The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why foam insulation is preferable to fiberglass insulation for sealing a crawlspace. Learn what R-value of insulation you should shoot for in a crawlspace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce moisture and condensation in a small basement with a dirt floor. Get tips on improving drainage conditions around your home's foundation, pouring a dust-cover slab and installing a dehumidifier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether mold and mildew on asphalt roof shingles is a problem. Learn why it's a cosmetic issue rather than something that can do damage. Get tips on three reliable methods for getting rid of the moss and keeping it from coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if you notice that the sealant between your home's brick front and vinyl siding is cracked. Learn why you can only caulk a 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch crack, and nothing larger than that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you need to remove vinyl tile with asbestos in it before putting down a new floor. Learn why it's OK to leave the asbestos tile since there's no danger of disturbing it. Get tips on using engineered hardwood instead of real hardwood, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if you have an old house that shows signs of settling. Get tips on figuring out whether the settling is over and done with, or still active. And learn why you should never attempt to "re-square" a house by trying to lift up various Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make over a ceiling that has cracked, stained tiles. Get tips on removing the tiles and using drywall screws to secure the drywall to the wood strips on the ceiling. Learn why you should use fiberglass tape for the joints and flat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your garage floor is covered in stains and acid spills, find out how to clean it and then apply a coating that will protect the floor. Get tips on using a two-step garage floor epoxy coating system from Quikrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix peeling paint. Get tips on scraping off all the old, loose paint, sanding down the walls and ceiling, and applying primer before putting on coats of paint. The primer is the key step because it's the glue that will help the paint Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom debunks the myth that firefighters can't fight a fire in a home with solar panels on the roof until the sun goes down because they don't want to put water on something that is producing electricity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a high turnover rate for water heaters, find out how to improve your luck. Get tips on using a no-salt water softener and buying a water heater with the best warranty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do with a stone foundation that's been covered in plywood that is now rotting. Get tips on removing the rotted material and evaluating the stone foundation. If it looks good, repoint the joints with additional cement as needed and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is a good idea to save water and energy by putting a timer on your water heater so it only heats water in the morning and evenings when you need it. However, learn why it's not a DIY project and why you should bring in a professional Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about an odor in your well water. Get tips on having the water tested to find out what components are in it. Then you will be able to figure out what kind of treatment system you need, possibly including a charcoal filter to remove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether there is a type of composite decking that won't fade over time as it becomes weathered. Learn about Kleer decking, which is made of PVC, is available in seven colors and comes with a lifetime warranty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of squirrels that have decided to take up residence in your home. Get tips on using humane Havahart traps and squirrel repellant to manage them. But the first step is to seal any gaps that are allowing them to enter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with the problem of truss lift. Get tips on installing L-shaped truss clips or adding a second, overlapping layer of drywall to create a ceiling strong enough not to show cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for brightening a dull laminate countertop. You could use a laminate painting kit from a company like Rustoleum, or you could use car wax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should choose PEX or Onix tubing for your radiant heat system. Learn why the Money Pit recommends PEX for its reputation and proven history of performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the cause of pinhole leaks in your copper pipes. Learn why the leaks are caused by the acidity of the water rather than a defect in the pipes themselves. Get tips on how to deal with the problem: either fix leaks as they spring up, or replace the pipes that you have access to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of a patch of crabgrass in your lawn. Get tips on using an all-natural product called Crabgrass Killer with ingredients like cinnamon bark, cumin and baking soda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to restore an asphalt driveway. If it is in good shape structurally, you can repair cracks, patch holes and reseal the surface. However, if it's in bad shape structurally, you might want to consider adding an additional layer of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the proper way to ventilate a roof. Learn why passive ventilation is more effective than an attic fan. Get tips on putting in continuous ridge vent matched with continuous soffit vents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove black marks from your roof. Get tips on using a product called Wet & Forget, which will clean away and moss, mold, mildew or algae that might be on your roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with excess moisture in a cabinet below a bathroom sink. Learn why the concrete slab floor is probably pulling moisture from the ground and get tips on venting the cabinet to solve that problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair scratches in a wood laminate floor. Get tips on finding out if the floor manufacturer has its own product for that purpose. If not, you can use a generic product like Bruce's Acrylic Wood Filler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you can do if you have dogs who run roughshod in your backyard and leave mud in their wake. Get tips on putting down Zoysia grass, which is a bit tougher than regular grass. Your other option is to put down a stone or slate pathway that Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repaint kitchen cabinets. Learn why you can't simply add a new layer of paint without prepping the surface first. Get tips on using a paint stripper, followed by sanding, and then a coat of good-quality glossy paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a ceiling that wasn't spackled properly. Get tips on spackling over the thin areas, then sanding the whole ceiling. Finish with a good coat of primer and plaster paint as a final step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove paint from a concrete floor. Get tips on using a good-quality paint stripper such as Rock Miracle to remove the paint until you have a good base. Then apply a two-part epoxy paint mix for a durable finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a rotted section of parquet floor. Get tips on doing the structural repair and then putting a layer of laminate floor on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint over nicotine stains on your textured ceiling. Get tips on applying an oil-based primer with a special roller designed to get into the nooks and crannies of a textured ceiling. Then use a latex ceiling paint on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to ventilate a roof without soffits. Get tips on installing a drip-edge vent, which extends the line of your roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to refinish an engineered hardwood floor. Get tips on renting a floor buffer with a sanding screen to take off the upper layer of the finish so you can refinish it with another coat of urethane. Learn why replacing the floor won't bring Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leaking hose bibb. Get tips on taking apart the valve stem and replacing the faucet washer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using a DIY spray-foam insulation called GREAT STUFF to seal gaps around your rim joists. On the other hand, learn why an entire rim joist is too big for DIY spray-foam, and why you will need a professionally applied insulation like Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replicate an existing wall texture. Get tips on using spackle and wallpaper brushes of different sizes to make circles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a sink stained by rust. Get tips on trying a product called Bon Ami, which is like a gentler Comet, if your sink is made of a synthetic material. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve condensation on the ductwork in your crawlspace. Get tips on reducing the humidity level in your crawlspace in a number of ways: directing water away from your home's foundation, opening the vents in the crawlspace, insulating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to exterminate carpenter ants. Get tips on having a professional apply Phantom pesticide, a non-detectable pesticide that ants carry back to their nests, where it wipes out the population. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what kind of kitchen flooring will be easy on your joints. Get tips on installing cork, which is soft, durable and great for a kitchen environment when sealed properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best way to stain a log cabin to protect the wood. Get tips on applying a solid-color exterior stain with a paint sprayer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on staining your cedar fence to preserve its color. Use a solid-color exterior siding stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you can install ceramic tile on top of a hardwood floor. Learn why hardwood is a great base for ceramic tile. Get tips on using an underlayment and thinset adhesive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to scrape, sand, prime, repaint and seal windows and doors to protect them from UV rays in an area that gets a lot of sun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of a slow-draining toilet and bathroom sink. Learn why the first thing you should check for is an obstruction in the drain, rather than assuming it is a septic system issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install unfinished wood flooring. Get tips on laying down rosin paper first and then using a flooring gun to drive nails at an angle into the tongue of the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the chances are lower that you would have an elevated radon level if your home is on a concrete slab vs. you having a basement. If you're still concerned, get tips on testing with a charcoal absorption canister to find out if you have a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove old carpet padding that is stuck to your wood floor. Get tips on removing as much as you can, and then hiring a floor-refinishing company to use a belt sander to restore the floor to a beautiful finish. Learn why keeping your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a concrete floor that is wearing away and becoming powdery. Get tips on using a concrete resurfacing product, such as one from Quikrete, and following the directions to apply it properly. Learn why power washing is not a good Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices