The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to repair cracks in a concrete driveway. The solution is to first clean out the cracks really well and then use an epoxy patching compound to fill them in. Use either a broom or a wet/dry vacuum to get the dirt out of the cracks. Don't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to patch a hole in a radiator. The solution is to put an epoxy patching compound over the hole, cover it with a little piece of metal and clamp it down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about countertop replacement options that are not as expensive as granite but still provide resale value. Ceramic tile is an easy way to update a laminate top. Use a product called Bondera TileMatSet, which is a tile adhesive. Peel the back off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing your water to turn off completely every so often. If there is a pressure-reducing valve at the main water line where it comes into your house, you could have a situation where it's trying to adjust pressure and just Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a chipped granite countertop. The solution is to buy an acrylic or epoxy repair kit. There is a wide variety available. You mix up the repair material, mix in a dye that is very close to the pattern that you have, and then very Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to permanently repair a crack in a textured ceiling. The solution is to pull off the texturing, put up a fiberglass mesh tape, spackle it and then retexture it. There is texture material sold in a can that you can just spray on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a nonstandard size door. The solution is to modify the opening of the exterior wall to take a standard-height, 80-inch door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's worth the money to install a radiant barrier in your attic. The answer is that there are other things you can do that would be more effective in terms of energy efficiency. For example, most homes don't have enough insulation to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reglaze a porcelain bathtub. The solution is to do your research and hire a reputable contractor to reglaze the tub. They will etch it, prime it and then spray on a topcoat that should last about five years. Your other option is to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is a bad idea to put ceramic tile on a wood deck; the tiles will crack unless you have a really stable subfloor, and they will be icy and dangerous in the winter. Learn why you should go for composite decking instead. Fiberon makes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing your heat pump to have trouble keeping up when the temperature falls below freezing. If the emergency heat setting works when you turn it on, that means there is probably a problem with your control circuit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should remove old shingles from your roof before you put on a new layer. If you put multiple layers of roofing on a house, the first layer adds a heat sink that can rapidly deteriorate the new layer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are getting no airflow on the second floor, the issue is that you don't have a properly installed duct system. The solution is to hire an HVAC contractor to evaluate the situation and give you an estimate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent ice dams by installing Grace Ice & Water Shield on your roof. You should also add a ridge vent, which will allow the soffit vents and ridge vent to work together to depressurize the ridge and positively pressurize the soffit so Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a home inspector to look at a house you are thinking of buying if it has a forced air downdraft system and registers on the floor but no ductwork underneath. Get tips on getting the issue documented because it is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install prefinished hardwood flooring over tile. As long as the tile is adhered well, you can go right on top of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your fireplace is producing a creosote odor, you should have your chimney inspected by a professional home inspector. Go to ASHI.org to find one. You want to make sure your chimney is very clean because creosote is dangerous and reacts with Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of window condensation. Get tips on reducing the humidity in your house by making sure you have good ventilation through the house and up into the attic. Learn why you should have ridge vents and soffit vents as well Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why putting insulation between the first and second floor of your house is not the best solution for heat loss. Instead, get a whole house energy audit done to find out exactly what you need to do to save money and energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out when you should close your foundation vents and when you should open them. The purpose of the vents is to keep the crawlspace as dry as possible. You should leave them open for most of the year and only close them in the winter months when Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are looking to install radiant heat in your floor and want to know the best option, you should go with a PEX floor, which is hydronic heat with crosslink polyethylene piping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop water from leaking out of your deck. Learn about Dek Drain, a channel system that attaches to the joist supports of the deck. Water goes in there and drains away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to silence floor squeaks under carpet. Learn how driving a nail into the floor will get rid of the squeak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix double hung windows that won't properly latch. Getting the windows to latch will keep out drafts and give the windows their proper seal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what may cause an electric oven to stop working after a power outage. Learn how RepairClinic.com can help you diagnose and fix the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get information on home renovation loans and grants. Find out how to go about getting a one-percent loan for your remodeling project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing the sprinkler system to make a loud noise and what can be done to fix the noise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about your choices when replacing a skylight. Find out why bubble-type skylights are not a good option, due to their problems with leaks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on buying a home with a radiant heat system. Find out how to learn whether or not the radiant heat works before you purchase the home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to remove moldy shower caulk. Find out how to get rid of the mold once the caulk is removed and learn what type of new caulk to buy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which product is used to get rid of termites. Find out how the product works, so that termites take the product back to the nest, effectively eliminating the termites and their nest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips ons how to get rid of squeaks in a hardwood floor. Find out how to use trim screws to eliminate the squeaks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to remove wallpaper from plaster. Get tips on how using a tool called a Paper Tiger can score the paper, and how using fabric softener can help the glue to come off the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about replacing a broken spring on a garage door, including how long the new spring should be. Get tips on where to find the spring and how replacing both springs is a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when old wallpaper starts coming unglued from the wall. Learn why it is best to replace the wallpaper instead of constantly regluing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about durable and affordable Allure flooring. Find out where to buy Allure laminate flooring, and the choices available at Lumber Liquidators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on painting vinyl kitchen flooring. Find out how to get the floor ready for paint, and why the team recommends replacing the floor instead of painting it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can't install tile directly on top of existing vinyl flooring. The adhesive won't stick to the vinyl and the tiles will crack. You have to either put down an underlayment or scrape up all the old vinyl and go from there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to flash a gable. Get tips on using the flexible flashing material made by Grace. First put down Ice & Water Shield, then the flashing material, and then the roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove crumbling mortar from between bricks. The trick is to go in about half the distance on the brick and repoint it. Then use a special, narrow masonry trowel to press new mortar mix in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly vent a wood stove. Learn why triple wall stainless steel pipe is the way to go, but it must be installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association guidelines. It's not a DIY project, so get a professional to help Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill gaps in between hardwood floorboards with jute. Get tips on staining it to match the wood, pressing it into the cracks with a putty knife and refinishing on top of that. You can't use wood filler because it will just crack and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a ceiling fan light that won't turn off. Contact the manufacturer because a core defect is probably causing the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a heat pump water heater is an excellent choice to replace an electric water heater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a concrete garage floor damaged by salt. Get tips on resurfacing and using an epoxy patching compound. Look for products from Quikrete or Abatron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a clogged tub. Get tips on calling a drain-cleaning company to professionally snake the drain because you might just be pushing the obstruction further down every time you try to do it yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why spray-on insulation is ideal to use when building a new house because it both seals and insulates in one step. Look for products from Icynene or Owens Corning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a washing machine that has low water pressure during the rinse cycle. Get step-by-step instructions for checking the flow of the supply valve and learn about RepairClinic.com, a website where you can find any appliance part you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to strip weathered paint from a deck. Get tips on choosing a Behr product and following the directions for wetting the deck and coating it with the stripper. Make sure you let it dry very well before you apply the new finish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why laminate is the best flooring option when you have children and pets. It's very durable, easy to install and available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Check out LumberLiquidators.com for good prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices