This Old House On The Money Pit

Show notes: Built-in, backyard firepits are really hot right now. With just a bit of planning you can build a firepit yourself. We tell you how. And with spring rainstorms in full swing, now is a good time to evaluate, repair or replace your gutters. If yours are in bad shape, serious structural problems can result. We’ll tell you what to look for when choosing a gutter company. If you’re painting project a fence, deck or the outside of your home, you won’t need to hire a pro. New technology in High Efficiency Airless (HEA) paint sprayers makes this an easy DIY project. We explain how the sprayers work, and why using one is 3 times faster than even using a paint roller. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about best material to build new ventilated soffits around your house, evaluating and repairing cracks in your foundation, best options for painting concrete floors, fast fix for squeaky floors, best way to run a dryer vent, repairing a leaking foundation, how to eliminate termites and repai

Show notes: A pizza garden is a fun way to get the whole family involved in gardening. Kids get a kick out of growing their own food and then being able to eat it. This is also a great way for parents to sneak in some veggies. We’ll walk you through exactly what you’ll need to grow your own pizza – right in your backyard. When you pop out of bed in the morning and head for that first shower of the day, there’s nothing nicer than stepping on a heated, warmed tile floor to “soften the blow” of the start of your day! Well, if you are a DIYr or pro, for as little as $525 bucks you can purchase all the components needed to create a warm tile floor. If you’d like to add hardwood floors to your home, there’s a new style of prefinished hardwood flooring collection out where the boards have been shaped using wire brushing, scraping, and cross-hatching surfacing techniques that gives them a classic seaside look to the floors from the moment they’ve been installed. Move over, tomatoes! Growing fruits and herbs for d

Show notes: The Spring real estate market is well underway and more urban dwellers than ever heading to the suburbs for space and tranquility. If you’re ready to sell your home, we’ll share 4 easy projects you can do in a weekend to boost curb appeal and land a buyer quicker than the competition. If you have ever had a major storm hit your house, you know that a home which is usually safe, sound, secure and dry can quickly turn into a leaking mess. That’s why when the storm passes, it’s important to give it a thorough inspection for storm damage. We walk you through. Rot happens, and when it does the longer you wait to repair it, the faster it gets worse. There’s really no need to put it off because products now exist that can restore the strength to weak rotted wood. We’ll share those details, just ahead. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about replacing 1950’s wiring, fixing oven pilot lights, repairing drywall, cleaning concrete, getting rid of mold, painting tips for floors, painting a

Episode notes... There’s a lot of focus on Spring cleaning this time of year but rather than treat this like one big dusty holiday, we’ve found it easier to set yourself up for success with a 12-month cleaning calendar that breaks cleanup shores into small, very actionable projects. And if you love the look of your wood windows, door and trim, but spotted rot that set in over the long-wet winter, we’ll share an easy way you can restore rotted wood that’s quick, easy and a lot less expensive that replacing it. If your family is like most, you probably use the garage as much as your front door for access and security. But if your door is old and worn, it could not only be unsafe, it could also be providing easy access for intruders when you are away. We’ll have tips to update, just ahead.  Your outdoor party can be ruined in a flash if guests find themselves constantly swatting away swarms of relentless, little gnats flying around your guests’ heads by the thousands. We reveal how to not get bugged by gnats

Show notes... Did you know one dandelion plant can make up to 15,000 weed seeds? If you want to win the battle against these green invaders, we share tips on how to tackle stopping weeds for the entire season. If you’ve ever remodeled a bathroom, one of the most difficult areas to get right is the shower. We’ll share a kit that takes all the guess work out of that project for leak proof showers. Apartment living has its advantages but a yard of your own is not typically one of them. But that’s no reason to give up on the idea of your very own garden. We’ll share tips to help you create a bountiful small space garden. If you are tired of having to cut your lawn all season long, artificial turf may be the solution. We walk you through the pros and cons, including installation and costs. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about how to dehumidify a damp basement, finding a kitchen cabinet paint with low VOC’s, best return on investment for a garage renovation, updating super old wiring and best

Show notes... Have you ever noticed that over the winter, garages always seem to get smaller as stuff piles up? That’s why now is a great time to make the garage your first big Spring-cleaning project! We’ll show you how to get it done in 4 steps! Building a backyard deck is one sure-fire way to increase your home’s living space for the warmer months as well as add to your home’s value. But can it be a DIY project, or one that always needs a pro. We walk you through the pros and cons of a DIY deck build just ahead. Have you ever had a wall or ceiling crack that you’ve fixed, once or twice but just seems to crack all over again? We’ll share an easy DIY tip that will let you repair it once and for all just ahead. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about getting rid of washer/dryer vibrations, installing a closet rod, cleaning bathroom mold, repairing basement floor cracks and how to repair plumbing roof flashing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show notes... If you’ve been working from home and ready to get out of the spare bedroom, basement or carved-out closet you call an office, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know to set up a productive, comfortable outdoor home office OUTSIDE that it’ll keep you close to nature and the comforts of home at the same time. Spring may have sent a lot of rain your way…but if you have a rainwater collection system at your house… you can use those downpours to keep your lawn and garden happily hydrated well into summer’s dry spells. We show you how! If you’re thinking about buying a home this Spring, you might be interested to know that home buyer interests are changing in a very big way. We’ll break it down with tips on how to make sure your home brings the highest value in this new market. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about replacing a shingle roof with a metal roof, how to clean a granite countertop, insulating attic space, best product to paint a dock, eliminating dr

Show Notes: Earth Day is just about here, and a perfect time to talk about our favorite tricks of the trade for saving water, energy and money at the same time. Painting is a popular spring project and one that can be made a LOT easier if you know just a few painting tricks that pros use every day. We’ll share those trade secrets coming up. Few home improvements bring more beauty and value to a home than adding a hardwood floor. We share tips on advances in hardwood flooring that make this product easier to install. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, installing a porch handrail, stopping water hammer, whether or not you need to remove paneling, converting a deck into a 3 seasons room, water heaters, tankless or conventional? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: Nothing signals the start of spring better than those fresh blooms like daffodils and tulips in full color! But if you want to enjoy those beautiful spring blooms, you need to plant bulbs now. We’ll share tips just ahead. With all the rainy, wet Spring weather ahead, repairing rotted wood on your windows, doors or wood columns may be on your to-do list. We’re going to make those projects a lot simpler with tips on how to easily restore damaged wood. Once the weather warms and kids spend more time outside, you may be spending more time INSIDE doing loads and loads of laundry! We’ve got a few tips to help you get your laundry room organized and save money! Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about hiring a contractor, eliminating carpenter bees, installing GFI switches, replacing a HVAC system with geothermal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: Last year was one of the biggest ever for home gardening and this Spring many are already getting those plants in the ground. If you’re ready to find your inner green thumb, the best way to may not be to dig down but to build up, by constructing a raised bed! We’ll show you how. You probably know improving the energy efficiency of your home means you’ll spend a lot less money heating and cooling your home. But it’s not always easy to know which improvements that give you the best return in your energy saving investments. A home energy audit can help. We explain how – just ahead. A new survey shows that 1 in 4 Americans purchasing a home are experiencing buyer’s remorse. We’ll share tips to help make sure the next home you purchase doesn’t end in disappointment. Ready to pick up a shovel and get digging in your yard for a garden or landscape project? There’s one really important thing to do FIRST. We’ll share that tip. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about removing spray insu

Show Notes: If you think the best way to save time and energy cutting the grass is to set the mower as low as possible so you won’t have to mow that often, you might be surprised to find out that can end up being MORE work in the long run. We’ll share why, just ahead. We all love the look of a freshly painted room, but the getting ready part? Not so much! New paint and primer products promise to save you a big step in the process, but do they really do both? We explain where it works and where it won’t! Who would have thought a year ago that one of the most important considerations for a home office is your zoom background! We’ll share reno tips for home office re-do’s just ahead. Before your pet ventures out to roll around in the grass, we share tips to keep your pets safe and spaces green. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about repairing a rotted door, installing appliances before flooring, installing a mixing valve, best gutter covers for a home, preparing a deck for painting. Do you

Show notes: Buying a single-family home to rent out has always been a popular approach for investors. Now however, investors are buying homes they plan to split into multiple rental units. We’ll share how to know if this makes economic sense for you. If you love the look of terrazzo floors but not the cost, we’ll share a new product that uses real stone to provides a terrazzo finish for concrete surfaces at a fraction of the price. Plus, if your family is like most, you probably use the garage as much as your front door for access and security. But if your garage door is old and worn, it could not only be unsafe, it could also be providing easy access for intruders when you are away. Replacing it is a big job best done by a pro. We’ll tell you what you need to know. Taking shorts, swimsuits and light jackets out of storage is a great way to start your spring – but it can turn into a huge disappointment if you find that they’ve been ravaged by insects or moths. Leslie’s shares a timeless solution you can b

Show notes: Buying a single-family home to rent out has always been a popular approach for investors. Now however, investors are buying homes they plan to split into multiple rental units. We’ll share how to know if this makes economic sense for you. If you love the look of terrazzo floors but not the cost, we’ll share a new product that uses real stone to provides a terrazzo finish for concrete surfaces at a fraction of the price. Plus, if your family is like most, you probably use the garage as much as your front door for access and security. But if your garage door is old and worn, it could not only be unsafe, it could also be providing easy access for intruders when you are away. Replacing it is a big job best done by a pro. We’ll tell you what you need to know. Taking shorts, swimsuits and light jackets out of storage is a great way to start your spring – but it can turn into a huge disappointment if you find that they’ve been ravaged by insects or moths. Leslie’s shares a timeless solution you can b

SHOW NOTES: Over the winter, garages get pretty gross. Between the stuff that never quite gets put away from last fall -- to the dirt that drips off your car – the floors can be a real mess. We’ll highlight the best garage floor solutions that are easy to clean. Given that over the last year we’re all been we’ve all been eating out a lot less, the kitchen has become an even more important "hub" of the home – and that’s impacting the way we refrigerate food. We’ll highlight new trends in these all-important appliances, just ahead. If you are longing for a new look at home but don’t have the funds to go all out, reupholstering the furniture you have can do the trick. For a fraction of the cost of buying new, you can change the entire look of your room. We’ll share what pieces work best and what fabric can create a lasting new look with this DIY project. Spring is a good season for closet cleaning and but if you have a lot of accessories, it can be hard to find places to keep all of that organized. Did you k

