The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what the team thinks about putting new grout on top of old grout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how using a lead pencil will help to know where the striker plate should be adjusted to so that a sticking door will close properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Get tips on how to make a laminate floor shine. Find out what product to use to bring out the shine in a laminate floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of crawlspace mold and keep it from coming back. Learn why you should first take steps to improve drainage conditions around your home's foundation. Get tips on having a pest management professional apply Tim-Bor to the wood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why digging out the foundation and putting drains in is the wrong approach to solving a leaky basement. Instead, get tips on keeping your gutters clean, extending your downspouts far away from the house, and making sure the soil slopes away Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with mold and water damage after a hurricane. Get tips on tearing out damaged drywall and replacing it with a mold-resistant drywall like Dens Armor Plus. Learn why you should install an ice and water shield and Tri-Flex 30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a coal boiler. Get tips on consulting the venting tables to find out how far you can run the vent, and learn why you should not locate the vent near a door or window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the difference is between laminate flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. If you are installing a new floor in your kitchen, learn why you might want to consider a commercial rather than residential grade material, and get tips on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with a ladybug infestation. Get tips on using an over-the-counter pesticide called Demon WP. Also learn how to stick a pantyhose in the extension hose of your vacuum so the beetles don't damage your vacuum when you suck them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a squeaky carpeted floor. Get the trick of the trade for driving finish nails through the carpet into the subfloor and floor joist below. Learn how to pull the carpet nap over the nail head so it disappears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a sewage gas smell from the laundry room drain indicates a venting problem. Get tips on calling a plumber to sort out the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why raising the floor in a sunken shower stall is a complicated task that involves breaking the concrete slab to get access to the plumbing pipes. Instead, the solution to a slippery shower is to have the shower pan replaced with Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find an energy efficient wood burning stove. Get tips on looking for the EPA label and find out the difference between catalytic and non-catalytic combustor stoves. Also learn how the kind of wood you burn affects efficiency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a low water pressure problem. Get tips on steps you can take to solve the issue, such as removing the water-saving restrictor from your showerhead, checking the aerator on your kitchen sink, and shutting the valves off and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is not a problem for water to be beading up on your porch--it just means the oil finish is doing its job. Get tips on using calcium chloride salt instead of sodium chloride salt in the winter because sodium chloride will corrode your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what type of toilet you should buy. Learn about the Champion toilet from American Standard, which doesn't get stuck but doesn't use a lot of water, either. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how the thermostat and circulator work together to regulate the temperature of radiant floor heat. Get tips on making sure the hydronic system is designed and installed properly, because it's almost impossible to repair a pipe embedded in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a concrete garage floor. Get tips on using EPOXYShield from Rust-Oleum, an all-in-one kit that comes with a cleaning solution, hardener and flakes you can put in to give it some pattern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to locate a roof leak. Learn the usual causes of a leaky roof and get tips on running a hose down the roof to see if you can identify the leak that way. Learn why you should call a professional home inspector instead of a roofer, because Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what type of soapstone to use in your home and what tools to use on it. Learn why you should go for architectural-grade soapstone with a lower talc content, which makes it more durable and less prone to staining. Get tips on using a masonry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix peeling wall paint. Learn why you need to sand the wall down to the plaster before priming and repainting. Besides multiple layers of poorly adhered paint, the other major cause of peeling is moisture, so you should look to see if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what is causing your water heater's reset button to pop. The problem is most likely a bad element that’s drawing too much electricity because it’s building up too much resistance and therefore tripping its internal circuit breaker. Get step Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why basement fuel tanks rarely leak, and why you should be wary if your fuel supplier claims that yours needs an x-ray. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a leak in your roof is probably not the cause of an exterior stain on the roof. Get tips on inspecting your roof to see whether your fiberglass shingles are cracked. If that's not the problem, the leak might be caused by flashing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a broken fan. Get tips on installing the new switch by replicating the wiring of the old switch. However, if you don't know which wire goes where, you should call an electrician or the manufacturer for help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to frame basement walls. Get tips on leaving the wall a few inches away from the concrete block and putting in some registers so air can circulate behind the wall. Also consider using a drywall that has anti-moisture protection in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about your options for a custom-sized fiberglass shower insert. Get tips on special ordering one or going to a kitchen-and-bathroom dealer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why you should replace aluminum doors with warmer, more energy-efficient vinyl doors. Get tips on installing an Andersen remodeling door instead of a new construction door, which would be an inch too long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you don't need to insulate a structure unless you plan on heating or cooling it. Get tips on using mold-resistant Dens Armor instead of drywall or sheetrock to build a playhouse for your children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to improve water pressure from a well. Get tips on increasing the size of the pump or putting in a larger pressure tank. Also make sure the main water valve is fully open and that the faucet screens are not rusted over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to convert a window into a door. Get tips on putting fiberglass flashing up and over the sill to prevent leaks. Also learn why you should never have a furnace vent under a window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make a floor less slippery. Get tips on making sure that you are using floor tile instead of wall tile. Also consider taking up the existing tile and putting down laminate flooring instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to plant a windbreak. Get tips on using evergreen trees and learn about your two options: to either plant the trees close together and get more wind protection in the beginning, or plant them farther apart so they can grow taller and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to eliminate a bad smell in your basement. Get tips on having a contractor add a return vent to the basement to help circulate the moist air throughout the house. Also learn why improving the drainage conditions around your home's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make your electric water heater more efficient. Get tips on using a water heater blanket and a 240-volt timer to stop the heater from running when you don't need it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out inexpensive ways to weatherproof your house. Get tips on using temporary caulk, shrink film and heavy draperies on your windows. Also learn how gaskets can seal your electrical outlets and help keep drafts out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate exterior walls. Get tips on putting blown-in insulation in your east and north walls if you can't afford to do the entire home. Also consider radiant heat in your floor and putting unfaced fiberglass batts between the floor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace shutters. Learn why you should go with fiberglass shutters, which will stand up better to the moisture from your brick walls. Get tips on using a hammer drill with a masonry bit to attach them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to put up drywall over old, textured drywall. Get tips on using 3/8-inch drywall and putting the sheets on vertically. Also learn how to deal with junction boxes and door jambs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to choose the right kind of ceramic tile for a porch floor. Get tips on using a tile with a 4 or 5 PEI rating so it can withstand heavy traffic. Also make sure it is recommended for outdoor use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is safe to use bleach to clean mold from vinyl siding. Get tips on using a deck brush to scrub the bleach in and let it sit before powerwashing. However, make sure you don't use too much pressure because you might put a hole in the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should remove old, compressed insulation before adding new insulation in your attic. Get tips on putting in the right amount and adding ventilation to keep the insulation dry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why putting an electric baseboard heater in the basement is not the correct solution for your cold floors. Instead, get tips on installing radiant heat, which can go under laminate, tile and sometimes carpet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about dog claw marks on your wood deck. Get tips on using a solid-color rather than a clear or semi-transparent exterior stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly attach a TV antenna. Learn why the best way to do it is to attach it to the roof and make sure it's tied off in three places. Get tips on grounding it right to the main plumbing line where it leaves your house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stain a dining room table. Get tips on sanding the table down to raw wood and blowing off all the dust with a compressor. Learn why you should test the stain on the underside of the table before putting it on the top. Make sure to sand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why mold on your window casings points to a moisture and condensation problem. You can try to kill the mold with bleach, but a more long-term solution is to replace the windows. Learn why new windows are energy-efficient, easy to clean and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install new vinyl flooring over existing vinyl flooring in a kitchen. Get tips on taking your appliances into consideration when deciding whether to put down a plywood or luan subfloor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what product to use to finish your garage floor. Get tips on using EPOXYShield from Rust-Oleum or putting down interlocking rubber mats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices