The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to get cold air to circulate upstairs in your house. Learn why having one central duct system that handles both floors is preferable to having two zones with two separate systems. You will need a good HVAC contractor to make sure you have Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to drill through concrete board. Get tips on pilot drilling the board before you put the screws in. Use a thin concrete bit, about 1/8-inch, with a carbide tip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cover wall paneling to give it a different look. Learn about your options, such as painting the paneling or covering it with 1/4-inch drywall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When soil dries out and pulls away, find out whether gap around the perimeter of a house between the soil and the foundation should be filled - and with what. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing your sanded wooden cabinets not to absorb the stain you are trying to apply. The likely answer is that there is some substance sealing the wood that is causing the stain not to take. Your alternative is to paint the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why you should fill your bathtub with water before caulking.  Find out how your bath tub expands and contracts, and how filling it before caulking will prevent cracking and crumbling grout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to choose the best floor for a dining room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove paneling in a garage. Learn why your plan of action will depend on how the paneling was installed, and how much work you are willing to do on this task. If you decide to leave it up, get tips on painting the paneling a glossy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair sinkholes using clean fill dirt and learn when to call in an engineer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about smart storage for small apartments.  Find out about Rev-a-Shelf, a product that allows you to pull cabinet contents down to a lower level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep a shed cool in the summer heat. Get tips on applying a reflective coating specifically made for roof surfaces, such as ReflectoWhite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a wood porch that shows signs of wear and tear. Get tips on sanding down the surface, then resealing or repainting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how whole house air cleaners work with your furnace.  Find out how turning on the fan in your air conditioner during winter will efficiently clean the air in your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on painting the waterproof membrane on the exterior basement wall. Find out what paint the team recommends using and what the team recommends doing for future protection against water that may seep into the basement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ideas of how to landscape around a home's foundation so that moisture won't get into the basement. Learn which shrubs could be used as accent areas, and which shrubs can be used for adding height to the low foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn whether or not it's worthwhile to remove replacement windows and reinstall them in an addition.  Find out why the weather seal in the reinstalled windows may not be as effective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a cast-iron sink is the best option if you want a kitchen sink that's easy to clean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a cold water line feeding an electric water heater feels warm to the touch - and whether or not it's reason for concern.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove cracked paint before repainting a wall. Get tips on scraping off the loose paint and washing the wall down with TSP before applying a good quality primer and latex topcoat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to remove mulch artillery fungus from siding.  Find out how Jomax cleaner or steel wool can help clean fungus spots from siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a garbage disposal that shakes. Learn why it's probably a balance issue, and get tips on getting it replaced under warranty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When rubber sticks to your tile, learn how to reseal the surface.  Find out how Mexican saltillo tiles may cause rubber carpet pads to stick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why contractors who charge outlandish sums of money to "waterproof" your basement do not have your best interest in mind. If your basement floods when there's heavy rain, the solution is to make sure you have a good gutter system and to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you must first put down insulation before you put down plywood in your attic. Get tips on mapping out an area in the center of your attic for storage, and adding 12 to 15 inches of insulation in the rest of the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to attach crown molding from a cement ceiling.  Find out how a Quick Clips system can allow you to hang decorative architectural moldings where you have a concrete ceiling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices