The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why you should get an independent opinion on a structural issue with your home, rather than hire a contractor who will try to sell you something. Get tips on hiring either a professional home inspector or a structural engineer to diagnose the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seeing mold around a window? The problem may be that the window is no longer insulating, allowing condensation to form and mold to grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tightening floorboards can minimize squeaks and creaks. Learn which screws to use, where to place them, and other tips for reducing your floor's movement - and noisiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on painting over water stains on your ceiling. Use a oil-based primer on ceiling stains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which steps to take to find out why an automatic garage door is open unevenly and loudly - and how to repair it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Metal roofs are very energy efficient. But metal roofs must be installed properly. What if your metal roof is leaking? Get advice on a leaking metal roof repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover why a home addition might be shifting, and how to proceed with safety - and home value - front and center. Learn why a structural engineer, rather than a contractor, is the person for the job, and why proper documentation is necessary if and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When soil around a home's foundation starts settling, not any fill will do. Learn which soil is best, and a crucial question to ask before buying it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ideas for what could be causing an occasional burning rubber smell - some of which are more urgent than others. Plus, discover an added reason to have your HVAC system serviced regularly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to tell whether a wall is load-bearing. You'll need a permit and professional help to turn your kitchen and dining room into an open-plan design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to strip paint from furniture. Get tips on using a gel stripper, such as UPTA-6 from Rock Miracle, with a paint scraper or sponge sander, depending on the type of furniture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on installing kitchen ventilation. Find out how to properly install the duct work and which type of duct is the best. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to choose the right gutter guards for your roof type. Find out why gutter guards with holes in the top will not keep out pine needles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about biogas and bacteria that build up over time and can create a sewer smell in a sink drain. Find out how to properly clean the drain pipes to kill odor causing bacteria and prevent sewage smell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Squeaky floors can be very annoying. But you don't have to live with them. Learn how to fix squeaky floors for some peace and quiet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about the white, powdery growth called efflorescence: What it is, where it grows, whether it's dangerous, and how to get rid of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Painting aluminum siding can be a cost-effective alternative to replacing it - if you prepare siding properly beforehand. Find out the key steps to an effective paint job that can last 8 to 10 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you need to put in metal mesh when you are pouring a concrete sidewalk. Learn how wire mesh makes concrete stronger, and why it is typically used for driveways and patios rather than sidewalks. Get tips on pouring a sidewalk in narrow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of an odor from your front load washing machine. Get tips on cleaning the door seal with a bleach-based product to eliminate the odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seeing leaky basement walls after a heavy rain? The fix is easier than you think! Learn why basement walls leak after heavy rains and the simple solution to stop the flow of water for good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a wide variety of gutter guards on the market, find out which is most effective in keeping gutters clean and clear of clogs or leaks. Learn why reverse-curve gutter guards are especially effective in preventing clogs and get tips on how to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cracks in wood can be filled easily with wood putty and then painted. But once the weather hits, is it still good? Listen here to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a new pressure treated wood deck, is it OK to stain it now, or should yo wait? Find out with smart smart steps for staining pressure treated wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why concrete is really the only recommended floor for a Yankee basement. Get tips on pouring it in sections and making it 4 inches thick instead of 6 inches to save a little bit on concrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly insulate and ventilate an attic. Learn why it makes no sense to insulate the walls and ceiling of your attic if it is unfinished and you have no intention of finishing it. Instead, you should make sure your attic floor has Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to put a new layer of paint on a wood entry door. If the existing paint is smooth (not cracking or peeling), you can sand it down to take the sheen off before applying primer and top coat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get options for resurfacing a marble floor - and Tom and Leslie's take on the subject! Plus, learn about floating carpet tiles that allow a huge design update without removing marble, and get tips for cleaning natural stone floors and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In older homes, floor drain odors can form if drains are not frequently used. Get simple tips to reduce odors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent clay residue from entering your water system. Get tips on asking your local plumbing-supply contractor or retailer to recommend a whole-house sediment filter that will work for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If water is collecting in your crawlspace, you can determine where it's coming from. If you notice during rainy periods, it's probably poor drainage around foundation perimeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips for keeping rodents out of your house once and for all, including a highly-recommended bait and rodenticide product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a window that has slid out of its frame in wall of your home, you can repair it, depending on the cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a cracked patio. Get tips on pressure washing to remove old caulk, then letting the patio dry for a day or so before applying an epoxy patching compound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to ventilate an attic to prevent mold growth. Get tips on installing perforated soffit material made of vinyl and putting a ridge vent across the peak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A musty odor can be caused by one - or more - factors. Learn various measures you can take toward minimizing moisture and keeping your home ventilated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the solution for cleaning oil stains off your driveway and garage floor. Learn how trisodiumphosphate can clean paved surfaces before painting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have an ugly crack in concrete patio slab that goes all the way across? One company has several products that can help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find the cause of a sagging roof. Find out what conditions may cause a sagging roof, such as mold and wood rot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix ceiling cracks so that they don't come back. Get tips on using perforated drywall tape and learn how to spackle through it and into the drywall underneath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get suggestions for treating hard well water, and discover a key step to take before deciding on a treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which water heater is right for you. Tips on choosing a high-efficiency water heater, tankless heaters and heaters that can earn you federal tax credits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to avoid water seeping into your basement. Find out how creating good drainage outside your home and cleaning out gutters will keep your basement dry when it rains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you're renting an apartment or just looking for a short-term fix, there are options for adding temporary weatherproofing to doors and windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you need a blower for your fireplace. Blowers deliver and circulate more heat to the area that the fireplace is in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a crawlspace vapor barrier is a good idea, but is only one part of a larger system of moisture management for your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you purchase them or make them yourselves, culverts and curtain drains can stop water in its path, diverting it as needed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how a steam room will affect your home's value, and which manufacturer is the go-to for steam room guidance and supplies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why smoke sometimes enters a home through the chimney, even if the damper is closed. Find out why, typically, you'll need to call in a fireplace expert as opposed to fixing the problem youself. Get tips on ways to minimize the amount of smoke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get a septic system inspection. Find out why you should have a septic inspection and a well water test before buying a home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a big crack in your concrete porch. Get tips on using flowable urethane on top of a backer rod, which helps keep the seal up towards the surface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices