Episodes

  • #2482 - Home Improvement Resolutions | Basement Bathroom Drainage | 4 Favorite DIY Hacks

    #2482 - Home Improvement Resolutions | Basement Bathroom Drainage | 4 Favorite DIY Hacks
    Jan 9 2025
    SHOW NOTES: On today’s show, we’re discussing home improvement resolutions that stick, the ins and outs of adding a basement bathroom, and our favorite DIY hacks to make your projects a breeze. Plus, we’re here to help you get unstuck on any project, so listen in for answers to more questions from DIYers just like you! - Home Improvement: Nail down the new year with home improvement resolutions you can actually keep. - Basement Bathrooms: Smart drainage solutions for basement bathrooms will help you go with the flow. - DIY Hacks: Fix it fast with 4 favorite home improvement hacks to get things done quickly and easily. Q & A: - Roof Leak: Dan’s trying to seal leaks coming through his metal roof. If it’s a flashing issue near seams or pipe openings, he should overlap the panels and use silicone caulk. - Heated Floor: Can Sylvia install in-floor heating with Terrazzo tile? It’s a big, expensive project but PEX piping can be run through the underlayment beneath the tile floor. - Plumbing Leak: Fletch shares his experience with contractors who misdiagnosed water in the basement that was really coming from a leak in a refrigerator water line. - French Doors: The whole bottom of Fran’s French doors have rotted from rain exposure. The area’s too big to patch and we suggest installing new fiberglass doors. - Laminate Flooring: Leroy learns that laminate flooring has layers and not one color all the way through, but it is designed to stand up to heavy use and rolling chairs. - Termites: Dawn found termite damage after taking down a wall. We explain how to reinforce the beam by attaching another one, rather than replacing the damaged beam. - Countertop: We have advice for Jack on how to cut a laminate countertop to install a double oven and the best tools to use to prevent splintering. - Wheelchair Ramp: How can you keep snow and ice off a wheelchair ramp without damaging the wood? Sue should use less-corrosive calcium chloride salt mixed with sand. - Electrical: Dot calls to give an update on her kitchen remodeling project and reports how the electrician successfully ran wiring through the slab under the laminate floor. - Mold Removal: Mold is coming up the basement walls in Cumi’s rental home. This is a toxic hazard and the landlord’s responsibility to address the issue and safely remove the mold. 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
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    39 mins
  • #2481 - 5 Powerful Reasons for Electrical Upgrades | Prevent Ice Dams | DIY Furniture Repairs

    #2481 - 5 Powerful Reasons for Electrical Upgrades | Prevent Ice Dams | DIY Furniture Repairs
    Jan 6 2025
    SHOW NOTES: On this show, find out why tripped circuits may be a sign your electrical panel is ready for an upgrade, learn an easy way to prevent ice dams on your roof, and get DIY hacks to fix water rings, dings, and dents on your furniture. Plus, listen in as callers’ home improvement questions are answered with expert advice! - Electrical Upgrades: Learn 5 powerful reasons to upgrade your electrical panel. - Ice Dams: Icicles on your roof can indicate a potential roof leak, but there’s an easy way to prevent ice dams. - Furniture Repair: Repair furniture dings, dents, and stains with these easy DIY hacks. Q & A: - Bathroom: Eddie has a moisture problem in his bathrooms. He should ensure he has enough attic insulation and install humidistats with timers to increase ventilation. - Flooring: There’s sun damage around the floor area where Ty pulled up a rug. Time and UV light will eventually even out the wood flooring unless he wants to sand the entire floor. - Sewer: Betsy has tree root clumps blocking her sewer line. There are ways to clear the sewer line without having to excavate the whole area. - Mice: Mice are coming into William’s house through the basement. He must avoid storing anything that attracts them, seal all gaps, and place bait stations on the basement ledge. - Fireplace: Wind is blowing in all around a gas fireplace. Susan should look for gaps around the box, check the installation guidelines, and install fireplace doors. - Paneling: What is the best way to cover dark wood paneling? If it’s not glued on, David can try removing it. Otherwise, he can paint it or add a layer of drywall over it. - Tile Floor: The ceramic tile floor in a new home is already cracking, probably due to the lack of an isolation membrane installed between the slab and the tile. Debra should have an independent engineer evaluate it. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2480 - Smooth Moves: Solutions for Stuck Doors | Radiant Floor Heating | Creating a Hobby Studio

    #2480 - Smooth Moves: Solutions for Stuck Doors | Radiant Floor Heating | Creating a Hobby Studio
    Jan 2 2025
    SHOW NOTES: Say goodbye to cold floors, sticky doors, and unused spaces! Today, we explore the benefits of radiant floor heating, simple fixes for stubborn doors, and how to create a hobby studio you’ll love. Whether you’re repairing, improving, or designing, we’ve got the tools and tips to guide you through all your home improvement projects! - Stuck Doors: Finding solutions for stuck doors requires some smooth moves. - Heated Floors: Step into comfort by adding radiant heat to your floors. - Hobby Space: Craft your escape by designing the perfect hobby space. Q & A: - Electrical: Why do some outlets have 2 prongs and others have 3 prongs? Lisa learns how they’re grounded differently and that it’s always a good idea to update wiring. - Brick: Some areas of Julian’s brick chimney are flaking off and getting tiny holes. He should use a vapor-permeable silicone-based sealer to reduce moisture soaking into the brick. - Water Heater: Colleen wants to replace her two old water heaters with tankless units, but we offer two options that would be more efficient for an electric system. - Heated Driveway: Is a heated driveway a good idea for a snowy climate? Dylan gets info on how the cables are installed and the operating costs involved. - Generator: Rich is looking for a good natural gas generator to power his whole house. This Kohler whole-house generator comes highly recommended for ease of use and peace of mind. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2479 - DIY Hacks to Beat Winter Blues | Clear the Air with Indoor Filters | Thawing Snow and Ice

    #2479 - DIY Hacks to Beat Winter Blues | Clear the Air with Indoor Filters | Thawing Snow and Ice
    Dec 30 2024
    SHOW NOTES: Today, we’ve got advice for winter challenges! Learn how to clean up your indoor air, fight the seasonal blues, and handle icy conditions with practical hacks. Plus, listen in as callers share their home improvement goals and get answers to their DIY questions! - Winter Blues: Brighten your home and your spirits with DIY hacks to beat the winter blues. - Air Filters: Clear the air of pollutants and allergens by installing the right indoor air filters. - Snow and Ice: Fight frost and stay safe with clever tips to clear snow and ice fast. Q & A: - Patio Surface: Jennifer’s large concrete patio has gotten pitted from salt. We recommend using a Quikrete Concrete Resurfacing product that will fill in the gaps. - Sump Pump: Jesse has questions about how to connect a new sump pump system. We discuss what is needed to drain the water correctly. - Heating: Joan wants to heat a small outbuilding to create a craft studio. If she’s able to run a gas line, she can install a wall heater and insulate the space as well as possible. - Wood-Burning Stove: Where is the best location for a wood-burning stove in a three-season room? Frances gets tips about safe clearance space and building a heat shield. - Cabinets: Marilyn wants to take her custom kitchen cabinets to her new home. It can be done by disassembling the cabinets the same way they were assembled. - Furnace: Carl has a high-efficiency furnace but low-efficiency ducts. He can use a tape to seal leaky ducts or seal them from the inside with a material that sticks and plugs gaps. - Insulation: What is the best way to insulate the walls of a cold kitchen? Lora should start by insulating the attic, then have an inspector advise how to insulate the walls. - Plumbing: A copper pipe behind the boiler is leaking. Kris needs to drain the boiler to below the leak and refill it after repairing the pipe. - Air Quality: Jeannie thinks poor indoor air quality is making her friend sick. We offer info about HVAC filters but the landlord must address the problem and look for mold. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2478 - 5 Ideas for Home Décor on a Dime | Minimizing Outdoor Noises | Proper Firewood Storage

    #2478 - 5 Ideas for Home Décor on a Dime | Minimizing Outdoor Noises | Proper Firewood Storage
    Dec 26 2024
    SHOW NOTES: Today, get ideas for refreshing your home with new décor on a budget, taking back your peace and quiet by reducing outside noises, and making sure your woodcutting efforts pay off with proper firewood storage. Plus, get tips for creating your best home ever with expert answers to all your DIY home improvement questions! - Home Décor: Refresh your space and keep down costs with 5 ideas for home décor on a dime. - Outdoor Noise: Get back your peace and quiet with tips for minimizing outdoor noises. - Firewood Storage: Proper firewood storage can prevent your plans for a perfect fire from going up in smoke. Q & A: - Contractors: Rita is frustrated by contractors who won’t give her answers or estimates. We suggest a website to search for local contractors who are right for the job. - Pavers: How should George use mortar to lock new concrete pavers in place? He should build a pad at least 8” wider than what he needs or use flexible border edging. - Garage Floor: How to clean a garage floor coated with oil and grease? Laurie should pressure wash it with a TSP solution and let it dry before applying an epoxy floor finish. - Vent Fan: There’s lots of condensation every time Brian uses the shower. He needs to reduce the bathroom humidity with a more powerful vent fan with a humidistat that discharges outside. - Concrete Stains: Acorns from the oak trees are staining Gail’s concrete driveway. We recommend cleaning it as needed by scrubbing the surface with oxygenated bleach. - HVAC Fireplace: Paul has questions about installing a wood or gas fireplace with a chimney through the center of the house. We discuss things he needs to know. - Insulation: Amy wants to add insulation to a huge old attic. Her best option is spray foam insulation, but it will cover the rafters that she wants to leave exposed. - Flooring: What type of floating floor could possibly be refinished later if necessary? We recommend that Doug install engineered hardwood flooring. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2477 - Firewood Facts: Choose the Perfect Log | Furnace Shopping | Veggie and Herb Container Gardens

    #2477 - Firewood Facts: Choose the Perfect Log | Furnace Shopping | Veggie and Herb Container Gardens
    Dec 23 2024
    SHOW NOTES: In this episode, learn how to choose firewood that maximizes heat and safety, discover the smart way to shop for a new furnace before an emergency strikes, and find out how to grow fresh veggies and herbs indoors all year long. Make your home cozy and efficient plus get more home improvement advice on today’s Money Pit! - Firewood: Fuel your fire right with facts for choosing great firewood. - Furnaces: Cut costs and stay warm by buying a new and more efficient furnace. - Container Gardens: Enjoy herbs and vegetables all year long with an indoor container garden. Q & A: - Roofing: Insurance should cover damage from the leak in the seam of Steve’s flat roof, including fixing or replacing the ceiling, insulation, and roof, plus applying a mold inhibitor. - Woodwork: Paula needs to repair old woodwork throughout her home. It’s a lot of work to replace it all, so we suggest cleaning, priming, and painting the molding. - Heating: Virgil’s new energy-efficient furnace in his vacation home stopped working and everything froze. He should contact the contractor and the manufacturer to check the recommended venting installation. - House Leveling: The main beam under the house is broken and the kitchen is sinking. Diana gets advice for bolting a new beam to the existing one instead of raising the floor. - Plumbing: The basement toilet gurgles and won’t flush all the way. Rick should have a professional drainage company find and clear the blockage. - Cleaning Concrete: What’s the best way to clean a concrete fireplace hearth? Sharon can scrub it with a TSP mixture, let it sit, and blot it dry or else consider a concrete stain. - Flooring: John has no access to heat a small room over the crawlspace. He can either break through the wall to create space to insulate or add a layer of insulated subfloor. - Windows: The seal is broken on George’s tinted glass window. We recommend replacing it with an ENERGY STAR-rated window with the right glass and coating. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2476 - Door Décor to Sleigh the Season | Cleaning Germs from Surfaces | Flush Toilet Problems Away

    #2476 - Door Décor to Sleigh the Season | Cleaning Germs from Surfaces | Flush Toilet Problems Away
    Dec 19 2024
    SHOW NOTES: On today’s show, get festive with front door decorating tips that make a great first impression, learn how to properly clean and disinfect your home to keep germs at bay, and discover an innovative way to stop a running toilet from wasting water. Don’t miss these and other quick and impactful home improvement ideas as we answer questions from DIY callers! - Holiday Décor: Welcome guests to your home with door décor to sleigh the holiday season. - Cleaning: Wipe out germs with these cleaning tips for sanitary surfaces. - Running Toilet: This innovative toilet flapper flushes away water waste from a leaky toilet. Q & A: - Wallpaper Removal: Thomas needs advice for removing wallpaper. It’s a lot of work, but we’ve got tips for using a paper tiger tool, wallpaper paste remover, or a wallpaper steamer. - Caulk: Can caulk be applied in colder temperatures? Silicone caulk could work with no expansion issues, but it may not flow as freely and will be harder to level out. - Painting Paneling: Dena wants to cover dark wood paneling in every room. We recommend cleaning, lightly sanding, and priming the surface before painting over it. - Faucets: Is it a good idea to open faucet valves all the way before reducing the flow? Rich learns it’s not necessary with new ceramic faucet valves that won’t wear out. - Insulation: It’s always colder or hotter upstairs in Linda’s home. We suggest adding blown-in insulation, ensuring baffles are in place, and covering the whole house fan in winter to prevent heat loss. - Shower Odor: A sour smell is coming from the shower drain. Heidi should scrub it with Borox or oxygenated bleach and install a timer or humidistat on the bathroom vent fan. - Old Windows: Don gets advice for using a heat gun or steamer to carefully warm and remove old putty from a historic poured glass window that needs to be reglazed. - Wood Siding: Can Sherry install redwood siding over the flat plywood siding? It’s easy to do by applying tar paper first and attaching the new siding right over it. - Concrete Countertop: Lane is thinking of creating an affordable concrete countertop. It’s a lot of work, but good prep and a strong building form are key. - Bathroom Floor: Mark wants to run heated bathroom flooring off a gas water heater, but it’s not cost-effective due to the piping needed and the boiler not heating well enough. 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
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    40 mins
  • #2475 - Renovation Regrets: Top 5 Remodeling Mistakes | Space Heater Options | Fresh Christmas Trees

    #2475 - Renovation Regrets: Top 5 Remodeling Mistakes | Space Heater Options | Fresh Christmas Trees
    Dec 16 2024
    SHOW NOTES: On today’s episode, we’ll reveal the top 5 remodeling mistakes to avoid, share tips for choosing a safe and efficient space heater, and teach you how to spot a fresh Christmas tree. Plus, listen in for expert answers to more DIY home improvement questions from callers like you! - Remodeling: Avoid renovation regrets caused by these top 5 home remodeling mistakes. - Space Heaters: Warm up wisely by choosing a safe and efficient space heater. - Christmas Trees: Get tree-mendous tips for finding the freshest live Christmas tree. Q & A: - Wood Stove Safety: Will a wood stove harm the electrical wiring behind it? Melina must install a heat shield and/or put the stove 3 feet from the wall to avoid a fire hazard. - Shower Remodel: Jim wants to replace his shower. We’ll discuss different budget options, from affordable and easy liners to a complete renovation with a shower kit. - Flooring: What kind of backer board should Steve use under the new floor tile? His subfloor is pretty solid, so a ¼-inch backer board should be fine. - Windows: Some of Donna’s old double-pane windows don’t open or close. It’s possible to repair them if she can find the parts, but it would be better to replace the windows. - HVAC: Lou’s hot water HVAC system is not heating the second floor. An HVAC professional can do diagnostics to look for an obstruction or faulty valve. - Ventilation and Insulation: Christine gets answers to several questions about insulating and ventilating her garage and the use of ridge vents and soffit vents. - Bathtub: Can you remove an old bathtub and replace it with a walk-in shower? It can be done, but Jeff should consider his home’s resale value if there are no other tubs. - Wood Countertop: Is a wood countertop a good, easy option for Ann’s under-mount kitchen sink? Unfortunately, wood is a lot of work to finish and maintain. 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
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    40 mins