Classes and Workshops Keep Repair Costs Down, Learn to Make Certain Repairs Yourself and Hire The Right Contractor

We provide classes and workshops to individuals, groups and organizations. The class lectures will provide you the core knowledge of how your home and its systems interact. Some of the classes have workshops to reinforce what you have learned in the lectures and improve your home improvement skills. The workshops will show or demonstrate how to fix or make some household repairs.

Individual classes and workshops are conducted via Zoom. Students participate by providing interactive questions and submitting pictures for class discussion. 

Group/Organization classes and workshops can be done via Zoom or in-person. Zoom method will follow the Individual method for student participation. In-person classes will be lecture style while the workshops will be hands-on with materials provided. 

Class Lectures

Learn how the land your house sits on can cause problems if not monitored properly.
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Topic of Discussion:

  • drainage of precipitation
  • proper landscaping
  • effects of ground water and the water table
  • correct installation of retaining walls
  • correct installation of cement

Learn the fundamentals of what supports your house and how cracks in various locations can be a sign for concern.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • proper installation of your home's foundation
  • effects of the frost line
  • framing connectors
  • issues with Termites
  • load bearing vs non load bearing walls
  • signs of a weathering roof
  • proper roof flashing techniques
  • roof drainage
  • roofing materials
  • proper roof and roof flashing installations

Recommended Workshop:

Discover the types of materials that comprise the interior of your home and the importance of maintaining them.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • interior and exterior doors, including their locking mechanisms
  • wall construction and different wall covering materials
  • various ceiling materials
  • flooring materials VCT vs VAT
  • ceramic vs porcelain tiles
  • exterior decking suggestions
  • repair/update suggestions on all items presented

Recommended Workshops:

Relate the importance and comfort of a home that is properly insulated to one that is not.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • types of insulation
  • proper installation techniques
  • vapor barriers
  • attic insulation and ventilation
  • basement/crawlspace insulation and ventilation
  • vapor barriers
  • ice dam discussion

Learn how the electrical system in your house provides appropriate power to satisfy your electrical needs safely.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • your home's incoming service
  • the main electrical panel board
  • wiring materials
  • outlets
  • smoke detectors
  • safety measure suggestions

Recommended Workshop:

Learn the common terms used by a plumbing professional and the importance of maintaining your potable and waste water systems.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • the water supply systems and all its components
  • the sanitary waste systems and all its components
  • types of pipes and all their fittings
  • grey water, can it be reused
  • lead pipes
  • the meaning and importance of venting
  • maintaining the water supply and sanitary waste systems
    the refrigerator ice maker story

Recommended Workshop:

Recognize the importance of understanding the mechanics behind your home's heating and hot water systems to keep them functioning in an efficient manner.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • types of heating and domestic hot water systems
  • description of various heating fuels, discussing pros and cons of each
  • variety of domestic hot water systems now available, discussing pro and cons of each the importance of  yearly maintenance

No matter what system you have installed in your home, A/C and Ventilation Systems all require TLC. Learn how they work and how to maintain them so good performance and efficiency can be maintained.
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Topics of Discussion:

  • components of an air conditioning system
  • types of systems
  • proper installation
  • sizing of new units
  • refrigeration cycle (how your home is cooled)
  • buying a new A/C unit
  • maintenance
  • bathroom ventilation

Essential Tools- any tools, keys, equipment, or any other material or equipment necessary to complete a project.
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Workshop Description:

Exhibit and Demonstrate:

  • various hand tools
  • battery powered tools
  • electrically powered tools
  • fasteners
  • adhesives
  • tool maintenance

Presentation:

  • the workshop will be presented via Zoom

Student Participation:

  • interactive questions
  • interactive suggestions
  • student submitted pictures for class discussion

Workshops

This workshop is an extension of the Your Home's Exterior Class.
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Workshop Description:

Acquire The Skill To:

  • install weather stripping around exterior doors
  • install weather protection on the door threshold
  • install weather stripping around windows

This workshop is an extension of  Your Home's Interior Class.
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Workshop Description:

Learn How To:

  • tape and spackle a wall with a tapered edge
  • tape and spackle a wall with a butt edge
  • repair small and large holes in walls
  • repair plaster walls and ceilings

This workshop is an extension of Your Home's Interior Class.
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Workshop Description:

Learn:

  • how to prepare all surfaces prior to finishing
  • the importance of priming surfaces prior to finishing
  • the difference between water based and alkyd based paints/primers
  • to treat and cover mold/mildew
  • to select the correct brush or roller
  • to preserve paint brushes

This workshop is an extension of Your Home's Electrical System Class.
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Workshop Description:

Learn:

  • how to wire a basic outlet (where the power enters the outlet)
  • how to connect wires to a light switch  
  • how to connect wires to a light  
  • about stripping wire
  • and understand the importance of different color wires

This workshop is an extension of Your Home's Plumbing and Sanitary Waste Systems Class.
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Workshop Description:

Learn How To:

  • join copper pipes (cut/clean/apply flux/solder) 
  • apply  Teflon tape to pipe threads to prevent leaks
  • cut and cement PVC pipes
  • cut and connect PEX tubing
  • repair leaky faucets
  • repair leaky valves
  • clean faucet screens
  • unclog sink drains (preventative measures will be discussed)

For Scheduling

KL Home Inspection Services brings a caring attitude to home buyers, you can contact Brian 24/7 365 if you have a home repair issue that you cannot resolve.

Brian will gladly teach his Home Improvement Classes and Workshops to any group who would like to schedule him such as VFW, adult education programs, college groups and others. Nowhere else are you going to get a home inspection company that can offer you so much education.

Contact Brian Schnee of KL Home Inspections Services to find out his class schedule or to have him come out and work with your group by calling (516) 458-4676 or emailing him at brian@klhinspection.com.

Home Improvement with TLC Course Objectives

Home Improvement with TLC is an interactive/hands on home improvement course designed to inspire all homeowners to learn how their house works.

Objectives of the Course

house ventilation

A. Keep Repair Costs Down

Participants will learn how their house works, how the differing systems interact and how maintaining these systems will minimize costly future repairs.

installing new kitchen window

B. Make Certain Repairs Themselves

With a better understanding of how their house works, participants will gain the confidence that they can make certain repairs themselves.

working on roof top

C. Hire The Right Contractor

“Knowledge is Power” Having a better understanding of how the structural and mechanical systems of their house interact, students will have gained the expertise to hire the right contractor when they cannot make repairs themselves.