Super Podcast April 9, 2026

·21 min·2 clips

A home inspector flagged a 23-year-old water heater as past its lifespan, but Jim Dutton says that's a misleading industry standard.

The episode opens with host Jim Dutton welcoming listeners and promoting the show's website, THIPro.com, as a resource for contractors and materials. He addresses an email question about a stucco chimney that doesn't match the house, with HOA pressure to fix it, recommending RhinoShield paint for its breathability, heat reflection, and 25-year warranty. Dutton then answers Fred's question about a toilet that squeaks when other fixtures are used, explaining it's likely a pressure issue causing water to pass worn seals, suggesting replacement of internal mechanisms. Next, he discusses a query about repairing a broken glass ceiling on a screened porch, advising to replace it with a regular roof due to unavailability of parts and maintenance issues. A caller named Sid asks about refinishing a pergola made of rough-cut cedar boards with paint and rot, with Dutton recommending liquid stripper and Ready Seal oil-based protector. Another caller, Gary, praises Ready Seal for garage doors, leading to a product promotion. Dutton then responds to Douglas seeking a home inspector in DFW after his sister's death, cautioning that inspectors often flag items based on current codes, not when the house was built. He uses examples like aluminum wiring and a 23-year-old water heater to argue that inspection reports should be taken with a grain of salt. The host notes that building codes are updated regularly, with cities like Pasadena adopting the 2025 code, and criticizes insulation standards as outdated. The episode concludes with a reminder to visit THIPro.com for more information and to tune into the radio show.

As heard by us

A brisk round of Texas home questions turns glass roofs, painted porch timber, and building codes into practical homeowner judgment.

Texas Home Improvement's Super Podcast plays like a roving repair counter, moving from a glass roof that is nearly impossible to keep clean to Sid's painted pergola-style porch covering, where warped rough-cut two-by-ten boards and possible rot get in the way of restoring the…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You need to know why that glass roof may be better replaced, with any glass moved to the walls.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Texas Home Improvement Podcast