“Do the spadework,” says Roger. “And I
mean it literally.” Long before he shows off one
of his gorgeous finished landscapes, Roger’s been
showing viewers the hard work necessary to allow
those plants to thrive over time. “We’ve always re-
lied on hand tools to prepare the soil, but the rise of
the Bobcat has let us do more good work more
quickly,” he says. The principle of proper prep is
everywhere on the show, from the tasks behind
Roger’s fertile flower beds and never-heaving patios,
to the time-consuming steps pro painters take to
achieve a gloriously smooth surface, to the secrets of
a tight miter joint, to the virtues of gluing and screw-
ing—often summarized by one of the guys’ favorite
phrases, “That’s not going anywhere.”
It’s all about the tools. Everyone points to
the evolution of tool technology over the past de-
cades, though one constant is, as Russ puts it, “You
can’t get professional results without professional
tools.” And unlike in the early days, such things are
now available to consumers. Russ’s favorite is the
wet saw, which allows him to tile with confidence.
Richard cites the rise of nonsoldered pipe connec-
tions as a big step forward: “Press-connect and
push-to-connect fittings like SharkBite, along with
PEX piping, have made plumbing much, much
faster and more accessible to the nonpro.” Kevin
marvels at the improvement in battery life and pow-
er. “There’s a lithium-ion-powered version of just
about everything, from circular saws to hammer
drills,” he says, “with the expectation of quiet, effi-
cient, clean operation.” Dust collection, another
technology that’s come far, is now a standard feature
on most cutting and sanding tools.
Materials have advanced as well. Tom and Norm
both appreciate the structural strength that engi-
neered beams and new fastening systems have
brought to building, and the rise of synthetics has
meant longer life for exterior trim and decks.
Richard is proud of how the show itself has
played a role in bringing new technology into the
“W hatever your budget,
whatever the project, plan
for surprises.” —TOM
“In our heart of hearts, w e’re
all teachers. And the class-
room is very big.” —RICHARD