Posted by chicagomedia.org on January 11, 2009 at 19:41:49:
Home repair made easy with radio host
By Larissa Chinwah | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 1/11/2009 12:04 AM
Since moving to their Elgin home 11 years ago, JoAnn Stingley and her family have stripped wallpaper from the bathroom ceiling, ripped up 70s-style shag carpeting and replaced old appliances.
When she decided to spruce up the original wood cabinets in her small galley kitchen, Stingley says she wasn't confident she could tackle the task without spending hundreds of dollars on special finishes and materials.
Now, she knows she can.
Stingley was one of 20 people Saturday morning who gained furniture finishing and wood repair ideas and advice from AM 560 WIND's Sweet Home Chicago radio host Rich Cowgill at Elgin's ReStore.
"I got some real good tips," Stingley said. "It sounds like it is easy to do, something I can do to make it nice."
Cowgill and Tuskey have held free workshops at Restore - a discount building materials store benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley - since the fall of 2007. Held the second Saturday of the month from October to May, workshops range from drywall to deck installation.
"So many people come in here who are remodeling and doing their own projects," said Deanna Davies, marketing and procurement manager at ReStore. "We provide services and information to help them make the right decision about products that will help their projects. This is another tool we provide for them."
Easing people's fears about certain do-it-yourself projects is one of the reasons Cowgill said he started hosting the workshops.
"Drywall patching and tiling are projects people need a lot of help with," Cowgill said. "Everyone is intimidated. We show them the right way to do it, and how to make it easy."
Though Saturday's workshop was the first Eileen Gustafson had attended, the Des Plaines resident said she will attend the remaining sessions.
"My sister and I are redoing my mother's house and I learned a lot of great tips today," said Gustafson, who said she often shopped at ReStore outlets in Ohio before moving back to Illinois is June. "We have a whole house to update but I am pretty handy myself. I don't mind getting down and dirty."
The next workshop is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14 and will tackle drywalling installation. Workshops begin at 10 a.m. at ReStore, 800 N. State Street, Elgin. Space is limited and those interested can call ReStore at (847) 742-9905 or e-mail Deanna.Davies @ hfhnfv.org to sign up.
Cowgill can be heard on Sweet Home Chicago from noon to 1 p.m., Sundays on AM 560 WIND.