The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

SHOW NOTES: Today, we’ll give you four reasons to reconsider painting your exposed brick, and if you’re buying a new house, we reveal which builder upgrades are worth the investment and which ones you should DIY. Also, get advice on illuminating dark corners of your home. Plus, listen in for answers to home improvement questions for all kinds of DIY projects! - Painting Brick: Before painting your exposed brick, find out 4 solid reasons why you shouldn’t. - Home Upgrades: When building a new home, find out which upgrades make sense and when to DIY. - Lighting: Expert tips shed light on how to brighten a home for style and safety.   Q & A: - Light Switch: After installing new LED bulbs, Pammy’s light fixture doesn’t work at all. The problem is with her light switch, not the bulb. - Old Cabinets: What is the best way to strip and refinish old kitchen cabinets? Bob gets step-by-step instructions on how to clean, strip, and stain wood cabinets. - Damaged Floor: Lisa is feeling soft sunken spots under her carpet. She should pull back the carpet to check for structural damage and see if the padding is breaking down. - Window Leak: Adam has a leak in the bay window under a skylight. We suggest ways to divert water running down the roof above the skylight and around the window. - Discolored Brick Wall: A brick retaining wall is turning white from ground moisture that’s pulling up, evaporating, and leaving mineral deposits. Eunice can clean the efflorescence easily with white vinegar. - Epoxy Paint: Judy tried to apply epoxy paint to the basement floor but it kept coming up. She should contact the manufacturer to see if it’s an unusual chemical reaction. - Architects: Who should Linda consult about adding a bathroom and hobby room to an old farmhouse? We recommend consulting with a few architects to maintain the building’s style and structural integrity.   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

SHOW NOTES: Join us as we uncover tips for navigating the often-confusing process of window shopping. Then, we discuss a versatile portable battery system for both travel and home integration. Finally, learn about micro-irrigation, an efficient watering method that can save your garden. Plus, we’ve got more home improvement answers to inspire your DIY projects! - Buying Windows: Expert advice makes shopping for replacement windows a transparent process. - Battery Backup: Stay charged with a portable power backup system to use at home or on the go. - Micro-Irrigation: Transform your garden with micro-irrigation that’s rooted in efficiency.   Q & A: - HVAC and Fans: Marie wonders if fans will improve her air conditioning. Ceiling and furnace fans won’t help very much, but we recommend installing a whole-house fan to pull air through the house. - Pest Control: Daddy longlegs are a problem in Will’s garage. Sticky traps, spraying white vinegar and vanilla extract, cleaning, and vacuuming will control the spiders. - Jacuzzi Mold: Robin has issues with moldy pipes and a fading finish on her Jacuzzi bathtub. It’s hard to refinish the fixtures, but a bleach solution will sanitize the pipes. - Fire Pit: Katherine has questions about fire pits. Options include buying a metal model that can last 5 to 8 years or a DIY kit to build a fire pit with bricks or pavers. - Insulation: What kind of insulation should Albert add to his attic? Spray foam insulation is an excellent choice that expands, seals, is more efficient, and needs no ventilation. - Ceramic Floor: Sandy can’t get her old ceramic tile floor clean. It sounds like the glaze has worn off, so we recommend installing laminate flooring or a second layer of tile. - Foundation Cracks: Cracks in the basement floor and seepage through the wall seams have Tom worried. He gets tips on sealing the cracks and improving drainage. - Oven Cleaning: Gail can’t clean the glass on her self-cleaning electric oven door. It’s a tough area to reach and she’ll need to disassemble the door.      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

SHOW NOTES: - Buying a Foreclosed Home: Is it a deal or a disaster to buy a foreclosed home? - DIY Stone Countertops: Get the expensive look of a natural stone countertop at a fraction of the cost with a DIY refinishing kit. - Installing Attic Flooring: Learn how installing attic flooring can add to your storage or weaken your structure.   Q & A: - Bad Odors: Jim can’t find the source of a strange odor in his new home. It may be bio-gases in the plumbing, but there are ways to clean out the bacteria. - Dishwasher Stops Working: The dishwasher fills but then suddenly stops. Darlene should check the float in the bottom of the dishwasher to see if it’s clogged. - Property Lines: How can you find your property line markers? Daniel’s home survey will show the boundaries, but it may be difficult to locate the metal corner pins. - Broken Sewage Pipe: A cracked sewage pipe ruined Helen’s basement. She’ll need a remediation company but the damage should be covered by her insurance policy. - Insulation: Marion’s old home has no insulation or vapor barriers. We’ve got tips on the best ways to insulate her house. - Damaged Hardwood Floor: A water leak left a soft spot in the hardwood floor. We suggest that Heather use a piece of hidden flooring to replace the damaged boards. - Leaking Toilet: An old-fashioned toilet tank keeps leaking. Fred should try using silicone to seal each connection and make his own gaskets.   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

SHOW NOTES: -      Planning a Kitchen Makeover: Having the right plans for a kitchen makeover is the recipe for success. -      Concrete Crack Repair: Get tips on how to fix cracked concrete and make the repairs last. -      Cleaning Range Vent Hoods: Gross grease can also be a hazard. Find out the best way to clean the vent hood over a stove.   Q & A: -      Insect Pests: Karen has questions about a bug zapper for her problem with flies. We recommend an insect trap that works well to eliminate flying pests. -      Driveway Drainage: Water that flows alongside the driveway is removing the sand and soil. Randy can dig out the dirt and fill the space with gravel that won’t wash away. -      Installing a Fence: Hope wants suggestions on materials to use for building a fence. She gets tips on attractive black fencing and how to build the footings. -      Garage Insulation: Is it a good idea to insulate a garage that will be air-conditioned? Yes, it is, and will help David save on heating and cooling costs. -      Adding a Bathroom: Where is the best place to add a second bathroom in your home? A second-floor bathroom will give Keri better value than a bathroom in the basement. -      Coal Fireplace: Is it safe to burn coal in a wood-burning fireplace? Ed learns that it’s definitely a fire hazard and that coal fireplaces are built differently. -      Musty Odors: Georgia smells musty odors in the room over her crawlspace. We suggest installing a vapor barrier and vent fans, plus checking for drainage issues and dead animals. -      Painting Wood Eaves: Paint is peeling from the wood eaves in Kelly’s old home. We have tips on how to strip, prime, and repaint the wood. -      Brick Repair: Brick and mortar is crumbling on the corner of Katherine’s home. She gets advice on how to dye and patch the brick and repair the mortar. -      Repairing Door Panels: Jeff wonders if he should repair a broken wood door panel or get a whole new door. A carpenter can easily replace the panel.   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

SHOW NOTES: - DIY or Hire a Pro?: Do you have the DIY skills or should you pay for a professional contractor? How to decide. - Tap Water Safety: Tests can determine how safe your water is for cooking, drinking, and bathing. - Insulation: Cooler weather is a great time to find out if your home has enough insulation. YOUR QUESTIONS: - Rusty Washing Machine: Sherry’s washing machine dispenser is rusting. If it’s not that old, it’s worth getting a replacement part and having it repaired. - Insulation: Ed wants to insulate the gap between the drywall and masonry. It would be more effective to seal any drafts and add insulation to the attic. - Popcorn Ceiling: Can you clean a popcorn ceiling? Margaret won’t be able to clean it, but gets tips on how to remove the popcorn texture or repaint it. - Retaining Wall Materials: Should Robert use blocks or poured cement to build a retaining wall? Blocks are more attractive and less work but need to be installed properly for the retaining wall to last. - Weed Removal: Kim is fighting a weed problem and gets info about using plastic sheets, weed block, and spray products for her lawn. - Leaning Wall: A brick retaining wall is leaning forward from the soil that’s expanding and pushing against it. Howard gets options for replacing the wall. - Leaking Windows: Rain and bugs are coming inside Georgia’s leaking windows. They should be sealed with better flashing under the exterior siding. - Cracked Drywall: Drywall cracks are a common problem, but Patrick gets tips on using fiberglass tape and how to spackle over it to stop the cracks. - Woodpeckers: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Barb gets advice on how to scare away woodpeckers that keep tapping at her house. - DIY Fire Pit: James wants to build a DIY fire pit. We recommend a fire pit kit that includes all the materials he needs. - Cracks in Brick: A crack going up a brick wall may have many causes. Unless it’s an active crack, Judith can use silicone sealant to keep out damaging moisture. ASK A QUESTION: - Need answers to your own home improvement or decor 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

SHOW NOTES: - Stump Removal: Get to the root of the problem of stump removal with these tips. - Squeaky Floors: Step quietly by fixing those annoying squeaky floors. - Buying Gutters: Installing the right gutters defends your home against water damage. Q & A: - Ceiling Stains: After fixing a roof leak, Sarah has ceiling stains. Using a good primer before painting will stop the stains from coming through. - Cement Caulk: Is there a caulk you can use to match a cement stamped patio? Tom will probably need to just use a clear caulk to seal the cracks. - Bathroom Tile: Is there an alternative for bathroom wall tile? Janet should consider a premade bathtub surround as an inexpensive and effective option. - Crawlspace: Bowen had better have a good reason for removing dirt from his crawlspace because exposing the footing could cause structural issues. - Cracked Concrete Floor: Lori has cracks in her concrete flooring. We recommend using a patching compound to make it look like new. - Uneven Floor: The uneven floor in John’s home addition is a problem. We offer suggestions for using a floor-leveling compound or a transition strip. - Installing a Flagpole: Linda is having trouble installing a flagpole to an aluminum column and gets info on using longer screws and a block for support. - Stained Countertops: How do you clean stains on a Corian countertop? Sharon should try making a cleaning paste and letting it sit to bleach the stains. ASK A QUESTION: - Need answers to your own home improvement or decor 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

SHOW NOTES: Open Floor Concept: Create an open design in an older home with a pass-through project. Smart Home Security: State-of-the-art home security systems defend your domain and grow with your family. Choosing a Paintbrush: Make DIY painting projects easier by choosing the right paintbrush for the job.  Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Building a Deck: Cheryl wants to build a deck over a concrete pad. We explain why that’s not a good foundation and how to build a proper footing. Plumbing Leaks: What should you do about pinpoint leaks in copper pipes? Mike should monitor the situation and replace the pipes as needed rather than remove the whole plumbing system. Cleaning a Vinyl Fence: Beverly wants to clean black marks off her white vinyl fence. She needs to find the source of the stains and use an abrasive pad with the right cleaner. Flooring Over Concrete: Wally gets advice on sealing cracks in his concrete floor to prevent moisture before installing a new floating floor over it. Installing Vinyl Siding: Should you use nails or screws to install vinyl siding? Beverly learns why to definitely use nails and how to allow the siding to expand. Water Sensors: Doug wants to know if a water sensor is a worthwhile investment. We agree that water sensors and leak detectors have smart technology that works well.   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

SHOW NOTES: Lightning Protection: When lightning strikes, find out how to protect your home from storm damage. Stuck Windows: Get tips for opening and closing stubborn old windows that have you stuck. Buying a Grill: Here’s what to look for when shopping hot deals for a new grill. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Uneven Air Conditioning: One room is much warmer than the rest of the house. Stephanie can check the airflow at the registers and returns, add insulation, and install supplemental cooling to balance the heating and cooling. Attic Ventilation: Jim is worried about mold he found after insulating his attic. He needs to increase the attic ventilation by adding ridge and soffit vents. Bathtub Refinishing: The bathtub finish is starting to erode and can’t be touched up. Peggy gets info about an epoxy refinishing kit to do the whole tub. Metal Roof: Patrick is considering installing a metal roof. It’s a good investment that offers new technology, insurance savings, and energy rebates. Painting Fireplace: Should you paint a brick fireplace? Mary gets advice about using a good primer, having to repaint, and ideas to decorate around the brick. Cleaning a Covered Deck: Ed wants to clean his covered wood deck. We recommend a wood cleaner, but he’ll need to cover his tools so they don’t get wet. Adding a Deck Step: It’s a high step from Steve’s deck into his cabin. Adding a step will be helpful and he finds out the right size tread to build. Garage Floor Stains: How do you clean grease stains from a garage floor? Kathy gets tips on cleaning the stains with TSP and using an epoxy floor paint. Driveway Repair: An old asphalt driveway is worn and has big dips. It sounds like it’s time for Bonnie to tear it out and replace the driveway.   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. Sponsored in part by policygenius.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SHOW NOTES: End-of-Summer House Projects: Get info on 5 end-of-summer house projects to do now that will save time, money, and repairs later. Cooling a Home on a Budget: Learn low-cost to no-cost ways to reduce the heat in your home. Exterior House Painting: If you spray it, you can slay it with a paint sprayer that makes exterior house painting projects quicker and easier. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Central Vacuum: Condensation on the central vacuum pipes is ruining Sean’s walls. We suggest insulating the whole pipe to stop the drip. Shelving: Ellie needs tips on how to hang wall shelves. We have tips on how to properly anchor shelves to offer the right support. Radon Mitigation: Bob has questions about adding a radon fan. He should get a separate radon mitigation system that will pull the gas from under the entire slab of his home. HVAC Mold: Fluctuating temperatures cause mold in Betty’s ceiling vents. It may be only condensation that’s depositing dirt particles, but she should have an HVAC inspection to see about cleaning the duct system and replacing the filters. Tree Roots: Ashwani is concerned about the roots of big backyard trees near his home. There’s low risk if the trees are healthy, but he should consider thinning them out if the trees are crowded together. Cracked Ceramic Tiles: Can cracked ceramic floor tiles be fixed? They can’t, but Valerie can remove the damaged tiles and replace them with complementary ones. Vinyl Flooring: Angela wants to cover her old vinyl kitchen floor with paint. It’s not a good idea, but we offer options that are durable, affordable, and stylish. Bathroom Odors: Phew! There’s a sewer odor in Ted’s bathroom. He should check if the trap is properly vented and use bleach to eliminate bio-gases. Pool Deck Coating: Howard asks about paint for his concrete pool deck that won’t be slippery. We have tips for applying an anti-slip coating. Butcher Block Countertop: Eliza likes the look of a butcher block countertop, but we warn her that it’s a lot of work to maintain and guard against bacteria.   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

SHOW NOTES: Home Maintenance: When the American dream is a DIY disaster: homeowners get failing grades for home maintenance skills. Dormant Lawn Care: Brown grass may be dormant, not doomed, with proper lawn care. Concrete Repair: Old, worn-out concrete comes back stronger than ever with a DIY concrete resurfacing product. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Kitchen Range: Cindy must protect her wood cabinets next to a large six-burner gas stove. We suggest getting installation specs from the manufacturer. Metal Roofing: How do you install a metal roof? It’s not an easy DIY project, but Perry gets tips on installing a metal roof that will last a lifetime. Septic System: What is the best way to maintain a septic system? We advise Emily to have it inspected and pumped regularly, avoid chemicals, and protect the septic field. Roots in Plumbing Lines: Roots under Larry’s home are growing into the sewer lines and separating the pipes. He should look into relining the pipe rather than breaking up the floor inside the house. Deck Paint: Oops! Emily used porch paint on her new deck. It’s actually not a problem as long as the paint is adhering well. Heating Flooring: What kind of floor should go over a heated concrete slab? Russ needs to use a radiant heat-compliant product, such as stone-based flooring. Wood Paneling: Ashley has wood paneling with no drywall underneath. We tell her how to remove it, replace the insulation, and install moisture-proof drywall. House Flies: Yuck! Mike’s got fly poop all over his siding that won’t come off. We suggest a cleaning product to use and getting a pest control professional to control the problem with flies. Wet Basement: Beverly needs help with her wet basement and finds out how to improve the outside drainage with better grading, gutters, and downspouts. Cracked Brick Wall: There’s a long, wide crack in the brick wall behind Jim’s garage. He needs a structural engineer to find out if it’s an active crack. Smoke Odors: After the previous homeowner left smoke odors behind, Lois should use an oil-based primer on the walls, subfloors, and ceiling to seal in the smell before painting the rooms.    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