Chip Wade - Expert Craftsman

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and resolved to make 2012 their most impressive DIY year yet. Maybe you’re ready to take on some landscaping in the yard or do some custom wood-cutting for the kid’s bedroom. Whatever the project, make this the year you conquer that pesky to-do list.

If you’re ready to tackle an installation project, make sure you visit my page on the newly redesigned Mohawk Flooring website. We put together some video clips aimed at helping you prep for the task that are worth taking a look at- or two.

We’ve got videos on: Hardwood Installation Tips, SmartStrand Carpet, Tile Flooring, Tile Installation, and Laminate Installation. And the Mohawk website has some valuable additional information such as Flooring Guides and Measurement Tips to consider as well.

Do a little research before you begin and you might just impress yourself at what you are able to accomplish. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and always exercise proper safety precautions. Make sure to email me your before and after project pics- Good luck!

I had a blast taking part in a live chat on Twitter for HGTV Magazine yesterday. I got to answer DIY and home repair questions in addition to sharing about projects around my house. Here’s a glimpse into some of the topics we covered in the chat, cleaned up for grammar and spelling since we’re typing on the fly!

We want to know what’s the most common home repair question you get?
Most of the questions I get revolve around getting the most out of your main living spaces. Like your master bedroom and kitchen.

@JaySaint Question for Chip: I’m new in town. How do I know if my contractor is any good?
Don’t hire a contractor that has only done additions to build your deck… Etc. Find someone who has built many decks you like. You always have to see work done previously by a contractor.

@sgbarber How do you recommend storing a dual cartridge respirator and after a single use?
You want to clean them and let them dry. Store in a cool dry place away from contaminants. You can even keep them in a plastic bag.
@sgbarber At 3M, we like to help remind consumers to change their furnace filters before they get too loaded.
Agreed! Changing your filter regularly helps not only your air quality but helps extend the life of your furnace.

@blueeyedrj What’s the best way to unclog the kitchen sink drain?
To unclog I always check the trap first by disconnecting it. If not blocked there, I will go do a solution…If all else fails I go to mechanical means… A plumbing snake.
@blueeyedrj same thing for toilet and tub clogs?
It’s sometimes too difficult to get to a tub trap. So I often start with the snake in the tub as it is usually hair. For the toilet, the plunger is king, then you move to the snake…. But try to sucker your spouse into doing that one!

How do you get windows open that are painted shut?
You first want to wait for a low humidity day so the windows are contracted. Relieve all perimeter paint with a razor and gently tap till open.

What are the 5 tools no homeowner can be without?
Loaded question… I love tools, but every home owner should have a quality cordless drill set, tape measure, circ saw, Sander, set of pliers.

Americans took a survey and the #1 project on their list is De-Clutter. This is a great idea because so many products in our home have unsightly cables that mess up the space. I have a quick and easy solution to remitting that: It’s cutting out the back of your base molding to hide all those unsightly cords.

To conceal your cords within your base molding, you need to get your Dremel 4000. Remove the nose cap and insert it into the router base attachment with straight-edge guide. Once it’s secure, put it down on your work piece, power it up, and punch down. Now you’re ready to slip your cord right in and attach the base molding.

Instead of having all the wires run across the floor and up the walls, its time to conceal them behind your base board. All you have to do is run your wire, pull it taut, now it’s time to install your base board with your notch slot.

For my advice on tackling your project to-do list this year, visit me on the Dremel Facebook page or download these projects steps at Dremel.com!

So many people have a to-do list of home improvement projects they would like to complete, but without the right directions and materials, people can become discouraged and let these tasks fall by the wayside. I’m happy to be partnering with Dremel to provide Americans with the tool solutions, project ideas and expert advice they need to successfully cross projects off their lists for an accomplished 2011.

While my ‘Tackling America’s To-Do List’ video series will live primarily on the Dremel Facebook page, videos will also be available on the Dremel brand’s YouTube channel. Project steps highlighted in the videos will be available for download on www.Dremel.com as an easy reference for consumers seeking to start their own home improvement projects. I’ve also had a great time giving advice to DIYers on the Dremel Facebook page and hosting live chats on Twitter.

I love this ‘Tackling America’s To Do List’ stat: Men and women are motivated by different goals when approaching DIY projects. Women select projects that organize clutter (24%) while men focus on fixing broken items (14%). Dremel has tons of great info like this and project steps to help Americans tackle their top home improvement projects.

And as it’s almost fall, an ideal time to tackle a DIY project, everyone should check out the videos and more. Head here for step-by-step project instructions

2011 marks the 41st celebration of Earth Day and to help everyone get into the green spirit, I’ve come up with a list of easy and effective ways to help make your home a little more eco-friendly:

1. Perform an energy audit to measure the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems. This doubles as a money-saving piece of advice!
2. Design your home with a renewable flooring option such as bamboo flooring (twice as hard as oak) or carpeting such as Mohawk SmartStrand (created from corn).
3. Use nontoxic paint when adding color to your walls or at least paint with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
4. Reuse vintage furniture for a creative look that also recycles. Add a personal touch by reupholstering vintage pieces with recycled yarn or organic fabric.
5. When it comes to cleaning your green home, use an all-natural, nontoxic cleaner like Mohawk FloorCare Essentials to keep those floors sparkling.

Some of these tips are easier than others to be implemented on a daily or weekly basis, but all of them deserve real consideration when it comes to your home and our planet- Happy Earth Day 2011!