The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what kind of flooring is recommended for the bottom of a boat. Get tips on choosing the right kind of floor that will last for the boat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how mold can grow after a hurricane. Learn how quickly a home may dry out after a hurricane, and how dry studs indicate a dry home where mold won't grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you can dye tile grout to match existing grout. Get tips on how to match the new grout to the old grout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn what to use to preserve and protect the finish of a wood deck. Find out how your local home center can give you advise on how to preserve the color and finish of your deck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to eliminate carpenter bees. Find out how to keep carpenter bees from eating the fashia board on your home, and how using a powder insecticide treatment will eliminate them for the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to repair a crack in a plaster ceiling. Find out how to use latex caulk to repair the crack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on replacing curved gutters. Find out how curved gutters are made and who to contact to get new curved gutters installed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to repair termite damage. Find out how to determine if your structure has termite damage, and the easiest ways to fix the damaged areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the choices available in new asphalt roof shingles. Get tips on the importance of putting on an ice and water shield under the shingles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about insuring your home when your foundation is mis-matched. Get tips on how to make sure the foundation is solid and what to do if an insurance company insists that you pour money into fixing the foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix dead patches in a lawn. Find out how putting topsoil over new grass seed and watering the lawn will help new grass grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether or not digging into a slab foundation will destroy the structural integrity of the home. Learn how deep a shower pan should be in a home with no basement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to fix cracks in a brick swimming pool and patio. Find out how using silicone caulk with the most UV resistance can seal the cracks as well as keep water out of the cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to clean mold off vinyl windows. Find out how strong a solution you need to make to clean off the mold and keep it from returning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the steps to take to identify the source of a leak after heavy rain. Find out where to look for the leak so that it can be repaired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to replace individual pieces of vinyl siding. Find out how using a certain tool can help take off siding pieces without having to take down the entire wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it takes so long to heat water from a hot water heater. Get tips on whether or not it is a waste of energy and money to install a second water heater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to deal with contractor theft. Find out the steps to take to bring a shady contractor to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to rid your yard of weeds. Find out how to apply weedkiller and new grass seed so that by the following Spring you will have a weed-free lawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out about slip-resistant paint. Get tips on how the paint can be mixed and applied to surfaces for a slip-proof area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to prevent ice damming, or ice buildup, on an existing older roof. Find out how to install Grace Ice and Water Shield to prevent any future ice dams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to hurricane-proof windows in preparation for hurricane season. Learn how to cut the plywood so it fits over the entire window, and get tips on how to install the plywood over the window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on determining how and when to replace an asphalt shingle roof. Find out whether adding more roof sheathing is benefical and how far up on your roof you need to go to replace rotting wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it is a good idea to install new flooring over vinyl tile. Get tips on how to get rid of the problem areas in the existing vinyl floor so that the new floor lays evenly over the vinyl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the benefits of radiant barriers. Get tips on how radiant barriers can help cool your home in the summer heat, and find out where radiant barriers should be installed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn whether an attic fan will blow loose insulation around during operation. Find out the difference between an attic fan and a whole-house fan and which is more effective at cooling the house, and why an attic fan will need to be accompanied by Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out about installing a new metal roof over existing asphalt shingles. Installing a new roof over multiple layers can cause problems down the road if you need to do some work on your roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to keep moss from growing on a new roof. Find out how adding copper ridge vents can help act add a mildicide when it rains and keep moss from growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get your external outlets working again. Get tips on where to check for the ground fault circuit that controls all the outside outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove cat urine stains from hardwood flooring. Get tips on sanding the area down to raw wood, which will at first be brighter than the rest of the floor but should darken after a few months. Learn why you should use an oil-based Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to update a fireplace. Learn why working with what you have--for example, replacing the surrounding carpet with tile or adding a mantel--is the best approach. Get tips on covering brick with marble tile and making sure the access point to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to make a wood fence last for 10 to 15 years. Find out the right way to install the posts and get tips on using a solid stain instead of paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint an exterior concrete wall. If you use a pressure washer to remove the old peeling paint, make sure you let the wall dry really well afterwards.Get tips on using a cement stain instead of a latex paint, which doesn't adhere as Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get step by step instructions for installing a patio. Learn why you should use a finely ground gravel mix for the base instead of sand. Read about the benefits of paver bricks vs flagstone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix nail pops so they don't happen again. One solution is to remove the nails all the way and replace them with drywall screws, which never pull out. You can also put another drywall nail next to them and try to overlap the heads so Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve a pilot light that will not stay lit. If the pilot burner is dirty or not adjusted properly, that could that be the source of your problem. If you have a clean, strong pilot light and you replace the thermocouple and you’re still Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a platform for a wall oven. Measurement is key because you don't want to have to put it in more than once. Build the platform out of 2x4s with a plywood base and then slide the oven in so it ends up right on top of the platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how zinc and copper strips work to prevent roof mildew. Learn why you shouldn't put anything on top of asphalt shingles--moisture still gets underneath but doesn't have anywhere to evaporate. Also get tips on being very gentle when scrubbing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove vinyl tiles and refinish a wood floor. When you have the old floor removed, rent a sanding machine called a U-Sand. Don't use a heavy floor belt sander because it can really damage the wood. Get tips on using a lambswool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to level uneven concrete driveway. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound to build up low areas. Follow the directions on the package and be sure to pressure wash the concrete first to remove any dirt and grime that could interfere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a dishwasher that's covered in grease. Get tips on running the dishwasher through an empty cycle using super-hot water and vinegar to break down the grease. You might also consider turning your water heater up or seeing if your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix dirt walls in your basement that have dried out and are cracking. Get tips on putting concrete stucco on over the bare dirt wall. If you want, you can put a wire mesh in it. As long as the stucco is replaced once in a while, it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a GFCI outlet that keeps popping. First, confirm whether it is a standalone outlet that controls only itself. If it is, replace it and see if it still pops. If it does, have an electrician trace it out to see if there is something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what is causing your basement to crack and how to fix the problem. Frost heave is the underlying issue; the soil outside your basement wall is getting too wet. When it freezes, it expands and puts pressure on the cement block wall, causing it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your tile floor starts cracking and coming loose. Learn why tiles that pop off linoleum are evidence that the surface was not prepared properly. One solution is to take up all the tile and put down a 1/4-inch luan subfloor, or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix hard water. Get tips on first identifying what is in your water with a water test. The results will be very helpful in determining what type of water treatment equipment you need. If you have well water, it’s a good idea to test it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop a gas water heater from cycling on and off all day. A gas water heater works like this: you set the temperature on the the thermostat; the gas comes on and heats the water to that temperature. Then the gas goes off until the water Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't install hardwood flooring yourself, because an amateurish job can negatively impact resale value. Get tips on going with engineered hardwood, which is structurally stable, durable, and available in a wide variety of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find a leak in your roof. If your roof was recently replaced, the leak is probably the result of a workmanship error. The first place to look is the flashing, which is where the chimney or plumbing pipes come through the roof, or where Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a bathroom door jamb that has gotten soft from water exposure. Get step by step instructions for repairing it with wood filler. First, tap the door jamb with a screwdriver to find the soft areas. Open them up and carve them out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices