The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to clean a red wine stain on a vinyl floor. Learn why the wine might have reacted with the floor to actually phsyically change the color of the floor. Get tips on trying to pull up the stain by covering it for an hour with a rag soaked in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you don't need a vapor barrier if you're insulating your basement walls with Styrofoam. Learn why leaving space between the block wall and the framed wall is a good idea because it allows it to dry out better when it gets damp. Plus, get Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn your choices in low maintenace kitchen countertops. Find out whether granite, quartz, concrete or fiberglass laminate countertops are easy to maintain and stain and moisture resistant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove rust from metal slats. Get tips on using a wire brush or sandpaper to get the rust off. Then wipe it down and paint it with a rust-proofing primer like Rust-Oleum. Finally, apply a topcoat to restore the metal to its original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crawl space floors need a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from entering the space above, which can lead to mold and mildew. Get tips to select. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce the amount of street noise that comes in through your windows. Get tips on putting in heavy drapes to absorb the noise and consider installing shutters lined with audio foam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate a floor that you are installing over a concrete slab. Get tips on putting down a vapor barrier and an underlayment, and learn why you can't install real wood over a slab. You have to use engineered hardwood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get options for finishing an outdoor enclosed staircase. Learn about insulating and heating an enclosed outdoor staircase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out your best option for roofing in an area that is battered by high winds. Learn why you must remove your existing shingles before installing a new roof if you want it to last as long as possible. Get tips on using wind-resistant shingles from Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Metal roofs are a great upgrade from asphalt. But should they be instlled on top of the old roof or should the old rooof be removed. Find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a hard-to-reach dryer vent with a product called Gardus LintEater that hooks up to a drill to help you reach the far ends of the vent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on building a bathroom in your basement. Learn how to install bathroom plumbing from underground and how to build a second bathroom for your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trying to get rid of an ugly crack in your sun room ceiling? Learn the steps to take forsheetro the most efficient way to fix a sheetrock ceiling crack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should do some research before deciding to go with spray-on siding. Learn about a website, SpraySiding.com, where you can read countless consumer complaints about poor preparation, poor application, product failure, and warranty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with cracked plaster walls. The best thing to do is either tear them out completely down to the studs or put thin drywall on top of the old plaster and just extend the door jambs, window jambs and outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get started in your search for a specialist certified in universal design who can create an accessible bathroom in your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to install a garbage disposal in your kitchen. Replacing an old garbage disposal can be easy with these tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn where to get an affordable water softener. Find out how an electronic device called EasyWater in an inexpensive alternative to water softening systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Refacing kitchen cabinets is a great way to give your kitchen a lift. Learn what it entails, and how to determine beforehand whether it's better to replace them altogether. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've got an older home and see wiring strung between ceramic knobs, that's knob & tube wiring and it should be replaced. Learn why and best way to get project done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out which is a better choice for a kitchen, hardwood or laminate. Learn why hardwood, even with a commercial finish, won't stand up to the moisture and traffic of a kitchen. Get tips on choosing a darker floor color so you won't have to worry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Old homes often settle resulting in a staircase that's no longer level. Get options for repair or replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't use a pressure washer to clean mold off your roof. Instead, get tips on checking out a product called Wet & Forget that you can apply to your roof with a garden sprayer and then let sit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to paint wood paneling. Find out what type of paint and primer will adhere well to wood paneling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bathtubs made of fiberglass can develop cracks if they were not properly installed. Learn whether it’s best to repair or replace a cracked bathtub and options for repairing cracks in the most effective way possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a toilet after you've pulled up the bathroom floor. Get tips on using Sani Seal, a very thick toilet gasket that takes the place of a wax seal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about tax credits for energy efficient heat pumps and air conditioning systems. Find out about SEER rating for heat pumps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stainless steel sinks getting so dirty that they're discolored? Some products might help but there's only so much you can do when cleaning stainless steel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can apply a tile mastic right on top of paint if it is well-adhered to the cinder block and not loose. For the shower floor, consider using SnapStone, porcelain tile that snaps together and floats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix the normal wear and tear around your windows. Just a small amount of latex caulk can stop leaks around your windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They go hand-in-hand with cooler climates, but log cabins can't necessarily retain heat very well on their own. Get options for insulating a cold climate log cabin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a draft coming through your French double doors. If the house has shifted over time, that could be part of the problem. Contact the manufacturer directly to see if they will send a rep to take a look and possible identify an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to reduce electric shock on floors. Find out how adding humidity can reduce electric shock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two-way and three-way switches are a convenient way to control lighting from more than one location - but problems can be tough to troubleshoot if you're not an electrician. Learn the steps to take if your multiway switches seem confused or just Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on insulating an older home. Old homes may have brick or stone exterior walls without insulation between the drywall. See how to best insulate this type of home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to fix plaster that has been bubbling up. Plaster over absorbing concrete walls can bubble if there is a leak in the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to remove texture from a ceiling. Find out having too much texture on the ceiling may result in having to take the ceiling down and put new drywall up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are using your garage as living space, you will need to heat it for year-round comfort. Here are some options on how to bring heat to a converted garage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix a hole in vinyl siding. Find out how to replace a section of vinyl siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what attracts moles to yards, and get tips for eliminating both! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interested in having a flower bed just outside your home? Learn all the issues you should consider when you want to build a flower bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the quickest and cheapest fix for broken window seals. These seals cannot be repaired, and curtains can hide the stained, cracked seals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laminate floors offer easy installation, but can be tough to fix if they bubble and buckle. Learn what options exist for fixing a Pergo laminate floor, and discover tricks for avoiding moisture-related problems in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Installing a fence in a water-prone yard requires special preparation and materials. Learn how to securely put up a chain-link fence in moist dirt that's prone to flooding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should have your septic tanks pumped and cleaned about every five years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how certain seasonal conditions can effect your sewage system. Find out how what causes unpleasant odors from your sewage system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dishwasher that fills with water when it runs is different than one that fills between cleanings. Find out which step to take to solve the problem of water mysteriously appearing between loads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how replacing a sump pump can stop an overflowing aerator tank problem. Find out how replacing the sump pump may be your only option after you have tried fixing everything else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to preserve a patio that is several decades old. Get tips on resurfacing the floor with an epoxy patching compound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Annoyed by a septic smell in your home and toilets that appear to burp when they flush? Find out the probable cause and learn the best way to vent toilet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices