Host Kevin O’Connor and paint expert Mauro Henrique get to the bottom of paint spills. Mauro shows Kevin that a spill isn’t necessarily the end of the world, as long as you act quickly and know what solution to use. Carpet, hardwood, and tile are no match for Mauro’s years in the trade (and some of the drips he may have dropped along the way).
Then Kevin and master electrician Heath Eastman meet at the shop to discuss one of the most common sources of confusion in electrical wiring: three-way switches. With a diagram on the workbench, Heath shows Kevin how he likes to wire three-way switches and how they work when they’re installed properly.
Finally, carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Lee Gilliam help a homeowner establish the front of his lawn with a fence and some landscaping. Working together, the three remove the existing grass, lay out the new fence post positions, and install a wooden split rail fence. Once the fence is completed, Lee takes over and installs beautiful plants, mulch, and stone for some serious curb appeal.
How to Clean Paint Spills
While it’s always better to protect a room and its surfaces with drop cloths and painter’s tape, drips do happen from time to time. But that doesn’t mean all is lost. If you act fast enough, cleaning up a drip is simple. Even if the paint cures, there may be options to remove it, depending on the surface. Paint expert Mauro Henrique shows us how.
Where to find it?
- Vinegar: Mauro uses a vinegar and baking soda paste to clean paint from the carpet.
- Dish Soap: Mauro uses dish soap to clean paint from carpets and hardwood floors.
- Denatured alcohol: Mauro uses denatured alcohol to clean paint from the tile.
How 3-Way Switches Work
Three-way switches seem a little confusing, but we often make them out to be harder than they are. To prove it, master electrician Heath Eastman built a diagram to show host Kevin O’Connor just how they work, and how to wire one.
How to Install a Split Rail Fence
Whether it’s for mechanical equipment or extra storage, access to your attic space can be a game-changer. When a homeowner wanted to improve his attic access with a pull-down set of steps, he called Ask This Old House for help. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert arrived and installed a better option.
Where to find it?
- Cedar split rail fence: Check with your local fence supplier
- Marking spray paint
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow: For rent. To buy
- Garden hoe
- Garden bow rake
- Pick mattock
- Rototiller
Plants (check local plant nurseries)
- Black Eyed Susans
- Cat Mint
- Rose Bushes
- Spiraea
