This Old House On The Money Pit

Fall is the season to work on getting your lawn ready for next year but can doing so expose you to toxic chemicals? Tom & Leslie share a better path toward a healthy and green using non-toxic, easy to apply lawn care products. Plus… Fall is also a good time to get your driveway ready for winter. Get DIY tips to fix driveway cracks, patch holes and seal the surface for a fraction of the cost of hiring a pro. Is dust, pollen and other allergens making your life a sneezing, sniffling mess? Does it get worse when you start to seal your home up for the cold weather? Learn the ONE thing you can do to help reduce allergens. Are ready for some healthy home décor? We’ve got all-natural decorating ideas to bring the colors and smells of autumn into your home. Options for homes without gutters to stop erosion and flooding. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, installing windows in a garden shed, best siding options, removing tile grout, eliminating spiders, how to solve the problem of hot water t

With cooler weather ahead, now is a great time to get your chimney ready for a roaring fire. Tom and Leslie share tips and ideas to make sure your chimney is clean and safe for a season of toasty fires. Plus… Whether your old furnace is ready for replacement or you want a more efficient upgrade, a new furnace should never be an impulse buy.  But too many times, that’s exactly what does happen – especially if your furnace gives out in the middle of winter! We’ll have tips to help you make the smart choice when it comes to a new furnace. Garages are unique places to get organized because they are one of the only spot in your home where tools, toys and toxins, like pesticides, get stored side by side. We’ll share some tips for better garage organization. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, adding electric heating to a basement, best fencing options, refinishing kitchen cabinets. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post y

If your pancakes are salty and your meatloaf is sweet – you might not be lacking cooking skills but the right lighting in your kitchen! Tom & Leslie share tips for top task lighting. Plus… With U.S. home prices still rising, is buying a home that’s been foreclosed a good deal? We’ll share the pros and cons. If you’d like your home to be more energy efficient you first need to do is to stop wasting the energy you already have. Insulation is the key– IF it’s added to the right spaces. We’ll share key spaces where insulation does the most good. As weather turns cold, mice look for spaces inside your house to keep warm and fed! Learn how to stop mice from moving in for the winter. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, getting rid of mice, collecting rain water, repairing a cracked drywall ceiling, getting paint off a brick façade. 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.

New kitchens consistently deliver the best return on your remodeling investment. But how do actually you get started on planning such a major makeover? Tom & Leslie share tips to help you cook up a perfect plan! Plus…  Have you ever tried to fix a crack in a concrete step, or porch or sidewalk only to have it open right back up again? We’ll share some easy ways to make these repairs and make them last. Your stove’s exhaust vent hood is there for every cooking adventure, but it rarely gets any attention (except during a smoky kitchen incident!). Learn how simple it is to keep your vent hood in tip-top shape. Have you ever tried to clean a stain on your vinyl floor that seem impossible to get out? It may not be a stain at all! Tom & Leslie share why these mysterious and permanent discolorations occur and what options you have for dealing with them. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, refinishing outdoor rusted furniture, how to clean siding, hiring a home inspector before purchasing a ho

Squeaking floors are one of life’s little annoyances, but do they signal a structural problem below? Tom & Leslie have the answer plus step-by-squeaky-step tips to make them go away for good. Plus… You drink it, you cook with it, you bathe in it…but are you sure it’s safe? Tap water can be deceiving, because it looks and tastes harmless even when it’s not – which is why it’s a good idea to test it to find out – we’ll tell you how. Wood floors are beautiful but they’re not always the best choice in damp locations like bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements.  We’ll have an overview of what will work. Low water pressure can lead to lousy showers. We walk you through the possible causes including some you can fix yourself. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, repairing plaster ceilings, replacing a bathroom vent fan, getting rid of spiders, best paint for a garage door, removing carpet from a concrete floor, installing a french drain. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call

DIY or Go Pro? If you want to tackle a project yourself, we’ll be the first ones to cheer you on. But how do you know when hiring a pro is the best way to go? We’ll tell you how to think it all through before you pick up a hammer. Plus… When it comes to home improvement, there are a lot of myths that cost DIYrs a lot of money. We’ll tackle 4 common MYTH-STAKES. Cold weather is not far off making now the perfect time to check out your insulation. We’ll tell you how much you really need. Butcher block counters are beautiful but are they safe? We’ll share secrets to finishing butcher block with risking E.coli and other harmful situations. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, hiring an architect for addition project, installing ice & water shield under roofing, realign doors, getting estimates for a painting project, best options for a covered patio roof. 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

Adding flooring to your attic can make it a perfect place for storage. But doing so the wrong way means that you could weaken your structure, squash your insulation, or find yourself with one foot planted firmly through the ceiling below! Tom & Leslie share tips on attic flooring that works well. Wouldn’t it be nice to have home experts available by phone or chat whenever you need them to walk you through a project? We tell you about a new subscription service that puts knowledgeable, impartial experts just a call or click away to give you the answers you need. With all the recent summer storms, did you need to have a tree or two taken down? What about the STUMP? We’ll share 4 easy options to make it disappear. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, removing vinyl tile, installing a new thermostat, foundation moisture, sealing drafts in your home. 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 ab

Kitchens renos can be costly but updating dated, drab and dull cabinets doesn’t have to be. Tom and Leslie walk you through options to replaced, refaced or just refinish kitchen cabinets and save a ton of money! Plus, concrete is a pretty permanent building material but if yours looks pitted or cracked, we’ve got a great solution for resurfacing concrete that you can do yourself with amazing results. Now that we have reached September, it’s a good time to make sure your gutters are ready for the fall season ahead. We’ll walk you through the step by step and to make sure things keep flowing smoothly. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, repairing a leaky toilet, cleaning garage floor of grease, caulking windows, cleaning ceiling mold safely 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

Having a hard time maintaining a lush green lawn in the heat of summer. Tom & Leslie share you need to know to make it past the brown and back to green. Are cooling costs driving up your electric bills? Get tips for low cost to no cost ways to keep you cool during these hottest days of the summer season. If you’d like your home to feel open and airy but don’t have the budget for a major remodel, we’ve got smart tips to help open up the space without emptying your bank account in the process. For all the cutting-edge design ideas out there, most of us still follow unwritten design rules. We’ve got ideas for shaking up status quo and making big design statements.  Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, painting a fireplace for the first time, striping kitchen cabinets, eliminating mold in a building with sheetrock, painting trim white, hiring a home inspector or engineer to find cause of cracking foundation. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-P

Now is a good time to plan end of season projects to set you up for the cooler months ahead. We’ve got 4 projects that will save you time, money and help avoid costly repairs when colder weather prevails. Plus, garages get a workout in the Fall and Winter, which is why now is a great time to fix up the garage floor. We’ll have tips on the best way to get this done using epoxy paint. Painting the exterior is a job that needs to get done every 5 to 10 years and if your house is ready for that project, we’ll share a few pro house painting tips help. Can you imagine a breezy summer evening in your backyard, fireflies dancing around, and you’re watching your favorite movie? You can, by building your own backyard movie screen! We’ll tell you how! Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, siding installation, replacing a picture window, repair basement walls to eliminate water coming in, Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post you

If you've been enjoying a garden harvest this summer and would like to extend the goodness of all year long, preserving your fresh veggies is the way to do it. We'll walk you through 3 options for preserving your harvest! Plus... It’s a great time of year for outdoor projects and if you want to step up your space, we’ve got tips on the easiest and most affordable way to create grill surrounds, fire pits, benches and more by simply stacking blocks. Sidewalks can get slippery, but not if you treat those sidewalks with a simple coating. Tips on a concrete treatment that protects you and loved ones from falls, coming up. Temperatures are nice now, but in a few months, you’ll want nothing less than to have to bundle up, head outdoors and deal with a home improvement problem in the dead of winter. We’ve got a few easy fix-ups you can take on now that can potentially save you a major repair hassle later. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, hiring an engineer, roof underlayment products, elimi

When you decide to bring home a family pet, there can be lots of changes. Your home decor, however, shouldn’t be one of them! If you’re pondering any decorating or improvement projects, we’ll have tips to help make them pet-friendly. Plus, Whether it's around your sink, between your tub, shower and tile walls – nasty, worn caulk has got to go. We’ve got DIY tips on how to get this job done the easy way. Changing up lighting can give a new look to any room! We’ve got tips on installing energy efficient pendant lights for an easy DIY update. When it comes to outside cleaning, a pressure washer is one tool that gets the job done. We’ll share how to pick the perfect pressure washer for all of your cleaning projects. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, soundproofing a basement, staining a deck, getting rid of carpenter bees, prepping a door before repainting. 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

If you’re sitting on a stash of leftover latex paint, you have a gold mine when it comes to home decorating. With a little imagination and creative flair, you can use paint leftovers to give your home extra appeal and have lots of fun in the process. Get the tips. Would you believe that nearly a QUARTER of all residential break-ins happen through a first-floor window? Learn how to keep your home safe from burglaries. Stone countertops are both popular AND expensive. But we’ve got a trick of the trade to share on how to get a granite counter makeover WITHOUT spending a lot. One laundry hazard is responsible for 32,000 calls to poison control. We’ll share how to keep kids safe. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about hiring a public insurance adjuster, installing spray foam insulation, choosing a kitchen sink, repairing a stove that doesn’t heat quickly. 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

Improving your bathroom is one of best ways to add value and appeal to your home. But if you think those improvements have to be costly, think again – there are plenty of ways to give your bathroom a lift without breaking the bank. We share bath updates you can get done for under $100 bucks. If you’re looking for more storage space, finishing an attic is a popular remodeling project that delivers a great ROI - IF it’s done right. We’ll walk you through the options. Entryways like mudrooms and foyers are used by every member of the family, not to mention houseguests. We’ll share cool organization ideas for getting all those shoes, umbrellas and jackets off the floor.  Get tips on the least expensive ways to replace a bathroom floor. Find out how to stop a high-efficiency washing machine from vibrating across the floor. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, universal bathroom design, getting rid of carpenter bees, replacement window options, refinishing a tub, roof options for flat roof

If you’re hoping to sell your home, one of the most nerve-racking parts of that process for sellers is the home inspection. Tom & Leslie share tips to set you up for success in that part of the transaction. Hardwood floors are one of the most desirable floors around for both durability and the value they add to a home. But the finishes do wear and hardwood floors then need to be sanded and refinished. We’ll have tips on how to get that project done. And we’re all about helping you find ways to save money, and that includes your homeowner’s insurance. Well, it turns out some small improvements can help cut insurance costs down to size. We’ll share those tips just ahead. Step-by-step tips for refinishing bedroom using lacquer for a high gloss style. Tips on how to find replacement parts for old doorknobs and locks. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, repairing leaky roofs, fixing drywall pops, installing porch carpet, repairing dips in a driveway, basement leaks. Learn more about your a

If you'd love to have a backyard pool but can't afford it, don't have the time to care for it or you’re just short of backyard space, we have two words for you: Spool Pool! Tom & Leslie share tips on how you can combine the benefits of a pool and spa in one very refreshing backyard feature. Plus… Decorative window shutters are an attractive addition to your home’s exterior, but they won’t do a thing to actually protect your windows. For that job, you’ll need STORM shutters. We’ll share the options. Paint offers one of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform a space. And it seems so easy, right? Well it is, unless you make one very common painting mistake. Get that secret to painting success just ahead. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about a fix for missing return air ducts, getting stains off composite decks, repairing plaster walls, benefits of an energy audit, rebuilding the “guts” of a toilet.… Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY

Do you have kids that are old enough to stay home alone? Just because kids may be at an age to stay home alone, that might not prepare them to handle a home-related emergency. We’ll have a checklist on what they need to know to do, just ahead. Plus In the OLDEN DAYS when you needed to hire a contractor, you use to ask friends or flip through though the phone book. Today it’s a lot easier to find home service pros. We’ll pry open the digital toolbox and share some tips and tricks. Summer is a season when we put a lot of stress on our electrical systems. We’ll share three projects that can help make sure your wiring is safe and up for the job. Are you thinking about updating a room but don’t know where to begin? Interior designers help to facilitate your ideas, making your dream home a reality. We share tips on how to find and hire an interior designer that can really understand what you’re looking for and bring great ideas to the table. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, converting ele

This time of year, limits on outdoor water use and lead to lawns that look like a dry wasteland! Tom & Leslie tell you what you need to know to conserve water and still have a beautiful lawn during a drought, including the one thing to never do if you want That lawn to come back quickly. Plus… If you are lucky enough to have a built-in pool, you may not feel quite as lucky when you have the pay to pay the bills to heat that pool. We’ll tell you how you can use a FREE energy source to heat your pool and extend the swimming season. If you’re thinking about taking on a tile project this, 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. And we settle a bet on which way ceiling fans should be spinning in summer (they’re reversible!) Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, insulating under a house, eliminating thousand leg spiders, determining foundation cracks, venting an attic, when to stain a new deck. Do you have

Are you overflowing with yard tools, pool toys, lawn chairs or kid bikes? Then you might ready to build a Shed! Whether you want to store the overflow or create the perfect man cave or a she shed -- Shed projects are more popular than EVER! We’ll have pro tips to help you do it right. Have you ever noticed that summer rainstorms can be really stir up some damage? Between the blackouts and the lightning, electrical damage, leaks and flood are not all that uncommon. We’ll have tips on what you should be doing to make sure your house is storm ready. And after a couple of months of heavy grilling, your gas grill may need an extreme makeover of its own. We will have tips for a simple mid-season grill cleaning to step up the sizzle! With more time at home, finding activities to keep the kids busy and productive can be a challenge. But that makes now an opportune time to teach them a few home improvement skills with home improvement projects kids love being a part of. We’ll share some ideas. Plus, answers to you

When it comes to home renos, are you a DIY or Go Pro kind of home improver? A new survey reveals how many DIYrs are actually doing home projects vs hiring prosand an interesting trend among the youngest home improvers. Plus… Does your yard double as an all-you-can-eat buffet for deer and wildlife?We’ve got some humane ideas for stopping all the chomping. Motion detector spotlights are a great addition to your home for both convenience and security. Thanks to LED technology, they are easy to install than ever and some don’t even have to be wired. We’ll share the brightest security options All the high-end products in the world can’t undo the effects of hard water on your hair, clothes and dishes.Find out which water softeners can help. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, replacing a flat roof with decking, proper installation of AC window units, eliminating pet odors, installing a pocket door, septic system inspections. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24