The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to fix a squeaky floor. Get tips on using 2 1/2 inch, case-hardened drywall screws and a drill driver to reattach the floor throughout the entire surface, all the way through to the joist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips to help find and fix a leaking foundation wall and stop basement flooding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how upgrading your old thermostat to a clock setback, or programmable, thermostat can help you save money and energy while making your life easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should put your floor or your cabinets in first while renovating your kitchen. Learn why laminate flooring is cheap enough that you can just do the entire floor and then put the cabinets on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean an asbestos shingle roof. Get tips on spraying the roof with a bleach solution, letting it soak in, and then gently using a high pressure washer to wash it off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how electric water softeners work. Learn about a product called EasyWater, which creates a magnetic field that keeps the particles in the water from sticking to each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about using 2x6's to frame a new home. Find out how much insulation is best to use in your new home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to remove moss or mildew from aluminum siding. Find out how using Jomax house cleaner can help clean your siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't seal the weep holes in your brick facade. They are needed for ventilation -- if you sealed them, it could trap moisture and rot the wood underneath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to make an inexpensive cleaning solution to remove mineral deposits that form on granite countertops. Learn why granite countertops need to be resealed from time to time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it's best to hire a professional to remove any materials containing asbestos from your home. Asbestos must not only be cleaned up properly, but disposed of properly, too. Also get tips on testing the material to make sure it is asbestos before you proceed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your home has a sagging floor, learn why you should hire a structural engineer to inspect the problem, write out specs for the repair, and then certify the work after it's done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes, after many years of exposure to the elements, the surface layer of concrete can start to dissolve or flake away, leaving the aggregate showing, which leads to a crumbling mess. Learn how to repair the surface of your concrete driveways and walkways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Need to remove old wax from your unique brick floor? Learn an easy way to get rid of that wax instead of spending hours on your hands and knees! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why block windows are not a good choice for the basement: They're not energy efficient or ventable. Learn why a traditional basement window is the right choice. It's what people expect, and it won't adversely affect the value of your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing the water marks on your ceiling. Learn why condensation on your air conditioning ducts could be the culprit. Get tips on solving the problem by getting the ducts insulated and installing a whole-home dehumidifier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Got pesky woodpeckers pecking away at your money pit? Learn about the best exterior siding options for your home to keep woodpeckers out and far away! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair composite siding that is splitting and coming apart. Get tips on caulking the seams to fix the cracks in the siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix crumbling grout between your bathroom tiles. Find out if the amount of grout that's crumbling in your bathroom is cause for alarm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should seal your concrete driveway when it is brand new, before it has had a chance to get stained. Get tips on using a vapor permeable sealer because if you use one that's too thick, moisture will still leak in and freeze and break Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an architect to help you with a project that goes beyond DIY scope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent yard erosion by catching the flow of rain water in a curtain drain and diverting it away. Learn how a curtain drain works and how to build one yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a toilet that won't stop running after you flush it. Get tips on replacing both the fill valve and the flush valve to fix the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to hire a reputable roofing contractor. Get tips on checking their references to learn about past customers' experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a metal shower stall with a fiberglass shower stall. Learn why a prefabricated fiberglass stall is a better alternative than adding a liner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a dock for a pond. Learn about your two options, which are to have a floating dock or to have a dock attached to pilings. Get tips on installing a remote heater to warm the water around the dock in the winter so the dock doesn't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix leaky gutters. Get tips on using gutter screws to attach the gutters securely and adding another row of shingles to extend into the gutters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install ipe flooring. Learn why leaving a 1/4 inch gap between the boards is key to allowing expansion and contraction of the wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to protect your home by having safe windows. Tips on keeping out the cold and preventing break-ins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to paint a textured ceiling. Find out how using a special roller designed especially for textured ceilings will help the paint adhere and not flake off in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is excessive rain dampening your crawlspace and causing some flooding? Find out the easy way to stop water from leaking into a crawlspace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to nail floor joists. Get tips on using short Teco nails and a Craftsman auto hammer which is useful in tight spaces. Also learn how to repair a sagging floor joist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing banging pipes - and a solution. Also, a simple installation can balance out water pressure among shower faucets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It doesn't take a full housefire for a smoke smell to linger. Find out which odor removal is DIY-friendly, and which requires a professional touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean moss from your siding and exterior stairs with a product called Wet & Forget. Get tips on exposing your flower beds to more sunlight to discourage moss growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what kind of flooring to install in your new house to avoid creaks. Get tips on building a floor with Silent Floor TJI joists, but make sure they are put in by a trained installer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there are black spots in your bathroom, it is likely mold. Get tips on cleaning it with a bleach and water solution, installing a bath exhaust fan and using paint with mildicide to keep the mold from coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn a tried-and-true fix for removing rust from surfaces in and around your home. Plus, discover how a hard water softener can eliminate stubborn stains moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cut an opening to fit a hatch or staircase in the sheetrock under two attic trusses. An attic truss has a flat area for storage where you can put in plywood boards and create a floor. However, if your builder didn't provide any attic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to restore a stained log cabin to its original color. Learn why it's not practical to sand down the logs. Instead, get tips on using a solid-color stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why mold in the crawlspace of a townhouse is the responsibility of the association rather than the individual resident. Get tips on writing to the association to alert them of the problem, and including photos of the mold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the best weapon to prevent roof moss from forming is sunlight. Get tips on how to thin trees to let enough sunlight reach the roof to prevent the growth of moss and algea, as well as what products to use to remove moss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are planning to build a new deck, there are many materials choices to make. Find out the best wood to use for your project, as well as if composites decking is a better choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to paint an ugly bathtub. Find out how to have a tub re-glazed or cover it with a tub insert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about Rheem tankless water heaters. Find out how their expense is offset by how long they last and how energy efficient they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to treat scratches in a Formica countertop. Find out how to use sander, a Scotch-Brite pad and laminate polish to repair the surface of a laminate countertop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deck construction needs to be inspected each year for signs of wear and tear, and more serious structural problems. Learn how to spot signs of deck failure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint wall paneling instead of taking it down. Get tips on first applying a KILZ oil-based primer to the wood and then painting it a glossy white for a crisp, clean look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to repair wooden deck or porch supports that have split. Find out how to sand the posts before using wood filler when fixing deck or porch support posts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it is best to fix or replace a scratched toilet bowl. Learn why it is probably not economical to have the bowl reglazed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices