Bob Vila, host of the popular television series, Home Again, is a pioneer of broadcast television home improvement shows. Originally a self-made contractor from the Boston area, Vila became a household name as host of the iconic series This Old House on PBS. Now he's equally popular in his series, Home Again. In this interview with HomeTips' head homeboy, Don Vandervort, Bob shares his thoughts about home improvement.

Vandervort: Home Again, Sears, your web site--Bob, you seem to be a very busy guy. What are you working on now?

Vila: Most of my time goes into producing and hosting Home Again. For next season on Home Again, we're working on three projects. We're doing a Miami Beach getaway, a Manhattan dream apartment, and an affordable housing project, probably in a little town in Massachusetts. Affordable housing is close to my heart.

Vandervort: What type of affordable housing?

Vila: More and more attractive areas of the country are becoming less and less affordable to the people who live there. People are being priced out of their own areas. We're going to do a project that addresses that situation.

Vandervort: Do you think the economy has negatively impacted the popularity of home improvement in recent months?

Vila: More and more people are doing their own home improvements. We see the evidence on our web site, BobVila.com, where we had 2.3 million visitors in January of this year.

Vandervort: That's a lot of people. Who are they and what drives them to your site?

Vila: The average age of our visitors is 46, and their income is under $80,000 a year. Half are men, half are women. Their inspiration goes hand in hand with what they've seen on Home Again. They come to the web site to learn more about the processes and products they've seen on the show. Bath and kitchen remodels still fascinate most people. We're currently doing a bath project with glass mosaic tiles and an old standby, Formica.

Vandervort: Are you recommending that homeowners tackle any summer projects in particular?

Vila: Young homeowners should take a walk around the house and check what their money is tied up in. The idea is to look at the house as if it were a first time visit. Use binoculars to look at the roof and chimney. What needs mending and replacing? If there is something big that needs to be done, like a whole roof, you'll be able to see it. If it just needs minor fixes, put them high on your list and get them done early rather late.

This time of year, one of my favorite projects is to deal with the landscape and the walks, decks, fences, retaining walls, and so forth. Are these elements clean and in good shape? If not, you may want to get a pressure washer and some new power tools to do a bit of fixing up and rebuilding. And make sure things are safe. I had nearby neighbors whose deck collapsed at the end of last summer. Fortunately nobody was killed, but people did get hurt. People take it for granted that a structure like a deck will hold up with 10 or 20 or 30 people on it. But it may have a rotten post.

Vandervort: What exterior improvements do you think will give homeowners the best return on investment?

Vila: Landscaping is number one for eye appeal and curb appeal. Plant shrubs, mow, trim around the edges of the lawn.

Vandervort: Any suggestions for how homeowners can make their decks and patios more livable this summer?

Vila: Everyone has to deal with issues such as mildew, mold, and algae. It's a good idea to invest in a power washer. I like the new Craftsman 2500-psi power washer because it has two onboard cleaning solution containers--you can load it with more than one cleaning product at a time.

Vandervort: Any special tips for using a pressure washer?

Vila: Always wear eye protection. When using it, don't get too close to the surface you're cleaning?and do some testing first. Start from about 12 inches away. Be sure you use the right type of nozzle. The bottom line is to read and follow the product instructions.

Vandervort: Regarding do-it-yourself home projects, do you ever have time to do any of your own work?

Vila: Not really. My work on the show and as a spokesperson consumes most of my time. Occasionally I get a splinter--that's about as close as I come these days to doing my own work. Whenever I do have that opportunity, it is a real treat. I recently sold my home in Cambridge and moved to a little place in Martha's Vineyard. My workshop is still in storage.

Vandervort: What is your favorite part of your work?

Vila: Home Again. Inventing it, producing it, hosting it. Building and remodeling different projects: That's the part that's really fun.

(c) Don Vandervort, HomeTips, LLC