Welcome to How to Handyma'am! This week, we are consulting Shakespeare for our home repairs and asking the ultimate DIY question: To fix, or not to fix? But first, we kick things off with a sweet dedication to Arly's grandma, the "OG Handyma'am," and spill the tea on the products we are absolutely loving right now.

From navigating the tragedy of dragging a refrigerator across your sheet vinyl floor, to deciding whether you should repair a hollow-core door or just buy a new one, we are giving you the ultimate cost-benefit analysis on common home damage.

Episode Timestamps:

• 0:00 - Welcome back! A dedication to Grandma Arlene.

• 3:55 - Product Reviews! We are fangirling over RTA Wholesalers out of Carson, California.

• 9:30 - Our review of Gorilla Glue Two-Part Epoxy (and why you shouldn't set construction adhesive on fire).

• 11:20 - Go-to bonding primer: Valspar Signature.

• 13:00 - The Main Event: To Fix or Not To Fix?

• 15:00 - Ripped linoleum/sheet vinyl floors.

• 21:50 - Punching a hole in a hollow core door.

• 26:00 - Sputtering sinks and cleaning your faucet aerator.

• 28:40 - Broken window panes (Single pane vs. Double pane).

• 31:20 - Broken PVC plumbing pipes.

• 34:30 - Splintered door jambs.

Products Mentioned in this Episode:

Heads up! Some of the product links below are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's a great way to support the podcast!

• RTA Wholesalers: https://rtawholesalers.com

• Gorilla Glue Two-Part Epoxy: https://shoplowes.me/4lqUmoM

• Valspar Signature: https://shoplowes.me/4bi1C1K

Join The Community!

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Welcome back to another Side Quest! This week, we are answering three of your most pressing DIY questions from the community. If you have a question you want us to tackle on a future Side Quest, you can now submit it directly on our new website: howtohandymaam.com!

In this episode, we answer:

• Amanda's Question: How hard is it to take down old living room paneling, and what do I have to do to the walls underneath? We share the mid-century "plaster board" warning you need to hear before you start prying!

• Julie's Question: My painted shed door is so swollen it won't shut. How do I fix it? We break down how to trim a swollen door, and why painting the bottom edge is the secret to preventing it from happening again.

• Maureen's Question: A plumber just replaced my tub faucet, but there is no caulk around it where it meets the tile. Should there be? We settle the debate on whether you need 100% silicone or just a squeeze tube.

Join The Village!

• Submit a Listener Question: howtohandymaam.com

• All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

Welcome back to How to Handymaam! 🛠️ This week, we are introducing a brand new segment called "Three Minutes of Chaos" before diving into a highly practical checklist for securing your home. Whether you live alone or just want some extra peace of mind, we are breaking down the easiest, most effective security upgrades you can tackle this weekend.

In this episode, we cover:

• Three Minutes of Chaos: Arly rants about period products, Emily gets excited for spring and the Lansing Home & Garden Show, and Samantha talks about her favorite heavy-duty outdoor builds.

• Listener Question: Marybeth asks how to paint baseboards without ruining her wood floors. We explain why painter's tape is actually a terrible idea for old hardwood, and share the "plastic sleeve" trick instead.

• Practical Home Security Checklist: * Doors: Why you need to swap out your tiny latch plate screws for 3-inch screws immediately, and how to reinforce your deadbolts.

  • Windows & Sliders: The simple "dowel in the track" trick for sliding doors, and using privacy window film to keep out prying eyes without losing natural light.

  • Tech & Tools: Integrating motion-sensor floodlights, basic cameras, and exactly what tools you need to get the job done (plus how to borrow them if you don't have a drill!).

• Big Announcements: Come see us at the Lansing Home & Garden Show, and get ready for our upcoming weekend intensive workshops in June, August, and October!

Join The Village!

• All our links in one place: linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

Welcome back to the Side Quest! 🎧 This week, we are off the leash and bringing you a brand new edition of "Tales from the Field".

If you've ever dealt with unwarranted comments in the hardware store or accidentally become the star of your own true-crime podcast, this episode is for you. We are sharing three highly chaotic stories from our day-to-day lives as female contractors.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "What Do You Do With Those?" Incident: Arly’s trip to Home Depot to buy prizes, where a man couldn't fathom that a woman would know how to use pens and measuring tapes.

• The Concrete Critique: Samantha gets told by a male shopper that "women shouldn't be carrying" 50lb bags of concrete—only for him to immediately walk away without actually offering to help her carry them.

• A "Tumultuous Tuesday": Emily arrives at a home estimate for a senior grab-bar program, only to find herself in the middle of a neighborhood screaming match. She breaks down the agonizing 911 call, trying to stealthily flee in a branded "How to Handyma'am" vehicle, and ultimately faceplanting into an unplowed snowbank right as the police arrive.

Join The Village!

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• Email us your stories and questions: hthm@myhandymaam.com

Welcome back to How to Handyma'am! This week, we are dedicating the episode to the ultimate hype-woman: Grandma Chris. She embodies the true Handyma'am spirit of loving support and "of course you can do that" energy.

Before we get into the heavy lifting, we have a very chaotic catch-up session. We’re talking about a "menty b" over a DoorDash order missing its emotional support tater tots, and we reveal our go-to karaoke anthems (from Queen to Hamilton).

Then, it’s time for the main event: Drywall 101. Are you committing drywall crimes in your home? We break down the most common drywall issues, how to diagnose the underlying problems, and the exact steps to fix them the right way.

In this episode, we cover:

• Soft Spots & Bubbling Paint: Why this is almost always a water leak, and why you must fix the leak before you fix the wall.

• Cracks by Doors & Windows: Why caulking or spackling a crack won't work, and how to properly use drywall tape and mud to handle house settling.

• Nail Pops: The structural reason your drywall screws are popping out, and the simple trick of driving a new screw an inch away to re-secure the board.

• Peeling Drywall Paper: The absolute golden rule of sealing torn brown drywall paper with a shellac or oil-based primer before applying water-based mud.

• Patching Holes: From tiny nail holes to the "California Patch" for doorknobs, all the way up to cutting out sections and adding wood backing for massive holes.

Join The Village!We are licensed builders teaching you everything we learned the hard way so you don't have to.

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• Email us your stories and questions: hthm@myhandymaam.com

  
  

🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: We have a brand new, dedicated website! Go check out howtohandymaam.com! We officially separated it from our construction page, and we are SO excited for you to see it!

Welcome to the official "off-topic" podcast episode! In this highly conversational and chaotic Side Quest, we are running entirely on Sparkling Ice +Caffeine and good vibes.

We're taking a break from the heavy maintenance guides to just chat, catch up, and share some hilarious stories from our week. Grab a snack and join the conversation!

In this episode, we cover:

• The Great Candy Debate: From the superiority of unwrapped mini Kit Kats and 100 Grand bars to the absolute crime that is Lemonheads and Hot Tamales.

• The "Menty B": We talk about Emily's recent "menty b" (mental breakdown) and how the team had to forcefully remove items from her chart to help her out.

• The Tighty Whitey Incident: We launch into "Tales from the Field" with a story you have to hear to believe—Samantha shares the traumatic experience of showing up to a home estimate only to have the customer answer the door in his tighty whities. (Spoiler: She turned right around and left!)

• Experiencing the "Female Contractor" Treatment: Arly shares a story about her boyfriend, Jayce, experiencing what it feels like to have your expertise second-guessed when a customer bypassed him to ask a female coworker the exact same question.

Next Week's Teaser: Make sure you tune in next week for more "Tales from the Field," where we will find out why Arly had to call 911 and how she got verbally assaulted in a Home Depot!

Join The Village! 🛠️✨We are licensed builders teaching you everything we learned "the hard way" so you don't have to. Subscribe to the podcast to help us fund trade education for women.

• Website: howtohandymaam.com

• Follow us on Socials: @HowToHandymam

• Contact Us: Have a wild contractor story of your own? Email us at hthm@myhandymam.com!

We’re kicking off a brand-new series to help you stop being a "reactive" homeowner and start being a proactive Handyma’am. This episode moves past the basics to cover the high-priority safety and maintenance tasks that most people ignore until something goes wrong.

Inside the Episode:

• The Recommendation Engine: We dive into our current obsessions, from Bridgerton (Season 3) to the high-stakes reality TV of The Traitors.

• Podcast Hall of Fame: A massive list of recommendations including Malice in the Mitten (Michigan true crime), Singly Married (the "guy version" of our vibe), and Marcy Talks Money.

• The #1 Fire Risk: Why the dryer vent is the most dangerous thing in your house. We discuss the "accordion" ducting trap and the Handyma’am Leaf Blower Hack for cleaning vents.

• The Tissue Test: How to verify if your bathroom exhaust fan is actually removing moisture or just making noise.

• The Water Heater Trap: Why you should flush your heater yearly, but also why you should never start flushing an 8-year-old heater if it’s never been done before.

• Fire Science: The difference between Ionization (detecting flames) and Photoelectric (detecting smoldering smoke) detectors, and where you absolutely need them.

• Winky Face Outlets: Understanding 15-amp vs. 20-amp outlets and why you shouldn’t just swap a plug to make it fit.

• GFCI for Older Homes: How to use GFCIs to provide safety in ungrounded houses with two-prong outlets.

Maintenance Mindset: We wrap up with the concept of Habit Stacking—how to add one small maintenance task to your routine every month to keep your house (and bank account) healthy.

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In this milestone 10th SideQuest, Samantha, Emily, and Arly discuss why the "why" is just as important as the "how." From Emily’s late-night war against a neighborhood skunk to a listener’s four-year battle with a mysterious sewer smell, we’re breaking down how to diagnose the root cause of your home’s biggest headaches.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Moby Dick" Moment: Emily recounts her descent into madness trying to outsmart a skunk living under her porch and the low-tech lightbulb solution that finally won the war.

• The $6,000 Smell: We walk through a FaceTime consultation with a listener who spent thousands on professionals who couldn’t find the source of a sewer smell. Spoiler: Nobody thought to use a camera.

• Sewer Scope 101: Why you should always ask for the video proof (and a thumb drive) when a contractor scopes your lines. If they won't show you the crack, don't pay for the fix.

• Settling Houses & Sinkholes: A fascinating (and slightly terrifying) look at how a house settling near an active sinkhole can create a "stinky burger" situation for your next backyard BBQ.

• The "Handyma’am" Mindset: Why looking at a diagram and understanding how a system should work is the first step to figuring out why it isn’t.

  
  

  The Village Resources

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    Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

    • ​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    
    

  • Follow the Journey: Catch our older SideQuests now moving to YouTube with full video!