Painting contractor Mauro Henrique tells us how every good paint job starts with preparation. Mauro shares his feelings on tape and how it’s okay to use, how he covers furniture and floors, and what you should do to get the perfect paint job.
Next, we meet Mauro and host Kevin O’Connor back at the shop to whitewash an antique bench. Mauro shows Kevin how to mix a whitewash stain and then the two apply it together for a rustic, outdoor-ready finish.
Finally, general contractor Tom Silva takes us on a house call to help a homeowner fix a broken window. With a trusted window contractor’s help, the two have a custom piece of insulated glass built. Tom walks us through the manufacturing process before the pair head back to the home and replace the glass for an easy and economical solution.
Why is Prep Work Important Before Painting?
Mauro Henrique shares the importance of prep work for any painting project and why homeowners shouldn’t skip it.
How To Whitewash an Outdoor Bench
Mauro Henrique and Kevin O’Connor team up to refinish an antique outdoor bench with a whitewash stain.
Where to find it?
To prep the bench for staining, Mauro and Kevin lightly sand the bench with 220-grit sandpaper and then wipe it down and vacuum to remove any remaining dust or debris.
For the whitewash, Mauro mixes two parts of solid exterior flat white stain and one part solid exterior flat light gray stain into a container of water. The water-to-stain ratio should start at 1 to 1, and adding more water if necessary to achieve the desired consistency.
Mauro and Kevin apply the stain to the bench with 3” flat and angled stain brushes.
All supplies for this project can be found at home centers.
How to Repair a Double-Pane Window
With a glass expert’s help, Tom Silva learns how double-pane glass is made while helping a homeowner repair a broken window.
Where to find it?
Tom works with a glass specialist to repair a cracked double-pane window. Tom travels to the glass manufacturer to see how the replacement glass is produced.
To get started, the specialist measures the width and length of the glass with a tape measure.
An insulating glass caliper is used to measure the thickness of the glass. Measurements are sent to a glass manufacturer.
To replace the broken glass, start by removing the sash and laying it out on a flat surface. To loosen up the trim, use a sharp scraper blade and remove it with a pry bar and rubber mallet.
To remove the glass from the frame, use a sharp blade to cut the silicone seal.
Once the glass is removed, apply a new layer of silicone to set in the new glass pane. Use a small rubber mallet to tap the trim back in place, sealing in the glass.
Wear safety glasses and work gloves whenever working with glass.
Learn about how much double-pane windows cost in our detailed article.
Assistance and materials provided by Banner Glass Shellmar, Thermal Seal Insulating Glass Inc., Uxbridge, MA.
Original Air Date: Nov 2, 2023, Season 22; Ep. 6 23:40
Products and services from this episode
- Glass manufacturer tour: Thermal Seal Insulating Glass Inc., Uxbridge, MA
- Special assistance: Banner Glass Shellmar