The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Learn how to clean mold from wooden shingles. Find out where to purchase Jomax house cleaner by Zinsser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what causes a bulging chimney and how to fix it. When the chimney is inside a wall, you have two different types of framing material that are going to move at different rates and speeds. To rebuild that section of the wall, break out the old Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's a bad idea to put a second sealer on your travertine floor after you have already sealed it with a different product. Also learn why you shouldn't put a rubber-backed mat on a vinyl floor, but it's fine on travertine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the benefits using of expanding foam insulation in your attic. Expanding foam insulation such as Icynene can seal cavities in your attic and stop cold air from coming through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing the white powder on the concrete block walls in your basement. Learn why improving the water drainage conditions around your home's foundation will solve the problem by reducing moisture. Also learn how to improve your home's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install radiant heat in a basement floor. There are radiant heat panels available that can fit right over the hardwood floor slab. Position the insulation panels and install the radiant heat right above those. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn where to find a perforated cover for your baseboard that won't reduce the heat too much. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cathedral ceilings are difficult to insulate because they are not very deep, and in many cases have exposed rafters. Learn your options for insulating cathedral ceilings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Noise from a bathroom lift pump might just be the result of pipes transmitting sound, or could be a sign of something worse. Find out why it's important to investigate the cause of a noisy lift pump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a gurgling kitchen sink. Learn why the noise is caused by a lack of ventilation in your plumbing system. Get tips on hiring a plumber to determine what's wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to repair a popcorn ceiling that has suffered moisture damage due to a high-hat light fixture. Learn how a high-hat light fixture can contribute to moisture damage and mold, as the moisture has nowhere to go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on cleaning mildew from your home's eaves. Learn what products can help you scrub away gray mildew in your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair peeling ceiling paint. Learn about stripping off old paint and using a primer before applying your topcoat when repairing peeling ceiling paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When buying a generator, there are so many options. Listen here to find out if buying a generator is the right move for your money pit needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to put down a plywood or luan underlayment to make a clean, dry, flat surface for tile glue to stick to. Use ring nails across the entire surface: eight on the edge and six in the middle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From gutter length to soil grading, learn which small changes can go a long way toward keeping your basement dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the strong musty odor in your basement is being caused by excessive moisture. Learn about several steps you can take to solve the problem, including making sure you have adequate gutters and downspouts, setting up a properly sized Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your home has plaster walls, removing those walls may not be wise. Get options for new walls without the mess, hassle and expense of removing plaster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking to enclose your outdoor deck, but hesitant to cut into existing roof? Find out tips for doing it in a permanent way so it will not leak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the cause of low spots in asphalt driveways, and get options for leveling them out. Also, tips for slowing their progression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Old homes have lots of plumbing woes, and usually to do with water either not coming out fast enough or too fast and leaking all over the place! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can achieve a board and batten look on your home's exterior by installing batten on top of vertical siding. Find out whether concrete siding requires additional adhesive once the batten is added. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an architect to design an addition to your home. Get tips on taking the architect's specifications to various contractors so you can compare their bids apples-to-apples. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to replace carpeting on your home's porch. Find out how to secure your porch carpeting to ensure safety and prevent slippage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice for installing French doors in a bedroom. Learn about a measurement called the "rough opening" and why it's key to getting a door to fit properly. Find out why French door installation is generally not a DIY project unless you are very Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doors take a lot of punishment from the wind, weather, and water - and it's that last threat that often leads to mold! Get tips for repairing rot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of a sewage gas odor coming from your washing machine drain. Get tips on extending the drain pipe and adding a U-shaped trap to fix the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to clean the dirt from in between the cracks of your hardwood floor. Try to avoid using a steam cleaner to clean your hardwood floors because the moisture can warp the wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a proper base for a tile floor. Get tips on using plywood and thinset to make a solid foundation so the tile doesn't crack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Extreme precipitation can dampen basements that are typically dry. Find out how to potentially reduce - or even eliminate - the cost of repairs, and get advice for adjusting factors including retaining walls to keep water from getting in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about fixing wet basement issues in a condo. Find out how to enroll the condominium association in helping you to improve drainage conditions to prevent a wet basement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which product will successfully detach old carpet adhesive from a ceramic floor - without causing damage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get DIY tips for keeping water and moisture out of your basement or ground floor. Plus learn a quick trick for determining whether your leaky basement is related to a rising water table, or simpler drainage issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to repair a wall crack. Find out why walls have a tendency to crack around windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to add an electric outlet to the bathroom. Find out why you should install a ground fault outlet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can take the edge off window drafts without replacing windows. Find out what options exist, and what to consider beforehand to ensure safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a professional home inspector to look at the house you are considering purchasing. Even if you have been living in it for some time and feel fairly familiar with it, a home inspector will look at structural and mechanical Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if the moisture-resistant seal on your sliding glass doors can be repaired or if you might need to replace the doors alltogether. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get rid of a gross smellinig odor from the bathroom sink. Find out how to clean smelly build-up out of your sink drain, and how to use a monthly cleaning product that prevents build-up and odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn where to get the information on a home before you buy. Town records help you learn about the home's history and a home inspection can help you learn more about the home's potential. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover natural and over-the-counter ways to permanently eliminate mold growing on outdoor spaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a rotted sill plate. Get tips on cutting out the old sill with a reciprocating saw, slipping in a new sill and putting it all back together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fixing squeaking floors is job you can do yourself. Learn which tools to use - and how to do it. Plus, how to keep vinyl floors from discoloring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why paver bricks are a good option to replace a concrete driveway that has become cracked and buckled due to tree roots underneath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Water dripping from the ceiling in a house addition? You might have to prevent leaky ceiling with a flexible flashing product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flat roofs are more likely to leak than a pitched room, and wear out faster. Find out options for repair or replacement of flat roofs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn whether wood paneling - and the plaster lath beneath it - should come down before you hang drywall, and how to determine the thickness of the new Sheetrock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to cut baseboard molding. Find out how to saw the corners on baseboard trim to match up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your sink starts to stink, the cause may very likely be bio gas which can form in the drain. Get tips for removing bio gas once and for all, and stop your sinks from smelling up the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn what DIY resources exist for appliances that malfunction or stop working, and get Money Pit's advice for repairing electrical issues on a stove. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices