The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what to do if your bathroom exhaust fan isn't working. Get tips on testing the power to see if the problem is with the switch or the fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to protect a crawlspace from dampness. Get tips on using gutters and soil grading to redirect water away from your home's foundation. Learn why covering the floor of the crawlspace with thick plastic will stop a lot of the moisture from Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to choose a good contractor for interior painting. Learn why it's important to make sure you are doing an "apples to apples" comparison in terms of paint brand, number of coats, prep work, etc. Get tips on checking references and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add more insulation to a cathedral ceiling. Learn why blown-in insulation is too messy for this purpose. Instead, get tips on using rigid foam insulation and then covering it up with wood paneling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get a stain out of vinyl siding. Get tips on using sandpaper to abrade the surface and get down to the raw vinyl again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce window condensation. Learn why condensation will form on poorly insulated windows in the winter. Get tips on taking steps to reduce the moisture around your house to help mitigate the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using the website for the Old Farmer's Almanac to find out what plants will grow in the hardiness zone where you live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix sliding glass doors that are tough to close. Get tips on using a screwdriver to adjust the height of the wheels under the door to give it more clearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on spraying down the pan with a product called Wet & Forget to prevent algae from growing and clogging up the tubes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what type of wood flooring works best for a house on a concrete slab. Learn why solid hardwood would warp and twist from the moisture in the concrete. Instead, get tips on using engineered hardwood, which can be installed as a floating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of pet urine odors in your flooring. Get tips on using an epoxy paint on your garage floor to seal in the odor. For carpeting, get tips on pulling it up and replacing the padding if necessary. Then use an oil-based primer on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why a pocket door is more expensive and more labor-intensive to install than a normal door. Get tips on telling your carpenter that the customer is always right and you're willing to pay more for the pocket door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about electric resistance heat. You can buy glass wall-panel heaters, which can be stylish and modern-looking. But overall, this type of heat is expensive and you would be better off with oil, propane or gas if the fuel is available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of banging pipes in your walls and ceiling. Get tips on having a plumber install a water-hammer arrestor on each line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a foundation that's cracked from settling. Get tips on sealing the crack with silicone caulk, and improving drainage conditions around the home to prevent the soil from becoming overly wet and weak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why removing your old roof before installing the new one is the better option if you are planning on staying in your home for 20-25 years, as it will last longer. On the other hand, if you plan to move, it's perfectly fine to install a second Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on asking your engineer to serve as your general contractor and recommend people to implement the repair he is calling for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an architect to design your patio cover. Then you'll have a set of specifications you can take to different contractors and get their price to build it. Then you can compare apples to apples, so to speak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to improve the appearance of your old tub. If you are having no luck cleaning it, it might be worn rather than dirty. A solution is to order a custom bath insert from BATHFITTER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a sticking door. Get tips on rehanging the door and sealing its top and bottom edges to keep moisture out and reduce swelling in the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep plants from growing up through your deck. Get tips on laying down weed block, a black, burlap-y type fabric, underneath the floor joists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a roof leak in a three-season room. Learn why using a coal-tar patch product is only a temporary solution. Instead, get tips on taking apart the roof where your home meets the addition and installing a water-and-ice-shield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about tree roots that are causing granite rocks to separate from the mortar holding them together. Learn what your options are: You can remove the tree, accept the situation, or replace the granite rocks with loose stone that can Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's not a good idea to saw 4x4s into 2x4s to use for wall studs. Not only is it a labor-intensive proposition, but 4x4s tend to be very wet and can twist like crazy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a GFI on an older wiring system. Get tips on hiring an electrician to do the job to ensure that it's done correctly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices