The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what you can do to make a wooden staircase less slippery. Get tips on testing out any spray products, such as SlipDoctor, in a closet or on a spare board before you commit to putting it on your staircase. Your other option is to have a carpet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should remove old attic insulation before adding new blown-in insulation. The old insulation is probably settled down and compressed and not doing its job anymore. Get tips on checking out AttiCat from Owen Corning for a DIY blown-in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when you've accidentally gouged and scratched your bathroom floor in the process of removing old linoleum. Get tips on using 1/2- or 3/8-inch AC plywood as the underlayment to provide a smooth, even surface for the new tile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should replace your vinyl porch screening with heavy-gauge metal screening if you live in a windy area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how installing a backflow preventer valve in the main waste line can prevent sewage from being pumped back into your house. It's a job that needs to be done by a plumber, but it's a worthwhile project if you live in an area that is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice for pulling up unwanted carpeting. Don't try to remove the glue from the subfloor, because it's not worth the trouble. Just add a layer of luan plywood and put the new flooring on top of that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no way to tell just by looking if a building material has asbestos in it. If you are concerned that something in your home contains asbestos, you should send a sample of it to an asbestos testing lab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a mysterious white dust inside your closet is most likely coming from the nearby heating duct. Learn why you have to improve the quality of the filtration on your forced-air heating system to solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the black streaks on the northern side of your roof are most likely algae and moss growths. Learn about an eco-friendly product called Wet & Forget that will help you clean the roof (as well as siding or sidewalks) without damaging your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the root problem of a crumbling concrete floor by taking steps with your gutter and downspout system to make sure rainwater is being properly redirected away from your home's foundation. Get tips on sealing the concrete floor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an electrician to investigate disconnected outlets. It is not a do-it-yourself project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair broken fiberglass pool steps. Get tips on removing the steps from the pool so you don't have to drain the water. Learn how to make the repair with fiberglass and fiberglass resin you can buy at an auto-body supply store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to adhere baseboard molding to plaster walls. Get tips on using Liquid Nails and trim screws to attach the molding to the wall after a carpenter has cut it to fit your space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the solution for rainwater draining back towards your house rather than running off your driveway into the lawn. Get tips on having a general contractor cut into the driveway and install a curtain drain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a plumber to replace your water heater after the pressure-relief valve has leaked into the panel and fried the elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to eliminate smoke odor in a home. Get tips on scrubbing the walls and ceiling with TSP, trisodium phosphate, to get rid of the smell. If you are also concerned about the possibility of mold growth, learn how Concrobium can help inhibit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a pool maintenance company to take care of your pool if you feel the upkeep is getting to be too much. Learn why a pool does not always add to the value of your home, especially if you live in the North. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove water leak stains from your hardwood floor. Get tips on having the entire floor professionally sanded for an even result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install faux stone on an exterior basement wall. Learn why it's OK to wait a day or two to put on the stone after doing the scratch coat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best way to get rid of spiders in your house. Learn why you should call a professional pest removal company rather than try to apply a pesticide yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why water that takes too long to get hot is an indication of the long distance between the water heater and the faucet. Learn why the solution --installing an additional water heater or recirculator -- might be too expensive in energy and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why basement flooding with is consistent with heavy rainfall is caused by excessive water around the home's foundation rather than a rising water table. Learn how to ensure rainwater is discharged far away from your home with an effective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix squeaky flooring under carpet. Get a trick of the trade for driving galvanized finish nails at an angle through the carpeting and into the floor joists to help quiet the squeaks. Learn how to pull the carpet up so the nail head Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a replacement window in a frame that is masonry on three sides but has a metal bar across the top. Get tips on using a piece of pressure-treated lumber as a shim to close down the opening so the window can be secured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to quiet squeaks underneath an old linoleum floor. Learn about a good option to cover the floor: laminate. Laminate flooring has panels that snap together and float over the old floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for dealing with a sinking driveway. Learn why the problem is due to soil settling and a poor driveway installation. You can either put an additional layer on top of the driveway, as a short-term solution, or tear up the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of mold on a patio. Get tips on using a deck wash product from Concrobium Mold Control. It's a non-toxic product, and it also leaves a protective barrier when it dries that makes it much less likely the mold will grow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about radiant floor heating, and why it is expensive to purchase, install and run electric heat for a radiant floor. If you are not an experienced DIYer, get tips on having a contractor put in the heating underlayments and tile floor, because if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill cracks in an asphalt driveway. Learn why cracks in a newer asphalt driveway indicate that it wasn't installed properly. Get tips on using a latex asphalt crack filler to repair the cracks in your driveway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about home water filtration options available from 3M's Filtrete line. It ranges from single filters to a whole-house system, and there are various levels of filtration. It's reasonably priced and straightforward to install, and might even be a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it's a bad idea to try to install a laminate floor directly over carpet. Having carpet beneath laminate could cause the seams of the laminate flooring to pop open or break. Get tips on taking up the carpeting and any carpet underlayment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cool down a hot bedroom in the summer. Get tips on first having an HVAC professional check the balance of your forced-air system to make sure that cold air is being properly pushed into and pulled back from that room. Another option is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent radiant heat from penetrating your house in the summer. Learn why Tom would not recommend a reflective barrier for that purpose. Instead, get tips on much better alternatives for making your home energy efficient, such as Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a wraparound wood porch so that it has some protection from winter weather. If the porch flooring is made of unfinished, pressure-treated wood, get tips on using a solid color deck stain, which will last five to seven years if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the roofing options are for a low-pitch roof. Learn why asphalt shingles should not be installed on a shallow roof. Get tips on investing in a metal roof rated for a low pitch if you want a roof that is going to last a long time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about going from a shingle roof to a metal roof. Find out why a metal roof is a good investment if you are planning on living in your home for a long time. Get tips on checking the Metal Roofing Alliance's website for information on tax incentives, as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a home energy auditor to help you get to the bottom of what's causing your high energy bill. Unlike a contractor, an energy auditor will conduct an independent evaluation of your home's energy usage, and will not try to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing a clicking or ticking noise in your bathroom walls. Learn why the probable culprit is expansion and contraction of the pipes or siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should consult a home architect when you are considering a project like converting your deck into closet space where you will also store your washer and dryer. Learn why the deck will most likely need to be torn down and replaced by an addition. A home architect will help you make sure it gets done properly and does not look slapped on to the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep the mortar from drying out when building a stone fire pit outdoors. Get tips on putting plastic over the areas you're working on to slow the evaporation, and checking out Quikrete for reputable products and how-tos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to proceed when you have an old house with peeling lead paint. Get tips on hiring a certified professional who is an expert at lead-paint removal to take care of the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much of a gap you should leave between your new floor and the wall when you're installing a prefinished hardwood floor. Get tips on leaving a 1/2-inch gap to leave room for expansion and contraction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with a leaking pressure relief valve on your water heater. Get tips on how to clear debris from the valve to possibly fix the leak. Learn why you might want to consider replacing your water heater if you've had it for 10 years or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you cannot simply put a layer of new paint on top of old, peeling paint. Get tips on using a good-quality wood stripper to strip down your deck. Learn why you should use a solid-color stain instead of paint to cover your deck the next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to refinish a concrete driveway where the gravel is showing through. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound, which will adhere to the old concrete and not flake off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if the contractor you hired did faulty work. You can file a civil suit and take the matter to small claims court. Get tips on using the internet to find a reputable contractor with good references next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when there are air pockets in your well system that cause water to shoot out of the sink occasionally. Learn why the issue is probably a problem with your pressure tank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it might be a good idea to run a whole-home humidifier in the winter in a home with forced-air heat, which tends to be very dry. Learn how to fill gaps in a hardwood floor by staining jute and pushing it into the cracks with a painter's knife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a musty odor in a home on a concrete slab isn't unusual if the house has been unoccupied for a long time. The smell should clear up once you move in and start running the HVAC system. However, you should consider replacing your carpeting with a different type of flooring if you have a concrete slab home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean up after basement flooding. Get tips on removing wet carpeting, pulling out insulation and cutting out drywall sections. Also learn how to reduce future rainwater infiltration by making sure you have proper drainage conditions around your home's foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices