The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to cool down a hot attic with proper roof ventilation. Get tips on removing the wood soffit material under your vinyl soffit so that it's fully vented. In addition to opening up your soffits, you'll want to add a good-quality ridge vent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add insulation between floor joists to help keep a house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Get tips on also nailing insulating foam board to the bottom of the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop moles from tearing up your yard. Learn why the grubs in your lawn are attracting the moles. Get tips on how to kill the grubs, which forces the moles to leave to look for another food source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to control the spider population around your home. Get tips on eliminating their nesting sites and using a pesticide to kill them off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FInd out how to get rid of carpenter bees. Learn about your options: You can either hire a pest-control professional to take care of the problem, or replace your exterior wood trim with a composite material that won't provide the bees with food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about air in your well water. Get tips on finding a qualified well expert to diagnose and solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what questions you should ask when you are getting a new roof put on. Get tips on asking about shingle removal -- the roofers should lay down a tarp to make cleanup easier. Also learn why you should consider replacing your rotted wooden fascia with a product called AZEK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to ensure adequate ventilation in an attic without soffits. Get tips on using ridge vents and a drip-edge vent to ventilate the attic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your cooling system is taking too long to air-condition your home. Get tips on finding a reputable HVAC contractor who can diagnose and solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you have to worry about mold, chipping, cracking, etc., if you choose composite decking rather than pressure-treated lumber. Learn about the benefits of composite decking: while it does require some maintenance, it is more durable and less time-consuming to maintain than pressure-treated lumber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to take the varnish off your kitchen cabinets. Get tips on using a product called Rock Miracle, which strips paint, finishes and varnish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to extend the life of a rubber roof by coating it with roof paint. Fibrous aluminum paint reflects the sun's UV rays, keeping the roof cool and allowing it to stay in good shape longer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a split-ductless air conditioning system is superior to a window unit: It's quieter, it can handle a bigger area, and it's more energy efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep your toilet seat warm in the winter. Get tips on purchasing a heated toilet seat from a reputable manufacturer, such as Kohler. Also learn about a mixing valve that adds hot water to the cold water that fills your toilet to solve Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a deteriorating window-well retaining wall made of railroad ties. If the wall is fairly low to the ground, this can be a DIY project. Get tips on rebuilding the wall using concrete blocks, which will last a lifetime and won't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are to replace worn-out carpet on top a roof deck. Learn about composite decking, which you should lay on top of either pressure-treated wood boards or interlocking teak tiles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove mushrooms from your yard using natural solutions that won't pose a health threat to kids or pets. Get tips on spraying the mushrooms with a mixture of baking soda and water, and adding lime to the soil to deter their growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a window AC unit so water doesn't seep in when it rains. Get tips on using a temporary weatherstripping caulk that you can peel off when it's time to take the unit out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why painted trim around natural wood doors might look strange: the trim should usually match the door, and new paint takes a while to get used to. Get tips on finding some trim to match the door, and then tacking it up lightly just to see if that makes more visual sense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to drain the standing water from your backyard by installing a curtain drain. Learn what a curtain drain is and how it works, and get tips on where to install it and have the water discharge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix peeling paint on interior trim. Get tips on stripping off the old paint, sanding into the varnish coat, and adding a layer of primer so the new paint has a solid foundation to adhere to. Learn why simply painting on top of the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a crack in the ceiling that is leaking water. Get tips on using drywall tape, spackle, primer and paint to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why a rubber-backed rug on a linoleum floor will have a chemical reaction with the floor that produces a permanent yellow stain. You can't clean it: You must replace the floor or cover up the stain with a bigger rug. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop an ant infestation in your home. Get tips on the natural solutions you can try, such as planting mint around the foundation perimeter. If you decide to go with a pesticide, learn why it's better to call in a professional for the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of mold on the caulking in your bathroom. Get tips on using caulk softener to remove the old caulk and recaulking the bathtub with a product that has mildicide in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of Japanese beetles. Learn how beetle traps work and get tips on checking out the traps made by a company called Rescue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to protect a cedar deck from the problems associated with sun exposure, such as cracking and splitting. Get tips on using a semi-transparent stain that will shield the deck from UV rays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly prep wall paneling before you paint it by using liquid sander to abrade the surface, and then applying a good quality primer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a bare copper wire is not enough copper to help prevent the growth of mold on your roof. Get tips on using copper flashing instead, in addition to thinning the trees around your roof to let more sunlight hit it. Learn about Wet & Forget, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best places to install insulation in your home and how it can save you energy and money. Windows and attics are prime places to add insulation to save energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are to get rid of a carpenter bee infestation. You can hire a professional to spray insecticide, or you can consider replacing your wood porch with a composite material like AZEK that looks just like wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be an expensive project to move your shower to where your toilet is and vice versa. Get tips on finding another way to redecorate the bathroom to improve its look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent algae on a condensation drain. Get tips on adding a condensate pump and having the condensation pumped elsewhere so it doesn't gravity-drain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a TV screen if you've lost the manual. Get tips on searching online for a scanned PDF of the manual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing the heating element of your water heater to keep burning out. If the problem is a buildup of mineral salts, you can use a water softener like EasyWater. Another problem could be a fluctuation in voltage to the heater, or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a leaking metal roof. Learn why you can't seal a metal roof like you would an asphalt roof and get tips on finding a roofer who has real experience with metal roofs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill cracks in a concrete driveway so they don't spread and get worse. Get tips on using a caulk-like product from QUIKRETE for the job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for cooling your home during the hot months. If you need to cool an entire floor, learn why your best bet is to install a traditional central air conditioning system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can't put ceramic tile down directly on top of a linoleum floor. Get tips on using a tile backer and figuring out whether you have room for the extra thickness or if you need to tear the linoleum up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make a proper floor for a shed. Get tips on elevating the floor to allow air to move under it, which will help prevent decay. Learn why painting the floor with porch-and-floor paint will make it more durable and easier to clean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's OK to let your dogs rest in your crawlspace on hot summer days as long as they are housetrained and won't use the space as a restroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why laminate flooring is a good choice to cover up unsightly linoleum. It is water-resistant and floats on top of the existing floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of the odor of cigarette smoke in a home. Get tips on priming the subfloor and replacing the HVAC filters with the 3M Filtrete Odor-Reduction Filters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the proper way to repair cracking and chipping of the chimney area. Get tips on replacing the mortar between the liner and the outside of the chimney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your wood floor is covered in dried glue. Get tips on refinishing the floor to get rid of the glue using a floor buffer with a sanding screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove tree roots that are warping a concrete floor. Get tips on using a jackhammer to break up the affected section of the floor, then digging out the roots and repouring the concrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find a good contractor. Get tips on using the internet to aid your search. Angie's List is a good place to start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should avoid companies that offer expensive services to "waterproof" your basement and use scare tactics to get you to hire them. Instead, the way to deal with water in the basement when it rains is to redirect the water away from your home's foundation using downspout extensions, soil grading and gutter maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair Formica countertops that are coming loose. Get tips on using contact cement to stick the laminate back down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should strip off your old fiberglass roof before adding a new layer. Get tips on considering whether you will be living in the home for a relatively short (5-10 years) or long (20 years) period. If you want your new roof to last a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices