The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Learn whether an attic fan will blow loose insulation around during operation. Find out the difference between an attic fan and a whole-house fan and which is more effective at cooling the house, and why an attic fan will need to be accompanied by Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out about installing a new metal roof over existing asphalt shingles. Installing a new roof over multiple layers can cause problems down the road if you need to do some work on your roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to keep moss from growing on a new roof. Find out how adding copper ridge vents can help act add a mildicide when it rains and keep moss from growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get your external outlets working again. Get tips on where to check for the ground fault circuit that controls all the outside outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove cat urine stains from hardwood flooring. Get tips on sanding the area down to raw wood, which will at first be brighter than the rest of the floor but should darken after a few months. Learn why you should use an oil-based Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get step by step instructions for installing a patio. Learn why you should use a finely ground gravel mix for the base instead of sand. Read about the benefits of paver bricks vs flagstone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint an exterior concrete wall. If you use a pressure washer to remove the old peeling paint, make sure you let the wall dry really well afterwards. Get tips on using a cement stain instead of a latex paint, which doesn't adhere as Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to make a wood fence last for 10 to 15 years. Find out the right way to install the posts and get tips on using a solid stain instead of paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to update a fireplace. Learn why working with what you have--for example, replacing the surrounding carpet with tile or adding a mantel--is the best approach. Get tips on covering brick with marble tile and making sure the access point to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix nail pops so they don't happen again. One solution is to remove the nails all the way and replace them with drywall screws, which never pull out. You can also put another drywall nail next to them and try to overlap the heads so Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve a pilot light that will not stay lit. If the pilot burner is dirty or not adjusted properly, that could that be the source of your problem. If you have a clean, strong pilot light and you replace the thermocouple and you’re still Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a platform for a wall oven. Measurement is key because you don't want to have to put it in more than once. Build the platform out of 2x4s with a plywood base and then slide the oven in so it ends up right on top of the platform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how zinc and copper strips work to prevent roof mildew. Learn why you shouldn't put anything on top of asphalt shingles--moisture still gets underneath but doesn't have anywhere to evaporate. Also get tips on being very gentle when scrubbing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to level uneven concrete driveway. Get tips on using an epoxy patching compound to build up low areas. Follow the directions on the package and be sure to pressure wash the concrete first to remove any dirt and grime that could interfere Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove vinyl tiles and refinish a wood floor. When you have the old floor removed, rent a sanding machine called a U-Sand. Don't use a heavy floor belt sander because it can really damage the wood. Get tips on using a lambswool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a dishwasher that's covered in grease. Get tips on running the dishwasher through an empty cycle using super-hot water and vinegar to break down the grease. You might also consider turning your water heater up or seeing if your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix dirt walls in your basement that have dried out and are cracking. Get tips on putting concrete stucco on over the bare dirt wall. If you want, you can put a wire mesh in it. As long as the stucco is replaced once in a while, it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what is causing your basement to crack and how to fix the problem. Frost heave is the underlying issue; the soil outside your basement wall is getting too wet. When it freezes, it expands and puts pressure on the cement block wall, causing it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your tile floor starts cracking and coming loose. Learn why tiles that pop off linoleum are evidence that the surface was not prepared properly. One solution is to take up all the tile and put down a 1/4-inch luan subfloor, or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a GFCI outlet that keeps popping. First, confirm whether it is a standalone outlet that controls only itself. If it is, replace it and see if it still pops. If it does, have an electrician trace it out to see if there is something Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix hard water. Get tips on first identifying what is in your water with a water test. The results will be very helpful in determining what type of water treatment equipment you need. If you have well water, it’s a good idea to test it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find a leak in your roof. If your roof was recently replaced, the leak is probably the result of a workmanship error. The first place to look is the flashing, which is where the chimney or plumbing pipes come through the roof, or where Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a bathroom door jamb that has gotten soft from water exposure. Get step by step instructions for repairing it with wood filler. First, tap the door jamb with a screwdriver to find the soft areas. Open them up and carve them out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should seal off your foundation vents. If your house is designed to have a vented foundation, you should definitely have the vents. If your house has a moisture problem, sealing off the vents is not the solution. Instead, look at Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't install hardwood flooring yourself, because an amateurish job can negatively impact resale value. Get tips on going with engineered hardwood, which is structurally stable, durable, and available in a wide variety of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices