The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Hairline cracks in concrete foundations can indicate slight structural shifting. Learn easy ways to prevent further shifting by improving drainage and grading around your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether installing metal roofing over twenty-year-old shingles - rather than removing them - is worth the time and money saved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether legal counsel is worth seeking when a seller failed to disclose leaks that obviously existed before the home was sold. Also, learn why home inspections are crucial to home buying - especially when purchasing a for sale by owner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why some parts of your yard might grow grass better than others, and what you can do to even out growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much separation is needed between block and frame, and other crucial advice for adding insulation and a thermal barrier to a preexisting bedrom wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover a few organic chemical-free options for keeping carpenter bees away, and find out whether repainting or refinishing natural wood will do the trick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get helpful hints for keep pollen, dirt, and other wind-blown deposits from landing on wet exterior paint. Also, some fresh, enduring ideas for replacing wood exterior columns with composite columns or decorative wraps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get DIY tips on using weatherstripping to replace insulation on the astragal - or the strip between two double doors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you need to know before considering an electric tankless water heater. Also, a simple solution for cutting energy bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice on replacing and preventing leaking Kitec pipes in hard-to-access foundations. Also, learn about Kitec product recalls and class action lawsuits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Window box planters add beauty, but the water they hold can wreak havoc on window frames and homes' foundations. Find out how to add window boxes without damaging your dwelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why bathroom drains sometimes emit a foul, sewage-like odor - and what to do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Electric hot water heaters are cheaper than oil heaters to buy and install - but have a shorter lifespan, and are pricier to run. Weigh the pros and cons of replacing an oil tank heater with an electric one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out possible causes for dark gray spots on wood decking including algea and mold - and ways to get rid of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out and when and how to till and replace sod that never "took" - including a key step before planting any new seed, and advice for weed removal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on repairing and finishing a partially deteriorated deck - including a money-saving idea for extending the life of some boards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about how different types of humidifiers work and get tips on checking out Aprilaire, a trusted HVAC brand, if you're interested in a whole-home humidifier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the source of a bad odor in your home is probably the kitchen sink or bathroom sink drain. Learn what biogas is and how to eliminate it. Get tips on using a bottle brush and bleach to clean inside your drains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of black liquid or condensation leaking from your stovepipe. Learn why a stovepipe with too many 90-degree angles has too much resistance to overcome, leading to cooling and condensation. Get tips on replacing your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a 40-gallon electric water heater is the recommended setup for two bathrooms and a kitchen dishwasher that don't get much use. Learn why home value can suffer if you don't have an adequate supply of hot water for all your home's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about iron stains on concrete asbestos siding. Learn why the asbestos isn't a health risk since it's inside a cement binder. Get tips on washing the siding with TSP to take some of the stain out. But ultimately, you will have to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your home seems to have an incomplete HVAC system, learn why you should have an HVAC professional take a look at it to figure out the best way to correct the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When your washing machine is on the same line as your sink, you can get an gray-water odor in the sink from gases. Learn how to solve the problem by putting an additional trap in the system. The trap will let the water drain, but prevent the gases Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are planning a bathroom update, learn why ceramic tile is the more affordable choice compared to porcelain. Get tips on choosing a glazed ceramic tile with epoxy grout for a floor that is easy to clean and maintain, and will hold up over time Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean porch carpeting that is covered in algae growth. Learn about an alternative to bleach, which could stain or discolor a carpet. Get tips on steam cleaning the carpeting instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice for replacing the composite siding on your Tudor-style home. Learn why EIFS, exterior insulated foam siding, is a risky way to go due to the potential for leaks. Instead, you should choose real masonry stucco, a choice that will last a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a concrete porch that has sunken up to 2 inches in some places. Learn why it's too big of a gap to try to patch. Instead, the solution is to tear out the concrete floor and then pour a new one on a properly tamped, properly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make shower temperature fluctuations a thing of the past with a pressure-balance valve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to deal with a sump pump that fails to turn itself off. Find out how to determine whether a sump pump can be adjusted and repaired or whether it requires replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to prepare a stained-wood cabinet for painting. Find out what sort of primer works best in a high-moisture environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why lead shower pans crack over time. Find out how to test a lead shower pan to see if there's a leak. If the pan is indeed leaking, you have to tear out the shower base and rebuild it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint your old wood paneling to give it a new look. Get tips on using a good-quality primer to help the paint stick, and then using white paint for country charm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to widen a constricted attic access. Find out why a larger access is useful for attic insulation projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how faulty duct design can make for a noisy HVAC system. Also, find out about homebuyer's warranties and how to handle problems with new construction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a garage slab that has settled unevenly with cost-effective repair options. Learn the importance of addressing drainage problems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair dings and dents in drywall. Get tips on making the repair with spackle, and learn why you should apply primer and use a flat paint to make sure the new surface blends in with the rest of the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why there is no such thing as "bad drywall." If the drywall put up by a contractor has buckled over time, it's likely due to poor installation. Get tips on asking the contractor to return and resecure the drywall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's a bad idea to add foil face fiberglass insulation when your attic is already insulated. The foil face is a vapor barrier that will trap moisture, cause humidity and prevent the insulation from doing its job properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should go back to the same company that did the original cleanup after flooding in your home rather than get involved with a new company. They will use disinfectants to kill any materials that may be causing the lingering odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a cracked beam. Get tips on making the repair using construction adhesive and another beam of the same width. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out steps you can take to decrease the humidity level inside your home, thereby reducing the amount of condensation on your windows. Get tips on making sure you have properly vented exhaust fans in your bathroom and over your stove, and that Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with a mold outbreak in your garage. If it's less than 10 square feet, you can take care of it yourself. Get tips on mixing a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and using that to kill and clean the mold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice on choosing among different materials -- cedar, composite, pressure-treated lumber, etc. -- when planning a new deck. Learn why you should keep maintenance needs in mind when considering your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair dents in corner molding. Get tips on using auto-body filler or spackle to fill in the dent. Then sand, prime and repaint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why laminate flooring is a good choice for a room that gets a lot of heavy foot traffic. Laminate is relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing a gas burner to emit an odor and create a black buildup. Something is obstructing the burner, so the gas is not fully combusting. The solution is to take the burners apart and clean them thoroughly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be an expensive and complicated proposition to cut out a circle in your wood floor and put in granite. If your goal is to reduce time spent cleaning, some better options would be to take off your shoes at the door so you don't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why thermostats are standalone units and not specific to a certain type of heating system. Get tips on installing a programmable thermostat -- especially the Nest -- to see almost immediate savings on your energy bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your concrete steps are separating from your concrete driveway. Get tips on using a concrete-repair product from Quikrete to seal the crack. Learn why you can't use regular concrete to fix damaged concrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why explosion sounds from a water heater are nothing to worry about as long as the tank has the right size pressure relief valve on it. Get tips on hooking up a garden hose to the tank to drain some water off the bottom and rinse out any Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices