Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Old paint often contains dried chips inside the can. While you can buy paint filters to strain them out, a scrap of fiberglass window screen works just as well. Simply drape a piece of screen over the can, and secure it with tape. After filtering the paint, rinse out the screen to use again. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

When painting, it’s a good idea to tint the primer the color of the finished paint to reduce the number of coats needed. While a paint store can add colorant to the primer, you can also tint the primer yourself by adding some of the colored paint to it. Make sure the primer and paint are compatible before mixing the two together. Watch this video.

Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint eliminates the need for separate primer and topcoat by combining both into one can. The 100% acrylic latex paint comes in several sheens in both interior and exterior paints and is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Freshaire Choice Paint is the first tinted paint that’s completely free of volatile organic compounds to help reduce indoor air pollution in your home. Freshaire goes on smooth, covers flawlessly, and dries in minutes. It comes in 66 different colors, carries a lifetime warranty, and is certified by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute. Watch this video.

As its name implies, Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint can be used on wood, plastic, metal, vinyl, concrete, and more. It comes in a range of colors, sprays from any angle, and has a comfort grip trigger that’s easy on your hands. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Thompson’s Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner with oxy-foaming action is formulated to remove dirt, mildew, and other stains from a variety of outside surfaces including wood and composite decks, concrete, masonry, and even some fabrics. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

The plastic caps on the end of an extension ladder can scratch paint or siding when they are leaned against your house. A simple way to protect your siding is to wrap the ends of the ladder with scraps of carpet, then hold them on with duct tape. Watch this video.

Jig-A-Patch is a sprayable spackling that’s a fast and easy way of repairing drywall holes. Spray it in the hole, allow it to sit for a few minutes, then even the spackling out using the built-in putty knife. After the patch has dried, use the supplied sanding pad to sand the surface smooth. Jig-A-Patch is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video.

Lead based paint was used in many homes built before 1978 and can cause a number of health problems. An inexpensive, do-it-yourself test can be preformed to find out if your house is contaminated. Watch this video to find out how. Watch this video.

One of the best ways to save energy in your home is by caulking any cracks around windows and doors. While caulk alone can be applied to narrow cracks, gaps wider than ¼” should be filled with foam backer rod first. These flexible foam tubes are available at building supply stores in several diameters. Simply push the rod into the gap with a putty knife or painter’s tool until it is just below the surface then caulk over it. Watch this video.