The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to restore a weathered deck. Get tips on using a semi-transparent or solid color stain, depending on the condition of the wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing the pressure-relief valve in your water heater to leak. Learn why the problem could either be that the valve is bad, or the water heater isn't working properly and is building up excess pressure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using AZEK for the underside of your deck so that you can install canned lighting and/or ceiling fans to go over your patio below. It's a synthetic material, so it won't rot and it doesn't need to be painted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should replace your old, damaged linoleum floor rather than try to fix it. Get tips on going with laminate, an affordable and durable material that is fairly easy to install. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a crack in a vaulted ceiling -- a common problem due to expansion and contraction. Get tips on sanding the area to remove debris, and using perforated drywall tape and layers of spackle to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to tell if a window is energy-efficient. Get tips on making sure a window is Energy Star certified and using the NFRC label to compare among brands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep your Kool Deck clean. Get tips on going to the website of the manufacturer, Mortex, and looking up the commercial-quality cleaner that they make specifically for their Kool Deck product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep your addition cool in the heat of summer. Get tips on installing a mini-split ductless air conditioning system, which is perfect for keeping the temperature of a single, separate room comfortable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to locate and repair a leak in a metal roof. Get tips on going on top of the roof and using a garden hose to see if you can find the leak. Use silicone caulk to repair it. However, if that doesn't stop the leak, you mighth have to enlist a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how EasyWater works almost like a magnet to repel hard water particles and lead to less scale and buildup. Also learn about their 90-day, money-back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to restain a cedar deck. Learn why it's not necessary to sand the deck. Just give it a good cleaning and then use a solid-color stain. If you prep the deck and apply the stain properly, it should last five to seven years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't use an attic fan if you have central air conditioning. Instead, you should have a passive ventilation system made up of ridge and soffit vents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to preserve a deck made of pressure-treated wood. Learn why Thompson's WaterSeal works better on regular lumber. Get tips on using a solid color exterior stain instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with a black stain on a painted aluminum gutter. First, make sure the gutter isn't clogged and that the water isn't backing up and overflowing the gutter. Then you can clean the gutter with trisodium phosphate, prime and repaint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should wait for a dry spell in the fall to stain your wood deck. The drier the lumber, the longer the stain will be able to last. Get tips on following the manufacturer's instructions for application to get the best results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair cracks in stucco before you repaint your house. Get tips on using Quikrete Stucco Repair crack sealant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about Andersen's 400 Series replacement windows. They tilt down for easy washing and have high-performance, energy-efficient glass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if Wet & Forget will work in a shaded area that doesn't get direct sunlight or direct rain. Get tips on following the label directions when applying it. Learn if it's an appropriate product for pressure-treated wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to select a quality contractor to replace your concrete driveway. Get tips on looking on online review sites and checking the contractor's references. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get a new ceiling without having to tear down your old water-damaged lath and plaster ceiling. The solution is to attach drywall to the ceiling by screwing it into the ceiling joists. The drywall will support the lath and plaster and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a structural engineer to inspect a big crack in your foundation. They'll write a report with step-by-step instructions for making the proper repair. After the repair is done, they can come back and certify that it was done the right way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop moles from tearing up your yard. Learn why eliminating the grubs in your lawn will wipe out the moles' food source and force them to go elsewhere. Get tips on using a grub control product from Bayer Advanced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a professional exterminator to take care of your spider problem. A professional will have access to stronger and more specific pesticides than you can find in a store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop black mold from forming in your bathtub caulk. Get tips on using a caulk softener to help you remove all of the old caulk. Then clean the area with a bleach and water solution. Learn why it's a good idea to fill the tub with water Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to protect a crawlspace from dampness. Get tips on using gutters and soil grading to redirect water away from your home's foundation. Learn why covering the floor of the crawlspace with thick plastic will stop a lot of the moisture from Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair hairline cracks in a concrete driveway. Get tips on using a product specifically designed for the job, such as QUIKRETE's Concrete Repair product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if your bathroom exhaust fan isn't working. Get tips on testing the power to see if the problem is with the switch or the fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add more insulation to a cathedral ceiling. Learn why blown-in insulation is too messy for this purpose. Instead, get tips on using rigid foam insulation and then covering it up with wood paneling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce window condensation. Learn why condensation will form on poorly insulated windows in the winter. Get tips on taking steps to reduce the moisture around your house to help mitigate the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to choose a good contractor for interior painting. Learn why it's important to make sure you are doing an "apples to apples" comparison in terms of paint brand, number of coats, prep work, etc. Get tips on checking references and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get a stain out of vinyl siding. Get tips on using sandpaper to abrade the surface and get down to the raw vinyl again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using the website for the Old Farmer's Almanac to find out what plants will grow in the hardiness zone where you live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix sliding glass doors that are tough to close. Get tips on using a screwdriver to adjust the height of the wheels under the door to give it more clearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on spraying down the pan with a product called Wet & Forget to prevent algae from growing and clogging up the tubes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of pet urine odors in your flooring. Get tips on using an epoxy paint on your garage floor to seal in the odor. For carpeting, get tips on pulling it up and replacing the padding if necessary. Then use an oil-based primer on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what type of wood flooring works best for a house on a concrete slab. Learn why solid hardwood would warp and twist from the moisture in the concrete. Instead, get tips on using engineered hardwood, which can be installed as a floating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why a pocket door is more expensive and more labor-intensive to install than a normal door. Get tips on telling your carpenter that the customer is always right and you're willing to pay more for the pocket door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why removing your old roof before installing the new one is the better option if you are planning on staying in your home for 20-25 years, as it will last longer. On the other hand, if you plan to move, it's perfectly fine to install a second Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about electric resistance heat. You can buy glass wall-panel heaters, which can be stylish and modern-looking. But overall, this type of heat is expensive and you would be better off with oil, propane or gas if the fuel is available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a foundation that's cracked from settling. Get tips on sealing the crack with silicone caulk, and improving drainage conditions around the home to prevent the soil from becoming overly wet and weak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of banging pipes in your walls and ceiling. Get tips on having a plumber install a water-hammer arrestor on each line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on asking your engineer to serve as your general contractor and recommend people to implement the repair he is calling for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to improve the appearance of your old tub. If you are having no luck cleaning it, it might be worn rather than dirty. A solution is to order a custom bath insert from BATHFITTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an architect to design your patio cover. Then you'll have a set of specifications you can take to different contractors and get their price to build it. Then you can compare apples to apples, so to speak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a sticking door. Get tips on rehanging the door and sealing its top and bottom edges to keep moisture out and reduce swelling in the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep plants from growing up through your deck. Get tips on laying down weed block, a black, burlap-y type fabric, underneath the floor joists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a roof leak in a three-season room. Learn why using a coal-tar patch product is only a temporary solution. Instead, get tips on taking apart the roof where your home meets the addition and installing a water-and-ice-shield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about tree roots that are causing granite rocks to separate from the mortar holding them together. Learn what your options are: You can remove the tree, accept the situation, or replace the granite rocks with loose stone that can Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's not a good idea to saw 4x4s into 2x4s to use for wall studs. Not only is it a labor-intensive proposition, but 4x4s tend to be very wet and can twist like crazy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a GFI on an older wiring system. Get tips on hiring an electrician to do the job to ensure that it's done correctly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices