Today’s Homeowner Radio Show | March 4, 2022

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How can you tell if a fluorescent bulb is still good? And what’s an easy way to paint a door? We’ve got the answers!

On this week’s show, we’re sharing some practical tips, plus some information on a new and trendy material for driveways.

Rubber driveways are eco-friendly, but there are other factors to consider before installing one.

Considering a Rubber Driveway

There aren’t very many companies that install rubber driveways, but that could change in the near future. In the U.S. alone, 280 million tires are disposed of every year, and many people are searching for ways to recycle them.

Rubber driveways are durable, almost maintenance-free and slip-resistant. The average cost of poured-in-place rubber is about $7-15 per square foot, according to HomeAdvisor.com. For comparison, concrete is about $1-2 per square foot and asphalt is $2-5. Because of the recycled materials, rubber driveways lose color more quickly and require more frequent resurfacing. Consult with a contractor to see what options are available.

Skip to [1:05:41] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Fluorescent bulbs might be starting to phase out, but there are still millions in use.

How to Test to See if a Fluorescent Bulb is Good

Even though LED lights are steadily replacing fluorescent bulbs, there are still millions of them out there.

To see if a fluorescent bulb is still good, use a multitester (also known as a multimeter or volt/ohmmeter). Rotate the tester’s knob over to the ohm setting, take the two probes on the end of the wire and touch them to the two probes on the end of the fluorescent bulb. Two ohms or higher means the bulb is still good.

If you see a black patch on the bulb’s filament, this means the bulb is no longer working.

Skip to [35:41] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Paint a door faster using this tip from a longtime listener!

Tip for Painting Doors

Longtime listener Mark from Palatka, Fla., shares his tip for painting doors.

You need three three-inch screws. Screw one screw on the top of the door into the jamb about an inch and a half. Then on the bottom jamb, screw the two other screws near the outside edge, leaving about an inch and a half exposed.

Next, put the door on your sawhorses using the screws to lift it. Paint one side, grab the two outer screws, then rotate the door to paint the other side. You can do this on exterior or interior doors.

Skip to [26:29] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

If you want to extend the life of your rubber gloves, try this tip!

Save a Glove, Pinch a Penny

Because rubber gloves are so cheap, it’s easy to replace them. However, if you’re looking to pinch some pennies, here’s a tip to save a pair. Simply buy a tube of adhesive to patch the hole.

Turn the glove inside out, clean the area around the hole with rubbing alcohol, and wait for it to dry. Then spread the adhesive on and beyond the hole by about a half-inch. If that fails, you will need to replace the gloves.

Skip to [14:55] for the full segment on the Today’s Homeowner Radio Show.

Also on this episode: