The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to repair a crack in the ceiling that is leaking water. Get tips on using drywall tape, spackle, primer and paint to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why a rubber-backed rug on a linoleum floor will have a chemical reaction with the floor that produces a permanent yellow stain. You can't clean it: You must replace the floor or cover up the stain with a bigger rug. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly prep wall paneling before you paint it by using liquid sander to abrade the surface, and then applying a good quality primer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a bare copper wire is not enough copper to help prevent the growth of mold on your roof. Get tips on using copper flashing instead, in addition to thinning the trees around your roof to let more sunlight hit it. Learn about Wet & Forget, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best places to install insulation in your home and how it can save you energy and money.  Windows and attics are prime places to add insulation to save energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are to get rid of a carpenter bee infestation. You can hire a professional to spray insecticide, or you can consider replacing your wood porch with a composite material like AZEK that looks just like wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it would be an expensive project to move your shower to where your toilet is and vice versa. Get tips on finding another way to redecorate the bathroom to improve its look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent algae on a condensation drain. Get tips on adding a condensate pump and having the condensation pumped elsewhere so it doesn't gravity-drain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing the heating element of your water heater to keep burning out. If the problem is a buildup of mineral salts, you can use a water softener like EasyWater. Another problem could be a fluctuation in voltage to the heater, or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean a TV screen if you've lost the manual. Get tips on searching online for a scanned PDF of the manual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a leaking metal roof. Learn why you can't seal a metal roof like you would an asphalt roof and get tips on finding a roofer who has real experience with metal roofs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill cracks in a concrete driveway so they don't spread and get worse. Get tips on using a caulk-like product from QUIKRETE for the job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for cooling your home during the hot months. If you need to cool an entire floor, learn why your best bet is to install a traditional central air conditioning system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can't put ceramic tile down directly on top of a linoleum floor. Get tips on using a tile backer and figuring out whether you have room for the extra thickness or if you need to tear the linoleum up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make a proper floor for a shed. Get tips on elevating the floor to allow air to move under it, which will help prevent decay. Learn why painting the floor with porch-and-floor paint will make it more durable and easier to clean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why laminate flooring is a good choice to cover up unsightly linoleum. It is water-resistant and floats on top of the existing floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's OK to let your dogs rest in your crawlspace on hot summer days as long as they are housetrained and won't use the space as a restroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of the odor of cigarette smoke in a home. Get tips on priming the subfloor and replacing the HVAC filters with the 3M Filtrete Odor-Reduction Filters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the proper way to repair cracking and chipping of the chimney area. Get tips on replacing the mortar between the liner and the outside of the chimney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove tree roots that are warping a concrete floor. Get tips on using a jackhammer to break up the affected section of the floor, then digging out the roots and repouring the concrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your wood floor is covered in dried glue. Get tips on refinishing the floor to get rid of the glue using a floor buffer with a sanding screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should strip off your old fiberglass roof before adding a new layer. Get tips on considering whether you will be living in the home for a relatively short (5-10 years) or long (20 years) period. If you want your new roof to last a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair Formica countertops that are coming loose. Get tips on using contact cement to stick the laminate back down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why foam insulation is preferable to fiberglass insulation for sealing a crawlspace. Learn what R-value of insulation you should shoot for in a crawlspace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find a good contractor. Get tips on using the internet to aid your search. Angie's List is a good place to start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices