The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Get advice for replacing the composite siding on your Tudor-style home. Learn why EIFS, exterior insulated foam siding, is a risky way to go due to the potential for leaks. Instead, you should choose real masonry stucco, a choice that will last a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a concrete porch that has sunken up to 2 inches in some places. Learn why it's too big of a gap to try to patch. Instead, the solution is to tear out the concrete floor and then pour a new one on a properly tamped, properly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make shower temperature fluctuations a thing of the past with a pressure-balance valve.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to deal with a sump pump that fails to turn itself off.  Find out how to determine whether a sump pump can be adjusted and repaired or whether it requires replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint your old wood paneling to give it a new look. Get tips on using a good-quality primer to help the paint stick, and then using white paint for country charm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how faulty duct design can make for a noisy HVAC system.  Also, find out about homebuyer's warranties and how to handle problems with new construction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why lead shower pans crack over time. Find out how to test a lead shower pan to see if there's a leak. If the pan is indeed leaking, you have to tear out the shower base and rebuild it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to prepare a stained-wood cabinet for painting.  Find out what sort of primer works best in a high-moisture environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to widen a constricted attic access.  Find out why a larger access is useful for attic insulation projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a garage slab that has settled unevenly with cost-effective repair options.  Learn the importance of addressing drainage problems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair dings and dents in drywall. Get tips on making the repair with spackle, and learn why you should apply primer and use a flat paint to make sure the new surface blends in with the rest of the wall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's a bad idea to add foil face fiberglass insulation when your attic is already insulated. The foil face is a vapor barrier that will trap moisture, cause humidity and prevent the insulation from doing its job properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should go back to the same company that did the original cleanup after flooding in your home rather than get involved with a new company. They will use disinfectants to kill any materials that may be causing the lingering odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why there is no such thing as "bad drywall." If the drywall put up by a contractor has buckled over time, it's likely due to poor installation. Get tips on asking the contractor to return and resecure the drywall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out steps you can take to decrease the humidity level inside your home, thereby reducing the amount of condensation on your windows. Get tips on making sure you have properly vented exhaust fans in your bathroom and over your stove, and that Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice on choosing among different materials -- cedar, composite, pressure-treated lumber, etc. -- when planning a new deck. Learn why you should keep maintenance needs in mind when considering your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with a mold outbreak in your garage. If it's less than 10 square feet, you can take care of it yourself. Get tips on mixing a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and using that to kill and clean the mold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a cracked beam. Get tips on making the repair using construction adhesive and another beam of the same width. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair dents in corner molding. Get tips on using auto-body filler or spackle to fill in the dent. Then sand, prime and repaint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why laminate flooring is a good choice for a room that gets a lot of heavy foot traffic. Laminate is relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why thermostats are standalone units and not specific to a certain type of heating system. Get tips on installing a programmable thermostat -- especially the Nest -- to see almost immediate savings on your energy bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing a gas burner to emit an odor and create a black buildup. Something is obstructing the burner, so the gas is not fully combusting. The solution is to take the burners apart and clean them thoroughly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be an expensive and complicated proposition to cut out a circle in your wood floor and put in granite. If your goal is to reduce time spent cleaning, some better options would be to take off your shoes at the door so you don't Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why explosion sounds from a water heater are nothing to worry about as long as the tank has the right size pressure relief valve on it. Get tips on hooking up a garden hose to the tank to drain some water off the bottom and rinse out any Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your concrete steps are separating from your concrete driveway. Get tips on using a concrete-repair product from Quikrete to seal the crack. Learn why you can't use regular concrete to fix damaged concrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices