Landscape contractor Lee Gilliam takes us on a road trip to Austin, Texas, to help a homeowner add a zone to her irrigation system. Keeping Texas’s water restrictions in mind, Lee and a local expert run drip irrigation to the homeowner’s new planters on the back of her deck.
Next, we meet host Kevin O’Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to compare PEX versus copper pipes. The two discuss both tubing types’ strengths and weaknesses, and Richard offers his opinion on the future of these products.
Finally, we follow carpenter Nathan Gilbert on a housecall to help a homeowner fix her with a common issue: stripped hinge screws. Nathan shows the homeowner a few options for fixing stripped screws before deciding that epoxy and wood dowels were the best route. Finally, with some screws his grandfather collected over the years, Nathan makes the hinge good as new.
How to Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation System
Keeping a garden looking its best requires irrigation—especially in areas like Austin, Texas, where summer heat scorches plants. When a homeowner wanted to add plants along the back of her deck, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam knew they’d have to add a new irrigation zone to her system.
Where to find it?
Irrigation installation done by Thrive Outdoor Solutions, LLC.
New valve installed, fit for drip irrigation—Hunter Drip Control Zone Kit w/ pressure regulator 40 PSI
Dripline—¼ Emitter tubing with 6 in. spacing
Plants—Tangerine Beauty crossvine
Compost—Organic compost with mycorrhizal fungi
Planter boxes—Lightweight outdoor 46” x 17” x 19” trough planter box
Planter Spacers—2 in. Brown square furniture cups
If freezing temperatures are expected in the winter, protect the plant by adding frost protection blankets around the plant and planter.
PEX vs. Copper Pipes: Which is Better for My Home?
People often ask us about PEX vs copper and which they should use in their home. Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey knows “it depends” isn’t the answer they’re looking for. That’s why he got together with host Kevin O’Connor to discuss the two types of tubing and help homeowners decide which is best for their home.
Where to find it?
Richard shows some of the tools to make copper connections. Including a torch kit used for soldering, a fire hazard and not safe for an uncertified person to use. Another tool he showed was a copper press tool, eliminating the use of flame but very expensive for the average homeowner to own. Copper push-to-connect fittings are the easiest way for a DIY homeowner to make copper connections, but they tend to spin around so they are not as rigid as other copper connections.
For PEX connections, Richard shares that professionals would use an expensive tool like the ProPex expansion tool. Now homeowners can buy a manual PEX expansion tool kit and easily do it themselves.
How to Repair a Stripped Screw Hole
Heavy wooden doors create stress on their top hinges. In older homes, decades of stress can strip the screw holes, allowing the screws to pull out of the wall and the hinge to come loose. While there are a few solutions which involve wood glue, golf tees, or toothpicks, Nathan’s preferred method is a dowel and epoxy.
Where to find it?
Nathan used a clamp jack to stabilize the door in place while working on it. Drill larger holes in the existing screw holes with a drill and 1/4” drill bit.
Use a quarter inch drill bit to create the pilot holes. Use a self-centering drill bit to drill the hole perfectly centered. Be sure to keep your arm square while drilling.
Use a vacuum to remove sawdust from the holes. Cut dowels to an inch before mixing up the two-part epoxy. Dip the dowel in the epoxy mix and insert into the hole. Allow the epoxy to harden. Use an oscillating tool to cut the dowels flat to the surface. Use 120-grit sandpaper to hand sand the dowels smooth.
Apply wood screw lubricant to the 2-1/2” brass screws to help decrease resistance between the screw tip and wood fibers. Use a screwdriver to screw in the brass screws to avoid stripping.
Stripped Hole Repair Kits Available:
Original Air Date: Apr 24, 2025, Season 23; Ep. 21 23:42
Products and services from this episode
- Irrigation installation assistance: Thrive Outdoor Solutions, LLC.
- Drip irrigation valve manufacturer: Hunter Drip Control Zone Kit
- PEX expansion tools: both available at Home Depot
ProPex expansion tool
Manual PEX expansion tool kit - Self-centering drill bit manufacturer: Make It Snappy Tools
- Stripped hole repair kits:
Wood anchor kit made by Screw-It-Again
Security and strip screw repair kit made by ZZem Screw
