The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Learn about floating laminate flooring, which should lie completely flat if installed properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove texture from an interior wall. Get tips on sanding the surface of the wall with a very fine sandpaper and priming the wall before you paint it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace a crimp connector to stop a toilet leak. Get tips on looking at your local home center or hardware store to find the appropriate crimp connector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to manage waste water from your washing machine that is currently dumping into your yard. Get tips on digging a pit and aiming the pipe from the washer a few inches below the surface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a refrigerator with a crisper drawer that freezes your vegetables. Get tips on cleaning the vent behind the drawer so it can circulate air, or having a repairman fix or replace the thermostat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how frost could be pushing up one of the 4x4s under your deck, causing it to rise up in the middle during winter. Get tips on digging a new hole for the post that's three feet below grade so you get down below the frost line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to kill the grass in your backyard so you can build a deck over it without worrying about wild growth. Get tips on using Roundup, then putting down weed block and laying mulch over that. Do that after you frame it but before you deck it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop water from seeping through your garage wall into your home. Get tips on pulling off the baseboard molding on the garage side and filling the gap between the wall and floor with expandable polystyrene foam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to heat and cool an addition to your home that isn't covered by your existing HVAC system. Get tips on checking out Mistubishi's split ductless systems, which are also energy efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of moisture condensing on your basement stairwell door. Get tips on putting a proper door on your basement to seal it off so you don't lose any more energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop water from leaking into your basement. Get tips on creating the proper run-off for rainfall by using fill dirt to slope the soil down and away from the walls of your foundation. Also make sure your gutters are clean and free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to adjust the plumbing in your bathroom to prepare for a new bathtub. Get tips on getting the old tub out, moving the supply pipes and the drain pipes to the proper rough-in locations and then dropping in your new tub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix the problem of wind blowing off your roof shingles. Get tips on adding some asphalt cement underneath the shingle tabs if it's just a small area. If it's a large area, your best bet is to replace the roof with Owens Corning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out where you should place your sink when remodeling your kitchen. Get tips on putting the sink at a window and setting up a triangle between your sink, refrigerator and stove. Considering building a two-level island and putting the sink on the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you need more insulation in your attic. Learn why you should have 19 to 22 inches of insulation. Get tips on laying unfaced fiberglass batts on the floor if you are not using your attic space for storage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of condensation on your bathroom ceiling. The solution is to warm up the bathroom ceiling by making sure it’s insulated above and couple that with proper bathroom ventilation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best types of flooring to install over plywood. Get tips on looking into engineered hardwood and laminate flooring, which lock together and float over the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cover up wallpaper in your bathroom. Learn why it's not a good idea to paint over wallpaper: the seams always show through, the wallpaper adhesive will eventually fail and it will be even harder to remove under a layer of paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to soundproof a basement apartment. Get tips on adding a second layer of drywall and putting soundproofing glue called Green Glue in between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mildew and mold from the siding of your house. Get tips on using a product called Wet and Forget that can be found at Ace and True Value. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate your home's walls without causing a moisture problem. Get tips on putting a layer of foam over plaster and learn why your priority, before you even worry about wall insulation, should be attic insulation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop sunlight from fading your hardwood floor and furniture. Get tips on using window tints or films or a light-diffusing fabric shade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to draw attention from an ugly brick exterior. Get tips on adding shutters and window boxes with flowers, or encouraging ivy to grow on the siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a home sauna. Learn why infrared bulbs will not provide sufficient heat; you need a proper sauna heater. Get tips on looking for a good electrical heating cool that has rocks that surround it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove your dishwasher before you install laminate flooring in your kitchen and adjust the legs of the appliance to make sure it can fit under the counter and over the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices