The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#2373 – Tidy Triumph: Conquering Clutter | Staircase Safety | Salvaged Vintage Charm Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

In today’s show, learn the secrets to creating a harmonious home as we discuss expert advice on decluttering your space, ensuring your stairs are secure, and embracing the uniqueness of vintage finds, plus answers to more home improvement questions.

- Home Organization: Conquer clutter chaos by keeping your home organized.

- Staircase Safety: Step-by-step tips for staircase safety.

- Vintage Design: Add vintage charm to your home with salvaged architectural pieces.

Q & A:

- Chimney Venting: Gayle needs advice on converting her old fireplace to gas. Lining the chimney with a stainless steel flue would be easier than installing a power vent.

- Cracked Drywall: Doug was told his drywall cracks are from a structural problem, but it sounds like the contractor did a bad job installing the drywall.

- Flooring Options: Engineered hardwood, laminate, and engineered vinyl planks are all good options for Rebecca to install over her existing ceramic tile floor.

- Window Leak Stain: A leak under a cellar window left a stain that looks like mildew. It’s probably just efflorescence that Ross can easily remove and paint over.

- Water Heater: Gwen’s water heater was clogged up with hard water mineral deposits that settled to the bottom. Draining it regularly will keep it running efficiently.

- Refinishing Countertops: Should a dark Formica countertop be covered or replaced? Mark learns about a great DIY product that will give the surface the look of granite.

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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#2372 – Ready, Set, Snow! Winter Prep Checklist | Pine Pests: Christmas Tree Bugs | Poison Control Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Tune in to today’s show for a wealth of essential winter wisdom! We'll guide you through snow preparation tactics, effective methods to eliminate pesky Christmas tree bugs, and insights into handling and preventing common household poisons. Empower yourself with knowledge to safeguard your home and family, plus answers to more home improvement questions.

- Winter Checklist: The best time to prepare for snow is before it starts, with this winter-ready checklist.

- Christmas Tree Bugs: Learn what to do when your unwelcome holiday guests are Christmas tree bugs.

- Household Poisons: Take these important steps to protect your family from common household poisons.

Q & A:

- Leaking Roof: Cindy has tried everything to fix a leaky corrugated metal roof. She’ll need to either add another layer of roof with an ice and water shield or replace the whole roof.

- Generator: Rich wants a generator to guard against power outages. We recommend a natural gas whole-house generator to keep things running and offer peace of mind.

- Window Replacement: Some of Donna’s old windows no longer open or close. After so many years, it’s time to replace them with windows that are more energy-efficient.

- Attic Fan Energy Savings: Is it worth having an attic fan? Rob learns why an attic fan can waste energy in the summer and how not to use it in the winter.

- Uneven Floor Joists: A dip in Deb’s old home is twisting the staircase. It’s rarely a good idea to try to raise the floor unless it’s a structural issue and would be easier to build new stairs to fit the space.

- Concrete Flooring and Walls: What’s the best way to seal concrete walls and floors in a basement? Gary can use standard masonry wall paint and epoxy on the floor.

- Countertops: Cheryl needs ideas for resurfacing her plywood countertops. Tile would be a good DIY option that’s quick, affordable, and stylish.

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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#2371 – Seal the Deal: How to Store Paint | Hang Tough: Secure Wall Hangings | Front Door Décor Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Today’s show offers a trifecta of home beautification tips! Unravel the mysteries of proper paint storage so leftover colors remain fresh and usable, then learn the art of securely hanging wall hangings for a picture-perfect gallery. Finally, spruce up your entryway with front door décor ideas to welcome holiday guests. Plus, get answers to even more home improvement questions!

- Storing Paint: Leftover paint is useful for touchups and other projects, as long as it’s stored the right way.

- Securing Wall Hangings: What goes up won’t come down with these tips for securing wall hangings.

- Front Door Décor: Make a lasting first impression with festive front door décor to welcome holiday guests.

Q & A:

- Drainage: How can John improve drainage on a home surrounded on three sides by soil on a steep hill? A curtain drain can intercept and redirect water around the foundation.

- Concrete Patio Surface: Jennifer’s concrete patio has gotten pitted from rock salt. She can use a concrete resurfacing product on the entire slab to fill in the pockmarks.

- Hardwood Floors: After a contractor did a bad job stripping his hardwood floors, Billy gets advice on how to sand and refinish the surface, plus how to stop the squeaks.

- Insulation: Brrr! Both kitchens in Lora’s home are cold due to insufficient heating and insulation. We suggest calling the home inspector and taking steps to warm things up.

- Asphalt Driveway: How can you repair a crumbling asphalt driveway? Bruce may be able to patch small holes temporarily, but a latex patching compound would be better.

- Accessible Cabinets: Nancy doesn’t like the old soffits in her kitchen but is concerned about reaching high spaces. A certified kitchen and bath designer could offer accessible options with pull-down shelves.

- Heating Installation: Virgil is installing an energy-efficient furnace in his old home. The manufacturer can tell him the proper installation and venting for that equipment.

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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#2370 – Rise Above: Remodeled Attic Space | Avoiding Ice Dam Dangers | Easy One-Part Foam Insulation Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, we’ll be looking upward to keep your home safe and comfortable! First, check out tips for adding living space in your attic. Then, beware of the dangers of damaging ice dams on your roof. Finally, keep the cold out and the warmth in with spray foam insulation that’s made easy. Listen in for answers to all this and more of your home improvement questions!

- Using Attic Space: If you need some added living space, look up toward your attic for some remodeling ideas.

- Icicles and Ice Dams: Those pretty icicles hanging off your roof may signal damaging ice dams.

- Spray Foam Insulation: Sealing out drafts is made easier and more effective with a new one-part spray foam insulation product.

Q & A:

- Closet Space: Matt wants to move the entry to a narrow closet from the short end to the wide wall. Building a temporary wall is a good idea in case it needs support.

- Laminate Flooring: What is the easiest way to install a laminate floor? Tristan gets step-by-step instructions on how to lay down a new floor.

- Sump Pump: Jesse must drain his washing machine into a gray water pump instead of a sump pump. We advise him on how to connect the vent system.

- Wallpaper Seams: One big area of Nora’s wallpaper is mysteriously curling at the seams. There are several wallpaper seam repair products she can apply.

- Old Window Repair: Someone broke the windows in Mike’s very old house. He’ll need to replace the glazing around the glass and have a carpenter repair the wood.

- Kitchen Cabinets: Marilyn loves her oak kitchen cabinets and wants to take them to her new home. It shouldn’t be a problem to carefully disassemble and move them.

- Cockroaches: Yuck! Alan moved into a house that’s crawling with cockroaches. Professional pest control is his best option, but it may take time to get rid of the roaches.

- Door Above Concrete: The door over a concrete slab porch is chipping away the cement. Christy should use a patching compound and add an adjustable sweep on the bottom of the door.

- HVAC: Joan would love to turn a small outbuilding into a usable space. A small wall heater running off a natural gas line would be a great way to make it comfortable.

- Garage Floor: A low spot in the garage floor keeps filling with water and freezing. Mona can use a patching compound to level the floor or install a modular tile floor that will drain and provide traction.

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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#2369 – Hot Topic: Are Smoke and CO Detectors Enough? | Cleaning Product Hazards | Boost Insulation Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Join us as we cover the essentials of home safety and comfort! In this show, we discuss whether smoke detectors and CO detectors alone provide complete protection, then explore how to avoid cleaning product hazards. Plus, find a game-changing product that not only bolsters insulation but significantly enhances your home's energy efficiency. All this and much more to answer your latest home improvement questions!

- Fire Protection: Are smoke and CO detectors enough to keep your home protected?

- Cleaning Products: What to look for and what to do to handle cleaning products safely

- Boost Insulation: This new product boosts insulation and increases energy efficiency and comfort.

Q & A:

- Plumbing Leak: To fix a leak where the copper pipes connect, Kris needs to start by draining the boiler below the point of the leak.

- Building a Sunroom: Jay is building a sunroom and gets tips on pouring the concrete foundation and adding insulation to supplement passive solar heat.

- House Leveling: A main beam has broken under Diana’s house and now it’s settling unevenly. A good contractor can attach a new beam to reinforce the old one.

- Water Softener: How can you tell if your water softener is working and how do you clean it? Ken gets some step-by-step advice.

- Security System: Sherry lives in a rural area and wants to install a security system. There are lots of affordable options that offer Wi-Fi connections, power backups, monitoring services, and other features.

- Roof Leak: Vincent isn’t sure if a leak is coming from his metal roof or the air conditioner. We tell him how to find the source and what to do to seal the roof.

- Noisy Siding: Why is Carolyn’s vinyl siding making noises? It may be wind going through the panels, but they shouldn’t be tightened because the siding will buckle.

- Stained Patio: How can David renew a stained, faded patio? We discuss some products he can use to refinish and seal the concrete surface.

- Stone Porch: Mindy has lots of questions and we’ve got lots of answers on what products to use on her stone porch.

- Faucet Plumbing: Roger’s bathroom sink faucet keeps leaking even after he’s replaced the parts. It may be best to use original parts from the manufacturer that will fit perfectly.

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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#2368 – Renovation Regrets: 5 Remodeling Mistakes | DIY Workspace Under $500 | Visible House Numbers Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Join us on this week’s podcast as we start by delving into the nitty-gritty of remodeling woes, revealing common mistakes to dodge. Then, from transforming your garage into a DIY haven to ensuring your home's address stands out, we've got you covered with practical insights and expert advice for all your home improvement questions!

- Remodeling Mistakes: These 5 common remodeling mistakes can lead to renovation regrets.

- DIY Workspace: Create a comfortable and convenient garage workspace for less than $500.

- House Numbers: Make your home easier for guests and emergency responders to find with more visible house numbers.

Q & A:

- Garage Floor: How can you treat a garage floor that’s covered in oil and grease? Laurie gets tips for using TSP and a pressure washer, then applying an epoxy finish.

- Snow and Insulation: Ash is worried about attic insulation preventing roof snow from melting. Fast-melting snow actually poses a bigger risk because of added weight.

- Hiring Contractors: Rita is frustrated by pushy, uncooperative contractors and gets advice on searching online to get the well-prepared, proper estimates that she needs.

- Refinishing Stairs: Should Jason use water-based polyurethane on his wood stairs? It would be better to use a satin, solvent-based polyurethane that is more durable.

- Soundproofing: Tony’s noisy upstairs neighbor is a ceiling stomper! Aside from insulating the ceiling or having the neighbor put down rugs, the best he can do is use soft goods to absorb the sound in his apartment.

- Wall Tile: Shen wants to put tile over a cement wall in the garage. She’ll need a waterproof uncoupling membrane between the wall and tile to prevent moisture and cracking.

- Basement Ceiling: Drop ceiling or exposed ceiling in the basement? Gonzalo could tidy up the wiring and paint it, but he should really look at great new drop ceiling options.

- Ventilation and Insulation: Kathy’s Cape Cod home is hard to ventilate to prevent moisture, so we suggest using spray foam insulation to seal it completely.

- Toilet Plumbing: The basement toilet gurgles and won’t flush all the way. Rick will need a plumber to clear out the blockage that his standard snake can’t reach.

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. Sponsored in part by policygenius.com.

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#2367 – Door Defense: How to Lock Out Thieves | Spray Foam to Seal Drafts | Driveway Restoration Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Lock 'em out, seal 'em in, and pave the way! Join us for tips to fortify your home against break-ins, seal drafts with spray foam wizardry, and wave goodbye to dirty, damaged driveways. Get answers to these and other callers’ home improvement questions on this week’s Money Pit podcast!

- Door Defense: Securing your doors is key to protecting your home from burglars.

- Sealing Drafts: This great DIY spray foam makes it easy to seal out drafts.

- Driveway Repair: Get tips for restoring a stained or cracked driveway.

Q & A:

- Garage Floors: Tracked-in snow is making a mess in Randy’s garage. A perforated floor tile system and epoxy floor paint can help keep things clean.

- Fireplace Drafts: Wind is blowing through a gas fireplace that was improperly installed. Susan should check for gaps and contact the manufacturer for installation instructions.

- Painting a Room: In what order should you paint a room? Jake gets tips on how to prep the space and use masking tape to paint baseboards and trim, then the walls.

- Metal Roofing: Is a metal roof worth the investment? Sally learns it’s a great but expensive option, so the ROI depends on how long she’ll be staying in the house.

- LED Lighting: Scott is converting his home to all LED lighting but can’t find LED tubes to replace the fluorescent ones. We suggest ordering them online and having them shipped.

- Paint Stains: Black spray paint leaked onto Tiffany’s laminate floor. She can try carefully rubbing the stain with some nail polish remover.

- Old Windows: Don’s old windows date back to 1746! We discuss using a heat gun or a steamer to carefully remove and replace the window glaze without damaging the wood.

- Woodpecker Damage: Woodpeckers are damaging the exterior of Denise’s house. Hanging strips of black plastic or shiny tin pie plates will help drive them away.

- Faded Wood Floors: When Ty pulls up an area rug, he sees that the wood floor around it has faded. Time will eventually even out the color, or else he must refinish the whole floor.

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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#2366 – Survey Dishes Up Dishwasher Ratings | 3 Common Heating Mistakes | Affordable Marble Surfaces Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Tune in for a treasure trove of home improvement tips in this episode, where we discuss blunders to avoid in home heating, dish about top-rated dishwashers, and share the secret to creating attractive and affordable marble surfaces. From cozy warmth to sparkling dishes and elegant countertops, we're here to help you make your house a dream home!

- Dishwasher Ratings: A new survey dishes up details about the top-rated dishwashers.

- Home Heating: Find out 3 common home heating mistakes that are driving up your energy bills.

- Marble Surfaces: Get the beautiful look of marble surfaces easily and without the high cost.

Q & A:

- Cleaning Grout: To clean tile grout in high-traffic areas that has gotten dark, Lisa will find that a grout stripper is much stronger and works better than a grout cleaner.

- Toilet Plumbing: When one toilet flushes, the one in the other bathroom drains! John should check for an obstruction that’s affecting the venting in the pipes.

- Countertop Stains: How can you cover a white marble countertop that’s badly stained? We suggest Katherine use a marble resurfacing kit that can be used on existing stone.

- Shower Remodel: John is converting a basement sauna into a shower and needs ideas for wall materials. Tile is a good option that can be adhered right onto the terracotta walls.

- Painting Doors: Anna’s painter used cans of spray paint on her doors and now they’re all sticking. We offer tips for removing the doors and repainting them the right way.

- Bathroom Moisture: Eddie’s done almost everything to reduce the condensation in his bathrooms. Now he should try installing a humidistat timer on the exhaust fans.

- Wallpaper Removal: What’s the best way to remove layers of wallpaper? Thomas should use an inexpensive paper tiger tool and wallpaper paste remover, unless he wants to rent a wallpaper steamer.

- Damaged Siding: Wade’s steel siding was damaged by a hailstorm and he can’t find new siding to match it. A public adjuster will fight to have all the siding replaced by his insurance company.

- Painting Wood Paneling: Dena is tired of the dark brown paneling she has in every room. It’s better to remove it, but it’s possible to clean, sand, prime, and paint over it.

- Mice Control: Eek! William is suddenly getting lots of mice in his basement. We offer tips on what he should do to manage his rodent problem.

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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#2365 – Crack the Case: Investigating Foundation Fractures | Closet Organization | Shower Windows Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

In today’s episode, we’ve got tips for keeping your home mess-free, stress-free, and mold-free, from creating functional space in cluttered closets to deciphering the significance of foundation cracks to safeguarding against dreaded window mold and rot. Tune in to learn all this and much more from the Money Pit’s home improvement experts!

- Foundation Cracks: Crack the code of sorting minor cracks from major foundation issues.

- Closet Organization: Get organizing ideas to cure closet chaos and save space.

- Shower Windows: Keep mold and rot at bay in old bathroom shower windows.

Q & A:

- Painting Foundation: Anna needs tips on painting the cement foundation of her home. She should start with a good masonry primer before adding a coat of exterior paint.

- Cleaning a Fireplace: What is the best way to clean creosote from a brick fireplace? Bill gets suggestions about using TSP, brick and stone cleaners, and soot removers, plus safety advice.

- Painting Stucco: Do stucco exterior walls need to be treated before painting? Jean should lightly pressure wash them before priming and painting the surface.

- HVAC Replacement: John is thinking of putting a ductless heating unit in every room, but it’s an expensive idea and we think he really just needs better insulation.

- Garage Insulation: Christine has lots of questions about insulating a detached garage and a crawlspace. Spray foam insulation is a great option and very effective.

- Cold Showers: Brrrrrrr! It takes too long for the shower water to get hot, but it’s fine everywhere else. Sounds like Daniel should replace a faulty shower valve.

- Leaking Roof: The bathroom ceiling in Steve’s cabin is leaking, but the repairs and mold prevention should be covered by insurance since it was caused by storm damage.

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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#2364 – Bright Moves: Motion-Sensing Security Lights | Frozen Water Pipes | Phantom Floor Drafts Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, we’ll unlock expert secrets on fortifying your space! From installing motion-sensing security lights to preventing frozen pipes and sealing pesky floor drafts, we've got you covered. Tune in for a wealth of home improvement insights with these and other tips to make your home a haven of safety and comfort!

- Motion-Sensing Security Lights: Stop burglars in their tracks by easily installing motion-sensing security lights.

- Frozen Water Pipes: Get thawed-full advice to keep pipes from freezing when temperatures dip.

- Floor Drafts: Learn what to do when drafts coming up from the floor send chills down your spine.

Q & A:

- Kitchen Plumbing Vent: What happens if a kitchen plumbing vent is left welded shut? Unless Kate’s drains are sluggish, it shouldn’t be a problem; otherwise, she’d need to remove and extend the vent.

- HVAC Mold: Brandon is worried about mold by his furnace, but it’s probably just algae from condensation that overflows from the air conditioning coil.

- Electrical Outlets: Why do some outlets have two holes and others have three? Lisa learns it’s from different types of wiring and how they’re grounded.

- Refinishing Exterior Wood Doors: John wants to be sure he’s properly refinishing his mahogany doors and gets tips on maintaining and protecting them from UV damage.

- Flooring Insulation: We offer Janet some advice on sealing drafts and adding insulation between the floor joists under her new side addition.

- Foundation Water: Rainwater is coming in through the rock under Keith’s house foundation. He learns all the steps he can take to improve exterior drainage and keep moisture away.

- Brick Flooring: Barb is struggling to remove layers of wax from her unique brick floor and gets suggestions for using a wax stripping product.

- HVAC Systems: Is it cheaper to run a natural gas or a fuel oil HVAC system? We think it’s smart for Bob to switch to more efficient and cost-effective natural gas.

- Textured Countertops: Is there a way to smooth down countertops that have a leather-like texture? Unfortunately, Ann would be better off replacing the countertops instead.

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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