The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast Tom Kraeutler & Leslie Segrete

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Apartment Gardens: Love to garden but don’t have outdoor yard space? Get tips on growing an apartment garden.


Home Security: Effective home security cameras need to be positioned properly. Find out where to place cameras to keep your home safe.


Sealing Concrete Surfaces: Concrete patios, driveways, and sidewalks take a lot of wear and tear. This product will keep concrete looking like new.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Refinishing Hardwood Floors: Joyce wants to know the best way to refinish her hardwood floors. We share the steps on what to use and how to do it.


Cleaning Vinyl Siding: Doug needs to clean spray foam residue from his vinyl siding. He’ll need some WD-40 and a putty knife to soften and scrape it away.


Sump Pump: The sump pump wasn’t turning on and now it’s making a gurgling sound! Renee gets info on what may be affecting her sump pump and how to improve drainage.


Hot Water Pressure: Steve is not getting good hot water pressure. He should check the valves all along the line to see where the flow is being restricted.


Popcorn Ceiling: A popcorn ceiling in a bathroom is a terrible idea! Bill scraped it off and now he should use primer to seal it and then use a flat paint.


Leaking Pool Pipes: Sherilynn has a steel pool with a leak somewhere in the pipes. We suggest disabling the existing pipe and running a new line to replace it.


Garage Floor: The garage floor is not level and water is going towards the wall of the house. Bill can use a floor-leveling compound to even out the concrete.


Roof Replacement: The roofer wants to add a third layer to Ella’s roof. It’s a bad idea because it will retain heat and accelerate the deterioration of the top layer.


Kitchen Flooring: William likes the look of bamboo flooring for his kitchen. It’s a good, durable choice if that’s his style, and we offer some additional options.


Rust Stains: Metal banister rails left rust stains on Tamra’s pavers. She can try using chemical or natural acid rust removers to clean the stains.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
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Eliminating Weeds: Weeds are the enemy of lush, healthy lawns. Get tips on fighting backyard weeds all season long.


Natural Stone Countertops: Stone countertops are a rock-solid choice for kitchens but require care. Find out the pros and cons.


Airless Paint Sprayers: If you’d like to get a smooth and speedy finish on your next painting project, check out a high-efficiency airless paint sprayer.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Dock Restoration: Colleen is seeking a product to restore dock surfaces. We suggest using an established, name-brand product and testing a small area first.


Plaster Walls: Plaster is falling off the walls in Scott’s house. We recommend installing new drywall over it to secure the plaster and provide a smooth surface.


Staining Concrete: Can you color a concrete patio to cover up repaired cracks? Dottie can choose from a range of concrete stain colors before sealing the patio.


Hardwood Floors: Mark likes the old-fashioned look but wants to clean and protect his hardwood floors. A light sanding and a flat or satin finish will work.


Crawlspace Vapor Barrier: Is plastic needed on the ground under an exposed crawlspace? Margie can add a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from wicking up through the soil.


Toilet Flushing: When Jeff flushes one of his high-efficiency toilets, it sucks water out of the other one. He needs a plumber to check for a venting issue or an obstruction that’s blocking the air to create suction.


Vines: Invasive vines managed to grow through a window and across the room. After cutting them down, Louise must sand, prime, and paint the walls and be sure to kill the vine at the roots outside the house.


Deck Maintenance: George is tired of resealing the deck each time it peels. He can either strip the wood and start over or replace the boards with a composite material.


Carpet Stain Removal: Chuck is trying to remove some old blood stains from carpeting. We have tips on using either water and salt or hydrogen peroxide to lift the stain.


Preventing Mold: Mold keeps returning around the sink and bathtub. Andrea learns how to use bleach, a mildewcide caulk, and moisture control to prevent mild from coming back.


Wood Siding: Dennis wants to change the siding on his home. He’ll be able to install the new siding right over the T1-11 wood siding he currently has.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
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Modular Outdoor Kitchens: Building a customized outdoor kitchen is made easy with modular bricks.


Curb Appeal: Stand out from the competition with 4 simple curb appeal upgrades to attract homebuyers.


Attracting Butterflies: Find out how flower power can create a butterfly oasis in your garden.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Window Leaks: Is a leaking window caused by the soffits, the roof, or the window itself? Mike gets advice on how to find and fix the source of the leak.


Ceramic Tile Flooring: There’s condensation on the ceramic tile floor. Using a dehumidifier and checking drainage around the home can help with Annette’s cold floor in a warm, humid house.


Roof Leak: Norma has a leak caused by an ice dam on her roof after a past storm. She learns the damage should be covered by her insurance policy.


Electrical Fuses: A short circuit keeps blowing the fuse every time Gary tries to turn it on. He needs an electrician to check the wiring and avoid danger.


Driveway Repair: Scott’s aggregate driveway is starting to crumble. It’s hard to repair a rough stone surface and he might consider replacing the driveway.


Staining a Deck: Pauline’s wood deck is looking worn again. We suggest applying an oil-based primer and a solid stain that will last longer.


Concrete Stains: What to do after battery acid spills in a concrete carport? Garland should try using epoxy paint to cover the concrete floor.


Vinyl Plank Flooring: Can vinyl plank flooring be installed over an old floor that has areas of glue? Robin should have no problem if the planks are rigid enough.


Water Odor: Phew! Wilson’s water smells like rotten eggs, even after replacing the water heater. We suggest having the water tested and using a charcoal filter.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
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Paying for Home Repairs: Want to buy a fixer-upper and still have funds for making repairs? New mortgage programs offer assistance.


Extending Roof Life: Old, dried-out roof shingles can be rejuvenated with a treatment that adds years to the life of your life.


Concrete Restoration: If you’ve got cracks, holes, or worn areas in concrete surfaces, there’s a way to fix the flaws and smooth things out.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Hot Water Delay: Tired of waiting for the water to get hot? Loretta can either install a tankless water heater or a less expensive hot water recirculating system.


Uneven Concrete: Part of the concrete porch slab is rising up. We give Charlie tips on preparing a new base to keep things level or creating a tapered ramp.


HVAC System: There’s a big difference in the upstairs and downstairs temperatures in Amber’s home. Ceiling fans, a split ductless system, or additional ducting and vents can help.


Dryer Vents: Should a broken dryer vent be repaired or replaced? We think Jim should replace the dryer vent and part of the duct that goes through his wall.


Water Pressure: Krista has very low water pressure. She needs to test the pressure at different points to find any restrictions and see if it’s the well system.


Foundation: After doing an addition, Larry’s house is starting to sink and the floor is bowing. He must get a structural engineer to evaluate what to do.


Quartz Countertops: Why are there dull spots on the quartz countertops? Carolyn should be polishing the quartz surface regularly.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
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SHOW NOTES:


Paint Sprayers: Planning a painting project? High-efficiency airless paint sprayers make the job easier and faster so you can paint like a pro.


Multi-Use Tools: Get info on finishing DIY home projects quicker and easier with corded, cordless, and manual multi-use tools.


Buying a Foreclosed Home: Bargain or burden? Learn the pros and cons of buying a home in foreclosure.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Cracked Bathtub: Tim’s new bathroom came complete with a cracked bathtub! It will be hard to repair, but he may get a temporary fix with a fiberglass repair product.


Staining a Deck: Why should you wait before staining a new pressure-treated deck? We explain that Theresa should let the lumber dry out for a year so the stain will apply properly.


HVAC System: Luke wonders if he really needs two natural gas HVAC units. A two-zone system is definitely more efficient, along with an upgraded thermostat.


Cleaning Outdoor Furniture: How should Lucy clean her outdoor furniture? We’ve got advice on how to clean different materials.


Upgrading Electrical Wiring: Is it safe to keep old knob and tube electrical wiring? It’s not grounded and can be dangerous, so we recommend that Judy should get her wiring replaced.


Garage Door Repair: Dave has dry rot above his old wood garage door. We tell him how to support the rafters while replacing the garage door header.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
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SHOW NOTES:


Reducing Heat Indoors: Feel like you’re living in a hothouse? Get cool solutions for reducing the heat in your home.


Landscape Planning: You don’t need to be a pro to plan a lovely landscape. Find out simple tips on how to start.


Proper Insulation: Is your home insulated well enough? Learn what it takes to stay comfortable and save on energy bills.

 Plus, answers to your home improvement questions.


Exterior Painting: Blowing pollen has stuck to Beth’s newly painted columns. She should sand the surface smooth again and surround the area with tarps to protect it until a new coat of paint dries.


Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets: Randy wants to match the colors on his painted kitchen cabinets. We’ve got tips on how to stain, repaint, or reface them.


Lawn Care: Why won’t one area of the lawn grow? We tell Deb to get a soil sample tested to see if it needs a different treatment than the rest of the lawn.


Wall Insulation: Do you need a thermal barrier on cinderblock walls? We give Rick info on using Tyvek and how to insulate walls to prevent moisture and mold.


Door Weatherstripping: The insulation is wearing out on John’s double storm doors. He can look for similar weatherstripping to replace it.


Squeaky Floors: Donna’s concerned about her squeaky kitchen floor. It’s annoying, but not a structural problem, and we tell her how to find the cause.


Light Fixtures: How hard is it to split the electrical wiring to install two bathroom light fixtures? It’s fairly easy to do, but Gary should call an electrician for the job.


Ridge Vent: Mary just doesn’t like the ridge vent that was installed with her new roof. We explain that it’s doing exactly what it should for proper ventilation.


Painting Cedar Siding: Paint is flaking off the cedar siding on Frank’s home. He should use a wire brush to clean it off and then use an oil-based primer before painting it again.

 
Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices