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!

1. Fill All Obvious Cracks: Check your home’s exterior walls, around the tops of exterior door frames, outlets and switches on perimeter walls for cracks. Use an elastomeric caulk to seal any holes under 1/4″ and use expanding foam sealer for larger holes. Use outlet gaskets and new weather stripping for your outlets and doors.
2. Check Attic Insulation: Check the areas touching heated space like your ceiling joists and walls adjacent to finished spaces. If you can see the framing members you are probably losing too much energy. Check what the R-value is on your current insulation and add strategically where it may be lacking.
3. Spray For Bugs: Don’t underestimate the damage that pests can do not just in your home, but around your home as well when left unattended for seasons at a time. Keep the rodents, termites, ants and other insects at bay by calling in your pest control expert for their seasonal service.
4. Replace Old Windows: If replacement is not in your budget, try a cost effective window winter insulation kit. Just remember- completely cover the entire window including the trim for maximum effectiveness.
5. Check Your Heater: Buy a large pack of air filters and change monthly during the heating months. Call a professional if you have not had your heating system looked at in the last two years. Install an updated thermostat that allows you to program your heating to fit your schedule.

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.

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!

Mohawk SmartCushion is the premium carpet cushion that gives homes added comfort and protection. Well now, that protection even extends to the ones you love. From June 2011 to December 2012, Mohawk will contribute a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000 from the sale of SmartCushion to Susan G. Komen for the Cure™ to help fund ongoing breast cancer research.

How important is this research? Well, consider that the number of women over 40 who now receive regular mammograms has more than doubled. In the US alone, the five-year survival rates for early-detected breast cancer has increased to almost 100%. And America’s 2.5 million breast cancer survivors are the largest group of cancer survivors today.

If you’re interested in purchasing SmartCushion for your home, you can use the Mohawk Store Locator to find the retailer nearest you. Every little bit counts in the fight against breast cancer!

Cutting tile with Dremel Trio

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

I also wrapped up the last day of Season 4 of HGTV’s Curb Appeal about two weeks ago. Thanks again to the incredible crew that makes this program possible and thanks to everyone for tuning in to HGTV and making this show a success! The smiles on our faces in this picture should reveal how relieved we are to finish another quality season.

Me with my Curb Appeal crew on the last day!

In the meantime, I’ve also become a spokesperson for Dremel Tools , an incredibly impressive manufacturer of versatile, powerful tools and accessories. We recently had a live Dremel DIY chat on Twitter and Facebook to bring some insight, inspiration, and tips to everyone participating. It was a fun time and I’ll be sharing some of the highlights from the chat here on my blog next week.

My last update is about my upcoming appearance on HGTV Design Star that I mentioned in an earlier post. I will be helping out on this upcoming Monday, September 5th’s episode at 9:00 PM Eastern time. If you have been keeping up with Design Star this season, then you already know it has been highly competitive. Make sure you all tune in and let me know how I did- I’ll be posting more very soon!

Between the traveling and surviving the roads, I’ve managed to sneak my way inside the sixth and current season of HGTV Design Star. My episode airs in a few weeks, but start watching now to have a frame of reference for the show. New episodes of Design Star air every Monday at 9:00 PM Eastern time.

To provide a little background, HGTV Design Star is where 12 contestants, who are talented interior designers, contractor, stylists and artists, fight to win their own show on HGTV. They have to impress the judges throughout the competition in some pretty difficult challenges in order to claim the victory.

What am I doing on my episode? I don’t want to give away any of the details, but let’s just say I don’t envy the pressure that these contestants face. Make sure to visit the official Design Star page on the HGTV website for more details and schedules- and let me know what you think when my episode airs!

Luckily, we had the refuge of the Mohawk Artful Home Pavilion for when the light showers hit. Inside the Pavilion, me and my fellow HGTV personality Taniya Nayak met with visitors and showed off vignettes that we designed.

In fact, Taniya and I even squared off in a friendly design competition as visitors voted on which design they preferred- my rustic Northern California-inspired vignette versus Taniya’s cozy Southern California-styled vignette.

We had a great time, shared a lot of laughs, and answered many design/DIY questions for everyone who came. I even took the stage to present “The Weekend Renovation: Easy, Budget-Friendly Fixes” on both days.

The visitors were incredible, I had a great time speaking on stage, and I got to show off my design skills. Not to mention, my vignette ended up receiving the most votes making me the Sunset Celebration champ!

Thanks again to everyone who came out and I hope this weekend gave everyone some inspiration to take home.

And it’s also eco-smart! It’s made with a renewable resource, corn. It requires less energy to make and reduces our dependency on oil. SmartStrand DuPont carpets are inherently and incredibly soft.

To prove how durable and stain resistant SmartStrand carpets are, we put it to the ultimate test- a 2,800 pound African black rhino and six of his elephant friends who challenged SmartStrand during our recent SmartStrand Zoo Challenge.

Who do you think won the challenge? That’s right, SmartStrand won!