Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Solid surface countertops are a popular choice with homeowners since they are durable and scratches can easily be sanded out. Another advantage of this type of material is that seams are glued together in such as way as to make them practically invisible.

Plaster walls in older homes are often plagued by cracks and other defects such as pitting and uneven texture. If cracks are simply filled with spackling or joint compound, they have a tendency to telegraph back through. To solve this problem, apply self-adhesive fiberglass mesh drywall tape over the crack for reinforcement.

Danny revisits a couple of NuTone products used during Today’s Addition. The NuTone video answering system helps bridge the distance from the addition in the back of the house to the front door. The system uses a Cat5 cable to relay video from a small doorbell camera back to a LCD display in the master bedroom. Above the breakfast bar, a NuTone recessed light performs two functions. It provides a cone of light and with a flip of a switch it removes humidity and odor as an exhaust fan. The exhaust function is completely housed inside of the lighting unit.

A decorative ceramic tile backsplash can really serve to dress up the space above the countertops in your kitchen, as well as providing protection from the inevitable splatters and spills. Watch as Danny takes you step-by-step through the process, from preparing the wall surface and installing the tile to sealing the grout from stains.

Whether you’re starting from scratch with an all new kitchen, or simply want to dress up the cabinets you already have, the countertops you choose can make a big difference in the finished look. From plastic laminates to solid surface materials to natural stone, Danny guides you through the maze of choices that are available no matter what your budget.

Danny takes a look at a high-tech home automation system that uses a touch screen with programmable timers to control everything from lighting and temperature to the security system and audio/video components.

Finding room in the kitchen to store the various bins needed for recycling can take up a lot of valuable cabinet space. Here Danny comes up with an innovative solution to the problem by installing chutes made from standard 4” dryer vent pipe that send cans and plastic bottles to bins located on a lower floor of the home.

The elderly often require modifications to their existing homes in order to make them safer and easier to use. Danny explores some innovative ideas to make homes more accessible, such as hinges that provide additional clearance for wheelchairs and the removal of thresholds from exterior doors. In the bathroom he examines the importance of ADA compliant faucets, as well as grab bars and adjustable shower heads. The need for increased lighting is addressed by the installation of remote controlled skylights.

Tired of waiting for hot water? Danny shows three methods for easing the problem. Including a hot water recirculation pump, proper water heater maintenance, and a tankless water heater, these solutions will have your water running hot in no time.

With so much to choose from on different types of kitchen sinks, Danny details some of those options and what to watch out for. From heavy composite materials to traditional stainless steel, take a little time to make sure you get the sink that best fits your needs.