WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:04.040 KFI AM six forty. You're listening to Dean Sharp The 2 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:07.879 House Whisper on demand on the iHeart Radio app. 3 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:16.719 Ami AM forty Live Dreaming and HD everywhere on the 4 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:18.559 iHeartRadio app. 5 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:22.640 Hey, welcome home. I'm Dean Sharp, the House Whisper. I 6 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.519 design custom homes, I build custom homes, and on every 7 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.000 Saturday morning, I am your guide to better understanding that 8 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:35.960 place where you live. Today on the show, as per usual, 9 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:41.200 we are taking your calls. It's an all calls Saturday morning. Man. 10 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:46.280 I just love sitting here talking with you about your home. 11 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.280 And you set the agenda today. Anything you want to 12 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.560 talk about regarding your home, whether it's a construction issue, 13 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:59.759 DIY concern, a design or architectural issue for inside, for outside, 14 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:05.640 for landscape, for hardescape, for general construction, you name it, 15 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:08.280 I'm here. We're gonna put our heads together and figure 16 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:11.719 out what's going on with your home. Producer Richie is 17 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:15.359 standing by. The phone lines are open right now, and 18 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:18.519 of course every Saturday morning. Right as we kick off 19 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:23.120 here in the early morning hours of southern California, which 20 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.239 is where we are broadcasting the show from. UH there 21 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.719 is always room on the call board for you so 22 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:32.519 if you've tried calling in before, now is your chance. 23 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:36.480 Your odds are greatly improved because we're just rolling out 24 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:38.799 and you can jump into the queue. The number to 25 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:42.920 reach me eight three three two, ask Dean. That's as 26 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.400 simple as it gets. Eight three to three the numeral two, 27 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:51.680 Ask Dean. A three three two ask Dean, there you go. 28 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.920 We'll be going to the phones very very soon. Let 29 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:57.799 me introduce you to our awesome team. Sam, of course 30 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:01.959 is on the board wrangling. Are not called live studio audience? 31 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:02.719 Where they are? 32 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:07.920 They are chipper this morning? How are you doing? 33 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:08.240 Sam? 34 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.360 They brought good energy today. 35 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:11.240 I feel good too. 36 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:14.319 Hi, I feel a lot like I When I receive 37 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.960 good energy, I reflect good energy. Yeah, well, there you go, 38 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:25.759 Sam is Uh. Sam is believing and receiving today absolutely Uh. 39 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:31.199 Producer Richie standing by to take your calls. Uh doing 40 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:34.479 the outstanding job that he's already doing. Already a call 41 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:36.560 up on the board, And of course we're waiting for 42 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:39.759 a few more eight three three two asked. Maybe we're 43 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:42.159 waiting for you, maybe waiting for you to start the 44 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:45.000 show with me. There you go A three three two, 45 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:49.159 ask Dean, A three three the numeral two ask Dean. Eh, 46 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:52.199 let's see here II. Leen Gonzalez of course at the 47 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.280 news desk. Good morning, I Leen, Good. 48 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:56.879 Morning, sunshine. How's it going good? 49 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:59.639 I didn't actually bring the sunshine yet today. 50 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.439 You're very sunshiny. You're always so positive. 51 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:03.439 I'm calling. 52 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:04.360 Maybe that was Sam? 53 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:07.639 Oh that was Sam. Sam is more positive than well. 54 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.520 I don't know that he's more positive than me today, 55 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.840 but he's certainly a little bit more chipper. He's vocal 56 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:16.240 and energetic. Oh my gosh, see there he goes again, 57 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:25.199 swe speaking of beverages. Uh, what do you got going 58 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:26.199 in there? Eileen? Right? 59 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.479 I started with a decaf green tea, but yeah, I 60 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.319 got to get the caffeine going. It can be more 61 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:32.840 like Sam. 62 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.319 Don't We all want to be more like Sam? So, 63 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.400 you know what, I I don't even ask that question anymore. 64 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.199 I don't. I don't actually start my morning's thinking maybe 65 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:47.560 this morning just decaf. No, No, it's never that way. 66 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.479 It's just black coffee. 67 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:53.360 I think you're not supposed to until you have food, right, 68 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.879 So that's what I try to wait till I eat. 69 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:56.879 Is that the case? 70 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.080 Yeah, supposed to be to acidic for your system. I 71 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:00.360 don't know. 72 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:05.240 Well, maybe I need somebody to bring me some toast. 73 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.199 There you go, h hint. 74 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:11.400 Maybe that's the key, speaking of hints of somebody to 75 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.000 bring me toast. Sitting across the table from me, my 76 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:20.600 better half, my design partner, my breakfast provider. No, I'm 77 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:23.160 just kidding. My best friend in all the world, the 78 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:28.120 co founder, co owner of House Whisperer, Tina is here. 79 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:29.959 Welcome home. 80 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.040 How you doing, Bud? 81 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:32.839 I'm tired? 82 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:37.720 You sound Uh. I think you sound kind of Schwepper 83 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:44.079 vesselt I like that. Are you're tired? You're tired? 84 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:44.639 I am. 85 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:47.759 You were out partying late last night, big. 86 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:49.480 Black, a wild round of cards. 87 00:04:49.720 --> 00:04:55.720 Yes, it was Friday night card night. Yes, and you 88 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:00.079 did really good. I feel like I've been practicing you well, 89 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:04.120 you have been practice. Yes, your play has improved significantly. 90 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:10.720 I can't even I can you were you were dominant? 91 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:14.600 All right? Oh my goodness. We've got some calls on 92 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:16.879 the board. Guess what that means. It means we are 93 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:21.399 going to the phones. Uh, you are home with Dean Sharp, 94 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:23.639 the House whisper The number to reach me eight three 95 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.759 three two. Ask Dean. We will start it up with 96 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:32.399 our first call. Can't hi Dean Sharp the house whisper. 97 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:35.360 Whether your home is a condo or a cottage or 98 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:39.480 a castle, it matters not. The rules apply across the board, 99 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.560 and I am here to help you take it to 100 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:46.360 the next level. And that's what we do every Saturday morning, 101 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:51.199 here live from southern California, taking your calls. You've asked 102 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:54.040 the questions, We'll put our heads together, we'll fix whatever 103 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:57.120 it is that's ailing you with your home. The number 104 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.800 to reach me eight three three to ask Dean, eight 105 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:05.079 three three the numeral to ask Dean. It's time to 106 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:07.480 go to the phones. Let's do it. I want to 107 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:14.160 talk to Bill. Hey, Bill, welcome home. Hello Dean, Good morning, sir. 108 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:19.399 Well, I've got a town home that was built in 109 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.480 the mid to late seventies. I'm going to refinish it 110 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:26.319 and I tore up the carpet and some old parquet flooring, 111 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.639 and it turns out that the sub floor on the 112 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:33.879 main floor there is concrete. But it's not like you know, 113 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:38.079 the real hard concrete you get on a foundation slab. 114 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:41.360 It seems like more porous and light. And where the 115 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:44.879 parquet came up, it's really pitted. There's some cracking, and 116 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:47.920 I'm wondering how do I finish that or seal that 117 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:51.319 before I put in a you know, wood floor or 118 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:53.040 a laminate floor or something. 119 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:57.920 Okay, so really important questions. So when you say that 120 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.839 it doesn't look like a regular lab, are you on 121 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:06.120 a subfloor? Is this lightweight concrete or some or infill 122 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:10.399 gypsum concrete or floor level or that is that what 123 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.160 we're staring at or we actually looking at a slab here? 124 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:15.519 Well, it's like a slab. 125 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.319 So the main. 126 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:19.639 Floor is up from the garage. It's it's kind of 127 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:24.560 one level up and you know, the whole main floor 128 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.279 has got concrete on it, and it seems like it's 129 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:28.560 least an inch or too thick. 130 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.160 Okay, all right, So yeah, so it is a it's 131 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:36.720 not a concrete slab. It is concrete of some nature, 132 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.199 but it is not a slab. It's a either a 133 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.040 self leveling or a lightweight concrete that was poured in, 134 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:46.319 especially during the seventies. It was nineteen seventy when the 135 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.839 place was built in the seventies, and so very likely 136 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:53.519 it's foamed concrete, which is how we used to do 137 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:56.959 lightweight concrete back there, real concrete with a foam in it. 138 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.959 And lots of holes, lots of you know, it's just 139 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:06.639 it's kind of the cappuccino of of flooring layers, and 140 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.360 you know, it provides some insulation. It also allows you 141 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.319 to to you know, put stone or tile down in 142 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.319 that kind of thing. Uh, the best way to do 143 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:20.000 to infill there? Now? Are you missing pieces or is 144 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.720 it just cracked? 145 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:27.199 There's some places where there might be a crack that's 146 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.120 half an inch wide, you know, it's a foot long, 147 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:33.320 but mostly and where I took the carpet up, it's 148 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.639 pretty it's pretty clean and flat. But where I pulled 149 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.879 up the parquet with that all of the glue on it, 150 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:39.039 it's pretty pitted and. 151 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:46.120 Right. So my suggestion is, uh, you know, because it's 152 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:49.200 not a structural floor, Okay, there's no need to go 153 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:54.279 to any any big you know, heroic measures like epoxy 154 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:59.120 injecting or anything like that. Honestly, if I were you, 155 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:03.519 I would consider going down and actually mating that concrete, 156 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:08.440 that existing stuff with how we do this these days, 157 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:12.440 and that is with a really good self leveling compound. 158 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:18.000 And self leveling compound is essentially gypsun based like dry wall, 159 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:23.039 except it's got these strong epoxy adhesives mixed into it. 160 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:27.159 You can go pick this up a self leveling compound 161 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:29.240 at the big box store, at the hardware store, at 162 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:33.840 the builders supply, and you can literally you mix it 163 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:38.120 up like running pancake batter, and you can pour it 164 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.639 out across You can pour it in the cracks number 165 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:43.759 one of the existing until it comes up to the surface. 166 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:47.440 You can pour it out across the entire surface if 167 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:51.039 you want to seal and close up most of those pits, 168 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:54.440 and and you know, you wait a couple hours and 169 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.559 it's fully walkable and you can get back to putting 170 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:58.879 down your new flooring. 171 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.639 It's great. That sounds like a solution. 172 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:07.559 Yeah, yeah, And it's the nice thing is now you're 173 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:10.120 probably in your situation, you're probably gonna want to have 174 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:14.639 a trowel, actually a wood float. That's a trowel that's 175 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.360 made out of wood. It's a float on hand so 176 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:19.320 that you can do a little smoothing and make sure 177 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:22.600 it doesn't hump up when it fills up the cracks, 178 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:24.799 that kind of thing, just to kind of trowl it in, 179 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.039 just to get it connected to all the porosity of 180 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:31.879 the existing lightweight cement. But you won't have to work 181 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:34.159 very hard, because, like I said, the whole idea is 182 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.639 this stuff is self leveling. If you didn't have any 183 00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:39.159 of that concrete on the floor and we wanted to 184 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:44.879 put a layer of level floor down, you'd literally be 185 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:48.039 pouring this out onto the floor. It finds its level, 186 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.720 it cures very very quickly, and then you get back 187 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:54.559 to business. And so I think in your case, mating 188 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.720 the two would not be a problem. It's the easiest 189 00:10:56.759 --> 00:11:00.200 way to fill up the cracks, the pits, anything that's missing, 190 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.000 and then allow it if you're willing to allow, you know, 191 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:05.720 another quarter inch or so of layer on top of 192 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:08.399 it all. It'll re level your floor for you as well. 193 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.840 Very good, I appreciate that. Thanks so much. 194 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.639 All right, Bill, take care, good luck with that floor, buddy. 195 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.879 All right, see we're off to the races. We've got 196 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:21.120 more calls on the board. There's room for you too. 197 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:24.200 The number to reach me eight three three to ask 198 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:29.639 Dean eight three three, the numeral two beep, ask Dean 199 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:30.840 more of your calls. 200 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:35.320 You're listening to Home with Dean Sharp on demand from 201 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:41.360 KFI AM six forty. 202 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:43.960 I AM forty live streaming in HD everywhere on the 203 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:48.360 iHeartRadio app. It's Dean Sharp the House Whisper with you 204 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.120 here live this morning, on this lovely Saturday morning, the 205 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.600 seventh of June twenty twenty five. We are taking your 206 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.360 calls as we do on Saturday mornings. There's still room 207 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:03.320 on the callboard for you, though. Eight three three two. 208 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:07.879 Ask Dean eight three three the numeral too. Ask Dean 209 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:10.120 anything you want to talk about regarding your home to 210 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.519 you got a question for me? You got something you've 211 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:18.200 been scratching your head about construction, diy, architecture, design, the 212 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:22.559 artsy stuff, the craftsmanship stuff, the builder stuff, whatever the 213 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.279 case may be. Give me a call. I'm going to 214 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:28.759 help you through it. We're gonna work together and transform 215 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.320 your ordinary house into an extraordinary home. All right, we're 216 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:37.879 going back to the phones. I want to talk to Nancy. Nancy, 217 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.639 welcome home. 218 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:45.120 Hello, Dean, thank you. Well. I've had two contractors that 219 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:49.840 have to do different things, and they said they were 220 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:54.039 doing certain things. They promised pictures, they promised other things, 221 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:59.840 No pictures, don't know how the work was really done. Complication, 222 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:06.960 and they deviated from things. And then they even the 223 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:12.080 plumber people took Mike Fossts out put mis match faucets 224 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:18.799 in the shower, and you know, and said everything was okay, 225 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:22.759 even if there's a screw and that's about six inches long, 226 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:25.960 and you're you know, you want to turn the cold 227 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.720 water off because the hot water gets too hot. What 228 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:33.000 if it comes out of the wall, and or in 229 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:37.360 an effort to do that, I'm also handicapped. I don't 230 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.039 want to fall on the floor and this in the 231 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:43.720 shower while I'm trying to get the cold water to 232 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:51.360 even out the hot water. And you know, and they 233 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:56.480 promised pictures and they say, oh, well, we didn't take 234 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:01.720 pictures because it wasn't wet there, and yet they from 235 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:04.840 the from the curb to the house, it didn't need 236 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:09.879 all that, and but it looked like it might have 237 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:13.919 needed it somewhere. But they just made up something. And 238 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.679 then they said it would be a certain price. And 239 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:21.000 oh and they seemed real, real, real nice. But they 240 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:25.919 always do and then they do things, they change things around. 241 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:30.399 They created a hazard even walking out of my house 242 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.440 for them, you know, just going down two steps and 243 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:38.519 going out to my driveway. Now I would have to 244 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:43.480 cross a hose and another line that was already on 245 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.279 the side of the porch where the yard is, and 246 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.519 that's where it was when I bought the house. 247 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:53.600 And like Nancy, it sounds like that you've you've definitely 248 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:58.639 had some frustrations with a plumber and some other contractors. 249 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.960 U what and then and then then they turn around 250 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:06.879 and they say, you promise he'll pay you so much. 251 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.799 Then they they won't let you read the contract. They 252 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.639 raise the price on it. And they're the ones pushing 253 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:18.440 the buttons on the gmail that you get. They say, oh, 254 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.360 you push here, here, here, here, as if I okayed 255 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:23.240 with my signature. 256 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:27.639 Right, Okay, Well, my friend, I hear you. I hear 257 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:32.799 your frustration clearly clearly. What do you do with situations 258 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.159 like that? 259 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:33.440 Man? 260 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:36.919 It it gets I wish this wasn't the case. I 261 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:41.200 wish there weren't contractors out there who kind of push 262 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:45.600 themselves on people, take advantage of people who have their 263 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:48.600 systems that they're interested in just getting through a job, 264 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:51.480 getting the money, getting out, not worrying about how it 265 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:55.639 turns out in the end. Unfortunately, that is a reality. 266 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.080 It's out there in the world. How do you protect 267 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:03.639 yourself against such things? It's not an easy answer. There 268 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:06.039 are a number of things that you have to do. 269 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.679 But I want everybody who's listening to understand this that 270 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.320 the number one thing is, you do not abdicate your 271 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.679 responsibility for the project. You do not let anybody rush 272 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.559 you through the decision making for the project or the 273 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:24.759 decision making for signing a contract. You don't let anybody 274 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:28.200 rush you through that process. You don't let anybody push 275 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.480 the buttons for you. And getting your signatures on a 276 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:35.679 digital contract especially, it all seems so easy and so quick, 277 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.200 but it all needs to be read, it all needs 278 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:42.200 to be understood ahead of time. Then when I say, 279 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:45.360 don't abdicate your responsibility, the other part is for everybody. 280 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.519 And I know this is tougher for some people than others, 281 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:50.279 but you know, you've got to do some background checking 282 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:54.000 on a contractor you've got to vet them if you 283 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.639 want to. If you're working with somebody who've never worked before, 284 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:59.080 you've got to know that they know what they're doing 285 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:01.799 and that they have a great reputation for doing it. 286 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.359 You want to check with the California State License Board. 287 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:08.720 You check their license number, make sure that they're licensed 288 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:11.759 to do the job number one. Make sure that they're bonded, 289 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:14.880 that they are ensured to do the job. Then you 290 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.160 want to check their references and you want recent references 291 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:22.720 from them, numbers to call and clients to talk to about. Hey, 292 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.519 these guys just finished your place last week, how did 293 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.680 it go? If you don't mind, could I just take 294 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.960 a couple of minutes, sure of your time, and ask 295 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:34.160 you did you like them? How was your experience with them? 296 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:38.440 You want to vet people. You make sure that you're 297 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:43.119 working with somebody who is highly recommended by others recently 298 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:46.119 who have done the job. And then the big question 299 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:48.359 of whatever it is that they're doing, if they're fixing 300 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:51.319 a major problem, if they're just switching things out. You 301 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.799 want to make sure that if the job needs permits, 302 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.759 there are permits. And that means that a city inspector 303 00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:00.880 shows up on the job, a neutral third party who 304 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:03.720 holds their feet to the fire to make sure that 305 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:08.200 the work got done properly. You get that inspection report 306 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:12.200 and you get that permit signed off by the city inspector. 307 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:15.440 They don't necessarily need to show you photographs of that 308 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:17.920 kind of stuff. They're not legally obligated to show you 309 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:20.240 photographs of what they did in the wall, but they 310 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:23.759 are legally obligated when there is a permit to fulfill 311 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.799 the permit process, which means the inspector is going to 312 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:28.839 make sure they did what they were supposed to do 313 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:34.200 in the wall. And then, finally, and maybe most importantly, 314 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:38.839 the thing that I want to again underscore for everybody 315 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.799 is that design matters most when it comes to a project. 316 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.759 And what does that mean. It means that you want 317 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:50.279 to reach out to somebody with design knowledge because when 318 00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:53.799 people say, hey, I want this project to turn out right, 319 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.519 I want it to be done properly. What I have 320 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:59.839 learned over the years is there are two definitions of 321 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:04.039 project done properly. There is the design of the project, 322 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:08.279 meaning that the faucets, that, the fixtures, that, the tile 323 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:12.480 that was selected, the colors, all of this was designed well. 324 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:17.559 And we do not look to a contractor to do 325 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:21.160 our designing for us. We do not. That is not 326 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.519 what contractors. Every contractor out there is going to make suggestions, 327 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.759 Oh well, once you use this oncet, you try that, 328 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:31.559 that's all well and good. I don't ignore a contractor's suggestions. 329 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.680 But a contractor is not a designer. They are there 330 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:38.839 to implement the design. And yeah, this seems like a 331 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.480 lot of work, and it is a lot of work 332 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.799 when it comes to getting your home done right. But 333 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.720 these are the steps that we have to take. And 334 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.880 so one of the purposes, one of the reasons I'm 335 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:50.839 on the radio with you, is to bring kind of 336 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:55.039 a new era of understanding to home remodeling and DIY 337 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:58.319 and all of this stuff. Design matters most, my friends, 338 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.240 and it is not a contractor who's going to do 339 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.519 the design work. So when I say there are two 340 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:08.400 kinds of well the project turned out well, that is 341 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:11.119 number one is the design of good design. And so 342 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:15.720 in the end, was it designed properly? And that is 343 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:19.279 very very different from whether the workmanship on the job 344 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:23.559 was done properly. That is the contractor's responsibility to do 345 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:27.519 the workmanship properly, to make sure all the pieces of 346 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:32.319 the design were executed appropriately according to code, in a 347 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:36.200 workmanlike manner. So, Nancy, I feel you. I feel your frustration. 348 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:40.240 Unfortunately it may be a little late in your situation. 349 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:44.319 Hopefully now, if there's still something left to be resolved, 350 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:47.319 you can take action with the contractor. But when it 351 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:51.799 comes to selecting somebody to do the work in your home, 352 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:56.200 don't abdicate that responsibility. You're the boss. You're the boss 353 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:59.559 of your place. It's yours to handle all the way through, 354 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:03.039 and these the steps to take. So hopefully, Nancy, that 355 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:06.200 helps you out, my friend, and good luck as you 356 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.839 proceed forward. And you know what, if you feel like 357 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:12.200 it's over your head, reach out to a friend or 358 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.599 family member and simply say, I need your help with this. 359 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:17.119 I need your help representing me in front of these 360 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:20.680 people because they're pushing me around. All right, when we 361 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.200 come back, more of your calls your home, Dean Sharp, 362 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.960 the house whisper, caymbye, Dean Sharp, the house whisper, welcome home. 363 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.960 Thanks for joining us on the program today. We're taking 364 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.480 calls this morning, as we do on Saturday mornings. Eight 365 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:39.359 three three two Ask Dean is the number to reach me, 366 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:43.359 eight three to three the numeral two. Ask Dean. Anything 367 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:49.440 you've got regarding your home, construction, DIY, design and architecture, advice, 368 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:52.200 anything that's going on. Give me a call. We'll put 369 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.400 our heads together and we'll figure it out. Let's talk 370 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:58.240 to Yvonne. Hey von welcome home. 371 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:03.519 Hi, thanks Stein for taking my call. I love you, 372 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.519 first of all, I know your wife does too, but 373 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:13.000 I have a question about a smell in our new house. 374 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:17.119 We bought a house four years old, and I could 375 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:20.640 spend half an hour talking to you about the different things, 376 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.759 but I'm not going to. I just have two questions. One, 377 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:35.519 we had black mold remediation done and we walked into 378 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:40.160 the house and it smells really bad. And the reason 379 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:43.720 we started this whole process is the house smelled like cats. 380 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:49.119 Ah okay, yeah, so we bought it, we moved in, 381 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:53.279 it smelled, we moved out, it's done the remediation, and 382 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:56.160 we're wanting to move back in again. I want to 383 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:59.480 know how do we know for sure that there's not 384 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:03.720 going to be a cat smell after they've done the 385 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:07.240 mold remediation. I know that's not to take care of smell. 386 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:13.200 Do we need to pull up the floor on the 387 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:18.119 whole house? And if so, once they've done that, what's 388 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:21.279 the process to get rid of the smell. So that's 389 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.640 the first question. The second question is if we're going 390 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:26.960 to put new flooring in, I'd like to have your 391 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:31.920 opinion on the on trend flooring that's going to last 392 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:38.519 ten or fifteen years until we die looking good, not 393 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.440 looking dated. 394 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:42.920 Okay, all right, I'm happy to help you out. I'll 395 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:46.200 tell you what, Yvonne, you've been waiting for a little bit. 396 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:48.559 I'm gonna ask you to wait just a smidge longer 397 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.480 because we're right at the top of the hour now, 398 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:52.720 and so if I can pop you on hold when 399 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.559 we come back from break, I'm going to give both 400 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:00.000 of those questions everything that they deserve. How does that sound? 401 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.039