The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to fix a concrete garage floor damaged by salt. Get tips on using a two-part epoxy product and adding a color flake to hide dirt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repaint an aluminum garage door. Get tips on cleaning it using a TSP solution, then sanding, priming and repainting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FInd out why the Christmas lights that broke on your linoleum floor didn't leave a stain, but caused a chemical reaction that can't be cleaned up. The only solution is to replace the floor or cover the area with a throw rug. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix nail pops in a roof. If the nails aren't coming through the surface of the roof, there's not too much cause for concern, but if you want you can use standard roofing nails and overlap the heads with the old nails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't install hardwood flooring over concrete. Get tips on putting down engineered hardwood instead, which is virtually indistinguishable from solid hardwood and won't warp when moisture touches it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of mold caused by a leaking roof. Get tips on using a plant sprayer filled with bleach to kill the mold. Learn why you shouldn't tear out any wood that got moldy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean dirty windows that have not responded to normal cleaning methods. Get tips on using newspaper and undiluted white vinegar to clean them and learn why the problem might be condensation between the panes if they are thermal pane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much insulation you should install in your attic. Get tips on putting in a continuous ridge vent and soffit vents to ventilate your attic, and learn why an exhaust fan is never a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why an improper installation and bad seal could lead to condensation between your window panes and cause mold growth. The only way to solve the problem is to replace the windows, but it is a cosmetic issue and won't effect energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep pine knots from showing through when you paint over wood paneling. Get tips on priming the paneling with a good quality oil-based primer before painting. Another option is to sand off the finish and put on a different stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to frame the walls of a stone tile shower stall. Get tips on applying backer board right to the studs and then putting the tile over that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install flooring over vinyl tile. Learn why you shouldn't pull up the tile: it will leave an uneven surface that will make it hard to install the new flooring. Get tips on looking into laminate or engineered hardwood flooring instead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to patch cracks in a concrete garage floor. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound to fill in the cracks so you can paint the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should buy new, energy-efficient exterior sliding glass doors instead of repurposing old sliding glass doors in your home. Get tips on donating the old doors to Habitat for Humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to judge the energy efficiency of a window. Learn why it is better to go with a good quality window from a reputable company rather than focus on whether the window is double or triple pane. Also learn about NFRC rating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to strip paint from wood without touching the stain underneath. Get tips on using a chemical paint stripper and learn why you shouldn't use a sander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's a good idea to install a radiant barrier over your attic insulation. Get tips on why you should skip the radiant barrier and focus on adding sufficient insulation instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the pros and cons of a metal roof compared to asphalt shingles. Get tips on making sure you want to stay in your home before installing a metal roof, since they are expensive and last a lifetime. Learn why you should strip your roof down to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a concrete porch damaged by salt. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound paired with an epoxy paint to restore the surface of your porch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't put any cleaning products inside your water heater. The right way to clean it is to flush it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce the moisture inside your home. Get tips on keeping your gutters clean and free-flowing, your downspouts extended 4 to 6 feet from the house and the soil around your foundation should slope away from the walls. Also learn about Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be difficult to refinish a hardwood floor that has been faded by the sun to match the other hardwood floors in your home. The only solution is to redo all the floors. Get tips on using an exterior-grade polyurethane, which is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about floating laminate flooring, which should lie completely flat if installed properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove texture from an interior wall. Get tips on sanding the surface of the wall with a very fine sandpaper and priming the wall before you paint it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a crimp connector to stop a toilet leak. Get tips on looking at your local home center or hardware store to find the appropriate crimp connector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to update your countertops on the cheap. Get tips on relaminating the countertops using contact cement to adhere the new layer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about heat pump water heaters, which is a type of technology that can be used by people who currently have electric water heaters. Get tips on looking at GE's product and checking for tax credits that might be available to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to manage waste water from your washing machine that is currently dumping into your yard. Get tips on digging a pit and aiming the pipe from the washer a few inches below the surface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a refrigerator with a crisper drawer that freezes your vegetables. Get tips on cleaning the vent behind the drawer so it can circulate air, or having a repairman fix or replace the thermostat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how frost could be pushing up one of the 4x4s under your deck, causing it to rise up in the middle during winter. Get tips on digging a new hole for the post that's three feet below grade so you get down below the frost line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to kill the grass in your backyard so you can build a deck over it without worrying about wild growth. Get tips on using Roundup, then putting down weed block and laying mulch over that. Do that after you frame it but before you deck it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop water from seeping through your garage wall into your home. Get tips on pulling off the baseboard molding on the garage side and filling the gap between the wall and floor with expandable polystyrene foam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to heat and cool an addition to your home that isn't covered by your existing HVAC system. Get tips on checking out Mistubishi's split ductless systems, which are also energy efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix the problem of wind blowing off your roof shingles. Get tips on adding some asphalt cement underneath the shingle tabs if it's just a small area. If it's a large area, your best bet is to replace the roof with Owens Corning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop water from leaking into your basement. Get tips on creating the proper run-off for rainfall by using fill dirt to slope the soil down and away from the walls of your foundation. Also make sure your gutters are clean and free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to adjust the plumbing in your bathroom to prepare for a new bathtub. Get tips on getting the old tub out, moving the supply pipes and the drain pipes to the proper rough-in locations and then dropping in your new tub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of moisture condensing on your basement stairwell door. Get tips on putting a proper door on your basement to seal it off so you don't lose any more energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out where you should place your sink when remodeling your kitchen. Get tips on putting the sink at a window and setting up a triangle between your sink, refrigerator and stove. Considering building a two-level island and putting the sink on the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you need more insulation in your attic. Learn why you should have 19 to 22 inches of insulation. Get tips on laying unfaced fiberglass batts on the floor if you are not using your attic space for storage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of condensation on your bathroom ceiling. The solution is to warm up the bathroom ceiling by making sure it’s insulated above and couple that with proper bathroom ventilation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best types of flooring to install over plywood. Get tips on looking into engineered hardwood and laminate flooring, which lock together and float over the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to soundproof a basement apartment. Get tips on adding a second layer of drywall and putting soundproofing glue called Green Glue in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cover up wallpaper in your bathroom. Learn why it's not a good idea to paint over wallpaper: the seams always show through, the wallpaper adhesive will eventually fail and it will be even harder to remove under a layer of paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mildew and mold from the siding of your house. Get tips on using a product called Wet and Forget that can be found at Ace and True Value. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove your dishwasher before you install laminate flooring in your kitchen and adjust the legs of the appliance to make sure it can fit under the counter and over the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a home sauna. Learn why infrared bulbs will not provide sufficient heat; you need a proper sauna heater. Get tips on looking for a good electrical heating cool that has rocks that surround it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop sunlight from fading your hardwood floor and furniture. Get tips on using window tints or films or a light-diffusing fabric shade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate your home's walls without causing a moisture problem. Get tips on putting a layer of foam over plaster and learn why your priority, before you even worry about wall insulation, should be attic insulation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to draw attention from an ugly brick exterior. Get tips on adding shutters and window boxes with flowers, or encouraging ivy to grow on the siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices