The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast Tom Kraeutler & Leslie Segrete

SHOW NOTES:
Looking for privacy? Today, we'll explore natural landscaping screens over traditional fencing. Plus, discover the benefits of metal roofing for summer replacements and learn how to easily renovate your stairs for a fresh interior look. Listen in for info to create your best home ever, with tips for projects both big and small!
- Stairs: Stepping up the style of your outdated stairs is a great DIY project for home design.
- Privacy Screen: Landscaped privacy screens are a natural alternative to building a fence.
- Metal Roofs: If you’re thinking about roof replacement, find out the unique benefits of installing a metal roof.
 
Q & A:
- Shady Garden: Janet is having a hard time growing plants in the shade. We suggest some plant varieties she can try that thrive in shady gardens.
- Cabinets: Brian wants to paint his oak wood cabinets white. He’ll need to strip off the finish, sand the surface, and use an oil-based primer to fill the grain before painting.
- Roof Rejuvenation: What’s the best way to extend the life of an old shingle roof? Kelly gets recommendations about the effectiveness of Roof Maxx treatments.
- Electrical: Is it worth upgrading 150 amp electrical service to 200 amps? We don’t think it’s necessary unless Alice is really using a lot more power in her home.
- Kitchen Flooring: William wants to install bamboo flooring in the kitchen. It’s an excellent choice, along with options like cork flooring or vinyl planks for a different look.
- Exterior Paint: The exterior paint on Helen’s house is bubbling up after just two months. The contractor should come back to make sure it’s primed correctly before painting it again.
 
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
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Introducing Encounter Animals Ethically with Alison Hermance from Via Podcast.
Follow the show: Via Podcast
On the next episode of the Via Podcast, hosts Michelle Donati and Mitti Hicks get up close and personal with a few cuddly critters—and a few not-so-cuddly—on a virtual visit to ethical animal sanctuaries.

Guest Alison Hermance chats about how to interact with animals ethically, and with their best interest in mind, whether at a sanctuary or in the wild, and shares cool facts about the abundance of fascinating creatures in the West.

Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

SHOW NOTES:
In this show, discover the beauty of eco-friendly natural in-ground pools. We'll also share tips on spotting roof leaks early and how the right tools can make painting projects a breeze. We're here to help you plan, save, and avoid mishaps with answers to these and other home improvement questions!
- Natural Inground Pools: Transform your yard into an eco oasis with a natural inground pool.
- Roof Leaks: Find out the clues for spotting a roof leak before it becomes a problem.
- DIY Painting: Advances in tools make big painting projects faster and easier for any DIYer.
 
Q & A:
- Mold: Andrea has mold between the sink and backsplash and around the tub. We explain the best way to clean and recaulk those areas to keep mildew from returning.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots growing close to the surface make it hard to mow. Harris gets some ideas for landscaping or creating a bench around the tree.
- Leaks: Water comes under the wood where Martha replaced her glass doors. She should have added a concrete block instead, and must redirect the water that’s pooling against the foundation.
- Water Heater: Steve’s electric water heater is leaking, but he can’t replace it with a tankless water heater. A heat pump water heater costs more but is a good and more efficient option.
- Wood Columns: Beth is having trouble painting wood columns in front of her home. We discuss ways to make it easier or replacing them with composite columns that won’t rot.
- Basement Moisture: There is moisture seeping in a corner of Jeremy’s finished block basement. He can solve the problem by improving the drainage and grading outside the house.
- Basement Floor: What kind of floor is best to install in a basement? Mary should give up the carpet and replace it with laminate or engineered hardwood flooring.
- Floor Gaps: There are gaps where the bottom of the baseboard meets the wood floor. Tim should add shoe molding around the room to match the baseboard or the floor.
- Painting Cedar: We offer advice to Beverly on using an oil-based primer and a solid stain to match her cedar posts to the white trim of her house.
 
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
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SHOW NOTES:
Stay safe and secure with information about building a safe backyard playground for kids, battery technology to guard against power loss, and fences that add privacy, security, and style. Plus, get answers to more home improvement questions for your next DIY project!
- Playground: Play it safe by building a fun backyard playground with kids’ safety in mind.
- Generators: New battery technology protects against power outages.
- Fences: Good fences make good neighbors, so get tips on putting up the perfect fence.
 
Q & A:
- Tile Flooring: Why is there condensation on the ceramic tile floor? Annette gets advice on reducing the indoor humidity that’s bringing warm air against the cold floor.
- Electrical: Steve is concerned that none of his kitchen outlets are grounded, but it’s not certain. A good electrician is needed to do an evaluation and identify any issues.
- Clothes Closet: Heavy clothes have bowed the rod and pulled the brackets away from the closet wall. Bea learns how to strongly secure the brackets, shelf, and rod.
- Patio vs. Deck: Bill is trying to decide between building a concrete patio or a wood deck. They’d be similar in price, but the concrete patio would last much longer.
- Tree Roots: Should Lynn worry about the pear tree roots near her house foundation? They shouldn’t pose a problem and she’d see signs of any damage beforehand.
- Pool Deck: Howard is painting his concrete pool deck and doesn’t want it to be slippery. He gets tips for prepping the surface and applying an anti-slip coating paint.
 
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
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SHOW NOTES:
Today, get ideas to upgrade your deck with stylish, budget-friendly trends and learn how to add a leak-proof skylight to brighten up your home. Also, discover a new product that can extend your aging roof's lifespan and get answers to more home improvement questions from Money Pit’s expert team in this episode!
- Skylights: The sky’s the limit when it comes to installing leak-free skylights to brighten up your home.
- Deck Space: Add style to your outdoor living with these affordable trends for backyard deck space.
- Roof Repair: Old roofs gain new life with a rejuvenation treatment at a fraction of the cost of roof replacement.
 
Q & A:
- Bathtub Cleaning: Mary gets tips on how to remove bathtub rust stains through light abrasion with an auto rubbing compound.
- Duct Cleaning: Is duct cleaning really necessary? It’s generally not needed unless Steve has done some heavy renovation, but we do advise using quality air filters.
- Washing Machine: Why is the washing machine making that banging noise? Holly gets tips on leveling the appliance, using anti-vibration pads, and installing a water hammer arrestor.
- Toilet Valve: The shut-off valve handle broke off behind Greg’s toilet. We explain how to easily replace it with PEX fittings, even if he needs to cut into the drywall.
- Deck Cleaning: Is there a recipe for a solution to clean decks? Nancy learns how to mix a bleach, detergent, and water solution to apply with a stiff brush.
- Balcony Railing: Jonas wants to replace his surface-mounted railing with a flush-mounted one, but we don’t think it’s worth removing the gutter to gain such a small amount of space.
- Structural Beams: Bill wants to hang a projection screen in his basement, but was surprised to find steel beams in the wall. He gets ideas for what to do next.
- Sandbox: Laurie is excited about creating a sandbox for her grandkids, but asks if she should look for an alternative to sand. Sand is not a problem and a cover will protect it from animals and rain.
- Windows: Condensation inside Don’s double-pane windows is causing mildew. He’ll need to clean and maintain them until he’s ready to get replacement windows.
- Water Pressure: Krista has a shared well but her water pressure is much lower than her neighbor’s. She gets advice on looking for a restriction somewhere in her plumbing.
 
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
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SHOW NOTES:
In this show, learn why homes built in factories can be better constructed and more energy-efficient than traditional builds. Then, prepare your A/C for summer with our service tips and pre-check methods and simplify painting projects with innovative high-efficiency airless paint sprayers. Plus, get answers to more home improvement questions from DIYers just like you!
- Air Conditioning: Be ready to beat the summer heat by testing your air conditioning system.
- Factory-Built Homes: Learn why manufactured homes can be better than homes built on-site.
- Paint Sprayers: Painting projects are made easy with new, high-efficiency paint sprayers.
 
Q & A:
- Heating: How to heat a converted laundry room and bedroom? Paul’s most affordable option would be an electric baseboard heater with a timer, but we’ve got other ideas, too.
- Countertops: Carolyn didn’t expect dull spots on her quartz countertops, but it’s an absorbent surface that needs to be maintained and polished every two or three years.
- Roofing: Condensation is staining Kent’s bathroom ceiling. He should check and replace the rubber boot around the roof vent before priming and repainting the ceiling.
- Unused Pool: Dorothy’s not using her huge inground pool and wants to use the space. We explain the steps involved in disconnecting the systems and filling the pool with dirt.
- Painting: Edward is painting the bathroom but is worried about harmful fumes around his baby. We offer tips for airing out the house and using safer solvent-based products.
- HVAC: Amber’s loft is always much warmer than the rest of the house. She should reverse the direction of the ceiling fans to pool cool air from downstairs and consider installing a supplemental split ductless system.
- Flooring: How can you restore the shine to dull marble floors? Ron gets recommendations for some good DIY products that clean and polish stone surfaces.
- Smoke Odors: The previous owner left stinky smoke odors behind! Courtney has done just about everything, but she can also try sealing the subfloors or using a filtration system and an electronic air cleaner.
 
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices