The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why you should choose a Restore product from a reputable brand for your deck or dock. Get tips on considering Rust-Oleum's Restore product, and testing it on a couple boards first to make sure you're happy with it. Learn why it will take longer to apply a Restore product to your deck or dock -- it's about 10 times thicker than paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....

Find out how to remove stubborn mold from tile in the bathroom. Learn about cleaning products such as Wet & Forget that can be sprayed in your shower and bathtub to kill mold and mildew on bathroom tile. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to identify where the squeaks in the floor are coming from. Get tips on using a stud sensor to find the floor joists, then driving a galvanized finish nail through the carpet to reattach the subfloor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it's better to remove asphalt shingles before installing a metal roof. Find out what tools are used to cut a metal roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if it's OK to insulate a gap between your home's exterior and stud walls that opens into your basement and dumps cold air into it. Learn why that is actually a standard place to add insulation -- it's called the box beam. Get tips on using expandable foam or fiberglass batt insulation to make your basement temperature a lot more comfortable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

Learn about some of the differences between hardwood and laminate flooring. Get tips on how to integrate different types of flooring to make the most of the room. Find out design options available in different varieties of laminate flooring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a stain around the drain in your porcelain bathtub is probably due to mineral salts in your well water. Get tips on using a product called CLR Calcium Lime Rust Remover to get the stains off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether a kitchen cabinet door made of solid wood is more likely to swell and shrink with temperature changes than a raised-panel door. Learn why a good quality cabinet door that was built with dried out wood and sealed properly should be dimensionally stable, regardless of whether it's solid wood or raised-panel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why it's important to test for radon in radon-prone areas before installing any type of floor over a dirt basement. Find out why you should call a professional to do the testing. If radon is present, the floor may require specialized venting so Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean galvanized sinks that have become blackened over time. Get tips on using an abrasive powder like Comet and steel wool to clean the sink. Learn why the blackened appearance may be because the metal itself has become discolored. If Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to use a putty knife, wood block, and hammer to free up windows that have been painted shut. Find out why, with thermal-pane windows, condensation is a signal that the windows need to be replaced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to remove the smell of cigarette smoke from an apartment. Get tips on how to properly prime and paint the walls and steam-clean the carpet to fully remove the odor. Find out why replacing the inserts might be your best bet if you have Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of peeling paint on steel siding. Get tips on removing the paint down to the bare metal and then applying a product called Prep-Sol. After that, use an oil-based Rust-Oleum primer, let it dry thoroughly, and then put Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about the steps necessary to install a laminate floor over tile. Get tips on how to handle uneven surfaces with the right kind of foam underlayment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the three ways to stop tree roots from creating cracks in your driveway, and learn whether it's possible to stop cracks from forming in existing driveways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why a little bit of sound in your plumbing pipes, such as wind or running toilet water, is normal and OK. Find out some signs that would signal plumbing problems, such as an odor or a clog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why combining two bathrooms into one large bathroom could end up lowering the value of your home. Find out some of the precautions and steps you need to take to break down the separating wall and extend the drain pipe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For recessed kitchen lighting fixtures that use long fluorescent tubes, learn why you should stock up on bulbs rather than remodel the lighting fixtures out of fear of them going out of stock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why compact fluorescent lightbulbs should work fine with lighting fixtures and timers that you usually use with incandescent bulbs. Learn about a specialized dimmer designed to work with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Get tips on considering another alternative, LED bulbs, that are more expensive but will last longer and are more energy efficient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Find out how to properly wire a new electrical outlet in the kitchen. Learn why you need to install a ground-fault outlet to meet most electrical codes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to repair a crack in a concrete floor. For bigger cracks get a handy tip on how to use a backer rod and flowable urethane to fill the crack, as well as how to level the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why converting a spare bedroom into a laundry room may have a negative effect on your home's value. Learn how to properly vent dryer exhaust pipes to decresase the chance of a dryer fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to repair a bath fan that no longer draws moisture and humidity from the bathroom.  Get tips n new humidity sensing switches that can operate the bath exhaust fan automatically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on repairing a natural gas fire pit. Learn why the best option is to have a plumber inspect the gas lines, instead of altering the manufacturer's design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why efflorescence on a cement slab floor is a sign of a larger drainage problem. Get tips on how to work with your condominium association to hire an engineer and prevent a mold problem from starting. Find out how to perform simple stop-gap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices