This Old House On The Money Pit

SHOW NOTES: Adding a beautiful new granite top is a great way to add a little luxury to your kitchen, but granite or stone tops are expensive! We’ll share a less costly alternative that looks just as good. If you love the look of real hardwood but don’t have the budget to manage it, Engineered Hardwood may be a perfect solution. We’ll explain the options. When you take on a painting project, latex paint is the way to go most of the time – but not always. We explain when oil-based paint is the best choice and why - even though the clean-up is a little harder. Plus, get answers to your home improvement questions: Debra from Tennessee asks if using dry lock in the basement is the best way to stop leaks. Murray in Illinois needs advice replacing his natural gas water heater.  Stacey from Minnesota wants to know if she can use mortar and limewash to fill in the gaps on her brick fireplace. Phillip in Rhode Island wants to know how to get red cedar shingles to age darker. Marty is asking why she isn’t gett

SHOW NOTES: Planning on selling your home this spring while the market is still hot? Some home features are pretty much guaranteed to turn-off buyers. We’ll share what to avoid or to change before the first potential buyer shows up. Did you know that your appliances may be quietly draining electricity - all day, every day - even when they are turned off? We’ll share solutions to save all that wasted money. Plus, can’t wait for all those spring flowers to bloom? We help, with tips on how to get a color-filled garden going immediately, no matter where you live Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Jeff in Iowa needs help improving his water pressure after installing a low flow shower head. Kelly from South Dakota needs help removing wallpaper that is removing some of the drywall behind her. Wayne in Iowa has an odor in his bathroom and wants to know how to get rid of it. Melanie from California wants to know if untreated pine wood will hold up in the bathroom. Aaron in South Dakota wants to

SHOW NOTES: With Spring just ahead, is your deck ready? Sun, rain and even insects can damage your deck’s surface, but a good finish can help keep Mother Nature from ruining your deck surface. Tom & Leslie walk you through the project. These days, we spend more time than ever in home offices. We’ll share a couple simple and affordable updates to make your home office space comfortable and productive. It’s almost tax time again – while we’re not tax experts we DO have a pretty good handle on which improvements are tax deductible and will share suggestions. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Karen in Nebraska has bathroom tile that is has grout falling out of it. Dave from Arizona has a kitchen sink that was installed into his countertop that is starting to fall into the countertop. Nicole needs a solution for returning her grout to its bright white color. Brian from Iowa has a crack in his bedroom wall that’s keeps coming back and needs a permanent solution. Ruth in Michigan wants to kn

SHOW NOTES: Spring is the season of big rainstorms. We’ll have tips on how to make sure your roof is ready for the deluge! Prevent sneezing by replacing air condition filters before allergy season kicks in! Before allergy season kicks in, it’s a good idea to replace the air filter in your heating and cooling system. We’ll share a nifty little device that costs about a dollar and reminds you exactly when that needs to happen. When it comes to floors, it’s easier than ever to be eco-friendly. We’ll share options for beautiful, durable and earth-friendly floors. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Gerry in Massachusetts has a bang that randomly occurring in her house’s plumbing. Mike from Louisiana noticed a crack on his floor the needs to be repaired. Theresa in South Carolina has a basement that floods after a heavy rain. David from Arkansas wants some more information about geothermal water heaters. Carol in Mississippi has a kitchen floor that is sinking into her crawl space and needs

SHOW NOTES: If you’d like to step up the look of your home’s exterior, a good lighting design can help. We’ll share tips on what you need to know to get that project done. Spaces under decks can be dark, dirty wastelands. But if your deck is a 2nd story, there are lots of ways to add an underdeck ceiling that drains rainwater passing through and really cleans up the look below. If you live in an old house, finding out when your house was built, who lived there, and what changes happened over the years can be a fun and fascinating journey. We’ll share tips on how you can do just that. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Dreema from West Virginia has a crack in her load-bearing center wall that is spreading to other rooms and wants to know if she should call a contractor or an engineer for advice on how to fix it. Robert in North Carolina is having a dryer that is not drying even after two or three loads. Betty from Texas needs a permanent solution to cracks in her door frame. Joe in Illin

SHOW NOTES: The Spring real estate market is heating up with buyers eager to upgrade to a new home. But the features they’re looking for have changed – a lot! We’ll share what today’s home buyers are hot on. Is your family growing? BEFORE you hear the pitter patter of little feet – It’s smart to make sure home sweet home is safe as can be. We share the 9 best ways to baby-proof your money pit. If you’re thinking about taking on a tile project, choosing the right look is only a part of the project. We’ll have tips on how to choose the best TYPE of tile for your project. Plus, answer your home improvement questions: Marla in Louisiana wants to know how to convert her porch into enclosed living space. Perry wants to know the proper way to put a metal roof on his house. Christina from Montana wants to know the most cost-effective solution for bringing natural light into a bathroom. Michael in North Carolina is a new homeowner who wants to know if cracks in his foundation are a big problem. Tara from Penn

SHOW NOTES: Are ready to update your windows? You may find that it is one pretty confusing experience! We’ll share a simple trick that makes it easy to compare windows and pick the best ones for your home. A garbage disposer is one of those products that - once you own it - you’ll never want to be without it again! We’ll share a few key features that can make all the difference. A dryer exhaust duct has to be properly installed to avoid lint build up that can lead to a fire. But sometimes this is easier said than done! We have some tricks of the trade that can help and share an ingenious tool to help keep your ducts clean. Plus, we share answers to lots of home improvement questions like:. Marilyn needs a soundproofing solution for a condominium. Mike from Arkansas wants to know if house is considered newly remodeled or not? Cindy in California wants to know how to make her stovetop more fire safe. Jim from Arkansas wants advice on remove a chimney that’s no longer needed. Laurel in Pennsylvania need

SHOW NOTES: One of the biggest security holes in any home is the garage door. Find out how to make sure your garage door is set up to keep your home safe from intruders, and safe for kid going in and out too! Your house is your biggest investment. But how much should you set aside for home repair and maintenance? Learn a simple formula to help you know what to budget. Stainless steel appliances can be beautiful but costly. We share a DIY trick to get that same stainless steel look for less. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Kelly in South Dakota is having trouble getting an oil stain off cement floor. Mike from Iowa has a problem with how his bathroom vents into his attic. Jane in Pennsylvania needs help finding covers for base board heating Dave from Ohio has uninsulated drywall seams that pop and crack in the winter. Robin in Oregon is having a lot of moisture and mold build up in her bathroom. Nicole from Illinois has a crack caused by earthquake damage. Don in Pennsylvania has

SHOW NOTES: If you’d love to add more light to your kitchen, we share a new window trend that aims to do just that, in a very unusual way. Have you ever been surprised by a big electric bill? Find out the most common places energy is wasted. If your bathtub has a worn-out finish, replacing the tub could require a major renovation of your entire bath. We highlight far less costly options to consider. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Rich from West Virginia wants to know if he can spackle over the tape on his drywall. Britt in California needs tips on installing a skylight. Mark from South Carolina wants to know how to determine if he has hard water in his house. Cecily in Iowa needs to know how to paint over water stains on wallpaper. Hugh from North Carolina has a beach house that he wants to soundproof. Anne wants to know who to call to install a tin ceiling. Michael in North Carolina has a noisy water heater. Debby from Texas needs to know the best prep for painting a carpeted c

SHOW NOTES: If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen but are concerned about the costs, we’re going to have tips on easy updates you can do over a weekend that can totally transform your space without the hassles. And it’s an age-old dilemma when your appliances break down: Fix ‘em, or replace them altogether? Our cheat sheet can help you save money and make the right choice.  Plus, are you ready for a new washing machine? We’ll have tips to help you figure out which features are worth paying for and which you should skip. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Mayer from New Jersey has sticky Anderson windows that won’t open fully. Gail in Canada has a furnace that is dumping water into her crawl space soil. Scott from Georgia wants to know if he can install an attic ventilator even though he already has a ridge vent. Lisa in Michigan wants to know if her exhaust fan is for the whole house or just her bathroom. John from North Carolina is asking what the best spray foam insulation f

SHOW NOTES: Ready for new kitchen cabinets? We’ll tell you how to choose new cabinets that’ll step up the space and not blow the budget. If you’ve ever stepped into a shower hoping for a strong flow - only to find a less than inspiring trickle, you know poor water pressure can be frustrating. But the power of a good shower may not be out of reach. We’ll share how to restore the flow We could all use a little more sunshine this time of year…spotless windows can help! We’ve got tips on how to clean your windows like a pro, and you won’t even need any paper towels. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Jan in California wants to know if she can put texture over backer paper. Bill from Tennessee needs advice for cleaning a pressure treated deck that is starting to turn black. Beth in Minnesota has a partially clogged toilet that she can’t fix. Darwin from Texas wants to know how to remove a rotted facia board without taking apart his gutter. Kathy in Delaware wants to know what is the best g

SHOW NOTES: Are your feet feeling freezing tile floors in the morning? Tired of having icy toes no matter how many layers of socks you have on? There is an easy and reliable solution that can restore feeling to those frozen feet. If you’ve got an older home, you probably have an older chimney and those can be unsafe. We’ll walk you through the best options for improvement. Here’s an idea we can get behind: better toilet seats. From comfier to cleaner, there are plenty of affordable upgrades out there for your throne.    Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Mary in Massachusetts has a dishwasher that keeps backing up. Ian from North Carolina wants a cheap solution for soundproofing. Lulu in Delaware needs help installing a drip edge on her roof. Pete in Wisconsin is having an issue with his garage door opening unevenly. Paul from Texas wants to know if he can run two water heaters in series. Charlotte needs to know the best way to fix leaky windows. Lori in Pennsylvania wants to know th

SHOW NOTES: If your bathroom is short on space we share easy ways for a small bathroom a makeover that makes every inch count.  February is the best month to buy a mattress but figuring out the best deal for a comfortable place to lay your head is super confusing. We share what to look for - for a good night’s rest. Using window coverings strategically can help you stay warmer, or even cooler in the summer. We share smart ways to use your window coverings to spruce up your space without the need to be replaced. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Caesar in Chicago is looking for a DIY solution insulating around his washer and dryer. Rosalie wants some advice on installing an elevator in her home. Tom from Texas needs help choosing between a tankless and tank-in water heater. Ken in Wisconsin having a problem with ice-damning. Sharaine from Colorado wants to know the best way to deal with mold and mildew. Jacob in Kentucky needs a solution for water coming out too hot throughout his hom

SHOW NOTES: Have you been feeling drafts all winter long and wondering if replacing old or drafty windows is a wise move? 7 key questions can help determine if this project is right for you. If you need to hang something heavy on a wall, it’s always best to connect into wood studs. But if you can’t find one, new fasteners may allow you to connect directly to the drywall. We share how to choose the right anchor for the job. One item that is probably floating around your junk draw right now is causing homes to go up in flames. We’ll share an important safety tip. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Gayla from California is trying to repair scratches in her Corian countertop. Randy in Arkansas wants to know if he can use a large vacuum to quickly remove old insulation in his home. Margie from Maryland needs to get rid of a smoke smell in her house. Dave wants to know how to remove a carpet without damaging the floor underneath. Tim from Minnesota is looking for a dimmer for LED lights. La

SHOW NOTES: If you’ve been thinking about a remodeling project and wondering what to do with your ceiling, a drop ceiling is probably not on your list! But these ceilings are not just the boring flat large tiles we’ve grown up with. We’ll share some amazing transformations that are possible with the newest innovations in these ceilings. You probably don’t think much about your home’s electrical panel until a circuit trips – and then you have to! Tripped circuits may be a sign your panel is ready for an upgrade, or just point to the need for a much less expensive repair. We’ll explain how to keep the power on for less. Hundreds of unsafe products get recalled each year. But with so many recalls, how do you know if you have recalled products in your own home? We’ll tell you about a free product recall website that can help. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Larry needs advice what to do about a bad contractor who did what sounds like pretty lousy work on his new home. Jan in Kansas wants t

SHOW NOTES: The laundry room might seem safe enough, but anywhere there’s extreme heat and lots of water, there’s potential for trouble. We’ll walk you through the most common laundry room trouble spots and tell you how to prevent leaks, fires and breakdowns. If you are ready to shop for new appliances, there are two price tags you need to consider. The first is the price you pay and the second is the cost to operate that appliance. We’ll share tips on how the easy way to determine both and avoid surprise expenses. Winter weather can take a toll your home’s siding. We share simple siding repairs to restore missing, loose pieces plus how to get rid a season of dirt and grime for a fresh start come Spring. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Alvin has a home with serious structural settlement and wants to know if repair is a DIY project, and how to should be done. Darlene in Arizona is wants to know how to repair loose vinyl floor tiles in a laundry room. Greg from Tennessee want to know if

SHOW NOTES: Adding a basement bathroom can make the space more useable and but below grade bathrooms need special designs in order to drain. We’ll share what you need to know to make sure your bathroom will “go with the flow”. When you ask for a 2x4 at the local lumber yard, did you now that the wood they give you actually measures a lot less? These days it’s not always easy to get what you pay for – and that includes buying lumber. We share why and how make sure your money goes as far as it can when buying materials. Wondering how much it costs to maintain a house? We share a simple formula to lay out what you should you budget for the cost of home repair and maintenance. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Nadine in Iowa has an unusually noisy countertop. Tyler from Indiana wants to know if he should do a full basement remodel to sell his house. Don in Illinois has a slippery sidewalk and wants to know if he can put a sealer on the sidewalk to give it more traction. Sandra from North C

SHOW NOTES: If you are planning to make the switch from carpet to one of the many beautiful solid surface floors, getting the old carpet torn out can be a hassle. Worse, it can reveal problems that need to be fixed before the new floor can be installed. We’ll share how prep for your new floor like a pro. When it comes to maintaining your home, painting is a project that’s among the most basic of DIY projects. But it’s also a project that can go terribly wrong if you don’t take just three steps before your start. Learn how to avoid the most common painting mistakes. Ever had a bath or shower drain get clogged due to long hair getting stuck in it? we’ll share a $5 solution that’s so handy, you’ll want to start using it on all your sinks and showers. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Jennifer in Maryland needs a solution how to fill in a gap in siding. Kenny from Mississippi wants to know the best insulation for a tin roof. Penny in Illinois wants to know how to stop frost coming in throug

SHOW NOTES: Natural stone countertops are beautiful but also require a ton of maintenance to keep them looking as good. We sort out whether these attractive kitchen surfaces are worth the hassle, along with some equally attractive but easier to care for alternatives. If getting rid of old wallpaper stands between you and your dream room, we can help! Learn the right steps to remove wallpaper quickly and easily. If you’re a pet-lover and taking on new decor or remodeling projects, we’ve share tips for the best pet friendly floor and walls surfaces. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Dave from California needs a recommendation for the best solar batteries for his new home. Dana in Georgia wants to know if mold in her home is an issue and how she can remove it. Jeff from Massachusetts wants to know the best insulation for a basement.  Sylvia in Pennsylvania is curious if he can heat his terrazzo floor. Sparky from Georgia is replacing coaxial cable and is looking for the best possible wa

SHOW NOTES: Winter is rough on roofs so now is a good time to plan for any roof work that might be needed to be done come spring. We’ll share tips for a DIY roof check to know if a roof needs to be repaired or replaced - in today’s Smart Spending Tip. Got closets busting at the seams? We’ve got steps for a simple closet makeover that takes less than an hour or two to get done and will help you find the space you need.  If you’d like to make your home more energy efficient, a home energy audit is a great place to start. We’ll share how details to get this done, and highlight a DIY option, just ahead. Say goodbye to the dark days of winter with the best lighting for your home. We share the bulbs and fixtures that deliver the brightest outlook for the days ahead. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions: Risa from Oregon needs a good gutter guard recommendation. John in Missouri is building a guest home and wants to know if it’s better to start from scratch or if he should use a prefab. Kathy fro