The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to repaint an aluminum garage door. Get tips on cleaning it using a TSP solution, then sanding, priming and repainting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the difference between subterranean termites and drywood termites. Get tips on treating your cedar shingles for termites first, then using boiled linseed oil or a semi-transparent or solid-color exterior stain on them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

FInd out why the Christmas lights that broke on your linoleum floor didn't leave a stain, but caused a chemical reaction that can't be cleaned up. The only solution is to replace the floor or cover the area with a throw rug. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix nail pops in a roof. If the nails aren't coming through the surface of the roof, there's not too much cause for concern, but if you want you can use standard roofing nails and overlap the heads with the old nails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't install hardwood flooring over concrete. Get tips on putting down engineered hardwood instead, which is virtually indistinguishable from solid hardwood and won't warp when moisture touches it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of mold caused by a leaking roof. Get tips on using a plant sprayer filled with bleach to kill the mold. Learn why you shouldn't tear out any wood that got moldy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean dirty windows that have not responded to normal cleaning methods. Get tips on using newspaper and undiluted white vinegar to clean them and learn why the problem might be condensation between the panes if they are thermal pane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much insulation you should install in your attic. Get tips on putting in a continuous ridge vent and soffit vents to ventilate your attic, and learn why an exhaust fan is never a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep pine knots from showing through when you paint over wood paneling. Get tips on priming the paneling with a good quality oil-based primer before painting. Another option is to sand off the finish and put on a different stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why an improper installation and bad seal could lead to condensation between your window panes and cause mold growth. The only way to solve the problem is to replace the windows, but it is a cosmetic issue and won't effect energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should buy new, energy-efficient exterior sliding glass doors instead of repurposing old sliding glass doors in your home. Get tips on donating the old doors to Habitat for Humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install flooring over vinyl tile. Learn why you shouldn't pull up the tile: it will leave an uneven surface that will make it hard to install the new flooring. Get tips on looking into laminate or engineered hardwood flooring instead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to frame the walls of a stone tile shower stall. Get tips on applying backer board right to the studs and then putting the tile over that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to patch cracks in a concrete garage floor. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound to fill in the cracks so you can paint the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's a good idea to install a radiant barrier over your attic insulation. Get tips on why you should skip the radiant barrier and focus on adding sufficient insulation instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to judge the energy efficiency of a window. Learn why it is better to go with a good quality window from a reputable company rather than focus on whether the window is double or triple pane. Also learn about NFRC rating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to strip paint from wood without touching the stain underneath. Get tips on using a chemical paint stripper and learn why you shouldn't use a sander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the pros and cons of a metal roof compared to asphalt shingles. Get tips on making sure you want to stay in your home before installing a metal roof, since they are expensive and last a lifetime. Learn why you should strip your roof down to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a concrete porch damaged by salt. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound paired with an epoxy paint to restore the surface of your porch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't put any cleaning products inside your water heater. The right way to clean it is to flush it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce the moisture inside your home. Get tips on keeping your gutters clean and free-flowing, your downspouts extended 4 to 6 feet from the house and the soil around your foundation should slope away from the walls. Also learn about Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be difficult to refinish a hardwood floor that has been faded by the sun to match the other hardwood floors in your home. The only solution is to redo all the floors. Get tips on using an exterior-grade polyurethane, which is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to update your countertops on the cheap. Get tips on relaminating the countertops using contact cement to adhere the new layer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about heat pump water heaters, which is a type of technology that can be used by people who currently have electric water heaters. Get tips on looking at GE's product and checking for tax credits that might be available to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices