Let's Talk... HOME repair!
Seattle Contractor and owner of Amyworks, Amy Ecklund, and homeowner and DIY'er Alicia Healey discuss a broad range of home repair, remodeling and home appliance issues. Topics, guests and your questions! Lighthearted, humorous and frank discussion to demystify your home!
The first episodes were recorded in late 2019 right before COVID restrictions hit the United States. We're back with NEW episodes starting in June 2021!
Send your home repair, remodeling or home appliance questions to [email protected]
Topics include:
Appliances, tools, tips and tricks, working with contractors, remodeling advice, new design elements, reports from the field!
Recorded at The Winterblue Room studio in Seattle, WA
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 89
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2023
49 Pacific Northwest Women Trade Pioneers
In celebration of Women in History month Alicia and Amy are joined by three great women from the Seattle area that have forged great careers and businesses in the male-dominated trades industry.
Louis…
48 Follow-up on Flesh-sensing Saw and Tool Crate Reveal!
A listener from Madison, WI gave us a great follow-up to the table saw that stops instantly when it senses flesh. Scott sent us pictures too:
“Hi Amy, Alicia, and Kayla,
I just wanted to follow up on …
47 IBS 2022 and First Year of Home Ownership
Overview of the IBS (International Builders Show) 2022. Amy attended the show in Orlando and shares about the huge event and what they experienced.
· Workforce Development – always looking for way…
46 Guest Dennis Stinson talks HVAC!
Alicia and Amy welcome guest Dennis Stinson of Fujitsu General America. Dennis talks about high efficiency heating, heat pumps, and what hybrid homes means. www.fujitsugeneral.com
If you have questi…
45 Replace Reuse Repair
This week Alicia, Amy and Kayla talk about repairing, replacing, or reusing things around the home. They start with kitchen counter cutting boards. Kayla recommends taking measurements or pictures of…
44 Power Saws!
We are joined by Kayla, AmyWorks’ project manager. Project update on the DADU (detached accessory dwelling unit). The plumbing rough-in and electrical rough-in are done along with the HVAC includin…
43 Guest April Rauch - Selling or Buying a Home
Alicia and Amy welcome April Rauch, a real estate agent with Windemere in Seattle with 26 years of experience helping her clients buy and sell their homes. April lends some great advice on such as kn…
42 Maintain Your Batteries!
Things that will shorten the life of your rechargeable tool batteries.
- Keeping them on the charger - this can cause overcharging which results in a shortened lifespan
- Storing dead batteries for long pe…
41 On the Level with Levels
Q&A- Listener from Springfield, MO sent in a question about a three-way level. They want to build a fence and the instructions called for a three-way level and they sent a note asking to explain this…
40 Frozen pipes and Rats - Happy New Year!
On this episode Alicia tells of her woes during the freeze we experienced in Seattle over the holidays.
Not only were there frozen pipes to contend with there was also a mystery of where was the water…
39 Design and pricing - Alicia’s basement remodel project
Alicia and Amy are joined by Kayla, AmyWorks’ project manager, to discuss Alicia’s basement remodel. The Winter Blue Room recording studio was a house that was converted to commercial space. Alicia…
38 Very Peri - Sprightly, joyous attitude
Deep dive: In Episode 17 we touched on leak detection from the water meter. Let's get a little deeper on how to determine where the leak may be.
Amy shares that there was an electronic alert from the…
37 More Terms - not Alicia's finest hour
Update on DADU – Amy gives the latest on the Seattle DADU build. Coming right along.
Alicia’s Favorite – Terms relating to anything about the home.
1. Plumber’s putty
2. Pipe dope
3. Adjustable sli…
36 Aww The Color of the Wind
Winter home maintenance tasks
· Check washing machine hoses and replace rubber hoses if older than 2 years
· Check vent fans in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry.
· Clean dryer vent in…
35 Happy Hour – Students from Woodworking 101
On this episode Amy and Alicia have as guests Kayla D’Aprile (of Kayla’s corner) and four of her students (Kennedy, Zoe, Anna and ???) that are taking her Woodworking for Women class at the local Sea…
34 Perks and Pitfalls
Client Story: Amy shares a story about a recently purchased home by a client that has an undisclosed/hidden leak that comes to light on their very first day in the new-to-them home.
Home warranty – co…
33 Painting a Room
Project update: There’s significant progress in the DADU that the AmyWorks Inc. team is working on. Foundation is done. The framing is complete along with the trusses in place. Up next is the roof an…
32 Where’s the Water Coming From
Where’s the Water Coming From (part 1)
From the field: Amy shares the woos of homeownership as they talk about the issues and repairs they are discovering in AmyWorks’ new office which was built in 1…
31 Cohousing with Special Guest Katie McCamant
From the Field:
Kayla and Amy give a review of an app supported stud finder, Walabot. There are mixed reviews and preferences for the tried and true stud finder. Magnetic style with no bells, density…
30 Terms, Maintenance and Cohousing Teaser
Construction terms:
Alicia’s favorite – can you explain what these terms mean? What do stringer, riser and tread have in common? Is there a difference between drywall, Sheetrock and green board?
Maint…