SHOW NOTES: You can flush away a pile of cash upgrading your bathroom. Luckily, you don’t have to. We’ve got 4 low-cost ways to spruce up your space for under $200 bucks! Even the cleanest of homes can have mold, and we’re not just talking about what you might find in last week’s leftovers! We share the surprising places mold can hid and what to do you do when you find it. When you move into an apartment, you’ll be expected to pay a damage security deposit. Getting it back, may not be quite so easy. We’ll tell you how to protect yourself from a landlord who wants to use your deposit unfairly. If the kids running upstairs make it tough for you to get any work done downstairs, we’ve got sound proofing tips to restore family harmony. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions on eliminating bio gas odors, stopping woodpeckers from damaging our chimney, repairing cracks in cement siding, removing wallpaper with destroying the walls underneath. Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the

In this episode: Small kitchens can be tough places to work in. But a few modest updates can make small kitchens feel bigger and work better. Tom & Leslie share tips in today’s Smart Spending Tip. If you’re thinking about getting your outdoor furniture out for the warm months ahead, chances are after an entire winter in storage -- it’ll be looking a lot worse for wear! We’ll have tips to get your outdoor furniture clean and spruced up for the season. Today, it’s easier than ever to be eco-friendly. But when it comes to choosing eco-friendly floors for your home, understanding how the product is produced is key. We’ll tell you what to look for. Are you planning to create a relaxing paver brick patio space to enjoy the sunshine as the warm weather approaches? We walk you through how to create an amazing paver patio from scratch – OR by paving over an existing patio. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, roofing material options, wainscoting walls, removing wax from surfaces, tips for inst

In this episode: Building a Shed is a fun DIY project. But did you know that whether the shed is wood, steel or vinyl, just ONE step can mean the difference between a shed that lasts for a season and one that can last decades. We share that tip plus the best options for shed storage. Nothing keeps your home looking updated better than a current kitchen. If you’re thinking about switching out old kitchen countertops for granite, we’ll have design tips to help. In the 20 years Tom spent as a professional home inspector, he often told his clients there are three kinds of houses: Those that HAD a termite problem, those that HAVE a termite problem, and those that WILL GET a termite problem!We’ve got solutions for keeping termites…and their costly damage… away from YOUR home.  Before we had walls made of drywall, we had walls made of plaster. Now, many homes have walls made of plaster cracks! We’ll tell you how to fix those plaster flaws – the easy way. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Using y

Show Notes: As we say goodbye to winter, now is a good time to take a look at your driveway to see what winter’s road salt left behind. We walk you through options for driveway sealing, resurfacing or replacement and share a key detail on the type of asphalt that lasts the longest. Are you dreaming of relaxing on your deck in the warm days ahead, but have a deck that looks more like a nightmare? We can fix that with tips for a deck makeover that you’ll be able to get done for LESS than the average refund the IRS may be sending your way this spring - in today’s Tax Refund Project Tip, presented by HART TOOLS, available exclusively at WALMART. And as the first day of spring approaches, we get you ready with room-by-room Spring cleaning tips to make sure your home is spick and span. If you’re still feeling a chill, we share tips for selecting the best type of space heater. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about: Refinishing furniture, installing a subfloor in basement, installing an under de

DIY’rs are ramping up their projects this Spring with 84% planning to take on even tougher projects in 2021 than last year! We’ll share tips on a tool system that can help you get there, with a reliable battery system that works on DOZENS of power and lawn and garden tools. Do you enjoying hanging out in your yard or patio but would love to have a bit more privacy? We share landscaping tips and tricks to create private backyard hideaways If you have a plumbing project to tackle, one type of pipe is very easy to work with and can save you lots of money. That is, as the mice don’t get to it first! We’ll tell you how to keep mice away from PEX pipe. With Spring storms on the way, adding a whole house surge protector can help prevent against some serious electrical damage. We explain where this fits in your electrical system, how it works and why is not a project you should do yourself. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about: sealing granite countertops, installing ducted heating system, patc

Are you ready for a new washing machine? We’ll take a look at the most popular features and help you decide which make the best washing machine for your laundry needs. For 55 years, ShopVac has been helping Americans with clean ups that household vacs could never hope to handle. Now this iconic brand has a new owner and some very exciting plans for the future. We hear from the new CEO. And did you know that the average Americans receives a tax refund of about $2,800? We figured, there are a lot of projects you can get done for that kind of money so today we’ll start a new series in partnership with HART Tools called Tax Refund Projects! Do you have a boring bathroom but no bucks to spruce it up? There’s a lot you can do on the cheap with paint. We share tips for stenciling and more. Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about energy star rebates, repairing a slow dryer, temporary caulk for windows, repairing a stained tub, eliminating mice from your home, safety options for your home. Do you ha