be a Scrooge this year and not put up a Christmas tree. I received a challenge, shortly thereafter, to build my own tree using recycled materials or scraps from the job site. Not being one to turn away from a creative challenge, I started scrounging around the shop and found a piece of wall paneling that was cut up. It even had the wall plug cut out in it, and had obviously been torn out of a recent remodel. Right away, you could hear the wheels turning in my head, so here’s what I did.

I started by finding a picture of a Christmas tree to use as my design and traced it out onto the paneling. Once I had the design on one piece, I used a table saw to cut a slot halfway through the sketched out tree from the bottom up.

Then, using a jigsaw, I cut out the pattern. Once I had the first piece, I traced its shape onto a second piece of paneling and cut another slot, only this time, from the top down. With both pieces cut out, I spray painted them a nice shade of evergreen, but not an even coat. That way, I had varying shades of green. Once the two pieces were dry, I lined them up in a cross pattern and joined the two pieces together.

What this accomplished was to create a tree in three dimensions! Of course, I realized I needed to cut off the trunk so it could stand on its own.

As far as decorating….it’s all in the imagination. I’m thinking about using aluminum cans, crushed flat to look like ornaments. The best part was seeing Danny walk out into the shop with that all-too-familiar look on his face and say, “Now what are you doing?!?”

Related posts:

• Recycling Your Christmas Tree
• Christmas Tree in a Snap!

Danny and I have just recently returned from the 2008 GreenBuild show that was in Boston. Aside from being extremely cold (highs in the mid 30’s with a 20 mph wind blowing), it was a great trip. It’s always encouraging to see more builders and remodelers grasping the green concept in their business, and there are certainly more offerings to choose from, too. Everything from drywall to ceiling fans to solar-tracking skylights.

But even though I was there to check out all these cool products, my favorite encounter was with a group of 8th and 9th graders who designed the “green school of the future.” They put a lot of thought into it, too, and I have to say their presentation was very impressive. You’ll get to see them in the episode that will showcase GreenBuild.

Of course, one of the major components of any road trip is eating out. Typically, we find a different restaurant for every night, but our show’s director, Scott Gardner, and I wound up eating at the same place three nights in a row! What can I say? It was good. Besides, it was fun just hearing the waitress ask if we wanted any “clam chow-dah.” So, I want to say a special hello and thanks to Ms. Gail at the Freeport Tavern. And I highly recommend the marinated steak tips.

Related posts:

• Enough of the Road for Now
• (684) Greenbuild Expo 2008: Innovative Ideas for Your Home

Yes…it’s amazing what we do for our kids. A really good thing, though, is to pass along practices of green living. Sure, you can tell them to turn off the water when they brush their teeth and don’t just stand there with the refrigerator door open, but if you can make lessons in green living fun, then you’re ahead of the game.

Here’s a great idea that kids really love. Make a solar oven out of a pizza box. This is such a simple project, and there are plans all over the internet for building one. This is the site I used Solar Now, Inc. While you help your child build this, talk about how “cool” it is that you can cook something with the sun. Ask what else they think the sun can do. Above all, don’t forget to bring along some graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows, because the solar oven is perfect for s’mores!