The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why you should avoid companies that offer expensive services to "waterproof" your basement and use scare tactics to get you to hire them. Instead, the way to deal with water in the basement when it rains is to redirect the water away from your home's foundation using downspout extensions, soil grading and gutter maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...

Find out how to reduce moisture and condensation in a small basement with a dirt floor. Get tips on improving drainage conditions around your home's foundation, pouring a dust-cover slab and installing a dehumidifier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you need to remove vinyl tile with asbestos in it before putting down a new floor. Learn why it's OK to leave the asbestos tile since there's no danger of disturbing it. Get tips on using engineered hardwood instead of real hardwood, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if you have an old house that shows signs of settling. Get tips on figuring out whether the settling is over and done with, or still active. And learn why you should never attempt to "re-square" a house by trying to lift up various Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your garage floor is covered in stains and acid spills, find out how to clean it and then apply a coating that will protect the floor. Get tips on using a two-step garage floor epoxy coating system from Quikrete. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to make over a ceiling that has cracked, stained tiles. Get tips on removing the tiles and using drywall screws to secure the drywall to the wood strips on the ceiling. Learn why you should use fiberglass tape for the joints and flat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether mold and mildew on asphalt roof shingles is a problem. Learn why it's a cosmetic issue rather than something that can do damage. Get tips on three reliable methods for getting rid of the moss and keeping it from coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if you notice that the sealant between your home's brick front and vinyl siding is cracked. Learn why you can only caulk a 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch crack, and nothing larger than that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it is a good idea to save water and energy by putting a timer on your water heater so it only heats water in the morning and evenings when you need it. However, learn why it's not a DIY project and why you should bring in a professional Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do with a stone foundation that's been covered in plywood that is now rotting. Get tips on removing the rotted material and evaluating the stone foundation. If it looks good, repoint the joints with additional cement as needed and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix peeling paint. Get tips on scraping off all the old, loose paint, sanding down the walls and ceiling, and applying primer before putting on coats of paint. The primer is the key step because it's the glue that will help the paint Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom debunks the myth that firefighters can't fight a fire in a home with solar panels on the roof until the sun goes down because they don't want to put water on something that is producing electricity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a high turnover rate for water heaters, find out how to improve your luck. Get tips on using a no-salt water softener and buying a water heater with the best warranty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about an odor in your well water. Get tips on having the water tested to find out what components are in it. Then you will be able to figure out what kind of treatment system you need, possibly including a charcoal filter to remove Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether there is a type of composite decking that won't fade over time as it becomes weathered. Learn about Kleer decking, which is made of PVC, is available in seven colors and comes with a lifetime warranty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of squirrels that have decided to take up residence in your home. Get tips on using humane Havahart traps and squirrel repellant to manage them. But the first step is to seal any gaps that are allowing them to enter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for brightening a dull laminate countertop. You could use a laminate painting kit from a company like Rustoleum, or you could use car wax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with the problem of truss lift. Get tips on installing L-shaped truss clips or adding a second, overlapping layer of drywall to create a ceiling strong enough not to show cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of a patch of crabgrass in your lawn. Get tips on using an all-natural product called Crabgrass Killer with ingredients like cinnamon bark, cumin and baking soda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should choose PEX or Onix tubing for your radiant heat system. Learn why the Money Pit recommends PEX for its reputation and proven history of performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to restore an asphalt driveway. If it is in good shape structurally, you can repair cracks, patch holes and reseal the surface. However, if it's in bad shape structurally, you might want to consider adding an additional layer of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the cause of pinhole leaks in your copper pipes. Learn why the leaks are caused by the acidity of the water rather than a defect in the pipes themselves. Get tips on how to deal with the problem: either fix leaks as they spring up, or replace the pipes that you have access to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove black marks from your roof. Get tips on using a product called Wet & Forget, which will clean away and moss, mold, mildew or algae that might be on your roof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the proper way to ventilate a roof. Learn why passive ventilation is more effective than an attic fan. Get tips on putting in continuous ridge vent matched with continuous soffit vents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with excess moisture in a cabinet below a bathroom sink. Learn why the concrete slab floor is probably pulling moisture from the ground and get tips on venting the cabinet to solve that problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices