WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:03.879 KF I am six forty. You're listening to Dean Sharp 2 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:07.719 The House Whisper on demand on the iHeart Radio app. 3 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:12.960 Hey am I Am six forty live streaming in eighth 4 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:16.600 Dan everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. 5 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:20.839 Hey Welcome home. I am Dean Sharp the House Whisper. 6 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:23.960 I design custom homes. I build a few custom homes, 7 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.000 and I am your guide to better understanding that place 8 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:31.480 where you live. Every Saturday morning and Sunday morning live 9 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:37.799 on the weekends Saturday's six to eight Pacific time, Sundays 10 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:42.240 nine to noon Pacific time. Today on the program, actually 11 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.399 today and tomorrow, we're doing a two parter. One part today, 12 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:52.640 one part tomorrow. We're talking about big remodeling wins for 13 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:57.320 a tract home. And what I mean by that is 14 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:01.520 very simply this, tract homes have certain characteristics that will 15 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.359 be diving into very shortly here, and there are certain things, 16 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:11.640 certain elements of a tract home that are so worth 17 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.439 considering adding to your remodel or including in your remodel 18 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.359 because for you know, I'm not going to say free, 19 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:22.680 because nothing is free in his life, but for the 20 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:28.400 cost and time put into them, they are dish proportionately 21 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:32.799 huge payoffs, big big payoffs. So this is a small 22 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.599 bet with a big payoff for your tracked home. And 23 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:41.519 there's a whole list of elements that do exactly that 24 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.040 that if you are thinking about remodeling or getting ready 25 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:49.000 to remodel, that you should consider adding to your list 26 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:51.480 or your scope of work for your project so that 27 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.599 you get the most out of all your money. So 28 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.439 we'll be talking about that today and tomorrow on the show. 29 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:02.640 And of course, also as always, take your calls. Richie 30 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:05.439 has opened up the phone lines right now. We've already 31 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.400 got a call or too up there, but there's so 32 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:11.120 much room for you. Early Saturday mornings here on the 33 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:15.280 West Coast is a great time if you've ever thought 34 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:19.000 about calling, to give me a call because traffic is light. 35 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:22.879 As you could imagine. The number to reach me eight 36 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:27.199 three three two. Ask Dean eight three three the numeral 37 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:32.400 two ask Dean eight three three to ask Dean anything 38 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.879 you want to talk about regarding your home. It can 39 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:41.400 be construction question, DIY concern. It can be a design question, 40 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:49.120 an architecture question, landscape, interior design and decor, architecture, anything 41 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.199 at all. We can talk about high and lofty concepts 42 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.000 you and I, or we can talk about how to 43 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.919 fix that leaky toilet or anything in between. That's what 44 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:00.879 I'm here for, here to help you out. Let me 45 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:06.680 introduce our awesome team. Sam as always is on the board. 46 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:12.919 He is wrangling our not so live studio audience. Good morning, Sam, 47 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.120 how you doing Dan? I'm actually really happy that I 48 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:20.639 have on my resume live audience wrangler. There you go. See, 49 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.800 not a lot of people have that. They're like, whoa, whoa. 50 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.560 It's a skill, it is. 51 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:26.199 It is. 52 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.439 You keep the you keep the babies from crying, You 53 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:32.479 keep the laser guy under control. Who he shows up 54 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:34.919 every once in a while, you know, with his live laser. 55 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:36.960 I don't know how he gets that past security, but 56 00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:41.039 it's a thing. Uh So, Sam is Sam's always the 57 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:46.360 best producer. Richie is standing by taking call. He's taking 58 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.680 a call right now, so he's nowhere near a microphone. 59 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.560 Always always a pleasure to work with. Richie. And guess 60 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:57.120 who head their brooker at the news desk? Good morning, Hush, 61 00:03:57.159 --> 00:03:58.159 good morning. 62 00:03:58.479 --> 00:03:59.919 I'm so excited to be here with you. 63 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:01.800 Are you really though? 64 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:02.319 Yes? 65 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:06.599 Always? Because you know, I always consider Saturday morning a 66 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:12.080 punishment for personnel. No, no way, all right, I am. 67 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:15.719 I was so happy to see you this morning. Thank you. 68 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:17.920 Yeah. No, I'm excited to be here. I always tell 69 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:21.240 people I'm like, there is something like really like warm 70 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:25.279 and inviting about starting the day with Dean and everybody here, 71 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.720 because I mean, I love all the advice you give 72 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:29.720 and all the great questions to answer. So I'm excited 73 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:30.120 to be here. 74 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:34.560 Well, I am just thrilled that you're here now. Normally 75 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.519 sitting across the table from me is my better half, 76 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:43.759 my design partner and the co founder of House Whisper, 77 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:47.240 my best buddy in all the world, Tina. But I'm 78 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.040 giving Tina the morning off this morning. I'm giving Tina 79 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:52.279 the morning. Tina is taking the morning off. 80 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.480 I was gonna say, you better be careful. 81 00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:02.720 Yeah, yeah. I don't Tina anything when it comes to 82 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.480 the business. We just make some decisions. 83 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:04.680 Though. 84 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:08.240 She's had she's had a week, and so she's taken 85 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:11.839 the morning for herself as she should, and I am 86 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:17.040 here slepping along as I should as well. All Right, y'all, 87 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:21.759 let's get into a conversation about big wins for a 88 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:24.759 tract home, and we're going to start by having a 89 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:28.360 discussion about what the very nature of tracked homes are 90 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:33.800 and where their weaknesses are. Because correlated to those weaknesses 91 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:39.639 are these big remodeling wins. And so that's good news. 92 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:43.720 Every tract home has several weaknesses built into them, and 93 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.439 it's good news if we understand what they are and 94 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:51.560 the process of changing them and customizing them so that 95 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:55.439 this home becomes yours. That is the pathway towards a 96 00:05:55.639 --> 00:06:00.040 big wins for a remodel relative to the time and 97 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.160 the money that you spend. So when we come back, 98 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.079 we are going to talk about the tract home, what 99 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:12.519 it's all about. What is the inherent weaknesses that your 100 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:17.199 home may still be displaying, how to get them fixed? 101 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:22.399 We'll do that. Kf I Dean Sharp, the house Whisper 102 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:25.639 at your service. Hey, whether your home is a condo, 103 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:29.480 a cottage, or castle does not matter. I am here 104 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.160 to help you take it to the next level. We're 105 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:35.720 going to be going to the phones in just a bit. 106 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:38.800 Here is the number to reach me. The callboard is 107 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:42.560 open and we've got some calls. But I always pick 108 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.000 calls randomly, so it doesn't matter whether you call in 109 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.160 right at the last minute or now or have been 110 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:51.439 sitting there for well, the show hasn't been on that 111 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:55.160 long today, but you get the idea. There is always 112 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:58.120 room for you and an equal shot to getting your 113 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.279 question or concern on the The number to reach me 114 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:06.199 eight three to three two. Ask dean eight three to three, 115 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:12.879 the numeral two. Ask Dean. All right, it is time 116 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:19.439 to talk about your tract home. Tract homes have strengths 117 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:23.600 and weaknesses both. It's important that we understand what they 118 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.600 are if we are going to be identifying these very 119 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:32.920 very special category of wins for a tract home remodel. 120 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.120 That for the amount of time and energy that you 121 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:40.000 and money that you put into it, you gain a 122 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:45.959 disproportionately big payoff. And that goes to the very heart 123 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.160 of understanding what's going on with the tract home. So 124 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:50.720 here's the thing, and I'm going to share this today 125 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.800 and tomorrow because this is really the premise or the 126 00:07:53.800 --> 00:08:01.279 foundation for understanding what these other strengths are tracked home Right, 127 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:06.920 the latter half of the twentieth century, millions upon millions 128 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:12.120 of these cookie cutter castles helped give birth to the 129 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:17.879 American middle class. Really, developers buy a large tract of 130 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:24.399 land hence tracked, which is then subdivided into individual lots 131 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:31.279 upon which pre designed homes are built. There are lower 132 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.519 income tracks, there are middle income tracks, and yeah, there 133 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:41.360 are luxury tracts tracked home. Nonetheless, for a tracked home 134 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:45.120 to be a tracked home, it falls under a certain 135 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:51.279 category of features that we're about to list out. Homes 136 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:56.679 are not custom homes. No matter what the target demographic, 137 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:03.559 all track developments share certain characteristics. A developer will typically 138 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:08.879 design what two to four plans for a tract, and 139 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:12.360 then they'll utilize some tricks to give a neighborhood the 140 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:17.840 illusion of variety. For instance, you take four plans, four 141 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:22.200 floor plans, and then reverse them from left to right, 142 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.679 and then you immediately have eight different floor plans. You 143 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:30.480 have four, but you know four of them are flipped 144 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.480 this way, four of them flip the opposite direction, and 145 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:40.120 that gives that illusion of diversity. And then if you 146 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:42.840 take each of those four houses and you have four 147 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:49.639 different possible color palettes and or facade details out on front, 148 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:55.600 then four times four of those equals sixteen. Now it 149 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.720 looks like we've got sixteen different houses in the neighborhood. 150 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:04.960 And you do the sixteen times two each of those 151 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:10.360 flipped floor plans, and suddenly you've got thirty two unique 152 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:14.639 and I'm using my air quotes here unique homes. But 153 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.720 in the end there are only four actual different floor 154 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:26.879 plans or four houses. That's a typical American tracked home 155 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.080 neighborhood or tracked home development. And those are the techniques 156 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:32.960 that are used. And this is where you might be 157 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:39.080 thinking that that snooty custom home designer Dean dislikes tracked homes. 158 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:43.559 I don't. I don't at all. I live in one, 159 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:48.679 and I've mentioned this many times before. I am fully 160 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:54.799 aware that the affordability of track developments has been the 161 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:59.960 very means by which most folks who own homes are 162 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.759 able to buy a home in the first place. And 163 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:08.799 that is perhaps their greatest strength. And that's not the 164 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:13.360 only strength that a tract home has. A modern tract 165 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:18.080 home is quite impressive in terms of its engineering. Where 166 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:21.759 we live in California, I got to tell you I 167 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:26.240 would much rather ride out an earthquake in a modest, 168 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:31.320 recently built tract home than a wonder of architecture from 169 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.679 the nineteen twenties. All Right, So there's that engineering just 170 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:40.320 by definition of engineering standards improving through the years, and 171 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:44.240 all homes having to be built according to current standards 172 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.679 than what you have with a tract home is a 173 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:56.480 typically a really, really substantially decent engineering system. So that's 174 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.960 one of the reasons that I love it. I also 175 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:03.960 happened to love customizing tract homes. But to do it right, 176 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:09.360 we need to understand their weaknesses as well. Now, I 177 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.320 just said, for a mass produced product, the engineering is 178 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:17.600 actually surprisingly good. But if you're looking for craftsmanship, then 179 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:22.799 attract house or a house designed by spreadsheet and constructed 180 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.440 as quickly as possible, you know, is usually not where 181 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:30.879 you're gonna find craftsmanship. But assuming that we're going to 182 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:34.360 be redoing many of these things the right way as 183 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:38.200 its owner, even a lack of craftsmanship isn't usually the 184 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:41.120 biggest challenge for a tract home. There is a far, 185 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:47.440 far bigger one. Can you guess what, in my estimation, 186 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:54.080 is perhaps the largest weakness of a tract home? Hmm, 187 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:59.960 let's think it through, shall we. I'm gonna I'm gonna guess. 188 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.799 I'm going a wager that most of you are not 189 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:08.159 going to come up with the answer that is roller 190 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.120 around in my mind but I want you to give 191 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:15.519 it some thought. What is potentially the largest weakness of 192 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:20.759 a tracked home as it stands, we'll talk about that. 193 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:25.200 You're listening to Home with Dean Sharp on demand from 194 00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.120 KFI AM six forty. 195 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:33.840 KFI AM six forty live screaming in HD everywhere on 196 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:39.399 the iHeartRadio app being Sharp, the house Whisperer at your 197 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:44.799 service on this fine beginning to a lovely saturday here 198 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.200 in southern California. 