The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Learn the rule of thumb for getting the right size compressor for your house. Find out why it is important to develop a standard spec so that every contractor will be bidding on the same project and you can compare apples to apples. Get tips on having Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reglaze a window and why the fall is the best time to do it. Get step by step instructions for reglazing and repainting windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove mineral deposits from a slate shower and seal it against water. Get tips on using vinegar to clean the efflorescence and sealing the slate with a masonry sealer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce moisture in your crawlspace. Get tips on keeping water away from your foundation by making sure your gutters are clean and that the soil slopes away from your walls. Also learn how to install a vapor barrier and fan in your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you don't need to tear out linoleum flooring before putting down laminate. Learn why you should remove large appliances before laying down the laminate to make sure you don't trap them in the flooring. Get tips on buying foam-backed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a cracked sheetrock wall. Learn why you should use fiberglass self-stick drywall tape instead of paper tape. Get tips on putting several coats of spackle on top of the tape, then priming and repainting the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much space to leave between the floor boards in your deck. Learn why you should put pressure-treated lumber fairly close together, because it always shrinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is not a good idea to wallpaper over tile. Get tips on either covering the tile with drywall or luan or removing it altogether and starting fresh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out where to look for the Reiker room conditioner, a ceiling fan that also has heating coils. Get tips on going directly to their website, HeatinFans.com, to find a supplier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to use as an underlayment for your new tile floor. Learn why linoleum is not a good choice. Get tips on using luan plywood and thinset for smaller tile, and a mud floor for bigger tile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace spalling bricks on your home's exterior. Get tips on using a masonry saw and chisel to remove the old mortar, and then, after you set the brick in, using a pointing tool to press the mortar in and strike the joints. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't throw away a chair that needs to be reupholstered. You can email a picture of the chair to Leslie and she will advise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's necessary to run a dehumidifier in your basement during the winter. If you have central heat, you can get a whole-house dehumidifier attached to a humidistat so it only runs when you need it. Get tips on steps you can take to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of air entering your home through your eletrical outlets. Get tips on setting up your whole house fan to work properly by adding more ventilation to your attic. Learn why continuous ridge and soffit vents are the best Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair leaking ducts with duct tape. Learn why regular duct tape won't work properly, and why you should instead get UL 181 tape. Get tips on conducting a duct blaster test and having an energy audit of your heating system done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a concrete floor that has settled. Get tips on using a floor leveling compound, but only if you are sure the floor has finished settling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to do a radon test in your home. Get tips on buying an over-the-counter charcoal absorption canister, and learn why the winter is the best time to do the test. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mud from ceramic tiles. Get tips on using trisodium phosphate or a siding cleaner such as Jomax. Learn how to apply these products to maximize their effectiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean rust-stained siding. Get tips on using trisodium phosphate, or TSP, to remove the stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove moss from the side of your house. Get tips on using a cleaning solution called Jomax and trying to get more sunlight to the area by trimming back trees and bushes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill in a space in your hardwood floor. Get tips on cutting out the piece of wood that’s near it and custom making a piece of wood wide enough to take the entire space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leaking skylight. Get tips on pulling the shingles off and then resetting the skylight with new mastic. Learn why VELUX and Andersen skylights almost never leak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint basement walls. Get tips on using Thompson’s WaterSeal, which is designed to stop moisture from getting through. Learn why you should address the underlying problem by improving drainage conditions around your home's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your centrail air conditioning isn't reaching your bedroom. Learn about your options, such as adding more ducts, increasing the duct size and installing duct boosters. However, if this is a new system, it should be working Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing dust and dirt to collect around the air conditioning vents in your home, and how to solve the problem. Get tips on looking into an Aprilaire whole-house air filter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prime wood molding in advance before you attach it to the wall. Get tips on applying a good quality primer like KILZ. Learn why you should wait to apply the topcoat because you will have to deal with nail holes and trimmed edges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install grab bars in a bathroom with ceramic tile walls. Get tips on using a stud finder to find the stud. Your other option is to attach the grab bar to a lead shield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove mold from caulk. Get tips on using a caulk softener and wiping it down with a bleach and water solution. Learn why you should use a latex caulk with a built-in mildicide instead of silicone caulk. DAP and Red Devil both make Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find reputable, pre-screened contractors in your area. Get tips on going to ServiceMagic.com instead of trying DIY home improvements that you are not really comfortable doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of a gray stain on your roof shingles. Get tips on applying a bleach solution and scrubbing with a stiff brush. Also learn about copper ridge vents, a natural solution to roof moss and mildew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't install real hardwood flooring over a concrete slab foundation. Get tips on using laminate flooring or engineered hardwood instead. Learn why you should choose commercial grade flooring for high traffic areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leaking water heater. Get tips on replacing the leaking valve or valve seat. However, if you have never cut apart plumbing before, have a plumber do the job. And if the water heater is 10 years old or older, consider replacing it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what kind of roofing to put on a house that experiences high winds. Get tips on buying the WeatherGuard High Wind Roofing System from Owens Corning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to rebuild a staircase. Get tips on putting down hardwood floors and partially enclosing the staircase with a wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a towel bar in the bathroom. Get tips on making one out of hardwood and coating it with a water-resistant finish. Or find a plastics supplier and get plexiglass or acrylic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why rubber-backed mats react with linoleum to form permanent yellow stains. Get tips on buying a linoleum remnant and replacing the bathroom floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean discolored brick siding. Get tips on power washing it gently so as not to blast out the old mortar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why tiny cracks on the surface of your concrete driveway are more of a cosmetic issue than a cause for concern. Get tips on sealing cracks that form around expansion joints with flowable urethane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if a house you are thinking of buying has a sagging roof. Learn about tar-and-slag roofs, which typically need a lot of maintenance. Get tips on hiring a professional home inspector to assess the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repaint peeling aluminum siding. Get tips on scraping off or gently power washing the old paint, using an oil-based exterior primer and taking a paint chip to your local home center to find a matching color. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how the proper ventilation system can prevent mold growth in your attic. Get tips on installing ridge and soffit vents and learn how to increase ventilation even if you have a metal roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can't repair cracks in concrete; you can only seal them with flowable urethane caulk. This will both improve their appearance and help prevent frost heave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of spiders in your basement. Learn why natural remedies are not as effective and why you should bring in a professional to apply the right product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why waxing or polishing will not fix the scratches inside your toilet bowl. You will either have to get it professionally reglazed or replace the toilet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with weeds without using herbicides like Roundup. Get tips on putting down a black meshy fabric called a weed blocker and covering it with stone or slate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Found out whether Novabrik is a good alternative to masonry brick. Learn about Hardiplank, a similar low-maintenance siding product. Novabrik is not as durable as solid brick, but you won't need to maintain any mortar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should remove asbestos tile before putting siding or stucco on a house. Get tips on wetting the tile to keep the dust down and checking with your municipality about proper disposal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make over a concrete pool deck. Learn about your options, such as concrete stain, acid staining and paver bricks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether a pool affects the resale value of a house. Get tips on keeping service records not only for your pool, but your heating and cooling systems as well. Also learn how to ask contractors to preserve a tree and explain their cost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to maintain a log home. Get tips on choosing a location that gets plenty of sunlight in order to avoid moss and mildew growth. Learn why you should power wash your log home every fall if you live in a damp region. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices