Home with Dean Sharp

Today on another beautiful all-calls Saturday, Dean’s first caller has solar power paneling, which she owns rather than leases, installed on her home, and it isn’t producing energy as it’s meant to, even though it’s only two years old.  Our next caller is re-piping her house for a remodel and needs advice on copper piping vs PEX piping, otherwise known as cross-linked polyethylene?  Got a funny egg smell to your water source? Our next caller does. He has a well on his property that emanates a sulfur smell and taste. He’s wondering if there is a water system that can fix this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bedrooms are among the least expensive places in the home to design and upgrade. Think of it as $10s of dollars per square foot. That room in and of itself is merely a space with walls and a floor, and yet it serves as a retreat. Does it need to be a big space or something more intimate and cozier?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first caller is doing a remodel of the family room and is wondering about bias lighting behind a big-screen, flat-panel TV. Next up, a caller was wondering how long you can keep your water heater beyond the warranty and before it leaks? Another caller needs to replace her front exterior door and is wondering if she should go for fiber glass, timber, or whatever options Dean may recommend. And what about water in natural gas? Does one need a dripline to mitigate this phenomenon?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bedrooms are among the least expensive places in the home to design and upgrade. Think of it as $10s of dollars per square foot. That room in and of itself is merely a space with walls and a floor, and yet it serves as a retreat. Does it need to be a big space or something more intimate and cozier?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following all this marimba and xylophone chitchat, Dean heads back to the phone lines. In the second hour, the first caller had safety concerns following last year’s big wildfires that devastated parts of SoCal. To that end, he’s been researching fire prevention devices for homes and is wondering if there’s a trade show that will offer all these tools and devices in one place? Spoiler: What rhymes with Shmas Shmegas?  Next up, a long-time listener wanted Dean’s tips on Daikin cooling and heating systems that are placed on the wall of her Oregon vacation home.  To more cooling questions! One caller was wondering if closing air conditioning vents in rooms that aren't being used will affect the airflow in other rooms, or the energy costs.  Lastly, what to do if your old garage floor gets wet when it rains and you can’t find the source? Detective Dean may have the answer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As half the U.S. freezes over with a diagonal storm swiping across the country causing a state of emergency in 16 states, Dean is grateful we live in sunny Southern California where icy weather rarely touches us.  Today’s first caller has a question about Dean’s recommendations regarding the self-sealing vapor barrier that replaces traditional roofing paper.  Our next caller has a beautiful timber fireplace mantle that gets so hot to the touch that it melts the ornaments and evaporates the plant water. What can DeeDee do about it?  A listener from Northern California has tall grass growing in her roof shingles — what’s up with that? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to home design, there are hundreds of architectural styles and thousands of variations on those, but if you visit any home in any city or town across America, there will be one of four styles of home.   So, what are those four types of homes? The first is the saddest, it’s the house of neglect. In Dean’s expert eyes, the second one is nearly as bad as the house of neglect — it’s the house of bad ideas!   What’s the third kind of American home? It’s the one that makes you smile. The fourth house is not one that gets your attention for any of the reasons listed. In fact, it doesn’t get much attention at all because there’s nothing particularly memorable about it. It’s the filler house that longs to be more. And there are 10s of millions of ’em. Let’s talk about it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's first caller has questions about the best type of flooring to place over a concrete slab to prevent mold. The next caller is installing an electric fireplace and wants Dean’s expert design opinion about mounting height and pop-out, plus recommendations on the best type of TV to mount over the fireplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to home design, there are hundreds of architectural styles and thousands of variations on those, but if you visit any home in any city or town across America, there will be one of four styles of home.   So, what are those four types of homes? The first is the saddest, it’s the house of neglect. In Dean’s expert eyes, the second one is nearly as bad as the house of neglect — it’s the house of bad ideas!   What’s the third kind of American home? It’s the one that makes you smile. The fourth house is not one that gets your attention for any of the reasons listed. In fact, it doesn’t get much attention at all because there’s nothing particularly memorable about it. It’s the filler house that longs to be more. And there are 10s of millions of ’em. Let’s talk about it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solar power? So many questions that Dean is ready to answer! Spoiler alert: Dean is a fan of solar energy, especially here in California, where it will still save you money.  What can Dean tell us about acrylic stucco finishes? Turns out, a lot!  The last caller has a dark corner in his bedroom and he is trying to figure how to bring in the daylight using LED lighting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean’s first caller is having hot-water troubles in her kitchen and needs to know what is necessary to get hot water to her sink, like, yesterday!  The next caller is in his brand-new house. It sits on poured concrete slabs that are reinforced with metal bars, and there is a sign placed near the slabs by the builders that says “do not drill” — what does that mean? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes your calls all show! Helping you understand a little more about your home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes your calls all show! Helping you understand a little more about your home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes your calls all show! Helping you understand a little more about your home.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes your calls on a Saturday morning!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean teaches you how to cope with concrete cracks! Dean Sharp design wizardry can be heard every weekend on KFI AM640.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost, quality and time. For you to get the best out of your home design, you must give time to your project in the right way — it makes all the difference in the world. Slow down. Good takes time, excellent takes even more time. When it comes to design, listen to your house, but most importantly, listen to yourself!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first caller is having fireplace issues. When she attempted to light it on this cold, rainy morning, an ash smell covered the entire house — what's up with that?  The next caller's bathtub faucet snapped clean off! He looked inside the spout and saw that it was completely corroded internally. Can he replace it himself?   Back on the phones, a listener’s home was built in 1955, and she recently had the old roof replaced with asphalt slats. Previously it had wooden shingles, and she’s wondering if the roofers should have put plywood over the slats?  The last caller is about to undertake a bathroom remodel and had questions regarding the recirculation pump and general design. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost, quality and time. For you to get the best out of your home design, you must give time to your project in the right way — it makes all the difference in the world. Slow down. Good takes time, excellent takes even more time. When it comes to design, listen to your house, but most importantly, listen to yourself!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A listener lives on the bottom floor of an apartment complex and said there was no sound insulation laid. The sound impact goes boom, boom , boom in each of her rooms! What can she do to make her space a quieter sanctuary?   Our next caller is on a budget and wants to know what Dean thinks about painting over old tile floors instead of replacing them?   Our final caller has 12-year-old granite countertops that are getting a bit rough as if they’re losing their top coating. She still loves her kitchen; it’s not outdated, so she is wondering about the best course of action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first caller has a problem with termites and is wondering about the company that can turn wood into a metal-like substance that's stronger than steal and not termite prone? Do we really want to blow up the world’s rainforests for the building industry?  The next caller needs to correct his hardwood floor because the subfloor wasn’t laid properly and now it’s buckling, plus that kind of engineered hardwood is no longer available. How does he fix it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the end of 2025! How has your year been? It’s time to turn a corner, and that’s a good thing. Today we’re talking 2026 trends!  What is a trend, according to Dean? Something like the color of the year, according to Pantone. Dean has no problem with that, but what he doesn’t like is when home decor is treated like disposable fashion that you change out every year or two.  In other news, home renovation shows like those you see on HDTV are seeing a sharp decline in viewership, so that’s why networks are bringing back the classic home shows we know and love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first caller needs a dehumidifier for her house, which was remodeled in 2000 and does not have air conditioning, due to mildew from living close to the beach. She wants Dean's input on how to reduce the damp.  The next caller has a big porch that needs resurfacing, especially due to pooling water, so he’s asking Dean about the best products to use?  To tack onto the first caller, this listener is wondering how to rid her home of moisture and mildew if the home is located in a cold environment? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the end of 2025! How has your year been? It’s time to turn a corner, and that’s a good thing. Today we’re talking 2026 trends!  What is a trend, according to Dean? Something like the color of the year, according to Pantone. Dean has no problem with that, but what he doesn’t like is when home decor is treated like disposable fashion that you change out every year or two.  In other news, home renovation shows like those you see on HDTV are seeing a sharp decline in viewership, so that’s why networks are bringing back the classic home shows we know and love. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether built in the 1830s or 1930s, Dean is a massive fan of California design style, including the beautiful Adobe homes.  Our next caller phoned all the way from Tampa, Florida, and wants Dean’s opinion on the proper maintenance of his new 8x10 Tuff Shed from Home Depot.  Another caller has a double-wide mobile home from the 1970s with a metal roof that’s leaking over his car port, and he’s wondering how best to seal up that roof leak.  Listener Cindy wants Dean’s recommendations on the right mixture for alleviating mold in the tile grout. Dean says mold is kind of a wimp!  And our final caller was wondering how best to choose a legitimate duct-cleaning service. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a sleepy Saturday following a torrential rainstorm all the way through Christmas week. And here in SoCal the rain has passed — for now. Do you have a leak?  Today’s first caller lives in a house built in 1935; it’s a Monterey colonial with a California basement, which means just enough space to service the gravity furnace. It doesn't have a sump pump installed, and when it rains, he gets about 2 inches of rain down there. He’s wondering if he should be concerned about the lack of a sump pump following the recent rains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean answers your home design calls, including how to shake off the fear of doing what's best after disaster strikes your home. Also, can you properly build an indoor space for an outdoor hot tub??  Who knows???  Dean knows.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes all your home design calls, including safe, non-toxic ways to get rid of gophers in the garden, as well as how high your baseboards should be in your house.   Dean is your sherpa up the mountain of home design!!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is screen legend Dick Van Dyke’s 100th birthday! On the show today, our first caller has installed a large, horizontal, natural gas fireplace, replacing a wood-burning firebox. The area directly above the fireplace gets extremely hot, up to 230 degrees, is that excessive?  The next caller had to change out her kitchen stove, but the hardwiring was an issue; she’s wondering if she can use a standard power hookup with her replacement unit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another caller has a beautiful, old level made from solid wood and brass with a glass top, but the company that manufactured it no longer exists. Is there a company that repairs antique tools?  What about baseboards and Dean’s 7% rule? This caller has 8-foot and 15-foot ceilings in his house, and he’s wondering about baseboard height when you have different vaulted ceiling heights throughout the home — do you change the baseboard height depending on roof height?  One of our regular callers has a palmetto riviera stone brickhouse with concrete siding panels that need painting, and he’s wondering about Dean's opinion on color. He’s thinking black!  Joyce has a home built in 1988 with a pinhole in her hot-water copper pipe under the slab in her utility room that’s presently being dried using professional equipment. Does she re-pipe the whole house or reroute the one pipe? She does live near the ocean, does that add to the issue? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean answers all your calls! Today, a question about how to best preserve the wood outside of the house. Also, the possibility of moving a vent from the top of a house to the middle. And Dean answers questions about getting the right cabinet doors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean takes all your calls, including discussing pest control options, making upgrades to a bathroom, a best approaches to updating an old house. Dean is the House Whisperer for a reason!!!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holiday Gift GuideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holiday Gift GuideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holiday Gift GuideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s first caller has a downspout that goes into the cement. During heavy rain, it took three days to drain, so he’s wondering about the best way to seal the stucco, so it doesn’t get waterlogged.  The next caller's toilet is weak and doesn’t flush properly, what can she do? It’s her third toilet, and it might be a plumbing issue, so let’s get Dean on the tank case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another listener was wondering if it’s wise to use a medallion on an exhaust heater and light combo in his bathroom rather than installing drywall.  The next caller got hit with a $29,000 assessment from her HOA to have her 3x8 balcony resurfaced due to deteriorated wood and potential dry rot. What is the best material to use in this situation? And why is the assessment so high?  To be compliant with California building codes, do you need to install a coldwater electrical groundwire?  Today’s last caller had questions regarding his kitchen remodel countertop – namely, what’s best for the countertop: quartzite, quartz, granite, etc.? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean kicks off the holiday season in style, broadcasting live in front of an energetic studio audience from the iHeartMedia Lounge! Special guest Brian Gold, Vice President of the iconic Aldik Home, joins Dean to talk everything festive: the hottest trends in holiday décor, how to make your home feel warm and luxurious without breaking the bank, and why this year is all about rich textures, bold ornaments, and bringing the magic indoors. Think Ralph Lauren, or as Dean likes to call it, adulting Christmas. Plus, meet Rosie from Aldik Home – she’s decorating a stunning 7-foot designer Christmas tree LIVE on stage throughout the entire three-hour show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean reveals his famous 80-20 rule for holiday decorating: 80% of the wow comes from just 20% of the zhoosh – learn exactly where to spend your time and money for maximum impact. Then it’s a mindset shift: Stop decorating only the front of the house for the neighbors and start turning the back of your home (the part YOU see every day) into your personal winter wonderland. Dean and Brian debate garlands vs. wreaths, real vs. artificial, and how to make the holidays feel more about YOU and your family than impressing the guests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tree is now fully decked out in real time by Rosie (and it’s gorgeous!). Dean and Brian take your calls on everything from mantel styling to outdoor lighting disasters. Dean shares his pro tips for ribbon techniques, ornament placement, and why you should always decorate from the inside-out. The excitement peaks when Dean draws the winning raffle ticket – one lucky audience member walks away with the spectacular, fully-decorated Aldik Home Christmas tree (valued at over $2,000) to take home today!  A festive, fun, and informative holiday kick-off you had to hear to believe – only on The House Whisperer with Dean Sharp, live on KFI AM 640!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean and Tina do love themselves a Christmas parade. And Rick Caruso’s party is a real doozy, even if the twosome is merely part of the festive atmosphere!   Today’s first caller has an electrical panel that's nearly 50 years old. Is it time to replace it?  Following water damage to the drywall and carpet of her home, the next caller is having an issue with mold remediation. Should she trust the company that wants to charge her $8000 for treating two rooms? Dean says something must be done, because living with potentially toxic mold spores in your space is potentially life-threatening. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second hour of Home with Dean Sharp, a listener wanted to know about the California energy rules regarding solar paneling for an ADU.  The next caller’s home was damaged in the January Altadena wildfires, and her wood fencing was burned. She wants to know about the safest and most economical way to rebuild without upsetting her three surrounding neighbors.  Another caller discovered termite droppings in his attic and is wondering how concerned  he should be about that.  Our last caller has some paint quality  questions regarding redoing the exterior of his Arizona home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome home! Fall has arrived in Southern California, with heavy rains heralding the change of seasons.   Today’s first caller is wondering why he needs to get a building permit for his garage on his house, which is more than 60 years old. He makes a valid point: His garage is older than the city, so why is the city council being so obstructive?!  The next caller has a concrete conundrum: Should he grind and smooth out the cracks of his patio, or have it fully replaced?  To reroof, or not to reroof? Following a roof revision more than 30 years ago, a caller’s cave cover is now leaking, and she wants Dean to talk to her about layering asphalt shingles or any other cost-effective repair options she may have. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second hour of Home with Dean Sharp, a listener is stressed about a rat problem he doesn’t know how to solve and wants Dean’s expert advice. Who is brave enough to venture up into this man’s crawl space?   When it comes to replacing a bathtub and adding solid panels to the surrounding walls, what does Dean recommend when it comes to an aesthetic bathroom remodel?  Uh-oh! A caller’s water heater is rattling, buzzing and humming, and she’s afraid it may burst or blow up! Is it safe? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We do not light rooms, we light things. Dean talks about setting the mood with sexy lighting for your home during the festive season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean is on the case regarding major appliance updates for 2025 to make your kitchen a culinary experience! Plus, the best home theater experience and games for guests during the festive season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We do not light rooms, we light things. Dean talks about setting the mood with sexy lighting for your home during the festive seasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.