199 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.720 I hope the weather is acceptable. I hope you that 200 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:53.240 you are doing okay with it wherever you are across 201 00:13:53.440 --> 00:14:00.159 our fine land. We are talking about tracked homes and 202 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:03.559 big remodeling wins for a tract home, in other words, 203 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:08.159 specific elements of a remodel that to get you a 204 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:11.919 long way. If a tract home is what you're remodeling, 205 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:16.279 so worth worth worth listening to. Also, we're going to 206 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:18.039 be going to the phones. In fact, we'll be going 207 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.840 to the phones right after the next news break. So 208 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.440 if you haven't called in yet, the number to reach 209 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:27.120 me eight three three two ask Dan A three three 210 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.720 the numeral to ask Dan eight three three to ask 211 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:37.440 d Okay before the break, I uh just hung this 212 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:40.120 out there, and that is that you know, there are 213 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:44.679 intrinsic weaknesses in a tracked home. What is, in my 214 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:50.559 opinion as a custom home designer, what is the one 215 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:55.879 of the largest, if not the largest, weakness of a 216 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:59.240 tract home. And I asked you to challenge your brain 217 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:01.759 see if you could come up with it. Here is 218 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:04.600 the thing. I don't think. I think most people are 219 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:07.720 going to miss this one. And it's understandable. 220 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:07.960 Why. 221 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:15.440 Orientation on the lot, the orientation of the house on 222 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:19.480 the lot. You're like, what, here's the thing? By definition, 223 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.360 the house designs, you know, all four or five of 224 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:29.600 them in any given tract were not created for any 225 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:33.480 specific lot that they were to be sitting on. Okay, which, 226 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:37.080 by the way, is the very fundamental definition of a 227 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.039 custom home. Okay, if you were to call me out 228 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:42.000 and say, Dean, I want you to design me this 229 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:45.600 home from the ground up. Here is our property. The 230 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:49.320 very first thing we would be taking into account is, Okay, 231 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:53.120 where is the property sitting? How is it oriented? Does 232 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:56.600 it have a view? Is this north to south? Is 233 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.080 it east to west? Where is the sun going to 234 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:03.720 be traveling? Because a truly great custom home will be 235 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:08.720 embracing taking advantage of warding off any problems with the 236 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:14.799 orientation of the lot, but not a tract home. They 237 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.159 are by definition not created for any specific lot. They're 238 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:21.919 kind of created in a just a void space, you know, 239 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:27.720 inside an architectural studio, which means the living room in 240 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:32.360 a predesigned floor plan might be facing north on some lots, 241 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:37.840 or south or east or west on others, and that 242 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:43.120 orientation to the rising and the path and the setting 243 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:47.960 of the sun radically changes the quantity and quality of 244 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:51.799 light that every room receives and heat for that matter, 245 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:57.840 in addition to compass orientation. Some of those floor plans 246 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:01.399 get set on top of a hill, right if this 247 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:05.319 is a tract that has lower and higher streets in 248 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:10.119 terms of elevation. Some floorplans get views, some do not. 249 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:12.079 Some are placed at the end of a cul de 250 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:15.799 sac on a pie shaped lot with you know, ever 251 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:20.680 growing large side yards. Others are soldiered in little parallel 252 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:26.279 lines with minimal sideyards and privacy concerns between neighbors. So 253 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:29.400 that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. Despite all 254 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:34.599 of these diverse orientations, the location of windows and doors 255 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:39.480 and other important features on that predesigned home do not change, 256 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.240 which means it's literally the luck of the draw as 257 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:48.480 to whether your tracked homes orientation gets to take advantage 258 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:52.240 of the lot or misses out on taking advantage of 259 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:57.720 the lot. And even if some features align well, rarely 260 00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:04.680 almost unheard of of, rarely do they all line up 261 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:09.119 and work. That is the luckiest of all luckiest tracked 262 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.440 home floor plans, one that seems like it took into 263 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.799 account everything about that lot. It didn't. It just happened 264 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:20.440 to get sat on a lot that fitted its design well. 265 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:26.240 So my point is this, A thoughtful remodel will attempt 266 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.720 to correct some of these deficiencies and take advantage of 267 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:34.880 whatever orientation the house finds itself in. An unthoughtful remodel 268 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:39.480 will not even consider those things and jump right over 269 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:42.079 them to you know what the color of the bathroom 270 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:46.720 tile should be? And I have taught you better than that, 271 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:49.839 my friend, Have I not? Yes? Because what do we 272 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:56.119 say here on the program? Design matters most, and orienting 273 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.400 a house to the lot that it finds itself on 274 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:04.440 is rule one. We do not jump over the fundamentals. 275 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:13.039 If you are looking to produce a beautifully, wondrously fantastic home. 276 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.640 We have to obey the fundamentals, and there is nothing 277 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:22.559 more fundamental than the cardinal directions of the compass, the 278 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:28.039 path of the sun traveling through the sky, and the 279 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.880 elevation and contour of the lot. These are the fundamentals 280 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:38.799 that every house finds itself sitting within. And the best 281 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:41.480 thing that we can do to that tracked home of 282 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:45.160 yours that got sat on that lot without regard to 283 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:51.319 these things, is to see which of those predesigned aspects 284 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:55.640 that don't fit so well can be changed in order 285 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.839 to better or fit and take full advantage of the 286 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.720 to property orientation. Does that make sense? Okay, So here's 287 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.079 what we're gonna do. We're gonna get some news, and 288 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:09.480 then when we come back, we're going to take some calls, 289 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:12.000 which can be about anything that's going on with your home, 290 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:15.839 and then we will return to this subject of inherent 291 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:18.440 tracked home weaknesses. I still got a couple more to 292 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:21.920 talk about, and we're laying the foundation for this weekend 293 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.960 of all Right, what's that list of things that we 294 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.920 can do that make a big difference for a small 295 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:33.920 amount of money. All of it continues, including your calls. Right, Hey, 296 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:38.279 if I team sharp to house with her. Welcome home. 297 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.039 Glad you're with us on the program this morning. We're 298 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:48.960 talking about tracked homes, their inherent weaknesses, and how identifying 299 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.240 those weaknesses opens the door for us to do some 300 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:59.519 really significant advancements in your home's design for a minimal 301 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:04.480 amount of we're taking full awareness I don't say taking 302 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:08.079 advantage of your home's weaknesses, but we are using our 303 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:11.799 awareness of the weaknesses and then turning right around and 304 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:17.119 making designs that make a difference. That is today and tomorrow. Today, 305 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:21.440 I'm laying the groundwork for it by discussing your tracked 306 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:24.480 homes inherent weaknesses. We just talked about a bigie. I've 307 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:28.079 got a couple more to go, but it's top of 308 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:31.960 the hour. It's time to go to the phones, so 309 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:35.279 let's do it. I want to talk to Jerry. Hey, Jerry, 310 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.119 welcome home. 311 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.960 Good morning, sir. How are you? 312 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:41.519 I am well? How can I help you? 313 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.400 Well? First of all, I would be remiss if I 314 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:50.279 didn't compliment you how lucky your listenership is and your audience, 315 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:55.319 because you do just a phenomenal job of articulating the 316 00:21:55.359 --> 00:22:01.000 most easiest detail imaginable, but you put it all into perspective, 317 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.839 and your audience is lucky to have you, sir. 318 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.519 Oh thanks, Jerry. All right, your check is in the mail. 319 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:12.240 Don't worry, it's coming. I appreciate you give you. 320 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:16.319 I'll give you just a little history. I'm a retired 321 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:20.000 general contractor for thirty three years. I sold my business 322 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:23.160 in Huntington Beach a few years ago, but my brother 323 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:26.240 has now called me into duty to build him a 324 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:31.720 steam shower in one of his bathrooms. Oh okay, I've 325 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.079 done a few of those a few years ago, but 326 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.480 wanted to date your take. I've always used the mister 327 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:43.720 steam unit. It seemed to be the most popular unit. 328 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:47.160 But my question to you is when I would do 329 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:50.960 bathroom models or such. You know, I would usually take 330 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:55.319 everything for the shower or you down to studs tay, 331 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:58.519 you know, fifteen thirty pounds paper wire mesh and then 332 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:03.400 have the voice flow out the walls. But my question 333 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:07.880 to you is with new products, well I'm not necessarily 334 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:13.519 brand new, but new products that may not require floating 335 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:17.920 out the walls per se. I know we've used a 336 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:21.359 hearty type some them boards to do that and then 337 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:25.440 red guarded that and then apply either tile or solid 338 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:28.319 surface materials to the walls. But I wanted to get 339 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:34.880 your take with the Smowter sheeting that's available. I just 340 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.720 wanted to take advantage of your expertise and see how 341 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:41.640 you would go about doing the prep and the finished 342 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.160 work on that. 343 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:47.799 Okay, really good question, Jerry and so, and by the way, 344 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:51.319 thank you so much. It's it's always a double compliment 345 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:56.799 when when builders, experienced builders, you know, call in and 346 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:59.920 say that they like the show that that that bol 347 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:04.039 everybody else's confidence as well along the way. So you know, 348 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:09.319 here's the thing, Jar, the same situation that you've experienced 349 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:14.079 throughout your career. Yeah, there are all sorts of newer 350 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:18.680 materials than the old building paper and you know and 351 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:22.279 mortar build up and float of the wall. Is there 352 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.920 anything wrong with that old system? There really isn't. There's 353 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:27.640 nothing wrong with the old system. The newer systems they 354 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:32.480 save time, they can save money because they are you know, 355 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:39.640 intrinsically water proof boards. I love hardybacker board in a 356 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:44.079 shower with a red guard on it. I still, by 357 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:46.200 the way, still and I don't know, this is just 358 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.599 the old school in me. I still put a membrane 359 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:53.599 against the studs before I put up hardy backer board, 360 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:56.359 even though I'm gonna, you know, put a red guard 361 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:59.359 coating on the front. Red guard everybody is a liquid 362 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:04.400 uh liquid applied waterproofing membrane that you literally brush or 363 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:07.720 roll on in uh in a couple of different coats 364 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:11.880 and it forms this this this great waterproofing membrane can 365 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.079 be used for shower pans, can be used for shower 366 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:17.559 walls uh in you know, in pans instead of the 367 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:25.400 classic tar and hot mopping procedure. But the intrinsic weakness 368 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:30.079 of any new system is the straightness of the studs, 369 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.640 you know, because the the advantage of the old float 370 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.519 system when we're putting on a good amount of base 371 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:40.680 mortar uh is the fact that you know, if we've 372 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:43.400 got a boat out stud or we've got a boat 373 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:47.559 in stud uh, we don't have to follow that line 374 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:51.640 and you know, end up with a warped wall because 375 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:54.880 the the very nature of the tile guys floating that wall, 376 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.319 they straighten it out with the thickness of the material 377 00:25:57.359 --> 00:26:00.279 that they've got. So it's like the difference between old 378 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:03.119 plaster walls and dry wall walls. You know, if we're 379 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:06.640 using and they're all great by the way, you know, 380 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:13.559 whether it's a hard hardy backer system, whether it's shlowter panels. 381 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:18.839 These new waterproof foam panels that are coming out all great, 382 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:24.640 no problem, but they are rigid panels that simply adhere 383 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:28.079 to the studs, which means the studs have got to 384 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:30.680 be straight, otherwise the panel is going to be warped. 385 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:35.319 So that's really the key to the whole thing. So 386 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:37.640 if you take the time to make sure that the 387 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:40.319 studs are straight, or that you get them furred out properly, 388 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.799 or get them plane down if one is bowing in, 389 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:46.359 then there's no reason not in my opinion, to use 390 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:50.720 one of these newer systems, because they are waterproof as heck, 391 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:56.000 and they're great surfaces for applying tile directly too. But 392 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:58.839 you know they're going to be as straight and as 393 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:01.480 smooth as the wall behind them. And then as far 394 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:04.960 as the steam unit itself, you know it's I also 395 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:07.680 prefer mister Steam. In fact, I can't remember the last 396 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:10.920 time that I didn't use a mister Steam unit. They're 397 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:13.359 just head and shoulders in my opinion, above the rest. 398 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:17.079 And you know, the key these days with mister Steam, 399 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:21.519 as always is uh, you have to calculate the material 400 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:24.200 that you're using, the square footage, the material, the kind 401 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:28.759