The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Learn the rule of thumb for getting the right size compressor for your house. Find out why it is important to develop a standard spec so that every contractor will be bidding on the same project and you can compare apples to apples. Get tips on having Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reglaze a window and why the fall is the best time to do it. Get step by step instructions for reglazing and repainting windows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove mineral deposits from a slate shower and seal it against water. Get tips on using vinegar to clean the efflorescence and sealing the slate with a masonry sealer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce moisture in your crawlspace. Get tips on keeping water away from your foundation by making sure your gutters are clean and that the soil slopes away from your walls. Also learn how to install a vapor barrier and fan in your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how much space to leave between the floor boards in your deck. Learn why you should put pressure-treated lumber fairly close together, because it always shrinks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you don't need to tear out linoleum flooring before putting down laminate. Learn why you should remove large appliances before laying down the laminate to make sure you don't trap them in the flooring. Get tips on buying foam-backed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a cracked sheetrock wall. Learn why you should use fiberglass self-stick drywall tape instead of paper tape. Get tips on putting several coats of spackle on top of the tape, then priming and repainting the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is not a good idea to wallpaper over tile. Get tips on either covering the tile with drywall or luan or removing it altogether and starting fresh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out where to look for the Reiker room conditioner, a ceiling fan that also has heating coils. Get tips on going directly to their website, HeatinFans.com, to find a supplier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't throw away a chair that needs to be reupholstered. You can email a picture of the chair to Leslie and she will advise you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to use as an underlayment for your new tile floor. Learn why linoleum is not a good choice. Get tips on using luan plywood and thinset for smaller tile, and a mud floor for bigger tile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's necessary to run a dehumidifier in your basement during the winter. If you have central heat, you can get a whole-house dehumidifier attached to a humidistat so it only runs when you need it. Get tips on steps you can take to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to replace spalling bricks on your home's exterior. Get tips on using a masonry saw and chisel to remove the old mortar, and then, after you set the brick in, using a pointing tool to press the mortar in and strike the joints. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of air entering your home through your eletrical outlets. Get tips on setting up your whole house fan to work properly by adding more ventilation to your attic. Learn why continuous ridge and soffit vents are the best Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to do a radon test in your home. Get tips on buying an over-the-counter charcoal absorption canister, and learn why the winter is the best time to do the test. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a concrete floor that has settled. Get tips on using a floor leveling compound, but only if you are sure the floor has finished settling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair leaking ducts with duct tape. Learn why regular duct tape won't work properly, and why you should instead get UL 181 tape. Get tips on conducting a duct blaster test and having an energy audit of your heating system done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mud from ceramic tiles. Get tips on using trisodium phosphate or a siding cleaner such as Jomax. Learn how to apply these products to maximize their effectiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint basement walls. Get tips on using Thompson’s WaterSeal, which is designed to stop moisture from getting through. Learn why you should address the underlying problem by improving drainage conditions around your home's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean rust-stained siding. Get tips on using trisodium phosphate, or TSP, to remove the stain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leaking skylight. Get tips on pulling the shingles off and then resetting the skylight with new mastic. Learn why VELUX and Andersen skylights almost never leak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill in a space in your hardwood floor. Get tips on cutting out the piece of wood that’s near it and custom making a piece of wood wide enough to take the entire space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove moss from the side of your house. Get tips on using a cleaning solution called Jomax and trying to get more sunlight to the area by trimming back trees and bushes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install grab bars in a bathroom with ceramic tile walls. Get tips on using a stud finder to find the stud. Your other option is to attach the grab bar to a lead shield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prime wood molding in advance before you attach it to the wall. Get tips on applying a good quality primer like KILZ. Learn why you should wait to apply the topcoat because you will have to deal with nail holes and trimmed edges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices