Let's Talk... HOME repair!

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Home & Garden
**Let’s Talk… HOME repair!**

Seattle Contractor and owner of Amyworks, Amy Ecklund, and homeowner and DIY’er Alicia Healey discuss a broad range of home repair, remodeling and home appliance issues. Topics, guests and your questions! Lighthearted, humorous and frank discussion to demystify your home!

The first episodes were recorded in late 2019 right before COVID restrictions hit the United States. We’re back with NEW episodes starting in June 2021!

Send your home repair, remodeling or home appliance questions to askamy@amyworks.com

Topics include:
Appliances, tools, tips and tricks, working with contractors, remodeling advice, new design elements, reports from the field!
Recorded at The Winterblue Room studio in Seattle, WA

Latest Episodes:

19 Special Guest! Katie Kadwell from Weary Stone Farm Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Episode 19: Special Guest: Katie Kadwell from Weary Stone Farm

Your edible urban oasis.

All things raised-bed kitchen gardens!

Master Gardener Katie Kadwell talks about her journey founding Weary Stone Farm and how she helps home gardeners design, build, grow and harvest their own backyard feast.

Helpful gardening tips and further resources available through Weary Stone Farm.

Get ready for your winter garden!

Links:

https://www.wearystonefarm.com/

http://www.tilthalliance.org/ (garden info including the Maritime Northwest Garden Guide)

https://shop.gardenary.com/collections/books (Kitchen Garden Revival - by Nicole Burke)

Share your home repair stories or let us know what kind of questions you have about your home repair projects. Send them to askamy@amyworks.com.

If you liked this episode please give us a review and subscribe to hear what we talk about next!

18 Why is Tom Brady in August’s AARP magazine? Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Episode 18: Why is Tom Brady in August’s AARP magazine?

· From the field - Amy and Alicia talk to Shannon Hogan, carpenter for AmyWorks, while she’s working on a fancy, new bathroom with fun accoutrements.

· Questions from our listeners - “Can I install my TV wall mount in drywall?” and “Can I replace a flush mount light with a veiling fan?”

· Tools, Tricks and Tips – from an unlikely source along with Tom Brady, Amy shares some fun money and energy saving tips for around the house.

· Remodeling advice – Amy and Alicia talk about all the decisions that need to be made during a remodeling project and how to keep track of them to keep the project moving along smoothly.

Share your home repair stories or let us know what kind of questions you have about your home repair projects. Send them to askamy@amyworks.com.

If you liked this episode please give us a review and subscribe to hear what we talk about next.

And a super special treat wrapping us up, a tune written and performed by Alicia (Healey).

17 Know your House Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

This week Amy and Alicia talk about knowing where your mechanical systems are in your house; and maintenance and safety tips for each.

· Do you know where your water shut off valve is and does it work?

· How to troubleshoot a whole house water leak without waiting for a sky high water bill.

· Where is your electrical panel?

· Do the wires sag too much from the utility pole to your house? Amy gives you a tip on what to do if you’re concerned about the sag.

· Go to www.checkmyelectricpanel.com to see if your panel is safe.

· What about your gas meter and how to shut it off? Amy gives a great tip to help with shutting the gas off in case of emergency.

· Is there maintenance required for your Water heater? How old is it?

· Heating system maintenance tips. When to change your furnace filter?

Listeners’ Questions

· How can you frost glass? And we’re not talking butter crème.

· How do I get the wood to stay in place when gluing but there’s no way to use a clamp?

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, DIY or HOME REPAIR STORY?! If you do – email it to us at askamy@amyworks.com.

And if you like the podcast - pretty please…GIVE US A REVIEW! and SUBRSCRIBE

16 Home Repair Happy Hour Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

If "Let's Talk...Home Repair " had been created only to publish this episode, it would be a worthy endeavor.

This episode is a little different, but in the best way possible . Alicia and Amy welcome 3 special guests: Susan (Construction Estimator), Shannon (Carpenter) and Kayla (Project Manager) all members of the Amyworks team. Rather than listener questions, this week Alicia masterfully guides the conversation around the challenges facing the workforce in construction trades, and more specifically, women within the industry.

Topics discussed: While employment in the trades remain vastly disproportionate, is it worth navigating the known challenges to secure a career if you're not a white man? What benefits are there to this career? How does the education route compare to more other paths to employment? What barriers need to be removed for women entering the trades, and how do we make that happen?

Personal stories from all create a clear picture of the environment women must be willing to tolerate to work within the white, *cishet-dominated working culture.

Our episode concludes on an uplifting note as we hear about their hopes and excitement for their future, and that of the industry.

If you have questions, comments or just want to tell us your story that we can share drop us a line at askamy@amyworks.com.

*cishet - someone who is both cisgender and heterosexual

15 Deep dive into doors! Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Episode 15 – Deep dive into doors!

Our latest episode explores the world of doors, DADUs and disposals. Amy kicks things off by sharing an exciting new project for AmyWorks, a DADU (Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit)! She clears up some misconceptions about the trending living space.

Alicia and Amy then take a deep dive into the surprisingly complex world of doors. Which material should your exterior door be constructed from or does it matter? How about your interior doors? Is it something you should DIY or should you call a pro?

Listener questions of the week:

1) "how do I make my garbage disposal smell better?" Amy gives you a couple options and also explains where the usual culprit of that smell is coming from. Alicia poses a related question that has Amy talking pest control.

2) "What to do when my air conditioner seizes up?" It's usually a pretty easy fix!

And a reminder: Amy asks listeners to make sure they are contacting their local city or state housing authorities when it comes to permit questions and information.

Got a tip or trick or fixit story to share?! Send those and any other questions or comments. And as always PLEASE give us a review on your favorite podcast channel!

14 "Earn and Learn" Special Guest Courtney Gebhart Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

Alicia and Amy welcome special guest Courtney Gebhart of Blue Sound Construction to announce a brand new training opportunity from Seattle Colleges. Courtney has created a new micropathway that she refers to as an "earn and learn" trade program to get more people into residential construction carpentry. Students hired by industry partners (like AmyWorks) will receive on the job education as well as standard in the classroom learning. At the completion of this 12-month program, students will receive the only nationally recognized homebuilding credential, the NOCTI Certification for Basic Carpentry.

Check out the website:

https://www.seattlecolleges.edu/micropathways/residential-construction

And look for information on upcoming job fairs for placement!

Listener questions this week include:

"Should I DIY replacing my deadbolt with a Push Button/Keyless Lock?"

"Can I use the exact same gallon of paint for ceiling, door and door jamb, and window sill?" Amy explains your best options.

Tips and Tricks this week has our hosts discuss a multitude of drains and how to best unclog them, with and without the ick factor. Amy gives a smart tip for checking if your exhaust fans are actually working as they should.

And finally, some remodeling advice. What is a "contingency fund" and is it necessary? Does every contractor use one? Is it different than an allowance? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having the contractor purchase materials for a project as opposed to the homeowner purchasing? Amy tells you what you need to know.

If you have questions for Amy and Alicia send us an email at askamy@amyworks.com.

13 Special Guest Coonoor Behal -“Outsource that Sh*t” Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

Amy and Alicia welcome Coonoor Behal, entrepreneur, author, and recent client of AmyWorks. Coonoor talks about her roots, going back to rural Ohio and heading to the big city on the east coast as soon as she was old enough and now living in Seattle for the past 5 years or so.

Coonoor has a small business, Mindhatch LLC (www.mindhatchllc.com) where she does innovation and creativity consulting with businesses and non-profits. Mindhatch also offers a new improv application for diversity, equity and inclusion education called “White Privilege, Black Power”, available now on the Mindhatch website.

Alicia and Amy talk to Coonoor about her recent bathroom renovations (yes, two) that she had undertaken with AmyWorks. She shares the ups and downs that she experienced from the design process through to the final walk-through.

Then Coonoor talks about her new book “I Quit! The Life-Affirming Joy of Giving Up”. She shares about how doing the “right “ thing was not always the right way for her and how quitting was sometimes the best thing. With those experiences she decided to embark on a journey of interviewing others and finding out their quitting stories and what it meant to them and what it helped them achieve in life interspersed with Coonoor’s own reflections.

12 The Leaking Sink Saga Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

Episode 12 – The Leaking Sink Saga

This week on Let's Talk...Home Repair! Amy recalls a dripping sink mystery and repair saga. The story reminds us all that sometimes even professionals with the hands-on know-how can run into time-consuming issues.

Amy and Alicia reiterate the need for seasonal maintenance and give us a great list for the summertime:

1) Leaky faucet? Address it!

2) Check under all sinks for signs of a possible leak.

3) Clean your dryer vent using a vent cleaning brush. Amy recommends against using a cage-style exterior vent cover to prevent link from being trapped and becoming a fire hazard.

Listener questions this week:

1) If I want to purchase and provide the tile for a home remodel project, just how much do I need to buy? Is 10%-15% more than the project's square footage excessive? Alicia offers a personal anecdote that will curb your doubts.

2) How much tile is needed for a tub surround? Amy gives you the equation you're looking for.

3) How much prep is needed to install LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank), and is it worth the extra work the re-level the floor?

Remember…if you have questions you’d like us to answer in an upcoming episode email us at askamy@amyworks.com

11 Deep Dive: Refinishing a basement Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

Episode 11: Deep dive into basement remodeling.

· Update on AmyWorks’ master bath remodel that entailed taking a closet and incorporating it into expanding the bathroom.

· Alicia and Amy talk about turning a rough basement into a finished basement. This includes putting in a bathroom with a sewage ejection pump.

· What are the requirements for egress if there’s a bedroom or is it just a playroom? Check the code.

· Suggestions for moving or replacing the mechanical components such as the furnace or water tank.

· Alicia asks how much of the renovation can be done by a homeowner and what is required to be done by a professional. This all depends on the skill and comfort level of the homeowner.

· Know your codes and what is allowed by your local building department.

· Send your questions to askamy@amyworks.com

· Question: A homeowner asks “can I renovate my only bathroom by myself?” Yes, you can do it! It again depends on your skill level and comfort level with jumping in with both feet.

· Question: Replacing a swing door with a barn door in the bathroom, what can be done with holes that are left from the hinges and strike plate? Amy suggests using a wood putty or epoxy filler in the holes, sand it smooth and even with the surrounding area, then paint to finish.

· Question: Is it cost-effective to replace just the cabinet doors? It can be if the quality of the cabinets are such that the boxes will last.

10 Special Guest! Selena Fitch - Remodel Designer Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Alicia and Amy have an in-depth conversation with Selena Fitch of Fitch Design Company. Selena is an interior designer in the Seattle area that has a design process for her clients from creating drawings to submitting plans for permits. They discuss how the pandemic has affected the remodeling market and homeowners’ desires to make renovations. Also, how the pricing of materials and housing overall has affected homeowners’ decisions on staying in their current house and making drastic changes or looking for something different.

Selena talks about designing a project, getting everything the customer wants and dealing with budget constraints.

We then talk about the estimating process and how many moving parts there are to consider when pricing a job. Alicia shares with us her experience with her recent kitchen remodel and how the costs were a little surprising. Selena talks to us on the differences in cabinets, quality and workmanship so clients can make an educated decision when choosing the cabinets.

Amy asks about the status of wallpaper. It’s back!! Along with the wallpaper people are starting to go bold with color and textures. Selena has some great advice for some bold statements. Check out Selena’s website www.fitchdesigncompany.com. And as always if you have any questions for Alicia or Amy send them to askamy@amyworks.com.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Let’s Talk… HOME repair!

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected