The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why it is not necessary to put crushed rock on top of the plastic sheeting in your crawlspace. The only thing you need to do is put a large single plastic sheet right on top of the soil to stop the moisture from evaporating up into the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on laying laminate flooring over existing tiles. Find out what may happen if the existing tiles may tent up under the laminate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on painting concrete basement floors and walls. Find out which paint is best to use on the high traffic floor so that it won't peel and crack during use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix low water pressure problems by installing a pump and new water pressure tank. Find out how adding the pump and tank can help increase the water pressure to numerous fixtures and faucets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what needs to be done to change the hardware on a pedestal sink. Learn why it is best to hire a plumber for the job since more than likely he will have the tools needed to complete the job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether or not you can put a pocket door into a load bearing wall. Get tips on what door would be best to use and what size the new door has to be framed at. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when there's too much heat coming through your windows. The solution is to replace them with energy efficient windows. If you have louvered windows now you'll have to switch to another design such as casement windows because there Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean rust from a driveway. Get tips on using TSP, trisodium phosphate, which is available in the paint aisle of home centers and hardware stores. Mix it up into a paste and trowel it on the stain, then let it sit for a bit and it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove mold from a driveway. The only permanent solution to prevent mold growth is for the driveway to get a lot of sunlight. Otherwise, use a siding wash like JOMAX or OxiClean. Apply it to the driveway, let it sit for a while and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it's OK to let moss grow on your roof. You can leave it alone as long as it doesn’t get too thick and start to grow under the shingles because it will hold water against them and cause rot. If it gets to be really thick, treat it with Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a garage wall panel system. You need to put a screw in every stud location because every square foot of it has to be sturdy enough to hang whatever you want to hang on it. If you run out of screws, you can go buy some deck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leak above the front door. The most common cause of this is that the flashing above the front door on the outside of your home is breaking down and that’s why the water is getting in. First try using a silicone caulk around the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's OK to paint deck trim with a two-in-one product as long as the product is rated for exterior use. However, the only product you should use on a deck floor is a solid stain because nothing else will hold up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to refresh a deck and get it looking like new. Get tips on using a semi-transparent stain if your deck is in good shape and a solid stain if it's in bad shape. Make sure you don't get too aggressive when pressure washing, and let dry very Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it is necessary to do something about a crack in the foundation of your home. If it seems to be relatively stable, you can leave it alone. If you have issues with moisture getting through it you can always caulk the crack. However, if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix the problem of water coming up through the floor around your toilet. The problem is caused by an issue with the wax seal. The solution is that the toilet has to be taken up and the wax seal has to be replaced. You should then be Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether it is safe to use a steam cleaner on a hardwood floor. When cleaning a hardwood floor, you don’t want to use a lot of water; you want to damp mop it and use a good-quality hardwood floor cleaner. Using a steam cleaner should not be a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about installing radiant barriers to remove excess heat from the attic. Find out how to install the barriers so that air flow isn't blocked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to attach the top of a work bench if you are putting a plywood surface on top of a sheet metal top desk. Drill down through the top and use sheet metal screws to attach it to the desk. Clearance drill the wood top and then pilot drill the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to soften hard water using EasyWater, a system that is attached at the main water line. It takes the lime deposits and the minerals in the water and essentially charges them so that they don’t stick together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should be worried about the electromagnetic field around your refrigerator. All appliances emit electromagnetic fields but they generally drop off very, very rapidly when you move away from them. It's not really a cause for Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to keep your garage door seal from sticking to the garage floor when the garage door freezes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips and advice on how to strip paint from wood siding and wood shingles. Find out how to go about preparing the wood for new paint and how to strip off the old paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to remove old paint from wrought iron railings by using a pressure washer. Get tips on how to prime the surface before repainting the railings and which paint is good to use. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on replacing old skylights. Find out how you can qualify for a tax credit by replacing old skylights with energy efficient models. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices