Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner^® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Not all outdoor painting projects are equal. You may have several types of surfaces to paint outside your home and each has its own unique method to ensure success. Here are a few tips that, hopefully, will keep your colors and your painting experience bright.

A lot of people are considering painting 70’s paneling in their own house. Danny gets some tips from a professional on just how to paint that paneling and its trim.

Removing wallpaper is always tedious work, but knowing how to do it properly can save time and elbow grease. No matter how easy it is to remove, your wall is likely to have some dings that will need to be patched up, not to mention the mess of torn wallpaper that will have to be swept off the floor.

Even though the EPA banned the use of lead-based paints in 1978, there are still potential hazards of lead poisoning around your home that you should be aware of. Any older home has the possibility of containing lead paint.

When looking to spruce up your home, there are literally dozens of ideas that can make an impact that won’t break the bank at the same time. Of course, you still need to live by the old adage, “You get what you pay for,” so you also don’t want to purchase materials that are inferior.

Boxing, or mixing, paint ensures a consistent, well blended wall color. First, take a clean 5-gallon bucket and stretch a piece of fiberglass screen (or any a paint screen) over the top. Secure the screen to the bucket with duct tape. Pour two or three gallons of the paint through the screen and into the bucket. Stir well, insert a roller screen and roll right from the bucket.

This plumbing trick is an oldie but goodie and works well when you need to caulk around the top of a tub. Scrape out the old caulk and fill the tub with water to weigh it down. If there is any flexibility in the wooden framing beneath, the tub will be at its lowest point. Create a guide for the new caulking by applying masking tape both to the wall and the top of the tub. Fill the gap around the tub with silicone caulking, let it dry overnight and drain the water.

If you’re not cleaning your paint roller after every use the paint will cake up on the roller frame. To maintain a clean roller frame attach painter’s tape to the roller frame. After you finish painting, peel the tape off and discard. Loose lint will often come off in paint when using a new roller sleeve. To prevent this, mist the sleeve with water before the first use and then roll off the excess water before painting.

To strip paint from door hardware without the time consuming use of paint thinner, heat 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a pot on the stove and then pour it into an old cake pan. Let it set about 5 minutes. It’s a good idea to use pliers to take the hardware out of the pan because it may still be a little warm. Using a soft bristled brass brush, so as not to scratch the surface of the hardware, dip it in the water/vinegar solution and then scrub the hardware. This is a great alternative to purchasing new hardware.

One way to maximize the storage space you have in your basement or garage is to look overhead. In this case we were looking for storage space to accommodate different sized clamps.