Ask This Old House

Kevin: On "Ask This Old House," our experts travel across the country to answer questions about your house.

[ Tools whirring ] Today, I travel to Miami to help install natural wallpaper... Karline: The pop, the color, everything, I love it.

Kevin: ...then Lee shows us the various types of sprinkler heads and how to use them in your landscape design... Jeison: This happens every time that it rains.

Richard: Oh, I can see a leak.

Yep.

Kevin: ...and Richard helps a homeowner install a sump pump.

All that on "Ask This Old House."

Kevin: Karline?

Kevin.

Karline: Hi, Kevin.

Kevin: Nice to meet you.

Karline: Nice to meet you.

Come on in.

Kevin: Thank you very much.

So you've got some projects in mind for us?

Karline: Yeah.

We do.

We do.

You know, this neighborhood is like a cookie cutter type neighborhood, and I can't really do much on the outside, but on the inside, I can personalize it to do whatever it is I want.

Kevin: Okay.

Karline: We've been here around seven months.

Kevin: Wow.

Look at this.

Karline: Yeah.

Kevin: Alright, so what are you thinking in terms of personalization?

Karline: Well, we wanted to start with this room because this is where we hang out mostly.

So this wall, it is huge.

Kevin: Yes, it is.

Karline: So I wanted it to be a focal wall with a pop of color.

Kevin: Okay.

Karline: We tried, and it looks like we failed.

Kevin: You tried?

Karline: I tried.

Kevin: There's color on there?

Karline: Yes, sir.

[ Laughs ] Kevin: Ah, I guess there is.

It's nice.

Very subtle.

So maybe something a little bit more saturated, more pop?

Karline: Yes, yes, yes.

So we're thinking of like wallpaper.

Kevin: Oh, okay.

So color and texture.

Karline: Color and texture.

Kevin: Very nice.

Okay, well, it makes sense.

I can see why you'd want it.

And it turns out we've got someone who can help you out.

We've got a great wallpaperer here in Miami.

Karline: Oh, that's great.

Kevin: Yeah.

Can I go get the troops and have them bring them in?

Karline: Yes, sir.

awesome.

Oh, wow.

That's great.

Kevin: Alright, I'll be back.

Karline: Thank you.

Karline, say hello to Carmen.

Karline: Hi, Carmen.

Carmen: Nice to meet you.

Karline: Nice to meet you.

Kevin: An expert wallpaper hanger.

Also a friend of the show, so Carmen has worked with us on our sister show, which is the Spanish version of "Ask."

"Dime...Cmo...Hacerlo."

How'd I do?

Carmen: "Dime Cmo Hacerlo."

Kevin: That's what I was saying.

[ Laughter ] Close enough.

Anyway, she's gonna help us out here.

Carmen: Yeah.

Kevin: So Karline was saying accent wall right here and was thinking maybe wallpaper.

And I know there's a lot of choices.

Carmen: Okay.

Do you have an idea what kind of paper would you like to use?

Karline: Yeah, I was thinking of, um, like grass cloth.

I did a little bit of research, and I like the texture and the -- the way it pops, but I've never done wallpaper anywhere before.

Kevin: What about colors?

What are you thinking about?

Karline: Blue tones.

Carmen: Perfect.

Karline: Because everything here is so white, it's bright.

I have grays, so I thought the blue would, like, bring it in.

And I like that color.

Kevin: Like a real blue this time.

Karline: Like a -- [ Laughs ] Right, right, right, right.

Like a real blue.

Carmen: I brought samples.

Karline: Oh, awesome!

Carmen: You can see different kinds of paper that we can use.

Karline: Okay.

Carmen: So let's see the book.

Karline: Sounds great.

How about over here?

Kevin: The books.

Alright.

Carmen: Karline, you can see grass cloth papers on this collection, for example.

Karline: Oh, okay.

Oh, that's neat.

Carmen: This is one of them.

Also, we have these grass cloths.

Karline: Wow.

Wow.

Carmen: But we are looking for blue.

Karline: Right, right, right.

Carmen: So... you can see all that.

It's very nice because these have different kind of blue.

Karline: Oh, I like that, 'cause you have different colors, like, coming through from that.

I like that.

Carmen: One of the things with the grass cloth is the grass cloths looks like a paneling.

Karline: Okay.

Carmen: Because you are not able to match the fiber one -- one with other.

Kevin: So you're more likely to see the seams between the panels?

Carmen: Right, right.

Karline: Okay.

Carmen: Yes.

Kevin: That's a thing.

Carmen: You can have the same look with vinyl papers.

Okay.

Kevin: So this is vinyl?

Carmen: Yes.

One of the differences with the vinyl is it's very easy to clean, maybe is half the price of -- of the grass cloth or any natural wallpaper.

You can see all the wall in the same sheet, you know?

Karline: Okay.

Carmen: Also, you can have another kind of natural wall coverings, like the cork, for example.

Kevin: That's cork?

Carmen: This is a very trendy material.

Yes, this is real cork.

Karline: It's shiny.

Kevin: Cork with bling.

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: Right.

Right.

It's a lot.

[ Laughter ] Kevin: That's a nice way of saying, no, thank you.

Carmen: It's very nice, but I think you can use a grass cloth.

Karline: So, my question is with -- I really like this.

Carmen: Yeah, it's good.

Karline: But this is like -- it's open and it's the kitchen.

Will this work well on this wall being that it's off of the kitchen?

Carmen: Yes, I think it's perfect.

You can use on the TV wall, but it's not recommended for a bathroom for example because the humidity.

Karline: Oh, gotcha.

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: Okay, okay, okay.

Kevin: It can't get wet, harder to the clean, but... Karline: So it's there.

That would be nice.

Oh, I like this.

This is really nice, and I can just picture it on that wall.

Like, it would -- With the paneling like you said, that would make it pop.

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: There's my accent.

Kevin: She's excited.

Karline: I am excited.

Carmen: So we have a winner?

Karline: Yes.

This one.

Carmen: Let's do this.

Karline: I like it.

Carmen: This is a special primer for wallpaper.

It's very important because this create a barrier between the wallpaper and the wall, so we don't have the humidity from the glue when we install the wallpaper.

Kevin: So when you say humidity, you don't want it sucking into the wall?

Carmen: Right.

Kevin: Alright, Carmen.

Are we dry?

Carmen: It's ready.

So the next step is measure the wall, the height and the width to know how many strips we need.

Kevin: Alright.

Carmen: Okay?

Kevin: Let me give you the width.

Digital tape measure.

Carmen: Okay.

Kevin: 185.3.

Carmen: Okay.

Kevin: And the height... ...137.

Carmen: Perfect.

So we need to find the middle of the wall, because we are going to start the installation in the middle to have a symmetrical look.

Kevin: 92.65.

Carmen: Right.

So we have a meter.

Kevin: So that's going to be a seam?

Carmen: Right.

Right.

Kevin: Perfect.

Okay.

How many -- How many panels?

Carmen: Okay.

We need six panels.

Kevin: Right, so you got 6, 36 wide.

And 5's too few.

Carmen: Yes.

Kevin: So you need six.

Carmen: Yes.

Kevin: Cool.

Carmen: Let's mark 140 on the floor.

Kevin: Karline, It's a good thing you got a big room to work in here.

A little more to me, please.

Right there.

Carmen: Right there.

Kevin: So, Carmen, the wall is closer to 138.

Right?

You've got-140 plus here.

Carmen: Yes, we need extra, like one inch on top and one inch on bottom.

Okay.

We need to roll.

Kevin: Because of the glue.

Carmen: The back on the front.

Kevin: Yeah.

Carmen: Yes.

Voil.

Kevin: [ Laughs ] Karline: You make it look so easy.

Carmen: Let me open the strip.

Kevin: So, you've got it labeled here, Carmen.

This is a... Carmen: Yes.

Kevin: That a 3 with an up arrow?

Carmen: Okay.

This is number three that goes in the middle.

Kevin: So, 1, 2, 3.

Carmen: So, 1, 2, 3.

Okay?

Kevin: Yeah.

Carmen: Let's start in the middle.

So this is number three.

We need to mark the top.

So we start installing the strip on the top of the ceiling, okay?

Kevin: Okay.

Karline: Why are you starting with 3?

Carmen: Because we want to get a symmetrical look.

So we are installing this strip and go to this way.

And after we finish that way, we go to the other side.

Okay?

Let's start this.

The glue on different parts of the strip.

Karline: Oh, that is thick.

Carmen: Yes.

[ Light laughter ] Carmen: According to the manufacturer, we need to apply the glue on the backing of the paper.

Kevin: As opposed to on the wall.

Carmen: Right.

So, we need to fold the strip.

Kevin: Being very careful not to get any glue on the face side.

Carmen: Yes.

Just receive the strip down.

Karline: Okay.

Kevin: So you just work those seams together?

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: Okay.

Carmen: Good job.

[ Laughs ] Kevin: I got somebody for your crew, Carmen.

Carmen: [ Laughs ] And we can already carve this extra.

[ Indistinct talking ] Hold it.

Kevin: Mm.

Right to it.

Carmen: Yes.

Kevin: Alright, Carmen, are you happy with the way it turned out?

Carmen: Very happy.

Very nice.

What about you?

Kevin: Yes.

Karline: Oh, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it.

Everything I was hoping for.

Carmen: Okay.

We need today the air conditioner on all day.

Um, we need at least 70, 70 for today.

Karline: Okay.

Kevin: To help the glue dry?

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: Okay.

Kevin: Gotcha.

Right.

Carmen: Yes.

Karline: Got it, got it.

Kevin: So, Karline, I mean, is it the pop you wanted?

Karline: The pop, the color, everything, I love it.

Kevin: How about the texture?

Karline: I love it.

Karline: I love it, love the texture, the pop, and the paneling is beautiful.

I love it.

Kevin: You're a convert to grasscloth.

Karline: Yep, yep, yep, yep.

Kevin: Awesome.

Carmen, you're terrific to work with.

Thank you very much.

Carmen: Thank you.

My pleasure.

Kevin: Karline, enjoy it.

Thanks for having us.

Karline: Thank you, Kevin.

Nice meeting you.

Carmen: Enjoy it.

Karline: Thanks, Carmen.

Kevin: Lee, how are you?

Lee: Kevin, good to see you.

How are you?

Kevin: Same.

I'm well, thank you.

We're talking irrigation, huh?

Lee: Yes, we are.

Kevin: Love irrigation.

Lee: Water, water, water.

Kevin: But important, right?

Because it can actually save your investment.

And people have got a lot of money in the yard, and you don't want to lose it.

Lee: Your lawn, your shrubs, your trees, so.

Kevin: Yeah.

It can make everything look beautiful.

But it also is a more efficient way to water if you really dial in a system.

Lee: Correct.

Kevin: So what have you got for us?

Lee: So, I got in-ground ones.

Kevin: Yeah.

Lee: Okay?

So I got some pop-up heads.

These two here.

And this is a rotary head.

Kevin: Okay.

Lee: So these pop-up heads for like a perennial bed, something like that.

You know, for height, maybe getting over some perennials.

This one here works really well.

Kevin: Yeah.

Lee: Okay?

Kevin: So you want to get that up over so that you're reaching down into the garden, get past that front line of hosta or whatever it may be.

Lee: That's what this works really well.

Kevin: And is this a pop-up as well?

Lee: This is a pop-up as well, but this would be for lawn, you know, like a narrow strip of a lawn.

That's what this will work.

Kevin: So the purpose of the pop head here is that you don't see the fixture when it's not in use.

You can mow over it, but when the system comes on, up it comes just enough to cast it out.

And that one?

Lee: This rotary head, this one shoots about 15 to 20 feet.

Something like this, you might not want to put in your perennial bed or something like that.

This is strictly for lawn area.

Kevin: Because it's got a lot of pressure, power, and you can knock the heads of your black-eyed Susans off or whatever.

Lee: Exactly.

Kevin: [ Laughs ] Not that it's happened.

Asking for a friend, Lee.

Lee: I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I've done it.

But this works really well for something like that.

Okay?

Kevin: And then the little heads themselves, we can control sort of how much of a rotation it's got, right?

Lee: You can do 45 or 90 or 360.

Kevin: Oh, yeah.

Lee: And it's color-coded.

Okay?

These ones here are 360s.

Kevin: Different colors mean different things?

Lee: Correct.

Kevin: What do you got there?

Lee: This one here is like a 45.

So it just fans out 45.

Kevin: If I've got this, you can pop out what's in there, put the new one in?

Lee: Correct.

And what's nice now -- they have the ones that have like the watering, you know, twirling.

It's pretty -- It's nice.

It works out good.

Kevin: Putting -- You hypnotized me.

I was like...

Uh, some piping.

Lee: Yes.

So, this one here is a drip pipe.

Kevin: Oh, yes.

Lee: See the holes here?

Kevin: Yep, I do.

Lee: And this one here is perfect for just putting the water down where you need it on your plants and trees and things like that.

Kevin: Super efficient.

Lee: Yes.

Kevin: Like you say, it just drips in there.

You don't have any evaporation and it puts it right where you want it.

Lee: And a trick with this is you don't want to put it like on top of the tree.

You want to put it out a little bit away from the tree so the roots go out after it.

And that's a trick on these.

Kevin: Make them chase the water.

Lee: Correct.

Kevin: Supply pipe, I presume?

Lee: Supply pipe coming in.

It feeds all this right here.

Kevin: Beautiful.

And then connections.

Lee: Yes.

Kevin: So, the big to the bottom maybe.

Is that right?

Lee: Yes.

Exactly.

Kevin: And then this is sort of just a push-on compression to the piping.

Lee: Yes.

Kevin: Alright.

So now this is sort of the manual world?

Lee: Yep.

Kevin: That's adorable.

What's this?

Lee: This is really nice.

It's like a little mushroom one.

If you have a small courtyard, say like inner city or something like that, or just a small yard somewhere, this works fine.

Kevin: Just connect it to the hose?

Lee: Correct.

Kevin: Put a timer on it maybe or just turn it on or off.

Lee: Yep.

Kevin: Boy, I know those.

Lee: This one here makes a funny noise.

Kevin: [ Imitating sprinkler ] Lee: That was a dance too.

Kevin: That's what I was -- Lee: But this works really well, you know?

Kevin: That's awesome.

Lee: And this get your distance.

It's a little aggressive.

So you might not want to put this by your plants, things like that.

Kevin: Right.

Lee: But, you know, get the lawn done.

Kevin: Okay.

And then tried and true.

This one's been around forever.

Lee: All our grandparents and everyone had those.

Kevin: Back and forth, oscillating.

Lee: Yes.

Kevin: Run through it in your bathing suit when you're a little kid.

Lee: Exactly.

Kevin: If you had to pick between one or two of these -- Lee: I like this one here.

Kevin: You do?

Lee: Yeah.

Kevin: Because?

Lee: It's easy to -- I think it's easier to dial in, you know?

Kevin: Good.

So obviously lots of other heads out there.

You just brought a couple different sprinklers as well, but you sort of get the sense of it right here.

Lee: A lot of material out there.

Kevin: Yeah.

And again, you know, the big point is it's going to protect your investment.

And if it's designed properly, it's the most efficient way to water.

Lee: It's the way to go.

Kevin: I love it.

Thank you, Lee.

Kevin: Thank you.

[ Knock on door ] Richard: Jeison?

How are you?

Jeison: Hey.

Jeison: Good.

How are you?

Richard: Nice to see you.

Jeison: Nice to see you, too.

Thanks for coming.

Richard: I came on a very wet day here to this beautiful neighborhood.

Jeison: You absolutely did.

Well, thank you for coming.

Richard: Glad to be here.

Jeison: Um, we've been here for a few years.

Uh, we absolutely love the place.

The neighborhood.

Um, and we've gotten a liking to the people, which is great.

Richard: Yeah.

Jeison: Um, we also have a 3-year-old, and she has taken over the entire house.

Richard: I can see some evidence.

Jeison: Yeah, it's all over the place.

So it's complete chaos.

Richard: It's chaos, isn't it?

Jeison: It is.

Richard: The greatest chaos ever.

Jeison: It is.

So we need a little extra space.

Richard: So what are you going to do?

Jeison: We'd like to move her to the basement.

Richard: "Promote" her to the basement?

Jeison: She doesn't know that yet, but she'll figure it out at some point soon.

Um, yeah, but we just get a little water downstairs, and it's -- Richard: Let's see what you got.

Jeison: Sure.

You know, you picked a great day to come, to be honest with you.

Richard: Oh, it's leaking.

Jeison: It is.

Richard: Maybe I should have come yesterday.

Jeison: Maybe.

You know what?

So this happens every time that it rains especially if it really, really downpours.

It accumulates right here in this corner.

And then it makes its way all the way down to the other end of the basement.

Richard: So you'd love to know the source of the water.

You look at a building like this and you got to make sure the downspouts are shedding the water away from the building because this is a block foundation right here, and that's got grout lines that can leak.

Could also be groundwater coming down below the block wall and up through the ground.

Jeison: Yeah.

We do our best to control the moisture in the basement with a dehumidifier.

But one thing certain is that Mother Nature always wins.

Richard: Well, you are a perfect candidate for, I think, a sump pump right here.

Jeison: Awesome.

Richard: I'll be back.

Alright, so here is a new submersible sump pump.

Some of the parts are right here.

This is a cast-iron volute, and [Indistinct] is an impeller.

So if you look underneath, there's an impeller that spins here and the water is drawn up through the bottom right here.

Now, it goes driven by a motor.

Now, this motor is stainless steel housed and it's going to sit in water its whole life.

It's going to be in a basin like this.

As water comes into the basin, the water level will rise and it'll make this float go up.

You see what it does?

It activates this switch.

The pump will come on.

And now the water will leave through this PVC pipe to outside.

And we want it to go as far away from the house as we can so it doesn't come back.

Jeison: This is impressive.

What happens if the pump shuts off?

Wouldn't the water just come back in there?

Richard: [ Laughs ] Good question.

This is the most important part there is, actually.

This is a check valve.

So look.

You see right here?

The check valve has a flapper inside that only lets the water go one way.

That sits right here.

So when the pump sends all that water up and now it shuts off, this check says okay, stay up in the pipe.

Don't come back because without it, it would just be on and off, on and off.

And it'll make the pump burn out.

Okay?

So, now, this is a sump reservoir, a basin.

Now, the way that it's used often is a lot of these people have wet basins that are everywhere.

So they might put an area drain, a French drain around all the way the perimeter, and then they'd have that pipe come into the side of this basin and collect here at this sump.

But in your case, I think that it's -- all we have to do is think about how to get this thing in the corner, under the ground.

Are you ready to dig?

Jeison: I'm ready to dig.

Richard: Okay.

Jeison: Let's do it.

Richard: I want you to mark that right there so we know where to break this floor.

Time to bring in the reinforcements.

Alright, Jeison, that wasn't the easiest hole I'd ever dug.

How are you feeling?

Jeison: I feel pretty good.

Richard: Good.

Alright.

So, now, with this basin, we're not going to have an area drain.

So what we need to do is actually prep it by drilling some perforations, because we want any water that gets underneath the floor to be able to come into here and fall into the basin and then be pumped up.

So a series of holes in the top third.

[ Drill whirring ] Alright.

So now we've got our perforation holes in the top third.

Now, we don't want any dirt to get in here.

So let's take landscape fabric and we'll wrap it around.

Tape that, please.

Jeison: You got it.

Richard: And then we're going to -- once we get it down in there, we'll put some gravel between the fabric and the dirt.

And that should keep an opening for the water to get in.

Good?

Jeison: That's good.

Alright, Jeison, just grab that sump pump for me, would you?

Jeison: There we go.

Richard: Alright.

So now we'll drop that down.

And I've got this cover.

And that'll come here.

Now, that covers great.

Let's get screws right here.

And once we've got that cover on, we're going to add this gravel outboard of the base.

Just hold that in place.

We've got a towel there so it doesn't drop into the chamber.

Alright.

So here at the front of the house is actually part of the original problem.

I got to tell you, you know.

Here's your downspout.

And all that water ran off the roof and just ended right here.

So I bet you a lot of that's been working in here on that front side.

So we got to make sure that we fix that.

And we also have a new exit point for our sump pump is going to be right about here.

And it'll have a PVC piece that'll fit right there.

So we got to make that look okay because this is the front of the house, you know.

So I thought about this.

Take this off, add a Y fitting that could take our discharge and take our sump and our downspout together and then move it right to the driveway.

Be ready to hold back against me!

Jeison: Yeah!

Richard: Pushing!

Push!

Jeison: Okay.

Perfect.

Good.

I just kind of made a mess.

Richard: So, since the rain has stopped, then let's do our test.

We are gonna fill... Oh.

Jeison: There we go.

Richard: There it goes.

Alright, my friend, my work is done here.

Jeison: Thank you.

This was amazing.

We did a lot of great work.

Richard: Right.

Jeison: A lot of digging.

Except for the foam.

Richard: The foam was bad.

It's alright.

Jeison: It's not good.

Richard: You can clean that up.

Jeison: I'll figure it out.

Richard: You're the best.

Jeison: Thank you, thank you.

Richard: You are the best.

I love working with you.

Kevin: Next time on "Ask This Old House"... Do you find the winter air in your home too dry?

Ross: That's what's causing the static cling, dry skin.

Kevin: Ross will show us a solution to this problem.

Then Mauro shows us tips that will save time painting shutters.

And Tommy shows us how to build a teak side table.

All that on "Ask This Old House."